So, what are you drinking now?

@OdysseusUnbound

I look forward to your review. I recommend a medical attendant be present.

Last night, Westland SMWS 133.1 (5 year - October 2011) - "Speakeasy sneaky peeky" Virgin oak barrell/Heavy char - 57.0% ABV. Down to the last couple of drams in the bottle.

It only took my girlfriend 5 minutes of "I wonder what it tastes like" questions/manipulation to get me to crack open newly acquired Ben Nevis 10

I have tried Indy Ben Nevis before but never this official one, very interesting style. Shoe polish, walnut liqueur, oranges, sooty but not peaty. This is going to be a fun one.

@cricklewood - Glad to hear first impressions were good! I recently finished off my bottle and it got better with time and air but it was also great as soon as it was popped - perhaps more gingery and with more bite at the start.

Last night, a Talisker 10 - I'm really enjoying this bottle. Yes, the body is a bit thin but there's lots of that classic toffee, brine, smoke and peppery finish but also some tropical fruit notes are starting to emerge - similar to what's in the 18 but less 'ripe', if you get my meaning?

Then a Laphroaig 10 CS - I started neat but as this bottle has begun to lose some of that initial peaty hit I found it much better with some water. When it gets going the medicinal peat is up to 11 and there's a lovely vanilla and creamy malt note underneath. I'm still 'getting acquainted' but have to say this was worth the wait. Good to note that this will, apparently, be a regular on these Isles now, hurray!

@cricklewood Ben Nevis is all the rage these days. I love that Ten. I wish we could get it on this side of the continent.

I opened a Montelobos Espadin mezcal this afternoon while making dinner - I was planning to save this till xmas but my better-half peer pressured me, honest!

My first taste of mezcal and I am very impressed - probably a convert to the agave espadin based on this experience! It's medicinal going on industrial on the nose with a roasted herbal quality, dense and yet light (slight hints of Ardbeg 10 actually - that kind of lime sourness and mineral dryness). Very sweet on the arrival but it morphs into quite a more vegetal, drying and seemingly tannic finish. I'm amazed this hasn't had any time in oak! She got honey on the nose and taste but to me it's more like sugar cane juice mixed with asparagus.

Fans of young peaty whiskys would no doubt enjoy this as much as me.

There's already quite a dent in the bottle; it's so easy and 'zippy' to drink ...

@BlueNote - It's available here, sporadically, but recently jumped from £30 to £50. I like it a lot but I think there's better value for money elsewhere. It went from a 'Steal of a Deal' to a 'How much?' rather swiftly

@RianC The law of supply and demand has kicked in it seems.

Last night I had a dram from my half full and neglected bottle of Talisker Distiller's Edition. Very enjoyable. I must do it more often. Tonight I think I'll visit my equally neglected bottle of 10 year old. I seem to quite often forget about Talisker and have to remind myself that it's really very good.

Friday night dinner at our house. My son’s birthday tomorrow so we hosted 19. I BBQed steaks cut by my wife from a tenderloin. Also cedar plank salmon. Yum.

Before starting I dug out my 200 cc bottle of Canadian Club. It’s the fifth anniversary of my father’s death. CC On ice was his go to drink after work when I was a kid. Just like those Days I asked him for a sip. Just like those days I went “ugh”.

A few people (wife included) wanted mojitos. Good thing I had simple syrup left from the last party. I used overproof white rum.

For my uncle and for me, Amrut CS “original” special edition 2007. It’s been 5 hours and I’m still sipping it. It is, in my opinion, better than that batches that have come since.

Tonight it is a Rye flight line-up. A few weeks back I opened up a long holstered backup of the Pikesville Rye. It is currently on sale in Virginia for $44.95. I want to see if I need to pick up more while the price is right. I also recently picked up two bottles of Russel’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye at 52% on closeout (so half price). And I just want to see how they stack up in blind line up.

So I picked the 6 ryes. My wife poured 15mL of each (measured) which were labeled on the bottom of the glass. They were then totally mixed up so neither of us knew the order. As I nose and write down my note I try not to guess or “figure out” the whisky until the end. I have found that if I peg a whisky early on the mind associates “expected” findings. So I only guess when I am finished before the reveal. Here is the short version of my impressions tonight.

Russel’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye 52% – This was the lowest scoring of the night. I really liked the nose. It was very earthy with lots of herbs and a good mix of rye. My favorite part was the nose. It seemed to fall off after that. The palate was more laid back. And the finish was more a disappointment. All in all I would have called it a “good rye.” But against the others in the lineup tonight it came in last place. Not a stand out by any means. If I had paid $65 I would have been disappointed. But having only paid $32.59 . . . I would call it a good deal. I ended up correctly guessing it. = 87

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 56.6% (2017) – This one was super sweet. The nose was extremely thick maple syrup and was really leaning towards a rum in thick sweetness. Very little that I would have called rye. In addition to the maple syrup there was a cola note. It was certainly interesting, but the least “rye” of the night. I found it too sweet on the palate very little spice. And again overly sweet on the finish. I enjoyed the thick richness . . . but I really wish there had been some spice or some rye notes to balance out the maple syrup and cola sweetness. I incorrectly guessed this as Pikesville. = 88

Whistle Pig Rye 10yo 55.1% (It is really 12 years and 8 months and a barrel pick for Barrels & Brews. It is MGP rye. I talked with the guy who picked it.) – I loved the nose on this. It was total rye spice, thick, herbal, rye bread, and earthy. The rye was the star. I do like the MGP ryes. This particular barrel was thinner than I would have liked or expected on the palate. Still very nice. But after the nose you expect a thick rye on the palate with a huge rye finish. That was not the case. The finish was a medium blast of rye with low levels of spice and a shorter than expected finish. It is another example of the nose being fantastic . . . which can set you up to be disappointed. It is still a fantastic whisky. But when you realize it is 55.1% and over 12 years old . . . you hoped for more. I also guessed this correctly. = 89

Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye 9yo 59.8% (2009-2018) – From the nose it was nearly impossible to not guess this one. I find Knob Creek Rye to be extremely distinctive. They are very woody, earthy, and funky. I call it a dirty funky. There is an herbal quality to it, but it isn’t clean. I tend to not prefer this nose. This night I really tried to suppress my expectations for this being the KCCSR 9yo. I really wanted to see what I thought of it as a whisky. I did appreciate the nose. It was quite thick and rich and bordered on being offensive without going over the line. The palate was a bit too woody and funky for me. It actually seemed dull on the palate. I would not have guessed it anywhere near 60% ABV. But the finish was my favorite part. A huge explosion of rye, spice and funk that quickly faded to a delightful spicy residue. All in all the journey ended up being almost a reverse of the Whistle Pig. They both had wonderful moments and odd disjointed moments. In the end I guessed it correctly. And this is the highest I have ever scored this bottle. This goes to affirm my theory that ryes only get better with air. Over the last year I have scored it 84, 87 and tonight. = 89

Thomas H. Handy 63.45% 126.9 Proof 2015 6 years and 2 months – That is why I included it in the lineup and not the 2016 or the 2010. The nose on this one totally threw me. I said the rye is not the star the herbs are not the star . . . nothing is the star. It seemed very subdued. This is a case where I now believe the glass I was using was suppressing most of the nose. I need to try this again with a wider (cognac style) glass. The palate totally caught me off guard. It was my favorite of the night. It was massive, big, bold rye with spices and sweetness. It had a wonderful blend of wood, rye, sweetness and spice. I was totally blown away after the nose. The finish wasn’t quite as good as the palate, but it was still a massive blast of rye that quickly faded to a spice fest. This was the most interesting spice ending of the night by far. I had no idea which bottle this was and I incorrectly guessed it as Michter’s. Nope. = 91.5

The journey of this particular batch of THH has been odd. I loved it when I first opened it . . . but I quickly fell out of love. To date it is the 2nd lowest scoring Handy I have owned (2014 was my least favorite. My scores for this 2016 Handy have been: 95, 92, 91.5, 91.5, 93 and now this 91.5 again. I very rarely give a half point score. But this one seemed to warrant it tonight. Looking back . . . that is just what I do with this bottle.

Pikesville Straight Rye 6yo 55% - This was another total shock to me. I thought the nose was sort of dull but with some interesting notes of sweetness, rye, and smoke. It wasn’t sweet or overly anything. I called the nose as being right on the line of an A- and a B+ so a true 90 score. I enjoyed both the palate and the finish far more than the nose. It had that razor sharp rye note I can really like. The finish was one of the best of the night. Huge waves of rye spice rolling over you again and again. It wasn’t the most balanced, or complex, or deep of the night. But there was something about it that kept brining me back. I went back and forth with this one and what turned out to be the Handy. I almost scored them a tie. I finally decided to drop the Handy from a 92 to a 91.5 and give this one the slight edge at = 92

Obviously, the tasting was a shock for me. My favorite Rye of the night was also the cheapest and the most readily available for my area. Clearly, I need to go out and buy more while it is still on sale at $44.99. I almost hate it when that happens.

@Nock - A great read, thanks. I can't get most of those ryes where I am but I do have a Pikesville on the go and rated it exactly as you did, 92. I agree that the nose seems relatively subdued but flavour wise it seems to burst on one's palate with sweet spices. A great whiskey and one I really should try to get more of - goes for c£75 here, at the price you get I'd be seeking out a case ...

@Nock, my kind of line-up, I am a Rye Hound! Pikesville 6YO 110 proof is my gold standard for Rye. I’m convinced I keep two bottles on hand solely for the purpose of being a check for all other Ryes. Seldom do I drink this on its own. I would have liked to see Little Book 2 in the line-up due to the fact that 2 of its three component parts were included in this tasting. I believe that LB2 is a masterful blend consisting of KCSB Rye, Alberta Distillers Ltd 13 YO Rye (Whistlepig), and 40 YO Canadian Club corn.

I agree with your ranking of the six, having WP and KC rated as the middle scores, Russell and Michter’s as book ends with Handy and Pikesville.

These multi-bottle flights are exhausting, both mentally and physically, but they are FUN. This is the style of whisky I find the most enjoyable. Rye warms my core and and awakens my senses. Thank you for sharing.

@Nozinan Wow! Do you ever look like your father! It’s uncanny. If I understand correctly, the taste (not the emotional quality) of the Amrut far surpasses the CC?

@OdysseusUnbound I don't think I look very much like my father, more like my grandfather. In fact @Nosebleed used an app to age me and I looked a LOT more like my grandfather than I do now.

But yes, the Amrut was a more complex, flavourful whisky than the CC. And since I poured it before 7 and it lasted through dinner and past 11, I think the air (and few drops of water at the outset) really opened it up. It was really fantastic last night. I wonder if any from that edition are still lurking in Calgary...that could be the next dusty search.

I’m currently enjoying my first dram of Russell’s Reserve 10 Year. First impression: typical Wild Turkey profile, quite pleasant, but not an improvement over the 101. We’ll see how this bottle evolves...

Yes, @paddockjudge, I think rye is where we might find a meeting of the minds. My favorite style of spirit is going to be peated single malt. After that come Rye in second place. Then bourbon, and then sherried single malt . . . and then other forms of malt etc.

I also would have liked to see Little Book 2 in the line up . . . but I simply never saw it here in Virginia. The same goes for Little Book 3. The only one I saw with the 1st Little Book. After that it all went to the lottery system.

Did you note that my bottle of Whistle Pig was not Alberta Distillers, but MGP. It was one of the barrels that Whitle Pig sourced from the Indiana distillery. And my guess is that it is one that Willett passed on. I liked the nose, but felt it was thin on the palate and finish. I have a Willett 7yo sourced from MGP that is amazingly thick. I hoped this 12yo single barrel would be similar . . . not quite.

I agree that a 6 flight blind tasting is exhausting – but super fun! I am happy for all who were entertained reading through my experience.

About to have my first taste of Old Ezra 7 YO Barrel Strength Bourbon. First impression on the nose is that it reminds me of Old Granddad 114, which is good. But I hope that it ends up bringing something else to the table because OGD 114 is less than half the price... and I have a good supply of it.

Tossing up between the Port Charlotte 10 and the Cooper’s Choice 2001 Ardmore.

And the winner is:

@Nock, MGPI Rye in a Whistlepig bottle, yes, I picked up on that, It was the perfect time to introduce LB2 to the discussion and I couldn’t pass.

I’ve done scores of these multi tastings of RYE. They sometimes last a week. One is removed and two added. Three removed, two more subbed in. It is a very good way to become intimately acquainted with each of these.

I usually employ a Lazy Susan, going round and round visiting each glass repeatedly until the drill is completed. The result is three or four ounces of spinning whisky consumed in a couple of hours at most. It is FUN, but taxing. There are times when it all becomes too much for me and I simply blend the remaining portions into one glass. This yields some interesting results and reveals, often surprisingly, which whiskies are likely to dominate a blend.

I’ve ventured into Little Book territory many times, intentionally or otherwise. I think the Little Book series is a bold and brilliant move which allows us an opportunity to sample what I presume to be cherry-picked barrels, many of which have different age statements than what is available from retail trade.

@BlueNote How are you enjoying the Ardmore 2001?

Alberta Premium 30 years old. I am celebrating the 33-12 victory by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League's 107th Grey Cup Championship game. Alberta Premium is made at the Alberta Distillers Limited Distillery in Calgary, Alberta, the location for this game. Congratulations, Blue Bombers!

@Victor, I followed your lead with a pour of AP30 to represent Calgary as the host of both Grey Cup 107 and ADL, Crown Royal Monarch to represent Manitoba, the home of both Winnipeg and CR, and a splash of Forty Creek Heart of Gold to salute Hamilton which is a short distance from the FC distillery. Surprisingly good, it punches above its low abv of about 41%.

Late post; last night (Saturday), had a family poker night at our house. Mainly a beer drinking night, but after the poker game, my brother-in-law and I had the following;

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

Glenturret SMWS 16.33 (8 year - Dec. 2009) "Melville’s other monster" - Re-charred hogshead - 62.0% ABV

Laphroaig SMWS 29.226 (18 year - Mar. 1999) - "Seaside surprise" - Refill ex-Oloroso sherry butt - 56.8% ABV

@cricklewood It's the first Ardmore I've had and I like its non-Islay style of peat. I've had good success with a number of Cooper's Choice offerings and I would buy this one again. I would like to also try an OB Ardmore, but they seem hard to come by. The high Ardmore component is the reason I used to like the Teacher's blend years ago.

Last night I had a dram from my half empty bottle of Port Charlotte 10. It may have been a taste bud thing, but I found it had become slightly bland. Less peaty and more sweet. It could be that I'd had a dram of Uigeadail earlier. I hope so because I just ordered another one.

Orange soda.

Raptors are playing the 76ers and are up by 2 at half time. I’m here with my son (birthday present) and cousins.

Great seats!!! You can see everything and we are blocking no one...

After a healthy dram of Benromach Cask Strength, I decided to pour one of Kilchoman 100% Islay 8th edition, this bottle isn't long for this world it's already down to a 1/3rd and I've enjoyed it thoroughly.

Tonight though after the Benromach the pleasant caramel sweetness is cloying and the herbal contrast is bitter AF...oh well I'll remember this isn't a good pairing.

@cricklewood sometimes some whiskies just don't go well back to back - live and learn