So, what are you drinking now?

Today (16 April), at the Talisker Distillery, sampled, the 10 year, Port Ruighe, Storm, 57 North, Distiller's Edition and a Friend's of the classic malts 2013 bottling. Favorites were the Port Riighe, 57 North and Friend's bottling.

Later, playing cards, Deanston 12, Linkwood 15, Ledaig 10, Caol Ila 12 and opened the 2013 Talisker Friends of the Classics Malts bottle that my mother-in-law purchased at the the distillery earlier today. A really nice triple matured expression of Talisker. Had several drams of it.

Tasted a couple more today at the local bottleshop:

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160417/…

Colkegan Single Malt American Whiskey, Batch #5 by Santa Fe Spirits. Quite an unusual bottling, in lieu of peat smoke, they used a proportion of mesquite smoked barley.

Smoked ham on the nose, burning embers of a campfire. Rather interesting and quite unique. Complex, savoury-salty tang, just a tad too mild and a little muted on the palate - parallels are drawn with my experiences with Canadian rye or New Zealand whiskey. Has a bit of bite to the finish while being smooth and warming. Would love to try this at barrel strength - I am sure it would be delightful.

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160417/…

Kilchoman 100% Islay, 4th Edition. An impressive offering from this fledgling Islay distillery. The nose reminds a little of tequila. Clean as a whistle, pure and unadulterated Islay profile with emphasis on the quality of the spirit and expert wood handling that is complementary rather than dominating. Ardbeg beware.

Tonight, 12 year Blair Athol from the Old Malt Cask Company. Distilled Oct. 2002. Bottled Nov. 2014. Refill Hogshead. 50% ABV

Finished off the last of the Linkwood 15 from Gordon MacPhail. Going to miss that one.

12 year Craigellachie from the Old Malt Cask Company. Distilled May 2003. Bottled June 2015. Sherry Butt. 50% ABV.

2013 Talisker Friends of the Classics Malts bottling. Triple matured.

Caol Ila 12 year

@Astroke Unicorn Sighting. It was confirmed Friday night, that a rare and exciting unicorn appearance took place in Cambridge, ON. A full bottle of Alberta Premium Limited Edition 30 Years was enjoyed by both novice and experienced whisky drinkers. There is no doubt that a unicorn can paint rainbows in the sky and put smiles on the faces of pretty girls...bless those unicorns.

@Astroke Unicorn Sighting! It was confirmed that a rare and exciting unicorn appearance took place in Cambridge, ON this past Friday. Alberta Premium Limited Edition 30 Years 100% Rye was enjoyed by novice and experienced whisky enthusiasts...there is nothing like a unicorn to paint rainbows in the sky or put smiles on the faces of pretty girls........bless those unicorns.

@paddockjudge an entire bottle? Oh that I could have been there...

@Nozinan

I have learned of a few stop over points on the Unicorn Migration Pattern. You will likely be at one of those locations in the future.

@paddockjudge Since I was not there to witness this event, still a Unicorn. I had to drown my sorrows with Masterson's Rye

@Astroke you could have been there. it was a short distance from your digs. stay in touch for the next one.

@paddockjudge damn, I missed a unicorn sighting. It was almost a year ago when I last saw, and thoroughly enjoyed, both the 25 yo and 30 yo unicorns raised by @paddockjudge

Just watched a whisky review on youtube of the GlenDronach 12yo, by the Scotch Test Dummies. I couldn't stop with just one dram, so I poured myself a wee dram of the 15yo. Love these back to back.

Bowmore Laimrig x 2 - I opened the bottle I just bought for review, and poured about 10-15 cc of the original batch I tasted from a dwindling decanted reserve.

Thoughts - I liked the earlier one better, but with just an hour in the glass the newer one is opening up very nicely. I can see this as a 90 whisky in a few months.

Both glasses are winning the competition for attention from the work I'm trying to finish so I can go to bed.

Lasr night, 12 year Blair Athol from the Old Malt Cask Company.

12 year Craigellachie from the Old Malt Cask Company.

Talisker 10 year.

2013 Talisker Friends of the Classics Malts bottling. Triple matured.

Caol Ila 12 year

After having both the GlenDronach 12yo and 15yo last night, I have decided to have the Aberlour and GlenDronach 12yos. I think it will be a pleasant evening. Cheers everyone.

@ajjarrett Forgot to mention the Aberlour 12yo is the Non-Chill Filtered.

Got invited to another Diageo 2015 Special Release tasting event, albeit a scaled down version and hosted by a larger retail chain.

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/…

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/…

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/…

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/…

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/…

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/…

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/…

For some reason, the Dailuaine and Dalwhinnie really opened up for me today and the Port Ellen just pips the Brora this time round.

The Caol Ila still represents great value.

@sengjc Impressive lineup. I purchase lottery tickets with the Brora in mind.

@Astroke There has to be a better way...

@Nozinan I can't think of any way to get it without massive guilt brought on by responsibility. That really sucks.

@Astroke @Nozinan Guilt is a wasted emotion, especially when it comes to whisky.

@talexander Agreed, have yet to feel that emotion regarding whisky, Brora purchase may change that.

Hmm... maybe my daughter will not need braces after all.

@Astroke, it never ends. braces today, tuition tomorrow, and then perhaps a wedding...grandchildren. We should all own a still and a white oak wood lot...

@paddockjudge Lots of people getting into craft distilling these days...I think you'd find a pretty good market, though we may not all want to travel up to where you live too often...

Night before last, finished off the bottle of 12 year Blair Athol from the Old Malt Cask Company.

12 year Craigellachie from the Old Malt Cask Company.

Talisker 10 year old.

2013 Talisker Friends of the Classics Malts bottling. Triple matured.

Caol Ila 12 year

@bwmccoy , my impression of those OMC bottles is that they're usually high quality and usually similar to the OBs from the same distilleries. Does that match your experience?

@OlJas - yes, I agree. I've never had an OMC that I thought was anything less than quality whisky.

Yesterday at The Highland Park distillery, sampled Leif Ericsson (80% bourbon casks 20% Sherry), Dark Origins (100% Sherry casks) and 17 year Ice (100% bourbon casks). I've had Dark Origins previously and wasn't that impressed with it, but enjoyed it more this time. While none of the 3 samples were bad, none were exceptional. My wife and mother-in-law really liked the Ice, but at 190 GBP per bottle fora 17 year old... No way!

Later, playing cards, started off with a 7 year Fettercairn (OMC bottling) from a refill hogshead.

12 year Craigellichie

Highland Park 18 year, 15 year and 12 year.

Finished with Talisker 10.

Today, at the Scapa distillery, Skiren, 12 year Cask Strength, new make and a 23 year Cask Strength single cask from a Sherry butt. The Skiren was pretty good. The 12 CS was ok, but lacking. The 23 year isn't available for purchase until June 1st, but it was stunning!

Tonight, 7 year Fettercairn, Highland Park 12 year, Talisker 10 year and Talisker Friends of the Classics Malt Edition.

Income tax time. Wading through receipts and entering numbers calls for something with some high numbers itself....

The cabinet is shuttered for Passover so I'm turning to the soon to be sealed sample drawer. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 67.8% courtesy a friend of @talexander. Amazing a bruiser like this is so sippable without any water added! And it seems, true to my memory, that it is improving more and more in the glass.

@Nozinan Definitely sounds like it would help with taxes. Any way you could write it off? :-)

One of my favorite bottlers, Adelphi! Specifically the 1996, 19 year old, refill sherry, Bowmore....stunning!