So, what are you drinking now?

@Victor I actually think that Barrell Bourbon might be more up your alley than mine. You liked that bottle of Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof we split far more than I liked it. My experience with Barrell is that it is closer to that JDBP profile. And while it is good I have not been convinced to spend the $100 that the bottles seem to go for. I would much rather pick up bottles of ECBP, Stagg Jr., or try another JDBP bottle - all for far less!

Down here in Myrtle Beach again. Sipping on some George Dickel Rye watching the tide roll in. While I have had bad experience with the GD Bourbon . . . I have loved every bottle of their rye that I have pickup. Just picked up this bottle here in town. Love that MGP stuff.

Wife and son are out of town, stopped by my favorite spot for a burger and beer on the way home. For dessert, decided to have have a Willet Pot Still Bourbon. Not a huge bourbon guy, but this is really nice and the price was reasonable. Vanilla, caramel, spice and citrus flavors. 47% ABV.

@bwmccoy Lucky you. My wife and 2 children are out of town, I've been looking after our puppy AND seeing patients, and now that she's down for the night I'm on call so no bourbon for me...

@bwmccoy I've seen those bottles and they look like they would be quite tricky to pour from. I'd be worried that he neck was about to snap right off. Pleased to hear you enjoyed it though

@bwmccoy - Why is it as soon as she's away the burger hunt begins!?

A small pour of Cotswolds. It's good stuff, no question, but it just doesn't quite hit the spot for me. There's quite a lot of menthol and herbal notes from the grain that I feel I may like more in another malt. That said, it has developed much more of a home-made lemonade note over time that I really like.

Three people quit their jobs in my department today -- it was a stressful day to say the least. Home now and quickly poured a dram of Lot 40. I am sure there will be another dram or two after this...

@Nozinan - Sorry you had to work. Hopefully, you were able to have a dram tonight.

@Hewie - I agree. I’m thinking over-pouring is guaranteed with the liquid quickly running down that long neck. It’s a great looking bottle though!

@RianC - I didn’t think about it until your post, but my wife was gone for four nights and I had a burger for dinner each night! I do love a good burger and a beer!

Tonight, Ardmore SMWS 66.123 (12 year - Mar. 6, 2006) "A strong personality" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.3% ABV. A nice, sweet peat dram.

@bwmccoy I’m a big fan of this drop. Had it first time at the Hanging Bat in Edinburgh, looking to get a bottle

@bwmccoy I had 5 cc from a 30 cc pour of HP Svein for the review. Back on call tonight and out for dinner with my family Friday so driving. Maybe when I get home.

My lunch:

For our American Connosr members Happy 4th of July!!!

@fiddich1980 - Damn that looks tasty!

Happy 4th of July to all Americans.

But remember, freedom isn't free! It costs a buck o'5, I'm led to believe . . .

I’m celebrating America day with a nice pour of Stagg Jr Batch 9 (131.9 Proof). This whisky is not hot at all. Despite the much higher abv, it is much smooooooooooother than THE Macallan 12 Sherry Oak I reviewed a few weeks ago. Oh, and its flavours are much better too.

@OdysseusUnbound Enjoy that one for me. On call I can't have any bourbon to celebrate the war of independence when, according to the President's speech, revolutionary forces took over all the airports. I kid you not, I saw the video.

I guess it's not a lie. The British did in fact lose every airport in the Continental US in that war...

If I were saluting my US friends, I suppose this one would have been a possibility, though I prefer 2 other batches.

Celebrating the 4th with American whiskey. Manhattan made with Old Grand 114 and High West American Prairie Bourbon, sweet and dry Vermouth, Angostura bitters and Luxardo Maraschino cherries.

@bwmccoy nice choice of components. Dolin is one of my favorite vermouth.

@archivist hang in there, I've lived nothing but that kind of work turmoil over the last 2 years. Keep the lot 40 handy

@cricklewood - I usually make my Manhattan’s with half dry vermouth and half sweet vermouth. Unfortunately, my sweet vermouth right now is Martini and Rossi. As soon as I finish it off, I will replace it with something better. The Dolin is awesome!

@bwmccoy I don't know why I've never thought of adding both vermouths before. I will have to give this a try.

@cricklewood - the recipe that I have is called “The Perfect Manhattan”; that’s where I got the idea from.

Continuing the 4th of July celebration with two more American whiskies; Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Single Cask #3824 (Rum Cask Finish), followed by Westland SMWS 133.1 (5 year - October 2011) - "Speakeasy sneaky peeky" Virgin oak barrell/Heavy char.

@bwmccoy Nice Manhattan! I personally prefer Carpano Antica sweet vermouth in my Manhattans but I use Dolin in my Rob Roys.

Aesthetically pleasing image as usual!

For yesterday's 4th of July, we had a bit of the Dry Fly Triticale to start, and then Old Potrero Straight Rye, and then I made an Old Fashioned for myself using George Dickel. We finished off the evening with 291 Distillery's Single Barrel Rye. Now back to work!

@TracerBullet -Thank you! Carpano Antica was recently recommended to me by a co-worker. That’s what I plan to purchase next. A couple of others that I was thinking about, but haven’t tried are;

Martini Riserva Speciale Rubino

Contratto Vermouth Rosso

@casualtorture - Thank you!

@bwmccoy I have Dolin Sweet and dry, Carpano Antica (sweet), Punt e Mes (sweet), Vya (sweet) and Lillet blanc. Fun to play with the different vermouths in cocktails. Finding the right one can really make a big difference!

@OdysseusUnbound I haven't had the Stagg Jr--ever--but I can't imagine a liquid with that abv, a bourbon no less, being less harsh than Macallan 12. Maybe it was the sample? I know that a low proof whisky can taste hot, but Mac 12 is what I turn to when I don't want too much alcohol heat. A good example of a low abv whisky that tasted quite hot to me was 'farclas 10. I don't plan to buy that again.

On a related note, I learned last night that my wife really likes 'farclas 105. She added a bit of water (down to about 50%) and was in 7th heaven. (Straight was too much for her.) I enjoyed it straight.. Maybe this is a difference not between different abv's but between bourbon and sherried scotch? Rye often has a (very pleasant) "heat"/spice that , for me, matches high abv heat. I don't get anything like that effect from Mac 12.

Tonight's line up. All well-deserved after a few weeks hard slog!

@RianC I've decided that these shelf turds will be my go to summer drams. The "B-team.

@Jonathan I really didn’t care for the Mac 12 at all. The nose was lovely, but the palate was thin and harsh to me, and there was a slight, unpleasant bitterness on the finish. Not terrible whisky, but not one I’ll ever buy. And despite the high abv, I can assure you that Stagg Jr is not harsh in any way. I’m not sure what bourbon vs malt whisky has to do with perceived “harshness”