So, what are you drinking now?

Unfortunately I'll not be attending Spirit of Toronto, so I'll have to wait for the official release.

@Nelom You inspired me. Sadly, this one (G&W) is not ticking off any boxes tonight. I think I will discard... sorry.

Switching to the closest thing I can get to Booker's 2015-01...2015-02

@Nozinan Blasphemy!

Jokes aside, sorry to hear it doesn't click for you. I suspect the Lot No. 40 CS at SoT will be more to your taste. :)

@Nelom possibly. Canadians are not my usual genre but I did like it when I tried it last year and I suspect I'll want a bottle when released.

Exhaustion caught up with me... The Booker's will have to go in my "not finished" bottle for another day.

Working my way through a few samples. Poured myself an Ardbeg Uigeadail from my 'drinks by the dram' set. Didn't really know what to expect to. But wow! Love at first mouthful! Seemed to me a little more full bodied than the couple of other peated whiskies i've tried. Ordering a bottle tonight!

Next up: Laphroaig Quarter Cask. My first Laphroaig. Maybe it was the Ardberg i had before.. but this tastes excellent. Big, Smooth. Round. Smoky. I think i'm beginning to 'get' peat!

@Nickh, in liking Ardbeg Uigeadail you have joined a very large fan club. Some years back Jim Murray named ONE BATCH of Ardbeg Uigeadail World Whisky of the Year. Now that you are a member of the Uigeadail fan club do note that the Uigeadail from each bottling date has its own individual characteristics. When you do your first Ardbeg Uigeadail reviews please be sure to include the bottling date information (faint and fine white numerical code on the back of the bottle) for the bottle(s) being reviewed. You can also refer to some discussions on Connosr for Uigeadail batch information, e.g.@Nock's Uigeadail batch discussion.

@Victor Just one dram but I'm in the club for sure. At your suggestion I will make it my first review when the bottle arrives. A cursory look seems to give the idea that people generally prefer the earlier versions (judging by the prices too). Still.. a hugely impressive whisky!

@Nickh , the general wisdom is that early batches of Oogie contained some significantly old sherry-cask Ardbeg, and then at some point they ran out and switched to younger stuff for the sherry-bask component.

@Ol_Jas I'm not sure if batch variation is only attributable to that... My only bottle of Ugeadail was an L6 (with a 2015 in the code) and delicious. If I have a chance tonight I will review the last dram. I'm pretty sure it was recent, as I got it for ~$80 in Calgary in Dec. 2015. I also have an L10 151 I purchased in 2011 or 12 in Ontario. I hear that was a good batch.

@Nickh @Nozinan @Ol_Jas @Victor to chime in, i've had a few samples of the oogie and the two i enjoyed most were from 2015 if i remember correctly. i also had a 2014 and 2016 and they weren't quite as good (mid 80s compared to low 90s). i'll always be on the lookout for other batches to try because i'm a fan too!

@casualtorture Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for a 2015!

Sipping some Old Grand Dad BiB while researching what new cellphone to get. My old one (Nexus 5 from 2013) just up and died today without warning. I'm waffling between getting something budget-minded and some kind of flagship. It'll probably be something in the budget range... more money for whisky that way.

@Nelom If you're having OGD BiB I recommend you consider a granddad of the phone industry and get a BB.

I'm sitting at my desk preparing a presentation, and OGD (114) would be my accompaniment of choice, and you inspired me, but sadly, I'm on call so this is one unhappy camper tonight...

Finished a bottle of the Glenfiddich 30 Year Old at a private "by invite only" club here in Melbourne.

It's quite expensive but I suppose you pay a premium for the prestige.

Worth the experience but probably not for me.

Friday night and trying to finish up the work for the week. It WILL get done before I sleep, then off for 4 days, at least 2 of which will include a lot of cleaning out of my mother's home before the renos start, very soon.

Plus after this weekend my scotch collection becomes off limits to permit me to serve it to people who keep kosher the rest of the year.

So I will try to get in a dram or 2 before then, and tonight a delicious 20 cc pour of A'Bunadh 47.

Me and the girlfriend are enjoying a few drams of a fresh bottle of Talisker 57N and watching Ernest Goes to Jail. classic. my first experience with this big talisker. review to come later. she liked it. apparently this one needs some air time.

@casualtorture, my advise: wait at least 10 days before you review 57 North. If you don't you will probably need two reviews, one for just opened to 10 days, the other for most of the time during which you will actually be drinking it. They will likely be very different reviews. Really, most whiskies need the benefit of the doubt of a few days of air time before they are seriously evaluated. I didn't like any of my three bottles of 57 North much right when first opened. That changed in all cases.

@Victor I liked mine from the moment I opened it.... what does that mean for the future?

@Nozinan, that looks like a good omen to me.

Sampled some of the newly repackaged Arran Amarone Cask Finish. In my opinion this and the Sauternes Cask are very solid wine finished malts.

I think there is something about the Arran spirit that is clean and fruity in character with a touch of coastal influence that works well with wine cask finishes.

Either that or the cask selection regime must be very stringent.

Maybe both.

@Victor ok ten days, hold me to it!

@sengjc arran is my favorite distillery, the only one i didn't care for was the port finish. i have an unopened bottle of the 18yo calling my name.

Enjoying my first ever glass of Ardbeg 10. Seriously loving this dram!

Dalmore 10 vintage 2004. What a strange whisky! Only matured in Bourbon wood but it carries massive flavors of dark fruits, marzipan and wine. What a great malt!

A flight of whiskeys at Acadiana Restaurant in DC. (3) 30 ml pours for $ 13. Still quite a deal for price. And they have 100+ whiskeys to choose from at that price.

1) George Dickel # 8, first time I've had some in 8 or 10 years. Still do not like it at all. Lots of char and hickory. Rough. Better with water added, but still not good.

2) Hudson Rye, did not like it. Bitter, dusty, almost no discernible nose. Better with water added, but still not good.

3) Michter's 11 yo barrel proof rye. This one was ok, and also better with water. Good, not great.

@Nozinan, I've started my gala birthday celebratory period with tonight's dinner. Get ready. Your day is coming even before mine.

@Victor Tonight I'm nursing Smith and Cross Navy proof as I write up two unexpected charts.

At my age, I try to let my birthdays pass without anyone (especially me) noticing...

Gawd, @Nozinan, Old Talk at your tender age ?!? What are you going to do when you actually get old? Good thing you have plenty of good whisky to comfort you in your afflictions.