New Arrivals: E. H. Taylor Barrel Strength, Elijah Craig 21 year and Stagg Jr Barrel Strength!

Hey All,

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Got a few last minute holiday arrivals today:

-Elijah Craig 21 year bourbon $169.99
-E. H. Taylor Barrel Proof bourbon $94.99
-Stagg Jr Barrel Proof bourbon $59.99

All three bourbons are highly allocated, but the quality of each is second to none. This is the second release of the Elijah Craig 21 year, E.H. Taylor barrel strength and Stagg Jr, which may imply some degree of regular availability. They'll still sell out quickly but there's a chance we may receive more every few months, which is a happy sign if you ask me. Thanks for the interest and have a Happy New Year!

Available @ Both Shops

Nate

Holiday Gift Ideas!

Hey All,

Got a couple great last minute gift ideas:

-Hooker's House 3 bottle gift set $79.99: includes three 200ml bottles of the pinot noir finished bourbon, zinfandel finished rye and cohabitation bourbon (blend of 21, 11, 9 and 7 year finished in 7 unique barrels)
-The Glenrothes 3 bottle gift set $46.99: includes three 100ml bottles of the Select Reserve, 2001 and 1998 vintages
-St. George 3 bottle gin gift set $32.99: includes three 200ml bottles of the Dry Rye, Terrior and Botanivore gins
-Mi Casa 3 bottle tequila set $139.99: includes three 750ml bottles of blanco, reposado and anejo (*available at Castro only*)

First three items available @ Both Shops

Happy Holidays!

Nate

New Arrivals: Angel's Envy Rum Finished Rye!

Happy Holidays everybody!

Busy-busy around the shop these days but I wanted to let everyone know we got a small shipment of Angel's Envy rum finished rye. This is seriously good stuff, a sort of liquid adult candy if you will. Get it while you can!

Available @ Both Shops

Nate

New Arrivals: Glendronach 21 year and 18 year single malt scotch

Attention everyone, I have an urgent and horrifying news break, and I need you all to stop what your doing and listen. Glendronach single malt Scotch is awesome! You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

Glendronach is truly one of the best sherry cask aged Speyside single malts Scotches. The producers focus primarily on first fill sherry butts and have the audacity not to add any caramel color, unlike some other brands (*cough, MaCallan, cough*). The oakier flavor profile is full and rich with notes of toffee, nougat, earth and charred oak. But it's the remarkable palate gripping texture and viscosity that really sets these apart. This for me, is all the oak I've ever wanted as a bourbon fan, but in the form of a single malt Scotch. Look out for a few cask strength single barrel bottlings the next few weeks as well.

New In:
-Glendronach 21 year "Parliament" $169.99
-Glendronach 18 year $149.99

Also in Stock:
-Glendronach 15 year $99.99
-Glendronach 12 year $59.99

Available @ Both Shops. You stay classy San Francisco!

Nate

New Arrivals: Peat Monster 10th Anniversary!

Hey All,

Landed a few bottles of the super limited Peat Monster 10th Anniversary at both shops. I'll let Compass Box regale you with the details:

Availability: Limited Release of approx 5,700 bottles. Bottled in September 2013.

Flavour Descriptors: Intense aromas of peet-reek, smoke, seaside character and burnt ropes, with a subtle apple-fruitiness in the background. The palate is full, round and tremendously complex. Water brings out a spice laden, sweet vanilla character, as well.

Distillery Sourcing: Islay single malts distilled on the south shore of the island and in the village of Port Askaig. Balanced with a rich, smoky Highland single malt and a fruity oily malt from the village of Brora.

Wood: Primarily a mix of first-fill and refill American oak, plus approximately 2% new French oak for finishing.

Bottling Details: Bottled at 48.9%. Not chill filtered. Natural colour.

Come and get it!

Nate

New Arrivals: Pappy Van Winkle bourbons!

Hey All,

Pappy Van Winkle bourbons have finally landed @ both Healthy Spirits shops. Fair warning: these will likely sell out in the next 15-20 minutes. Here's what we got:

-Pappy Van Winkle 23 year bourbon
-Pappy Van Winkle 20 year bourbon
-Pappy Van Winkle 15 year bourbon
-Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 year rye
-Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 year bourbon
-Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year 107 proof bourbon

These are all behind the counter right now, first come first serve, limit one bottle per customer. Beer and Bourbon club members may call in to reserve one bottle, but there are several reserved for in store sales only. Unfortunately we will not be doing over the phone sales of any kind. Good luck everyone!

*UPDATE: SOLD OUT*

Nate

Small Business Saturday: Tomorrow 11am to 3pm!

Hey All,

Just wanted to remind everyone that our biggest sale of the year, Small Business Saturday, is going on tomorrow from 11am to 3pm. Everything in the shop will be 10%-40% off, club members get an additional 5% discount making everything in the shop 15%-40% off.

We'll have food and coffee for anyone that wants to get in line early to take advantage of the best deals (all featured items are while supplies last). And we'll have free gifts for the first 50 people through the door as well as rewards programs for t-shirts, glassware, hats, golf supplies and other fun schwag for spending certain amounts in the shop.

Come early and stock up on great holiday gifts or replenish your personal bar at home. See you at the shop. Happy Holidays!

Healthy Spirits

Thanksgiving Hours

Wednesday 11/27: 11am to 10pm
Thursday Thanksgiving 11/28: 11am to 4pm
Friday 11/29: 11am to 11pm
Small Business Saturday (Special Sale Event 11am-3pm) 11/30: 11am to 11pm

Hope everyone has a great Turkey Day and holiday season. Don't forget to come see us on small business Saturday for our 4 hours only 10%-40% of everything sale! We'll have lots of free give aways including t-shirts, glassware, signage, hoodies, golf shirts, sports wear, golf bags and lots of other schwag. See you at the shop!

Nate

New Arrivals: Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon

Hey All,

The hits keep coming with the latest new release: Angel's Envy cask strength port finished bourbon.Came in a little higher price wise then I expected but the quality is exceptional, which I'd argue justifies the price. Only got six bottles per shop so this will likely sell out fast. It comes in a beautiful felt lined oak box and would be a perfect addition under any whiskey enthusiasts tree.

-Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon $179.99

Available @ Both Shops

Nate

New Arrivals: Anchor White Christmas (White Whiskey distilled from 2012 Anchor X-Mas Beer)

Hey All,

A lot of new releases coming our way, gotta love the holiday season. This is Anchor's new white whiskey distilled from 2012 Anchor Christmas Ale. This tastes a lot like the base beer with notes of fruitcake, cinnamon and nutmeg, pine needles, custard, vanilla and other baking spices. One of the most unique spirits I've ever had, and definitely the best white whiskey. It's amazing just sipping on its own but I have to think it will have some super unique cocktail applications once mixologists get their hands on it. There seems to be a lot of interest in this, and it's a one time release, so get it while you can. Cheers

-Anchor White Christmas $59.99

Available @ Both Shops

Nte

New Arrivals: Dry Fly Bourbon, Triticale Whiskey and Port Finished Wheat Whiskey

Hey All,

The holiday season is in full swing here at Healthy Spirits, and we couldn't be happier to see all the friendly faces with interest in craft beer and whiskey. One of the better micro distillers we've seen interest in lately, Dry Fly, is really hitting their stride with some new releases that absolutely blew us away. They were the first registered distillery in Washington post prohibition, and had a hand in pushing the legislation through that made it legal to distill in Washington once again. One of the big differences that sets them apart from other micro distillers is the use of normal 53 gallon barrels for aging. Their not trying to rush anything and it really shows in the flavor profile. Here's what we got in:

-Dry Fly Triticale Whiskey $29.99: A rare hybrid grain made from crossing wheat and rye, Dry Fly is the only producer with a triticale whiskey on the market. Beautiful cereal grain notes from the wheat mix flawlessly with the delicate floral/peppercorn spice from the rye.

-Dry Fly Bourbon Whiskey $39.99: This bourbon clocks in at a robust 101 proof, giving a great bit of depth and mouthfeel for a whiskey on the younger side. Has a mash bill of 60% corn, 20% malted wheat and 20% malted barley. Notes of kettle corn, brittle, butterscotch and a hint of white florals.

-Port Finished Wheat Whiskey $29.99: Since Washington is a big producer of wheat, Dry Fly's flagship offering is wheat whiskey. This is a super limited version of their flagship finished in huckleberry port barrels. Notes of honey and cereal grain mix with berries and cream.

Available @ Both Shops

Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Wild Turkey Forgiven, Bender's Rye, Balvenie Tun 1401 (batch 9), Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams

Hey All,

Got a few new things in the last week or two that have been attracting a lot of interest:

-Wild Turkey Forgiven $63.99: An accidental blending of a bourbon and rye.

-Bender's 7 Year Rye Whiskey $53.99: Locally bottled on Treasure Island.

-Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 9 Single Malt $299.99: One of the most sought after single malts ever released, very limited quantities so get it while you can (Castro only).

-Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams Single Malt #119.99: Limited Glenfiddich release finished in new charred American oak barrels.

Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Exclusive Malts- North Highland, Craigellachie and Peated Dalmore

Hey All,

I've been following the Exclusive Malts closely for a while. The latest three releases from JVS are some of the best I've tried to date. All are cask strength/non-chill filtered single malts with no added coloring. Here's what we got in at both shops:

-Exclusive Malts "Craigellachie" 12 Year Single Malt 2000' Cask #149 $99.99: Lush and creamy mouthfeel with notes of wild flower honey, cereal grain, heather and a hint of vanilla. Super approachable at cask strength

-Exclusive Malts "North Highland" 14 Year Single Malt 1999' Cask #678 $99.99: An amazing single malt sourced from Glenmorangie. Has a beautiful minerality and texture with a distinct earthiness and charred oak flavor in the finish.

-Exclusive Malts "Dalmore" (Peated) 13 Year Single Malt 2000' Cask #6952 $109.99: I've never seen a peated Dalmore before and boy did I like it. A hint of nougat sweetness perfectly compliments notes of earth and smoke. Get this while you can.

Available @ Both Shops

Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection!

Hey all,

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection just landed! Limit 1 bottle from the line per customer, first come first serve. Only got a few of these so they'll likely sell out in the next 20-30 minutes, good luck. Here's what we got:

-George T. Stagg bourbon
-Sazerac 18yr rye
-Thomas Handy Sazerac rye
-William Larue Weller bourbon
-Eagle Rare 17yr bourbon

Cheers

Update: *Now Sold Out*

Nate

New Arrival: Parker's Heritage 7th Edition Promise of Hope

Howdy folks,

Parker's Heritage 7th Edition has arrived, just in time for your post Halloween leftover candy binge!  This year's release, affectionately titled "Promise of Hope," is a ten-year-old rye-based single barrel bourbon clocking in at a respectable 96 proof.  Heaven Hill master distiller Parker Beam, who sadly was recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), hand picked barrels whose flavor profile suited his personal tastes.  For every bottle sold, Heaven Hill will contribute $20 to the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund, so drink up ya'll, it's for a good cause!

Promise of Hope is available at both locations for $120.99.  One bottle per person, club members may call in to reserve.  Supply is limited, so don't sit on this one too long.

Happy drinkin',

James

New Arrivals: Nikka 12 Year "Miyagikyo", Nikka 21 Year Taketsuru, Nikka 17 Year Taketsuru, Nikka Coffey Grain

Hey All,

It's great to see some more Japanese whiskies finally hitting the US market. After positive results with their first two offerings, the Taketsuru 12 year pure malt and the "Yoichi" 15 year single malt, Nikka has decided to add four new highly anticipated whiskies to their line up across the pond.

-Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky $79.99: The word "Coffey" refers to the use of a rare "Coffey Still" that Nikka imported from Scotland in 1963 to make its remarkably elegant corn based grain whisky.

-Nikka 12 Year "Miyagikyo" Single Malt $129.99: This is the first single malt from the Miyagikyo Distillery that's been made available in the US. Miyagikyo has a much peatier flavor profile than its sister distillery (Yoichi), the company's other producer. When stocks from both distilleries are combined you get the Taketsuru pure malt line. This 12 year shows a beautiful minerality and earthiness, with some nice campfire notes, and lush toffee and nougat flavors that balance it out.

-Nikka 17 Year Taketsuru Pure Malt $169.99: A blend of single malts from both the Miyagikyo and Yoichi Distilleries. The 17 year Taketsuru has a very refined and complex flavor profile with notes of honey, vanilla, lemon and berries with just a touch of black pepper and banana bread.

-Nikka 21 Year Taketsuru Pure Malt $199.99: The oldest Japanese whisky currently available in the US. A little more depth and oak than the 17 year with notes of honey, dark chocolate, espresso, prunes, gingerbread cookies, sherry and a hint of soy sauce.

Both the 17 and 21 year Nikkas have been pretty tightly allocated so far, I wouldn't sleep on those if you have any interest. The Coffey Grain and 12 Miyagikyo have had a little better availability. Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Four Roses Limited 2013 Small Batch, Old Forester Birthday Reserve 12 Year

Hey All,

Got a few new whiskies in this week, some pretty heavily awaited American releases and a couple one-off single malt Scotches. Most of the limited releases are starting to hit shelves for the holiday season, be careful not to blink over the next few months or you might miss out.

New in:

-Four Roses Limited Cask Strength Small Batch 2013 Bourbon $108.99 *Sold Out @ Both Shops*
-Old Forester Birthday Reserve 12 Year Bourbon $43.99
-Lock, Stock & Barrel 13 Year Rye $129.99
-Amador Distillery Bourbon (based in Jackson CA) $39.99
-Gordon & MacPhail Old Pulteney 21 Year Single Malt Scotch (won best whiskey in the world in the Whiskey Bible a couple years back) $159.99
-Gordon & MacPhail Coal Ila Single Malt Scotch $78.99
-Benromach Organic Single Malt Scotch (no age statement) $87.99
-Blackadder Mortlach 23 Year Raw Cask Single Malt Scotch $239.99

Available @ Both Shops

Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Michter's 20 Year Bourbon and Michter's 25 Year Rye

Ladies and Gentlemen, the holy grails have landed. There's a line from the movie Beerfest, one of my favorite movies, that sort of encapsulates what I feel like I should be writing in this post: "This is that moment that only exists in sports - where the coach gives a speech on the jumbotrom to get the hometown fans fired up! We're the bad guys and they're the good guys, and I'll be damned if we let the good guys win!"

Lucky for us there's no good guys or bad guys in this, we all have the ability to be winners, which in this case means obtaining your very own bottle of the rare and elusive Michter's 20 or 25 year. Now I'm not gonna lie, we only got a few bottles of these, plus you'll likely have to drop half a month's rent to get them. But outside of that I can't think of another bourbon or rye I'd rather have in my bar at home. The 20 year bourbon and 25 year rye are practically life changing. The layers of depth and flavor are unsurpassed in anything I've ever tried before. Listen, I could go on and on about how good these are, but realistically they're gonna sell out fast regardless of what I say. Will you be one of the lucky winners?

Michter's 20 Year Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon 57.1% (114.2 proof) $599.99
Michter's 25 Year Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye 58.65% (117.3 proof) $499.99

Available @ Both Shops

Cheers

Nate

Four Roses Tasting Event Sept. 27th with Jim Rutledge!

Hey all,

Healthy Spirits has partnered with the fantastic local whiskey bar Elixir to bring you a special Four Roses Tasting event with Master Distiller Jim Rutledge. Jim will guide us through 8 private selection cask strength single barrels, all exclusive to Healthy Spirits and Elixir, as well a few surprise offerings possibly of the "limited" variety. Jim Rutledge will also be signing bottles, and we'll provide a nice food spread to help balance out all that delicious whiskey.

The event will take place this coming Friday Sept. 27th from noon to 2pm at Elixir (corner of 16th and Guerrero). Tickets are $45 and can be purchase through event brite on the following link:

https://4roses.eventbrite.com/

Hope to see everyone there. Cheers

Nate

New Arrival: Elijah Craig 21 Year Bourbon

Hey All,

So the hits keep coming today as some Elijah Craig 21 year unexpectedly fell in our lap. The last release of Elijah Craig was the 20 year, which was astonishingly good and won Whiskey Advocate's best whiskey of the year in 2012. The talk around town is that the 21 year is even better. We got tiny allocations at both shops so I don't expect these to last long but if I get a chance to try it I'll repost tasting notes here later. Good luck! Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Johnnie Walker Platinum 18 Year and Johnnie Walker Green 15 Year!

Hey All,

Johnnie Walker has finally strolled into the shop. At the end of the day, even though these are blended whiskies, these offerings (one new, one being discontinued) are just too damn good to pass up. We pride ourselves on our whiskey selection and sometimes that means saying no to certain whiskies that don't meet our standards of quality. Johnnie Walker Platinum and Green meet these standards in spades. The Platinum Label is aged a minimum of 18 years, with some stocks undoubtedly a little older, and is a blend of about 25 distilleries. This is the first time the Platinum has ever been available as it's a new release for the holiday season. The flavor profile focuses on malt whiskies from Speyside and Islay.

The Green Label has been destined for extinction since Diageo decided to discontinue it late last year. The US had a rather large supply at the begin of 2013 and has been able to keep it on shelves much longer then the rest of the world. Those stocks have finally run dry and the shipment we got today is among the last remaining cases. Unlike all the other Johnnie Walker releases the Green Label is a blend of all malt whisky, with Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore and Linkwood as the main components. Each whisky is aged a minimum of 15 years which makes Green Label one of the better deals for an all malt Scotch. This is your last chance, once they're gone, they're gone.

Platinum Label $109.99
Green Label $79.99

Available at both shops

Nate

New Arrivals: Singleton 12 Year Single Malt

Hey all,

This is it. The last shipment of Singleton 12 year we'll see in the US for some time, possibly permanently. The story goes that about a year and a half ago the owners of the Singleton brand had to make a tough decision, keep Singleton available globally and have lots of outages or pick a region or two that sells it best and make it only available there. They decided on the later and made it only available in their top market, Asia. The 750ml bottles were immediately pulled from the US and the product hasn't been available since. Some how, much to our good fortune, a few cases of 1 liter bottles got lost at the distributor's warehouse. We were able to secure those few precious lost cases and now have the beautifully balanced yet remarkably well priced 12 year gems on our shelves. Singleton has a little more oak than your average 12 year single malt and an impressive sea air/briny characteristic that really sets it apart. Get these while you can, $55.99 each. Cheers

Available at both shops!

Nate

New Arrivals: St. George Lot 13 Single Malt

Hey all,

Got a small allocation of St. George Lot 13 today, definitely one of the best single malts in the country. What's most interesting to me about this line is the use of such a wide range of barrels, from pear brandy barrels to tequila barrels, wine barrels and whiskey barrels. Anything is fair game. And its one of the most unique single malts you'll ever try with notes of white florals, stewed fruits, cereal grains, toasted pecans and wild flower honey. Get it while you can. Cheers

Available @ Both Shops

*Update: Sold Out*



Nate

New Arrival: Michter's 10yr Single Barrel Bourbon

I'll keep this short and sweet folks,

Holy shnikies!  Just when you think you've seen the last of something, it seemingly falls from the skies above.  That's right, Michter's 10yr Single Barrel Bourbon is back for a limited time!  In case your memory needs jogging, Michter's is known for surpassing expectations with their age-stated whiskeys.  This 10yr release has the depth and character of a 15 or 16yr old bourbon, and most likely contains juice of that age.  No way of knowing for sure, of course, but by golly if my palate isn't in heaven.  This sauce is easily some of the best bourbon available right now, up there with the most anticipated releases of the year...  Don't wait for the holidays to snatch this up!

Available at both shops!

cheers,
Scott Hackney
Associate Bourbon Blog Editor

New Arrivals: George T. Stagg Jr!

Hey all,

We've had a lot of interest in the Stagg Jr. since Buffalo Trace announced the product several months ago. Fortunately the wait is over as both shops got in a limited allocation today. Even though we got a small amount to start, I've heard that we may see Stagg Jr. released a couple times a year. So if you miss this run there may be more coming down the pipe line in a few months. The Stagg Jr. is a younger cask strength expression of its older sibling. This bottling clocked in at a robust 67.2% alcohol (134.4 proof) and has some super concentrated flavors of cocoa powder, espresso, cinnamon stewed berries, earth and burnt caramel. We anticipate these selling out fast, so there will be a limit of one bottle per customer per day. Good luck everyone. Cheers

Available at both shops!

*Update: Currently Sold Out*

Nate

New Arrivals: Buffalo Trace Experimental- Wheat Experiment (Castro Only)

Hey All,

Just got in the new Buffalo Trace Experimental, apparently it was so limited we only got it at one shop (just a few cases floating around for all of California). This new release is called the wheat experiment, which involved producing four identical wheated recipe bourbons where the only variable was the barrel entry proof. Here are some of the details for the bottlings:

Production Method:
-All 4 bourbons were distilled on 10-24-2001
-All 4 used the wheated recipe
-All 4 used the sour mash technique
-Still proof was 130
-Charred white oak with a level 4 char was used
-All barrels were made by Independent Stave Co. and air dried 3 months
-Barrels were aged in Warehouse K on Floor 6
-All 4 bourbons were bottled at 11 years and 7 months old
-All barrels were chill-filtered and bottled at 45% (90 proof)

Wheat 90 (barrel entry proof of 90)
-"This entry proof resulted in a bourbon with more wood characters and slight sweet notes. It is mellow with hints of cedar and other wood flavors".

Wheat 105 (barrel entry proof of 105)
-"The 105 entry proof produced bourbon that is a nice balance of sweet caramel, vanilla and dry oakiness".

Wheat 115 (barrel entry proof of 115)
-"The 115 entry proof produced a well-balanced spirit. The up-front taste is sweet and fruity, with buttery toffee notes that follow. This is completed with a dry oaky finish".

Wheat 125 (barrel entry proof of 125)
-"The 125 entry proof resulted in a well-rounded flavor. The taste is a balance of cooked berries mingled with sweet honey and slight hints of spicy cloves and pepper".

These are of course descriptions from the bottles, not from me. If I get a chance to try any of them I'll add my descriptions here. Don't sleep on these, they'll go fast. Cheers

Nate

Healthy Spirits: Elijah Craig & Willett

1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon -Made in the same tradition as other award-winning Elijah Craig bottlings, this is a Barrel-Proof, small batch bourbon. Bottled straight from the barrel and without chill filtering, the nose, taste and finish are from 12 years of aging are preserved in their purest form.-$59.99

2. Willett 7 Year Bourbon- This limited- release, hand selected single barrel produced just 192 bottles. Willett is known for selecting exceptional whiskies, so grab this one while you can! -$72.99

New Arrivals: Balcones Brimstone and Single Malt! (Super Limited)

Hey All,

Got some very small quantities of Balcones Single malt (Castro shop only) and Brimstone, also just a few more bottles left of our private barrel selection of True Blue. Get em while you can!

-Balcones single malt whisky $89.99 (Castro only!)
-Balcones Brimstone scrub oak smoked whisky $69.99
-Balcones True Blue Healthy Spirits Exclusive $68.99

New Arrivals: Octomore 10 Year Single Malt, Stein Rye, Stein Bourbon and Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength "Caol Ila" 11 Year!

Hey all,

Just figured I'd give a run down of the whiskies we got in the last week or so.

New Arrivals:

-Octomore 10 Year Single Malt (Super Limited) $299.99
-Stein Distillery Small Batch Rye (New Oregon Micro) $59.99
-Stein Distillery Small Batch Bourbon (New Oregon Micro) $59.99
-Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength "Caol Ila" 11 Year Single Malt $119.99
-Four Roses 2013 Limited Cask Strength Single Barrel $108.99
-Bowmore Dorus Mor (Small Batch Release 1) Cask Strength 10 Year Single Malt $119.99

Back in Stock:

-Jefferson's Presidential 21 Year Bourbon $158.99
-Black Maple Hill Bourbon $49.99
-Hooker's House Healthy Spirits Exclusive Single Barrel Bourbon $44.99
-Larceny Bourbon $27.99
-Eagle Rare Healthy Spirits Exclusive Single Barrel Bourbon (will arrive Friday 8/2) $32.99
-Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Bourbon $32.99
-Old Medley 12 Year Bourbon $57.99
-Highland Park 12 Year Single Malt $59.99

All are available at both shops. Feel free to ask me any specific questions about a particular whiskey in the comments section. Cheers!

Nate

Eddie Russell, Distiller at Wild Turkey, stops by the shop!

What a privilege to have legendary fourth generation distiller Eddie Russell of Wild Turkey stop by the shop. Eddie has been involved in the Wild Turkey Distillery for almost 30 years. About a decade ago he collaborated with his father, Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, to create the "Russell's Reserve" line of products. Which included a 10 year bourbon, a 6 year rye, and more recently a 55% (110 proof) single barrel bourbon that I'd highly recommend trying next time you see it.

Wild Turkey has been working on building a much larger facility the last five years to keep up with the increased global demand for their products. Eddie told me one of the best aspects of the expansion has been the addition of a bottling line, which used to be completely outsourced. Not having a bottling line on site increased the time it took to get the finished bourbon to market and also added additional layers of costs. Another benefit of having a bottling line is that they can now begin a private selection program for accounts like us, allowing retail shops or bars to choose their own single barrel and have it bottled just for them. He figures the private barrel program is likely to come to fruition early next year.

A couple special releases to look forward to this coming winter are:

-A very limited older bourbon to commemorate Jimmy Russell's 60 years with the distillery.
-A really unique blend of a bourbon and rye that I'm told happened by accident.

Both sounded amazing, releases we'll definitely be looking for closer to the holiday season. Cheers

Nate

Featured Whiskey: Bowmore Legend Single Malt

Hey all,

So finding inexpensive single malt Scotch is getting harder and harder every year. The world wide demand is at an all time high. Some value brands, like Singleton 12 year, have been pulled from the U.S. market entirely just to accommodate the growing Asian and European market's demand. Islay whiskies are without a doubt at the forefront of this trend with peat-heads world wide having a seemingly unquenchable thirst for all things smokey. Distilleries like Laphroaig have had to take drastic measures. Since there's no way for them to go back in time and create more whisky, they've had to double their prices just to slow down sales. Their flagship 10 year offering that was once $30 a bottle six months ago you'll find for $50-$60 today.

Enter Bowmore "Legend" one of the last great Islay single malts you can still find at a reasonable price. While Bowmore isn't quite as smokey as Laphroaig it more than makes up for it by having an intense briny saltiness, a beautiful minerality, and a soft-remarkably well balanced peaty smokiness. Logic tells me they won't be able to keep this price going for long, as every other Islay producer has long since abandoned the notion of having a single malt around $40. That being the case this is definitely a get it while you still can type of deal with the Bowmore pricing.

As a special offering to our devoted whiskey fans both shops will be featuring Bowmore Legend at $34.99 , while supplies last.

Enjoy!

Nate

New Arrivals: Kilchoman Loch Gorm Sherry Cask Matured Islay Single Malt

Hey all,

Just got in the new sherry cask matured version of Kilchoman Islay whisky. I've had my eye on the Kilchoman distillery, established in 2005, since they became the first new distillery built on the island of islay in over 100 years. They are currently one of the few farm distilleries, which means they grow their own barley and malt it on site. They do source a percentage of their malted barley from Port Ellen, just like all the other distilleries on Islay, but its a fun concept none the less. Since they're such a young distillery I've been waiting for some older stocks to come along. That's going to take some time, but fortunately they had the foresight to use some first fill Oloroso sherry casks for their new release "Loch Gorm". The first fill casks really give a lot of depth and oak, making it taste much older than a 6 year whisky. Combine that with a super intense smokiness and for me it's reminiscent of a cross between Laphroaig and Lagavulin. Not quite as refined as either of those two but an incredible flavor profile, and a great new addition to a region Scotch fans can't get enough of.

Available at both shops!

Nate

New Arrivals: Glenfarclas 12 Year, 21 Year and 25 Year Single Malts

Hey All,

Just got in some great new single malts that have slipped under my radar the last few years. Glenfarclas is a distillery in the heart of Speyside situated right next to the river Spey, and in very close proximity to industry stand outs: Balvenie, Aberlour, Cragganmore and Glenlivet. Here's my brief notes on each one:

-Glenfarclas 12 Year: Surprisingly vibrant and zesty with hints of lemon peel and wild flower honey.

-Glenfarclas 21 Year: Incredible value for a 21 year, the 17 year Glenfarclas is around the same price but no where near as good. A lot more oak and sherry notes than the 12 year with an exceedingly lush and engaging finish.

-Glenfarclas 25 Year: This one was really interesting because it tastes a lot like the 12 year just a lot more elegant and refined. Less oak than the 21 year but it has a beautiful viscosity, long lingering finish and the similar citrus/ lemon zest notes with a hint of crushed minerals.

These are probably some of the best priced 21 and 25 year single malts I've seen. Definitely worth a try if you're looking for something new or unpeated. Cheers!

Available at Castro and Clement

Nate

New Arrivals: James E. Pepper 15 Year Rye and 15 Year Bourbon!

Hey All,

Just got in some brand new releases from James E. Pepper including: a high rye content bourbon, a 15 year bourbon and a cask strength 15 year rye. The two year rye, which I've stocked for a few months now, was a revelation in quality. It's bottled at 100 proof and non-chill filtered allowing it to retain a lot of the body, texture and complexity chill filtration removes. It reminds me a lot of the Willett Family Estate rye which has an intensely floral-perfumey spice profile with notes of lavender, jasmine, cloves, peppercorns and fennel. The James E. Pepper brand dates all the way back to 1776, the Revolutionary War era. Washington DC based Georgetown Trading Co. decided to re-launch the brand and spent countless hours gathering original bottlings and researching the original recipes and techniques. The whiskies they settled on are distilled in Indiana, by LDI, and are very much in tune with what whiskies of the time may have been like, given the high rye content, bottled in bond style proofing and non-chill filtration. Here are my tasting notes on the two new 15 year releases:

James E. Pepper 15 Year Barrel Strength Rye
-On the nose I get notes of cinnamon, fennel, marzipan, leather, honey suckle and lavender. Pretty intense aromas with a fair amount of charred oak coming through. On the palate I get notes of baklava, cinnamon buns, toffee, fennel, peppercorns, sweet tobacco, buttery scones and lavender. The flavors are vibrant but surprisingly well integrated. The oak is there but never crosses the line, super soft and engaging tannins. The finish is long and spicy, pretty typical of a great LDI rye.

James E. Pepper 15 Year Bourbon
-This bourbon comes in at a whopping 38% rye content which really comes through on the nose with notes of gravel, mint, charred oak, dulce de leche and apricot preserves. The aromas were as vibrant as the 15 year rye with just a little hint of fruitiness separating the two. On the palate I get notes of lavender candy, vanilla, orange zest, salt water taffy, dates, fudge and toasted almonds. The flavors on this are extremely well layered and evolve with every sip. The finish has a distinct gravelly-earthiness which draws you in for more.

Stocks this old are extremely hard to come by, which means the older bottlings won't last long. Fortunately the younger bourbon and rye are quite good as well. All are worth a try if you get a chance.

Available at Castro and Clement St. Shops

Nate

New Arrival: Jefferson's Presidential 21 Year Bourbon!

Hey all,

The long wait is over! Jefferson's Presidential 21 year has finally landed. Super limited allocations on this one, I'm fully expecting to sell out today or tomorrow. This incredible small batch bourbon is a blend of 15 barrels ranging from 21 to 24 years old. The barrel character and tannins are sumptuous and engaging and not at all tired. The flavors are super lush with notes of caramel, bread pudding, vanilla, Italian suasage, fennel, rock candy and earth. This stuff is also perilously drinkable and perhaps one of the last ultra aged releases we'll see. Get it while you can!

Nate

Featured Bourbon: Jefferson's Very Small Batch and Jefferson's Reserve Very Old Small Batch!

Hey all,

So I'm a big fan of what Trey Zoeller and our friends over at Jefferson's are doing. The legendary Jefferson's Presidential 18 year was without a doubt one of the best bourbons ever bottled. Their pedigree for searching out and finding quality lots of bourbon is unmatched. What I love about the Jefferson's and Jefferson's Reserve lines are their willingness to actually make "small batch" bourbons. They're not using a hundred plus barrels like some of the big boys would do. And their taking the time to taste every single component that goes into the blend, a labor intense and time consuming step that few bother doing. Kentucky Bourbon Distillers would be the other bottler I can think of.

-Jefferson's Very Small Batch $29.99: An incredible value for a whiskey containing 5 to 12 year old stocks. The older bourbon gives this offering alot of depth, earthiness and barrel character while the end result remains soft, lush and creamy. A long-lingering finish makes this a classic

-Jefferson's Reserve Very Old Small Batch $39.99: Another mid-range master piece at a price point we've never had it at before. The Jefferson's Reserve contains bourbon as old as 20 years, and sinfully inundates the palate with notes of burnt caramel, toffee, butterscotch, roasted nuts, leather, nutmeg and a hint of blackberries and rye spice. The mouthfeel is a little thicker and more complex than the regular small batch, making it worth the extra ten bucks.

These price points will be while supplies last at both the Clement and Castro locations. Happy drinking!

Nate

New Arrival: Highland Park 25 Year Single Malt!

Hey all,

Let me preface this by saying I have a new favorite single malt in the shop. There were two whiskies at Whiskies of the World Expo that really stood out to me as the best in show. The first one was the Laphroaig cask strength 25 year single malt (which luckily we already have at the shop), the second was the new Highland Park 25 year single malt. I can't remember enjoying something so much in a long time. Highland Park walks a beautiful line between hints of smoke and sea air, but delicate, rich and approchable flavors. Here's my tasting notes:

-Nose: Aromas of seaweed, peat, earth, heather honey, butterscotch and crushed minerals. The aromas are really terrior driven, you can almost close your eyes and imagine yourself on the Islands of Orkney.
-Palate: Mouth coating flavors of salted caramel, toffee, gravel, brine, vanilla and white chocolate with a hint of campfire and peat.
-Finish: Super long and lingering with notes of bitter chocolate, burnt caramel and earth.

You want this!

Nate

New Arrival: Douglas of Drumlanrig- "Laphroaig" 15 Year Single Malt

Hey all,

Independent Scotch bottlers are having an increasingly tough time finding quality lots of single malt. Older Laphroaig stocks are almost impossible. But that's exactly what Douglas has accomplished here in their beautifully colored 15 year non-chill filtered Laphroaig single cask, which only produced 282 bottles. Got a chance to try this at Whiskies of the World Expo, and let me just say, holy cow! It's smoky, earthy and minerally while being lush, caramely and creamy. An absolute winner start to finish, and one we may never see again. Get it while you can!

Currently at Both Castro and Clement St. Shops

Nate

New Arrivals: 1512 Bourbon - Distiller's Private Reserve

Hey all,

Just got in the first California made bourbon to hit San Francisco! This is the first batch of bourbon from our friends over at 1512 Spirits in Sonoma. With only 128 bottles produced, we were lucky to score a few. It pours a deep mahogany with tones of ruby vermillion. The nose brings out round, sweet notes of rock candy and maple syrup combined with damp earth and oak. The palate brings more of the same, but the cherry-wood smoked barley becomes more prominent. Cherry-vanilla coke meets maple syrup and baking spices to create a symphony of lush sweetness leading into an earthy, round finish. The proof keeps the sweetness in check, while also contributing to the overall weight of the whiskey. Wildly innovative yet elegant and refined..... We're looking forward to what these guys come up with next.

Cheers

New Arrivals: Glenmorangie Ealanta Private Edition Scotch!

Hey guys,

Just got in the new super limited Private Edition from Glenmorangie, called Ealanta. This single malt comes with quite a story as Master Distiller Dr. Bill actually traveled to the Ozark Mountains of Missouri in the early 90's to hand select a few American oak trees to be made into barrels. The new or "virgin" oak barrels were then used to age this exceptional whisky 19 years. Here are my tasting notes:

On the nose I get aromas of wild flower honey, brittle, marzipan, sea air and candied orange peel. On the palate I get flavors of shortbread, honeycomb, lavender candy, cream, and lime zest. Very elegant and refined with a zesty-mineral finish. Epic!

Get this one while you can! Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Moylan's Single Malts, Russel's Reserve Rye and Single Barrel Bourbon

Hey All,

Got some fun new whiskies in today including 3 new single malts from local brewer/distiller Moylan's. All of the Moylan's whiskies scored high points and had rave reviews from Beverage Tasting Institute's latest 2013 Spirit Review. I listed the corresponding scores in parentheses below or check out these links:

2013 American Single Malt Results
2013 All Results

New Arrivals:
-Moylan's Double Barrel Cask Strength Cherry Wood Smoked Single Malt (89 points BTI)
-Moylan's American Cask Strength Single Malt: Finished in Orange Brandy barrels (94 points BTI)
-Moylan's American Single Malt: Finished in Orange Brandy barrels (90 points BTI)
-Russell's Reserve Non-Chill Filtered 55% (110 Proof) Single Barrel Bourbon
-Parker's Heritage 6th Edition 69.7% (139.4 Proof) Cask Strength Bourbon (New Batch)
-Big Bottom Non-Chill Filtered Port Cask Finished Bourbon
-Big Bottom Non-Chill Filtered Zinfandel Cask Finished Bourbon

Back in:
-Russell's Reserve 6 Year Rye

Cheers!

Nate

St. Paddy's Day SALE!

   

Hey everyone,

To commemorate our favorite snake-chasing Irish saint, both Healthy Spirits locations are having a sale! 

Starting TODAY, Wednesday, March 13th until St. Patrick's Day on Sunday the 17th, as a special thank you to all of our patrons we've deeply discounted a selection of your favorite Irish specialties including Guinness Stout, Smithwick's Ale, Harp Lager, Murphy's Red and Magner's Cider. In addition, our newly expanded selection of Irish whiskies will be discounted for your sipping pleasure. 

HEALTHY SPIRITS CASTRO
2299 15TH STREET
(CORNER OF 15TH & CASTRO)

HEALTHY SPIRITS CLEMENT

1042 CLEMENT STREET

(CORNER OF 12th & CLEMENT)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

March Bourbon Club ready for pick up featuring: Homestead Bourbon!

Hey all,

March Bourbon Club just landed at both shops! This month I'm featuring a brand new bourbon to the Bay Area: Homestead. I got a chance to interview brand creators John Andrews and Reggie Amos who shed some light on what it's like to create a new American whiskey. Homestead is a high rye content barrel strength bourbon that is very complex and spicy with surprisingly soft and lush tannins. There's a few extra bottles on the shelves if any non-bourbon club members are interested. Cheers

Nate

Glenrothes Line Now in Stock! CLEMENT STREET ONLY

Hey all,

Just got in some phenomenal Speyside whiskeys from Glenrothes!***  One of the oldest currently operating distilleries in Speyside, Glenrothes specializes in releasing whiskey not at any particular age statement, but when they feel it has reached its peak.  Instead of the usual 12,15 and 18 year old releases, Glenrothes produces small batch blends of various vintages.  It's a nice change of pace to see a traditional distiller bottling outside the rigid constraints of age statements.  We just got in the Select Reserve (no age statement), the 1998 Vintage, and the 1995 Vintage.... here's what I thought of 'em.

Tasting Notes:

Select Reserve:  I get lemon and orange citrus, caramel, and just enough spice on the finish to keep it from being too easy-going.  The body is smooth and silky, the finish spicy and warming.  Probably the best Speyside single malt for the price in the shop.

1998 Vintage, bottled in 2012:  Engaging nose of candied lemons, and ripe red fruits.  Mid-palate rich vanilla cream sets in, laying a comfy foundation for the invigorating and spicy finish.  Easily one of the most engaging single malts I've tasted in recent memory.

1995 Vintage, bottled in 2012:  A bit richer than the '98, the '95 exhibits lush caramel, almost butterscotchy aromas that serve as a wonderful backdrop for the brighter citrus fruit notes.  Cinnamon, nutmeg, and grapefruit rind round out the lush body and leave the mouth watering for another sip.  It is a remarkably cohesive whiskey, full of rich nuanced tones, and one that certainly rewards careful inspection.  A definite winner in my book!

Well there's the quick and dirty of it, until next time.... cheers!

Scott Hackney
Store Manager Clement St.
415-682-4260

***NOTE:  these whiskeys are only available at the CLEMENT ST location!

New Rums: El Dorado 21 year and 15 year!

Hey all,

So as you know bourbon is king around here, but every once in a while I find a spirit so transcendent it warrants mention. El Dorado is absolutely killing it with their 15 and 21 year rums! The words lush and oak-bomb are the first descriptors that I think of. The rums are rich and decadent without being cloying, a very hard line to walk. Here are my tasting notes for the 21 year:

Pours a beautiful brown-mahogany color with a super thick and viscous texture. On the nose I get aromas of browned butter, dates, raisins, candied yams, wildflower honey, vanilla ice cream and bread pudding. On the palate its very lush and soft with flavors of butterscotch, rice pudding, cream corn, caramel chews, sweet cream and kettle corn. The finish is on the shorter side but its so engaging you immediately want more. Absolutely epic!

Come and get it! Cheers

Nate

CLEMENT STORE GRAND OPENING! Saturday March 2nd, 2013 11AM-3PM

Hey all,

The guys over at Clement are throwing their GRAND OPENING party!


WHEN:  Saturday March 2nd, 2013 from 11AM - 3PM

WHERE:  1402 Clement St. (the corner of 12th ave and Clement St.) San Francisco, CA


WHAT'S GOING DOWN:

-10% off  everything in the store! (from 11AM-3PM)

-We'll be selling rare and vintage beers from our cellar! (bottle limits will apply)

-1st 100 customers receive a FREE Healthy Spirits canvas tote-bag, while supplies last

-Rami's Mommy's Middle Eastern snacks and dips tasting!  We'll also provide non-alcoholic beverages for in-house consumption.

-All-day incentive giveaways, such as Beer / Whiskey signs and other paraphanelia!



The event will begin when the doors open at 11AM.

We hope to see you there!

Whiskey Dinner this Thursday 2/21 with Chip Tate of Balcones!

Hey all,

Wanted to keep everyone in the loop about a 5 course whiskey dinner involving one of our favorite micro distilleries, Balcones from Texas. Master Distiller Chip Tate will be featuring his acclaimed whiskies while Michelin star Chef Joseph Humphrey cooks up some amazing dishes. Check out the link below if you wanna go, its coming up this Thursday. Cheers

http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/whisky-events

Nate

February Bourbon Club ready for pick up featuring: Bulleit 10 year bourbon!

Hey all,

It's that time a again, Bourbon Club is ready for pick up. This month I'm featuring Bulleit's new limited 10 year bourbon. It's the same recipe as the younger expression, so bold spicy notes of peppercorns, lavender, fennel and earth, with a lot more barrel character and lush notes of nougat, crème brulee and burnt caramel. If your not in the club feel free to join at either our Castro or Clement St. location. I'll also have a few extra bottles on the shelves at both shops. Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Hibiki 12yr, Wild Turkey Tradition 14yr, Michter's Sour Mash!

Hey all,

Got a bunch of new whiskies and a few back in stock the last week or two, wanted to keep everyone in the loop. Here's the laundry list:

New Stuff:
-Jura 16yr Single Malt Set with Glasses
-Jura 3pk Sampler (10yr, 16yr and Superstition)
-Michter's Sour Mash Whiskey
-Woodford Master's Collection Four Wood
-George Dickel Rye
-Balvenie 17yr Double Wood Single Malt
-Balvenie 17yr Peated Cask Single Malt
-Balvenie 12 Single Barrel
-Dalwhinnie 25yr Single Malt
-Red Breast 15yr Pot Still Irish Whiskey
-Highland Park 18yr Single Malt
-Talisker 30yr Single Malt
-Bulleit 10yr Bourbon
-E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon
-E. H. Taylor Rye
-Smooth Ambler Yearling (wheated) Bourbon
-Whistle Pig 11yr (111 proof) Rye
-Hooker's House 21yr Pinot Noir Finished Bourbon
-Collier & McKeel Healthy Spirits Exclusive 2 Barrel Cask Strength Blend

Back in:
-Hibiki 12yr Whisky
-Yamazaki 18yr Single Malt
-Wild Turkey Tradition 14yr Bourbon
-Moylan's Cask Strength Bourbon
-Moylan's American Rye
-Buck 8yr Bourbon

Feel free to ask me questions about any of the individual whiskies in the comment section as I've tried most of them. Cheers

Nate

New Arrivals: Four Roses Single Barrels "Staff Picks"

Hey All,

Just in time for the winter months, warm up your spirits with 1 of our 4 hand selected cask strength single barrels from Four Roses! We always sell out of our Four Roses barrels so fast, this time we decided to let each member of the staff pick a barrel so we would have more options for everyone to choose from. All of the barrel samples we tried were pre-selected by Master Distiller Jim Rutledge, ensuring they were of the highest quality before we even began to analyze and score them. I myself picked a barrel consistent with what I've chosen the last few batches, OBSO recipe and from the highest tiers in the warehouse making it exceedingly oaky and one that gained in strength. Dave, Rami and Scott each picked a different recipe bourbon. We scored them on three main criteria: nose and aroma, taste and mouth feel, quality and length of the finish. We looked for barrels that exceeded expectations in all three categories and added up to a transcendent bourbon experience. I helped over see the selection of each barrel, encouraging the staff to select unique flavor profiles they liked while making sure the bourbons were well rounded and relatively flawless. Here's what we came up with:

-"Dave's Barrel" - 55% Alcohol (110 Proof) - Warehouse Tier 1 - Recipe: OBSV (35% Rye) Has delicate fruity flavors of banana, apricot and pear, the higher rye content and a lush creamy finish.

-"Rami's Barrel" - 62.5% Alcohol (125 Proof) - Warehouse Tier 4 - Recipe: OBSQ (35% Rye) Has an engaging floral essence with notes of rose pedals, peppercorns and nutmeg, with the higher rye content, and a long lingering earthy finish.

-"Scott's Barrel" - 58.6% Alcohol (117.2 Proof) - Warehouse Tier 3 - Recipe: OESO (20% Rye) Has the lower rye content making it soft and luxurious with notes of ripe red fruits like raspberries, maraschino cherries and strawberries combined with creme brulee and marzipan. Smooth long finish.

-"Nate's Barrel" - 64.5% Alcohol (129 Proof) - Warehouse Tier 6 - Recipe: OBSO (35% Rye) Has the high rye content making it boldly spicy, also firmer tannins from the higher tier aging. Notes of peppercorns, maraschino cherries, charred oak, gravel and burnt caramel. Amazing amount of depth and a tannic mouth watering finish.

Come and get it! Cheers

Nate