So, what are you drinking now?

@cwspangler That's another one I might have to try again because I really didn't think much of it a few years ago. It's a pity that Glenmo is into low ABV, chill filtering and supplementary colouring in their core range. I still like the 10 year old Original as a good daily drinker though.

As many of you no doubt know, this April 19 (and it still is the 19th here) marks the 75th anniversary of one of the most heroic and tragic acts of resistance known to human history. While other such acts may have been less well-recorded, this is the one that is the standard for commemoration. For many, this one uprising epitomizes resistance during the second world war.

On the evening before Hitler's birthday, the occupying German army entered the Warsaw ghetto to begin its final liquidation as a gift to their leader. They were met by fierce resistance from an outmatched, out-gunned collection of resistance fighters and forced to retreat leaving their dead and wounded. The uprising continued for 7 weeks until aircraft and heavy artillery and poison gas were brought to bear. In contrast, the entirety of Poland capitulated during its invasion in a much shorter time.

Tonight, as I prepare a piece I'm to read at this weekend's gathering in Toronto, I chose a small measure of Uigeadail. I can't really (and would not deem it appropriate to) find a link between this expression and the event I am remembering. It's just what seemed to call to me, and I haven't poured it since I opened the bottle just before NY.

As I read and practice these excerpts of a farewell letter to the world written by Arthur Ziegelbaum, the Bund representative in the UK, who refused to go on living while his brothers and sisters were being brutally murdered while the world stood silent, I have been put in a contemplative mood.

Ardbeg Uigeadail has many layers. it is strong, it is subtle. It is complex. Tonight, at least, it feels like a very contemplative dram.

@BlueNote I will have to read up on them. Thanks for the replies and input. Cheers!

Out of town at a conference. Went out to dinner with several colleagues to an amazing steak house. A co-worker and I had a dram of Kaiyo Cask Strength Mizuanra Oak. Wow! Nose reminded me of a bourbon (honey and vanilla). Honey continued on the palette, but with caramel. The flavors were all held in check until the finish which was long with an explosion of flavors. The palette reminded me of a typical speyside dram on steroids. Really enjoyed this one!

@nooch Beautiful photo! May I play a bit with it with my photo studio toys?

@bwmccoy , did it conjure the idea of temples in any way?

Tonight @Nosebleed is visiting We started the evening with some Amrut single (bourbon) cask at 60%, then tried a small measure from a @paddockjudge sample of Wiser's 15 and now we are finishing up with some Gooderham and Worts 4-Grain.

Focusing on stuff he hasn't tried, and I hadn't poured the 4-grain in over a year!

Herradura Double Barreled Reposado Tequila Single Barrel bottled for our county liquor system. This one spent 11 months in a toasted barrel (unspecified whether new and toasted or a used toasted barrel) and another month in a new barrel (unspecified as to whether the new barrel was charred, toasted, etc.). So this is 12 month old Reposado, in other words one day shy of being an Anejo Tequila. Quite delicious, for one, two, three different free commercial tastes, and well-received by @Dramlette as well. I haven't bought a bottle of this one yet, but will probably do so if it goes on sale in the next few months...and probably still will buy it if it does not.

Having some Jameson Caskmates stout edition. It's been open and decanted for over a month now and has really opened up and is much better now. Lots of strawberry, raspberry, lemon and milk chocolate. It just needed some air time.

Had a tasting session with my brother and mother. I bit my tongue as they drink everything on the rocks, but I guess it’s their business. We had:

• Glenlivet 18: nobody was overly impressed by this one. It’s good. But not great.
• Redbreast Lustau: I like this one more as it opens up. My mother liked it, but prefers plain old Jameson. It’s like I was raised by wolves.
• Wild Turkey Rare Breed: this was my mother and brother’s favourite whisk(e)y of the evening. It is pretty terrific. I owe @Victor a debt of gratitude for recommending this one. It’s definitely on my “will buy again” list.
• Ardbeg Ten: my brother rated this his number 2 whisky of the evening. My mother nosed it, said “this smells like burning plastic “ and declined a pour.

@OdysseusUnbound hahaha...raised by wolves.

Had some gents over last night and stayed in the North for the most part.*

Benromach 10. Great entry level spirit to get people warmed up

Glenmorangie 18. So. Good. Pears. Caramel. Toffee. Dangerously easy going down.

Dalmore 18. They hadn’t had much in terms of sherried whisky and of the Sherried drams I have this is the one I miss the least when I share it.

Glenlivet Nadurra 16. Subtle little bit of peat for the uninitiated. Unfortunately we ended the bottle. It will be dearly missed.

*no ice cubes were used in the drams on this occasion.

Chez @Maddie, avec @Dramlette, Jameson Gold Reserve, Redbreast 12 Cask Strength, Redbreast Lustau, Bushmills 21 yo Madeira Finish, Tomatin 15 yo (OB), Glenmorangie Companta, and Glenfarclas 15 yo.

That was my second sampling session with Redbreast Lustau. Lustau just does not work for me. The nice sharp-edged Pot still unmalted barley flavours and the sherry finish more work against each other than complement each other. Others like it better than I do. Lustau is OK, but I would never buy a bottle of it, and I would never choose to drink it over standard Redbreast 12 yo.

@Victor I'm jealous, I haven't had Glenfarclas 15 since I left China.

@casualtorture I find Jameson Caskmate so so (even with air) that is why I went creative with a vatting of this one(+/- 60%) with Woodford reserve (35%) and Glenfarclas 105 (5%). Now, it is interesting.

@casualtorture, I sympathize. All I can say is, put a few bottles of your faves away when you get the chance.

Sippin' some Bowmore 12 yo. Not my favorite but nothing to complain about either. When nosing I don't get any special enjoyment. Nice subtle smoke and peat, and traces of something sweat. Overall weak, flat, and feels watered down. I keep it for my B-list of guests! ;)

Ok, after the Bowmore exp. I had to get something out I love. The Macallan 12 yo American Oak. Enough said. Sip sip, goodnight folks.

@Nosebleed is still in town for one more night. SO I BBQed some marinated short ribs from a Korean butcher (갈비), my wife also picked up a few 반찬 (sides), and after dinner we replaced all the bathroom fan switches with timers.

With dinner I had a Blanche de Chambly white beer (went really well with the meat) and he had Mill St. Organic.

After the hard labour we had small pours each of Glenborrodale batch 2, Mortlach G&M 13 YO COOP single cask, and finished up with the last 30-40 cc of my A'Bunadh batch 46. A lesser batch, but the only one open at the time.

@MadSingleMalt - no temples, just darn good whisky.

Last night, Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey (50% ABV) miniature picked up for my business trip last week. Not bad, but not that impressive either. That was followed by Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 Heavily Peated (50% ABV).

Tonight, Speyburn 10 year. Another miniature. Haven't had this in years. It was fine, but again unimpressive. That was followed by Caol Ila Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 10 year.

@bwmccoy I've never had a G&M I didn't like.

Had a small dram of Crown Royal Blender’s Select (review forthcoming) followed by a bit of G&W Little Trinity. Thoughts:

• I really like the Crown Royal. It’s unique, fairly complex, sweet, and quite easy drinking stuff.
• The Gooderham & Worts is getting more enjoyable with air exposure. Drinking it after the Crown brought out a very pronounced white grape juice note on the nose.

My wife is out and about tonight, so I figured I'd settle down and watch something she has no interest in. I picked Unlocked, hopefully it's better than the critics would have me believe.

To accompany me I've poured a glass of Lot No. 40 CS. Since I'm unsure if the movie will be good, I wanted to be certain that the dram was going to be excellent.

@Nelom That is, without a doubt, one heck of a great whisky.

I spent the day with the NP I work with. We had several joint visits. By the time we were done the traffic would have taken her forever to get home. So she contacted her husband and he agreed to join us for dinner.

As soon as we hit 5 pm (she was patient, she wanted to start at 430 when she finished), she was ready to start. She had been to a home tutored JW tasting but hadn't tasted the Green, so we started with that.

Then she wanted a bourbon. To say she liked the first bourbon she tasted (Stagg Jr) is an understatement. I had poured her a sample of OGD 114 to take home (and a glencairn glass so she has something reasonable to drink it in), so I picked another favourite - Booker's (2015-02). I sat this one out. She liked it almost as much as the Stagg Jr.

Then, because family were beginning to arrive (a joint BD celebration for me and my sister in law), I cracked A'Bunadh batch 49 and had my first sips as I BBQed salmon, Haloomi cheese and 19 steaks. First impressions (I ended up nursing this one till after dessert), a great batch!

She wanted to try something with peat, so I gave her a dram of Bowmore Tempest 5. Didn't do over well so my nephew drank it. I poured her a second dram of A'Bunadh, her favourtite of the night.

Wait till she tries the OGD 114!

Last night, AnCnoc 12 and a peated Bunnahabhain 10 year (SMWS 10.118) "Enthralling pink and peat intensity"

@Nozinan I see a lot of upsides to having dinner at your house. Sounds like a very nice birthday celebration for you and your guests.

Bit of a gruelling day today. Missed the early ferry to Vancouver today by 3 cars and had to wait 2 hours for the next one. Bought a high end audio amplifier from a guy I've been corresponding with. Then ventured out to the burbs to look at a camper van. Horrendous traffic and I was already in a bad mood. My wife hates it when I drive in the city, the expletives are usually flying. The van was a bust, so raced back to get the earliest ferry possible back to the Sunshine Coast. Managed to get the 4:20. Got in the door and poured us both a hefty dram of the AnCnoc 22. Instant relaxation, reduced blood pressure and a wholly better attitude. I think I might have another.

Cheers

Last night, after finally solving an intermittent issue at work that has been going on for 4 months, celebrated with Dry Fly Triticale Straight Whiskey Port Barrel Finish Aged 4 years. It really hit the spot, so had a second glass.

Tonight, started with Glenmorangie 10 year “Original” and finished with a Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 Heavily Peated.

I'm back from a great although dry vacation. Jumped right back into work which is really trying hard to kill my post-vacation zen.

I took @paddockjudge advice and decide to get the enzymes flowing so I'm ready for SOT. Had a really stunning maracuja (passion fruit) sour beer with our simple pizza supper.

Then moved on to Rhum, a 12 yr old single cask from Réunion finished in Rye casks 51.9% abv, part of Plantation's most recent outturn. So much happening on the nose and it's the most unique spirit I've tasted in a while.

Finished with a small nip of Benromach peat smoke, still love it but it's lost some of it's vigor in the final third of the bottle.