So, what are you drinking now?

Stranahan's Straight Colorado Rye...I think at this point I can definitely say that I prefer malt whisky and rye whisky to bourbon...

Tonight I attended a Whisky Society tasting that was Islay focused; 7 different casks from 6 different distilleries. I tried each of them without water first and then with water added.

The only non-peated of the bunch was an 11 year Bruichladdich (SMWS 23.73 - "The Vital Spark's engine room"). Sweet and salty (salt water taffy) citrus (lemon) and liquorice. I think this one would be very refreshing on a warm summer day. Since summer is approaching, decided to order a bottle.

Next up a 17 year Bowmore (3.120 "Sooty and sweet"). This one was not my favorite. I felt it was missing something, but I couldn't quite figure out what.

Next a 4 year Kilchoman (129.4 "Peat smoke infused Peach Posset"). The first time I tried this one, I thought it was good, but not great. I tried it again later in the evening and thought it was much better the second time around.

Next an 11 year Ardbeg (33.130 "The Farmyard and the Chip Shop"). Good nose, but had a weird aftertaste that I didn't care for.

Next a 23 year Caol Ila (53.192 "Mojitos, cigar smoke and everlasting joy"). A very interesting nose that was better than the taste. The nose had lime and the smell of an un-lit cigar (tobacco). Wish the taste would have lived up to the nose.

Next a 22 year Laphroaig (29.144 "You gotta love this one"). I didn't. It was OK, but it was better without water

Final dram was an 18 year Laphroaig (29.146 "Bright and uplifting"). This was a very interesting version of a Laphroaig. Very light initially with a big, sweet finish. Cottoncandy sweet. It was even sweeter with water, but the sweetness wasn't over the top. It wasn't syrup sweet. I was so impressed with this one, I ordered a bottle of it as well.

While non of the whisky tonight was "bad", I was a little disappointed with the Ardbeg and Caol Ila because those are a couple of my favorite distilleries. Having said that, the 18 year Laphroaig and the Bruichladdich more than made up for the others. They were something unique and special. A fun night indeed.

Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old.

Is it me or has the standard dropped significantly over the years with this...

@sengjc; Dalwhinnie 15yo: I think the quality and flavor profile has changed (for the worse) over the past few years. And interestingly, Jim Murray has the same tasting notes/narrative in his whisky bible for the past 11 years. Only his numeric score has changed; never far from the 94-95 range. Needless to say, the current expression is far from his 2003/2004 tasting notes. I only use his notes as an example because I take issue with his issuance of a guide that he cannot bother to update some tasting notes more frequently than once every 11+ years. Three quarters of his material is recycled, and a portion of that is much outdated.

Compass Box Great King Street Artist Blend.

A light and subtle blend, not unlike the Hedonism in profile but more subtle.

@cherylnifer

It is unfortunate that the quality of the Dalwhinnie has deteriorated thus, a shadow of a once rich malt as I recall it back in the early 2000s.

Relaxing after a long busy week. I poured a glass of FC Heart of Gold. Wow what a nose! Even after leaving the glass open a half hour or so to put my son to bed (where I dozed off) it's still fantastic, though the nose is tamed don and the spirit a little bottler on the palate.

Last night, before attending another Whisky Society tasting, had a Glenmorangie 10.

At the event, tasted 5 Society whiskies;

First up, a 14 year Auchentoshan (5.36 - "Rubbing White Tiger Balm on your forehead") from a second-fill Sauternes hogshead. Did not care for the nose, but the taste was pretty refreshing. Liked it, but not enough to buy a bottle

Next, a 23 year Tullibardine (28.25 - "Sweet, nutty personality) from a refill hogshead. Green apple and nutty notes on the nose. I liked this one, but it didn't do a lot for me.

Next, a 23 year Glenburgie (71.40 - "Sticky apricot tarts at an Indian market") from a much used refill Sherry butt. You would never know that this was from a Sherry cask from the color, but the nose gave it away. Sweet and spicy on the palate.

Next, a 15 Springbank (27.104 - "Cowboy's Delight") from a refill gorda. This was the hit of the night. The room went silent when everyone nosed and tasted this one. Nose: leather, burnt buttered toast. Palate: salty, charred pork with singed pineapple. Awesome dram. I absolutely ordered a bottle of this one.

The final whisky was one that we had at the previous night's tasting. A 4 year Kilchoman (129.4 - "Peat smoke infused Peach Posset.") from a first-fill barrel. I enjoyed this one much better last night than I did the previous night. I think my palate may have been overloaded after 7 Islay whiskies in a row (6 of those peated). Ordered a bottle of this one as well.

Another great night of whisky tasting.

Had a great night with my father-in-law last night! Nikka from the Barrel, Elijah Craig 18, Blanton's Gold, Willett 24 yo rye, and finally Parker's Heritage Golden Anniversary.

@CanadianNinja - Very nice line-up!

Yes @paddockjudge, it was indeed! We both agreed though, the best of the night was the Willett rye. The Parker's Heritage came in a close second but that 24 yo rye... Wow! Tough to beat! ; )

Have developed a system of three on the go - was fortunate to get some bottles of the Collingwood 21 and cracked one open - very rich and enjoyable; the Mackmyra Special 04 - unfortunately not my favorite but the pear is evident; and the Springbank 10 - with a couple of drops of water, just a wondrous taste.

Corby's Lot 40, a "Canadian rye" actually made from rye. Thanks Pudge!

hp leif eriksson, worst hp i've had....

Tonight I started out with Islay Mist 8yo. Then moved on to Laphroaig 10yo, and I am finishing up with a Willett 4yo Rye at 55% . . . each was better then the last.

A couple of new additions to the cabinet tonight:

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. Hmm. I'll have to think about this one. Some say that it improves with some bottle time. We'll see. Nice nose and palate, but I'm getting a little too much acidic wood in the finish. Screams "Too young!" at the tail end.

A new batch of Aberlour A'bunadh, #47. It's a good batch, gang. A rounder, less sharp, and slightly mellower A'bunadh than others I've tried, but all the sherried and spicy notes you want are boldly present. Maybe not the very best A'bunadh I've had, but quite worthy of a rating in the 90s.

I'm enjoying a bit of Hakushu 12 this evening. I also just read an interesting article about a Diageo-comissioned study regarding the subjectivity of taste.

www.bbc.com/news/business-26925249

Just opened a Highland Park 12 y.o. last night. Very nice.

Glen Grant the Majors Reserve. Got it as a gift. Was glad I didn't get a JW Red or something like that. But wasn't expecting much.

Of course, it's very young. It's also very light, a bit watery even. But despite the young age it isn't harsh in any way.

So I'm sitting here at 5pm in the afternoon sun, watching my daughter playing in the sun and eating a Popsicle. Thinking this is quite a nice summer Whisky.

A nice change after all these months of peat and sherry bombs. Makes me want to open my Nadurra though :)

Earlier this week did a sit down of Arbelour A'bunadh cask 46, Scapa 16, Longmorn 16, along with a vertical tasting of Glenlivet 12, 15, 18 & Nadurra 16.

Today I got to try Kilchoman Small Batch, BenRiach 'DramFest 2014' 1999 / 14 years old 54.4% & Tomintoul Peaty Tang.

Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries - Light and smooth with plum notes. Wish my wife got me a bigger bottle so I dont have to be so precious with the 20cl 'tube'. Balcones Brimstone Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Corn Whisky - very different experience from scotch, started out tasting like rubber and did not like it, but after breathing, and actually letting the taste open up, found this to be a very complex and satisfying whisky. It is smokey but not of the peaty type, but very very interesting. From hate and then to love in one sitting. Will be picking up a bottle of their single malt next.

I've bowed down for the queen of all whiskies once more, Lagavulin 16, you devilish enchantress, you've go me under your spell. Expecting a package of Laphroaig Quarter Cask and Glenfarclas 105 tomorrow.

Relaxing on a Friday night with some Forty Creek Portwood Reserve.

Started with Glen Moray 10yo Chardonnay Cask. This bottle has been open for close to 1 yr and 9 months and is about gone. Didn't like it at first but it oxidized to a nice scotch about half way into the bottle. Hazelburn 12 yo...one of my all time favorites. Finishing the evening with Ardbeg 10 yo. All of them enjoyable. Cheers!

I decided to celebrate a very recent decision to return to school and explore new possibilities with a dram of Ancnoc 12 followed by Kilchoman 2007. It is a toast to personal growth and example to my children (the school, not the drinking). Ancnoc warmed things up with a fruity, yet dry start. Perfect to stimulate the palate. Then the Kilchoman entered with it's assertive potential, young with many good things to come.

Cheers!

@ewhiskey congrats on the decision to return to school. It is brave decision. And I totally agree about the potential of young Kilchoman. I have a bottle from a single cask distilled in Nov. of 2007 (bottled Sept. 2012) that is wonderful. I love young Kilchoman, and only hope it continues to improve with age.

Enjoyed a number of very good pours last night. 25 year Mortlach, 21 year Longmorn, Yamazaki Sherry Cask, A.D. Rattray Clynelish16 year cask and Compass Box The General.

Had some good Whisky at the hotel we're staying tonight. First Glenfarclas 15, then the 25 and finished with an Ardbeg 10.

They had some more interesting whisky's, but after a long dinner and matching wines, we called it a night a bit early.

For the people from Holland, Belgium or Germany. I can recommend Hotel Dux in Roermond when you are looking for a hotel with a decent Whisky bar. Only negative is that they don't serve the Whisky in a Glencairn or other good Whisky glass.

Australian small batch whisky: Smith's Angaston Vintage 2000, with only 660 bottles released. Made from Tasmanian barley and matured in 3 French Oak Casks and 1 American Oak Cask in the wine region of South Australia.

Interesting and quite unique - quite port/brandy-like in profile with plenty of wine influence, raisins and berries. Sweet and aromatic on the nose. I suspect this must be the Australian signature profile as I detect the same traits on other Australian whisky.

Well rounded and smooth with a medium-finish: oak then dark cocoa followed by a nutty linger.

I am finally at the end stages of my Dalmore King Alex III, this one has taken a lot of time to get to know. I do recommend it with the caveat that I have enjoyed it but am not likely to keep this one in my cabinet. :)