40 Years of Splendor

For the K&L whisky faithful, these are the moments you live for: those opportunities when we dig out gems from Scotland's forgotten cellars, 40 years of whisky maturation from a lost distillery at full proof for $250. Grain whisky continues to be undervalued by the market, even when it's from a closed producer like Carsebridge. If this were Port Ellen it would be over $3000. But because it's grain whisky the market is unsure of what to do with it, so the price is absolutely ridiculous by comparison. I know what to do with this whisky, however, as I'm assuming all of your do, too. Drink it, and savor every last drop of it.

1976 Carsebridge 40 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky $249.99 - While most whisky fans think of Port Ellen and Brora when the DCL distillery closures of 1983 are recalled, the company that would eventually become Diageo shut down a number of other whisky facilities that fateful year, including the Lowland grain operation known as Carsebridge. Originally founded in 1798, the distillery functioned as a cooperage after it ceased distilling, but even that process was ended in 2011 when the Diageo barrel operation was moved over to Cambus. Thus, with each drop of Carsebridge that is poured each year, what little remains of the distillery's stock is slowly extinguished from Scotland's grain whisky history, making each bottle that exists just a bit more rare. This 40 year edition, distilled in 1976 and bottled for K&L in 2017, represents the holy trinity for Scotch whisky enthusiasts, the combination of price, age, and rarity that historically has sent our customers into a feeding frenzy. Rich and round on the palate with the decadence of four decades in wood, this lively and vanilla-laden Scotch almost comes across like an American Bourbon with its big oak spices and 54% cask strength proof. Laden with honey on the finish, the bold proof brings home the flavor for a minute long finish.

-David Driscoll

David Driscoll