So, what are you drinking now?

@hunggar it was the 2013 edition. I'd read that they were much smokier than the 16, but I didn't find that at all.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, 70.1% abv batch. I couldn't wait any longer to taste it.

@Victor The first Hazmat bottling of ECBP!!! I believe that it is the 6th release (if my obsessive counting is correct) and I am very much looking forward to hearing what you think of it.

i will continue to live vicariously through connosr as my reflux issues persist.

Bunnahabhain 12, and some black bottle that I'm using to test out those Whisky Elements from Kickstarter (dropped a smoky stick in 2 days ago, results aren't half bad)

@Nock, on first impression, the 70.1% abv batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, is, without water, dry, austere, and tannic. With 2-5 drops of water it blossoms nicely. It really needs water, and, as anybody who knows me knows, I am not much on adding water.

Preliminary rating: 90 with water, 84 without water. I'll review this one within the next couple of weeks, I think.

Batch #'s? No. 1 = 67.1%; No. 2 = 68.5%; No. 3 = 66.6%; No.4 = 66.2% No. 5 = ? If this one is No. 6, what was the abv of batch # 5? If this is # 6 I seem to have missed batch #5.

@Nock, I hope you heal quickly. I know from experience, that giving up coffee for a few years will help considerably...also abstaining from hot sauce and ALL forms of tobacco.

@paddockjudge I don't think I could live without hot sauce - my thoughts go out to your deprived palate

@JayRain - survive is more appropriate than live - my apologies for poor choice of wording

@JayRain

I think the answer is not to go without. I've had reflux for over 15 years, worse when I am overweight. I tried a sample of a medication I received and have been using it the last 4-5 years. Even if I forget a day, I now use an antacid one a month or less.

Of course, I hadn't had a checkup with my own doctor since before then. Now that I have he wants me to get a scope. Yuck.

I think the point is, there are some serious causes of reflux and others that are less serious. SOme can be treated away with a medication, allowing you to live and enjoy life.

So (and I say this as a Canadian with government funded health care) see your doctor...

Celebrating the last two nights of not being kept up all night by my own coughing.... Baker's bourbon from a sample...review to come.

Ardmore Traditional Cask...while nothing spectacular, it is an enjoyable, straightforward dram. I'm just pissed at myself for not cleaning out the inventory at my local store for $20/bottle. Sadly, it's all gone.

Tobermory 10 yo. While the first pour did nothing for me, the second one, a weak later, is very very good. A drastic change. I know understand why so many find it is one of the best value for your money on the market.

An older label Rittenhouse 100 Proof Straight Rye as I continue on this rye journey of discovery.

Very different to the others I have tried so far. This one is quite bourbon-like with a very deep syrupy sweetness and very simple. Doesn't seem to excite as much as the handful of American ryes that I have had: Knob Creek, James E. Pepper, High West Rendezvous and Michter's US*1.

It is ok for the everyday before dinner drinks but I would much rather the Knob Creek to be honest.

@Victor

Release #5 is bottled at 67.4%

I was at a Robbie Burns Dinner last night that was put on by the Manitoba Kilt Lifters Scotch Club.

The Dinner Menu: Chef Craig Guenther.

Cock a leekie soup. Neeps and tatties, Haggis sausage (Craig's secret) Whisky laden clooty cream, berries, on a shortbread crust. Served with Athol Brose. Amazing Food!

Here's the list of whisky that I was fortunate enough to sample. The pours were 1/2 ounce until the bottles were empty.

Inchgower 1993- Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) Mortlach 10 Years Old 2000 - The Coopers Choice Aberlour 12 Year Served with Dinner. Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Single Malt Scotch Bunnahabhain 18 Year Cragganmore 1997 Port Wood Finish - Distillers Edition Glenfiddich 15 Year solera cask The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old The Glenlivet Nadurra 16YO The Glenrothes 1998 (did not sample) The Macallan Amber Benriach 12 Year Old Sherry Wood The Glenlivet Guardian's Chapter Limited Edition Benromach Organic Special Edition Benromach 10 year old Glen Moray 12 My favorite of the evening were the Inchgower, The Mortlach ( I can now understand what the fuss is about). These were brought in from Alberta. Also really enjoyed the Port Charlotte. A Very enjoyable evening.

@Victor I believe that @sengjc is correct. ECBP release #5 is 67.4% or 134.8 Proof. I was able to pick up only one bottle back in the early fall or late summer at some point (can't remember now).

It remains unopened at this point as I have been nursing batch #4 which has proved to be my least favorite so far. When you don't have a great batch of any whisky it is amazing how long it can last. You just don't reach for it as much. And with a great bottle (or good batch) I find they disappear before you know it. I have to be extra conscious to take a healthy sample when a good bottle is doing well. Otherwise you can miss it and find yourself with the dregs of an over oxidized bottle. j

Tonight I plan to return to the land of the drinking by cracking my Lost Distillery Co. bottle of Gerston. It seems fitting to celebrate the memory of Burns with an old style smoky dram. I am feeling much better, and I just can't miss a good whisky drinking opportunity. Cheers!

Thank you, @sengjc and @Nock for the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch # 5 abv information. I will be interested to see your reviews for that one, since I don't have any of it.

No Burns Night dinner for me this evening but I am enjoying some good single malts. Just finished a Balblair 2003 which I love, now just moving on to AnCnoc 12 year old, which I'm just getting to know. Speaking of which @stuartlax, I'd be interested to know what the new 18 year old is like?

@Lars, Thanks for sharing your Robbie Burns experience. I have a 15YO Mortlach (G&M) which I find to my liking. For whatever reason you passed on The Glenrothes 1998, I agree with your choice - I just don't connect with that iteration; however, I find the Glenrothes 1995 a stunning dram.

@paddockjudge Funny when I typed it out each drink was on it's own line, sure would be nice to edit my post but I did sample the The Glenrothes 1998 and passed on The Macallan Amber. The Glenrothes has an excellent price point but did not really click with me same with the Bunnahabhain 18 Year. That's what it is all about finding what you like and spending time with friends.

@Lars, I agree with passing on The Macallan Amber, for personal reasons. In all fairness, The Glenrothes opened up after a number of months and now, more than a year later, it is better, but still not in my wheelhouse.

Aberlour 12 NCF. This bottle is getting better the lower it gets. Started off a little rough. Very nice now.

Attended my first Robert Burns dinner the other night hosted by a new whisky friend. She did a wonderful job with good food, plentiful whisky and entertained us with Jim Malcolm as Robert Burns videos. There were 13+ Single Malts available plus 5 blends. I had Stronachie 12, Bruichladdie The Organic and Edradour Ballenchin which I had never tried and had some Robert Burns Blend in Robbie’s honor. Good food, fun times and whisky tasting that much better being shared with new friends.

Kids are in bed (sort of, at least one is in my bed) and I'm settlimg down with Korean radio, Lemoney Snicket, milk chocolate, and a dram of Laphroaig QC.

Perfect dram for the slight chill in the living room caused by the -10 degree weather outside. If only we had a fireplace...

Aberlour Abunadh Batch #42 - so good.

@KRB80

I have one, waiting to open it. It being the ultimate batch, the answer to life the universe and everything.

Have you tried other batches and how does it compare?

@Nozinan Is that a Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy reference?! LMAO

It is/was my first bottle of Abunadh that I bought a couple years back so I have no comparison. If there is good consistency amongst batches, I am looking forward to the next batch I purchase. The sweet spot for me is with 3 cap-fulls of spring water. Sorry about the lack of information you are seeking.

@KRB80

No worries, as they say in another sic-fi series (I don't remember which) "all will be revealed" when I crack my bottle of 42.

When I turned 42, the batch had not et been released, and now, because I've expanded my repertoire, I don't drink as much A'Bunadh as I used to, so I don't know when I'll get to it. Maybe when I turn 48, because I don't have a batch 48 waiting for me....

Hope the KGBO gets in the 50. Be a nice dram to have with that milestone age...

Teeling Irish Whiskey 'Rum Cask Finish' @46% ABV. Comparing Batch 10/2013 with 03/2014. I have had a few of the former and really liked it; the 03/2014, I'm not so sure about. The '13 opened beautifully and just kept getting better, not so the '14 and the flavour is lighter and at this stage pretty locked up - Time and air...I hope so! At first taste, this is a pretty feisty 'drop'.

I'm not sure where this 03/14 Teeling is going, other than the back of the cabinet!