So, what are you drinking now?

Springbank 18 and then, Lagavulin 16

Finishing off my first bottle of Johnny Drum Private Stock. This has been a very enjoyable bourbon, one that I will absolutely be purchasing again in the future! If you enjoy big oak in your bourbon, this is a one you must try.

@paddockjudge: Thanks! It is more than twice the price of the 'Private Reserve' at about Au.$140. That is $31.00 more than the a'bunadh...?

@verboten1 - A'Bunadh and Uigeadail...I think we all need to check the spelling.

A Laphroaig night here. Standard 10, and 10 CS Batches 003 and 004. The #004 has really improved with a little open-bottle time and is now on par with the #003 in quality (if not profile).

A little Forty Creek Heart of Gold tonight. Long day, lots of excitement. Now it's time to relax and sniff, and take the occasional taste, till the laundry is ready to go in the dryer...

Ardbeg Ardbog. Sweet and smoky. This one really hit the spot tonight for some reason.

Someone really doesn't like Forty Creek, or the fact that I do laundry....

I don't usually use ice, but I'm having a dram of Ballantine's Christmas Reserve on the rocks right now. It's not great stuff, but it's both cheap and very fitting. They've done a good job of capturing the holiday flavours with this one.

It's the break of the holiday programme of our literary society and I brought along a new bottle of HP 12. It's different from my bottle at home.

Great stuff!

1979 Johnnie Walker Black Label. Really delicious. And 43.4% ABV.

Glenfarclas 17, finished a bottle of Aberlour 18, and drank a quarter bottle of Pierre Ferrand Reserve 1er Cru.......I seem to develop a dependency on alcohol this time of year! Best medicine for stress!

Tonight it's some more Edradour 10yr old. :)

Laddie 10, Nikka Yoichi NAS and Kilchoman Coull Point side by side. All have their strengths and weaknesses, but the Kilchoman won. Best nose from Nikka, best finish from the Laddie, but the Kilchoman was a more intrigueing and forceful allrounder.

a b-day dram of this year's Thomas Handy. I wouldn't know about this whiskey (and many others) if it weren't for the good people on this site, so here'a toast to all of you!

Russell's Reserve 6 yo Rye. At @A'bunadhman's suggestion I am comparing the nose of this one side by side with a Glencairn glass and with a big rounded tapered glass, similar to some of the large V&B glasses. Yes, the nose is much much richer in the big glass, much more fruit is everywhere, and there is richer oak and even more natural caramel flavour from the big glass. In the Glencairn all of the flavours are rather constricted. In the Glencairn the flavours are more hinted at...whereas in the large glass they are EXPERIENCED. @A'bunadhman, YOU ARE SO RIGHT! Not that I doubted you, I have seen how much better the big glasses are before, with other whiskies, like Talisker 57 North. It's a pity that the the bigger glasses are so much more work to clean, store, and transport. But for home use: they are superior...if you are willing to do the extra work.

Stopped by local liquor store to see if they had a bottle of a Gordon & Macphail I was looking for and was lucky enough to see they were have a great sampling. The samples being offered were Aberlour 12, 16 and A'Bunadh batch 45. Never had the 12 and 16 so that was a treat. All good...but A'Bunadh batch 45 is exceptional. Came home and had a small pour of Hazelburn 12 (one of my favs) and also poured some A'Bunadh batch 40 to compare it to my earlier tasting of batch 45. As I thought...Batch 45 shines. Raisins, brownies,..very very good. I love my batch 40 but 45 has a much richer flavor.

Finished the last dram of Springbank 18 tonight, followed that with an Ardmore 10 year (SMWS 66.42 "Snorkelling in the bath tub")

First pour in several months of Talisker 1999 DE. Even though I gassed it after the last time I had it, there seems to be some serious bottle-time improvement (and it was an excellent dram to begin with). We all know of sherry bombs and peat monsters...this one's the bacon blast. Mmmm...bacon!

Teeling 'Small Batch Rum Finished Irish Whiskey' @ 46% abv. This is a bit of a curve! Not at all what I had expected. The Rum finish is there but, ever so subtle - Golden Rum and not much contact with the Whiskey, I'm afraid; months not years of Rum finish. Gentle, sophisticated and very accessible but nowhere is there a massed 'Pipe Band' singing the praises of what could have been a monumental statement. Shame!

Hi All, Been away from the site for a while attending to other things, most notably my real addiction, collecting fountain pens. As I mentioned to @paddockjudge, you can spend a lot more on a vintage Parker or Waterman or Mont Blanc than on most single malts. Anyway, I'm back, it's Friday and I'll be enjoying some Bowmore 15 year old Laimrig later. A perfect marriage of peat and sherry. I might have to hand write a review with the 1948 Parker 51 I just scored on EBAY, or the $250 Waterman Carene, the Christmas present my wife doesn't know she got me. I think when I give it to myself on her behalf, I'll celebrate with a dram of the Balvenie 21 yr. old Portwood that I have been stretching out for almost 2 years. Cheers.

Soon to be enjoying Knob Creek 9yr and watch the snowfall as I've got no where to go tonight. :) Finally Friday.

@maltygirl I agree 100% with you the ABunadh Batch 45 is exceptional. Tonight though I'm having some more of the Edradour 10yr old. :)

pouring a glass of smws 35.44 (35 y/o glen moray) and raising it to toast my buddy @maltster's 40th birthday.....

all the best, hope it's a great one!

Guinness Extra Stout. But tomorrow Bookers is sounding good.

Happy Birthday, @maltster! Many happy days to come in your new year!

Went to dinner with some friends. Had an 11 year Highland Park (SMWS 4.164 - "Muddy Tractor") from a refill barrel before dinner. Had 2 drams of an 18 year Cragganmore (SMWS 37.51 - “The saloon of a classic yacht”) from a first-fill Sherry cask; one dram with dinner and one with dessert. At home now and having a Lagavulin 16 to finish off a wonderful evening.

@Bigtuna

Mmmmmmmm....Booker's.

Glenmorangie Traditional, awesomeness And just a little Amrut to top it off

CCCold weather relief: HP18, Glenfarclas17, Oogie, and Cory.

@paddockjudge

-19 and snow. Ok . I'll accept the need for cold weather relief. It's a blizzard in Toronto but it's only -11 and feels closer to zero.

I would have had a dram of Booker's tonight. I decanted the remaining third or so of my bottle into several bottles (one unmarked for a mystery dram, one to take to my brother in law and another for a friend), and there was just a little left in the bottle. But first my nephew couldn't start his car. Then the poor Honda Civic (10 year old) couldn't get anywhere so I helped him get it back into the driveway and took him to the subway so he could get to work in time. By the time I got back, and got my kids settled into bed, it was after 1030. This is my life...too much life, no time for Whisky. I'll take it.

Besides, it's the holiday season. They say it's the thought that counts....and I thought of Booker's.