So, what are you drinking now?

@nooch sounds about the same as the predicament I face in terms of my curiosity for Redbreast 12 vs Redbreast 12 CS...

@RikS skip them and get the 21. Instantly in my top 2-3 all time. Soooooo good.

@nooch you're not helping my decision ambivalence!

@RikS I'm not aware of a Benromach 10 CS...though having had the 43% and 57% versions I would be very interested in trying it...

@Nozinan oh by CS I meant cask strength, ie the 57. Misnomer?

@RikS The 57%, or 100/10, or "Imperial Proof" is not bottled at cask strength. 100 proof just means 57% in the UK.

@Nozinan ah, thank you. I presumed that was cask strength. I note that both Cadenhead and Ralfy refers to it as cask strength. So does that mean that the cask is higher still, and they water it to 57?

@RikS, the big clue that a higher-than-50% ABV bottling is probably not Cask Strength is that the bottling is at an exact whole number ABV. Exact integer ABV would very rarely occur out of the cask for any batch of whisky, and it would be even more unlikely that that ABV would be duplicated by a later batch of the same whisky. So, a standardized repeat-batch exact interger ABV whisky would be almost impossible to attain at uncut cask strength. It may well be that 57% ABV is very close to the actual cask strength, though.

@Victor indisputable logic, once pointed out. Thank you maestro. I really enjoy these little tidbits of learning.

A Wood's 100 navy rum - opened this a few weeks back and it's mellowing nicely. Lovely molasses nose and punchy sweet taste but quite a short and bitter finish. There's so much caramel in this it stains the glass brown ha! Not bad for £22 or so though but not quite a match for Pusser's Gunpowder rum.

@Victor Damn good stuff, though, cask strength or otherwise.

Ledaig 10 last night. Some days I like it, some days I don't. Last night I didn't, probably because I had a dram of Uigeadail first.

Last night, Aultmore 14 year (Sep. 2001) SMWS 73.78 "Zingy, effervescent and intriguing" from an ex-sherry refill butt. I enjoy this one every time I have it. I've had 3 different Aultmore's from the Society and this one is easily the best or at least my favorite.

Also, killed off my bottle of Caol Ila Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 10 year. While this wasn't the best G&M bottle that I've had, it was still very good. Enjoyed it, but probably wouldn't buy this particular one again.

Tonight, Dry Fly (Spokane, WA) Triticale Straight Whiskey Port Barrel Finish Aged 4 years - 45% ABV.

Finished with a newly opened bottle of Ardbeg 10 year (L67765 6/20/17 17006181 16:27). It’s been awhile since I’ve owned one of these, but this seems like a good lot to me. I’m getting ash, both on the nose and the palette with some sweet peat and citrus (lemon zest).

Last night started with Basil Hayden bourbon, then Redbreast 21, then Highland Park 21. Accompanied by a Padron cigar fireside. Hello summer!!!

Interesting experience last night: My wife and I attended her best friend’s wedding reception. I helped by supplying a small sound system (and my limited services as a technician) for speeches. The father of the bride wanted to thank me, so he bought a bottle of scotch (Grant’s) for the open bar. Since I was driving, I had one drink, to be polite and acknowledge the gesture. As I was getting said drink, from the father of the bride, that uncle (there’s one in every family) says “Ohhhh, blended scotch. That’s too bad. Single malt is what you want. That means it’s better.” Not wanting to start a big argument or discussion with that idiot, I simply replied that I like blends just fine and started to walk away. He had to get one last word in by saying “Well, trust me, if you know anything about scotch, you know that single malt means better”. I just raised my glass and said “cheers”. His condescendion didn’t bother me as much as the fact that the father of the bride was standing right there. I talked to the bride later and she said “Oh, that’s Gord. Don’t worry, nobody likes him. We all just love my aunt so much that he’s tolerated. Barely.”

@OdysseusUnbound wait. I don’t get it. You mean single malts aren’t innately better? And all this time...

Here’s an interesting discussion then: I’d be curious as to people’s favourite blend. I, admittedly, don’t have much experience with them and would love to learn a bit. I’ve had the whole Johnnie walker range, some Ballantines...haven’t had the chance to try compass box yet.

@nooch, by all means, then, start another blended Scotch conversation. There have been quite a few already. But, by all means, be clear that you mean blended Scotch. If you call them simply "blends" (as others have unfortunately done at times in the past) then you will get all kinds of people talking about blended malts (e.g.JW Green Label), which, it appears, is not what you mean.

Here's my reprinted general take on blended Scotch:

There are previous Connosr discussions when you search "blends". Several of them may be useful. Many of us get tired of answering the same questions over and over for years.

I will restate my own opinion of Scottish blended whiskies, NOT "blended malts"/"pure malts"/"vatted malts", which I consider no different in character from "Single" malts". Blended Scotch whiskies are often, but not always, ruined by two qualities they typically have: 1) DILUTION, 90+% ABV "grain" whiskies diluted down to 40% ABV and then blended with malt whiskies also diluted to 40% ABV. This lowers the density of flavours enormously, and 2) WHEAT "grain" whiskies, the flavours of which, to my taste, clash badly with the flavours of a) wine, b) peat, and c) peat smoke (and, in the case of North American whiskeys, RYE grain) .

Some blended Scotches are really great, but you have to sift through a lot of chaff to find the really good ones. For Big Flavours buffs like I am the 40% ABV characteristic alone handicaps the entire category of Blended Scotch enormously.

Last night, in celebration of World Whisky Day, Girvan 31 SMWS G7.10 (Lowland Grain) "The Texan tea party" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.

Bunnahabhain 10 year Cask SMWS 10.118 "Enthralling pink and peat intensity". After spending nine years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, the remainder of maturation was in a 1st fill Port barrique.

@Victor fair enough! I did search “blended scotch” believe it or not, but your point is well taken. I’ll just back out of the room slowly, hands up.

@nooch While I have no qualms with anyone’s personal preferences, the guy’s attitude and sheer ignorance were what got to me. In a different setting, I could have exposed his ignorance by asking him what “Single Malt” actually means and how it differs from “blended scotch”, as I’m sure he has no clue. But people like that aren’t interested in learning or in an actual conversation. They’re assholes who think their opinion on everything needs to be heard, even when it’s not solicited. Especially when it’s not solicited.

@nooch Also, Great King Street Glasgow Blend from Compass Box is one of the best true blended scotches I’ve ever had. And despite the bad press it gets, likely because of its hyper-inflated price, I’ve really liked JW Blue every time I’ve tried it. Though I admit I’ve only tried it 3-4 times.

@OdysseusUnbound I tried blue at a friends house and enjoyed it. It’s way overpriced at $350...that’s why I bought it at duty free for $185. Still overpriced? Most likely. I have tried it as part of a series of aged whiskies (18yo) and found the blue had a sig better mouthfeel than the majority - which felt thin by comparison. Will I buy another bottle in the future? I wouldn’t prioritize it. I don’t regret it though.

@OdysseusUnbound I’ve also heard good things about great king street.

Drinking the last of my Ardbeg Ten. Terrific whisky, it’s a shame it’s so expensive here in Ontario.

@nooch, on the subject of blended Scotch: the four bottles of blended Scotch which I value most in my possession are: 1) Johnnie Walker Black Label 43.4% ABV, purchased in 1979, 2) The Bailie Nicol Jarvie, 3) Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 yo Centenary Blend, and 4) Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition, 50% ABV. I am also very fond of Grant's Family Reserve, Black & White, The Black Grouse, Islay Mist 8 yo, Compass Box Asyla, and Compass Box Great King Street Artist's Blend. I've never owned a bottle of it, but I also love Ballantine's 17 yo.

Johnnie Walker Black Label from the mid-80s and before is unbelievable. It has a delectable high quality sherry wine influence which is completely absent from the recent releases. 12 yo Black Label from 1979 means all of the whiskies were produced no later than 1967, a golden era for quality of the malts. BNJ is a fabulous citrus bomb, even at 40% ABV. It is supposed to be something like 60% Glenmorangie malt. BNJ has become rare in the last few years. I wish I had 3 more bottles of it.

Of the common inexpensive stuff out there now, I would try to get Cutty Sark Prohibition because I love that flavour intensity, but I will always be happy with Grant's Family Reserve, provided it is not that off batch that @cherylnifer encountered. .

@Paddockjudge is over the night before our road trip to Maryland.

In the afternoon I poured some Old Scout 10 YO CS bourbon and OGD 114 for him. After he and my family returned from dinner, as we made our final preparation, we each had a very enjoyable dram of Original batch Forty Creek Confederation Oak, then finished an "early" evening with Aberlour A'Bunadh batch 49.

Liver enzymes induced.... off we go!

I have a 25 year old Berry's Blended Scotch, unchillfiltered, uncoloured at 46% that I paid $155 for and is now $200 that is absolutely the equivalent of almost any single malt I have ever had. It was bottled for Calgary's Kensington Wine Market's 25th anniversary.

I’m having one last dram for the night. I’m sipping Crown Royal Blender’s Select. I think I’m going to tuck this one away, as the banana note seems to be calming down now that the bottle is at the halfway mark. Well sightly above halfway. There’s more oak and rye coming through. Interesting. Maybe this one will get better with time. Although the Ardbeg I had earlier might be muddying my perception.

Tonight, Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured. Sweet, rich ash. So good!