K&L Newsletter: Top Picks From Our Spirits Buyers

This April issue of the K&L Spirits newsletter is a testament to the depth and range of our talented buying team. From a third-generation New York spirits man making his K&L debut, to a Northern California buyer chasing the perfect spritz, to a Kentucky warehouse hunt that yielded one of our most ambitious Faultline blends yet, the voices in this issue reflect what differentiates K&L: passionate, knowledgeable buyers with access to some of the world's finest stocks. Whether you're here for a truly remarkable 36-year-old Speyside whisky, a treasure trove of exclusive Kentucky bourbons, or pre-arrival single casks from the Thompson Brothers, there's a buzz at K&L just in time for spring festivities.

• Spirits Selections in a New York Minute: Ten Bottles on our New York Buyer’s Shortlist


• The Envy of Dufftown: The K&L Liquors' Exclusive 36 Years in the Making


• Spring Is in the Air: The Glorious Return of Spritz Season


• Shake up Your Back Bar: Time for Mother’s Day Brunch Cocktails


• Blending Faultline 100 Proof Bourbon: A Kentucky Warehouse Hunt


• A Deep Bench of K&L Exclusive Bourbons: From Seven‑Year House Bourbon to Mature Single Barrels


• Pre-Arrival from the Thompson Bros: Single Casks Spanning Islay, Speyside, and Beyond

Greetings from Midtown Manhattan, where my brother and I are the third generation in our family to work in the NY wine business—starting when our grandfather purchased the current shop when it was still on Park Avenue in the mid 1960s. Since our alliance with K&L, our roles have changed: my brother Eric is now a private client advisor and I am joining the Spirits team as a buyer. Combined, Eric and I have over 50 years of experience (not counting our days ‘helping out’ while still in high school). We have stories not suitable for this venue—as our grandmother (who also worked in the business) would say, “If I could write a book…”. A bit about myself: I’m a husband of over 30 years and father to 3 kids; a longtime suffering Mets fan and a Keeper of the Quaich (look it up) for over 20 years. I’d say I grew up with spirits in my blood, but some people would take that the wrong way.

As the warm-weather holidays start to arrive, I thought I would highlight a few festive items that should be on everyone’s radar. Here are 10 bottles to consider for Earth Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Father's Day, Flag Day, graduations—you name it! Read More On the Trail.

— Jonathan Goldstein, K&L Spirits Buyer, New York

When this 1989 Speyside malt came to us, the thing that stood out immediately wasn’t the age or the rarity, but the outrageous quality to price ratio. This is a 36‑year‑old Speyside malt, distilled in 1989, drawn from refill hogsheads, and bottled at a natural strength just under 48% with a microscopic amount of its neighboring distillery add to the mix. There’s no famous distillery name on the label, no finishing regime meant to dress it up, and no attempt to turn it into something it isn’t. Just dang good whisky for an amazing price. That’s not something you see every day. Read More On the Trail.

— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer, Southern California

The transition from the cool, damp California winter to the bright, sun-drenched afternoons of April and May means one thing at K&L: the spritz is officially back. As the flowers bloom and the patio furniture is dusted off, I find myself reaching for glasses that capture the effervescence of the season. With Mother’s Day brunch just around the corner, there is no better way to celebrate the occasion than with a cocktail that is as elegant as it is effortless. Read more On the Trail.

— Josh Gelfand, K&L Spirits Buyer, Northern California

To make your brunch planning as seamless as possible, we have curated a selection of our favorite spring essentials. These bottles represent the breadth of our aperitif aisle, from the traditional roots of Europe to the modern craft movement. Read More On the Trail.

— Josh Gelfand, K&L Spirits Buyer, Northern California

Striding through a cool warehouse on a hot Kentucky day, I was hunting for treasure. Hiding somewhere inside the countless old, rough barrels was a golden opportunity; a chance to create my first small batch blend for K&L’s discerning followers.

David and I had already found three beautiful barrels of ten-year-old straight bourbon whiskey earlier that summer. Two were destined for the greatness of a cask-strength single-barrel bottling, while the third would be the bedrock for our ten-barrel blend, a release commemorating the very first Faultline bourbon from years before. Like the original, we planned to marry five 7‑year barrels with five 10‑year barrels. I knew the barrels were there—the trick was finding the ones that worked together. Read more On the Trail.

— Stephanie Manning, K&L Rare Spirits Auction & Acquisition Advisor

If you've been waiting for the right moment to explore what K&L does best, this is it. We've assembled one of the finest lineups of exclusive single barrel bourbons we've ever offered, spanning some of Kentucky's most celebrated distilleries and a range of styles, ages, and price points that has something for every serious whiskey drinker. From cask strength hidden gems to barrel picks with genuine pedigree, every bottle in this collection was hand-selected by our team and bottled exclusively for K&L. It's a testament to the talent of our buyers and the relationships they've built with some of the most legendary producers in Kentucky.

By now you probably know I'm a Redacted/Thompson/Dornoch fanboy of the highest order. It's not just that Phil and Simon are doing some of the coolest, most exciting work in the industry — it's that they're genuinely great people. They work tirelessly for something they truly believe in, and happen to possess two of the absolute finest palates in the business. They seem to have access to stocks that others can only dream of, and each bottling arrives as a quiet masterclass in blending that makes many current single malt prices look, frankly, a little absurd. Here are a few pre-arrival selections that are well worth waiting for.

— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer, Southern California

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