So, what are you drinking now?

@nooch - JWB, Te Bhaeg and Adelphi Private Reserve are three of the best 'standard' blends I've had. I'd say Grant's is a decent budget malt and would recommend Cutty Sark Prohibition even though the flavour profile wasn't quite to my liking. Would probably add Jameson to that list as well.

20 to 40 drams at each of three tasting sessions in the last 3 days. @paddockjudge, @Nozinan, and @Nock joined @Maddie, @Dramlette, and me for 2 days of tastings here in the DC and Baltimore areas. @Nock drove the 5 hours up from Norfolk, Virginia to join us. @Nock told us of his latest 10 days in Scotland which included flights on British Air from Baltimore to Inverness, Scotland for $ 1 round-trip each for the tickets for him and for his wife. @paddockjudge and @Nozinan, who are currently a couple of hours on the road in Maryland nearing the Pennsylvania line, stayed a 3rd night in our area. We toured the A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, Virginia yesterday. I will leave it to @Nozinan to do a recap of the drams over the 3 tasting sessions when he has the time to do so. Bottles were purchased and swapped. Samples were taken. But there were no prisoners.

Balvenie 12 Single Barrel. Opened it last night and just coming back to it. Not what I expected. Very dry and sour with some pear and soft banana, even a little tiny salty note. I've spent a long time with this pour.

Following up last night's Four Roses Single Barrel with Old Forester 1920 tonight

After moving and setting up our office IT equipment it was time for a few drams. Sazerac Rye, WT 101 and Black Bottle. Back at it tomorrow supervising the move and reprogramming the network.

Last night, Glendullan 14 year SMWS 84.18 "Sneezing in the sun" from a Second-fill Sauternes hogshead.

Finished with Ardbeg 10 year (L67765 6/20/17 17006181 16:27)

Tonight, Aultmore 14 year (Sep. 2001) SMWS 73.78 "Zingy, effervescent and intriguing" from a refill ex-sherry butt. Love the sherry on this one; so balanced.

Finished with Bowmore 18 year SMWS 3.296 "Elegance and power" also from a refill ex-sherry butt, but this one is a Sherry bomb! Love it!

I drank beer last night, my fifth and sixth of the year...after a week of many things whisky.

Time to reload with another six pack

@Victor Nice.

@Victor I have no classes and would have enjoyed being there.Some people enjoy folks who will never criticize them... Godspeed.

@Victor Thanks for providing a sneak preview of the Epic Tasting and Adventure that could rival any epic gathering before it. I came down with a cold on the trip home and have had a few things to catch up on, but as soon as I can do it justice I will post a recap.

A big thank you to you and your family for opening your doors and your cabinets to me, @paddockjudge, and @Nock. You can be sure that your patience, generosity, and energy were much appreciated, and this trip will not soon be forgotten.

@Victor thanks for the invitation.

tonight, a bit of an epiphany. Have you seen those images on social media where people argue over how something appears to them e.g. whether a shoe is pink ad white or grey and green? All you can see is one thing, then once you see it differently you can't believe you didn't see it that way before. Ii don't usually drink while I mark, but tonight I had a wee dram of Springbank 12 CS that's been open approx. 6 months. First up on the nose I got chocolate orange (just a UK thing?), then some coconut. Never noticed that before. For the first time I got hit by the motor oil. It's new oil - straight from the container - not any nasty,old, used stuff. Quite mineral like. The fusty, funky smell I know well but I've never had the motor oil note look me in the face like it did tonight. I wonder if I'll notice it next time?

Last night made a concoction of Port Askaig 100 proof, Talisker 57 North and Laddie Ten 2nd ed. Staggeringly good! With a good dollop of water the amount of tropical fruits coming off it was phenomenal and a real chimney soot finish that went on and on.

Last night, a peated Bunnahabhain 10 year SMWS 10.118 "Enthralling pink and peat intensity", port cask finised and Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured.

Quite a line up today.

The Balvenie Peat Week 14yo

Glen Scotia 15yo

Tomintoul 15yo Portwood Finish

Tomatin 18yo Sherry Cask

Glencadam 21yo

Glenfarclas 21yo

SMWS 7.201 10yo

SMWS 10.135

SMWS 37.53 27yo

Today my girlfriend's mom was teaching me to make pupusas. Amid the kitchen chaos, we made a couple of cocktails, Placebos using Talisker 10 (I've posted the recipe on Connosr before) and an improvised gin/ginger beer concoction. Now we're having Octomore 7.4 as a digestif.

@cricklewood ...and you might post it again !?

@paddockjudge

Sure think off the top of my head it's

1.5oz Talisker 10 0.5oz sweet Vermouth 1oz ginger syrup 1oz lemon juice (I use lime) A couple of dashes Angostura Shake over ice and strain

It's pretty bad-ass, sweet, smoky, spicy, tart. I have tried this with other peated whisky and while its good, there's something about Talisker that just works.

@cricklewood By definition, if it contains Talisker, it's not a placebo.

A placebo would just contain smoke flavour.

@RianC I only have 1 comment for your vatting: Islayluia!

As part of my Memorial Day celebration, I would like to raise a dram to my uncle who lost his life when his ship was sunk near the Marshall Islands during World War II. While I never met him, I share his middle name and have visited The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (also known as Punchbowl Cemetery) in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his name is engraved. In his honor and to all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, I raise the last dram of Bowmore 18 year SMWS 3.296 "Elegance and power" from a refill ex-sherry butt. May they all Rest In Peace.

@bwmccoy - RIP and a belated happy Memorial day ('happy' doesn't quite feel right but I hope you get my meaning?)

In the UK I often think we don't always give the American, Canadian, Indian, Australian and other allied servicemen and women as much recognition as they deserve. Awful times but their bravery and sacrifices should never be forgotten. I also think here and now we need to remember that they fought for freedoms that we may well be taking more and more for granted.

A nip of 1792 small batch was raised in their honour

Today's lineup thus far, last 3 in particular very decent. Although hits of sulphur coming through on the 72.51.

@Tom92 - That looks like a very nice lineup indeed! Do you happen to know which distillery G15 is? I don't have that one in my list yet.

@RianC - Thank you and well said. You stated the sentiment that I was trying to convey much more eloquently than I did.

@bwmccoy ROSSDHU distillery. Also 135.1 released this Friday in UK. Very interesting bottle. Very lucky to get the Caol Ila

@Tom92 - Thank you for the G15 info. What is 135? First that I have heard of that one. Must be nice to be near the source to get the latest and greatest. :-) I'm envious!

@bwmccoy 135 is Loch Lomond. Even thought they have 3 or 4 numbers already under different names. I work at the Vaults in Leith so can't ask for better!

Taking it easy tonight.

Hoegaarden and Aberlour a'Bunadh Batch 57

@Tom92 - thanks again! Wow! You don’t get much closer to the SMWS source than the Vaults in Leith. My envy just turned to jealousy. :-)

Last night, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt 50% ABV