So, what are you drinking now?

@OdysseusUnbound, I had a few chuckles and a smirk reading your post.

Yes, Glenlivet gets interesting at 21 years in oak; you would like the Archive, very much.

Wiser's 35 YO, "This tasted the way I wanted Seasoned Oak to taste".... haha, me too!

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"And just to be clear; these guys all make way more money than I do and to them SCOTCH just has to win every time. So why was I the only one to choose Wiser’s 35 as the best whisky of the evening? Simple; complexity."

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Perhaps not my best analogy, but your tale brings to mind Burt Reynolds piloting a classic Muscle Car, that black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, The Bandit, and not a fancy over-hyped European Testosterone Torpedo (no specific brands mentioned, I don't want The Donald to slap any unnecessary tariffs on these middle-age crisis prevention units). Smokey and The Bandit wouldn't have been the same with Burt driving a P_ _ _ _ _ e, T _ _ _ _ _ h, or F _ _ _ _ _ i.... he just wouldn't have rocked a top-knot.

On a bona fide hot day, 30+,C, blanco tequila, Casa Noble and El Jimador. I can see why Mexicans like their blancos in the heat.

Not a lot, sadly! My lower back went on Saturday (with an audible pop!) and I've been pretty much lying down and doping up on opiates - which I'm discovering have an effect similar to drinking a few too many . . . In all seriousness, I'm not sure that's a good sign?!

None of this is ideal a week or so before I start a new and more physical job either . . .

@RianC OW! I hope you've seen your doctor. That pop sounds concerning.

@RianC If you have to take pain pills for back pain, you need to see an orthopedist pronto. This is coming from guy with major spine issues. Don't wait.

@DaveM In many parts of the world specialists are not available by self-referral, and not all back pain requires an orthopaedic surgeon (in fact, surgery is often the LAST resort). I think the first step is to have a family doctor do an assessment.

@Nozinan If I went to my family doctor and told him something popped in my back, he would immediately refer me to an ortho doctor for further tests (X-Rays, MRI and CT scans etc.) I’ve had this sort of thing happen many times in the past. Perhaps they do things differently in Canada.

@DaveM Yes.... we do. It's a very different system.

@RianC, stay mildly active. Do not go into a perpetual rest mode. When you are lying down, keep your knees bent...when lying on your back put one of those long round pillows under your knees. Get the thinnest pillow possible for your head. I'm a 40 year veteran of sports and work related lower back injury. Keep moving and get off the drugs. Anti-inflam meds are what you want. Tough it out, learn to bend, reach, lift, walk etc in a new way that will allow you to recover...and don't say a word to anyone about it except health care pros.

@Victor, when it comes to tequila, if you can still see.....you should probably have one more.

Celebrated a friend's 50th last night with a wee bit of Teeling, and then Ardbeg Uigeadail. Tonight, I have too much work to do but I will slowly sip on some Jameson Black Barrel while I do it...this bottle is going fast.

@archivist A dram to work by is often pleasant, but for me rarely possible.

Tonight I have finished my work, things are quiet at home, and I am preparing a review of a Benriach single cask bourbon matured whisky, sample courtesy of @Cricklewood.

@Nozinan Who is the bottler of the Kirkwall Bay? I have had a couple of IBs of HP bottled by Cooper's Choice and they are very good. I'd like to look for the Kirkwall Bay. Was it a good one?

@BlueNote I don't think it's HP. It could be Scapa. It is bottled by Morrison and Mackay.

@Nozinan I'm careful about what work I do while enjoying a dram, usually something that is rote/repetitious or simply dull...in this case, the dram is helping ease the pain of reading one sales proposal after another. Look forward to your thoughts on the Benriach!

@archivist Sadly, quiet became busy. Back to it now...

@Nozinan I look forward to reading your review of the Benriach now that you've had it in isolation from our tasting. It's one that's grown on me.

I might be late concerning the Kirkwall Bay but I've read many sources that it's origin is from HP most likely ex-bourbon casks. There's a lot of this kind of thing popping up lately, HP in bourbon is a different profile than what we are used to seeing in the official releases. Add to that the casks that many IB's get can be from parcels that don't quite fit the desired house profile too.

@RianC sorry to hear about your back man.

@cricklewood I'm making no guesses yet either way. I've had few HP, mostly familiar with the 12, and no Scapa that I can recall. So I will take your word for it.

Thanks again for the Benriach. I will now enjoy the rest of it and hope the Raptors hold on in the 4th quarter...

I haven’t been posting as much lately because for the past few months, I have stopped drinking during the week. This decision wasn’t for any reason other than I wanted to do it. Fortunately, since it was my decision, I can make exceptions. Tonight, I had a dram of my favorite open bottle; Laphroaig SMWS 29.226 (18 year - Mar. 1999) - "Seaside surprise" - Refill ex-Oloroso sherry butt - 56.8% ABV. In my opinion, there is nothing better than the combination of peat and Sherry!

@paddockjudge and others - Thanks for the support! I've had issues for years now with my lower back and dry discs (due to impact sports and hip problems which put strain on my spine). It's only gone like this once before though but I constantly have to monitor my posture and keep my core strong.

I'm waiting for a call back from the Doc just now but have been trying to move as much as possible. Feels like I may have slipped a disc (something my dad has had trouble with) or pulled a muscle which is putting pressure on a nerve. It's that electric shock type pain that takes your breath away and I haven't been able to stand up straight for four days now.

Be reet, as they say

@RianC sorry about your back, hope it's resolved and you're better before you begin new job/role.

@RianC, Excellent descriptor "electric shock type pain." That's exactly how I describe it when it is at its worst. I've got to ask, which leg is it shooting down, right or the left?

@paddockjudge did you not just tell @RianC to only discuss it with his doctor?

My mistake, you said "health care pro" - that is not a protected term.

So what am I drinking now?

DO .... NOT.... ASK....

@Nozinan that's just begging to be asked.

@cricklewood All (well, some) will be revealed.

I might as well be drinking Lagavulin. While I was preparing dinner I detected an unexpected odor. A tin of mackerel fillets had been compromised (my emergency food ration, I work a mile underground). I'm sipping on Little Book II and detect the wafting odor of fish oil and smoke. I hadn't previously picked up those notes.

@paddockjudge are you sipping little Book 2 while you're underground?