So, what are you drinking now?

@sengjc , nice world tour.

Best camping trip ever!

Coming back from the mountains after spending the night in a yurt, my brother in law took us to the Xinjiang Citic Guoan Wine Company in the city that neighbours Shehezi but whose name I have forgotten. His friend Fred, from France, is the manager and has turned he winery, he largest single site producer in all of Asia, into a producer of fine wines. He may in fact put China on the map. I tried some red, straight from the barrel, and while not as robust as an Australian Shiraz, it was quite tasty and oaky (he uses imported French oak). We also tried some white in the tasting room that was sweet, just as my wife likes it.

But the best part was when he opened the (rubber or silicone) bung on a smaller cask and drew out what was essentially cask strength 5-6 year old cognac in all but name (it was a double distilled wine spirit but made in China, not Cognac region).

I have never been lucky to taste a spirit right from the cask before. I've read people describing the experience, and I can say it was truly special.

As for the spirit, it has not been released yet but as far as I could tell it as ready. I could have nosed and tasted it for hours and had I a drop of water I wonder if I could have opened it up more. But as is it is, I only had 5 minutes and in that time I got enough of an impression to say it would have scored in the 90s.

My brother in law said he would try to get some when it's released and eventually bring it over. When asked if the particular bottle he could get could possibly be straight from the cask, Fred's reply was "I think so".

Almost makes me want to come back to Xinjiang, over and over.....

@Nozinan What a wonderful experience! Chinese wine and Chinese Cognac??? Who would have guess they could be good? My wife leved in China from 1986 to 1988 and she told me that anything ressembling wine at that time was terrible. I guess the French expertise makes a big difference. BTW, it is a big plus for me when a red is not «as robust as an Australian Shiraz» probably because of my French heritage ;)

@Robert99

I was surprised. The facility is huge, bigger than anything in niagara on the lake or Kelowna. The red was also not as robust as a Cote de Rhone. Still, lots of oak in it.

Fred says he bottles his spirits at higher ABVs because the Chinese consumers like it that way. But they tend to knock it back. Such a waste if it's that good. And the casks I saw were small. I wonder if he will have enough to release, and whether my brother in law can get his hands on it. Only time will tell...

@Nozinan will find it if it comes from a barrel, A 10,000 km distance won't stop him from discovering liquid gold. Bravo, good buddy!

@Robert99

I should add that Fred indicated his wine is exported to France! Albeit to chinese restaurants...

Finally made it to Hong Kong after a bus, plane, train and automobile. With dinner we shared a Blue Girl lager... Apparently brewed in South Korea. At least it tastes like beer.

@Nozinan was Del Griffith with you :)

@Astroke, I like this version better than the one from the sound track.

www.youtube.com/watch

@Nozinan , One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Blue Girl.

@Nozinan Next time I'll go in France I will be less afraid to take a red Chinese wine in a Chinese restaurant and to end it with a Chinese Cognac ;)

I decided to open my Ardbeg Uigedail, batch L63028 from 2015. Purchased in NS for $50 less than the gouging LCBO. This is the first time I have tried Uigedail or any Ardbeg, as my Islay journey continues. I have no other batch experience. Man, this is fantastic, love at first sip.

@Astroke I agree the LCBO has unreasonable Uiggy prices. I bought one many years ago but I'm sure it wasn't that expensive or I would not have. Still have not opened it... I think it was an L10 or L11.

But in December I found one in Calgary for less than half price, around $80,almost $100 less. I liked it so much upon opening that I asked my brother in law to get another, which I hope to bring home in the next few months.

Glendronach 14yo virgin oak finish..

@Soren Is it the new bottling? I am surprised it is already available in your neck of the wood.

Last night in Hong Kong before a long journey back home. My wife and I picked up some San Miguel premium beer.... Brewed in Hong Kong. A fitting end to a long journey... This weekend, once I recover from jet lag (and being on call...ugh) I will find myself a single malt to enjoy.

I was at a great tasting last night hosted by the owner of a big Swedish importer.

The line-up was:

Blackadder Black snake. Vat 3 second venom

Hunter Laing old malt cask Braeval 18 yrs

McGibbons provenance Glenrothes 10 yrs

Berry's North British 18 yrs

Tullibardine Sovereign

The English whisky Co. 7 yrs Sassicaia cask selected by Clydesdale.

Also afterwards I had the oppurtunity to try some other whiskies owned by the hosting whisky society. Namely Amrut CS, Kavalan solist, A Mortlach 12 and a single cask from Swedish BOX dtistillery owned and bottled by a member of the society. A great night indeed.

@Alexsweden, very nice line-up ... and apres line-up too!

@paddockjudge, it was very nice indeed. The Kavalan was the Sherry cask solist. I found it desperately needing water to deliver.

A 16 year old Sullivan's Cove straight from the cask.

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160903/…

Rarely see Aussie malt whisky of such age.

Glen moray night.. Glen moray peated Glen moray sherry finish Glen moray 15 sherry/bourbon Glen moray 1994 sherry finish.. Stunning !! Glen moray cider cask finish distillery exclusive BYO

Best Blanton's I've ever tasted and this one is an Original. Bottled on 12-31-2015 from Barrel 327 in warehouse H, Rick 33, 93 proof. This single barrel beauty impressed me so much that I returned to the store and bought the last remaining bottle. I would have bought the balance of the case if it was available.

@paddockjudge better than the gold? Hmm. and cheaper.

I theory I'd tried to find a bottle in Toronto but in practice any purchases I make will just add to the number of bottles in my estate...

1792 single barrel select from Beltramos...

@Nozinan , barrel 327 is a stunner....yes, better than Gold.

US Ryes, checking on some old open bottles. 9.5 yo Abraham Bowman Rye 45% first. This one's nose has gotten wonderfully fruity after 5 years and is delicious. In the mouth it remains as before, good but not great. Next Jim Beam Green Label 45% Pre-Prohibiton Rye. After long opening the fruit has come out, and this is a serviceable basic rye. Finally some 2010 Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye to remind me of what rye can be.

Decided to try a run of drams purely for enjoyment and not for evaluation. Last night, finishing off a TV series with my wife, I enjoyed a small measure of Writer's Tears 2012 CS (52%). With a healthy addition of water, a capful, I got some beautiful fruity notes including at one point pineapple and banana.

After a dram of Laphroaig QC, I was feeling for something different so I went for Armagnac, a nice Dartilongue 25 yo. Old Armagnac are quite affordable compare to old Scotch so they could be a lot of fun for your money. What I really like is that you have something old in the roundness but that maintain some youthness in the fruits, after all it is distilled wine!

Next up on the dram to enjoy list... Wiser's Last Barrels. One of my favourite Canadians...next to Tommy Douglas...

The yet to be released Black Gate Cask #008 - Australian single malt. uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160910/… Quality seems to be going up with subsequent batches. Unfortunately, so too is the price like most Australian, Japanese and Taiwanese whisky {damn you Jim Murray and the World Whisky Awards - LOL}.

Ardbeg Dark Cove (non-Committee bottling). uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160910/… Surprisingly different to the Committee bottling and not very Ardbeg-like: not much spiciness and in-your-face peat. Reminds of a peated highlander and eminently drinkable. Well rounded.

Wolfburn Single Malt. uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160910/… A young 3 year old and you can tell from the nose. On the palate, the quality of the spirit and deft wood handling is evident. A promising young distillery, will be keen to see how they evolve in the next decade or so.