So, what are you drinking now?

Linkwood 15 Year Old / Gordon & Macphail Bottling. Classy, elegant and beautiful. The whisky, not me.

and

Croftengea SMWS 122.23 (7 year - Feb. 11th, 2011) "Highly a-musing" from a second-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.7% ABV. A peated Highlander that really hits the spot.

@Jonathan your next Springbank "mother's little helper", should be the 12 Cask Strength

@fiddich1980 Is that a difficult one to find?

@Jonathan it is part of Springbank's core range. They put out two releases annually and the proof varies with each batch. It is available in Canada but, tends to get scooped up rather quickly. The last price on it was about $114 Canadian probably cheaper in US. USA availability, I would not know.but, highly recommended. Those cask finished versions are very limited releases.

@Jonathan - ' How can wood and barley work this voodoo? '

Oh no my friend, it's all due to the purest water that falls from the highest heavens to land gleefully atop the mountain where it begins to race down the steep, craggy banks then meanders achingly through the heather and thistle filled Glen, amid rutting deer and exotic wild fowl, before finally . . . bluegh!

@Jonathan, your ruminations on Springbank are absolute gold. Though I tend to pour a big peater most of the time, Springbank really is my favorite distillate. And they make so many different malts there too, even without bringing Longrow and Hazelburn into the picture.

•The 10 is zippy & delicious.

•The 12 CS is heavy and powerful.

•The 15 is darker and funkier.

•The 18 is just classic malt whisky. (I guess that's my way of saying it's good, but much less distinctive than their other standards - and not worth the price tag.)

•The one-off limited releases are excellent - at least the ones I've had (around 4-5).

For my money, the picks are the 10, the 12 CS, and any special releases you can find & afford.

@MadSingleMalt my research has turned up that the SP 12 CS is available four times a year--and isn't easy to find-- but I found a place that will have one for me later in the week.

Incidentally, Did I mention that the Giant cashier I was going on about yesterday actually DID take the money from my wallet. Video proof. She did it in a way that exploited my temporary disability by dropping change on on the floor. I had difficulty reaching. The store reimbursed me my 250$ from the wallet, and it is up to me if I want to charge her . The woman's job has been terminated, but this may not be a first time. I'm thinking that pressing charges would just be a hassle. Perhaps she can get help from a rehab program or something. She was sweet as sugar and very handsy . Thank g-d Ling can smell phony pretty easily. Back to whisky!

Had a small after supper dram of Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 proof. The edges have softened on this one and it's hit a sweet spot, I still find it to be big and spicy but it's more enjoyable now.

Moving on to Kilkerran 8 Cask Strength 55.7% ABV, I obtained a sample via a trade. There is definitely a shared DNA with the sister distillery but it has a nice waxy side, lots of lemon, unripe fruits and this sooty/dirty side to it. It needed a bit of water to reveal it's charms.

Last night, Balmenach SMWS 48.42 (10 year - Nov. 2002) "Grown-Up Ice Lollies" from a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.7% ABV with a few drops of water added.

Followed by Glenturret SMWS 16.33 (8 year - Dec. 2009) "Melville’s other monster" - Re-charred hogshead - 62.0% ABV. A heavily peated Highlander. The rechar cask gives it a beautifully deep amber color for it’s age. An amazing dram!

A little something special. Work is done, puppy is in her cage. Palate feels right. I've been waiting a LONG time to review this Amrut. I tasted it once with @nosebleed, and have carefully poured it for 2 other friends who I knew would appreciate it. And now I'm reviewing it. Maybe 25 cc left to share in the future.

UNICORN ALERT!!

Stay tuned for my review of my sample of the original release of Greedy Angels.

Bladnoch SMWS 50.56 (23 year - July 1990) ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!’ - Refill barrel - 60.3% ABV. It’s been a while since I’ve had this one. Yum! Liquid candy.

A good size pour of Talisker 18 after Chilli Con Carne and a Red Stripe for dinner, after a long hard few days. This is my third pour from the bottle so far and I think my initial impression that this might not be quite as stellar as my last bottle is not unfounded. I think it's the mouthfeel - decidedly thinner (more silky perhaps?) and without the depth of flavour I recall; perhaps a little heavier on the Peat too? Maybe.

It is early days though and it's still very good. Am I getting pickier? I'm going to watch Stranger Things 3 shortly and may have to pour another to be sure . . .

@RianC pour another one for science right?

I had a rough day yesterday. I spent this hot afternoon on the porch sipping on Four Roses Single barrel and chewing the fat with my 82 year old neighbour. The fruit flies loved it to death.

@fiddich1980 this the neighbour who drinks Lot 40 CS and ginger?

@Nozinan Yes. I've also turned another neighbour into a rum and whisky fan. The other neighbour claimed a "decent knowledge of whiskies", over the holidays. He mentioned his love of Glenlivet Founder's. I was working later that day and invited him in to try a few drinks .... Hibiki 21, Farclas 25, ECBP, and Lot 40 CS. The result in this short flight was shock and joy - a gob smacked.

@RianC, I've found the bottom half of my Talisker 18 YO bottle, opened June 2018, to be better than the top half.

@fiddich1980, Hahahaha, you wrecked another one! The whole neighbourhood will be in rehab before too long.

You are a good neighbour....wish you were mine

After a 6 1/2 hour drive from Montmagny, QC to Caraquet, NB (complete with a few detours, a stop to see a doe and her fawn), I decided to be real classy.... I opened my Wild Turkey 101 and had a few drinks.....from a paper cup. I’m not sure if that’s better or worse than slugging it right from the bottle.

@OdysseusUnbound, as long as you raised your pinky finger, you were exuding class. Wild Turkey 101 from a paper cup in NB, you are a true Connosr!

I once drank Macallan 18 from a take-out cup, from a sleeve of Tim Hortons cups that had lingered in the back of my vehicle for years...for emergency only, and this was.

During a Christmas time fund-raising function at a local high school, one of those dads, you know the one I'm referring to, the know-it-all-I've-been-there-done-that-before-you, that typical asshole, the one that deserves a good ruffing-up, yeah that guy, he claimed to be a long time Scotch drinker with Macallan 18 YO being his favourite. My bullshit detector immediately went off-scale. I excused myself and asked superdad to save me a seat at the table.

I returned in 10 minutes, after driving the short distance home, grabbing a half-dozen 2 oz. minis and cardboard cups. You can guess what happened, but I'll fill-in the details.

We hit all six offerings in the range...in about 60 minutes. Being in a sharing mood, I generously poured a healthy dose each time for my omniscient acquaintance, about 1.5 ounces, leaving approximately 15 ml for me each time. Six delicious whiskies: Canadians Danfield's 21 and Alberta 25 YO, Irish Cask Strength Redbreast 12 YO, Rock Hill Farms 100 proof Bourbon, and Macallans 18 YO and Cask Strength.

I introduced each offering with a brief description. The Canadians as Easy Sippers, The Irish as cask strength pot still magic, The 100 proof Bourbon as one of my favourites, and for the final pair I offered no comment, not immediately. My new found drinking buddy was enjoying the flight, whatever he could actually taste after draining each pour with a quick tip of the cup. He would nod, as I introduced each whisky, and quickly suck it back, that is until the fifth pour. I suppose he was feeling rather confident at this point, before I could introduce number five he emptied his cup and proclaimed that it must be Rye. I smiled and offered number six, a cask strength single malt from the same stills as number five. He knocked that one back too, then reminded me that Macallan 18 YO was his favourite and that I should drop by his place to try some good Scotch. I asked him if he meant Macallan 18 YO, like the 1993 vintage we just enjoyed on pour number five, the one he claimed to be Rye. That was the end of our whisky bromance, he went silent.

I suspect Mr. Macallan 18 YO was not in his wife's good graces after drinking about 9 ounces of whisky, some of them at high proof, in an hour. While we were leaving the auditorium, his wife told me that he wouldn't be drinking on New Year's Eve. I don't miss high school

@paddockjudge What was it that James Bond said in Skyfall?

"Waste of good Scotch" ... and bourbon, and rye...

@paddockjudge - That's a great story ha ha!

Well, I've had a bit of an odd day. I was working a machine that toppled over today on a steep bank. Luckily, I jumped out before the thing did a complete 180 but it could have been lots worse!

Then when watering the plants with my lad after dinner just now I saw what I thought was the tail of an almighty lizard, either that or a courgette had animated - it turned out to be a grass snake (I assume). Never seen one in all my years over here (although my partner did once step barefoot on a small adder when walking a coastal trail!) and to find one in my garden with no grass to speak of, and in the suburbs, was very surprising.

So all in all a stiff drink is called for. Hmm. Pikesville Rye? Yes, please

Well gents and ladies, I am on hiatus from whisky/bourbon drinking for the next month or more. Yesterday I had a procedure done on my spine. I had an implant placed in my spinal channel to reduce the pain I have been having for many years. Needless to say, the doctors don't like alcohol consumption after surgery and going along with pain meds.

For anyone who has spinal stenosis, it would pay looking into a company called Nevro. The implants are supposed to lower your spine pain by at least 50 percent. After undertaking a trial run procedure, this device did work for me. After 16 years of spine pain, this was the end of the road for me. The surgeons said operations (rods, screws and fusion) were no longer an option for me.

Keep up the nice reviews and the write ups for all the interesting whisky tastings. SLAINTE !! Dave

@DaveM I wish you a speedy recovery.

@DaveM, thanks for the recommendation. My favorite member of my ex-wife's family has spinal stenosis, and I just passed on that suggestion to him. He too has been fighting back pain for years and years.

Cheers!

@DaveM, best of luck, looking forward to your return.

@DaveM - All the best for a speedy recovery! And think how good that first dram is going to taste . . .

Took it quite easy this week and only had one pour. I had to pour back the Pikesville last night after a heartburn attack.

Now it's Friday though and a weekend with the family beckons. Had a JD MD no.4 after work, went down very nicely (right there is a whiskey I could do some damage with - it's soooo easy to drink). Now having a Power's 12 from my Taylor D glass, for a change, after some sushi, edamame beans and Miso soup. Still a tad nippy but I love that creamy, buttery mouthfeel and all the spice.

An Arran JMcT 10 or a Pikesville (or both) to round the evening off! Cheers

@paddockjudge - That is a great story! Thanks for sharing it.

@Nozinan - Love the James Bond / Skyfall reference!

@DaveM - Hope your recovery is as quick and pain-free as possible.

Last night, finished off my bottle of Ardmore SMWS 66.123 (12 year - Mar. 6, 2006) "A strong personality" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 57.3% ABV. Ardmore is not my favorite peated whisky, but this one was very good. Really enjoyed it!

Also had a dram of Caol Ila SMWS 53.241 (6 year - April 2011) - "Dense smoke over a tarry deck" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 60.3.% ABV. I've owned several bottles of Caol Ila from the Society over the years. This one is the youngest and it has been one of my favorites (top 5, for sure). Unfortunately, it is almost gone as well.

@paddockjudge I've had interactions like this but not at quite this level. It's funny that you had two batches of Mac on hand---one the 18. One thing I've always liked about whisk(e)y and Scotch aficionados is a lack of pretension (which I can't say about many wine experts) . It looks like you found the pretentious needle in that haystack! Did you ever get a sense that he appreciated any of the goods you were wasting on him?