So, what are you drinking now?

@OdysseusUnbound, it's not a mainstream cliché. It's authentic!

@MadSingleMalt Touché!

Onto Ardbeg 10 . . . which seems furiously peaty after that combo

Last night, High West American Prairie Bourbon batch # 18B14. 46% ABV.

Sipping a “mystery” dram from a friend...but he labeled the sample bottle with the ABV, and it’s a dead giveaway: 45.8%. That said, I couldn’t correctly identify the expression. But in my defense, I’d never had it before.

Tonight, a Bourbon Coffee Old Fashioned; 2oz Bourbon, 1/4 oz coffee liqueur, 1/4 brown sugar syrup and a dash of Angostura bitters.

The taste reminds me a little of a Manhattan, but the nose is unbelievable; Smells just like bacon!

After finishing my Talisker Dark Storm (the mystery dram), I’ve moved on to the new Bearface whisky. Reading the bottle, I’m glad to see they don’t hide the fact that they’re sourcing whisky from Canadian Mist (Collingwood) distillery. They don’t name it, but Canadian Mist is the only Canadian Distillery I know of on “the shores of Georgian Bay”. Well, the only legal distillery I know of.

Early impressions: the nose reminds me of Wayne Gretzky Red Cask, fruity with a strong corn whisky presence, some maple notes and just a tad solvent-ish (I always want to say nail polish remover). There’s also a distinct floral note on the nose, rose petals maybe. After a few minutes in the glass, there are some nice oak notes, and some icing sugar coming through. It’s darker than expected on the palate (amber maple syrup, dark brown sugar), and simultaneously, it’s quite floral. The oak shows up on the finish, which is medium length. I’m intrigued.

Also tonight, while watching an 18 inning World Series baseball game,

Girvan 31 year SMWS G7.10 (Lowland Grain) "The Texan tea party"

Followed by Laphroaig 10

I spent most of yesterday evening cooking with my kid, she wanted to learn a few recipes. Had a quick nightcap when I got home.

Westland peated single malt, from their standard range. I was able to pick up a 200ml bottle and I'm glad I did, it's got a little something Talisker like about it. More sampling is required

@cricklewood I made a Tiramisu with my daughter last night. She wanted to help - it's for a baby shower (not hers). Unfortunately there was no dram following that...

I haven't had or made tiramisu in ages, it's a good recipe to make with kids.

Last night while watching World Series, I nursed a Lot 40 (I know, it's east coast v. west coast, and I went with Canada)...in the 13th inning, I started nervously eating chocolate and switched to Old Potrero Straight Rye. After the loss in the 18th inning, I had a Guinness. After last night, who knows what I'll end up having for Game 4 tonight.

@archivist what loss in the 18th inning? It was a win.

@Nozinan a Dodgers fan?! You're a Dodgers fan?? Here I was just beginning to trust in your whiskey wisdom...Now I need another drink...like now... no, truly, that was one of the best, most chaotic games I've ever watched - very well played by the Dodgers, Buelher silenced our bats. So tonight, I really will need something stronger than Lot 40 or Old Potrero...

@Nozinan Stop cheering for the stupid Dodgers! Go Red Sox !!

@archivist @OdysseusUnbound

I am an EXPOS fan. In a pinch the BlueJays. I could not care less which team wins this year. That said we have a couple of ex-Jays on the Red Sox so I kinda hope they win.

On the other hand, I went to a game in LA once. It was hat day and I got one so...oh never mind.

@Nozinan Funny, I was an Expos fan. I became a Red Sox fan the same year the Expos left (2004). I started rooting for the Red Sox when they made their unprecedented comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in the playoffs. I’ve been a fan ever since...

I am auditioning some "neutral malts" in order to choose a sample to bring to one of my basketball friends, inaugurating a slow-motion whisky-tasting program. My friend has been bringing me his home brewed beers, meads, wines, etc. for several years.

I (re-)tried Bruichladdich Scottish Barley, Hazelburn 8 yo, and Stranahan's Malt, Batch # 106. I've settled on the Hazelburn to bring him tomorrow.

Now I am going to drink some Highland Park 15 yo. This one has become more expensive and harder to find, but it is a very good one.

@Nozinan Expos were great when they were great - it was a shame they left (or were ignored by the MLB, in my opinion)...I have hope MLB will get/approve a team for Montreal in the near future...there's world class sport in Montreal, and baseball should be one of those.

@archivist, @OdysseusUnbound, @Nozinan, I too am a fan of Les Expos, and not just the Bronfman (Seagram's) era.

@Victor, excellent choice on the Hazelburn. I recently purchased a bottle of the 10 YO and it is definitely neutral, in fact, I used it in the Wiser's Legacy blending exercise.

@Victor, excellent choice on the Hazelburn. I recently purchased a bottle of the 10 YO and it is definitely neutral, in fact, I used it in the Wiser's Legacy blending exercise.

@paddockjudge you can say that again!

Oh wait...you did.

Last night, several of my wife’s family was over. My mother-in-law and brother-in-law and I had the following;

Highland Park 13 year. Single Cask Nation bottling “Stones of Stenness” distilled in December 2004, was matured in a 2nd-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry hogshead. It was bottled at cask strength in January 2018 at 57.4% ABV. Cask #76

Followed by a peated Bunnahabhain 10 year SMWS 10.118 "Enthralling pink and peat intensity" finished in a port cask.

Finished with a Caol Ila 11 year SMWS 53.252 "Smoky incarnations" from an ex-bourbon hogshead.

Another night with my mother-in-law and brother-in-law,

Bladnoch 23 year SMWS 50.56 ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!’ from a refill ex-bourbon barrel.

Caol Ila 11 year SMWS 53.252 "Smoky incarnations" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.

Ardbeg 9 year SMWS 33.135 Distilled 05/2007 from a second-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt

Bunnahabhain 10 year SMWS 10.118 "Enthralling pink and peat intensity" finished in a port cask.

Highland Park 13 year (12/04) 2nd-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead Single Cask Nation Cask #76

@OdysseusUnbound Is it good? If so, it's either from a really good bottle of Tali 12, or a sample from the more consistent 18. I could be wrong. Storm can be as good as 10 but can be just bitter and weird...

@Jonathan It was from a bottle of Dark Storm, a travel retail exclusive I believe. It was good, but I prefer the 10 to the DS.

After a day working in the yard, and a promised treat of a dram (or two), we watched the World Series (yay Red Sox!) and celebrated their win with Dry Fly's Straight Triticale Whiskey (thanks for the tip, @bwmccoy and @Victor) -- never had a hybrid of the wheat and rye, and this a delicious dram -- has just enough spiciness, ginger-like but then mellows out with candied lemon peel with a tinge of melted butter... had one dram then it became two!

@archivist - glad you enjoyed it.

My brother in law, @nosebleed, arrived late last night for a week here with his family. With him came a small portion of the recent hail of amazing bottles.

I have a few special bottles I intend to open and share with him this week. Tonight we sipped on some Amrut single (Bourbon) cask 60%. Quite a nice treat to share with someone.