New Stuff

It's been so long since I've done my actual job I've almost forgotten what it entails. Tasting products, making notes, and posting photos on the blog? I haven't had time to do that since late October! Here are some new things that might interest y'all.

Duncan Taylor returns! They're now with my man Val over at JVS so we'll be expanding our selection. The stocks at Duncan Taylor are of serious quality. There is very little in their portfolio that doesn't measure up to the best independent bottles on the market. These selections are no different. We've got a few more on the way, but these are the first three to have landed.

1996 Longmorn 16 Year Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $115.99 -
Delicious, classic, unsherried Speyside whisky from perhaps the best distillery in the region. This Longmorn is full of sweet malted barley with accents of fruit and flowers, finishing with hints of vanilla and spice. Another reason to love Longmorn, as we continue to mourn its scarce availability and long for it here in the States.

1993 Glen Keith 19 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $139.99 - Currently out of production, the Glen Keith distillery has been lying dormant since the mid-90's, but the whisky continues to live on in the independent world of single malt barrels. This is a spectacular example of what the distillery can offer - soft fruits, heather and flowers, sweet grains, and a pleasantly rich finish. The low 50's proof makes this quite drinkable right out of the bottle.

1996 Macallan 15 Year Old Duncan Taylor Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $139.99 - Unsherried, but full of round, supple, malty goodness. A nice break from the normally Oloroso-saturated style of the venerated Highland distillery.

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon $44.99 - I was bit on the fence about this Bourbon at first, but something really clicked after tasting it again yesterday. At first I thought it was just Old Weller Antique, but at a higher price. After another go Tuesday night, there really is much more to like about this whiskey. The richness is really quite lovely and it stays with you longer into the finish. After drinking it next to the OWA, there's really no comparison. The Taylor Small Batch isn't a hot deal, but it is a lovely Bourbon. I'm probably good for one after my next paycheck.

Glenfiddich Malt Master's Edition Single Malt Whisky $79.99 - This is Glenfiddich's answer to Balvenie and Aberlour - a double-matured single malt that began in oak and was finished in sherry. What I have to love about this whisky is that it's a total sleeper. Not one of us (and you know you're included in this) is really too excited about this release, but I've found the limited editions from Glenfiddich over the last few years to be quite good. This is far better than Balvenie's 17 Year Doublewood. Given the lack of an age statement, I'm sure it's not nearly that old, but it still tastes better than 17 year old Balvenie. At $80, it's far less expensive as well.

1985 Bruichladdich DNA Single Malt Whisky $599.99 - I'm nervous for people to buy this whisky because of the expectations that come with $600 booze. People assume it's going to be some amazing new flavor that completely surpasses anything that would normally cost $100 or even $200. That's not this whisky. The DNA is old-school, classic, no-frills, wonderfully-balanced, gentle, delicious Bruichladdich. They haven't released anything like this in the last five years that I can remember. That's why it's expensive. Whereas the Legacy release represented a marriage of whisky barrels about to go over the hill, the DNA is as fresh and alive as anything I've tasted recently. Imagine an old 27 year Stitzel-Weller Bourbon that wasn't overly wooded and was brimming with fresh whiskey spirit. It would be worth at least $300 to $400 if not more. This is the Bruichladdich version of that.

-David Driscoll