So, what are you drinking now?

@PeatyZealot

Yes, I am referring to the Amrut Intermediate Sherry. No, it doesn't taste like it has peat at all. Just a lot well balanced sherry goodness.

It would be interesting if they released a peated version of the Amrut Intermediate, I think it would add to the overall complexity.

I was at a whisky bar in Melbourne earlier with a mate: Whisky and Alement, night out. Sampled the Glencadam 21 which I feel is a really good dram. Lovely oily mouthfeel with a pristine clean profile, American oak flavours dominates but I think there may be a hint of sherry too.

Also tried the Glengye Kilkerran Work in Progress 5 Sherry Wood which I found to be mildly disappointing due to some sulphur taint.

My uncle and I shared some Amrut Intermediate Sherry with my uncle. I still haven't weaned him from the ice cube, so he had it in a Canadian glencairn. I had mine with a couple drops of water. What a dram!

Amrut 100, can't leave it alone now it's opened

Started the night with a new addition to the cabinet. A Society grain whisky - 18 yr Invergordon. (SMWS G5.6 "Bye, bye Miss. American rye".) Tried it first without water, then with. Very different, but both ways were great. Really like this one.

Next, a Mortlach 17 yr Cask Strength (Duncan Taylor). Tastes like Banana bread. An amazing dram!

Followed that up with the next to last dram of Port Ellen 25 year - The Old Malt Cask. Really going to miss this one.

Finishing up the night with Caol Ila 16 yr (SMWS 53.173 "Glowing embers on the tongue"). Salty and smoky - absolutely wonderful!

Compass Box followed by Bowmore 15 Mariner - I'm in Heaven))

@Max What Compass Box?

A little Aberlour A'bundah Batch 45 here in Denver Co. I knew I could find something to warm me up!

A couple of 2012 DEs - Talisker and Clynelish. This is the first bottle of the DE Clynelish that I have had. Not bad, but I prefer the standard bottling.

Benromach 10-not sure about this one yet but very affordable. Needs more study

@talexander Sorry, should have mentioned, that was Spice Tree

Glenfarclas 12

@verboten1

Is this your first A'Bunadh? How is it? I have a 45 waiting for my 45th birthday.

Last night it was Canadian Club 12yr Small Batch, Bulleit Bourbon, and Cutty Sark in 20s-era period cocktails while playing Arkham Horror...

Blanton's Private Reserve: 3/8/12. H. Rick 10, Barrel #.269 and enjoying it immensely. Interestingly, it is quite different from another bottle which is from the same warehouse H. that was dumped on the same day and from the same Rick 10, namely Barrel #271 which I thought very good but with a more vanilla driven flavor. #269 has more toffee, is lazier, with a greater depth of flavor and a sweet long finish that sets this Whiskey apart.

I've yet to try Blanton's Gold but if it is a notch or two up from this 'drop' it must be a fine Bourbon, indeed!

Cheers!

Last night, a new addition to the cabinet; Glenmorangie 11 year (SMWS 125.58 - "“A picket fence round an orchard”). From a first fill ex-bourbon barrel, the nose on this one was stunning. Like standing in the orchard when the fruit trees are first blooming - lots of floral with the fruit. The taste was great, but hard to beat the nose on this one.

Next, Cardhu 27 Year (SMWS 106.18 - "Bottled essence of summer"). This one is so good I had to have a second dram of it, then a little bit more.

After dinner, finished the night with another new addition to the cabinet, Bowmore 14 year (SMWS 3.194 - "Surf and Turf BBQ"). From an ex-sherry butt, this one didn't live up to my expectations. Not bad, salty and sweet, but the smoke is faint and not a lot of sherry notes either.

Tonight the girlfriend and I decided to do a bit of pre-Christmas indulging. After a nice dinner out, we came home, lit up the tree, and turned on some Christmas tunes. We started with tea and shortbread cookies, but quickly moved into sherried whisky and chocolate. Lovely pairing of Glenmo Sonnalta and A'bunadh 45 with Lindt Dark chocolates. Very rich. I was in such a Christmasy mood that I was about to light a fire until the gf reminded me that we don't have a fireplace. Perhaps that's enough whisky for tonight...

Some of the 1985/2012 Domaine de Baraillon armagnac from K&L, following the Germain-Robin Muscat. With the cold weather in the area, it's a nice day for some fruit, spice, and brandified nice.

Mini vertical with Japanese whiskies from Nikka - Taketsuru 12yr, Miyagikyo 15yr, and Yoichi 10yr, in that order, with sushi, dark chocolate, persimmon, and Dutch bread rusks. Consensus was that the Miyagikyo was the best of the three, but that all were quite delicious.

Had some ORVW 10 last night. It has really opened up with about a month in the open bottle (no gas). I enjoyed well enough when first opening it but wasn't blown away. Now it's getting really good: waves of caramel and vanilla and a long finish.

I also had some of what remains from last year's Lagavulin 12. I have heard that this batch has lost some of it's punch, but this is the only one I have tasted, and I really am taken with it. It has very clean , well defined flavors--citrus, honey and smoke. It probably sounds pretentious as hell, but there's something "angular" about a whisky that has such sharply defined flavors.

If Caol Ila made a cask strength 12 year old, I wonder if it would take something like this. I'm tempted to pick up another bottle when this one empties but may wait for the 2013 release. I am also curious to taste earlier batches so I can see what I have been missing...

Lagavulin DE 1991 - one of my favorite pours. Luxurious

On my mac making the 2014 family calendar and had a dram of Booker's, and knocked it over onto the mouse pad. 2 things saved the day...

1. I usually do small pours of cask strength stuff.

2. The shape of the glencairn kelp almost all of it in the glass...

Yay

@A'bunadhman - Gold is a notch up. Delicious!

Started the night with a side-by-side tasting of 2 Society Rosebank's; one bottle is down to its next to the last dram (21 year SMWS 25.63-"Poire et poivre"), the other is a new addition to the cabinet (20 year SMWS 25.61-"Lemon and vanilla delicacy". As much as I have loved 25.63, the new one blew it away. Wow, what an amazing dram!

Next, I had a couple of glasses of Springbank 18, while my wife and I decorated the Christmas tree.

After dinner, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 9 year (SMWS 127.26) “Student Party Aftermath”.

A bit of Old Pulteney tonight, the 12 and 17. Love 'em both.

Just a little dram of 1972/2006 Glen Grant #1983 for Boisdale. It's a light, gently fruity, and delicious malt, straightforward, too. Always reminds me of a more youthful lowland style.

After a long day of snow removal its a dram of Bunnahabhain 12yr. :)

@nozinan regarding the A'bundah Batch 45. I am such a scotch noob I am probably no help. After years of drinking imported and micro brews, plus going to Napa Valley twice a year for 8 years; I just discovered scotch, bourbon and rye. My experience with Scotland's finest consists of a few Macallans, a couple of Balvenies and many Johnnie Walkers. I chose this scotch based on the wonderful people on this site. Now that I said all that, I loved it. The aroma had. a subtle sweetness with cinnamon and was delightful. I do however struggle with cask strength. I am good for few sips but then I go for the water. Maybe I will get there. I am working on day descriptors as I learn more. I think you will have a Happy Birthday!

Let's try a'Bunadh. Sorry about the poor spelling.