So, what are you drinking now?

@Victor - Very true. I may soon post AP30 H2H AP25

My uncle, a speysider fan, came over to see the kids all dressed up for Halloween . I offered him a dram and convinced him to try the Booker's. He liked it too, but I think he still prefers the single malts.

All treats tonight, no tricks. Springbank 18 followed by Angel's Envy bourbon (Port finish) before dinner.

Afterwards, Cardhu 27 Year (SMWS) 106.18-"Bottled essence of summer" (Maybe not the most appropriately named dram for Holloween, but absolutely amazing) followed by Port Ellen 25 year - The Old Malt Cask bottling.

Tonight's Blind Tasting - the first was a pleasant task, didn't need a sip, just some pleasurable nosing to identify Highland Park 18 years. The second was challenging - it was right in my wheelhouse, a big beautiful bouquet of sweet rye, but it wasn't an easy task, reminiscent of vintage Crown Royal. On the palate some oaky bitterness -I guessed Royal Canadian Small Batch and was disqualified...it was Caribou Crossing Single Barrel, selected by Drew Mayville, master distiller, form 300, 000 bbl of Canadian whisky sitting in Sazerac warehouses...Mayville spent twenty years at Seagram's, go figure.

It's Sunday night and I'm drinking Old Weller Anitque 107 on ice . . . must mean I got papers to grade . . . dang . . .

Springbank Cask Strength 12 year old. second to last dram. As good or better than the first. A shame to finish this one (decanted months ago) after two and a half years. Great nose, apples, vanilla, freshness. Strong but no rubbing alcohol smell. Dry palate, slightly savoury and salt, citrus.

This is craft presented Whisky at its finest. Not my favourite, but near the top, and top notch in terms of intrinsic quality. And now I can't find a replacement bottle in Ontario or Calgary. I know a couple of stores in cow town that don't have a website so there is still hope...

Haven't touched a drop for a few nights, so I don't know why I'm indulging on the eve of a new work week. Probably because I haven't touched a drop for a few nights.

A little vertical tasting tonight. Glenfarclas 12, 17, and 105.

A buddy of mine was in Toronto last week and left a message on my phone, "What was that whisky you wanted me to check on at the LCBO?" Unfortunately, I was teaching a class at the time and missed his call. I called him back three hours later and yelled "Glenfarclas 15, Glenfarclas 15!!" into the phone as soon as he picked up. Unfortunately, he was already on his way back to Indiana at the time. Life's little ironies. Sigh. :-(

@WhiskyBee - I feel your pain - recently missed out on Benromach 25 and Cask Strength when a friend was on the east coast....but I did get a Glenfarclas 17.

I bought a bottle of Talisker 10 a few days back on a whim, having never tried it before. I'm enjoying it, but I don't see what all the fuss is about. Where I live it costs the same as the Laph 10, which is much richer, better textured and more balanced. Doesn't quite stand up to many of its Islay cousins imho. I hope time will improve my opinion of this stuff. First impression: good, but not great.

Impromptu Wine & Whisky Tasting on Saturday night: Locke's 8yr Irish Single Malt, Pike Creek Double Barrelled 10yr (Canadian), Aberlour 10yr, Glenfiddich 15yr, Tap 357 Maple Whisky (Canadian).

The Locke's 8yr was in a ceramic bottle, and had been open for about 4 years...it was far, far better than the Locke's 8yr that showed up at our Saint Clynelish's Day Celebration in March of this year...perhaps oxidization and the different bottle material had something to do with the difference?

Stagg '13, side by side with Stagg '10 and Stagg Jr, first batch.

@hunggar are you finding the talisker peppery kick to be much more gentle than expected?

@Victor that sounds like one hot and spicy stagg party.....

@Victor Your thoughts on the Stagg Jr.?

@Volks: There is definitely some kick to this, but that doesn't bother me. I don't mind a bit of fire, and water seems to smooth the rough edges out. I suppose it's not as strong as I thought it would be, and there's also something very distinct to the flavour profile that I can't quite put my finger on. I've only had two drams so far, and I have yet to take notes. @Victor has suggested that I sit on this stuff for several months and let time work its magic. I'll see how it evolves down the line.

Started with Knob Creek Single Barrel then Elmer T Lee. Interesting night. Both were opened about 10 months ago. When I first opened KCSB I really enjoyed it. When I first opened Elmer T Lee I didn't care for it that much. Now it has reversed. I'm not caring much for KCSB but really enjoying Elmer T Lee. Just another example how whiskey is a living, changing thing and how we are also ever evolving.

@talexander, I did already review this first batch of Stagg Jr. It is extremely intense, but I don't like the wood. The oak is bitter in the first batch. No reason why later batches should not be better, though. Those who don't mind bitter oak can like it better than I did, however.

Last night me and a friend had a crack on - Kopper Kettle, Buffalo trace, Aberlour 10, Aberlour 12, HP 12, Uigeadail, Scapa 16...The purpose??? 1. Very enjoyable evening!! 2.To compare cheap bourbon to cheap Scotch and scotch in general. 3.To study the difference that age brings on a whisky - Aberlour 10 and 12.... the 12 is around £40 whereas the 10 can be had for closer to £23... For me and my friend they both offered different things ... though we both agreed that the 10 was better as the flavours packed a little more punch. 4. The difference between two whiskies aged 12 years one smokey and one sherry (Aberlour 12 and HP 12) 5. Uigeadail was thrown in the mix as a comparison with all whiskies bought before it - Raved about by most we wanted to see how it stacked up - conclusion - Great whisky that neither of us got along with too much.. would prefer a dram of the others ... though it must be said that its complexity is startling and I'm glad I added it to my cabinet.

Laphroaig 18, what an adventure :)

@PeatyZealot, it is not bad, is it? Blue chip whisky.

@WhiskyBee Except for the strength, did you notice much difference in taste between the 12 and the 105?

@Victor The new stagg is considerably less powerful (in alcohol volume that is) than we have seen in past batches, is it still the real deal and worth intense internet scrutiny at 65%?

@PeatyZealot Hard to tell, actually. I'm on a mild antibiotic and probably shouldn't have had anything. Sulfur and metal were the main flavors.Mostly a waste of good whisky, but I just felt like having something. I'll be dry until I'm off the pills, then make up for lost time next week. ;-D

@PeatyZealot, I have only had one taste so far of the 2013 Stagg, and I am not finding it equal to the previous three years. The problem is not the ABV, though. The wood flavours are just not as good as those other recent batches. Good? Yes, certainly. As good? Not so far.

Of course I am going to taste the 2013 Stagg a bunch more times before writing a review.

I just finished an Abunadh batch 21 , sad to see it go. I love those sherried cask strength whiskies.

I'm also enjoying Stagg 2013 tonight. This is my third night to contemplate this release. I opened it last Friday, and I tired it next to Old Weller Antique 107, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Stagg Jr. Then on Saturday I tried it next to the Jr. again and Stagg 2011.

Tonight the Stagg 2013 is being enjoyed by itself. No notes . . . just enjoyment.

@Victor I too found the Stagg '13 a little less punchy, a little weaker. Still a fine bourbon, of course.

Enjoying a dram of Redbreast 12 yr tonight, WOW if you can get grab it very Christmas like flavours. Must find a 2nd bottle.

I mixed up a batch of eggnog last week. It's a new recipe that I wanted to test out now before Christmas. Apparently it's best after sitting for two weeks, but I wanted to try a glass tonight to see how it's coming along. Pretty damn good recipe, velvety smooth. After I finished that, a bit of the ol' Laph QC.

I'm enjoying the Singleton of Dufftown, a really good speyside whisky that I have only recently discovered. :)