So, what are you drinking now?

@OdysseusUnbound, that Hazelburn was not to my liking.

I don't think it was sulphur, but it had a dominating sour low note that I was very much not into. Others liked it though.

@MadSingleMalt I was a fan of Fine Drams back when they offered free shipping. I've since lost the use of my US mule, sadly.

What did you think of the Benromach? I'm a big fan.

Last night, Old Grand Dad 114.

Tonight my BIL agreed to rye but only if it were "good rye".

What about an 11 YO 100% rye distilled and matured in Ontario and bottled in 2018 at Cask Strength under the banner Lot 40?

Last night, Balmenach SMWS 48.42 (10 year - Nov. 2002) "Grown-Up Ice Lollies" from a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.7% ABV. First dram with 5 drops of water added. Second dram, no water added. Not as much difference between the two now that the bottle has been open a few months.

Last night I had a JD Master Distiller and then had two big pours of Pikesville rye - I slept like a log!

Just having a JD now after dinner again and will most likely indulge in some more of that delicious rye later.

@Nozinan, I haven't tasted my Benromach 10/100 yet. I opened it that night, and I was already plenty served by that point, so I shared it without tasting myself.

It's now open on my shelf, though, and I have a standard 10 to crack too, so I'll get a serious taste in before too long.

@MadSingleMalt one of my “to do” items is a comparison of the Ben 10 and the 10-100.

Nikka Yoichi Single Malt, a lightly peated and earthy dram.

I was feeling patriotic tonight, since I was barbecuing some big “Canada AAA” strip-loin steaks. I had one pour of Lot 40 11 Year CS before dinner and now I’m having another after. I sometimes forget how much I love this stuff.

@OdysseusUnbound how could you?

A dram of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof, well that's a mouthful and so is that whisky at 67.85%ABV, it's big, hot, chewy and sweet.

Interesting to try, but far to young. Needs a another good 5 years in cask. Nose is almost reminiscent of a young grain with touches of passion fruit and candy floss. But palate too hot, glueish notes mingled with Pine. Improves with time, not with water.

@OdysseusUnbound never take your 2018 Lot 40 Cask Strength for granted. It is quite rare to find a rye of that quality.

Last night, I fired up an Ardbeg peat cone in my little Croft house and filled my whisky room with the glorious smell of peat! (Unfortunately, you can’t see the smoke coming out of the chimney.)

It was the perfect pairing with 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.

@MadSingleMalt Lord...where is he located? Haha

@bwmccoy That's a good way to set the atmosphere, some of the SMWS titles are too much but I love this "Dense smoke over a tarry deck" I've had some whiskys that fit that description.

@Tom92 It must still be interesting to try something that is made locally.

Necessity dictates that many distilleries release their wares at a time where they are perhaps not quite there, although some distilleries produce dynamite stuff at a young age.

@cricklewood indeed it was interesting to try. I have had some amazing NZ whiskies, just sadly this was not one of them. I was told a month back that the company had been sold in recent years, having met the previous owners who were so enthusiastic and hands on, it was sad to hear.

@bwmccoy I love the idea of burning peat to fill the room with the aroma - cute little croft house there. Sounds like a perfect match (and probably better than smoking a big dirty ol' cigar) with the whisky.

Tonight I cracked one of my 2 recently acquired Benromach 10-100 proof with the in-laws. I wanted @Nosebleed to try it here in case he wants a bottle for home why the price remains good and it's still available.

This is a really good Scotch. I would probably adjust my "with water" score closer to 90, thought the neat score is probably accurate at 90-92 (my score in the review of another batch.

I look forward to sharing this one at an epic tasting coming up soon.

Tonight, doing some prep / homework for a Society tasting that @jordytropp and I will be leading on Monday night. It is a blind tasting of the bottles the Society will release in the states this month. I can’t detail them now, but I will report back after the tasting. It’s a very good lineup!

@bwmccoy are there any other spirits featured this month or just single malts? I look forward to the reveal.

@cricklewood - there is one non-malt spirit in the lineup for Monday night. However, it has already been released. It’s not part of the August Outturn. I don’t know if there are any other non-malt spirits being released in August. There are usually more bottles that are released beyond the 6 new ones that we are presenting on Monday. The malt lineup has some unusual casks and / or not often seen distilleries. After trying them all last night, I’m very excited to share them with those attending the event.

Followed up the end of the Bladnoch 10 (cask 284 - sad to see it go) with a little of the CVadenhead Linkwood 11 YO CS. Delicious.

Tonight, @jordytropp and his wife came over for dinner and drams. After @jordytropp ran through the drams that we will be pouring on Monday night, we had the following;

25 year Port Askaig (Caol Ila) 45.8% ABV courtesy of @jordytropp. An absolutely sublime Caol Ila.

27 year Glen Garioch from the Classic Cask (45% ABV). Single Cask #149. Distilled 1989. Also, courtesy of @jordytropp

17 year Glenrothes from Old Malt Cask (50% ABV). Distilled in 1985. This was a sample courtesy of someone that I follow on Instagram. The color on this was so dark. The ultimate definition of a sherry bomb, but also very elegant. Possibly the dram of the night.

10 year Dailuaine (SMWS 41.106 - "Masterchef final"). Distilled Feb. 17th, 2007. Refill ex-bourbon barrel. Courtesy of @jordytropp

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.106 (13 year - March 2005) "Red diesel". After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Port hogshead - 58.6% ABV

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.114 (13 year - March 2005) "Barbecue in fish nets". After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Port hogshead - 59.0% ABV. This one was a sample from a co-worker. It was fun to taste these two Glen Scotia's head-to-head. The nose and the palate of this one was just a bit more refined than Red Diesel, but both were very similar, especially on the palate.

Ardmore Traditional Cask (46% ABV). Courtesy of @jordytropp. This bottle was a gift from a friend who stated that it has been in his collection unopened for about 10 years. It definitely tasted different than today's standard Ardmore. A real treat to get to try this.

Finished the night with Laphroaig SMWS 29.226 (18 year - Mar. 1999) - "Seaside surprise" - Refill ex-Oloroso sherry butt - 56.8% ABV. My favorite open bottle right now.

A great night with great friends and great whisky. A huge thanks to @jordytropp and his wife for the whisky, food and homemade cake that they brought over.

I did a little Homework yesterday

Irish Pot still showdown, Power's Signature, Redbreast 12 and Yellow Spot 12, I wanted to understand the style and distillate better and this was really eye-opening.

Later that night I had a little duo of Longrow heavily peated & Kilchoman Red Wine cask 2017, the Longrow was something else distillate driven, mineral, salty pretty awesome, I think I will try it against Lagavulin 8 to see how it behaves.

I’ve spent the long weekend at my folks’ cottage. My mom has a few bottles that we’ve been drinking from, aside from the beer that I brought:

• Glenfiddich 12: this is an odd one. None of the fruit (green apples, pears) that I normally get with this. Lots of milk chocolate and nuts.
• Jameson’s: standard bottle of Jamo. Average in every way.
• Bowmore 12: peatier, smokier and more medicinal than I remember it. Very pleasant, but I’m not sure I’d buy a bottle. Not sure why this inspires so much online hate though....

Currently at the after party of my daughter’s bat-mitzvah with @paddockjudge, @Nosebleed, and some likeminded allies.

This is turning into an epic tasting... more to follow.

@Victor I’m very happy to have bunkered an “extra” 2017 and 2018 Lot 40 CS. I’m taking my time with my open 2018. Time isn’t changing it much, but it’s such a terrific rye that “status quo” is a great place to be with it.