So, what are you drinking now?

Last night, hanging out with my brother-in-law, we had the following;

AnCnoc Peter Arkle (3rd edition) - my brother-in-law was disappointed in this one after previously owning the 1st and 2nd editions. I didn't think it was that bad. It had a waxy sweetness quality to it.

Aultmore 14 year (Sep. 2002) SMWS 73.81 "Dark chocolate destiny" from a refill ex-sherry butt.

Aultmore 14 year (Sep. 2001) SMWS 73.78 "Zingy, effervescent and intriguing" also from a refill ex-sherry butt. This is my favorite between the two Aultmore's, even though they are both quite good.

Linkwood 20 year (Jul. 1996) SMWS 39.139 "A most luscious remedy" finished in a 1st fill Pedro Ximenez butt after previously being matured in an Oloroso sherry butt. This one was amazing!

Caol Ila 10 year from Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice range. In addition to the typical Caol Ila notes, there were baked apple and pear notes as well. Very good dram.

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt 50% ABV. This one never disappoints. A good, solid example of a Port Charlotte, especially for the price.

@bwmccoy A friend brought the SMWS Linkwood 20 to a tasting last year, at least I'm pretty sure it was that one. Everyone thought it was quite spectacular and the big hit of the evening. Looks like you and your BIL had an excellent session.

@BlueNote, @bwmccoy, I love some Linkwood, particularly when it is 20 years old!

@BlueNote and @Victor - Thanks! While I haven't had a lot of Linkwood, I've liked everyone I've tasted!

Last night, I had the final dram of Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Cask No. 448 Single Cask Release heavily peated 4 year old from a first-fill ex-Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel. A couple of months ago, @Robert99 asked me to do a review of this one. I used the final dram last night to write that long overdue review. I apologize to @Robert99 for taking so long. This was my first review ever, so I hope it is ok.

Last night, in prep for writing my second review, a dram of Tobermory 10 year (July 2005) heavily peated, cask strength from Single Cask Nation. Cask #10.

A fat, double pour of Glenfarclas 15. Resisted the urge to have a beer with dinner and settled for this.

It's like a lovely cuddle!

Last night, in preparation for writing my third review, Laphroaig 18 year (1998) Single Sherry Butt cask hand-filled at the distillery.

Last night, Aultmore 14 year (Sep. 2001) SMWS 73.78 "Zingy, effervescent and intriguing" from a refill ex-sherry butt.

Last night, Benriach 15 yo PX next to the last pour from a bottle that has been opened for close to two years. Not as sweet as it used to be, less peaty but a fantastic sherry wood.

A dram of Oban Little Bay (which is fine, but not great - not as good as the 14) while I make pannacotta with peach compote.

@talexander I could never understand pannacotta. Perhaps you can explain it over a dram sometime.

This afternoon I hosted my clinical fellow and the Nurse Practitioner who works in my area. We'd all had lunch together and back to my home for some coffee and interdisciplinary collaboration. While work was the actual focus, at some point the NP made a comment that all whiskies taste and smell the same. Well, I couldn't let that go so I quickly retrieved a small decanted bottle of A'Bunadh, Stagg Jr and Bowmore Tempest. It was during work hours so I simple had her (and my fellow) sniff them and sure enough, she was able to note the difference...

I sent her home with a sample of the Stagg Jr. and instructions on how to use it.

So tonight when a niece and nephew came over, and I had to pick a dram, I chose the Stagg Jr. With dinner and other interruptions it took me over 4 hours to finish the dram and it was fabulous by the end. This one really blooms with time in the glass, and tonight was perfect without any water.

Last night, Girvan 31 year SMWS G7.10 (Lowland Grain Whisky) "The Texan tea party" from an refill ex-bourbon hogshead. This is such an interesting dram. If tasted blind, I would say it was Bourbon. Sweet and complex.

Just opened a JD single Barrel. I believe they can get very woody but this is a sweet one with a nice wood influence - not overpowering.

I can see this mellowing out rather nicely over time.

I've also had a fair few nips of Cutty Sark Prohib. from the hip flask while out golfing today. Works an absolute treat!

Building a flight for myself tonight. Benromach 10 followed by Balvenie 12 Single Barrel. Then rocked some Kilkerran 12 (soooo tasty). Then a couple drams of Old Pulteney 17 as I finish off my bottle. Don’t worry gents - I bought a backup when I heard it was being discontinued. Salty, citrusy, malty goodness. Mmmmmm.

Sounds like a good line up there. I've not tried the OP17. Here in NZ I can get the OP 12 for $70 (if I wanted it) but the OP 17 is $164

Had some friends over for dinner and drams tonight;

Dewar's 18 (made up of 5 single malts: Aberfeldy, MacDuff, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie and Aultmore)

Springbank 15 (46% ABV)

Springbank 12 Cask Strength (56.5% ABV)

Nikka Whisky Single Malt Yoichi (45% ABV)

Linkwood 29 year SMWS 39.93 "Pork Chops in Red Wine Sauce" (57.9% ABV)

Bunnahabhain 20 year from a sherry cask (53% ABV)

Bruichladdich 21 year Cuvee 382 matured in American oak casks before a finish in sweet Barsac and Sauternes casks. (46% ABV)

Tesseron Lot No. 76 Cognac (40% ABV)

Westland Disitllery (Seattle, WA) 2017 Peat Week Release

Macallan Edition #1 (48% ABV)

Macallan Edition #2 (48.2% ABV)

Strathisla 25 year SMWS 58.15 "Gravitas in a glass" from an ex-bourbon barrel (56.1% ABV)

Craigellachie 22 year SMWS 44.51 "Making candles in the art room" from a refill bourbon hogshead (53.7% ABV)

Glen Moray 13 year SMWS 35.179 "Formula flavour" from a First Fill Ex-Chenin Blanc Hogshead (54.3% ABV)

Finishing the night with Bowmore 18 year SMWS 3.296 "Elegance and power" from a refill ex-sherry butt (57.6% ABV)

That's quite a line up @bwmccoy!

@bwmccoy Wow, just wow!

...just another day in the life of @bwmccoy....

@bwmccoy meh.

We did a 2-days-late Burns dinner last night: had a Robby Burns cocktail (Dewar's 12, Dillon's sweet vermouth and Benedictine) while cooking; Porcini mushroom soup paired with Aberlour 10; duck breast with chili chocolate mole sauce, haggis, neeps & tatties paired with Talisker 10; then the aforementioned (and confusing to some) pannacotta with peach compote paired with Dalwhinnie 15. One of the best meals we've ever done here!

This is probably one of the most relaxing Sundays in recent memory, what with moving over the summer, finishing renovations, trying, then succeeding in selling the old house, dealing with broken furnaces, moving out the last bits of furniture, then getting sick...

Yesterday I was on call, with an independently licensed fellow working with me. Vacation? Nothing could be further from the truth. He was busy, so I was busy. Plus he had a thing to go to with his in-laws today so he signed out to me at 11 pm (who has a better staff doc, eh?). So of course, I was woken from a deep sleep at 3 am and spent an hour driving the dark streets of Toronto, and finally got into bed around 5 (after a cup of decaf tea with my wife, who had woken up when I left - it would have been so romantic except she had hot chocolate...).

The unwritten rule she seems to have on my post call days is that I get to sleep in as long as I want so, completely rested but still sleepy (I'm on a slow caffeine wean) I was woken by the sounds of my kids' music lessons. When they were done I had breakfast (lunch) and my now very reduced allotment of caffeine and they went to a birthday party and I relaxed some more. My wife picked up some Korean ribs for the BBQ and I will attend to those shortly, but now I have a chance to do a review, and I've chosen to re-review a G&M Mortlach.

Early results are promising.

I had a nice long comment ready to go here last night. On hitting the submit button I got the message to the effect that "A problem occurred posting your comment." or something similar. This has happened a number of times and it is getting annoying as there seems to be no way to save the comment or try again to submit it. Anyone else experienced this and if so have you found any way to salvage the comment? It's a real pain to have to do a lengthy comment over again.

@BlueNote, I experience that too.

Salvage? No.

False alarm? Yes. Sometimes that message appears, but my comment is posted anyway.

Prevent? Yes. If I type something lengthy, I copy it before saving so I can just paste it in again if it's lost.

@BlueNote - What @MadSingleMalt said! When doing a longer post I do a 'right click - copy' of all the text as I'm going along.

My internet connection can be sketchy and I think what you describe happens when I lose connection? Seems that way but IT is not my forte ...

@MadSingleMalt @RianC Thanks guys. I'll be sure to save long comments in future.

@Alexsweden @Hewie @Victor @nooch - Thanks! Yes, my two buddies really out did themselves with the quality of the whisky that they brought over.

Last night, had a dram of Longmorn 23 year SMWS 7.164 (Apr. 1993) "Carefree contentment"

Tonight, Caol Ila Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 10 year

Cracked open my bottle of Wiser's Legacy, since I'd never had the pleasure of trying it. It's quite punchy, lots of spices from both the rye and the oak. I can see the parallel to dissertation, just not quite as rich.

Chased it with a dram of Talisker DE, I'm heading into the heel of this bottle. I quite enjoyed it although I found its lost something on the nose over time.

@cricklewood Your first Legacy, that is a special moment. It's hard to compare it to Dissertation. Legacy is more like a high Rye content Bourbon as Dissertation is a Rye. I like both but not for the same mood. If I want more sweetness and some bold spices Legacy is the one to go. If I feel for the floral notes of Rye I will choose Dissertation.

It is funny that we seems to give different meanings to the word rich, maybe we should discuss this terms as well as the term smooth.

@Robert99 a special moment indeed, I can't believe I waited this long before buying a bottle.

I agree that Legacy and Dissertation are two different beasts but one can see the lineage they share, Dissertation definitely has more of that floral rye element. When I say "rich" I am thinking of a food parallel, It's a whisky I can't see myself consuming multiple drams of in a session, especially when the bottle is first open. It's not cloying, just very satisfying and full of flavor, you take notice, it's not a dram you consume without much thought.