Arrival Times - Plan Accordingly
I sent this out on an email yesterday, but then got a message that delivery of that email was held up by something in the system. I don't how many people actually got this message, but I didn't want to send it again and spam everyone. Instead, I'll post that email here. Also, if you're not on the email list, but want to be then please send me an email telling me so at [email protected]
Hello everyone,
Seeing as we’re getting to that time of the year when all the major stuff starts to happen, I thought I’d start preparing you all for the onslaught that we know is coming: the holiday season rush! Starting this month is when all the major players begin unleashing their most prized possessions and in turn, we as a store have set as the beginning of our exclusive collection ETA. I get a lot of emails from some of you, cursing us for tempting you further with more booze merely seconds after you’ve already purchased some. My answer to you is – drink faster!! No, in actuality, I wanted to type this up so that you could all plan ahead and budget your funds for the bottles most important to your heart. So, without further ado, here is a rough timetable as to when you can expect some significant bottles to arrive.
NOTE: NONE OF THESE BOTTLES ARE CURRENTLY IN STOCK, NOR ARE THEY AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER OR HOLD AS OF NOW
OCTOBER
Talisker 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky $84.99 – We could see more of this legendary dram as early as tomorrow, but likely early next week. Get your racing shoes on because it always goes fast. Of course, it may be the best deal in all of whiskydom, so it’s no surprise.
Mezcalero Release #3 San Andres Huayapam Agave Mexicano Mezcal $75.99
Mezcalero Release #4 San Juan del Rio Agave Sierra Negra $75.99 – Both of these incredible and VERY limited mezcals are due in tomorrow afternoon. In all honesty, I might be more excited for their arrival than I am for the Talisker 18. Germain Robin always gets the premium stuff from Oaxaca, better than any other mezcals I have tasted. These new batches, both from different species of wild agave, are incredibly pure, fragrant, and flavorful. The Mezcalero series is always something to savor and is the best thing going right now for mezcal (at least, until the DOG and I head to Mexico this January….)
Springbank K&L Exclusive 13 Year Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $84.99
Springbank K&L Exclusive 14 Year Single Madeira Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $89.99
Glendronach K&L Exclusive 16 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $99.99
Littlemill K&L Exclusive 21 Year Old Faultline Spirits Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $115.99
Bruichladdich K&L Exclusive Quarts de Chaume Chenin Blanc Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $65.99 – These might end up bleeding over into early November, but as of right now these are all scheduled to dock this weekend and hopefully make it to distribution by next week. We should be processing pre-arrivals soon after. REMEMBER – pre-arrival prices end as soon as these hit distribution. That means the prices go up! Get what you need now as it could be tomorrow that we raise them.
Buffalo Trace 2011 Antique Collection:
George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon
William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon
Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Rye Whiskey
Thomas Handy Kentucky Rye Whiskey
Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon – These will be arriving next week. Looks like we’re getting more Stagg than anything else, so that should be the easiest one to get (if that helps your ranking system). Remember, we will email you early next week concerning the raffle and we will give you instructions at that time as to how to get a bottle.
ArteNOM Tequilas – beginning early next week we should see the arrival of Jacob Lustig’s amazing new distillery-bottled tequilas. If you don’t know what these are, check the blog at http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com for an overview and an informative podcast!
NOVEMBER
Diageo Distiller’s Editions – new batches of Cragganmore, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Dalwhinnie, Oban, and Talisker, all double-matured in their respective finishes.
Diageo Rare Malts – this year’s rare malts will include:
Rosebank 21 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
Port Ellen 11th Edition 32 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
Knockando 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
Talisker 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
I have also heard that there will be a Brora 32 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, but no confirmation as to whether that will hit the states.
Bruichladdich New Releases (prices not yet confirmed)
The Botanist Islay Gin $34.99-ish
The Organic (multi-vintage) $59.99-ish
The Laddie Classic $55.99-ish
Black Art 2 $169.99-ish
Port Charlotte An Turas Mor $57.99-ish
Octomore 3-152ppm $149.99-ish
Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons – No confirmation yet on this, but I would assume it can’t be much later. Raffle will also take place here.
Bruichladdich 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Ardbeg Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $99.99 – our mingling of two Islay greats should get here mid month.
Blair Athol K&L Exclusive 11 Year Old Provenance Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $69.99 – the best source of whisky in Scotland for K&L also happens to be the slowest. They’re in no hurry to get this here. That’s the pace of confidence, I guess.
Kilchoman Single Bourbon Barrel K&L Exclusive Single Malt Whisky $TBA – We went in on a barrel that will be split with Binny’s in Chicago, as far as I understand. I was very impressed with this sample and am happy to get some 5 year old Kilchoman! These guys are slowly becoming one of my favorite distilleries. Can’t wait to visit them next year. This should get here late November.
DECEMBER AND BEYOND
We initially put a December timeline on our Sovereign single barrels, but the government is being a complete bitch right now with label approval and is really making things difficult. Hopefully we can get these here, but I’m afraid it’s looking more like January now. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Bowmore 11 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $72.99
Caledonian 45 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Grain Whisky $149.99
Caol Ila 30 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $174.99
Girvan 21 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Grain Whisky $73.99 – all very good whiskies, all very likely delayed until late December
2 New K&L Barrels!!!! – we’ve kinda been keeping these under wraps until we knew more, but what the heck…
Cragganmore 21 Year Old Faultline Spirits Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $TBA – This should come in right at about $100, which again puts us WAAAAY less than the official Diageo release. And ours is WAAAAAAY better. Look for this late in the month with our own fancy label like the Littlemill.
1981 Brora 30 Year Old Chieftain’s Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $TBA – This is going to really put us on the map nationally. To land a barrel of this magnitude from perhaps the most sought-after mothballed distillery in the world is going to attract some attention. Going to be a rockin’ way to start 2012. This will be bottled on Dec 2nd which is my birthday, so now I’m going to have to buy one.
Possible new K&L casks for January – no word yet on these, but we’ll be doing a sample run next month…
Clynelish 21 Year Old Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old Heavily Peated Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – both could be very interesting!!
IN OTHER NEWS
I’ll be doing another podcast soon with someone at Kilchoman distillery to discuss the new 100% Islay Barley whisky I love so damn much.
It looks like David and I will be postponing our Kentucky trip for January and heading down to sunny Mexico instead. Some of you Bourbon fans might be a bit disappointed, but if you knew what we knew, you would understand. I can’t tell you exactly what that means yet, but let’s say this: have you ever seen a tequila over 10 years old? Over 20? Bottled in a single barrel and at cask strength? You might as soon as we get back.
Tastings for next week will be:
San Francisco – Gran Dovejo Tequilas with Frank Mendez – these are great aged tequilas, some almost bourbon like. Make sure to go!
Redwood City – Los Osuna Tequila with Jesus Padilla – come and try these fantastic agave spirits from Sinaloa, not Jalisco. Their blanco is perhaps my favorite.
That’s a lot of data. Crunch your numbers and come up with a budget! Any questions, send them our way.
-David Driscoll