So, what are you drinking now?

@A'bunadhman it sounds like you are saying goodbye to a good friend, at least you'll have the memories. Myself I've been on an opening spree after finishing off a few nearly empty bottles. In the last two nights I've opened the Suntory Yamazaki Distiller's Edition, Glenfarclas 2003, Glenkinchie 12, Maker's Mark, Bulleit Bourbon, Talisker 10 and Laphroaig 10.

I went to an Irish Whisky dinner last night and got to try Jameson Irish Black Barrel Whiskey, Middleton Very Rare, Redbreast 12, and Powers John Lane Release. My favoite of the bunch was the John Lane Release although I am not a big fan of Irish Whiskey and would spend my money on Single Malt or Bourbon instead.

We stayed afterward and also tried Hakushu 12, Hibiki 12, Nikka Coffey, and Old Pultney 21. I wasn't that enamoured with the Japanese malts but really enjoyed the OP21.

Glenmorangie Nectar D'or

Dropped by a friends and brought the Amrut Cask Strength (Nozinan - called it, an unbelievable whiskey - it was so zesty & buttery that I forgot to add water.

Also dabbled into Benriach 12 I.H. Second Ben Riach that I have been impressed with (Ben Riach 16 is a beautiful whiskey) where the taste and finish are like night and day.

@JayRain

Great minds think alike. I poured a half dram of the peated cask strength (I'm assuming that's what you meant) last night. It's been a while, and I think it's changed a little. The smoke is a little drier on the nose. Wonderful single malt.

Last night, I poured a couple of heavy hitters...Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye, batch 'J', and Stagg 2011. No better way to mark four years on Connosr...pouring from two bottles that were acquired with the incredible help of one @Victor. Cheers and best wishes to a good friend!

Last evening I had two small drams of the Port Charlotte Scottish Barley and the BenRiach Heredotus Fumosus before heading out for dinner with some friends. Really enjoying both of these scotches.

@mscottydunc I believe you are Toronto-based - where was dinner?

Tried Mr. Flamingo and People's Eatery this week - both were absolutely fabulous.

@JayRain I'm actually in London, but get down to Toronto every few weeks for work. We actually just went to another friends place to eat, not out to a restaurant. Had some delicious home made fajitas and red wine. I will have to check out those places next time I am in TO. Thanks for the recommendations!

Springbank 10...best dram under $60? I'd say so. Lots going on here for the dinheiro. Wowza.

Celebrated my 50th birthday tonight with the last dram out of two of my favorite, long-opened bottles.

27 year Cardhu (SMWS 106.18 -"Bottled essence of summer") Distilled November 28th, 1984 from a refill hogshead - ex-bourbon cask.

40 year Longmorn (SMWS 7.55 - "Liquid Heaven") Distilled December 1968 from a first fill sherry butt.

Special whisky for a special occasion. I am really going to miss those two bottles!

@bwmccoy, a very big Happy 50th Birthday to you! Thanks for your many contributions to Connosr.

I'll toast you with something nice later in the day. (It is 0730 hrs here now.) Just think how big the list of whiskies you have tried will be 50 years FROM NOW! ...a staggering thought, and I wish you an excellent memory when you are 100. CHEERS BRYAN!

@bwmccoy, Congratulations! 50 Years is a fantastic milestone - old enough to know how and young enough to get it done.

I don't have any 50YO whisky in my cabinet, so I will salute you with two 25YO's: Alberta Premium 25 YO Limited Edition 2006 and Century Distillers 25YO Calgary Stampede Centennial Edition.

Wishing you many more!

@bwmccoy

I can't promise to toast you with any alcohol tonight but you do have my best wishes.

I don't expect to get my hands on anything older than my AP 30 (thanks again @paddockjudge), I do hope to be able to crack a batch 50 of A'Bunadh when I turn 50. That will also likely Mark the last batch I buy ahead for a long time (maybe until 60), as I am running out of storage space.

@bwmccoy Best wishes on the completion of your fiftieth orbit around the sun. Looks like you celebrated in style!

I just poured a small measure of Amrut Intermediate Sherry. I decanted it along time ago, and I was worried it would no longer be good (I think I opened the bottle in 2013). Happy to report it has not lost its charm....

@bwmccoy cheers on your 50th!! I join @Victor (in "spirit") toasting your half century with the Black Art 2.2 21yo 49.7%.

@bwmccoy

Cheers to those you have impacted and those who have impacted you in the last half-century

Balvenie 3x50ml. Pack: The 12yo. Double Wood is good, the 14yo. Carribean Cask is excellent with Rum notes and power, however, the 17yo. Double Wood is very much like a 17yo.Rum Cask I had early last year and nothing like an older version of the 12yo., in fact, it is just as I would expect the 14yo. Carribean Cask to develop with Rum notes, a magnificent nose, a somewhat more civilized palate with rich chocolate, lucious black Cherries and wonderful mouth-feel - I really don't think this is a Double Wood unless, of course, the second wood was a Rum Cask. The 17yo. is a lovely Whisky but not a Double Wood, IMO. But I have been wrong before...frequently.

Tonight I am spending two hours (that I will never have back) re-reading and preparing a report on the Canadian Supreme Court's recent ruling on the laws prohibiting assisted death in Canada. Actually (agree with it or not), this is a superbly written document that makes me wish I had gone to law school. The fact that it can be understood by someone like me makes it even more special.

However, it is 85 pages long and I am distilling it into a two page review. My wife has gone to bed. My only company now is another distilled product.

It had to be something Canadian, given the topic. So I chose Forty Creek Portwood Reserve, which, I believe, was released in the same year that the original decision was released (the decision that was ultimately upheld last week by the Supreme Court).

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix 55% abv. Drinking this reminds me that I wish that all Irish blended whiskey were sold at 55% abv...just like Cutty Sark Prohibition 50% abv reminds me that I wish that all blended Scotch were sold at 50% abv, or higher.

@Victor Yes, that one is very good.

@maltmate302, how did you like the Bulleit bourbon? I had it at a friends house and found it quite nice but a bit to sweet for my taste. Maple syrup and toasted oak.

tonight I had a small dram of a'bunadh batch 47. Something right down my alley for sure

@Alexsweden actually I'm enjoying it quite a lot at the moment. I've only had a couple of drams so far while I let the air work its magic but I already find the spices really nice at 45%abv .It does make a lot of difference being bottled at this strength as Victor intimated it would. I also have a Maker's Mark at 45% abv and I'm also loving wheat as the secondary grain.

About a week or so ago, I had decanted the last of my A'Bunadh 45 into a 4 oz bottle and there was a little left in the bottle. Tonight I liberated it and poured it into a glass, and decided to try a vatting....with batch 36.

it's still A'Bunadh but the 2:1 ratio of 36 to 45 overpowered the subtleties of the 45 a little.

I'm having the very last from my long low-fill bottle of the 1974 Glenfarclas 31 year old. It's still got something of the old glory in there, even if it's a bit weaker and much of the rich figginess is gone. I wish that I remembered more vividly what this was like when the bottle from fresh, but I let it linger maybe just a little too long! . . .I suppose that I'll have to wait to console myself at some point with the unopened bottle that I stashed away.

Went from Oban 14 to Clynelish 14 to Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask tonight. It was a decent progression in flavors.

Oban 14 and Great King Street Glasgow Blend. Glasgow Blend tastes like a smoky Clynelish and boy is it good.

SNL 40th and 1975 CR Ltd. Ed.

Last night was my sister's wedding. We had Bowmore 12, Highland Park 12, Macallan Fine Oak 12, and Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 49. Was a great day made even better by some great scotches!