So, what are you drinking now?

@bwmccoy the Bladnock was awesome -- I didn't jot down my tasting notes, but I couldn't forget the title given if I tried..."Magic Balloons in a Eucalyptus Forest". I remember it as sweet, rich, spicy, citrus and herbal in a way that flaunted the age.

The Bowmore was also solid -- but compared to the sherry cask Laphroaig #29.226 Seaside Surprise, expect more pure soot, smoke and rock salt. The Sherry is certainly there too but it combines with the smoke in a different way. Great stuff, but not as malt driven and elegant as I was hoping for.

@jordytropp - thanks for your comments. I asked about the Bowmore since it was the only sherry cask in the list. I asked about the Bladnoch because I have an unopened bottle that I purchased 3+ years ago. (23 year SMWS 50.56 ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!’) I’m just looking for the right time to open it. :-)

@Nozinan, "peat-infused"?

@bwmccoy that is awesome. I hope I'm around when you crack open that Bladnoch!

@MadSingleMalt Yes, while the Bruichladdich line is supposed to be unpeated, it is imbued, infused, impregnated with an essence of peat.

I noticed the same thing with the "unpeated 17 YO CS caol ila.

@Nozinan Especially on the nose of that Caol Ila. An excellent whisky, btw.

I’m currently sipping a generous pour of Glendronach 12. My wife’s grandfather has many bottles of the stuff and has left a 7/8ths full bottle at my place. I will have to note the batch number, as this one is terrific. More Christmas cake and less red licorice (cherry Nibs) than I usually notice. Also a faint hint of smoke (Barrel char?). Lovely.

@OdysseusUnbound, my guess is 2013 or earlier, possibly early 2014. Glendronach did not produce from 1996 to 2001; however, there was aging stock available. Your Glendronach 12 YO might actually be 18 years young.

Upon the advice of my Canadian Whisky mentor, I added 2 parts Wiser's Seasoned Oak to 1 part Lot 40 CS (2017 edition).

Yum.

Teeling Single Grain The last of the Teeling Sampling Pack: Colour: Gold straw, no legs Nose: creamed corn, floral white wine, sweetness with mild spice Taste Neat: tongue coating with explosion of white pepper, spice, hot. Flavours of apricot and red berries - raspberry, ginger, artificial sweeter - Sugar Twin. With H2O: duller and more artificial sweetener. Finish: short drying sweetness. Comment: simple would go well with a Ginger Ale or Diet Coke. @Nozinan this is a "good version of Lambertus" or "what Lambertus should have been".

Last night I capped off the evening with a generous pour of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old. My wife’s cousin lives down the street and her husband is a blended scotch enthusiast, and he brought it over. I was shocked at how much I liked it. It’s sadly only 40% ABV, but it’s still very flavourful. Creamy, buttery, with some nice fruity notes (apricots and oranges maybe). I’ve always found the Chivas 12 to be mediocre at best, sometimes too spirity and rough, but I would definitely consider purchasing a bottle of the 18. Colour me surprised!

@OdysseusUnbound Funny, I never liked the 18 much - I prefer the 12! Ultis is very good if you ever get a chance to try it. I used to have an old '80s bottling of Royal Salute 21 that was to die for. It was unbelievable.

@talexander Maybe I’ve just never encountered a good batch of the 12. The last one I tried was so spirity and bitter that I questioned the veracity of the 12 year age statement. Ultis is listed at £168, which is about $285 CAD, and who knows what the LCBO would demand for it? That’s the “asking for a divorce” price bracket right there. But I’ll keep an eye out for it on restaurant/bar menus.

@OdysseusUnbound Yes, one always has to factor in "the wife" variable. I have the opposite problem - a girlfriend who loves whisky, so that comes with its own challenges!

Oh yeah, that Caol Ila—the famously pregnant teenager.

Pineau des Charentes. Not today, but this is a Tale from two weeks ago at Tales of the Cocktail. At one available-to-all 'tasting room' among dozens over 6 days, we sampled neat 9 Pineaux des Charentes at progressively increased age statements. Pineau des Charentes is a French fortified wine, aka "vin de liqueur", aperitif. The ones we had consisted of 3 parts grape juice and 1 part 60% ABV Cognac brandy. Did I like Pineau des Charentes? Yes, especially the older ones. In addition to the 9 neat samples, they made up 3 very tasty cocktails using various of the Pineaux des Charentes featured. Was this a special class? No. Everyone who was a fully paid Tales participant could walk up and try these out, among the many opportunities for beverage tasting. 12 beverage tastes in a single tasting room.

@jordytropp - Even if you're not around when the bottle is opened, I will make sure you get a dram or two or three... :-)

Last night, Glenlivet 10 year SMWS 2.108 "The King o' Malts'" from a refill ex-sherry butt (60.9% ABV). This is unlike any other Glenlivet that I have ever tasted, in a good way. A complex nose (fruity; pears, dried orange peel, dry sherry, dusty). Oily mouthfeel. Palette is sweet and spicy with a fragrant finish.

Kilchoman, Loch Gorm 2017---the sherry influence is heavier than the peat-- but just wonderful. A real treat: close to or over over 90 in my book (for what whatever my book,no bible, is worth).

Tonight, Dry Fly (Spokane, WA) Triticale Straight Whiskey Port Barrel Finish Aged 4 years - 45% ABV - Bottle #70 of 250

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer. It is the beginning of a long weekend and a well deserved one, if I say so myself.

Kicking it off with Booker's 2015-01, Talisker 18 YO, and a tall frosty Grolsch.

@paddockjudge You seem to have an endless supply of that 2015-01

Hiram Walker Special Old. I bought it as a mixer for my mother-in-law, but I couldn’t resist trying it. Surprisingly complex for a “bottom shelfer”. No bitter, off-putting, spirity, vodka-esque notes to be found.

Having a dram of Macallan 12 sherry oak. Had it on sale for $54usd today and couldn't resist. Macallan gets a bad rap sometimes for being overpriced and just buying a name, but this is good stuff. Going to have a dram of this and a healthy dram of Maker's Mark to end the evening.

Started with a Tyrconnell 16, moved on to a Redbreast 21 and finishing the night with an Amrut Intermediate Sherry.

@Astroke I can't find that AIS anywhere. I found Fusion and Peated Cask Strength but I really want that sherried one.

@casualtorture I found 3 in Nova Scotia and now am down to 1 unopened bottle and 1/4 full bottle. Not as much as a Sherry bomb as you may think. I love the stuff but doubtful I can replace these down the road.

@Astroke @Astroke

Calgary had IS last time I checked a few stores.

Peated CS is fantastic. In fact I've never tried an Amrut that wasn't good to excellent.

Longmorn 24 year SMWS 7.198 (May '93) "Sweet summer berries" from an ex-bourbon refill hogshead. Beautiful Whisky!

@casualtorture, are there any changes to your bottle of Maker's Mark? That was a nice pickup, less than $30 for a litre.

Maker's 46 is a step up with the French Oak finish and MM Private Selection at Cask Strength plus Barrel stave finish is an exciting wheater.

@OdysseusUnbound Like Seagram's VO and Schenley Golden Wedding, it's surprisingly not terrible for a bottom-shelf Canadian.

@talexander The nose was especially pleasant. The palate was a bit flat, but the short finish was nice. Really surprising for a bottom-shelfer.