So, what are you drinking now?

Friend of mine hosted a cognac night. Tried a range of vsop and xo cognacs - they all tasted pretty similar. Luckily I brought a bottle of Ardbeg 10yo to pair with our cigars. Happy Ardbeg day!!!

Drought is over! I haven't had any alcohol since the night I returned from the EPIC trip to Maryland - yes, I will get to a report, AFTER the election.

Tonight a friend of my wife's came from BC. She likes whisky. She procured Wiser's U52 for us here in Ontario.

Last time she was here she enjoyed some Redbreast12 CS, and I happened to have one open so we had some. I then poured he a little Lemon Hart 151 to try. She liked it.

The ECBP 70.1% was really good, enjoyed by the three of us who partook. I needed the high ABV to wash the bad taste of the election out of my mouth...

It's going to be a long 4 years...

Had a couple of mates over for a few late afternoon drams. AnCnoc 22, AnCnoc 2000, Kilchoman 100% Islay, Miltonduff 22, Tomatin CS 18, Caol Ila DE, Uigeadail. Very pleasant.

@Nozinan & Co: Commiserations on the long four years ahead. Start being embarrassed now.

@BlueNote, nice line-up, nice day!

@BlueNote that looks like a fantastic way to spend an afternoon - good company and good whisky.

Always worrying to see posts in "what are you drinking now?" before noon... :-)

@BlueNote - that looks like a great place to drink whisky! Great view and a nice selection as well!

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

@BlueNote which one is you?

@Nozinan The one taking the picture.

Question -

So... I was just sipping on the wife's old pulteney 12 and I have the sensation that there's a "yeasty" element to it, quite prominent. Can that be? Never felt that in a whisky before... Or is it just me unable to pinpoint what it is?

@RikS I've often heard Old Pulteney described as "yeasty" or "bready" so you likely aren't nuts. At least, not on the tasting front.

I just finished a terrific dram of Springbank 12 Cask Strength, Batch 11, courtesy of @Nozinan and now I'm wondering what's next. I feel like anything else will feel aenemic by comparison, unless I get into some Wild Turkey Rare Breed or open my Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 58. Decisions, decisions.

Problem solved: I forgot (how could I??!!) about my bottle of Uigeadail. We have a winner!

@RikS I definitely get raw gefilte fish on the nose. Leave it for half an hour and you can get some ripe fruits.

Tonight, two of my favorite open bottles;

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

Ardbeg 9 year SMWS 33.135 “Peat-reek and barbeque char” from a second-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt.

MY FAVOURITE AP.

Lately I've been drinking Barrel Proof Bourbon and Islay Single Malts, because my palate took a drubbing on a recent whisky excursion with @Nozinan where we gathered with @Victor, @Nock, @Dramlette, and @MAD. It was great fun and an encore is definitely in order.

My palate needed a couple of whisky-free days this week to complete a comeback. After spending the day assembling a new gazebo for my saintly mother, I decided it was time to re-gauge the old taste buds with a proper dose of fine Canadian elixirs; Alberta Premium 25 YO and AP 30 YO. A great finish to a beautiful day outside...sunshine, sunshine, glorious sunshine!...for those of you who might not be aware, I work underground....sunshine, sunshine, glorious sunshine!

@paddockjudge Those A. Smith Bowman glasses?

@Nozinan, Yes, they are from the A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Spotsylvania County VA. Not just for whiskey, they are omni-whisky glasses.

Happy belated Ardbeg Day 2018!

A rustic Ardbeg, pleased that Ardbeg is going back to its roots and overlaying that with a touch of new-age

Sweet, salty palate profile. Starting out as a meaty and savoury and finishing as ashy and sooty. Goes down with a bit of gruffness reminding you that this is an Ardbeg.

An uncharacteristic mild bitter edge on the finish complements the salty tang.

A rather humble nip of Ardmore Legacy. Fits the warm weather we're having and I'm enjoying this more now than when I reviewed it.

Been taking it easy this last week or so after a few days with the family caused my liver to be working a bit harder than usual

Now having a Port Askaig 100 proof. A 7 - 9 year Caol Ila at CS, basically.

Sooty lemons and a huge whiff of varnish/alcohol with maybe some faint leather/tobacco notes and that distinctive CI peat note - lots of sea shells and minerality. Needs a good dollop or two of water this one.

Having a dram or too with family. My nephew selected these from the current open stock. Obviously he's been paying attention; same line-up as his last visit. I have some additions from newly acquired stock as well. I put some of the unopened high-end stuff in the bunker...just in case this episode goes free range.

@paddockjudge Essentially your VIP wedding selection plus AP30 and ECBP. I note you indicated this was a dram or TOO

Last night, Girvan 31 year SMWS G7.10 (Lowland Grain) "The Texan tea party" followed by Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008.

It's my wife's birthday and she's gone out on a girls' night. Kids are in bed. Tonight I dug deep into my cabinet and pulled out a 1/3 full bottle of Highland Park 12 YO. Opened in 2011, mostly gasses I think, it hasn't been poured, likely, in years.

Great nose and full of flavour. This one seems to have preserved well...

@Nozinan I’ve noticed that with HP 12. It seems impervious to oxidation, at least that seems to be the case with the older bottlings.

Highland Park 15 yo. Delicious. Rich full nose, and lovely in the mouth. For those who notice how much different the 15 yo tastes compared to both the Highland Park 12 yo and the Highland Park 18 yo, please read @Nock's last comment in the comment trail below, posted 4 years ago:

connosr.com/highland-park-15-year-old-whis…

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

Tonight, Dry Fly Triticale Straight Whiskey Port Barrel Finish Aged 4 years - 45% ABV, followed by Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured. This one tasted especially good tonight. Sweet ash.

After decanting my Benromach 10 43%, and taking a 4 oz sample to Maryland where it remained, I had 4 oz left. Now there are three.

This bottle was purchased in protest of the one that crashed to the ground (untasted) after I brought it to and was sent home with it from a party. Just over a year after opening the sherry nose remains vibrant and the peat on the palate is stronger than ever!

Tonight, watching my first place Seattle Mariners (baseball) on TV drinking an Ardbeg 10 year (L67765 6/20/17 17006181 16:27) which is tasting exceptionally good!