So, what are you drinking now?

@paddockjudge A visual winning rye blend. I'll just stick with a FRSB.

Had an eventful weekend and now my liver is recovering. A friend hosted a get together at the whiskey bar, Rickhouse. Aside from a couple of Old Fashioneds to start, here's how he arranged our drinking:

Tyrconnell Single Malt Bushmills 21 Glenfarclas 17 Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Laphroaig Quarter Cask and ended with a shot of Elijah Craig Single Barrel Rickhouse exclusive

I was very surprised I was still standing.

Benromach 10 100 proof. Ever since I heard it was to be discontinued I have been enjoying the last few drams in my bottle. I'll try to replace it before they all disappear. I think @Nozinan is right. The cask strength limited edition batches that replace it will be variable and pricey. We'll see.

Not drank much this week - a couple of times I've poured some out only to have a sniff or sip and pour it back. I did have a small pour of Benromach peated though and enjoyed it more than I had previously - the initial sharpness has subsided and the smoke has become more integrated; more of the familiar Benromach notes of leather and mustyness are coming through as well.

I've made a few concoctions with it and other sherried/wine finishes and my conclusion is that BR is improved when there's some wine cask in the blend. I bet the recently released CS sherry cask peated is excellent . . .

All being well I'm going to set up a flight from the samples @wierdo sent me later this evening

Last night, Caol Ila SMWS 53.241 (6 year - April 2011) - "Dense smoke over a tarry deck" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 60.3.% ABV. Stunning whisky!

This afternoon I opened a bottle of Arran 14 year old to go along with a cigar. The Arran was finished in bourbon and sherry barrels. This one is sweet, perhaps not one for the Islay fans. I would rate it around 85.

Currently sipping some Wiser’s Seasoned Oak. This bottle is almost gone. Good stuff, very interesting profile, but not one I’m likely to replace for $99.

@OdysseusUnbound finish off my Seasoned Oak...and I came to the same conclusion. Having an Aberlour 16 myself.

Had a mini-flight yesterday, Friday's plan didn't materialise :

CS SB North Star Macduff 11 - really enjoyable, green banana and caramel sweetness. Craigellachie 13 - what I'd describe as 'your typical Speyside', fruity, creamy and sweet but nothing really jumping out at me. Glen Scotia 15 - my fave of the three - rich and with more complexity than the others, some coastal touches and spice.

In Colorado for a business trip (and mini family vacation). Last night, I had one of the miniatures that I brought with me; Jameson Irish Whiskey. Drinking it neat. Not great, but not bad either. In addition to the miniatures that I purchased, I filled some sample bottles from my whisky cabinet so I won’t have to go the entire trip without the “good stuff”.

A couple of more miniatures tonight;

Macallan 12 year Sherry Oak

Johnnie Walker Black Label

At my recent club night, a few of the guys threw together a lineup of the Game of Thrones whiskies. I'd previously had the Talisker at a friend's house (solid). Of this big lineup, I tried only the Lagavulin, which I thought smelled awful and tasted just OK - kinda like a bad version of the Lagavilin 8 but worse.

(And yeah, I see now that my picture didn't actually capture which bottles most of them were. Oops. I think I saw Dalwinnie and Singleton of Whatever. No Clynelish. No Oban. That's all I can tells ya.)

Last night, finished off the two miniatures that I opened the previous night;

Macallan 12 year Sherry Oak. Even with some of the stupid things Macallan has done in recent years, the 12 year old Sherry cask never disappoints.

Johnnie Walker Black Label. A solid blend with decent smoke. My only disappointment is the grain forward nose and the short to medium finish.

Tonight, I shared a few drams that I brought with me on my business trip with some of my co-workers.

Balmenach SMWS 48.42 (10 year - Nov. 2002) "Grown-Up Ice Lollies" from a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.7% ABV. I used this one to show them how adding a few drops of water can change a whisky. They were pretty surprised by the difference.

Westland SMWS 133.1 (5 year - October 2011) - "Speakeasy sneaky peeky" Virgin oak barrell/Heavy char - 57.0% ABV. I used this one to show them how different an American Whisky can be from what they think an American Whisky should taste like.

Croftengea SMWS 122.23 (7 year - Feb. 11th, 2011) "Highly a-musing" from a second-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.7% ABV. Poured this one to compare it to a typical Islay whisky which some of them were familiar with.

This was the first experience with single cask, cask strength whiskies for most of the group. All of the whiskies were well received. It was a lot of fun sharing these with my co-workers.

@bwmccoy I'm not a macallan fan personally, but will agree with you the 12yo Sherry Oak is a reliable dram. Decent lineup of SMWS, thoughts on the sneaky speak easy? Opened the last bottle at the Vaults last month, didn't last 3weeks

Returning to an old favourite tonight (before introduction to single cask, cask strength), Aberlour 12yo double cask, following with Glenfarclas 105

@Tom92 - How was the 105? I'm lacking a good sherry bomb and enjoyed my last bottle. MoM are selling it for £50 with a mini of the 15 and 21. If I could (with clear conscience) I'd snap that up.

@Tom92 - good to see you on here again. As for the 133.1, every time I share it with others, it is well received. Additionally, I have had several head to head tastings of the 133.1 with a Distillery released single cask and the 133.1 is preferred between the two every time. For me, 133.1 seems to be a more mature expression compared to Distillery releases of the same age.

@RianC 105 I always enjoy. I think it was first "cask strength" Whisky released in Scotland. I haven't had a'Bunadh in several months, but normally I would rank that higher than 105 personally. Also Tamdhu batch strength is another one I'd recommend. Depends if you like peat as well? If so, Ardbeg Uigeadail is a decent drop. If your not wanting cask strength sherry bombs, I'd go Glendronach 12yo or Tamdhu 12.

@bwmccoy it's been too long. That's very interesting that 133.1 comes out a clear winner over similar age, CS from the distillery itself. Is it done as a blind tasting? If not I'd recommend trying that to take away any preconceptions. Always good fun.

@Tom92 - it was not a blind tasting, but I will definitely do that soon. It will be interesting to see if the results remain the same.

Tonight, before heading to dinner with my co-workers, I finished off the sample of Westland SMWS 133.1 (5 year - October 2011) - "Speakeasy sneaky peeky" Virgin oak barrell/Heavy char - 57.0% ABV that I brought with me.

I also had Ardmore SMWS 66.123 (12 year - Mar. 6, 2006) "A strong personality" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.3% ABV.

At dinner, I had two Manhattans made with Breckinridge (Colorado) bourbon. I also order a shot of Breckinridge bourbon neat so I could taste it on it’s own. It was a very good bourbon. Not too sweet or cherry forward. It was very well balanced and this is coming from someone who is not a huge bourbon fan.

After dinner, I had another local Colorado Whiskey; 291 Rye from Colorado Springs, Colorado. While this was a quality whiskey, it wasn’t something I would order again, especially for a rye. It was too sweet. It tasted just like caramel candied apples.

@Tom92 - Cheers, mate. If you can vouch for the consistency of the 105 then I'd happily get another. In this instance I'd be after a sole sherry bomb without any peat - I've a few of those bunkered

Just sitting down to a rather large pour of Ledaig Amontillado (the 2nd sample generously donated by @Wierdo).

I loved my last taste of this and have sat down more than once with this sample to 'get stuck in' only to find either my mood or palette were off. Tonight's the night as they say . . .

Now, some privacy, please

Been revisiting the Port Charlotte 10 recently. Not sure if I would buy another one. I might try the cask strength Port Charlotte, I think is is MRC 01.

@BlueNote I tried this recently at a tasting and it was fantastic. It was a freshly opened bottle and first up there was plenty of medicinal peat but this toned down over time in the glass. I was impressed but for the price I'd probably be buying an Octomore.

@Hewie I opened my Octomore 7.3 a few days ago. Details to follow. It is truly an experience

Last night, at the Hotel bar, had a dram of Stranahans. It was good, but didn’t blow me away. This is my 3rd Colorado whisky on this trip and while all were drinkable, none impressed me enough to purchase a bottle.

After getting back to my room, finished the night with a dram of Ardmore SMWS 66.123 (12 year - Mar. 6, 2006) "A strong personality" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.3% ABV.

@BlueNote - What makes you say that about the 10? I've got a sample I've not tried yet and would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Tasting with my mom tonight:

• Arran 10: this is wonderful stuff. Young? Yes, but not immature
• Yellow Spot 12: my mom’s favourite of our little flight, and while half the bottle is gone, this one still falls under “very good, but not great” for me. I find it a bit muted if that makes sense.
• Peat Monster: ok, so my mother didn’t have any of this because she doesn’t like peat. She had more Yellow Spot. I really like the nuance of this friendly Monster. Plenty of fruitiness plays off the buttery, meaty peat-smoke.

I topped off the evening with a Great Lakes Brewing co. Pompous Ass English Ale. Not super hoppy, but just enough bitterness to be refreshing.

Today, I met up with @jordytropp and his lovely wife for a Rum, Bourbon, Scotch and Gin tasting.

Rums;

Don Q Signature Release Single Barrel 2007 40% ABV

Plantation Barbados Rum Aged 5 years 40% ABV

Foursquare (Barbados) 2004 Aged 11 years ex-bourbon cask 59% ABV (My favorite of the rums that we tasted)

Paraiso Facundo XA Rum 40% ABV

Hampden (Jamaica) 7 year from Habitation Velier bottlers 60.5% ABV

Diamond 20 year El Dorado 54.9% ABV

Bourbons;

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 66.95% ABV

Four Roses Small Batch Select 52% ABV

Blantons Gold Label (UK exclusive)

Scotch; (tasted on @jordytropp's rooftop deck over looking Seattle on a beautiful Sunday afternoon)

Auchentoshan SMWS 5.69 (17 year - October 11th, 2000) "Triple whammy!". After 13 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished in a 1st-fill Pedro Ximenez hogshead - 58.1% ABV

Auchentoshan SMWS 5.60 (16 year - October 11th, 2000) "Sweet surrender". After 15 years in an ex-bourbon, finished in a 1st fill Oloroso hogshead - 56.5% ABV

Linkwood 15 year (Gordon and MacPhail) bottled January 16th, 2017

Linkwood 15 year (Gordon and MacPhail) bottled April 3rd, 2015

Balvenie 15 year Single Barrel Sherry Cask # 9063

Croftengea SMWS 122.23 (7 year - Feb. 11th, 2011) "Highly a-musing" from a second-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.7% ABV

After dinner, finished with a Society Gin from Makar (Glasgow) SMWS GN1.3 "Coriander meander" from a second-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 57.8% ABV

Thanks @jordytropp for hosting, dinner and sharing all of your great rums, bourbons and Scotch!