So, what are you drinking now?

Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask. Very underrated. Maybe my favorite Balvenie.

Rock Hill Farms - WOW. This is a little sweeter than ETL and higher proof...very similar.

@teebone673

It is a good one but have to go w the Balvenie 21 Portwood as my favorite Balvenie

@paddockjudge

sounds divine

@paddockjudge

I found it very harsh when I first opened - having let it sit for a few months it has a very nice taste going down. Would still prefer a Elmer T Lee or an Angel's Envy (going to California in October and bringing another one of those back, but the Rock Hill has definitely grown on me

@JayRain, Yes, as good as the RHF is, I find the bottom half of the bottle disappears more quickly than the top half...it does open up nicely.

@JayRain yeah I'd have to agree. Balvenie 21 edges the 14, but not by much. Both outstanding whiskies.

Celebrating 8 years of marriage.... No Scotch tonight.

First Frost, Last Grape, 2003 vintage ice wine from Maleta winery. For a Vidal it has darkened considerably (though the label didn't say no caramel I'm pretty sure none was added). This is an Oaked Vidal, quite rare, even in Niagara.

Cheers!

@Nozinan Congratulations!

@Nozinan - congratulations!

4 years ago tonight at the Port Charlotte Hotel on Islay, I tried a dram of Bruichladdich X4+3 (Quadruple distilled - 3 year old) for the first time. (The waitress called it "rocket fuel"). I figured tonight was as good as any to open my bottle. At 63.5%, it is surprisingly light. Citrus (lemon) and floral notes are predominant on both the nose and the palate. Sweet and sour. Very long finish.

@teebone673 Agree with you on the Balvenie 14 yr Caribbean Cask...Very underrated, and if you have a 'sweet tooth' - you'll love the vanilla/brown sugar/toffee notes that this whisky has to offer.

@Nozinan, Congratulations!

@Nozinan

happy anniversary chap - any fine dining on the menu?

@JayRain

A nephew was visiting with his cousin and their girlfriends and wanted to take us out for Korean BBQ... Then they kind of ignored god bill. Thankfully another nephew, who has lived with us for a year, stepped up... So good, if not fine, dining, and definitely no soju...we had the ice wind later at home.

The Glenlivet 15, 18, & 21 mini-flight - enjoyable.

Balvenie 12 YO single cask. Recently opened. First time I tried it. Not bad.

Doing a 'livet / 'fiddich 12 side-by-side. For me the 'livet takes it.

@hunggar

In general, I think it's Livet over Fiddich every time.....though I haven't tried the FIddich 50 year old. Someone stole it from the LCBO just before (yeah right) I was able to buy it...

@Nozinan, I'd have to agree. No idea about any 50 yr olds, but in general I'd take most 'livets over most 'fiddichs, the only exception being the 15 yr olds. I'm no fan of 'livet's French Oak, while I quite like 'fiddich's Solera. Aside from that? Yeah, 'livet pretty much every time for me.

G&M Miltonduff 10yo, expectations were low, but this is quite the interesting whisky, just beautiful.

Inner Circle 33 O.P. Rum: Imperial 33 O.P. = 75.9% ALC/VOL. A half bottle gift from a very generous friend and neighbour. This bottle has stood 1/2 full in his cellar for close to 30 years, having been bottled in 1984 / 85. The back label has the show results, the many Trophies, Championships, Gold Medals, Awards etc. at home and internationally, up to 1984. The CSR ceased using this label in '86. Malcom Campbell the head distiller kept the original yeasts alive in his domestic 'fridge from 1986 to 2000.

The historic Beenleigh Rum Distillery also produces Inner Circle Rum. Inner Circle was the exclusive preserve of Australia’s Colonial Sugar Refining Company’s board of directors and a handful of its prized clients. Even then they were only entitled to the occasional bottle. Despite its limited availability, word of Inner Circle’s unique flavour became legendary- whispered amongst rum enthusiasts the world over. Inner Circle Rum was lost when CSR sold the brand in 1986. Stuart Gilbert reinvigorated the brand in 2000 when he purchased the trademark and partnered with Malcolm Campbell, old master Distiller, to bring the brand back to life. He sold the brand in 2007, and today it is back and being produced at the Beenleigh Distillery, QLD- using traditional Pot Distillation, keeping in line with how it was once produced by CSR in Australia from 1855-1986. Now available for all Australians, not just the Inner Circle.

I never expected this Rum to be so vibrant and fresh but it is sensational and a piece of Australian Distilling history. Bold at 75.9%, yet surprisingly drinkable even considering it has sat for 20 years at half tide! No OBE that I can find and a gigantic molasses / plum character reminiscent of a huge and rather fine Slivovitz (Plum Brandy). Even taken down to about 55% this is huge, powerful and delicious, though not for the 'fainthearted'. Thick legs, slow to form, even in a wet glass. I don't have enough superlatives to properly describe this Rum... perhaps more, no, much more; that's more like it - More Bushfire, Smoke, Bar-B-Que, Plums, Molasses, treacle toffee combining in a perfume of sublime excellence and an almost overwhelming palate and long, long finish. An Aussie Icon? You bet!

Cheers!

Springbank 12 YO CS just added a comment to my review:

connosr.com/reviews/springbank/…

Last night at my brother-in-law's, 11 year Ardmore (SMWS 66.46 - "'Pretty Woman' in a new Maserati") from a refill Sherry butt.

15 year Bowmore (SMWS 3.206 - Dark and mysterious) from a refill Sherry butt.

9 year Bruichladdich Port Charlotte (SMWS 127.34 - "Flying saucers and octopus balls”) from a refill barrel, ex-bourbon.

4 year Kilchoman (SMWS 129.4 - "Peat smoke infused Peach Posset”) from a first-fill barrel, ex-bourbon.

Springbankk 12 YO CS 58.5%, courtesy of Nozinan. "sweet heat and spice" - hot, sticky cinnamon buns sprinkled with cinnamon heart candy.

@paddockjudge

Copycat! I just had that last night! Not I'll have to have one of your samples...

@Nozinan, - digging into samples. I figure if someone is kind enough to provide a sample, I should take the time to partake of their generosity. Thanks buddy! .. waiting with the Amrut as now I have two expressions and the beginning of an Amrut flight.

@paddockjudge

So I poured a 5 cc microdram of the Old Pulteney 21 you gave me. Symbolic, I know, but tasty non-the-less.

What other Amrut are you in possession of? I have an open CS that I can sample you so you don't have to crack your mini. Different batch, just as good.

Speaking of going through samples....thanks to @cyclingyogi for the Ardbog and Galileo samples from February (!), @whiskyJoe and I had a lovely little Ardbeg flight tonight. Galileo (lots of fruit notes...the 'unArdbeg, Ardbeg') followed by Ardbog (nice rich vanilla/cream notes mixed in with the smoke & peat), finished off by my newly opened Uigeadail (L14 028). A little more 'woodiness' at first blush for this Oogie batch. Good smoke mixed with dark fruit and richness (if you took the Galileo and mixed it with the Ardbog, and then gave it a more intense delivery).

A very nice evening to pre-celebrate our b-day's!

@Nozinan , Amrut Cask Strength Ltd. Ed. 2007 61.9% abv and Single Malt 46% abv.

friends dropped in yesterday afternoon and opened the Scapa 16 for their enjoyment.

LCBO at Yonge and Stouffville opens on Tuesday so going to christen the store w one bottle (Glendronach 15 maybe) and then that is it for scotch purchases in Ontario (at least until I get the urge again).