So, what are you drinking now?

Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof, Mark of the Beast Batch, 66.6% ABV. Very very good. This batch is spicier and more intense, less rounded than is the 67.1% batch of ECBP which I reviewed. Two bottles of this 666 batch are going to my sister. She likes beastly beverages.

Mercy - won't you release me? Alberta Premium Limited Edition 25 year old and Alberta Premium 30 year-old. I'm caught in a loop and can't escape...absolutely delicious! The next time I open a bottle of each will be on my 55th birthday , 25 + 30 :)

www.youtube.com/watch

Last night was cold, windy, and damp, a perfect evening to reach for my bottle of Talisker 10 and sit back and raise a glass in celebration of a milestone for the project I'm involved in at work.

Celebrating a clear olfactory sense after the second cold in 2 weeks. Forty Creek port wood reserve (second release). It's been a while. And it's a little less spirits than I remember it. Certainly not in the same category as Portonova, but now that I'm tasting it (maybe because I've tried 2 bourbons since the last time), I'm getting a greater complexity than I have in the past. Am I now picking up rye and corn in ways I didn't before?

Just had some Teacher's Highland Cream and now onto a wee bit of Balvenie 12 y/o. A nice big contrast in between these two.

Getting ready to do my first twitter tweet tasting with the Abbey Whisky single cask ranges! Caperdonich 17 yr old, Bunnahabhain 23 yr old, the new Ben Nevis 16 yr old and a secret whisky! You can follow me @ashamantms on Twitter or wait a few days as I'll be posting the new whisky reviews up soon!

There's a cocktail from the LCBO whisky promotion flyer that I quite like - it was created by Liz Campbell from the Harbord Room (very good restaurant, and they have great cocktails) - called The Molly Malone. The flyer recipe uses Tullamore Dew - I've made it with that, Tullamore Dew 10 Year Old and Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve 2009. Of the three, the TD 10yo is the best in this cocktail (though on their own, the Jameson wins and is pretty much the best Irish whiskey I've ever tasted). Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 oz blended Irish whiskey (I suggest one that's heavier on the pot still content, like Tullamore Dew 10 or 12, or an older Jameson, or any other more premium product from Midleton) 1/2 oz yellow chartreuse 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice 1/2 oz honey syrup (Combine 1/2 cup very hot water and 1/2 cup honey, stir to dissolve and cool) 2 oz sparking wine (I'm using an Argentinian sparkling wine called Santa Julia Uno, which isn't great but is the best I could find in smaller individual bottles) Lemon wheel for garnish

Shake all ingredients (except the sparking wine) in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into an ice-filled glass (I use an ice ball in a Glencairn Canadian whisky glass) and top with the wine. Garnish with lemon wheel.

Tonight, Springbank 18, followed by Ardbeg Ardbog, transitioned to Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 9 year (SMWS 127.26 - "Student Party Aftermath") and finishing up with with Bruichladdich Octomore 2.2 Orpheus.

I recently visited the Kavalan Distillery and am opening Podium single malt

finally exams are over and whisky is back. Tonight i went to my favourite bar and sampled the 'Dronach 14 virgin oak and the 2009 supernova. I have a review of the nova, will be posted soon.

Here's to the end of my undergraduate

With the passing of my admiral / wife's father the family is helping me with the Balvenie Tun 1401 batch no. 9. I have to say that I'm glad I have two of this expression. :)

@PMessinger

My condolences to you and your wife. Even though I work in a field where this happens almost daily, I still lament the passing of someone, the loss to the world of who they were diminishes us all in a small way, and of course has a greater impact on you and your family. I hope that in the future only the good memories will remain.

Tonight was a Laphroaig night. Started with the standard 10yo to make sure my nose was on point. Then it was a head to head of the Laphroaigh 10yo Cask Strength batches: 001, 002, 004, and 005. Sadly, I missed out on 003 . . .

@Nozinan Thanks for your many kindnesses, yes we have lots of good memories, including the Tun 1401 which I fear will not see the end of the weekend but is so good. :)

@PMessinger - My condolences to you and your family on the passing of your wife's father.

Epic Alberta Cowboy Whisky Tasting - Happy Trails!

Oh Canada, what a Friday night it was!

Structured as a hockey game.

Three Tranches of Canadian Whisky:

Highwood Ninety 5yr & Ninety 20 yr (90 proof blends)

Lot15/25, Century 21, Stampede 25, (single grain corn)

Masterson's 10 yr, AB30, AB25 (single grain rye)

OT:

Glennglassaugh peated malt spirit 50% abv. NAS

Old Pulteney 21 46% abv.

Octomore 4.2 60.1% abv.

Shoot Out:

Macallan Cask Strength

Booker's

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Game Stars Selection:

5th Star: Highwood 25 yr-old Calgary Stampede 100th Anniv. Ed. 40%abv.

4th Star: Booker's True Barrel Bourbon 7 yrs 11 mos. 63.65% abv.

3rd Star: Old Pulteney 21 yr. 46% abv.

2nd Star: Alberta Premium 25 yr-old 100% Rye Whisky. 40% abv.

1st Star: Glanglassaugh peated malt spirit 50% abv NAS.

@paddockjudge Wow! Amazing!

@PMessinger, I wish you and your family the best during this time.

Willett Family Estate 3 yo rye, and it is fantastic! Grassy, spicy and very drinkable...

@paddockjudge

Judging by the age and ABV it sounds like your Booker's is the same batch as mine. Good old LCBO. I think it's an excellent spirit (can't say it's a great example of a bourbon because I don't have enough experience). Unfortunately November has been bad for colds and flu, but this one is first or second on my list once my throat heals and my sense of smell comes back.

Watching the by-election results and enjoying a few drops of HP 12. It never stops surprising me, as a branded Whisky. It's not usually my style. But it isn't too thin, has a great nose, and 2.5 years after opening it's not faded 1 bit ( with gas). But tonight it almost has a cognac note on the palate.

Todays line up is Aberlour 12yr UCF, Balvenie 12yr DW, Black Bottle Blended, Bunnahabhain 12yr. These were all opened with family this past weekend. :)

Enjoying Willett 3 yo rye again. This is one great rye!

Currently drinking a dram of Bowmore Enigma. It's not a sophisticated dram, but it is very enjoyable. Sherry and gentle peat. Just up my alley, very easy sipping.

@CanadianNinja: The Willett 3 yo rye is a hell of a dram. Brilliant flavours, but that sharpness isn't for everyone. I brought it to a tasting recently, and I think I scared a couple of my Taiwanese friends away from rye. I love it myself, but it's powerful!

@CanadianNinja, yep, plenty of flavour in rye and plenty of flavour in new oak...it is quite amazing what you can get in just 3 years of aging.

@hunggar There is nothing like a good rye. Yesterday I had Rendezvous Rye paired with a Ghost Rider White India Pale Ale (Utah Brewers Cooperative). Both good.

It's a 15 cc pour of Booker's tonight. It's quickly becoming a favourite when I don't want to reach for a sherry bomb...

@maltygirl - oh so true, nothing like a good rye. Enjoying a Forty Creek Three Grain - this has been discontinued - wish I had more.

Tonight started with a Manhattan made with High West Rendezvous Rye. On to Yamazaki 12. I'm on vacation this week so every day is an opportunity to try something new.

Aberlour 12yr old UCF. waiting for out of town family to get here for Thanksgiving....hey wait weren't you all just here. :)