So, what are you drinking now?

@bwmccoy I'm tempted to buy the new Aultmore 15yo SMWS realised in March, looks like its been ex Sherry . How did you find the aultmore?

Still dragging my heels...

After sharing the last 30-40 cc of my A'Bunadh batch 47 with my niece, I had enough time to have a small rare second dram.

I was shocked to see that I hadn't tasted one of my all time favourite single malts, Amrut Peated CS batch 12, in over 14 months! Perfect opportunity to continue to test my new Highland whisky glass.

It is still as vibrant as it was when I opened it in December 2015!

After a big rib eye steak, frites, some asparagus (with a fried local egg) and a Fuller's London Porter I've popped the cork on my Talisker 18. Initial nose is good; seaweed, peat and pepper with some toffee coming out.

The only downside is England were just beaten (well, spanked really) by Scotland in the rugby. Every cloud though

edit - just had my first sip. My eyes nearly rolled back into my head . . .

@RianC sounds like a great night all around (apart from the rugby result) . Enjoy

@RianC You’re killing me, mate, but I’m happy for you. The Talisker 18 is very high on my wish list.

I remember some great moments in the World Cup of Rugby back in 2015 (sadly none of them for England). Both my Scottish and English cousins are big rugby fans and I got a thorough schooling in the fine points of the game. It looked like a world of hurt to me. Fortunately both cousins are serious maltheads, which made for a very good trip to the motherland that year.

@RianC Only a strong, bold whisky could follow asparagus.

I'm sorry you didn't like the Talisker 18. Once your eyes recover, I'll send you my address and you can send me the rest of the bottle.

No, no, don't thank me...it's the least I can do.

hola que tal soy nuevo en esta comunidad me gustaría que compartieran sus conocimientos y aprender de personas que ya tienen experiencias

Adults' night out. Dinner and a few drinks (radler for me), then an escape room (which we ACED), then back to our place for more drinks. Some had beer, but I introduced 2 friends to OGD 114. One of them put in ice cubes but I allowed her to live. It's her first bourbon not in a cocktail. It went over well. Then tiny pour for each of Lemon Hart 151 while I continued to work on my OGD...

@bwmccoy Cask 73.101 Elevenses at the furniture emporium

Just finished a small pour of Glengoyne 14, very nice it was too! Soft sherry, spicy, sweet, creamy, barley rich malt. Just a little thin at 40% but a gorgeous nose.

About to open my Amrut Fusion; never tried one before.

Today, chez my sister @Maddie:

1) Powers Johns Lane 12 yo Single Pot Still

2) Green Spot

3) Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser 4 yo Rye, 50% ABV

4) George T. Stagg, 2010 release, 71.5% ABV

5) William Larue Weller, 2007 release, 58.95% ABV

6) Clement VSOP Vieux Rhum Agricole

7) Clement 10 yo Tres Vieux Rhum Agricole

8) eight or so various Amari and mixed drinks made from them. This was the motivator for @Maddie and @Dramlette

9) Cynar Artichoke bitter digestif. Damn! I love this bottle of Cynar which my sister owns. This is in stark contrast to her previous bottle of Cynar which had been sitting open around her house for about 35 years and was the very potion of the devil. I joked for years about that previous bottle of Cynar of hers.

I was encouraged by the Powers Johns Lane. When first opened I found that bottle highly disappointing. Two years and half the bottle later it is rich and excellent.

@Tom92 - I have 3 different bottles of Aultmore from the Society. Two are from Sherry casks, the other is an ex-bourbon cask. While all are enjoyable, the 2 sherry cask bottles are so much more complex than the bourbon cask. I do not regret purchasing them in the least, Hope you enjoy your bottle as much as I’ve enjoyed mine.

Speaking of the Aultmore, 2 nights ago, I had a dram of Aultmore 14 year (Sep. 2002) SMWS 73.81 "Dark chocolate destiny" from an ex-sherry butt.

Last night, Caol Ila Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 10 year.

Tonight, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 Heavily Peated.

@bwmccoy I look forward to try it, assuming it's a March out turn, hopefully it won't sell out to fast. Have you had a favourite SMWS bottling thus far?

Saying good bye to a favourite and opening a younger version tonight. Opened the Càrn Mòr Glentauchers 7yo, said goodbye to the 63.44 SMWS Deep Soul Medicine, and rounded off with the Caol Ila Distillers Edition 2004 An enjoyable line up, interesting to see the difference between to independent bottles of Glentauchers.

Slainte Mhath

@Tom92 - a favorite SMWS bottling? After 10 years, it's hard to pick only one, but a 40 year first fill sherry cask from Longmorn SWMS 7.55 (Dec. 1968) "Liquid Heaven" would probably take top spot. It was one of the most complex, yet perfectly balanced drams that I have ever tasted. A 26 year Port Ellen SMWS 43.15 (Nov. 82) “An Old Sea-Dog” was a close second.

WhistlePig 10 yo Straight Rye, WhistlePig 12 yo Old World Sauternes Rye, WhistlePig Farmstock "Crop 1" Rye, Ragged Branch Virginia Bourbon, and Ragged Branch Wheated Virginia Straight Bourbon Batch 2.

I attended a tasting given by Dave Pickerell, who is former master distiller at Maker's Mark from 1994-2008 and current master distiller for WhistlePig, Hillrock, and Ragged Branch, all currently or evolving to farm to bottle whiskey producers. About 50 people attended, standing room only. I must have asked half or more of all the questions asked of Dave Pickerell, and got a lot of information about how he fashioned these brands into what they currently are, and what they are becoming. I'll post some of that information elsewhere later.

The disappointment was that 3 hours prior to the tasting it was revealed in an e-mail (which I did not see in advance) that the four other, most expensive products, Hillrock Solera Bourbon, Hillrock Double Cask Rye, WhistlePig The Boss Hog 14 yo The Black Prince, and WhistlePig 15 yo Vermont Estate Straight Rye would be discussed but not sampled. Glad I've tasted most of those before.

Just went to buy another bottle of the Deep Soul Medicine. All sold out. Lesson here is always buy 2 bottles. One to drink and one to put away.

@Tom92, that is sound advice, to buy two...

(...and sometimes two more)

Still working on the heels (I have a lot of GOOD whisky that's almost finished. I noticed that my Cutty Sark Prohinbition hasn't been touched in 1 year and 10 days. It's now decanted into a 4 oz bottle and one Highland whisky glass.

Not drinkin' it now, but I was drinkin' it then, and I expect that the three of us will be drinkin' it again this July: pictures from Tales of the Cocktail 2017. This year's 6 day party-cum-educational seminar in New Orleans will be July 17-22. Yes, six long days and nights of fun. The seminars are great, and the classes are inexpensive. Thousands of people drinking all day (and all night, for some) and no one appears visibly intoxicated. Why? Because 80% of the attendees are liquor industry professionals, mostly bartenders, whose living it is to be the adults in the room around booze.

www.flickr.com/photos/144148708@N02/sets/72157684408253944/

My favourite class was MMA3 Battle of Old School vs. New Skool. @Victor can be seen in the fifth row of MMA3 photos.

Also, Tales of the Cocktail on Tour will be in Edinburgh, Scotland for its second year, on April 7-10, 2018. They are taking reservations now, but full schedule is not expected until March 8, 2018.

Technical error on that last link. Looks like the link will not transfer for some reason. If you get to their photo albums, go to seminars and check out MMA3 page.

I’m not really drinking during the week these days, but today was a long day, so I decided to open the Glenlivet 18. First impressions: I like it more than I thought I would. The finish is especially good. I didn’t expect it so go on as long as it did. It develops quite nicely from the nose all the way to the finish. Lots of fruit (especially sweet cherries) some chocolate, walnuts and spices (nutmeg, cloves) possibly from the oak.

@OdysseusUnbound, your post led me to a glass of my own Glenlivet 18 YO. This bottle from which I have poured was purchased for less than $100. Today the replacement cost is $179.95 OUTRAGEOUS!!! It wasn't too long ago that I purchased a bottle of Glenlivet Archive 21 YO for $155 dollars, barely more than four years. That price has nearly doubled too, just last year $229 and now $265.95.

I'm perfectly content to let the rest of the world think that Canadian whisky is neutral grain spirit with a splash of flavouring whisky added...terrible stuff that Canadian whisky, not worth the price being asked for it....don't waste your time or money on it. Cheers!

@paddockjudge Agreed. I hope no one buys that Dissertation stuff. It’s terrible. I might have to buy more of it just to protect the public. I bought the ‘livet 18 the last time it was on sale for $110. I’m glad I didn’t pay $180 for it. Surprisingly good, but not THAT good.

@OdysseusUnbound, yes, the Glenlivet 18 is good, but not great, at any price. As for the Dissertation, I can't see anyone wasting their hard earned money on a schoolboy's whim. Absolutely nothing worthwhile coming out of Canada, at any price ;)

@paddockjudge's account has been HACKED!!! GAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

Down to the heel of my bottle of Benromach 10. Tonight it has a lasting diesel/machine oil finish to it - that tastes better than it sounds. I've read others liken some Springbank funk to motor oil or the garage floor but tonight these notes are unmistakable in the Ben 10. It actually reminds me of gun oil - very industrial.

Have wanted to try the Glengoyne Teapot Dram for a long time now, Wednesday was that day!

Put a dash of Kilchoman Machir Bay into a dram of JD SB earlier with mixed results.

Onto Talisker 18 now. Noticing more fruit as the bottle begins to open but that toffee and pepper finish is just what I'm after on such a cold day!

@Tom92 love to hear your thoughts on the Teapot.