So, what are you drinking now?

Old Granddad 114 sweet strong bourbon

@Benancio I wish I could try it too. My "mule" still has not brought any over even though he's sitting on 2 bottles for me...and 3 Bladnoch.....and 2 Booker's....

@Nozinan, thanks to a generous friend for hooking me up with a bottle of OGD114. lol I can bring the bottle to your place for a session...after all, that's where it came from;)

@paddockjudge At this rate it may be the only way I taste it...

@paddockjudge

You ARE the master of picking batches. I opened a bottle of Booker's batch 2015-01 with my Florida mule friend. It is awesome! I loved my first batch, and I think this one may be even better! It will take all my willpower to keep from buying up the rest that I can find...

Bushmills 21 Years Old.

@Fiberfar, ahhhh, My Gateway Malt. This the one that lured me to the dark side. I was perfectly happy to have a modest collection of North American blends and then I was coaxed into trying just a sip...then another. Soon I was pouring myself healthy measures. Bushmills 21 made it easy for me to accept Single Malt as a serious alternative to my three grain blends.

@paddockjudge I fully understand what you mean. I'm not particularly fond of the other Bushmills, but this one is fantastic. The very first glass I had did not impress me overly much, but now I love it so much I only have a small glass, months between. AFAIK, it's not available here anymore (and to think I paid $77 for it!).

@Fiberfar, $77 !!! Experience teaches us to identify opportunities. The Bushmills 21 may not be a bargain any longer; however, other opportunities will arise. Being better positioned to react is facilitated by having a long term plan. For me, this is the best way to harvest whiskEy.

To lay down a few grand on some choice bottles, regardless of the sticker price, is impractical for all but a few serious collectors. Preparing a whisky budget will make purchases much more comfortable. I have an annual budget for whisky purchases and a modest weekly slush fund, which I call 'the coffee can'. This preparation frees me of the burdensome justification that may be required before pulling the trigger. I get zero grief from Chancellor (my wife) and I rule The Department of Whisky with an iron fist, well at least with some confidence....back to the Bushmill 21. I was confused when I first tried it. All of that malted barley at once was intimidating. I was accustomed to having much less barley in my blended whisky, especially Canadian expressions where it lends some accent notes.

This week I had an opportunity to acquire some very nice Booker's (2015-01). I picked up one for 'testing' and then returned the next day to acquire another pair. Two more presented themselves a couple of days later and I hit the coffee can for those....Emergency Preparedness - Inventory Replenishment - Sustainable Development (justification for budget).

Had a mini sherry cask battle yesterday with the Macallan Cask Strength, SMWS 66.34 and the SMWS 116.18. Surprisingly the Macallan Cask Strength won the day - only just.

Had to balance out the sherry with some Springbank CV and SMWS 53.173 after that.

@sengjc Mac CS is often under-rated because of the current shenanigans at the distillery. It's a unique sherry spirit profile. Not surprised it beat out a couple of single casks.

@sengjc - I'm a big fan of MAC CS. Would you happen to know the abv and/or the Lot No. The Lot No. is on the reverse side of the front label...you must look through the back or side of the bottle to see it.

@paddockjudge

Easier to see after a few drams, I would think... worthwhile project. do they still sell it where you live @sengjc ?

@Nozinan, @sengjc, definitely a labour of love drinking the fill level below the lot numbers.

On call today but we had people over to celebrate my daughter's birthday. One of the parents like Scotch and Bourbon. So I poured him a dram of the Booker's 2015-01 and it blew him away! Almost as good as drinking it myself.

Today, I was going for Glenfarclas 15 but I found that my batch, that is all about dark chocolate, was lacking the cake spices of the better batches. To jazz this dram, I add about 3/4 of a teaspoon of Knob Creek SB, It did marvels.

@paddockjudge

L0573M L10 15 08, bottled at 59% alc/vol.

@Nozinan

Unfortunately these are scarcer than hen's teeth where I am at. Fortunately, I have another 3 unopened bottles left of various lot codes and alc/vol.

I think there was thread previously where I posted what lot codes/alc% I have, with the help of a torch.

Wild Turkey 101 Rye: One of several I have open, a couple of older bottles in decanters; this my favourite in a litre bottle (2/3 full), ex Duty Free and a different label with an attractive full painted Turkey. It is surprising how some of the batches differ; they're all good but the older batches seem to have a more layered depth! I'm glad I bought all these when I did, even though there were 'ructions aplenty' at the time!

Je via sano! Toston! Sanon!

@A'bunadhman I use to be buy this all the time for $19. This was my favorite Rye Whiskey, don't let the low price fool you, this is great Rye. Jimmy Russel did a fantastic job with this one. @Victor has made comments and reviews on the old bottles like yours. I was slow and didn't see it getting discontinued, I have 1/3 of a bottle from 2010 left.

To Your Health.

A'bunadh Batch #49: Just a taste to see how it is coming along and it has settled down beautifully in a large decanter. The mouth-feel is superb, full of sweet fruits that simply drip flavour - This will be a very easy to drink Whisky with the most well mannered alcohol; even neat this is a delight with a silky texture that borders on the dangerous! At this time, the nose is somewhat restrained, quiet even: It's not jumping out of the glass but another month and I'm sure it will!

I don't know, but suspect that there are a couple of much older casks in this batch (?).It does have a sweeter profile than any batches I've seen.

Cheers.

@A'bunadhman I just had a dram of that last night, from a bottle that had been open for many months. Spectacular.

@A'bunadhman @talexander

You guys are making me REALLY eager to try this whisky. Unfortunately I won't be 49 for a few (too few) more years so I'll have to wait, but at least I have something really special to look forward to.

@sengjc Mac CS L0244P L10 09 07 60.1% is the batch I am currently enjoying. A lot of oak this batch.

@paddockjudge

How many different batches do you have? All my 3 bottles, one of which is open, are that batch. What difference have you noticed between batches?

The latest batch of Booker's....mmmmmmmmmmmmm....

Great minds think alike! @talexander

Guess what I just poured.

@Nozinan, I currently have two batches. My Macallan CS was purchased in the following jurisdictions: NY, CT, ON, AB, NB, QC. Different sweetness. I've owned three batches and tasted some in pubs.

@talexander Booker's - rich, decadent, butter tarts. Batch 2015 - 01. Fingers crossed for batches 02 and 03.

@paddockjudge @Nozinan Speaking of Macallan, I have a cask strength Macallan tucked away, courtesy of SMWS, waiting to be opened...and waiting for the right time.