So, what are you drinking now?

Straight Edge Cabernet Sauvignon Finished bourbon 42%, Springbank 10 46%, Springbank 14 Bourbon Cask 55.8%, and Jura Prophecy 46%. @Maddie is over to visit @Dramlette and me. That Straight Edge is bottled in Napa, California, so the wine casks are fresh and unsulphured.

@Maddie, who is smoke averse, but not always peat averse, liked the Springbank 14 but was unimpressed by the Springbank 10. She also liked the Jura Prophecy "heavily peated", which has just gotten better and better over years of air exposure.

Pam and I went to a Laphroaig tasting at The Calendonian, including Select, Quarter Cask, Three Wood and Lore. I hadn't had the Select or Lore before; of the four, Select was my least favourite (still good cuz you know, Laphroaig) and Lore was my favourite (though at $200 a bottle, I won't be drinking it regularly). Lots of fun!

Went out for dinner right after work so no time to finish charting.

I was so impressed with that Bruichladdich 10 YO from 2 days ago I poured it again tonight and I don't regret it a bit.

Having Balvenie 12yo double wood for the first time. The nose is not as memorable as other speysiders. Very quaffable though. Honey, honey...honey. I'll do a review later of this bottle but honey pretty much sums it up so far.

@casualtorture Still a decent dram, but 10 or so years ago the sherry cask was much more of an influence. It seems a bit lighter to me now, and, like all Balvenies, it's got a bit pricey for what it is. Look forward to your full review.

@casualtorture Yes, I agree - Balvenie 12 is a bit one-note for me, it's honey all the way with a bit of nuttiness. I generally prefer older Balvenies...

Last night, together with my wife and another couple, I went to a NZ biodynamic winery tasting. Each of the eight different wines was served with a small organic food pairing. Beautiful hand crafted wines and a great story too. The owner, who was taking us through the wines, had emigrated from Scotland 14 years ago. Both of his grandfathers worked in whisky distilleries in Speyside. However, he fell in love with wine, so he and his wife sold the family farm to move to NZ and start a vineyard from scratch. Anyway, one thing I took away was just how much the wines changed when coupled with food. I'm interested to do more of this with whisky tastings.

@cricklewood - Sorry for not replying to your comment sooner. I actually hated Quantum of Solace when it first came out. After Casino Royale, my expectations were too high. I've watched Quantum a couple of times since and while it is still not my favorite, I have actually enjoyed it.

Last night, had a great time hanging out with @jordytropp and his lovely wife. We had a few drams before dinner and then finished the night with a couple more afterwards. A great night of great whisky with great friends. We didn't all have the same drams, but there was a lot of overlap. This is what I drank, in order;

The Arran Malt Single Cask (Bourbon Cask # 539). Distilled June 17th, 1996. Bottled September 11th, 2013. 51.1% ABV. The malt and bourbon influence really shine. Barley sugar and grain with a slightly sweet, vanilla and honey finish. Perfectly balanced.

The Macallan Classic Cut - I've had drams from this bottle a couple of times over the past few months and maybe it was my palette, but it tasted better than I remember it. It was much bigger and reminded me a lot of the old Cask Strength bottles. Obviously, not as good as the original Cask Strength, but pretty darn close. It may also be that exposure to air is favorable to this one. Great dram!

Next, a real treat. 25 year old Caol Ila, bottled in 2004 (59.4% ABV). This was extra special in that most older Islay's that I have tasted seem to lose some of the peat and smoke influence. Not this one. The peat and the smoke were front and center. Where I noticed the age was in the finish. It was so mellow. The finish was long, but much more mellow, dare I say "smooth", than younger Caol Ila's.

We followed that up with an 11 year Caol Ila from the Whisky Society bottled for Feis Ile 2018. SMWS 53.252 "Smoky incarnations" is more ashy than the 25 year. It is also quite subdued for 57.8% ABV. This one really opens with a little water and is what I would expect from a cask strength Caol Ila. This is one of the rare bottles that I prefer the whisky with water added.

Next up, had a small pour of a two cask blend of a Speyburn sherry cask and a Caol Ila ex-bourbon hogshead. The Caol Ila is the predominant flavor, but the sherry adds a sweet dimension that you don't normally see in a Caol Ila.

Last dram before dinner, Springbank 15. Never disappoints! Consistent quality. Enjoyable every time that I drink it.

After dinner, another treat, a 26 year Ben Nevis from Signatory bottlers. This was distilled in 1991 and aged in a sherry butt. Bottled at 57.3% ABV. The initial and mid-palette were very good and what I would expect from a sherried highlander, but there was something in the finish that we couldn't quite put our finger on that was a little off putting. Not sure if it was sulfur from the sherry cask or something else. Fortunately, it was only a minor influence to an otherwise lovely dram.

A 9 year Ardbeg from the Whisky Society (SMWS 33.135 -"Peat-reek and barbeque char") Distilled May 24th, 2007 and matured in a Second-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. This is very light in color, even for a second fill, but the sherry presence is there both on the nose and the palette; Syrup, lemon citrus, marzipan, orange peel and burnt sugar along with the smoke and peat.

Finished the night with Ardbeg Grooves. After the sherry influence from the previous Ardbeg, the red wine cask influence in Grooves came through much more than I remember when I've previously tasted this one. A really nice study in contrast.

A great way to spend a Tuesday night! Thanks again to @jordytropp and his wife for a wonderful evening!

@cricklewood - Sorry for not replying to your comment sooner. I actually hated Quantum of Solace when it first came out. After Casino Royale, my expectations were too high. I've watched Quantum a couple of times since and while it is still not my favorite, I have actually enjoyed it.

Last night, had a great time hanging out with @jordytropp and his lovely wife. We had a few drams before dinner and then finished the night with a couple more afterwards. A great night of great whisky with great friends. We didn't all have the same drams, but there was a lot of overlap. This is what I drank, in order;

The Arran Malt Single Cask (Bourbon Cask # 539). Distilled June 17th, 1996. Bottled September 11th, 2013. 51.1% ABV. The malt and bourbon influence really shine. Barley sugar and grain with a slightly sweet, vanilla and honey finish. Perfectly balanced.

The Macallan Classic Cut - I've had drams from this bottle a couple of times over the past few months and maybe it was my palette, but it tasted better than I remember it. It was much bigger and reminded me a lot of the old Cask Strength bottles. Obviously, not as good as the original Cask Strength, but pretty darn close. It may also be that exposure to air is favorable to this one. Great dram!

Next, a real treat. 25 year old Caol Ila, bottled in 2004 (59.4% ABV). This was extra special in that most older Islay's that I have tasted seem to lose some of the peat and smoke influence. Not this one. The peat and the smoke were front and center. Where I noticed the age was in the finish. It was so mellow. The finish was long, but much more mellow, dare I say "smooth", than younger Caol Ila's.

We followed that up an 11 year Caol Ila from the Whisky Society bottled for Feis Ile 2018. SMWS 53.252 "Smoky incarnations" is more ashy than the 25 year. It is also quite subdued for 57.8% ABV. This one really opens with a little water and is what I would expect from a cask strength Caol Ila. This is one of the rare times that I prefer the whisky with water added.

Next up, had a small pour of a two cask blend of a Speyburn sherry cask and a Caol Ila ex-bourbon hogshead. The Caol Ila is the predominant flavor, but the sherry adds a sweet dimension that you don't normally see in a Caol Ila.

Last dram before dinner, Springbank 15. Never disappoints! Consistent quality. I enjoy this one every time!

After dinner, another treat, a 26 year Ben Nevis from Signatory bottlers. This was distilled in 1991 and aged in a sherry butt. Bottled at 57.3% ABV. The initial and mid-palette were very good and what I would expect from a sherried highlander, but there was something in the finish that we couldn't quite put our finger on that was a little off putting. Not sure if it was sulfur from the sherry cask or something else. Fortunately, it was only a minor influence to an otherwise lovely dram.

A 9 year Ardbeg from the Whisky Society (SMWS 33.135 -"Peat-reek and barbeque char") Distilled May 24th, 2007 and matured in a Second-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. This is very light in color, even for a second fill, but the sherry presence is there both on the nose and the palette; Syrup, lemon citrus, marzipan, orange peel and burnt sugar along with the smoke and peat.

Finished the night with Ardbeg Grooves. After the sherry influence from the previous Ardbeg, the red wine cask influence in Grooves came through much more than I remember when I've previously tasted this one. A really nice study in contrast.

A great way to spend a Tuesday night! Thanks again to @jordytropp and his wife for a wonderful evening!

@cricklewood - Sorry for not replying to your comment sooner. I actually hated Quantum of Solace when it first came out. After Casino Royale, my expectations were too high. I've watched Quantum a couple of times since and while it is still not my favorite, I have actually enjoyed it.

Last night, had a great time hanging out with @jordytropp and his lovely wife. We had a few drams before dinner and then finished the night with a couple more afterwards. A great night of great whisky with great friends. We didn't all have the same drams, but there was a lot of overlap. This is what I drank, in order;

The Arran Malt Single Cask (Bourbon Cask # 539). Distilled June 17th, 1996. Bottled September 11th, 2013. 51.1% ABV. The malt and bourbon influence really shine. Barley sugar and grain with a slightly sweet, vanilla and honey finish. Perfectly balanced.

The Macallan Classic Cut - I've had drams from this bottle a couple of times over the past few months and maybe it was my palette, but it tasted better than I remember it. It was much bigger and reminded me a lot of the old Cask Strength bottles. Obviously, not as good as the original Cask Strength, but pretty darn close. It may also be that exposure to air is favorable to this one. Great dram!

Next, a real treat. 25 year old Caol Ila, bottled in 2004 (59.4% ABV). This was extra special in that most older Islay's that I have tasted seem to lose some of the peat and smoke influence. Not this one. The peat and the smoke were front and center. Where I noticed the age was in the finish. It was so mellow. The finish was long, but much more mellow, dare I say "smooth", than younger Caol Ila's.

We followed that up an 11 year Caol Ila from the Whisky Society bottled for Feis Ile 2018. SMWS 53.252 "Smoky incarnations" is more ashy than the 25 year. It is also quite subdued for 57.8% ABV. This one really opens with a little water and is what I would expect from a cask strength Caol Ila. This is one of the rare times that I prefer the whisky with water added.

Next up, had a small pour of a two cask blend of a Speyburn sherry cask and a Caol Ila ex-bourbon hogshead. The Caol Ila is the predominant flavor, but the sherry adds a sweet dimension that you don't normally see in a Caol Ila.

Last dram before dinner, Springbank 15. Never disappoints! Consistent quality. I enjoy this one every time!

After dinner, another treat, a 26 year Ben Nevis from Signatory bottlers. This was distilled in 1991 and aged in a sherry butt. Bottled at 57.3% ABV. The initial and mid-palette were very good and what I would expect from a sherried highlander, but there was something in the finish that we couldn't quite put our finger on that was a little off putting. Not sure if it was sulfur from the sherry cask or something else. Fortunately, it was only a minor influence to an otherwise lovely dram.

A 9 year Ardbeg from the Whisky Society (SMWS 33.135 -"Peat-reek and barbeque char") Distilled May 24th, 2007 and matured in a Second-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. This is very light in color, even for a second fill, but the sherry presence is there both on the nose and the palette; Syrup, lemon citrus, marzipan, orange peel and burnt sugar along with the smoke and peat.

Finished the night with Ardbeg Grooves. After the sherry influence from the previous Ardbeg, the red wine cask influence in Grooves came through much more than I remember when I've previously tasted this one. A really nice study in contrast.

A great way to spend a Tuesday night! Thanks again to @jordytropp and his wife for a wonderful evening!

@cricklewood - Sorry for not replying to your comment sooner. I actually hated Quantum of Solace when it first came out. After Casino Royale, my expectations were too high. I've watched Quantum a couple of times since and while it is still not my favorite, I have actually enjoyed it.

Last night, had a great time hanging out with @jordytropp and his lovely wife. We had a few drams before dinner and then finished the night with a couple more afterwards. A great night of great whisky with great friends. We didn't all have the same drams, but there was a lot of overlap. This is what I drank, in order;

The Arran Malt Single Cask (Bourbon Cask # 539). Distilled June 17th, 1996. Bottled September 11th, 2013. 51.1% ABV. The malt and bourbon influence really shine. Barley sugar and grain with a slightly sweet, vanilla and honey finish. Perfectly balanced.

The Macallan Classic Cut - I've had drams from this bottle a couple of times over the past few months and maybe it was my palette, but it tasted better than I remember it. It was much bigger and reminded me a lot of the old Cask Strength bottles. Obviously, not as good as the original Cask Strength, but pretty darn close. It may also be that exposure to air is favorable to this one. Great dram!

Next, a real treat. 25 year old Caol Ila, bottled in 2004 (59.4% ABV). This was extra special in that most older Islay's that I have tasted seem to lose some of the peat and smoke influence. Not this one. The peat and the smoke were front and center. Where I noticed the age was in the finish. It was so mellow. The finish was long, but much more mellow, dare I say "smooth", than younger Caol Ila's.

We followed that up an 11 year Caol Ila from the Whisky Society bottled for Feis Ile 2018. SMWS 53.252 "Smoky incarnations" is more ashy than the 25 year. It is also quite subdued for 57.8% ABV. This one really opens with a little water and is what I would expect from a cask strength Caol Ila. This is one of the rare times that I prefer the whisky with water added.

Next up, had a small pour of a two cask blend of a Speyburn sherry cask and a Caol Ila ex-bourbon hogshead. The Caol Ila is the predominant flavor, but the sherry adds a sweet dimension that you don't normally see in a Caol Ila.

Last dram before dinner, Springbank 15. Never disappoints! Consistent quality. I enjoy this one every time!

After dinner, another treat, a 26 year Ben Nevis from Signatory bottlers. This was distilled in 1991 and aged in a sherry butt. Bottled at 57.3% ABV. The initial and mid-palette were very good and what I would expect from a sherried highlander, but there was something in the finish that we couldn't quite put our finger on that was a little off putting. Not sure if it was sulfur from the sherry cask or something else. Fortunately, it was only a minor influence to an otherwise lovely dram.

A 9 year Ardbeg from the Whisky Society (SMWS 33.135 -"Peat-reek and barbeque char") Distilled May 24th, 2007 and matured in a Second-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. This is very light in color, even for a second fill, but the sherry presence is there both on the nose and the palette; Syrup, lemon citrus, marzipan, orange peel and burnt sugar along with the smoke and peat.

Finished the night with Ardbeg Grooves. After the sherry influence from the previous Ardbeg, the red wine cask influence in Grooves came through much more than I remember when I've previously tasted this one. A really nice study in contrast.

A great way to spend a Tuesday night! Thanks again to @jordytropp and his wife for a wonderful evening!

@cricklewood - Sorry for not replying to your comment sooner. I actually hated Quantum of Solace when it first came out. After Casino Royale, my expectations were too high. I've watched Quantum a couple of times since and while it is still not my favorite, I have actually enjoyed it.

Last night, had a great time hanging out with @jordytropp and his lovely wife. We had a few drams before dinner and then finished the night with a couple more afterwards. A great night of great whisky with great friends. We didn't all have the same drams, but there was a lot of overlap. This is what I drank, in order;

The Arran Malt Single Cask (Bourbon Cask # 539). Distilled June 17th, 1996. Bottled September 11th, 2013. 51.1% ABV. The malt and bourbon influence really shine. Barley sugar and grain with a slightly sweet, vanilla and honey finish. Perfectly balanced.

The Macallan Classic Cut - I've had drams from this bottle a couple of times over the past few months and maybe it was my palette, but it tasted better than I remember it. It was much bigger and reminded me a lot of the old Cask Strength bottles. Obviously, not as good as the original Cask Strength, but pretty darn close. It may also be that exposure to air is favorable to this one. Great dram!

Next, a real treat. 25 year old Caol Ila, bottled in 2004 (59.4% ABV). This was extra special in that most older Islay's that I have tasted seem to lose some of the peat and smoke influence. Not this one. The peat and the smoke were front and center. Where I noticed the age was in the finish. It was so mellow. The finish was long, but much more mellow, dare I say "smooth", than younger Caol Ila's.

We followed that up an 11 year Caol Ila from the Whisky Society bottled for Feis Ile 2018. SMWS 53.252 "Smoky incarnations" is more ashy than the 25 year. It is also quite subdued for 57.8% ABV. This one really opens with a little water and is what I would expect from a cask strength Caol Ila. This is one of the rare times that I prefer the whisky with water added.

Next up, had a small pour of a two cask blend of a Speyburn sherry cask and a Caol Ila ex-bourbon hogshead. The Caol Ila is the predominant flavor, but the sherry adds a sweet dimension that you don't normally see in a Caol Ila.

Last dram before dinner, Springbank 15. Never disappoints! Consistent quality. I enjoy this one every time!

After dinner, another treat, a 26 year Ben Nevis from Signatory bottlers. This was distilled in 1991 and aged in a sherry butt. Bottled at 57.3% ABV. The initial and mid-palette were very good and what I would expect from a sherried highlander, but there was something in the finish that we couldn't quite put our finger on that was a little off putting. Not sure if it was sulfur from the sherry cask or something else. Fortunately, it was only a minor influence to an otherwise lovely dram.

A 9 year Ardbeg from the Whisky Society (SMWS 33.135 -"Peat-reek and barbeque char") Distilled May 24th, 2007 and matured in a Second-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. This is very light in color, even for a second fill, but the sherry presence is there both on the nose and the palette; Syrup, lemon citrus, marzipan, orange peel and burnt sugar along with the smoke and peat.

Finished the night with Ardbeg Grooves. After the sherry influence from the previous Ardbeg, the red wine cask influence in Grooves came through much more than I remember when I've previously tasted this one. A really nice study in contrast.

A great way to spend a Tuesday night! Thanks again to @jordytropp and his wife for a wonderful evening!

@bwmccoy You can say that again!

@bwmccoy , I didn't know you hated thrice no worries. I know my choice isn't the concensus, one thing we can agree on is your tasting line-up was quite impressive. Your posts always make me want to join the SMWS

@casualtorture thanks for brightening the board with cute baby pictures, she looks adorable!

All, I apologize for the multiple posts. I didn't know that it posted at all. I kept getting an error message that stated that there was a problem with my post, so I assumed that it hadn't posted it and I obviously tried to post it again, several times. Again, sorry for the multiple posts!

@bwmccoy, a very long post will frequently get you a Connosr error message. Usually the message HAS posted. If you get that error message, the best thing to do is to check to see if the post went through. I can't remember a time when my post did NOT go through when I got that error message.

I opened my Glenfarclas 105 today. I’m sipping some as I prepare dinner. I won’t comment on it too much since it’s my first ever taste of this whisky, and someone will be getting a sample from this bottle in the next month or so. All I can say so far is that it definitely feels like a 60% ABV whisky, which isn’t always the case with Cask Strength offerings.

I got home from work and glanced at the new posts from today, It took about three hours to get through all of the @bwmccoy posts. I'm a bit parched now. Looking at a tall pour of Newcastle Brown and a solid shot of Laphroaig Lore... hump day!

@Victor - thanks! I just didn’t want to have to type all of that again, so I panicked. I will try to never make that mistake again!

Hopefully, I won’t post this one 5 times...

Tonight, a newly opened bottle that I’ve had sitting around for a few years. A 23 year Bladnoch (SMWS 50.56 - “Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!”) from a refill ex-bourbon barrel. Distilled July 10th, 1990. Only 104 bottles. Initially, the nose is liquid candy shop. After sitting in the glass, the nose develops a cereal, biscuit undertone. The palette is Navy rum, licorice, Turkish delight. This is a complex dram, especially for a lowland. Oh so good!

Tonight my BIL and his family are here, passing through from Calgary on the way to a new life in New Brunswick. My BIL and I sat down after he had repacked the car and trailer and I introduced him to three more premium (in my opinion) drams:

1. G&M 13 YO Mortlach CS COOP exclusive

2. Bladnoch 10 YO Sherry Butt 284 bottled at 55%

3. Talisker 57 N

We both noticed that the longer the pours were left to air the more they opened up. Three small pours, three big flavours.

Bonus session! My BIL was to leave Thursday am but the departure has been postponed. Tonight we did an immersion course in bourbon. We started with OGD BiB, followed by OGD 114. Ideally I would have continued on to Booker's then Old Scout then Stagg Jr then ECBP Hazmat, but we only had capacity for one more small pour and we went with the Hazmat.

If there's time tomorrow I will try to introduce him to some Weller (OWA 107).

Friday night supper at our place. Everyone left the dram up to me. In anticipation of my wife's legendary fried chicken.... Bruichladdich 10 YO 46% edition. This is really growing on me.

I know this thread might demand little interest these days, but I thought I would post anyway. I am currently drinking (as I type this post) a dram of 15yo Glenfarclas, which I picked up while I was in Tokyo. Because I was worried about the weight of my luggage, and already having purchased a few other bottles of other whiskeys, I decided to get the 200ml. I am sure I will get a larger bottle, when and if I get a chance to get one.

乾杯！

@Nozinan Wow, I totally missed your last post on this thread. The Laddie Ten, 46% ABV, is definitely one of my favorite drams. I tried the Laddie Ten Second Edition, and although it said unpeated, I got a hint of peat. Maybe my imagination, I am not sure, but in the end I decided against buying it.

@ajjarrett I am beginning to wonder if the Laddie 10 46% is very similar to the Laddie Classic. When I opened the Classic, I was unimpressed. Same with the 10 about a year later when my B-I-L opened his (mine stayed closed for that reason). A year (or several) later my niece asked to try my Classic and liked it, prompting me to take another look, and it was great. Was it me or time, or both?

I now think maybe my palate has matured and can appreciate Bruichladdich, at least the original renewal spirit from which both the Laddie Classic and the original 10 problably came.

I initially planned to find a new home for one of both of my bottles, but now they will both be staying with me (at least until empty).

The Famous Grouse 12 yo blended Scotch, Greenore 8 yo Irish Grain Whisky from the Cooley Distillery, and Gooderham & Worts 4 Grain, from Hiram Walker's Corby Distillery in Canada.

The Grouse 12 has improved with long air exposure. I had liked my first taste of it very much, so I bought a bottle 5 1/2 years ago. I was disappointed with my purchased bottle for a long time, maybe 3 years, but I like it now quite a lot.

Interestingly, the Greenore 8 tastes somewhat like the Gooderham & Worts 4 Grain. I wasn't much impressed by the Greenore 8 when I bought it 6 years ago. It is a little better now, but I would still prefer to drink the Gooderham & Worts 4 Grain.

@Victor Yeah, I was never a fan of the Greenore 8 Year Old. I had heard older expressions are very good but never had the opportunity to try them, I don't think.

@Victor Thanks for posting Victor because I have never heard of Greenore. And yes, I just crawled out from under a rock recently. HA!

@Nozinan I took to the Laddie Ten as soon as I took my first sip. It was complex, and cutting through the 'sea side/sea spray' to get to the complexity was a nice adventure. I haven't had the Laddie Classic yet, so I guess I better pick up a bottle, so I can compare.