So, what are you drinking now?

@OdysseusUnbound I think it (as well as Dewars) is owned by Bacardi. Didn't you know it is one of the Last Great Malts of Scotland. Forget Uigeadail...

Wait, I stand corrected here. My mistake. Bacardi now owns Craigellachie, through its subsidiary Dewars and Sons. I take back the bad-mouthing of Diageo (in this instance). The owner is Bacardi.

Georgie Bell worked at Diageo up to September 2016 at which time she left Diageo and joined Bacardi. She made much of her reputation representing Mortlach for Diageo.

@Victor, One of my favourite words is "interesting" along with a few more that I use when trying to play my hand close to the vest, such as, "that's nice."

bing.com/videos/search/…

Diageo? Bacardi? Both big impersonal multi-national liquor consortia. I remembered the brand rep's recent Diageo resume more clearly than the fact that she was now working for Bacardi.

@Victor @cricklewood @OdysseusUnbound another good example of an attribute which some find abhorrent and others find endearing. I'm sure you're aware that Craigellachie pride themselves on their worm tubs. Here is a nice little article explaining simply how and why they produce a characteristic meatiness compared to typical condensers. scotchwhisky.com/magazine/…

@Hewie Very interesting article. Thanks for the share.

Last night, I had a dram of 5 year Westland SMWS 133.1 "Speakeasy sneaky peeky" from a Virgin oak barrel, heavy char and a dram of 6 year Caol Ila SMWS 53.241 "Dense smoke over a tarry deck" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead. Haven't decided what's in store for tonight yet...

Michter's Toasted Barrel Barrel Proof Rye, incredibly sweet and rich. Could only handle 1 pour of this one every other week.

@bwmccoy - How was the virgin oak? I'm always a little wary of malts (I'm assuming it's malt?) done in virgin oak, at least where it's been made a feature. I'd doubt the SMWS would be bottling anything resembling a plank though . . .

The Caol Ila sounds lovely!

10 year Glen Ord (SMWS 77.47) "Delicatessens and old libraries" finished in a second-fill fine grain French oak hogshead after maturing in a ex-bourbon hogshead.

The nose; dried flowers, russet apples, apricot Danish and barley sugars; bandy-soaked Christmas cake, orange muscat and sweet ginger. The palate; spicy warmth with woody weight behind it – honeyed figs, crystallised ginger.

With water, the nose; straw, strawberries, cinder toffee, fig rolls, treacle tart. The palate; plump sultanas, marzipan, brandy snaps and rum-soaked raisins.

Talisker 57 North: Fresh nose, dull palate, intriguing tingly finish! Last glass. 84/100.

Famous Grouse 12: Dark and sweet in a bad way. Thin. Finish is "whisky." 65/100. Thanks(?) to a friend for the sample.

@RianC - I know what you mean and yes, it is malt. I was a little concerned that it would be too woody, but I was able to try it before I bought it. It is actually quite balanced. Fruity nose with cigar box notes. The palate is tea-cake. Sweet with lots of spice, liquorice, nutmeg and clove.

That particular Caol Ila’s is one of my favorites to date out of the 12 Society Caol Ila’s that I’ve owned over the years. It is salty and briny. It reminds me a little of a Springbank.

Mixed some Laga 16 with Blair Athol 12 (F&F) 1:2. I wanted to see if I could add some more peat to the BA and thought the sweet sherry nature of both would marry well. Result - it worked quite promisingly, actually. More of a liquorice sweetness and smokey backdrop with that leather armchair thing. Finish was very dry! An improvement on the BA , I'd say, but would prefer the Laga neat.

Did the second part of my H2H tasting of Highland Park 12. This time I added water. Dilution made some of the differences a bit more noticeable, but I have to say that they are well within what one might call standard batch/bottle variation. The flavours are incredibly similar, and the differences are subtle. That said, I don't have the deductive tasting powers of an all-star like @Nozinan . The pre-Viking 12 has a bit more peat and brine, especially with about 1 tsp of water added. Of course, my HP 12 Viking blah blah has only been open a few days, so that's another variation. As much as I like to poke fun at Edrington's marketing choices, these are both good whiskies. Not life-changing experiences, but satisfying and complex enough to re-purchase on a fairly regular basis.

No whisky tonight. My wife and I had a date night and went to our favorite, local Mexican restaurant where we had a flight of 3 extra anejo tequilas (all 40% ABV);

Avion Reserva 44 - very subtle nose and palette, but beautiful.

Cava De Oro - Sweet, but not overly so. Molasses, almost sherry whisky like. My favorite.

Dos Artes Reserva Especias - had a new car, office building industrial nose. Palette was similar. Not bad, but interesting... Least favorite of the three.

After we got home, having a small pour of Mezcal Artesanal Mezcalosfera that @Victor sent me home with when I visitied him and @dramlette in late September. Thanks @Victor!

@OdysseusUnbound - Nice comparison. I had one of the newer bottles late last year and currently have my last of the old bottle style open. No H2H here but going off notes and memory I think I'd agree about both being similar.

I find the older style a little richer and, yes, denser on the peat notes. It's also darker in colour suggesting more/fresher sherry casks. The pineapple note I always get is there in both but I must admit the older bottle is a tad more 'nippy'. Maybe a point on the older style but not a lot in it.

Do you Canucks get the 12 at 43 or 40%?

@bwmccoy - Love that Dos Artes bottle!

@bwmccoy, the restaurant to which you went must have an excellent tequila menu. That's an impressive list to have multiple extra-anejo tequilas available.

@RianC They’re both 43%

@OdysseusUnbound - Good stuff I reckon the extra 3% could do a lot to that malt . .

@Victor - they claim to have the best Tequila selection in the Pacific Northwest. I don’t know if that is true or not, but they do have over 150. (They have 8 different flights, including the one that we had.) They have over 40 Blancos, 50 Respados, 40 Anejos, 25 Extra Anjeos and 15 Mezcals. They also had a couple terms on their tequila menu that I am not familiar with; Sotol and Platino.

@bwmccoy thank you for the detailed accounting. That restaurant certainly has a first rate collection and selection of tequila and mezcal. There are not many establishments with that range and depth.

Last night, finished off my bottle of Glenmorangie 10, followed by a dram of Highland Park “Stones of Stenness” 13 year (Dec. 2004) from a 2nd-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead. Single Cask Nation bottling. Cask #76.

@bwmccoy I’ve been to stone circles and standing stones from one end of Britain to the other. The stones of Stenness are among the most magical. I hope the whisky was equally beguiling.

Cheers.

Forgot to mention; I’m currently enjoying a dram of the Cooper’s Choice 18 year old Skara Brae, widely believed to be Highland Park. Mucho tasty.

@BlueNote - I have also been to Stones of Stenness and it is amazing! However, my favorites are Ring of Brodgar on Orkney and Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis.

Last night, an 11 year (July 18th, 2006) Carol Ila SMWS 53.250 "Smoked salt orange peel" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.

@bwmccoy Yeah, agree on the Callanish Stones on Lewis. It's great when you can just walk around among the stones. Had to stay out on the perimeter at the Ring of Brodger when we were there last year, but still impressive.

Tonight, finished off my bottle of Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat Whiskey.

I had a small dram of Old Weller Antique 107. This stuff was rewarding right out of the gate, and has improved with time. Along with the vanilla, toasted oak & marshmallow notes, there is a bit of a salted caramel note in here. Yummy. I’ve heard that the KGBO is getting more in stock tomorrow or Friday. I may have to break my vow of abstinence and get another bottle or two for the bunker.

@OdysseusUnbound I'll give you the remaining half of mine. I'm just not impressed. Also, news as of today, next year the retail price will be double.