So, what are you drinking now?

I am having some Gordon & Macphail Scapa 10yr old. :)

Old faithful: Laphroaig 10 y.o. Perfect for a winter's eve.

Mortlach 17 year Duncan Taylor Dimensions Bottling Single Cask (# 4103), Cask Strength

Cragganmore 18 year (SMWS 37.51 - “The saloon of a classic yacht”) - First fill sherry butt

And finished the last dram of one of my favorites; Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 9 year (SMWS 127.26 - "Student party aftermath".

It's Christmas Eve here in Japan, I have cracked open a 24 year old Willett Rye and it is very good indeed. After thoroughly enjoying one of their 3 year old ryes over the past couple months, I was very much looking forward to this bottle. It is not disappointing ; )

I am very excited to see how this bottle opens up with some air...

@CanadianNinja, yes, 24 years is VERY old for a Kentucky rye whiskey. It will probably develop a good bit with air exposure. Very old whiskies usually do.

Glenora 17 cask strength, 61.4 % ABV. Brewed in new Scotland(aka. nova scotia) the only single malt distillery in Canada. A fine Malt it is. It takes the chill of the -35 celcius weather off you weary bones very nicely. And by the way to all the lads and lassies on the connoseur site, The very best wishes to you and your this Hoiday season, from me At Lac du Bonnet Mantoba.

@A.J.

Glenora used to be the only single malt distiller in Canada. Now it's the first in North America, but there are at least two Canadian single malt producers.

Still Waters distillery in Concord north of Toronto released its first single malt this year. They call it Stalk and Barrell.

@ Nozinan Thanks for the heads up, I will be looking for it, although the MLCC is kind of limited. I am fascinated with the concept of domestic malts. Cheers.

It's about 11pm Christmas Eve. The house is completely quiet. The only lights on are the ones on the Christmas tree. A perfect time for a dram of Octomore Orpheous.

Glendronach 15 Revival. Beautiful sweet sherry mingling with that slight smoke... perfect for the 1am nightcap here in the States.

I just picked up a bottle of Kavalan Distillery Reserve. It's the first Kavalan release with a peat presence. YUM.

The last of my 2008 Germain-Robin Anno Domini, and then some old Enmore rum. Season's greetings and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Today I've opened a Macallan 10yo fine oak. I've just had an orange which I've picked from my orange tree 5 minutes ago, and the combination is wonderful.

@bourbondrinker, fruity isn't it? I find it peachy...

Was enjoying a hearty dram of the Ancnoc 16 yr...My mother got it for me as a Christmas present; she knew I really liked the 12 yr - however the store was out, and only had 1 bottle left of the 16 yr.

I must confess that I was wrong about this whisky; dunno what I was thinking last year when I 1st tried the 16 yr (maybe an off bottling?)...Very mellow citrus/vanilla with hints of toffee.

Balvenie single cask 15 YO, Glendronach CS 2, and now settling in with A'Bunadh batch 44.

Monkey Shoulder which is a really nice blend of three speyside distilleries, and when I found out he price of ~ $25 I was floored by the quality.

I am not much of a bourbon drinker, but the limited release of Jack Daniels No.1 was quite a pleasant surprise. Eminently drinkable being on the sweeter side with nice pleasant flavors on the surface. Also, popped open a bottle of Bowman Brothers Small Batch. Drinking both side-by-side revealed the lack of depth with the No.1 as well the nice complexity of the Bowman Bros. However, the No.1 is much more approachable for most I would think vs the bigger 'burn' of the Bowman Bros. Interesting comparison. Happy holidays all!

Afternoon tasting session of three Port Ellens and a 30 year old Caol Ila for the sake of the website (and...of course...my tastebuds). This eve...Arran Machrie Moor and Amrut Kadhambam. All delish, except the Machrie.

@Wodha Where did you find the Toiteach? had it a couple times on Islay. Wanting to review on www.allthingswhisky.com but didn't think it could be found in NA.

Maybe a little bit of freshly bought Clynelish 14.

@antihero - Toiteach is available at The Whisky Shop in San Francisco. whiskyshopusa.com - hope that helps.

Tonight, had a dram of Mortlach 17 yr Cask Strength (Duncan Taylor Dimensions bottling) Cask # 4103, followed by a dram of Cragganmore 18 year Cask Strength (SMWS 37.51) from a first fill sherry butt. Ended the night with Lagavulin 16.

@antihero - Let's try that link again... www.whiskyshopusa.com

Sorry about that.

Kilchoman Coull Point, thick spirit with delicate peat and velvety mouthfeel, love it

@PeatyZealot Anyone watching the fights btw?

Just opened a Bruichladdich 10. A present from a loved one. Very nice especially with the fire pit we have found this evening.

Finally shaking the last traces of a nasty cold and enjoying my first drams in more than a week. Cracking open three very special Christmas presents: Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams, Glendronach CS Batch 2, and a Braes of Glenlivet 18 yo CS from Duncan Taylor. Great way to end the drought and celebrate a belated holiday.

@WhiskyBee Those more expensive Glenfiddichs, are they worth the hard earned Euro's?

@PeatyZealot - I'd say the Cask of Dreams is about the best 'fiddich I've had in my limited experience. This could be a first-taste over-reaction, of course. Very malty, fruity, and robust. It's a $100 whisky (about 73 Euros) here in the States, and I'd be more comfortable recommending it if it were about $30 (21 Euros) cheaper. Excellent stuff that maybe lacks a bit of wow factor to justify the price. But again, I'm just getting acquainted with it. And anything tastes good after nine dramless days!

Thank you Santa for Compass Box 'Great King Street Artist's Blend':

This is not a bottle I would have personally chosen, however, that Santa knows a thing or two - Beautifully elegant, crisp, delicious and with a resounding finish, this fine 'blend', really ticks all the boxes, despite being a modest 43% ABV.. and in a 500ml. package.

It has the most inviting nose; it is crisp, fruity and bewitching, as is the whole experience. I didn't know what to expect from this blended Whisky - I like what I see and wouldn't change a thing, even the ABV. seems just right!

Without any doubt the best 'blend' I have ever seen!

Slainte!