Alchemist Closeouts Coming - Advanced Warning
Get ready for some AWESOME whiskies at low low low prices. Sometime late next week (if all goes well) we should get a large batch of the absolute LAST Alchemist bottles that were imported into the U.S. There were dropped by the former importer and closed out at ridiculous prices. I did my homework on this deal, made sure I got over to the importer's warehouse once they arrived, tasted through these, and jumped all over every bottle of the best expressions. The Alchemist single malts are independent whiskies from Gordon Wright, a member of the Springbank family with close associations to Bruichladdich as well. That explains how he got all the good stuff. There are other expressions besides the four that I cornered, and while they are also less expensive, they don't represent the slam bang deal that the others do. There are other spirits as well such as a 15 year old Calvados, an older Armagnac, and some aged Guadalupe Agricole rhum. Those will also be brought in most likely, but I'm sticking with these four as the highlights and I bought over 100 bottles of each. We will be shooting out an email to the big list when these arrive but you will have plenty of time to nab as many as you want.
Macallan 18 Year Old Alchemist (elsewhere $150) $79.99 - I've seen this as high as $150 in other countries and over $100 in the UK, but it is not available in the U.S.!! While not as heavily sherried as the standard distillery offering, the Alchemist version still brings the elegance. Vanilla, hints of stone fruit, soft textures, a smooth and lasting finish, and hints of sweet baking spices - everything one would expect from well-aged Macallan. Do not wait to secure your order. These could very well sell through in minutes.
Macallan 15 Year Old Alchemist (elsewhere $80) $65.99 - While everyone else is out there eyeing the fantastic price on the Macallan 18 Alchemist, trust me folks, the 15 year is the jewel of the bunch. This whisky simply explodes with flavor in the traditional Speyside style. Big, chewy, intensely rich flavors of toffee, raisined fruit, candied orange peel, and thick, malty goodness. This is personally the best Macallan I've had in....well, I can't actually remember tasting another Macallan I liked this much! Simply wonderful whisky and I can't recommend it highly enough. This whisky delivers the goods in everyway possible, both for beginners and for single malt experts. Stock up for holiday gifts, or save for yourself because once this is gone, that's it forever. At this price it's hard to decide how many I want!!
Bruichladdich 15 Year Old Alchemist (previously $75) $52.99 - Gordon Wright, the man behind the Alchemist bottlings, used his great relationship with Bruichladdich to secure this super batch of whisky from their library of casks. It's everything you want from the classic style of the distillery - grassy, herbal aromas that lead into a saline, and fruity palate. The finish is rich and warming, brimming with toasted vanilla and barrel spice. When you think that that standard distillery bottlings of Bruichladdich 15 retail for over $70, you realize what a crazy, ridiculous price this is for a whisky this good. Classic in every way and one of the best deals we've stumbled across in some time. This won't last long - especially once our old whisky buyer and Bruichladdich super fan, Susan Purnell, realizes it's here. This is unavailable anywhere else in the U.S. right now, so grab it and grab it quickly.
Highland Park 16 Year Old Calvados Finished Alchemist (unavailable in the U.S.) $72.99 - Currently unavailable anywhere else in the U.S.! A rarely seen gem has suddenly re-emerged and fallen right into our lap at a ridiculously low price! This Calvados-finished Highland Park is astoundingly good, supremely delicious, and likely to sell out as fast as it came in! Imagine all the grace and balance of Highland Park, with the campfire smoke and sweet grains, maturing inside of an apple brandy cask! I couldn't believe my mouth when I tasted this! The apple highlights linger softly on the entry and brood slowly on the palate before they give way to the bit of peat smoke and subtle richness that coat the finish all the way down. I've never seen a Calvados-aged HP and I don't think I'll ever see one again. After tasting this, I can't imagine why that would be the case - this stuff rules.
-David Driscoll