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KLWines.com | 800.247.5987 June 10, 2019 SPIRITS Drink in the years: there’s no time like today for well-aged spirits.

JUNE 10, 2019 FEATURES 1 Old Pulteney; Old Particular 5 David’s Amaro, Rum, Agave 2 Pre-Arrival Scotch Casks 6 The New Age of Bourbon 3 Awesome 8 Andrew’s ,

Starting from the Top: New Classic Spirits from Scotland By David Othenin-Girard

Every year, we travel to Scotland, in search of the very best that this as well as unprecedented values within the humid legendary drinking culture has to offer. The inspiration to approach warehouses of our Scottish partners, and we’re excited this category differently came out of my own experience as a lover of to share a wide array of special offers with you. First, spirits; my examination of the history of American drinking culture; an unusual and delicious offer, direct from one of and my delving into the once-shrouded world of collectible spirits that Scotland’s finest distillers… has always flourished in certain circles. We knew that if we spent more Old Pulteney 13 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single time and energy exploring, we could offer our customers better products Cask No. 231 Cask Strength Highland Single Malt at better prices than anyone else in the country. This model has been ($109.99) As with many Pulteney, the nose extremely successful, and if you’ve followed our adventures over the last is pure salt, malt, herbal tea, and cardamom. The 10 years, you’ll remember some exceptional finds. palate is deep with roasted cocoa, fudge, touches The most important thing I’ve learned over the past decade of exploring of anise, fennel, and vanilla. But of course, with the world of whisky is that what really counts are the experiences you water this thing erupts. Now, on the nose, the ripest have with the people you love. Our suppliers are our business partners, Bartlett pears (smashed), lemon peel, mirabelle, yes, but first they’re our dear friends. And just as I feel a somewhat sacred dried apricot, salted butter on toast. The anise is duty to my customers when picking out every single cask, similarly, I moving much more toward mint and fennel flavors and the long, creamy feel a similar obligation to the wonderful individuals who make this all texture is pointed with cotton candy, lemon oils, and the tiniest hints of possible. Nothing in the world makes for better memories than opening diesel smoke. Too good to put down! a special bottle and sharing it with friends. But if everything out there becomes a treasure—too precious to consume—we’ll never create those Extreme Values from Our Favorite Suppliers experiences. Our suppliers get it, and we’re incredibly grateful for that. Now on to some of the finest values we’ve ever put together. The Old Particular Brand is an exceptional line of single cask malts and grains A Rare Distillery-Direct Offering from the famous Douglas Laing Company. We’ve had an incredible With that in mind, we want you to enjoy our offerings, because that’s decade-long partnership with this exceptional bottler and they’re still what this stuff is all about. Our exclusive offerings have never been putting out the very best malt you can buy for your dollar, every year. better than they are today. We continue to find extremely rare casks, (Continued on page 2) (Continued from page 1)

Balmenach 11 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Caol Ila 8 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive Single Exclusive Single Cask Strength Single Malt Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($44.99) The whisky opens to an ($89.99) We’ve done lots of young Caol Ila over the inviting array of malty flavors, grainy and fresh. It years because, well, it’s absolutely delicious. This SPIRITS takes a drop of water to tease out the exceptional intense little offering from our good friends at nuance of this awesome cask. With water, there’s Signatory proves why this bottler commands a bit of marmalade on warm biscuits, freshly picked pears a premium. This is classic Caol Ila on the nose with and leaves, digestive cookies and tea. On the palate, ashy, smoldering smoke, crystalline citrus, and deep, it’s equally appealing and still on the gorgeous sweet maltiness. It starts at a blistering 61% abv and breakfast flavors. Baby’s bum really, smooth and soft. needs a bit of water to tame the smoky beast, but few And an easygoing one (with water), but sometimes it’s malts deliver this kind of intensity and depth. Even at best to just drink, not think. this young age this whisky is the total package.

Benrinnes 11 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Isle of Jura 12 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Exclusive Single Refill Butt Cask Strength Scotch Whisky ($54.99) As with all these young Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($64.99) The incredibly oily, cask strength malts, the bold malt and pepper rich malt of Jura is perfectly suited for a nice refill sherry that shows right out of the bottle is just a mask to butt. And, without the chill-filtration and low proof of something much more complex beneath. One drop the distillery bottlings, we’ve entered a whole different of water and this thing goes absolutely bonkers. territory for this wild malt. First whiff is all candied The hard edge is replaced by pungent orange apple, sea spray, roasted malt, and hints of speedway. fruit aromas—apricots, tangerines, persimmons, The malt is big and the sherry character is not obvious. every orange thing you can think of. The palate is But with air the complexity really explodes. This very rich and sweet, with more malt than on the one demands a touch of water and some time to nose, and subtle bits of bitter herbs (gentian root, breathe because behind those odd flavors is a wealth angelica) balancing out the sweet grain. While of complex flavors: salted fruit, ozone, fennel, oyster I’ll admit this is not quite the same character as shell, and camphor. some of the previous Benrinnes, it is still full of Pre-Arrival Old Malt Cask and Sovereign Wax Top life and the purity that we crave from this special little place. And what an incredible value for such Finally, a quick preview of our next shipment, sold in pre-arrival a drinkable and complex whisky. format so as to whet your interest before they arrive. These incred- ible bottlings represent some of the best values we’ve ever seen out Glen Garioch 8 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single of Scotland. None are inexpensive, but compared to the rest of the Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($49.99) market, no other bottler will be able to touch these incredible prices. Absolutely nothing tastes like Glen Garioch and this one deserves to be judged without the preconception of age. The nose is gorgeously Braes of Glenlivet 28 Year Old “Sovereign Wax Top” K&L Exclusive old school, with big, inviting malt; deep, earthy Single Barrel Cask Strength ($199.99) wood; and a complex mixture of sweet and savory Springbank 22 Year Old “Sovereign Wax Top” K&L Exclusive aromas. On the palate that “almost peaty” feeling Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($399.99) adds complexity and nuance. Snappy malt, but Clynelish 21 Year Old “Sovereign Wax Top” K&L Exclusive Single not sulfured, it exhibits a gorgeous texture and Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($249.99) unsurpassed purity. With water it becomes the quintessential Eastern Highlander. The malt Highland Park 21 Year Old “Sovereign Wax Top” K&L Exclusive is on display, offering a tense aromatic battle Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($199.99) between expensive teas and spices, complex Laphroaig 20 Year Old “Sovereign Wax Top” K&L Exclusive Single fruit, and earthy, dark malt. On the palate the Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($249.99) feeling of fresh peat (not smoke, but actual turf) is on full display. There’s absolutely Auchroisk 24 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single nothing in the store that tastes anything Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($149.99) like this special whisky. For people who are Longmorn 14 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single enamored by top-quality distillates in their Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($59.99) purest form, you’ll definitely appreciate this Mortlach 9 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel special bottle. Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($49.99)

2 Get up-to-the-minute inventory at KLWines.com SPIRITS 3

The L’EncantadaThe team evaluates casks. Thenose is an inviting This bold, masculine style Baco expresses dried of stone fruits,Tons apricots, and dates. Check out more staff product reviews at KLWines.com at product staff reviews more out Check than used to, showing we’re stronger much oxidation and a integratedmore addition of tannin. I fell in with love this cask because offered it something completely different fromanything else theon shelf. 1990 L’Encantada Old “Domaine 27 Year Tenarèze Parre le #18” Armagnac ($89.99) Hints roasted of nuts, wild and dried honey, spices. The savory quality theon nose braces a powerful, for you dry entry, this but stuffgoes completely and supple the round, It’s other without way. a hard tannin in sight. The rancio fruit and candiednuts take over from the spice and herbs. Textured, warm, and the on long palate, lightweight, no it’s has but unexpectedTenarèze. finesse a for feel I like this deserves to be expensive, more I just but can’t bring myself to be that greedy, and pray that anyone who loves good brandy is able to afford a bottle this of benchmark offering from this special estate. 1987 L’Encantada Old “Del 30 Cassou Year #14” Bas-Armagnac ($119.99) mixture baked of tart apple exotic (tatin!), wood, old and baking spices. as Not sweet and rich as the ’82—drier and traditional more here. Super vibrant and almost refreshing, with tons dark of cherry and brambly wild berries, dark roasting cocoa, and beautiful varnished old furniture. Maybe the for not bourbon guy looking a massive for explosion—but a brandy filled with elegance precision.and In context easily the of one best values in the store. 1987 L’Encantada Old “Del Cassou 35 Year #187” Bas-Armagnac ($139.99) the grape perfectly. covered in blackberry we’re Here fruit compote sprinkled with pepper. The sweet-savory balance continues with roasted pecan and maple, with a hint freshly of moistened forest floor. woodsy,The almost green qualityon quitenose the isn’t butminty, close. On thewe’re palate, medium-bodied it’s and surprisingly lifted thefor age. Caramelized sugar drizzled a basket over spices of and underbrush. harsh No tannins, a big, but warming spice that builds to a long, sweet crescendo the at back the of palate.

The historic ChâteauVacquié de Haut-Armagnac.in These guys are born bred and Gascogne and they’ve Awesomely Armagnac Awesomely DavidBy Othenin-Girard Bellair is a well-regarded estate that has sold via the Darroze brand as well. Encantada, through some personal connections, was able to secure a few casks various of ages, which made were in a unique style. While the domaine would normally use very little new oak, they do regularly use extra-large foudres and seems it that they purchased a new 600-liter barrel in the year so or before this brandy was distilled. The larger size has a completely different effect on the found access to stocks where others Their haven’t. bottles fly of off the shelves the and globe many over, stores charge than more double our prices. in got we But early and buy direct, we so one, no worldwide, gets close to these prices. These are easily most the excitingbrandies theon market today andrepresent incredible value whentake you into account the age, quality, and labor, scarcity these of incredible spirits. 1997 L’Encantada Old “Bellair 20 Year #36” Bas-Armagnac ($79.99) L’Encantada Armagnac L’Encantada This of group amateurbrandy lovers has developed themselves into the of one most intriguing and sought-after bottlersof single-estate Armagnac. Afteryears in the itsshadowof better-dressed cousinto north, the France’s othergreat brandy is finally startingits moment. to have That may be, no in small part, thanks to the exploration done we’ve in the region with the the help of incredible connections developed by our friendand partner, Charles Neal. been lucky enough We’ve to tag along with the “Armagnac Man” himself—truly a man Gascogne, of been acceptedhe’s into this tight-knit society only not to his due familial relations there, also but his unrelenting pursuit excellent of brandy from the region—many times in our trips to the region, which is thenot easiest place to get around. never beenThere’s a better time to drink Armagnac. An incredible array exceptional of and affordablebrandy old is flowing like never mightbefore. even We be in the new golden only age but brandy, of canyou make that call yourself. for SPIRITS 4 makes supplier a But when homogeny. create and evaporation avoid to vintage each from stocks blend regularly producers because and between vintages continuity cant typically signifi there’s production Armagnac traditional In vintage. a single in barrels many producer’s a from selection a to referring we’re usually vintage,” single barrel, “single about we talk When Single Estate, Single Vintage, Singe Barrel domaine. new this from offering complex very yet approachable Avery polished. pretty and Ultra-decadent territory. bitter it into bring to but end not enough back on the back comes thing tea oolong An cinnamon. and spice baking big with bold, but lifted, is palate The powder, syrup. maple and cocoa high-end tea, dark peaches, stewed of notes Big ’98. the than The fruit-forward 1991is more much Haut. the in elsewhere matched be I’m can not which sure precedent ($99.99) VacquiéHaut-Armagnac de Château 27 Year Unfiltered Old Armagnac. of exclusive portfolio exquisite our to entry welcome a and value unbelievable absolutely An drinker. typical the for intense too it’s likely although spirit of dark drinker any nearly to appeal should that is one This powerful. and spicy, peppery, Long, it balanced. keep to sugar of wood amount perfect the with textured, and rich very true—it’s is opposite bitter, but the going palate the about you worry intense, and dark It’sfudge. so and gentian, anise, coffee, cacao, herbs, bitter fruit, dried of dark, full packed ($79.99) Haut-Armagnac Vacquié de Year Château 20 Unfiltered Old 1998 dollar. for your complexity and quality such offer Tenarèze and Bas-Armagnac of regions renowned brandy. the Very in few world-class make can region under-appreciated this that proves of Lectoure village medieval the of outside estate However, asmall production. to fiddle second plays brandy region, the of part eastern far the In personalities. regional distinct with place acomplicated is Armagnac Terroir aNew In Secret A Fabulous Get completeGet tasting notes at KLWines.com The excellent Château de Vacquié are setting a setting are Armagnacs de Château Vacquié excellent The - The nose on the ’98 is is ’98 the on nose The Traditional Armagnac style continues: continues: style Armagnac Traditional an alembic still . still alembic an

exhausting but wonderful experience. but wonderful exhausting altogether An savoriness. tense and structure zippy between balance astrange shows this fromits sibling, different Shockingly finish. the on builds oak peppery way. spicy The unusual avery in fruits red tangy those toward moving palate, structured the through carries acidity tangy almost An nose. of the quality savory deep, the contrasts that a freshness has palate The box. honey, lacquer and wild currants, red coffee, roasted fresh herbs, sweet hide, Tanned direction! adifferent in goes nose but the mahogany, of reddish shade identical an is color The not. is ’88 the that away in savory ($139.99) Bas-Armagnac Chaou” Le 31 Year “Domaine Old Laterrade et Fitte 1987 France. from had I’ve ever anything than level) intensity that in (or something me more of Kavalan reminds almost that brandy bold is a big, This wood. exotic and sugar, burnt chocolate, dark fruit, sweet dense, with edge the off but backs it’s go to astringent, going like feels and a bitit hot entry, on Ultra-thick cinnamon. clove, jam, fig mocha, purée, prune sherry, oloroso fruits, dried nuts, of roasted huge bundle ($129.99) Bas-Armagnac Chaou” Le Year 30 “Domaine Old Laterrade et Fitte 1988 by barrel. barrel of Armagnac, future the pioneering are both and bottlers L’Encantada famous of the acontemporary is Laterrade, & Fitte bottler, The consumption. own for his rest the keep to decided has and barrels two us selling later years 30 back money his made He no work done at all. no reduction, No ullage, years. for six year per cask One vineyards. the in help for his exchange employer in his from stocks in paid was who farmer asmall from Armagnacs barrel single Here we have true option. not an just that’s at atime one barrel The color is pure mahogany. The nose is a is nose The mahogany. is pure color The The ’87 is is ’87 The The finest chai in the Gers. the in chai finest The David’s Spirits Roundup: Amaro, Rum, Agave By David Othenin-Girard SPIRITS

Locavore’s Delight Foursquare/Hampden “Probitas” White Blended Rum ($24.99) Few spirits have been more affected by a single than the It begins with a base of unaged, molasses-based single blended rums. impeccable Aperol was by the introduction of the Spritz. That These are mingled with two rare rums from Jamaica’s most authentic summer tipple has been served in Italy for decades, but over the past distillery. Those two “low-ester” rums from the OWH marque are few summers this cocktail has taken the States by distilled in the same way but one is an unaged rum and storm. There aren’t many places left, even the seediest the other the same, rested in the tropical climate for two years. The little dive, that can’t throw together a Spritz on a hot resulting blend is completely devoid of any additives save for water, summer day. But after gallons of pinkish plonk, it but is filled to the brim with explosive flavors and unprecedented can get a bit hackneyed. That doesn’t mean I want depth. The finest white rum on the market by any measure and a fresh, low alcohol summer cocktail any less, just an affordable luxury that all rum nerds, cocktailians, and serious that it’s fun to mix things up, especially if the drinkers of any ilk should seek it out. product in question is made right here in sunny Not — Mezonte Southern California. In the heart of the vibrant metropolis of Guadalajara, a small Enter Amaro Angeleno ($34.99). Some of wooden stands as monument to the world’s finest agave spirits. the die-hard bitters lovers might dismiss this Mezonte’s producers typically can’t legally call their spirit “mezcal,” gorgeous tipple because it doesn’t fit into their despite centuries of using that word to describe the product that narrow definition of “Amaro,” but the bitter they make. Mezonte’s proprietor, Pedro Jiminez, has devoted his life produced and bottled right here in the to the betterment of the traditional distillers of Jalisco and several Southland tastes pretty darn delicious despite any surrounding states. The Tequila denomination of origin dominates nitpicking. Few modern concoctions rival the the state’s agave production to the detriment of the other agave spirits understated grace that we can all acknowledge of this region. Señor Jiminez has become one of the few champions Aperol processes, but Angeleno adds the perfect of these spirits of Jalisco and its legendary producers. His company, to the famous tipple. A bold nose of locally grown Valencia Mezonte, is devoted to the historical and cultural preservation of orange peel coupled with a dense bouquet of chamomile, exotic these spirits and the communities that produce them. Mezonte is a herbs, spice, and bitter roots create the perfect backbone for what non-governmental can sometimes be an over-cloying choice on a hot summer day. The organization Angeleno Spritz is sure to suit anyone who is familiar with the Italian designed to create tradition but provides enough nuance and versatility to intrigue even value for the distillers the most jaded cocktail snob. by offering them Exciting Cocktail Rum fair compensation for the extremely The world of rum has been poised for a complete makeover. labor intensive and Once relegated to jungle juice and cheap well time-consuming , rum is having somewhat of a renais- production. Every sance. The charge is led by two standout distillers single dollar that offering unique and terroir-driven spirits from goes into Mezonte The ancient Filipino-style stills carved from the historically important locales. But, few of their goes back into the sacred oyamel trunk. offerings have been available enough or affordable communities that enough to merit regular use behind the bar. create these magical products. While they may be some of the most Their new offering, a collaboration between expensive agave products on the market, they represent some of the the exquisite Hampden Estate of Trelawny most complex drinking experiences available in any category and at Parish, Jamaica, and the insurmountable any price point. If you’re ready to go beyond mezcal, it’s time to try Four Square Distillery in Barbados, offers Mezonte. more than any other product on the market. Deep, complex flavors without adulteration Mezonte “Lorenzo” Jalisco Spirit Distilled From Agave ($159.99) of any kind, at an affordable price. There’s Mezonte “Raicilla Japo” Jalisco Spirit Distilled From Agave no question that any self-respecting lover of ($149.99) cocktails should have a bottle of this special Mezonte “Santo Juarez” Jalisco Spirit Distilled From Agave spirit in the back bar. Don’t wait to be the last ($149.99) to taste the incredible Probitas.

Online auctions are LIVE at KLWines.com 5 SPIRITS answer couldn’t be more clear between barrels #399 and #927. #399 and barrels between more clear be couldn’t answer The different?” they “How are is, label same the from barrels multiple in we bring whenever we get question common most The summer. this coming casks more three to preview sneak amazing an offer casks current two our label, Reserve Russell’s the under barrels single as Bottled again. yet delivered has TurkeyWild distillery The recipes. proven, high-quality their with demand future meet to trying decade last the spent also have that distilleries great of other full is Kentucky world over, the drinkers of bourbon minds and hearts the capture to continues lineup powerhouse their and distillery Trace Buffalo the While experience. drinking hedonistic a magical, enjoy and rocks Try it on the up again. tightens supply of, category the into falling whiskey this see to It’sT. easy Stagg. George and T. Blanton’s, as Elmer Lee, league same the in bottles these puts Taylor of rightly E.H. quality high legendary The retailers. for it at sold many see you’ll or more $60–$100 not the bucks, of forty price able the reason it at find you can long as Kentucky—as from ($39.99) Bourbon Kentucky The newsletter! this it in print and shelves on our have it to physically stock a browser.web with enough Today, fingers we’vesecured quickest the up by snapped gone, be they’d later moments and amonth bottles 6or We 12 receive would quantities. minuscule in us to available been has Trace Buffalo from label legendary this Taylor. Historically, E.H. Colonel than availability new this exemplifies better No brand ever. appearance first their making are others years, in we haven’t available seen brands and distilleries from are Some shelves. our grace and out heartland come of America’s whiskey of casks 20 or more some see will we summer supply. short This such no longer in is whiskey quality high favor as drinker’s the toward turn to beginning finally are tables The hooch. of pickin’s for good paradise a into us delivered it would) (as we has knew for bottles demand in growth strong with combination in rickhouses, and stills of new tion construc and schedules production 24-hour to change The demand. growing the meet to over bent backwards producers bottle, exciting every to buy scrambled consumers While changin’. a finally are they 2019. as times The successful as been has years many in no visit casks, home good afew bring to bound was Kentucky to trip every while And on time. running trains Scotch the keep to we’ve as striven just prices, at reasonable whiskey American of quality supply in customers our keep to years the throughout at K&L We’ve tirelessly worked skyrocketed. have correspondingly prices the and have dwindled bourbon of old supplies the that goes story The of production. sources new build and bottles, rare precious collect stocks, aged secure to race amassive been has there ago 10-plus years boom bourbon of the start the open to up. Since beginning finally is Kentucky in landscape The Whiteley By Andrew BourbonIn Catbird the Consumers Seat: Have Their Day 6 Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bottled In Bond Straight Straight Bond In Bottled Batch Taylor Small E.H. Colonel Find all your wine accessory at needs KLWines.com “I wish I had bought more when…” more if bought Ihad “I wish is one of the single best values available available values best single one of the is - - of whiskey to hit the market. market. the hit to of whiskey bottles exciting most of the some together putting quickly is Company Bourbon Bardstown Mark), at Maker’s distiller master (formerly the direction Nally’s Steve Under impressive. even more is distillery The program. cocktail and restaurant incredible an boasts and stunning is The property Bardstown. in beginning trips Kentucky future your see to It’s easy farms. famous countryside’s the through rides horseback and experiences, dining Michelin-starred hotels, five-star with replete indulgence, Napa-style for luxurious, adestination to State Bluegrass the around producers scattered to of visits set organized loosely ast’s enthusi awhiskey from transforms Trail Bourbon the as become, will experience Kentucky the what up exemplify to ground the from property new agleaming built has hand, other on the BBC, scene. on the came OSHA long before existed that factories decades-old are facilities of these most you consider when task No small experience. visitor-friendly and a cafes, shops, gift bars, tasting include to facilities their retrofit to have had old timers the tourism, of advent whiskey the With future. the to ablueprint and industry whiskey modern of the atriumph is of Kentucky capital bourbon the in facility new stunning Company. Their Bourbon Bardstown as such newcomers to ground some Turkey cede to have had Wild and Trace Buffalo like stalwarts other, yet no like history in steeped industry an is Bourbon stunning. pie is American baked of fresh sensation warming the and throat of your back the to tongue of your tip the from tingles pepper Black bark. cassia and caramel rich with coated is mouth your sip and One palate. the on happens of flavor explosion but the way.is lovely, opposite nose The almost an in attacks #17-399 Barrel ($64.99) finish. the to on through right sweetness and spiciness of the all carries and rich is palate The cream. whipped and fruit, fresh sweet candy, cotton cinnamon, of are gobs There fruitiness. and of spice balance aperfect nose, on the #17-927 loaded is Barrel ($64.99) Single Reserve Russell’s These forlorn-looking rickhouses are actually brimming with bourbon. with brimming actually are rickhouses forlorn-looking These

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- Get complete tasting notes at KLWines.com at notes tasting Get complete ently, McKenzieently, has set themselves apart as the best wheated bourbon on our shelves. One the of early darlings in the craft spirits wasmovement Whistle VermontPig. Thisdistillery madeits name sourcing Canadian and Indiana rye and blending together some the of tastiest bottles on the market. As they’ve grown, so too their have stocks. The selection agedof rye in their warehouses has allowed them to offer of some the most compelling single barrels seen we’ve from a non-Kentucky distillery. While each these of barrels are labeled under the classic 10-year rye label, the truth is that they are all 13- to 14-year-old whiskey. While they been have unwilling to update the label to reflect the significantlyolder age statement, they not have raised prices— the so complaints no here. just For can you $89.99 see different how this ryeold is from barrel to barrel. currently We six have barrels in stock with proofs ranging Personally, the I love to 118.3. dark from 111.3 chocolate and proof, nature the the of sweet 111.3 baked bread and brioche proof in notes particular. the of 113.9 The higher-proof barrels spiciness more show and a surprisingly fresh fruit that component is to die for. Whistle Old “K&L Proof Year Pig Exclusive” 10 118 Barrel #2338 Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight WhiskeyRye ($89.99) Proof Barrel #2447117.3 ($89.99) Proof Barrel113.9 #2346 ($89.99) Proof118.3 Barrel #2347 ($89.99) Proof Barrel111.3 #2380 ($89.99) Proof114.5 Barrel #2444 ($89.99) in warehouse floor on H for 5 betweenfour and sixyears, beinggently heat-cycled throughout the cold Kentucky winters. stewed of Tons fruits give way to exotic wood spices and layersdark of cocoa and caramelized sugar. Exceptionally soft approachable,and the whiskey is velvety and warm with holiday spices. When think you about , nearly it’s impossible to thinknot Kentucky of first, you’dbut be closing your mind if you didn’t also consider the many great producers that sprung have up outside theof Bluegrass State in the last years. 10 One the of best resides the on east Lake of shore Seneca in The upstate New York. Finger Lakes Distillery is to McKenzie home bourbon. Made entirely State grownfrom New grain, York McKenzie Wheated Bottled In Bond Bourbon ($44.99) is the best wheated bourbon to hit our shelves has It since the Weller. hallmark creamy texture wheated of bourbon, adds but that. top so of on more much It’s surprisingly dark in colorpackedand flavor, with cocoa, chocolate, and caramel, and the body is dense and rich, smooth as satin. The for this whiskey finisheslower-than-normalat a proof, whichretains even the of more impeccably sourced raw material’s Theyflavor. also proof,100 at age instead ofthe that is common in110–125 Kentucky. By aging a spirit,lower-proofed less water is needed the for final proofing,leading more to a cohesive and flavorful whiskey in the bottle. By doing things a little differ - is BBC’s first is BBC’s release of theirown juice in conjunction with Old Forester Barrel #4093 aged was ($39.99) While their young bourbon is terrific, quitenot ready it’s for the spotlight. the new Bardstown However, Collaboration Series Phifer Pavitt Reserve absolutely is! Bourbon Bottled ($129.99) proof, 107 at this 9-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon has been finishedfor months19 in Phifer Pavitt Cabernet barrels from The Napa Valley. bringing together these of two worlds is than more a gesture—it’s a glorious medley rich of corn, caramel, and vanilla mixed with bold, fruits,blue chocolates,and a touch tannin, of made the for shear beingof delicious. Thenew Collaboration showcases the creativity and attention to detail that sets Bardstown Bourbon Company apart from the rest the of newcomers in a crowded field. thinking,If you’re “That’s all great, but what does theirown whiskey taste like?” then must you check the out Fusion Series. Fusion #1 ($59.99) some very Kentucky-sourced old bourbon. Fully 60% the of blend was is made 2-year-old BBC: at wheated 18% bourbon, and 42% is 2-year high rye. Blend that with Kentucky the 40% juice 11-year-old and got yourself you’ve another example of incredible creativity, blending prowess, and distilling magic. I’ll venture to say that no whiskey made from majority 2-year-old juice has ever been this good. Just another sign the of great things to come as the new whiskey landscape matures. Four Roses, a staple in our Kentucky visits the over years to their due long-standing and truly impressive single cask and multi-recipe program, has once again set us up with some the of most exciting casks the of year. While our single barrel a for up show picks won’t weeks,few more master distiller Elliot’s Brent Small Batch Select Bourbon ($54.99) is here Whilenow. has he been involved in produc tion since 2005 and master distiller since 2015, the Small Batch Select is the first whiskeyhe designed as the star the and the of it’s show, first addition to the core lineup years.12 in The bourbon is made six of up recipes: yeast strains K, and F made in bothV, high-ryeand low-rye mashbills. Bottled the proof, 104 at resulting whiskey is of a blend fruitiness from the V and F strains matched to the spiciness the of K yeast. a powerful It’s whiskey showing raspberry compote, cinnamon, and nutmeg the on nose, with fresh berries and vanilla the on palate, finishing with a hintbrightof mint and dark chocolate. The old schoolForester Old facility just in Shively, outside Louisvilleof is producing proper, the of one richest and most flavorful single caskprograms on the market. The plantold still utilizes a “thumper” their for second distillation. After the stripping runon the , the live steam is injected into the thumper, and upon rapid condensation and reheating, produces it a loud bang, This “thump.” or of old doing way things seems to result in a full and mouth-coating spirit. Combine that with the warehouses old that Old Forester uses, and a whiskey have you that tastes like a step back in time. Andrew’s Spirits Roundup: Fynbos Gin and Highland Tequila By Andrew Whiteley

Inverroche Classic Gin ($39.99) utilizes a selection of fynbos from limestone-rich soils. The result is a very clean, floral, and citrusy gin that can be used anywhere you’d use a classic London dry gin. Inverroche Verdant Gin ($39.99) focuses on fynbos grown in the mountains of the Cape. It takes on a slightly green hue due to the maceration of the fynbos after distillation. The gin is floral and elegant, reminiscent of chamomile and elder flowers. Perhaps the most unique of the three is the Inverroche Amber Gin ($39.99). Dark mahogany in color from maceration, the Amber selects fynbos botanicals from the iron-rich desert soils on the Cape. It has a sweet, woodsy note, and a beguiling spice. All three are available exclusively at K&L in California.

La Gritona Tequila While we could easily devote an entire newsletter to the realm of agave spirits, we just don’t have the space. But one of the newest to hit our shelves at an insane price point deserves being singled out. While we have a tendency to focus on the insane growth and the wildly La Gritona Reposado Tequila ($29.99) is the brainchild of prolific abundant, high-quality options now available in the whiskey market, hardcore guitarist Andy Coronado. It’s a big leap from hardcore punk the rest of the spirits world continues to grow at a rapid clip. There are to old school tequila, but what Andy did right was focus on authenticity more great things to drink at amazing prices from all around the world at a reasonable price. Then, he put it in one of the most distinctive than we’ve ever had access to before. bottles you’ll ever see and began hawking it out of the back of his van. He searched for the perfect partner and eventually settled on the Inverroche Fynbos Gin small Vinos y Licores Azteca to produce this special Gin consumption is sky high and rising, and with good reason. As reposado. They start with mature highland agave and people choose to focus on terroir and regionality in their spirits, from slow roast it in traditional clay and brick ovens. After estate on through mezcal and rum, gin stands out as a particularly crushing, the agave is naturally fermented and interesting category. The ability to express place and quality through double distilled in copper pots. It’s then aged careful selection of botanicals lends itself naturally to the discussion of for eight months in second- and third-fill terroir. No gin better captures this than the lineup from Inverroche. American whiskey barrels before being South African have a unique advantage—they’re made with bottled without any additives. It’s a simple fynbos, a group of plants that make up about 80% of the Cape floral recipe that many modern tequila producers kingdom’s biodiversity. Within the 100- to 200-kilometer-wide strip of fail to replicate. The result is a delicious tequila land that is the Cape peninsula, fynbos includes roughly 8,500 species that tastes of agave…imagine that! La Gritona of plants. Inverroche has utilized this exceptional biodiversity to make is Spanish for “the screamer,” and we’re certain three unique gins that focus on these plants from different soil types. you’ll be screaming for more of this new tequila as soon as you try it.

K&L REDWOOD CITY K&L HOLLYWOOD K&L SAN FRANCISCO 3005 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA 94061 1400 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028 855 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 P (650) 364-8544 F (650) 364-4687 P (323) 464-WINE (9463) F (323) 836-0853 P (415) 896-1734 F (415) 896-1739 HOURS Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat 9-7, Sun 10-6 HOURS Mon-Thurs 11-8, Fri-Sat 10-8, Sun 11-6 HOURS Mon–Fri 10–7, Sat 9–6, Sun 11–6 LOCKERS Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 LOCKERS Mon–Fri 10–6:30, Sat 9–5:30, Sun 11–5:30 KLWINES.COM K&L EVENTS & TASTINGS Toll Free (877) KLWINES (877) 559-4637 We host regular evening and Saturday tastings at each K&L store as well as many special events Email: @KLWines.com throughout the year. For the complete calendar go to KLWines.com/Local-Events.

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