So, what are you drinking now?

@Robert99 As I left the store after ordering my new BBQ, there was a Weber rep outside in front demonstrating a premium charcoal BBQ, one that can be controlled so accurately that you can sear or smoke (he was smoking with cherrywood...ahhhh), and it has a propane starter! More expensive than the one I got, but a thing of beauty indeed.

I will be doing plenty of smoking on this one too (in a good way, @paddockjudge)

@talexander

I could but I still need to learn to make the sauces.... I can do one (non-whisky) that I use when I smoke turkey.

2017 George T. Stagg ...in a word, brilliant!

We grill year around in the rainy Pacific Northwest as well. Tonight, grilling some chiken with some pecan wood in the smoker tray while drinking an 18 year Royal Brackla (Sep 1997) SMWS 55.40 "Playful mouth-tingles" finished in an ex-Pedro Ximenez cask

@bwmccoy, you remain always in style!

@Victor - You are too kind. Thanks @Victor!

I’m sipping some Northern Harvest Rye at my in-laws. Batch variation is one thing, but this is a whole ‘nother level. If I were tasting this one blind, I would never guess it was CRNH. It reminds me of a high rye bourbon that has wheat in the mashbill. I like it, quite a bit actually, but it is the most variation I’ve encountered in one of these bottles. There are herbal rye notes, peppery bite and an icing sugar/marshmallow note on the finish I’ve not really noticed in Northern Harvest before. But there is no trace of the cloves/nutmeg that were prominent in previous batches. Maybe as this one opens up with time, those notes will pop up.

I have to review a case report for a Canadian medical journal. Finally, a chance to get to the remaining 3/4 of the Stagg Jr. I poured 2 days ago...

@bwmccoy That's a whole kitchen you have there. Wow! You could possibly roast a little pig in that. Which whisky would you have with bbq pork?

I was tempted to have a dram of Dissertation after convincing my brother to buy a bottle, but my bottle is half full and I need it for a tasting coming up, and the Lot 40 CS was right there, just begging me to take its second dram...

@Nozinan had both tonight. Have extras oh both so let the good times roll! Hosting our annual Christmas Potluck on the weekend. In addition to the regular bar table and large cooler of beer I think I will have a whisky bar this year. My collection has expanded from 4 to around 30 bottles this year.

Happily back to my collection. Was in the Dominican Republic last week (I hear your tiny violins ) and had to settle for JW Black and Dewar's 12. It's amazing how 30C temps, a beach and a swim up room can make even an ordinary whisky taste pretty good! Had Dissertation, Lot 40 CS and Compass Box Oak Cross this evening.

@Robert99 - Thank you. We were very fortunate. When we bought this house last year, the previous owners left us a lot of great stuff that they didn’t want / need any longer including the grill. As for the bbq pork, I would probably go with a heavily-peated Islay from an ex-bourbon hogshead such as a Port Charlotte or a Kilchoman.

Speaking of Kilchoman, tonight, I’m warming up on a cold night with a Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength USA West Coast Tour 2017 Edition.

Not currently, but I enjoyed some HP 12 and a porter with my chili last night!

Had possibly a couple more than I should have for a Monday but was one of those days when it seems to glide down like water!

Should really have a 'night off' tonight . . .

@bwmccoy - Being British, BBQ's are a a rare summer treat but I do like them! Last summer I discovered that the JD Master Distillers Edition with any BBQ'd meat was an excellent pairing.

Mind you, I reckon most US posters will probably be thinking, 'Well, yeah, duh!' ;)

@RianC Don't be hard on yourself. I am sure there have been a few US posters, and Canadians as well, who probably mentioned that Ardbeg 10 or Laphroaig 10 are pairing nicely with smoked salmon to which comment you would probably give the same answer you so eloquently put in the US posters' mouth.

@Robert99 I've been pairing smoked salmon with peated whiskies (particularly Islay) since I started sipping them in 2011. Any Montrealer would also say "well, duh" to that...

@Robert99 - ha ha, thanks! Yes, I am extremely partial to any smoked meat/fish! Sushi with peated whiskies is another favourite.

I wouldn't judge though . . . I've heard some of 'you guys' trying to pronounce the names ;) Joke . . . I'm sure a Gaelic leaning Scot would balk at my anglo-'bastardising' of them ha ha

(Mind you, they are probably made up by English folk in board rooms but that's for another discussion . . .)

@Nozinan - Ardbeg and oysters . . . heaven!

@RianC I've read that the Bruichladdich "the Laddie Classic" (not the Classic Laddie) was amazing when added (a few drops) to fresh oysters in the half shell.

@bernicestocksti I hope you are not selling essays to my future brain surgeon.

@Nozinan - I've only tried a few drops in fresh half shells with Ardbeg and Laphroaig. The latter was too smokey/oily and didn't work half as well as the Ardbeg, for me.

I could imagine coastal/briny malts working well too though.

@RianC @Nozinan I was at the Ardbeg Day release of the Kelpie at the Caledonian, where we had drops of it in oysters. Amazing.

I’m having the last dram of my Talisker 10. This one was terrific, and I’m glad as I’ve heard reports of bad bottles out there right now. Mine actually got better with air exposure. There was more minerality, a more complex smoke and a touch of prickliness on the tongue similar to (though not identical to) the moderate hoppiness in a proper English IPA.

@OdysseusUnbound I have minimal experience with Talisker 10, though the 200 cc bottle I used to have was very good and I'm a fan of the 57 North (you ought to try it).

I've never encountered a bad bottle of Springbank 12YO CS, and that's what I'm sipping right now. In the 3 months since I opened it, though gassed, it has developed into a fine example of its kind. You ought to try it too.

I’m now working on finishing my Lagavulin DE. I likely won’t finish the bottle tonight, but it isn’t long for this world. I’m trying to make a bit of space in my cabinet in case Santa is in a whisky-giving mood. My wife is never impressed when my “collection” surpasses 12 bottles. Talk about a lack of vision.

@OdysseusUnbound Your wife is a wise woman. Mine encouraged me to pursue this hobby and was shocked when she discovered what had accumulated without her "supervision". Now she says I have to drink more if I want to buy more...

@Nozinan I’m told I drink too much. No, not too much; too often. I rarely drink more than 2 drams in an evening. I like to think I’m charming by quoting Peter Dinklage/Tyrion Lannister “I drink and I know things. That’s what I do.” Everyone but my wife thinks it’s delightful.

@OdysseusUnbound My wife just says I talk about whisky too much. Hmm. wait. maybe she just says I talk too much...

@Nozinan I have to say, I felt a kinship during our all-too-brief meeting. Perhaps we’re both prone to talking too much altogether. But it makes for great company !

@OdysseusUnbound I did enjoy meeting you, and I look forward to our next meeting, one that includes less rushed and more relaxed conversation, and perhaps (who am I kidding? not perhaps) a dram or 2.