So, what are you drinking now?

Last night I got further acquainted with Longrow peated - liking this. A more earthy smoke (which reminds me of Ardmore more than Islay as well @Hewie ) but a salty, coastal note is there with it. Sweet, lemony, creamy barley sugar, good mouthfeel and extremely easy to drink. Water isn't its friend though.

Also been dipping into the Blair Athol 12 (F&F) - liking this one too. Very fruity with a leathery, dusty note to it. A decent, easy going sherried malt with a dry finish.

Had some Port Askaig 100 proof as well - gets better and better. Think I scored it 87 but I'd be bumping that up a point or two if I reviewed it now. It was a bit hot to start with but it can be drunk neat now very enjoyably; more leathery, tobacco notes are emerging with time.

@RianC that Port Askaig 100 proof sounds tempting. I've always been intrigued by it, but without ever having the opportunity to try it, I'm reluctant to buy it. There are a number of other high proof bottles which I'd rather spend the same amount of money on. So much whisky to try, so little time, so little money, sigh.

@Benancio, it is always nice to see a post from you. Wiser's Legacy during an Epic Tasting in New Mexico! I'm pleased to learn after two years, give or take a month, the blending exercise to recreate Legacy has held up to time. Are you thinking of whipping up another batch? You might possibly have all of the ingredients on the shelf. I know @Victor is a big fan of this always fun and sometimes educational endeavour.

Highwood Ninety 20 YO and Lot No 40 in the ratio of 2:1 with a drop or two (per ounce) of Deanston Virgin Oak.

For anyone further interested, discussion around Legacy has taken place in the comment section of some reviews. These immediately come to mind.

connosr.com/wisers-legacy-whisky-review-93…

connosr.com/wisers-legacy-whisky-review-94…

@paddockjudge, I believe I do have all the ingredients to make another batch, thx to your generosity.

Peggy and the boys are taking me golfing for my birthday today, I’ll bring what’s left in a flask to share, thx!

@Victor, We spent a weekend golfing at Angle Fire resort, 20 minuets north of Toas, had a dram and thought of you guys. If you haven’t been to Angle Fire or Eagles Nest it’s a must on your next trip to New Mexico.

@paddockjudge Now that Wiser's Legacy is discontinued, your skills will be needed more than ever...

@Benancio, it is wonderful to see you back here posting on Connosr!

Sure, we've taken most of that "Ring of Fire" drive in the past. That countryside in Northern New Mexico is magical and stunning. One day I'll get @Dramlette out there to meet you and Peggy. I've been thinking about it for years.

A flight of Cask Strength NAS Speyside Sherry Bombs. I've wanted to do this tasting trio for some time and tonight is the night.

Glenfarclas 105, 60% abv.

Aberlour A'Bunadh 60.9% abv. (batch 59)

Macallan Cask Strength 60.1% abv.

...Aberlour attracted the most fruit flies, three of those pesky critters in that glass at one time.

@paddockjudge any other thoughts, other than which is the most effective bait for fruit flies?

@Hewie, a quick synopsis of this flight:

Glenfarclas 105 is indeed pedestrian when compared to the pair of high flyers Aberlour A'Bunadh and Macallan Cask Strength.

105 has a noticeable amount of sulfur. The sulfur is not offensive, but it is distracting. A big chewy pour of wine cask whisky.

A'Bunadh has an incredibly delicious character to it, one note in particular that is almost bourbon-like, similar to the sweet high notes found in Elmer T Lee. This may be derived from ex-bourbon (Buffalo Trace/Sazerac perhaps?) cooperage, I don't know, but it is definitely a characteristic not present in 105 or Mac CS. There is also a faint sulfur note, not as prominent as 105, but detectable, especially when tasted beside the clean Mac CS.

Mac CS is the high flier of the group, it soars above the other two and should be in another flight with other clean, untainted sherry offerings like the Balvenie Tun releases or a clean Glendronach single cask. This NAS sherry bomb has been called one dimensional, but Mac CS offers so much for what was at one time considered a value-priced single malt. I could get lost in a glass of this ncf, natural colour, cask strength beauty. Ripe dark fruits, spices, toffee, vanilla, clean oak, all of these flow effortlessly from the glass to the senses and continue after the glass is empty.

Much to my surprise, a combination of A'Bunadh and Mac CS created an interesting experience with the A'Bunadh adding a sweet toffee accent to the Mac CS; this was extremely enjoyable and something I will visit again.

I can't resist going back to the fruit flies. A'Bunadh attracted and detained three in the blink of an eye. Apples are falling to the ground at this time of year and there is an increasing presence of fruit flies which will last until the daily temperatures drop into the minus double digit Celsius range, probably in December. Glenfarclas and Mac CS captured none, not even the 10 ml of Glenfarclas 105 left sitting overnight, uncovered. I couldn't finish the 105, it was much less desirable than A'Bunadh and Mac CS.

@paddockjudge Is that the 105 with a 10 year age statement? I've always wondered how the NAS and 10 compared.

The other 2 of course are NAS.

@Nozinan, you have caught me in a lie. Upon further examination, this particular bottle of Glenfarclas 105 is actually a 10 YO, not NAS as previously stated by me. Current releases no longer have an age statement.

@paddockjudge I did not catch you in a lie. I completely missed (or didn't register) where you said they were all NAS...

I was jusy asking out of curiousity.

@paddockjudge What batch of A’Bunadh was that?

@paddockjudge thanks for your synopsis - informative and enjoyable at the same time. TBH I've never tried the Macallan CS. I love when you commented "I could get lost in a glass of this" - surely that is one of the most enjoyable moments in whisky drinking (the other being sharing with good friends). Thanks for your thoughts. Of course fruit flies (Drosophila) are attracted to ethanol, but as all three drams were withing a few points of a percent ABV that doesn't explain their preference for the Aberlour. They obviously must have different tastes to you!

@paddockjudge Sorry, I see it was 59. I can’t seem to get rid of my earlier comment.

@Hewie, back to the fruit flies...Elmer T Lee Straight Bourbon also attracted many fruit flies and it is 45% abv. They have good taste in whisky.

EC Barrel Proof: BIG BOLD, FLAVOURFUL, with a FLIRTY finish. Almost not harshness and rough edges A very REFINED MASCULINE Bourbon, I won't be picking a bar fight with this one.

@fiddich1980 ECBP is one of the most powerful flavour concentrated whiskies I've tasted. The 70.1 % Hazmat I have open will last a decade because I can only take a little at a time.

@Nozinan If I were to pair ECBP with a song. It would be Pete Townshend's "A Little Is Enough", from the Empty Glass album.

@Nozinan Someone should actually call a whisky "Hazmat".

Springbank 10 OB and 14 Bourbon Cask, the two bottles we just bought. Both are enjoyable. There is quite a difference between 46% ABV and 55.8% ABV!

SO my new phone is working, and I spent a couple of hours struggling with my pager email, with no help from my wireless provider. My brother figured out why - it's a push notification issue. Anyway I ditched that email account for another one that does offer push, and at 1030 pm the hospital switchboard was willing to switch it over and send a test page. With many thanks... And it worked. And one of my other email accounts is now working, thanks to my brother.

So now I know that at least I will be "functional" on Monday. I'm sitting in my basement using my phone as a hot spot to ensure I can do this while working, and I still have to test out a few things to be sure they are working tomorrow.

So I poured a small measure of Bruichladdich 10 YO (46%) . The nose is incredible (of course I haven't smelled scotch in over 2 weeks). Nice on the palate tonight. I have hopes that this one could be a good "consolation prize" for not having the Laddie Classic available anymore. Of course, this one's a historical figure too...

My wife photobombed my picture for this thread. Oh well, she's prettier than the whiskey (and that's saying a lot in this case, beautiful bottle). JDSBBP that will soon need replacing.

@casualtorture Belated congratulations to the new parents. I hope the your daughter is doing well.

@casualtorture Hope she doesn't read your posts....

I wish I HAD a bottle that needed replacing

@fiddich1980 daughter is doing very well thank you! Plump little half Asian baby that I affectionately call "little Buddha" much to my wife's dislike. The gentleman holding her here is my great grandfather, so her great, great grandfather. 5 generations. He is an Eastern Front WW2 veteran. Very proud of him.

@Nozinan I made her a profile on here because she does enjoy scotch but she never logs on so I doubt she'll ever see it hehe

Roll Tide

@casualtorture That looks like one happy little girl and one happy grandad. I hope she inherits a peaceful, hate-free world.

@casualtorture what a gorgeous wee girl, and so special for your Great Grandfather to be able to spend time with her - that is a very rare thing. Congratulations.

@casualtorture WOW .... Priceless

Thanks for sharing.