2016 Ends With A Final Stellar Line-Up of Hepburn’s Choice Bottlings
The last 2016 batch of Hepburn’s Choice has landed and we may have just saved the best for last. Starting with a remarkable expression of one of the most highly-regarded distillers, the Caol Ila 7 Year-Old is a truly unique red wine barrel aged expression that fans of the producer will not want to miss. The other four gems are mature selections at truly terrific prices that need to find a place in your holidays – under the tree, in a stocking, or just in a prominent place on your bar.
The Royal Brackla 18 is a bourbon barrel aged full and flavorful Scotch that’s somehow amazingly under $70. The beautifully expressive Auchentoshan 19 is next in line and is a classy Lowland of the highest caliber. On the other side is a classic Highland from Strathmill 24. Both are well under $100. Last, and extremely limited, is an extraordinary cask of Bunnahabhain 27 at a price that’s almost too good to be true…same goes for what is inside of the bottle. All bottles are now in-stock in all locations, but none of them are long for the shelves. Load up for the holidays and beyond.
Caol Ila rose? Why not? This seven year old 58.2% cask strength edition of smoky Islay single malt whisky was finished in a red wine cask, lending the whisky a salmon color that looks more like Vin de Provence than Scotch. The result is a light dusting of red fruits around a sold core of classic Caol Ila seaside fare: salt, smoke, brine, earth, oil, and a bit of funk for good measure. Those who like their Islay whisky bold and brash will go ga-ga for this selection, and the addition of earthier elements from the wine cask maturation only broaden that complex fury of the elements. Pull a fast one on your friends by offering them a glass of delicious Bandol rose! Then watch their face distort itself as huge dose of 116.4 proof Islay intensity hits them at full force!
Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 16, 2016
One of the coolest and most fun bottles I have tasted from Scotland is this 7 year old Coal Ila Wine Barrel we got from our friends at Hepburn’s Choice. The whiskey pours an almost rose color and the wine influence is definitely present on the nose with a richer fruit note that is not usually present in Coal Ila. Of course the young peaty notes come through on the palate, but again the wine casking adds this almost sweet red fruit note that plays so well with the young brine and smoke from this Scotch. This is one to grab as I am assuming it is going to disappear quickly.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
Signed nostrils and scorched earth. This whisky sits pretty in pink in your glass but bruises all of your tender sensibilities. A stunning selection from Scotland’s smokey isle with a very unusual finish. I can’t get confirmation, but I’m certain this was a Syrah barrel. The pepper, the meatiness, it’s uncanny. It’s like a brined and smoked pork brisket in a glass. The peat is large and in charge, it’s salty, it’s excellent, and it’s most definitely everything you love about Islay. Some like it hot and you know I do, but for Peat’s sake don’t forget to stir the branch into this one!
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
We’re not sure which type of red wine barrel this Caol Ila was matured in, but my colleague Andrew thinks it has to be syrah, simply because of all the meatiness that’s added to the flavor profile from the wine influence. This is a bold, brash, and in your face Caol Ila. It’s a peat monster in every sense of the word. It’s also pink, which is both hilarious and awesome. Pull the cork and let this baby rip. It’s maritime to the max.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
Young single Caol Ila selections always seem to be very popular at K&L. One reason I suspect is that they are surprisingly good. This cask is no exception. It has a nice rose color from the finish. It has fine aromas of smoke and fruit. In the mouth the smoke comes through as the dominate flavor with the fruit , caramel. malt and salt flavors coming next. With a splash of water it is nice and soft. There is a wonderful long finish.
We’re back with round two from Royal Brackla, in what is another bold, assertive, and flavorful single cask selection. Rich, robust, and caramel-laden in its essence, this particular whisky is loaded with fruity esters that light up the finish like a pack of fireworks. Under all that spice are rounded notes of chocolate and toffee that have soaked in from the ex-Bourbon barrel. The nose begins with classic oak aromas, but is quickly enveloped by the cocoa and creamy malted notes on the mid-palate. At 55%, a bit of water does help to tame some of the heat, opening up more of the toffee notes and some of the fruit. When you go back in for a second nosing, the glass simply brims with aromas of cereal milk, chocolate malt, and sweet barley. A fascinating and fun whisky for a really, really good price.
Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 16, 2016
I really enjoyed the 17 year old Royal Brackla that we had earlier in the year and was sad to see it vanish so quickly. So when I saw that we had another one in and a year older I could not wait to taste it. A little smokier than the other offering this whiskey offers hints of toffee and richness alongside layers of vanilla and spice from the bourbon cask. Wonderfully balanced once you add a little water to tame this whiskey there is a lot to offer here and all of it good.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
Smoked like a Mezcal the dark and oily nature of this whisky is beguiling. If you’ve ever been to Barrone’s cafe in Menlo Park and had the Mexican Mocha, you’re halfway to trying this beauty. It’s loaded with cocoa and spice. With a little water a gentler smoke side presents itself, like beach bonfire that’s gone cold. The water also seems to transform the raw cocoa into more a cooked, sweet, processed chocolate and brings out the natural caramel from the barrel.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
The first time I tasted through these casks of Royal Brackla I thought whisky must have been aged in barrels that were used to mature peated whisky, simply because there’s almost something phenolic going on. The aroma borders on smoke, but then it becomes almost fruity and chocolate-y in a way that almost confuses my taste buds. I love it! It’s so full of flavor and explosive on my tongue. I wish more Scotch tasted as good as this for the money.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
This captivating selection has a lot to offer. If I had to describe it in only three words I would say: interesting, complex and excellent. In the nose there hints of smoke that are supplemented with an interesting fruit component. In the mouth there are fruit and caramel aspects that are integrated with savory notes. Very complex and very good.
Auchentoshan often gets overlooked in the new age of big sherry and big peat. The Lowland stalwart’s triple-distilled, light, and fruity flavors often have more in common with Irish whiskey than they do Scotch single malt, but that’s exactly why we love it! The longer Auchentoshan sits in wood, the more exotic those fruit flavors become, which is exactly what happened inside this hogshead from Hepburn’s Choice. There’s a kiss of sweetness right off the bat that’s lifted and bolstered up by the 53.3% ABV. The vanilla kicks in shortly after and there are cheerful notes of shortbread and oak spice on the finish. At 19 years old, this whisky is still full of malty character and by no means shows its age. Think of this whisky as a cask strength version of the Midleton Rare, but at almost half the price. With water, the fruit really opens up and flavors of caramel and king sugar begin to unfold. It’s a whisky that does justice and honor to the classic Lowland style.
Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 16, 2016
Auchentoshan is a great go to whiskey for me, one of those distilleries that I always find tasty and am pleased when I get to taste. Usually when I drink it though I have the younger years so it was super fun getting to taste an older single cask version of it that just came in. The cereal and vanilla notes that I am used to from this distillery are definitely present, along with a little malt in the mid-palate. The age here adds a wonderful extra layer of complexity to the bottle and there is a nice finish of baking spice.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
I love Auchentoshan. I have to buy a bottle of every cask we bring in because when I want a delicate, but deep and complex whiskey, nothing else seems to do. This particular cask is surprisingly sweet and rich compared to the cask earlier in the year. There is more of a vanilla syrup texture and a little bit of cakiness, like an angel food cake. With water it shows it’s soft and supple side. While present, the earth and tea notes I was expecting given our last Auchentoshan offering have taken back seat. This is the perfect whisky for a night quiet night and a good book.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
If I have to single-handedly keep advocating for triple-distilled Lowland Scotch whisky, I’ll do so. While my friends are destroying their palates with uber-peaty Islay malts, 16% cabernets, and 14% super-duper, nuclear-level IPAs, I’ll happily sit back with a glass of mellow, intricate, and utterly-satisfying Auchentoshan. The pride of Glasgow is well alive in this edition. Nothing more than you’d expect: vanilla, biscuits, sweet grains, and subtle citrus. We’ve got the standard 18 year on the shelf for $120, so why not take the extra digit and the higher proof and save yourself forty bucks?
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
There is a lot to like in this single cask selection. It has pretty delicate honey and caramel aromas. In the mouth it is smooth and fine with honey and malt nuances. The Auchentoshan is not one dimensional and has a subtle complexity.
For those who enjoyed our 24 year Longmorn bottled by Signatory, you’ll be pleased to know you can now get a similar whisky in a similar style for a whole lot less! This 24 year old Strathmill single malt is loaded with oily fruit, wood resin, creamy vanilla, and a rich finish of caramel and crème brulee and we’re offering it at a price that’s almost too good to believe. For $89.99, this offering is right there with the Glenturret that sold out in a heartbeat earlier this Fall. Strathmill is a Highland distillery owned by Diageo that provides much of the malt in the J&B blend. It’s known for its light and fruity character, which is most definitely on full display in this selection. At 47.9%, the whisky has proofed itself down naturally to an absolutely perfect spot; one that allows for enjoyment without the addition of water. Hints of candied pineapple, sweet barley grains, and floral notes dance lightly across the finish. For fans of the classic Highland style, there are few deals around as good as this.
Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 16, 2016
Love the richer more tropical side of Scottish whiskey? Then grab one of these before they disappear. Sweet vanilla and tropical fruit on the nose leads to a rich butterscotch note and super creamy mouthfeel. This is a rich, almost rum like, whiskey that really showcases a side of Scotch not always found. Although this is a bigger style of whiskey it is still balanced and such a smooth finish that it is easy to drink more than one glass without noticing.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
You know that feeling when you step off the plane in Hawaii? The tropical air, the lei, the pineapples? It’s like that. But boozier. Step into the tropics with this neat whisky. Green vanilla, Jasmine flowers, warm toffee, a touch of salt water taffy, and the cinnamon and breadiness of funnel cake. This is like jumping into a Hawaiian carnival. All for under a hundred bucks and bottled at 47.9% to boot. While all of our Hepburn and Signatory selections are always unique, this one really steps out there as a unique but extremely enjoyable flavor profile. If you like to try new things and you love good hooch, don’t miss this bottling.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
Juicy, round and rich this Strathmill is for those who want a full boded treat. There are abundant caramel , malt and fruit flavors that are varied and interact together. Although on the lusty side it is not simple. There is a nice long finish.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
This is a fun chance for those of you who want to understand the subtle richness of 20+ year old Highland whisky to enjoy that tastiness at an extremely affordable price. This is slow-matured and supple Scotch that is neither peated, nor aged in sherry wood. There’s nothing here but the evolution of straightforward single malt in a hogshead barrel over two and a half decades. You get the supple, candied fruit that’s been penetrated by the oak. There’s vanilla, but it’s more like crème brulee at this point. It’s also soft and reduced over time, so you don’t have to futz around with adding water. It’s simply a really nice whisky for a really nice price.
Yet another ultra-mature Bunnahabhain selection for a price that seems too good to be true! How long can we keep going back to the well, you ask? As long as that well is full of 27 year old cask strength Islay single malt for less than two hundred bucks, as many times as we can! This new single cask selection from Hepburn’s Choice is everything you hope it will be, full of that oily, salty, tropical fruit note that makes Bunnahabhain such a fan favorite. After almost three decades in wood, the peat is almost an after-thought, but it’s there on the finish, slowly permeating its way into your palate. At 53.3% ABV, the proof lifts up the stone fruit on the mid-palate and provides balance to inherent richness of the whisky. A few drops of water are helpful in opening up some of the smoke, but this malt drinks beautifully right out of the bottle. If you’re looking for a last minute gift for that Islay whisky lover, this is a home run.
Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 16, 2016
What else can I offer here that you have not already heard from the others when it comes to this bottle? The fact that it is delicious and at cask strength is still so smooth that it can be sipped without water? The way that the oily malts and hints of salt interact with the caramel and smoke? Or the fact that this is a 27 year old bottle of whiskey for $150? The fact of the matter is that this is perhaps THE deal for Christmas and I hope you are able to get one before they are gone.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
One sniff of my glass and I can touch the wet malt and roll it between my fingers before it goes into the kiln. I can watch it dry, see, feel, and smell the sugar caramelize with heat. The gentle notes of peat smoke slowing infuse the grain. It seems I’m in my woodshop, a gentle and warm space, filled with sawdust and the sweet smell of fresh cut lumber. A gentle rain brings out the fresh fruit flavors. Toasted quince and baked apples – I’m home in my mothers kitchen as she bakes a pie. Nutmeg and cinnamon fill the air. Then suddenly, I’m awake. Just standing it the tasting bar with a glass in my hand. Where have I been? I struggle to find the words – usually a good sign. I’m just left with this easy feeling, like I’ve been a part of something – like I’ve made something. Like I tasted something fabulous for the first time. It’s like that.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
I don’t know what else anyone could possibly add in addition to the notes above that could make you anymore excited or clarify this deal any further. It’s 27 year old Bunnahabhain that tastes like 27 year old Bunnahabhain at cask strength for well under $200. The standard 25 year old edition goes for $900 now, so you might want to stock your cellar with this if you can afford to.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016
I usually taste cask strength selections with a touch of water. This Bunnahabhain I tasted once with waster and once without. With water: There are nice intricate smoke aromas that are very inviting. In the mouth there is a nice bit of fruit with savory and smoke influences. There is a hint of salt. Without water: This Bunnahabhain is smooth enough to drink this way. It tastes a little richer with caramel, honey, savory and salt flavors . There is some smoke on the finish. With both tastings the age shows itself offering a pleasant mellow undertone.
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