So, what are you drinking now?

@Robert99 I believe Prohibition is a superior blend, may be a fantastic base to Blend from. Let me know what other blends you come up with, I'll do the same. Thx!

@Victor, agreed on American 'ferr-oh-ah'. I've been flying the flag as my avatar since early Saturday morning.

TRIPLE CROWN Salute with none other than 3 x Crown Royal: CR Reserve, CR Monarch, and CR Limited Edition1978 - the very same year there was last a Triple Crown winner.

My whisky courier is in town staying with me. Sadly he failed to check luggage for his flight, but I still offered him a real treat...Springbank Claret wood (12 YO CS) and Trader Joe's dark chocolate covered nibs... a great pairing!

Sharing a dram with my sister and brother-in-law who are visiting from Calgary. Last night I introduced my B-I-L to Highwood Ninety 20 year old from High River, Alberta. He'd never tried it before. Blown away. Tonight I poured him a dram of my Midleton Very Rare 1979. My sister is enjoying 2 Gingers Irish whisky. I decided to stay with a Canadian whisky again. This time Danfield's 21 yo. A splendid whisky.

@whiskygoalie

You have very lucky in-laws (and a very lucky sister). And of course, you're lucky yo have family in Calgary, the whisky centre of Canada. Better prices, better selection. And now that the political landscape is interesting for the first time in 49 years, who wouldn't want to live there?

Great tasting weekend with @talktalksleep.

• Hazelburn 10

• Benriach Sherry Wood

• Bruichlanddich 20 yo (Duncan Taylor)

• Johnnie Walker Green at 48%

• Baker's bourbon

• Old Pulteney 12 & 17 side by side

• Glengoyne 15

• Balvenie 12 Single Barrel

• Kilchoman Single Cask for Sun Life Taiwan

Not a dud amongst them, although the Glengoyne wasn't quite my cup of tea. The Bruichladdich was probably the most interesting of the night.

Good going, @hunggar. I look forward to more from @Talktalksleep.

Bunnahabhain Toiteach for my review. I got this feeling that is is "less potent, less powerful" than when I initially opened the bottle. Not that any flavours have decreased, the oomph isn't that big anymore. Odd. Luckily, still a great whisky!

Knob Creek 9 year Single Barrel 120 proof. What a beautiful bourbon, strong, Carmel , cherry, oak, and what a long finish. This bottle is half full and been open for six months, its at its peak. Quality per price, it's a must for any bar.

Glen Moray 12yo. Good nose. Solid malt. Hint of spice. Nice daily. Although I need a variety of these "dailies" to keep things from getting boring.

@Benancio This is a fine bourbon. Same family as Booker's, and not much of a difference in price up here. I hear it's going NAS though

@Nozinan Bookers is the bigger brother and on average it's better too. On occasion though Knob Creek SB are off the charts good. If you happen to get one of the exceptional bottles run back and get as many as your will handle.

NAS, say it so Joe.

@Benancio, @Noziman I just opened my first bottle of Knob Creek SB four days ago and what strikes me is that I have flavors that I usually have on bottle that have been opened for more than a year. I have rose water and, more surprisingly on a fresh bottle, I have pickles! Ok, it's only a whiff.

If I try to compare it to Bookers, I would say there is less red fruits and more mint. There is also some peanut, if you look for it. I really like it and I hope it will be even better in a few months.

@Wodha , what else is in your rotation?

@Wodha I think most of us know exactly how you feel. That would be an interesting topic for a new thread. " I need a variety of these "dailies" to keep things from getting boring." Your description of Glen Moray 12y sounds exactly like a daily kind of dram, nothing wrong with that. We can't drink A'bunadah every evening!

@Benancio

I could easily have A'Bunadh as my "go-to dram".

I don't distinguish between an "everyday dram" and a special occasion one. It's a good week if I get 2 opportunities to share a dram with someone, and a rare night that I'll have a dram myself, usually if I have a long boring project to do.

When I drink, and forgive me if I've said this before, because I don't do it often, I want something "very good" each time. I'm willing to try something new, and I keep some lower ABV and "simpler" stuff available to introduce to Scotch naive individuals. But when I pour at home I generally want quality.

So my "rotation" includes A'Bunadh, Bladnoch, Amrut (various CS presentations), Booker's, Macallan CS, and other whiskies that I really like. Even if I don't get to them often. It will never include Glenlivet 12, any pole dancer-related Macallans, Glenfiddich, etc...

I do have some "special occasion" bottles. Those are also good whiskies that I have a limited supply of. The "special" occasion is having someone over who appreciates good whisky and has not tried them. For instance, I cracked a 200 cc bottle of Caol Ila CS with a Connosr buddy, and I have served it since but not poured it for myself since that time, in order to maximize exposure.

Opened an Ardmore 'Traditional Cask' @ 46%: Freshly opened, I'd say that this will be the best Ardmore ever! The nose is amazing with gorgeous peat that shows many facets and is not unlike several fine peated Whiskies; I see hints of Highland Park sophistication, the more robust Laphroaig and what reminds me of the Caol Ila - I don't think I'm reading too much into this drop; 'hope not! Without water!

Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi 's nach fhaic!

Caol Ila 12, yummie:)

Dobson's Empire 8 Triple Distilled Single Malt Australian Whisky by Eastview Estate from a sample bottle.

Bottled at 60% and predominantly consisting of the 'heart' of the distillation. Matured in Shiraz, Chardonnay and Madeira casks.

Not much on the nose, just a gentle faint sweetness. The palate starts off sweet with a strong aniseed tinge, almost like a Caribbean rum mixed with Schnapps. Vibrant notes of tangerine, vanilla, custard and caramel that slowly fades with some woody nuances - now it feels more familiar like a bourbon whisky. Nice oily consistency, quite approachable - starts a little prickly, quickly becoming smooth and finishes warming.

Not really as intense as I would expect from a whisky bottled at 60% and probably would benefit from additional depth of flavour but it is an interestingly unique experience, nonetheless.

@Robert99 Pickles and Peanuts interesting. I'll have to close my eye and see if I can detect either of those the next time I have Bookers or Knob Creek SB in a glass.

We did a head to head of WL Weller 12Y and the Antique 107 last night. For me the clear winner was the Antique 107.
The 12y at 90 poof is very smooth, goes down nicely, great carmel flavor. The Antique is much more interesting, Cherry, caramel, Butter Scotch, Spices, little Cola note, fantastic burn.

12y 85/100 107 89/100

@Nozinan I'll will usually have a single dram about 2 hours before bedtime, on the weekends 2 or 3 drams. I'll take 2 nights a week off from any alcohol. On occasion with friends we have been known to hit it hard. The amount of whiskey one drinks in a week is something we all need to keep a watch on, we don't want to get ourselves in trouble and ruin a good thing.

There are quite a few inexpensive whiskeys out there that score very high marks, those are what I consider a daily dram. The Top Tier whiskey I'll try one weekly, kind of like "can't have sex every night". They last longer and I don't loose my interest in them.

Glenlivet 12, never touch the stuff.

@Benancio

I hope you didn't take my comments as a commentary on how much people should drink. it was simply on how much I am able to consume and why I don't have enough opportunities to "waste" on "everyday" drams.

But I do not equate expensive with good. I agree there is lots great under $100 (US). And that's what I go for.

@Nozinan No worries, I took no offense to your comments. How much one drinks is a very Personal subject, that makes most people uncomfortable. There are a lot of young or new whiskey consumers. I feel that if I'm commenting on a daily dram, if one drinks daily, drink responsibly.

@Benancio

And following up on good but not expensive.....

CELEBRATING the delivery of my new blackberry phone. I know it's no iPhone, but it looks to be awesome compared to my old Torch that keeps mini-crashing.

I am toasting my new device as I transfer all my important data, with another unique Canadian product, Canadian Club 100% rye. It's late, so light and a little spicy is just the right thing for the occasion.

@Benancio I didn't get pickles in Bookers before a year and a half. And the peanut, I get only in Knob Creek.

As for your H2H of the two Weller, I would love to have the same opportunity. Unfortunately, I never saw the Antique 107 around here. I hope I will grab a bottle one day on one of my trip to NY or Chicago or... So enjoy what life offers you!

Cherrs

@Benancio I consider anything costing me under $60/bottle as fair game to be a "daily dram". Aberlour 10, Aberfeldy 12, Ardbeg 10, Cardu, are usually on my "daily" shelf. I buy blended Scotch to fill the decanter which I usually drink over ice on hot summer afternoons. I've been a fan of William Grant for a long time. Recently saw the score Jim Murray gave to Clan MacGregor so have it now. Not too bad with ice. For Irish Jameson is a great daily.

trying to finish some long overdue work and I had a desire for some deep heavy sherry.... Mac CS was just the right thing. Though with each dram I'm one pour closer to running out for good...

@Nozinan, I have it on good authority there is a small cache of Macallan Cask Strength somewhere in Ontario. It has also become known to me that you were instrumental in procuring a goodly portion of this strategic stock pile.

@paddockjudge

I have it on good authority that that strategic stockpile is in very good hands. Given I am still nursing the same bottle I opened last year and am on a pace to finish it in another year, with 2 more bottles likely to be opened in the far future, I suspect that stockpile will have dwindled precariously by the time I run out.

There is nothing like the Mac CS, nothing that can replace it. I wouldn't call it my favourite or even second favourite sherry monster, but it is quite good and has some very unique smells and flavours, some rich dried prune notes that I can't find anywhere else in the same way.

Who knows if Macallan could even replicate it now if it tried...

Ardmore @ 46% ABV. I'm enjoying a modest dram of this fine Whisky; it's young, it's feisty and not without a few splinters but great sipping in a 'sit-up and take notice, look at me' way! Definately not to be ignored and keeps puling me away from my favoutite band as I sip and listen! And the colour, well, it took a while for the penny to drop. I knew I'd seen this unusual shade before, but where?

Laphroaig '14 Cairdeas Amontillado, that's where! I guess it's not surprising given that Ardmore is the sister Distillery and Laph. does ship quarter cask to her; there is maybe a suggestion of Laph. in the smoke, it may also be in my imagination! There is no mistaking the colour, though: Sadly, there will be no more of the 46%. It will be replaced in normal retail with 'Legacy' @ 40%: The Traditional Cask 46% is exclusively for Travel Retail (Duty Free). What a shame!

Slainte!