So, what are you drinking now?

Last night was two nice pours of standard Buffalo Trace. This has smoothed out nicely, while remaining flavourful, with the bottle about 2/3's full.

In preparation for trying a couple of rare samples of Alberta Premium 25 and 30 YO, pulled a dram of the entry level AP from a 200 cc bottle I probably opened once in 2011. It's not bad. I think I understand rye better than the first time I tried it, given its inclusion in some of the other North American spirits I;ve tried. I'm looking forward to seeing what oak does to it.

Corby's Lot No. 40 100% Rye made with malted rye, 43% abv. Roller coaster ride in a bottle!

Johnnie Walker Gold 18 yo, Grant's Family Reserve, Black and White blended, Cardhu 12 yo, and Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 yo, with my neighbor. Born to be mild.

As the holiday season approaches, I take stock of the gift giving adage: It's the thought that counts.

Well, it's late, I still have to finish charting and a FC Heart of Gold would be just the thing to help me though it.

But I had a dram of rye yesterday so it's a no go for today. But I'm thinking of it. And that's what counts....

Dalmore 12...

Just an ok malt.

Having a hefty dram of Redbreast 12 yr in front of the fireplace tonight. there's a chill in the air this week thinking it will be an early winter here on the prairies.

@Lars

Have you seen Calgary this week?

Booker's with a slice of pecan pie and Little Stevie on Underground Garage.

A couple of drams of Bowmore Tempest batch 5. A bit of water opens it up beautifully. Have a spare bottle but all others are gone from the Manitoba liquor stores. 2 bad!

@paddockjudge Enjoying a healthy dram of Booker's with biscotti gilded with prosciutto, pastrami, brie, and a delicious mustard. Amazing smoothness and flavor from this high proof bourbon. The heat and delightful caramel and sugars linger on the tongue without threatening the environs downstream. Impressive!

@Nozinan My niece showed us some photos from her street lots of cracked trees, so glad we rarely get that Wet (heart attack) snow here in MB.

@Jonesz speaking of that thought it was all gone than I saw this www.liquormarts.ca/product/hisky/700-ml Same one? Looks like Brandon has 13 combined in both stores, get them while their hot.

Looks like the fireplace is on again this morning. :D

@Lars Thanx. When I did a search for the Tempest there was nothing at all where it used to be listed. Don't know how you came up with this as I see it is titled "Hisky" not "Bowmore Tempest"? I was wondering where all the bottles disappeared to. Anyway I will likely get some more as soon as the budget allows and will keep an eye on stocks of "Hisky". Will shoot you a PM later Jonesz

@Jonesz

Yes, please take this discussion private. This forum is about scotch and other whisky, not this Manitoba thing called "Hisky"

:)

@Nozinan Will do. I have had lots of "Hisky Fits" This was not one of them.Bought a Bowmore 12 today "in your honour" Jonesz

@Nozinan Forgot the Smiley after sayin I got the Bowmore 12 in your honour. I remember your thoughts on thast one Jonesz

@Jonesz

I'm not a fan, but if you like it I respect your decision..

I'm more partial to the Laimrig. And if you come to Toronto, I'll be happy to offer you a dram.

Tonight I hope to introduce an Islay fan to Caol Ila CS. I still have bout 100 cc from this 200 cc miniature. I won't join him though. I'm saving the rest to let others try this mind-blowing dram.

G&M Glentauchers 1990, yuk. No idea how old this one is though.

@Pandemonium

I heard that G&M had great casks and put out great IBs but the one I tasted was mediocre, and all the ones I hear about seem to be the same. I wonder where they get their reputation from...

On the bright side, my friend enjoyed his dram of Caol Ila CS at 58%

@Nozinan G&M has a lot of good whiskies, but they don't limit themselves to selecting only the good casks like some other independent distillers do, they pretty much have hundreds of rare or single cask releases of most distilleries available at all time. For instance, with Glentauchers, the G&M releases are the only semi-official bottlings from this distillery. That they taste like crap is most likely not G&M's fault, I believe it is safe to say that Glentauchers is not a particularly great distillery. But it's only thanks to G&M that I can make that claim

@plattvillepeat, that delightful treat was certainly worth mentioning, thanks for sharing. Tonight I'm 'slumming it' with Corby's Lot No. 40 and Cadbury's Dairy Milk.

@paddockjudge

Milk chocolate goes well with many types of whiskies, though not with all.

Though I got to smell the Caol Ila CS in the glass, my dram tonight is Macallan CS, thanks of course, to your genrerosity.

Using the last of my Alberta Springs 10yr to make Whisky Sours and Old Fashioneds...a good end to the bottle.

Old Potrero. Hotaling's Whiskey 14 yo (MMIX) and 18th Century Style, Batch N.

Yesterday I brought some of both of these to the first public tasting of a brand new distillery, Twin Valley Distillers, in Rockville, Maryland, about 5 miles from my house. The co-owner and distiller, C. Edgardo Zuniga, currently has very nice white rum, 3 month bourbon quarter cask aged rum, and vodka. Nice? When was the last time you nosed molasses on a white rum? Edgardo plans to pot distill rye whiskey within a year's time, and I was lobbying Edgardo to go for malted rye like the Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey. Edgardo really liked the Old Potrero. Here's hoping. Bravo Edgardo! It is not easy setting up a distilling business here in the home of political correctness.

Had some New Riff Distilling O.K.I. 8 year old bourbon batch #3 and some Balvenie 12 year old single barrel.

@smokinjoe123

what did you think of the Balvenie? I though the one I tried had a nice nose but was a little rough on the palate

@Victor, Bravo, well played! I am having some young wheated bourbon - Smooth Ambler 29 months - this is gonna be killer juice at 100 months of age - very nice right now.

@paddockjudge

Have you thought of getting a small oak cask and aging some yourself?

Stagg Jr. 132.1 proof. This is one of the finest bourbons I have had in a long time. I'll have to get out the Pappy to compare it to. WOW what a finish, lasts forever. Dark fruit, chocolate, burnt sugar, SPICE. I'll do a review on this one. It has a great nose just don't get too close.

@Nozinan You hit it right on the head, good nose but a little rough on the palate, For $70 there are some better single malts out there that I like a lot better.