So, what are you drinking now?

When I was in China in 2005 my sister in law said that th word for beer in Mandarin essentially means or sounds like Horse urine. Yah Jing Beer, purchased in a convenience store in downtown Beijing, is certainly not dispelling the notion.

Next up will be something called Moss. Wish me luck.

I did see a 17 YO Bowmore on display in the hotel restaurant, and another I could not make out. They looked like OBs. Would have been interesting to have a closer look....

@paddockjudge Have been enjoying a few bourbons lately. EC 12, Knob Creek 9 and especially Booker's.IMHO this one is very good value at around 64%ABV and priced at at $64.05 plus tax here. We were down to only one bottle of Booker's in the entire province a 2014-05. I now see that we have new stock but am unsure as to what batch as our MLCC website does not differentiate so will be taking a 50 km drive to see what the new stock is. Will report back after my next "shopping" trip. Nothing in the scotch offerings at the MLCC comes close to Booker's at this price and quality.

@Nozinan On vacation, you need to take time for yourself and not rush: please, have a look at that Bowmore. And about the beer, how would you rate it on the Lambertus scale?

Jura... 24yr Signatory unchillfiltered...

@Jonesz,

That is a good price for Booker's. It is $85 over here.

@chrisbator, I'd love to see you write a review of that 24 yo Jura.

I greedily dipped in to my Octomore 6.1 last night to celebrate closing on my house!

@OlJas - CONGRATS! We signed the paperwork selling our townhome (previous house) last night. I celebrated with a couple of drams. A 10 year (June 1999) Glen Scotia from an ex-sherry Gorda cask. A bottle released by the Whisky Society in 2010. SMWS 93.39 "Master and Commander" as well as the next to last dram of Octomore 4.2 - Comus (Sauternes Cask).

We closed and moved into our new house last month. At the time, my wife and I celebrated by opening a bottle of Glenmorangie 15 year Saunternes Cask Finish that we picked up at the distillery in 2010. This is a distillery only bottling. It is a very unique dram and so much better than any of the standard Glenmornagie releases.

Again, congrats on closing on your house!

Enjoying the warm weather, makes a change in NW England, with a glass of Gran Centenarion Anejo Tequila nice agave flavour with touch of spice. Very refreshing after a tough shift.

@Robert99

Sadly I am thousands of kilometers from those Bowmore bottles.

It's not that the beer tasted bad, it just had very little taste, especially the Moss. But I got no diabetic foot ulcer or cat urine notes.

I am now in Sehezi, about 2 hours drive from Urumqi, the capital of Xinjian, which is in Western China, north of Tibet. Last night we had kebabs at a Uighur restaurant ( the term restaurant is used loosely) and while the food was halal they allowed us to bring our own beer, so we had Wusu beer, which, at least, tasted like beer.

Next alcoholic beverage I try will probably be Kawas, which is a Eurasian drink (low ABV, about 1%), apparently made from honey. Worth a go...

@bwmccoy , congrats back at ya. I'd love to try that Glen Scotia you got going. Nice work.

I was out at a Mexican restaurant yesterday and opted for something fitting, mezcal! Grassy and smoky but lacking power and flavor compared to whisky

Tonight was a real bonanza of odd stuff. Polish dark ale and amber beer. Polish flavored zubrowka vodka and quince liqueur. Also my wife ordered me a Highland Park dark origins whilst i was in the little boys room, no Sulphur to be found just aromatic smoke and Sherry goodness

31 year old cask strength Banff single malt

@paddockjudge $85!!! For Bookers??? I don't even look at the bottle if it is over $50

@newreverie. I would definitely look at the bottle, but I might not buy it if I can get it cheaper somewhere else (certain batches being more desirable).

But don't forget. While I don't condone the price increase by the LCBO, $85 canadian isn''t too far off from your limit.

@newreverie,

US$66 for Booker's, when it is available, The last bottle I purchased was at a cost of US$54.

Another great night at the lake house (future site of the Texas summit). Starting off with knob creek rye, then turkey rare breed, and to close out.... Jefferson's wood experiment - the same whiskey aged in 5 different barrel variations. I have 3, 4, 6, 10, and 12

Over the past few days I've been enjoying a few different Forty Creeks, courtesy of Nozinan who was kind enough to provide some samples earlier this summer.

I tried Evolution, Heart of Gold, Three Grain Harmony, and Port Wood Reserve. Out of those, I have to say Three Grain Harmony is my clear favourite, and probably the only one I would snap up a bottle of if I ever have the chance. It was quite a tasty treat.

I've also been having some Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend, and while my initial reaction to it back when it was first released was somewhat negative - I though it fine, but no more than fine - I have with a few more tastings grown to quite like it. Not enough to stock up before it goes way, but enough to be happy that I bought a bottle.

Olympic competition and AP 25 YO, AP 30 YO, and Masterson's 10 YO Batch 005. These 100% unmalted rye whiskies are all worthy of the podium.

Glenfiddich 15 solera, easy drinking no nonsense dram.

I like the way the blend of bourbon barrel, virgin oak and sherry cask are aged and matured in the solera gives a nice depth to the flavour especially the spice from the virgin wood.

Agree with most of the reviews could be so much better at 46%ABV, it is just too watery on the palate if it was NCF this would be awesome instead of good.

Gave a talk in Senezi, Xinjiang China today, and e Dean and Vice Dean (who spoke English and was an exceptionally interesting man) of the hospital took me out for dinner. Apparently there are certain traditions that involve drinking and I had my first taste of Bao Jiao. Apparently the best one produced in Xinjiang province.

Apparently it is meant to be taken as a shot. However the dean recommended I sip it the first time. it is clear. 46%ABV. The nose is very fruity, some overripe tropical fruit. There was papaya at the meal so I know it wasn't papaya. Maybe passion fruit?

They had six 250 cc bottles of the stuff and while I managed to limit myself to probably less than 90-100 cc, I and the other five went through 4 bottles. And they gave me the last 2 to take home as a gift. I'm all set for the next Ontario Summit!

@Nozinan Sounds like a terrific experience.

@Nozinan,

That's an awesome adventure you have undertaken.

46% abv - the Chinese got it right!

Weathers been miserable but Laphroaig 10 has put a smile on my face.

Tried a " salty sea dog " bottling from the whisky lounge, an indi bottler in uk, this is apparently an 10 yo islay dingle malt.. Rather tasty

@paddockjudge @Jonesz

Definitely an adventure. Actually from the few bottles in stores I've looked at, 46% is fairly low. Most of these are bottles at 50-52%.

Tonight I'm smoking a salmon filet and what better than whisky to make the time go by. I'm drinking Glenmorangie Dornoch which i find decent but nothing special. Springbank 10 that really develops with air and my Ballechin 10 which is a peated Edradour.

Stronachie 12yr, batch 01/11 from 2011.... nice and balanced, approachable, but nothing stands out about it.

Whisky from across the globe.

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The Springbank is excellent.