So, what are you drinking now?

@bwmccoy, I was with ya. :)

Jura Superstition - I rated this 82 but have to say three months air time haven't done much; gone a tad flat if anything. It does have some merits but I'd be giving this 80 at best off today's pour.

@RianC Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of Superstition - generally I'm hit-and-miss on Jura at the best of times.

@bwmccoy, that smiley face kinda was the give-away.

As for the Alberta Unicorns, they have a big rodeo for them out there every summer I hear. :-)

@Victor, @bwmccoy, there were a few Unicorn gatherings in Sudbury, now I occasionally see Masterson's and WhistlePig gatherings. The Unicorns have become extremely elusive.

@talexander @RianC I like Superstition as a session whisky or as a whisky to introduce friends to lightly peated whisky. 80-82 pts sounds about right as a rating, at least it does to me...

@paddockjudge You have to be careful where those Sudbury gatherings take place. The Flour Mill can be a dangerous place after dark. Luckily, I’m related to most of the dangerous people in the Flour Mill.

Caol Ila Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 10 year

Opened Pike Creek 21yo Speyside Finish, Chivas 21yo Royal Salute and a bottle of Stagg Jr. Batch 8 last night with a few friends. We started with the Chivas which was quite nice, beautiful fruity aroma and lots of wonderful and balanced flavor for 40%. We all agreed it was quite good (I had low expectations, so maybe that helped?) The Pike Creek was finished in Chivas barrels, so it was interesting to follow the Royal Salute with it. The Chivas influence was evident and familiar, but apart from that they are two very different whiskies. This whisky was more caramel and spice. Not bad, but I'm glad we bought it on clearance and split the cost between us. Stagg Jr. ended our night. For it's 64.75% alcohol content I was surprised that it didn't need water. It was still fun to experiment to see where water could take it, but very drinkable from the bottle. I'm looking forward to trying it along side my Booker's.

@Mancub, so the Pike Creek was finished in Chivas barrels. Does that mean Chivas blends their stuff and then further barrel-ages the blend before bottling—and those final "marrying barrels" (or whatever) is what Pike uses?

@bwmccoy, I don't know anything about your particular G&M Caol Ila, but in my experience, pretty much all indie Caol Ilas are totally solid. And they usually deliver more peaty power than the OBs. (Due to ABV? Barrel selection? I wonder.)

So how's yours?

@MadSingleMalt That is a good question. I'm not aware of Chivas re-barreling their whisky after blending it as a habit, but I'm far from an authority on the matter. This day and age it wouldn't surprise me if they experimented with this. All I can say is that some component of the Pike Creek finishing casks imparted a flavor reminiscent of Chivas.

Here's what I read about the Pike Creek Finishing Barrels: re-fill ex-bourbon barrels that had been used to mature an unnamed Scotch single malt whisky (from Chivas Brothers).

Maybe a Strathisla Single Malt? I don't know. For whatever reason the above is the most information readily available to the public on the barrel specifics.

@MadSingleMalt - I really do like IB Caol Ila's, especially the ones from the Whisky Society, mainly because they are cask strength and single cask. I'm also a huge fan of Gordon & Macphail. This bottle of Caol Ila didn't live up to my expectations, but it is still very good. It is not single cask nor is it cask strength (it's 46% ABV which is fine). It was matured in 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels, but you would never know that from the color (light straw). The nose is sweet smoked meats with hints of green apple and pear. The palate is sweet and smoky with some tropical fruit flavors. I do enjoy this one; it's just not the best Caol Ila that I've ever had. On a scale of 100, it's an 85.

My youngest is still sick, so I’m taking tomorrow off to stay with him. Consequently, tonight counts as Friday, so I’m having a generous pour of Ardbeg Uigeadail. After about 3 1/2 months of air exposure, (the bottle is still 3/4 full) it has improved, which is a shock because it was awesome to start with. I may have to get some Private Preserve to gas this, and keep it “as is” for as long as possible. “Full, rich and oily” are words that come to mind. What a terrific whisky. I will need many more bottles of this.....

@OdysseusUnbound I know where they can be obtained at a reasonable price.

Having a pour of Baker's 7YO while watching Mindhunter. Good bourbon, fantastic show - one of my all-time favourites.

@Nelom, agreed. Mindhunter is extremely enjoyable; however, I would rate baker's 7 YO better than good...possibly my favourite middle shelf bourbon. I keep it in the bunker, not at all near my main floor cabinet as it tends to evaporate at an accelerated rate when nearby.

My first conference call for OMA council.

I don't think I could really make it through without some whisky in my glass. Tonight it is Benromach 10 YO

@OdysseusUnbound, what do you mean after dark?...anytime before or after something o'clock.

@paddockjudge I generally try not to drink during the week. I try to limit my alcohol intake to a few drinks on Friday and Saturday.

@OdysseusUnbound , that is a commendable practice, but my comment anytime before or after something o'clock was in reference to your post "the Flour Mill can be a dangerous place after dark"....depends who you're with...back about 40 years ago the bar rye at the Nash was Crown Royal, or was that at the Park?

Bowmore 18 year SMWS 3.296 "Elegance and power" from a refill ex-sherry butt. Heavily sherried + peated = awesome Whisky!

HP Full Volume. Liked it last time, tonight not so much. It's not coming across as an 18 year old. Maybe next time. Followed up with some Killkeran 12. Always reliable.

@paddockjudge You're right, of course. I should probably have said "great" rather than good. I blame being distracted by Mindhunter. I wanted to get the post over with before the credits had finished. Which, incidentally, are great credits. They remind me of a cross between those of Se7en (another Fincher masterpiece) and Dexter, in that they feature close-ups of mundande tasks and gruesomeness. In the case of Dexter that gruesomeness is implied, but still.

@paddockjudge Oh. Gotcha. My uncle was a bartender at the Park (or the Nash....or both?) for awhile. I think the Flour Mill May be getting safer, gentrified and diverse though.

Last day before our Easter break and had some training this morning with a compulsory pub visit this pm. Only stayed for one, sadly, but had a Laga 16. Great nose but a bit thin mouthfeel. Who knows how long the bottle had been sat there for though?

@RianC - Couldn't having a wee 8 year old when I got home. Oddly, I'm enjoying it more (than before); I find that interesting as when I had a sample last year it was alongside the 16 and I preferred it back then.

Times and tastes can change.

Trying my own blend that was similar to one I had seen online. 40% Weller 12, 35% EH Taylor single barrel and 25% Old Forester 1920. Has been sitting for about 4 weeks now. I must say I am quite proud of this blend. The OF 1920 is a bit dominant but it's all there.

First family dinner since returning from Cuba (and my brother's family returned from Israel and France).

They brought with them whisky flavoured Halva. Tasted like bourbon was in it.

Later, a friend who is in from the US (used to be my European and Florida mule) is staying with me and I introduced him to Stagg Jr. 64.75%, folloed by NBC 2017 Lot 40 CS. Both were in fine form taken neat this evening. He then conked out on me despite minuscule (10 cc pours). Lightweight!!!!!