So, what are you drinking now?

@bwmccoy Dear God, prey tell, where may I procure a bottle of this "Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt 50% ABV"???

I am drinking "Finlaggan" (again), $24 at Trader Joe's, a deal at twice the price. I think this is Lagavulin with grain alcohol. I like it as a counterpoint to the commute.

"If we are to believe the company, we must trust our nose and not our ears in order to divine the secrets of this pale liquid. A favorite topic of whisky forums, the identity of Finlaggan’s source is thought to be Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, or Caol Ila. It’s very likely that the OR (Old Reserve) contains younger whisky – perhaps in the 6 year range – although a bottling of 10 year-old is available in some markets."

scotchnoob.com/2011/09/…

@Wodha - Total Wine in Bellevue is where I’ve picked up my last two bottles. Check their website. They may have it at a store closer to you. :-) In my opinion, you will not be disappointed. Great whisky at a reasonable price (at least by Washington state price standards). If you want a sample, before you buy, let me know.

Tonight, Dry Fly Triticale Straight Whiskey Port Barrel Finish Aged 4 years - 45% ABV

@Wodha, in my experience, any store that carries ... not sure what to call them ... "second tier" whiskies like Springbanks or DE versions of Diageo malts usually carries that PC Islay Barley. And yes, it's very good!

@MadSingleMalt Springbank is a second tier distillery the same way that Lebron James is a second tier basketball player.

Well I don't know anything about your basketballer, but I'm talking about the whiskies that not every run-of-the-mill liquor store carries. "Next level"? "Beyond the ordinary"?

Do you know a place where you can buy Longrows? Then you should be able to get PC Islay Barley there too.

Hmm.. I'm drinking Lagavulin distillers. Very nice, but... or I should say BUT (cause I'm annoyed)... I noted that when adding a drop of water, there's a clear scent of sulphur on the nose. I presume that's it at least, it smells like a box of matches. Nothing however when neat and unwatered. Does that make chemical sense?

I’m enjoying a generous dram of Redbreast 12 CS after a rough day. The bottle is almost empty and it’s not a happy feeling. This one must be replaced. Such an excellent whiskey.

@OdysseusUnbound I'm noticing more than one batch at the LCBO, which one did you get?

@Nozinan It’s 57.2 % ABV but the Lot number on the back looks like they tried to print one thing over another. It’s unreadable.

I’m capping off the evening with a nip of Wild Turkey Rare Breed... on the rocks

It’s been hot and muggy all week and sometimes, only sometimes, ice is nice.

Cool, summery breeze where I am. Glenmorangie 18yo in hand. Sweet. Light. Mouth coating. Great summer dram and great price at duty free.

@OdysseusUnbound The batch number (refreshingly), is printed on the label (or it might be on the box). The one I have is B1/15 (from 2015), for example.

@Nozinan I don’t have the box. And there must have been a problem with the label. It is printed there, but it is unreadable.

@RikS I was with a friend recently when he opened a bottle of Laga 16. To me it had a very strong iodine smell, so much so that it was detracting for me. I haven't tried it later on after the bottle was open for a while so I don't know if it persisted. Not exactly what you've described but also not enjoyable.

@Hewie my first encounter with Lagavulin left me with that iodine taste for two days and i hated it... now, i rather really like it. I know... its wierd. Not sure ill ever take to matches and rotten eggs though... i

Impromptu session last night with some friends.

-Talisker Dark Storm, strange, my friend described it as the Lagavulin of Taliskers.

-KWV 15 yr old pot still brandy from South Africa. A surprise, amazing nose, loads of concentrated dried fruits, not too much oak.

-Port Charlotte 10 MkII

-Compass Box Flaming Heart 2015

-Octomore 8.1 My friends bottle has been open for 3 months and it's just become this thing of beauty, powerful and elegant.

-Octomore 8.3... Freshly opened bottle, drop kick to the face.

A little behind in my posting; two nights ago, Glendronach 12.

Last night, Glenmorangie 15 Year Sauternes Wood Finish-Distillery only bottle.

@cricklewood, that is some serious peatage!

I'm having my 3/4 Aberlour 12 + 1/4 a'bunadh vatting that's been sitting for a week now untouched and brings the ABV to about 45.2%. And, I'm pleased to report that it is delicious and the objective worked - kicking up the 12 a few notches from "sherried plum juice" and taking down the a'bunadh from 60.1% to a more palatable ABV without adding water.

@OdysseusUnbound, @Nozinan, that particular batch of Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength 57.2% abv is Batch B1/16. Below is a listing of the seven batches (of which I am aware ).

Redbreast 12-year-old Cask Strength 12 57.7 % Vol. 750 ml 2011 Batch B1/11

Redbreast 12-year-old Cask Strength 12 58.6 % Vol. 700 ml 2012 Batch B1/12

Redbreast 12-year-old Cask Strength 12 59.9 % Vol. 700 ml 2013 Batch B1/13

Redbreast 12-year-old Cask Strength 12 58.2 % Vol. 750 ml 2014 Batch B1/14

Redbreast 12-year-old Cask Strength 12 57.4 % Vol. 750 ml 2015 Batch B1/15

Redbreast 12-year-old Cask Strength 12 57.2 % Vol. 750 ml 2016 Batch B1/16

Redbreast 12-year-old Cask Strength 12 58.2 % Vol. 700 ml 2017 Batch B1/17

Just opened and poured myself a big dram of Springbank 20 Single Cask - Refill Bourbon because I have grown impatient from waiting for that special occasion that never comes...until the ultimate of all occasions.

I am happy to report that it is truly amazing. Money well spent.

@MadSingleMalt, yeah, it wasn't planned that way but it was an interesting session.

@paddockjudge @Nozinan Silly me! The Batch number (B1/16) is actually right on the front of the Label. D’uuhhhhh!!!!

After a long day of yard work enjoying a Balvenie 12 Doublewood that I got for my birthday.

Happy Ardbeg Day!!!

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

@bwmccoy I wish I was near an Ardbeg 'outpost' for these special release days

Just opened an Ardbeg 9 year (SMWS 33.135) “Peat-reek and barbeque char”. Distilled May 24th, 2007 from a Second-fill ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt. Oh my! That’s tasty and so different from the Ardbeg 10 that I just had, which I really like. Even though the color doesn’t look like it came from a Sherry cask, the nose and the palette leave no doubt. Wow! Pancake syrup nose. Sweet peat and barbeque smoke palette as the name expertly suggests. So good!

@Hewie - me too! Ardbeg came to Seattle for Ardbeg day 3 years in a row, but haven’t had any events here for Ardbeg day the last couple of years. Not sure why. The events were well attended and a lot of fun when they were here.