WHISKEY TALK
The latest discussions on whiskey and politics
Whiskey of the Week
Kirkland 16yr Highland
Single Malt Scotch,
Sherry Cask Finish
Costco - $59.99
ABC - Not Available
TW - Not Available
Class VI - Not Available
ABV - 46%
16 Years Old
16 Feb 26
The internets tells us: The Kirkland 16-Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled by Alexander Murray & Co., is a premium spirit sourced from Scotland's Highland region. This whisky is crafted exclusively from barley, distilled at a single Highland distillery, and matured for 16 years before finishing in Oloroso Sherry casks. The result is a rich, complex character with inviting aromas of plums, raisins, light oak, and dried fruit.
There’s an excellent review of this Scotch at The Tasting Table. “Very smooth and far less smoky or peaty than many Scotch single malts, it's a pleasant Scotch for beginners and a likely crowd-pleaser when used in cocktails. It is still a Scotch, though, so it is smokier than other whiskies like bourbon, for example, and has less vanilla caramel sweetness…This Scotch doesn't have a lot of spice or sea brine, but instead is rich and mellow, layered with dried fruit and prune flavors. The finish has a slight citrus note and a touch of crisp apple.”
Alexander and Murray explain their trade on their website: “As a merchant and independent bottler, our specialization is not to produce whisky from its raw ingredients;
we leave that to the craft of distillers who have been doing so for generations.
Our relationships allow us the capacity to engage with many distillers in Scotland in order to purchase casks of their whisky that have already been matured. These bonds are not easy to come by. We take these casks and create unique whiskies under the strong principles of the Alexander Murray name. Whether single malt, single cask or blended, you will find quality in everything we do, and at every price point.”
I happened upon my bottle of Kirkland Highland Single Malt when it fell off the back of a truck! Amazing that it remained intact, heh heh.
As with other items, Costco scours the earth to find quality items to put under their generic ‘Kirkland’ brand. They do this for an assortment of liquors. (Who is the person who gets to select which whisk[e]y gets the ‘Kirkland’ brand name? I want that job!) You could easily spend twice as much for this type of quality Scotch. Costco is popular among whisk[e]y enthusiasts because they’re able to get really great expressions and sell them for exceptionally low prices. If you’re a Costco member and find yourself at a location that sells liquor, I highly recommend checking out their whisk[e]y selection and stocking up. They also sell name brands very cheaply as well.
I’m not telling you you should break the law and buy whisky in Washington, DC, but if your friend happened to be up there and asked if you wanted anything, requesting the Kirkland 16yr Highland Single Malt Scotch would be an excellent idea. ޗިއަރސް!
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What is whiskey?
Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from fermented grain. Various grains are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, which are typically made of charred white oak. Uncharred white oak casks previously used for the aging of port, rum or sherry are also sometimes used. Sometimes the distiller uses a ‘malted’ grain. That is grain that has been made to germinate by soaking in water and is then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air. In the case of scotch and many single-malt whiskies, the hot air is made by burning peat from the local area. That peat smoke is then infused into the grain. That is how scotches get that ‘peaty’ flavor.
At Whiskey and Politics, we’re going to explore the entire world of whiskey and whisky. That will include the three biggest types, scotch, bourbon, and Irish whiskies, but also the less-well known whiskies like Japanese and Indian brands as well as. If it’s whiskey/whisky, we’ll happily enjoy it.
‘Whisky’ or ‘Whiskey’?
All whiskies have the common characteristics listed above. Certain countries favor one spelling over the other—for example, Scotland and Canada always use “whisky,” while Ireland and the United States tend to favor “whiskey.” But even that can vary. For example, it’s ‘Maker’s Mark Whisky’. The bourbon maker prefers to without the ‘e’.
Obviously, at Whiskey and Politics we prefer to stick with the more-traditional American version. It’s what we all grew up with. But on some occasions, like featuring a Whiskey of the Week, we’ll spell it as the distiller does.
Whisky Advocate Magazine has a great tutorial covering all aspects of whiskey production. To learn more about how whiskey and whisky is made, click here!