So, what are you drinking now?

This was bought as an add-on to get an LCBO order over $50 to ship to store.

I tried it tonight after a Blanche de Chambly with some Korean BBQ with friends. Quite tasty and refreshing. Might need to get another...

@nooch, was that the best $40 you've spent recently?! Happy Anniversary to you and the Mrs!

@nooch, yes! Good score, especially for a whisky that seems like more of a curiosity that'd be fun to taste, rather than one that's worth the current bottle price as a drinker.

I was perusing a whisky list at local joint this past weekend too (though it was a sunshine afternoon beer-only outing), and I was struck by just how outright bad the whisky lists always are. And this place purports to be a "whisky destination" kinda bar, too. Weird places ascribed to some whiskies, erratic pricing, missing info, etc. For example, is it enough to just say "Talisker"? Hell no! Sure, it's probably the 10, but a supposed whisky bar shouldn't have glaring holes on their menu like that.

A run-down of the whiskies I had at my club's "Summer Drams" night last night:

•Longmorn 12 G&M 43%. Despite the disintegrated cork, this was tasty as all get-out! Very flavorful while still being light and zippy. It reminded me of the kinds of whisky I used to drink when I first got into this years ago (basic stuff like Tomatin 12), in a good way.

•Old Pulteney 12 OB 43%. I hadn't had this in years. Still a solid little dram, but I'm always disappointed by its lack the big salt hit that most people claim it has.

•Balblair 2003-2013 OB 46%. Nasty. I think I paid maybe $35 for this on clearance last year, and that was $34 too much.

•Glenmo Ealanta 46%. This had a nice big "pop" to it on entry. Fun stuff.

•Hakushu 12 OB 43%. Nice & fresh. Nice breezy light peat blowing over a bed of grassy malt. As good as a remember from a few years ago.

•Yamazaki 12 OB ???ABV. Tasty & high-quality, but boring.

•Old Pulteney 21 12 OB 46%. Tasty & high-quality, but boring. And it's no coincidence that I put the same description on this and the Yamazaki—a couple club buddies claimed these two whiskies were indistinguishable, and that the OP21 was therefore a waste of money. A few guys took a "blind taste challenge," though, and were indeed able to guess 100% correctly which was which. Even so, I still found them both, as I say, tasty & high-quality, but boring.

•Longmorn 20 Adelphi CS, bourbon barrel. Undistinguished, but big and powerful. Good stuff.

@MadSingleMalt Quite an interesting mix. It seems quite a few of the annual vintage Balblairs are not up to much. I’m hoping the 1990 lives up to its press. As for the Pulteney 21; I’ve always thought the 17 was better.

@BlueNote, I believe you're not alone in thinking that about the OP17 v. the OP21. I've never had that 17, but I'd love to one day.

I saw last night that someone else in the club has a young CS indie OP from Signatory, and I'm scheming now on a big OP night for the club this September. I've got my fingers crossed that someone will produce a 17 so I can see what you're talking about!

@MadSingleMalt Apparently the 17 is going to be discontinued and no word on what will replace it. If you see it, grab it.

@BlueNote, I thought it already was discontinued. But now that we're talking about it, I realize that I haven't seen any of the new whatevers that are supposed to replace it.

I wish I would've bought one of those double half-bottle packs they used to sell of the 12 and 17. As I recall they were an exceptionally good value—like $40 or so.

Oh—there's a typo above in my list of the summer drams. It should be the regular Old Pulteney 21. Ignore the weird "12" there that I can not now correct.

@MadSingleMalt the OP 17 and 21 are discontinued. I’ve had and very much enjoyed the 17. They’re being replaced with a 25 and 30 I believe.

@BlueNote, that was my first-ever Balblair. Its dominant aspect was a nastiness (youth?) that reminded me exactly of the nastiness that, to me, eclipses all other flavors in some young peaters like Big Peat and Lagavulin 8.

@nooch Who the hell will be able to afford either of those. Why couldn’t they replace them with a good 15. They will have to have something age stated between the 12 and 25/30. If not, I’m guessing we’re in for a bunch more mediocre NAS crap. I know where there are two 17s at pretty high price, but I might grab them anyway.

I’m currently visiting my sister at her cottage and we (I) killed my bottle of Monkey Shoulder last night. So today I picked up a bottle of Bushmills Red Bush. First impressions: light, inoffensive, not as interesting as Black Bush, but very sippable on this warm day.

@BlueNote I grabbed a bottle of the 17yo when I heard. I was wrong about the change though. They’re being replaced by a 25 and a 35 year old - not a 30. $600 and $1000. I don’t get it either to be honest. I get adding some older expressions, but those two are out of my range and I have zero interest in NAS OL. They can keep their clipper ships!

@MadSingleMalt Have you given the Lag 8 a second chance? I thought it was very good after a bit of air time and a couple drops of water. I have another bottle in the bunker, I’ll open it up for our next group gathering and let you know the consensus. As you know, on any given day the old taste buds can mess with you.

@nooch Nice bottles, though, eh?

@BlueNote, I should say that I don't mean to rip on the Lag 8 as often as I find myself doing. I've drank from two bottles of it. One (with my club) was OK. A second (on my own) had that nastiness that I've become focused on.

That Balblair I had last night featured that same nastiness, so I drew the comparison for anyone who might know what I'm talking about.

All that said, no, I haven't given the Lag 8 another chance, and I don't really expect to. The style it seems to be shooting for is similar to Ardbeg Ten, and the Ardbeg is 3/4 the price. Plus, it's reliable—I've never had an Ardbeg Ten that was anything but tasty.

@MadSingleMalt Yeah, you’re dead right on the Ardbeg 10. That has been my experience over the course of many bottles. Not always exactly the same, but always good.

@BlueNote, According to Brand Ambassador Gordon Stevenson the Old Pulteney 17 YO and 21 YO are discontinued. OP is introducing a 25 YO to its core range. I think they are caught in a spot where past production cannot satisfy current demand. I like what they are doing, keeping the 12 YO and bottling 25 YO juice for those who must have an age statement on the label. The 35 and 40 YO are Limited Releases...how much of the older juice could they have?. I wouldn't be surprised to once again see something between 12 years and 25 years released. Until then we will be required to navigate the NAS waters.

I attended a master class at 2018 Spirit of Toronto with @Nozinan. Gordon Stevenson was the presenter, most of what he said went over many people's heads. Interesting chap, but stuck to the script.

In honour of @CasualTorture's new baby, I decided to have a small pour of something special in his honour.

Initially I decided it would be Bourbon if it's a Boy or a G Scotch (a new Naddura or Glendronach CS) if it's a Girl.

But then he disclosed that his daughter's name has been chosen..Athena.

Having BBQed for dinner, there was only one possible choice.. Ardbeg Uigeadail.

Congratulations! Your life just got turned upside down!

@paddockjudge Oh, yeah, “Many Rivers to Cross.”

Last night, Dry Fly Triticale Straight Whiskey Port Barrel Finish Aged 4 years - 45% ABV - Bottle #70 of 250.

Tonight, Glendronach 12 and Ardbeg 10.

@MadSingleMalt - Interested in your Balblair comments. I've had the 10 year 'vintage' in my sights for a while and Ralfy always scores Balblairs highly but a lot of on line comments suggest the quality has diminished and they can be a bit bland. Perhaps one I should try first?

That said, there are 17 and 27 year old versions that seem excellent value (in today's market) and also get great reviews so perhaps one of those may be a better option?

@paddockjudge - They still sell OP17 in the UK but I'd imagine, like the Flora and Fauna series, that when they're gone they won't be coming back.

I have one stashed that I'll open when the mood/occasion takes me but am tempted to buy another as I know they will soon be gone (mind you, I thought that months ago when I bought a bottle!)

@RianC, well, just take my comments as "another point of reference, malt mate."

Settling down, finally, with a large Pulteney 12 and will have a beer when the match kicks off. I'm quite nervous . . .

Long, arduous day at the office. Glad to put my slippers on, and settle in with a Laphroaig 10 for some comfort as I watch the thick, dense fog roll in and cover my neighborhood.

Sauternes night tonight;

Glendullan 14 year SMWS 84.18 "Sneezing in the sun" from a 2nd-fill Sauternes hogshead.

Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured.

@bwmccoy Never tried the Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured, but the couple of Kilchoman (Machir Bay; Sanaig) I have tired, this one also seems delicious.

@archivist - I attended a Kilchoman tasting last September that included nearly their entire range. All were very good. My least favorite was Sanaig, but it was still good. From there, my favorites in order from least to best were Machir Bay, 100% Islay, Loch Gorm and the Sauternes Matured. The best, hands down, was the Machir Bay Cask Strength Edition bottled specifically for their West Coast (USA) tour. I bought a bottle of the tour cask strength edition immediately after the event. Unfortunately, it is long gone. The Saunternes Matured was a birthday gift from my lovely wife back in February. Sadly, it is down to its last few drams as well. I'm going to have to check my whisky cabinet. Kilchoman products tend to evaporate pretty quickly in there. :-)