My pet peeve is when retailers start throwing about the term “last minute gifts,” as if there’s somehow an implied judgement that we should have had this all figured out and wrapped and put under the tree already. I come to you with absolutely no judgement. We are busy, modern people with busy, modern lives! I come to you now only to let you know that we’re all in the same boat down the holiday stream with you, trying to stay afloat and make the merry while still getting all the non-merry quotidian things of life accomplished. Let’s keep it simple: here are some very excellent gifts for the spirits lovers in your life, hand selected by our Spirits Buyer and all-around font of knowledge, David Othenin-Girard.
One of the best values we’ve ever offered in Islay whisky is here just in time for the end of the year. Amazingly, we were able to get the price down almost 15% from a similar cask we bought last year. All peat lovers take note. The future will not likely hold many deals this good.
One of the year’s most hotly anticipated high end American Whiskies is still in stock just days before Xmas. Here is that last minute gift for all you high rollers.
The French Whisky explosion is in full effect across the pond, but many of the big French whisky brands have failed to connect stateside. That’s likely because they’re making whisky for the very different domestic market, changing technique and style to suit local tastes. One tiny distillery is making whisky the old way. Glann Ar Mor is rooted in the Celtic single malt tradition and is making one of the greatest craft whiskies available today. It’s our international craft whisky of the year - Kornog!
The greatest Agave spirit is still the one from that Valley near the Volcano. This special distillery is named for the famous hill in El Arenal that’s notorious for attracting lighting - Cascahuin. This distillery is one of Tequilas best and should be in any serious drinkers collection.
The fabulous unadulterated and unrelenting single cask Armagnacs from L’Encantada are finally back with two of the most sought after and historic domaines, along with one of the oldest we’ve ever bottled.
In February, I travelled to Michoacán to Don Mateo to meet the Vieyra Family. There Delia Vargas Vieyra distilled a batch of pechuga on our behalf and the results are finally here. One of the most unique and delicious mezcals we’ve carried, it will only get better in the bottle.
The Hogshead isn’t just a barrel size, it’s perhaps the perfect vessel for maturing single malt. While a plain refill hogshead might lack the brute force of a heavy sherry butt, no cask is able to frame excellent malt like a high quality hoggie. We’ve got nearly 40 of them in stock each highlighting the magnificent nuances of the magical malt matured therein.
Whisky Season is in full swing! We’ve triumphed this year over many obstacles and are offering the most exciting array of single casks anywhere in the country. This no holds barred Clynelish is my top whisky of the year.
We’re in the golden age of Mezcal. More amazing agave spirit is available than ever before. But how to you wade through the sea of mezcal to find the very best. What counts is who makes it. Palenqueros represent some of the very best Oaxaca has to offer, but many agave lovers don’t realize just how special they are. Here’s why Palenqueros is one of the best new brands on the market today.
The incredible Russell’s Reserve Single Barrels are some of Kentucky’s most undervalued. Experts agree that these are some of the best whiskies on the market today, yet they don’t get the fanfare they rightfully deserve. All it takes is one little taste to be converted to a diehard Russell’s lover. This is truly one of Kentucky’s great bourbons.
Our dear old friends from Ian Macleod’s have bottled the final run of Chieftain’s Single Malt. The brand will be no more after these wonderful rare barrels are gone, but they’ve opened up the warehouse and offered some of us some of the best barrels we’ve ever had the pleasure to sell. A fitting farewell to an old great Scottish name and warm welcome to some of the finest casks K&L has ever bottled.
The French Master unveils a new Vin Jaune matured malt. The 60 bottles imported to the US will be sold exclusively at K&L. Also, a new batch of the legendary K&L Peaty Overaged arrives - might be the best they’ve ever bottled for us.
The 2019 Whisky has officially begun. It will be one of the most exciting in our history. It’s been years since we’ve seen such an array of rare, affordable and delicious whisky. There’s truly something for every one. Here are the first three casks of the year. Only 40 other to go…
Agave Spirits bring people together in a way not too many other spirits can. From harvesting, to producing, and consuming, every facet is laced with cultivating relationships. Mezcal and other agave spirits are that farm-to-table restaurant where you eat at a communal setting, smiling next to strangers as you share stories, while the chef is continuously serving up dishes and discussing the ingredients with you. Fathers pass down traditions and techniques, mezcaleros sell to friends and neighbors, and if there’s ever a celebration, you can bet your bottom dollar that the good stuff is getting brought out; it’s part of the romance, the mystique, and if you’ll forgive the pun, the spirit of the plant itself.
