A Brilliant Collectible: Inspired Bourbon with K&L & SF Roots
Rare Character 6 Year Old “Bay Bridge” Barrel #RIO-254 Cask Strength Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($79.99)
“There are two really important things to note about this Bourbon. First, it tastes delicious. The second is that it offers an incredible way to highlight the hidden talents of our crew at K&L.”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer
Rare Character has taken some incredible MGP distillate and raised it up entirely in the famous brick warehouse at Castle & Key in Kentucky. Pablo Moix seems to have the golden touch, and as K&L Spirits Buyer David Othenin-Girard says, he’s “identified extremely special stocks and curates each barrel” and that they are “some of the most exciting stocks around.” At 6 years old, this cask is absolutely singing. We are also thrilled that we were able to design the label, which features the incredible artwork of K&L’s very own Abraham Ortega (AB as he is known to K&Lers). AB’s stunning photography offers a unique perspective on Bay Area living as seen from unique vantage points and his artistic framing. Check out more of his take on all things beautiful around the Bay Area and farther afield on Instagram @417am___. Add these together with the fact that there are only a few hundred bottles of this exclusive bottling, and you’ve got a surefire collector’s item
Rare Character 6 Year Old “Bay Bridge” Barrel #RIO-254 Cask Strength Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($79.99)
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 21, 2022
There are two really important things to note about this Bourbon. First, it tastes delicious. The second is that it offers an incredible way to highlight the hidden talents of our crew at K&L. Let’s talk whisky first—this 6-year-old pours brilliant red copper in color. At 56.43% it jumps out of the glass. The nose is cherry syrup, vanilla, candied apples, spicy cinnamon, and a complex oak varnish. The palate is rich and full offering burnt sugar, dark chocolates, cherry jam, and a touch of herbal goodness. The finish is medium and fresh. For all the sticky character of the flavor, it doesn’t cling to the palate forever, but lets you go feeling like you want to keep going back. Now, the part I really want to highlight: Abraham Ortega. K&L employs nearly 150 people across the state and anyone who shops with us knows that it’s those people and their passion who make this place special. Most of our customers only get to interact with our wonderful sales and customer service staff when they talk wine or booze. But we’ve got such a diverse set of talents across the board and in every role at the company.
When Rare Character offered us the opportunity to put our own art on the labels and give it a regional focus I immediately thought of this image. AB has been working on our Redwood City store operations team for 5 years where he is a core part of all of our logistics, but especially our receiving team. I was struck by this background image on his desktop a year or two ago and asked him about it. I was impressed to learn he had taken it and that he’d be doing serious photography for over a decade. His unique take on the San Francisco skyline and work it must have taken to capture the image stuck with me. Fast forward to our labeling needs and I reached out to see if he had any interest in using that for our barrel. Thankfully he said yes! We got it proofed up and thought it was amazing. If you’re as compelled by his art as we are, check him out @417am___ (that’s 3 underscores). It’s an incredible collection of original photography, editing, drone work, and fresh beats from a creative mind and critical part of our team at K&L.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 20, 2022
The stupendous Rare Character brand has taken the bourbon world by storm. The industries preeminent whiskey detective, Pablo Moix, has manage to ferret out some of the most exciting stocks around. On paper they might look just like the barrels offered by his many competitors, but Pablo isn’t just putting lipstick on a pig. He’s identified extremely special stocks and curates each barrel. We also happen to have a special relationship with this up-and-coming purveyor and that’s meant we’re getting first dibs on some of the choicest casks. This barrel comes from the same stocks that we selected last year, which have matured for half a decade in the famous old warehouse at the Old Taylor Distillery now called Castle & Key. This awesome super long warehouse is basically a whiskey wind tunnel. The contrast from the MGP warehouses in Lawrenceburg couldn’t be starker. Those old concrete warehouses remain extremely consistent temperature-wise, but the window clad brick warehouse at C&K is much more reactive. The resulting whiskies see significantly more barrel influence than stocks that spent a similar amount of time in Indiana. Even just a year difference, from the first barrel we selected to this one, offers a distinct experience. Let’s have a look. The color is a gorgeous burnt amber. The nose a absolutely gorgeous filled with grade B maple syrup (AKA Grade A Very Dark, AKA the good stuff), Ceylon cinnamon, caramel apples, roasted clove and salted candied pecan. Unctuous and rich on the palate, demerara sugar melting, ripe plum, dense wood spice, toasted vanilla, hints of sarsaparilla, subtle herbal underbrush and sweet mint. This is dynamite bourbon of the highest order. I still can’t get over the label too. For anyone who dares pooh-pooh MGP, this is the whiskey to change your mind. Of course, it ain’t no regular old Indiana bourbon. I’m starting to wonder if anything in this warehouse for more than five years might turn to gold.
