So, what are you drinking now?

@Jonathan As much as I respect Ralfy, I have to disagree with him. The Triple Wood is quite good, imho.

Wiser's Legacy on STEROIDS!

A blend of Wiser's Seasoned Oak (19 YO 48% abv) and Corby's Lot no 40 Cask Srength (12 YO 55% abv) in the ratio of 2:1 MAGNIFICENT

Third night of whisky tasting with my newly repatriated B-I-L. We took a couple of days off (being on call then having 25 people for dinner will do that) and tonight I introduced him to Canadian whisky.

1. Canadian Club Premium - standard, entry level, forgettable, but I wanted him to have somewhere to move up from.

2. Wiser's Legacy - enjoyed by both of us

3. Wiser's Dissertation - I liked it more than he did, though he liked it better than the CC.

4. Highwood 90/20 - a little 100% corn interlude to demonstrate the importance of the cask.

5. Wiser's19 YO Seasoned Oak - Quite a treat, I haven't reviewed this yet because I think it will take a few tastes to get to know it well-enough.

I would have liked to try a couple of FC examples like Heart of Gold +/- Evolution +/- Confederation Oak, followed by some Lot 40 CS (he is cautious when it comes to high ABV) but it was nearing midnight and we were wiped.

Three more nights before he leaves, and I'm on call one of them. With luck I can finish off Canadians and show him a couple of peated scotches. I worry about trying bourbons because most of what I have is high proof and may overwhelm him. Any suggestions on how to use my remaining time with him would be appreciated.

@Nozinan If he is uncomfortable with the higher-proof whiskies, you could remind him that he can add as much water as he likes. I can't remember if you started with these, but I find Irish whiskey often can be a good introduction for a novice, as it is often "smoother" being often triple-distilled, and often at a lower ABV.

Tonight we finished off Intro to Canadian Whisky with a few Forty reek expressions. First, the original COnfederation Oak, then Evolution, then my favourite special release, Heart of Gold. We didn't do all the 6 special releases I have open because I wanted him to see examples of some of the better Canadians, so then we moved to Danfield's 21 and finally, 2017 Lot 40 CS.

As a treat I finished him off with a tiny pour (all you need) of Lemon Heart 151.

I'm on call tomorrow, but if I have the energy I will try to have one final session Tuesday to ease him (or throw him) into a Peat Bog.

@Nozinan So, what did he think of the Lot No. 40 CS? Did the high ABV get in the way of his enjoyment? My guess is not, as I find that to be one of those high ABV whiskies where the alcohol translates primarily to more flavour and doesn't really add any roughness.

@Nelom He, apparently, is not a "rye guy". neither am I, of course, but I really like this expression.

He found it a little overwhelming neat but with some water he was able to tolerate it more. I like it with a touch of water too. He noted the flavours opened up and it was more enjoyable.

On a cruise with an all-drinks-included-package last week, I drank the following to my heart's content. In some cases, that wasn't very much.

•JW Black

•JW Double Black

•Macallan some NAS I never heard over before

•Glenfiddich some NAS I never heard over before

•Glenlivet some NAS which mighta been Founder's Reserve

Only the Macallan was any good. And the Glenfiddich was downright nasty.

Caught a summer cold/cough and have been dutifully making a hot toddy every evening, using either George Dickel No. 12 or JW Black. I like the Dickel some nights when I want a bit more oomph/char to the drink...oddly it helps me sleep better at night.

Laphroaig 25 yo 2013 Cask Strength Edition, 45.1% ABV. Nice old Laphroaig

Next round Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength Batch # 007. Wonderful. I have never met a Laphroaig 10 CS which I did not like.

Just poured myself a Bulleit rye and am about to sit down and read a chapter in Factfulness by Hans Rosling. I'm only a little over halfway through it, but so far the book is great and one I can very much recommend to anyone interested in the current state of the world. And I'm not referring to politics.

As for the whisky, it's a fairly standard MGP rye, perfectly adequate but nothing special.

Teeling Single Malt at 46%ABV, batch L17 009 215, from a 5cl sample tasting pack. Color: white wine light chardonnay Nose: dusty vanilla icing sugar, crispy tart apple, under ripe Anjou pear and peach, faint sweet sherry background with a distant sickly sweet Madeira aroma. Taste: bitter/sour raw almond and skins, white pepper, watery drying mouth feel. W/H2O: sweet vanilla, bits of toffee, tart crispy apples, less peppery, grassy, slight Carmel. Finish: med. to long drying. Comment: complex nose but, palette seems confused and muddled. An average whisky.

Addendum: on tasting note. A flavour in the Teeling Single Malt which was persistent in the body is Guava give it that tropical, exotic, fruit note.

Last night, finished off my bottle of Dailuaine SMWS 41.106 (10 year - Feb. 2007) - "Masterchef final" - Refill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.4% ABV

Also, had a dram of Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured. This one is getting close to the end of the bottle as well.

Teeling Small Batch L17 013 299 from a 5cl tasting pack: Colour: Gold with medium viscosity legs Nose: Sweet Barley, spicy with a light smoke an alcohol nip with vanilla, fading ripe fruit, overall, an inviting nose Taste Neat: Sharp lemon and cinnamon, with a bitter chocolate, cereal note with spice almost “rye like”, raisins soaked in a spiced rum and a sour note of wood sap, some mouth coating creaminess. Taste with H20: fruiter, sweeter, more cinnamon and vanilla, cereal oats, no chocolate, grape skins, becomes more tannic. Rough edges Finish neat: medium, drying fading barley sweetness Finish with H20: shorter, peppery with subdued spices.

Comment: This is a nice Irish Whiskey, more complex neat easily drowned, with the addition of water.

@paddockjudge Don't tell me I now need to pick up the Seasoned Oak and make this blend, I was hoping to hold off on the S.O. for a bit.

@Astroke The seasoned oak is worth picking up regardless...

@Nozinan ,I have heard a few different opinions on it. Was getting a sample from a friend but I fear I will do the @paddockjudge blend as Legacy on Steroids cannot be ignored.

I picked up a litre of Maker's Mark on sale for 29.99usd. That's a good $10-15 cheaper than usual. I've had it before as a teenager but it's been years. So far I'm really unimpressed. I'm hoping air time does it some favors. After this glass I'm switching to something else...

@casualtorture, warm it in your palm for two or three minutes. It becomes a different whisky.

@paddockjudge I'll report back in 5 minutes.

@Astroke, I find when my palate is off, nothing is worth drinking. To know when your palate is off you must first know those times when your palate is on, not all that easy considering the number of times one's palate is between on and off. The Seasoned Oak and Lot 40 CS is very good...and that was on a night when my palate was off.

@paddockjudge wow good tip. Really opened it up. Still not sure if I like it yet but at least it's got some flavour and not as bland and lifeless now.

@casualtorture, Maker's Mark is not the best bourbon in the store, but it is my favourite bourbon. I use it as a baseline for judging others. That bottle should bloom when you get past the shoulders. Hand warming is the way to have this one. Not a great bourbon, but an honest pour that never lets me down. Gotta love a good wheater.

@paddockjudge agreed, does not take me long to know when it will be a palate off night and not to pursue the spirit any more that night.

Tonight, enjoying a real treat thanks to @jordytropp. He gave me a sample from his bottle of Nikka Single Malt Yoichi (45% ABV). This is quality Whisky. Nose is citrus peel, salty, black liquorice, spices, sweet peat and a whiff of soot / smoke. Palette is nutty, spices, chocolate and peat with a silky, long, earthy, salty finish. Reminds me of what you would get if you combined a Speyside with a Campbeltown Whisky. Thanks again @jordytropp for the opportunity to try this very complex dram. I really enjoyed it!

Last night that my newly repatriated B-I-L is in town. I've introduced him to single malts (unpeated), Canadian whiskies, and tonight I gave him the option of peat or bourbon. he chose peat.

1. I cracked one of my 2 bottles of Bruichladdich 10 Yo 46% - It was OK. I wanted him to see what an unpeated but peat-infused whisky was. My Laddie classic was ok when I opened it and fantastic by the time I had my second last dram. I hope this will develop the same way.

2. Benromach 10 43%, one of my milder but good peat expressions

3. Bowmore Tempest batch 5 - one of his favourite of the night

4. Gordon and MacPhail 10 YO Caol Ila CS

5. Lagavulin 12 YO CS 2015 edition

6. Laphroaig 10 YO CS batch 5

7. Ardbeg Uigeadail

   I have to say that some of these drams, especially the Laphroaig, tasted really good tonight. I think my palate was ON, and having someone to drink with was also a plus.

@bwmccoy glad you enjoyed! I was surprised with how much I liked this one, and would love to try some older Yoichi in the future.

Tonight I joined a private tasting that included several great SMWS bottles that mainly focused on Speyside. Too many great whiskies to name a favorite, but I was able to knock a few new distilleries off my to do list -- Bladnock and Glendullan.

Glenfarclas #1.200, 15y 55.7% Bourbon Cask

Longmorn #7.116, 28y 58.5% Bourbon Cask

Dailuaine #41.6 30y 52.7% Bourbon Cask

Glenlosse $46.67 22y 54.2% Bourbon Cask

Bladnock #50.64 25y 54.4% Bourbon Cask

Glendullan #84.1 13y 56.6% Bourbon Cask

Bowmore #3.227 16y 56.4% Sherry Cask

@jordytropp - sounds like a great night / line up! While there were several you listed that piqued my interest, I’m most curious about your thoughts on the Bladnoch and the Bowmore.