Best Dram of 2016

I chose Glenffidich 15 solera tun for christmass and throughout 01/01/16 because of its "christmas cake" atributes. @Nozinan. Now I'm drinking Cooper Fox Rye thought.....

Haven't had any yet. Looking forward to a new year of good friends and good whisky

I didn't have a dram so much as made a Blood and Sand as a New Year's Eve cocktail for Pam and I (using Johnny Walker Black and a bit of Lagavulin 16 - I couldn't deny her some smoky Islay!) After the cocktail I made bacon-wrapped dates served with a Spanish semi-dry sherry, then paella with a Spanish rose. Then we cracked open a Vintage 1999 Moet that she brought to ring in 2016! A fantastic night.

I think it's got to be the Port Charlotte 12 at 56% abv I opened on Christmas Day. The bottle has settled down wonderfully right now and has become one of the best peated drams I've tasted. I've also been lucky enough to obtain two other different Port Charlotte 12's I can compare it to in the future.

My final dram for 2015 was the last of the HP 18 that I purchased at the distillery along with the last of the 4 miniatures of HP 30 purchased at the same time. I've been doling them out judiciously since 2013. My first on New Year's day was Laphroaig 18. All shared with my wife who has acquired a taste for good whisky since our last trip to Scotland when we visited 21 distilleries. Thankfully, she only likes one small dram on weekends.

@talexander: I think I'd like to come to your house next year. Sounds like you shared a wonderful evening of great food and drink with a special person. Happy New Year.

@BlueNote Ha - looks like you are in Vancouver? Just get on a plane and come on by, anytime! :)

@talexander I also made Paella on New Years eve for my wife, and my parents. It's a fantastic dish, we paired it with some Australian Shiraz and some Canadian Baco Noir, both of which were delicious. After the meal my dad and I had some Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye. For anyone who has not had this rye, make sure you taste it if you ever have the opportunity, it is simply stunning!

@mscottydunc Wow, that's very cool! And yes it is an amazing rye, for sure. My girlfriend is allergic to seafood so I made the paella with chicken and chorizo - delish!

Back on topic....

After tonights session, of the ones I tried, my favourite was Bowmore Tempest Batch 5 so for now that's my best dram of 2016, followed very closely by Ardbeg Uigeadail.

@Nozinan Tempest Batch V is one of my favourites. Still have one in the bunker and a batch lll. Don't know which I like better. Waiting for Batch Vl as this dram is a value whisky here in Manitoba.

@Jonesz I will have to let my friends know. Two of we 5 now live in Winnipeg, and they liked the Tempest.

I have quite a bit left in the bottle we used tonight and one in the bunker. I could add another to the collection because the price is reasonable, but I have to set limits. I need to drink some of what I have.

@Nozinan, @Jonesz You guys are going to love Tempest VI.

Cadenhead's Old Pulteney 1990-2015
...had a sample a while back and have been looking for it ever since, to no avail.

@BlueNote

If we get it...

@BlueNote And a big IF we do as well!!

I hear you, guys. I'm surprised we got it here in BC.

@BlueNote @Nozinan I have a bottle of the 6 that my sister in law picked up in Saskatoon. They have had it there for a few months already, so by LCBO standards we should have it in the summer sometime.....

@mscottydunc

If we get it.....

Is it any good? Have you compared it to the 5?

@Nozinan Couldnt tell you, I only have the 5 opened so far, and another 5 and the 6 in the bunker. At some point I will open it and do a head to head, just have too many bottles on the go right now.