So, what are you drinking now?

@Hewie I have had that experience with A'Bunadh and Amrut IS. The IS is (was, before they lowered the ABV - but I digress) fantastic but when I tasted it after the A'Bunadh it was not that great at all. Luckily tried it on its own later on... still a fan.

Last night my wife and I had a quiet drink for her birthday. She had a glass of Pinot Grigio and I had a healthy pour of Hazelburn 10. It’s interesting stuff. The Springbank minerality is still there, mostly on the finish. There’s lots of toffee, vanilla, icing sugar, and a little bit of ripe banana, but there’s also something briny and umami on the nose, like beef broth and mushrooms. Interesting. The finish is much darker than the nose and palate, like dark roast coffee and a little earthiness. I’m going to take my time with this bottle, as it’s not as simple and straightforward as I thought it might be.

@BlueNote thanks for sharing your impressions of the Ardmore. I also enjoyed older Teacher's blend, I forgot that was the peated component for it.

I'll see if it goes on sale this Friday during the Zyn sale madness.

@OdysseusUnbound I can hear your Hazelburrn screaming, "Don't hate me and don't dismiss me just because I am barley-malt whisky, viz. barley and oak. I don't have to have peat, smoke, and wine added in to be interesting. And I do have a touch of brine for your amusement." Yes, sometimes simple barley-malt whiskies will be able to hold your attention and sometimes they will not.

@Nozinan and how good does a glass of Amrut Intermediate Sherry taste after having had a taste of Lambertus 10 yo? The principle is the same: drink the more pure before the less pure. I always say about Van Winkle that it has to be the first thing consumed to be fully appreciated. It is a waste of time to taste Van Winkle in a 20+ whisk(e)y tasting unless one has carefully constructed a clean palate environment for it.

@cricklewood Oh, a ZYN sale? Between the KWM sale and the Craft Cellars sale I have quite a few bottles headed my way. My wife says no ZYN. We’ll see.

@Victor I hope never to know how IS tastes after Lambertus...EVER.

I apologize in advance. I know this isn't whisky, but it was pretty epic and in light of trying other spirits in order to expand the nose and the palate, I thought I would share here. On Monday night, a friend brought 12 Armagnac's from his personal collection and hosted a tasting for me and a couple of other friends.

First up, an 18 year (2000) Le Freche Bas Armagnac bottled for the Houston Bourbon Society, called "Space Cowboy". 49.6% ABV

A 1997 SMWS A3.3 (J. Goudoulin) called "University bonfire". 51.7% ABV

A 38 year (1980) from an unnamed estate that is no longer producing. 49.5% ABV

Labiette Castillo XO 40.0% ABV

1995 Domaine Lous Pibous 56.7% ABV

Chateau Du Tariquet (2012) Centenary bottling. A blend of vintages ranging from 10 to 30 years. 53.5% ABV

Chateau Di Pellehaut 1986 (30 year old) 100% Folle-Blanche. 48% ABV

Next we had a sidecar cocktail made with an Armagnac XO, lemon juice and Liqueur de Poire

Chateau Di Pellehaut 1996 (21 year old) 100% Folle-Blanche. 48% ABV

35 year (1982) Les Bidets Bas Armagnac. 47% ABV

42 year (1974) Domaine de Jouatmaou. 41.1% ABV

Finished the night by killing off the last of the Chateau Di Pellehaut 1986 (30 year old) 100% Folle-Blanche. 48% ABV

Prior to Monday night, I had only tasted 3 Armagnac's. I now have a much better understanding and appreciation for this spirit.

@bwmccoy Any particular standouts? I’ve never had Armagnac, is it similar to cognac?

@Victor Oh this Hazelburn has certainly intrigued me. I really enjoy a well-made “simple” barley and oak malt. And even with a Triple Distillation, Hazelburn remains full of character.

I’m in a bourbon kind of mood tonight so I had a pour of Russell’s Reserve 10 Year and I’m following it up with a pour of Booker’s. The RR is much deeper on the nose. I’m surprised at how bright the Booker’s is after the Russell’s.

@bwmccoy, I'm in awe of your line-up. I'm a big fan of Armagnac.

@paddockjudge - Thanks. It was incredibly generous of my friend to bring out not only so many, but some of the best of his collection. This all started because he was attending one of the Society tastings that @jordytropp and I were presenting a few months ago. On that night, we finished with a Society Armagnac. I was explaining to my friend that I didn’t have any experience with Armagnac. He said he was willing to share his knowledge, passion and cabinet with me, if I would be interested to learn more. Absolutely! There’s no way I would turn down an offer like that!

@BlueNote - To me, Armagnac is less sweet and less “winey” (grape) than Cognac or Brandy. It is also less “commercial”. Apparently, only 4 companies produce about 95% of all Cognac, where most Armagnac is small producers. Most are the vineyards themselves that make Armagnac only 1 or 2 weeks out of the year that is made using a traveling (mobile) Column still. (Cognac is distilled in Pot stills). For me, Armagnac is more “earthy” and wood influenced and therefore, makes it more of a whisky drinkers brandy. As for standouts, there were 3; the 18 year (2000) Le Freche Bas Armagnac bottled for the Houston Bourbon Society, called "Space Cowboy". This one actually reminded me a lot of a Bourbon! Also, the 38 year (1980) from an unnamed estate that is no longer producing and finally my favorite was the Chateau Di Pellehaut 1986 (30 year old) 100% Folle-Blanche grape. Apparently, it is rare to have an Armagnac made from this one grape varietal.

Sorry for the long post.

Over the past two nights, I have started preparing for the Society tasting that @jordytropp and I will be leading this coming Monday night. I have sampled 3 of the 7 whiskies that we will be pouring. Since it’s a blind tasting, I won’t reveal details yet, but will do so on Monday night after the event.

@bwmccoy Very informative. Thank you.

@bwmccoy great fun! I've been treated to a few 20 and 30 yo Armagnacs and Cognacs. They can be absolutely fabulous. It took me some direct experience of them to appreciate how much they have to offer. It has been very eye opening.

Tonight I'm having Seven Rebels by Wiser's. A tasty blend that has a strong resemblance to Wiser's Legacy, sweeter and with a hint of Sherry cask.

Thank you Kris Kringle

I'm raising a glass (or two) to my Southern neighbors on this U.S. Thanksgiving. I had a small pour of Russell's Ruserve to "warm-up" and now I'm having the last of my Stagg Jr (Batch 9, 65.95% abv). Review of the Stagg Jr should be posted within a day or two. I'm sad to see this one go. I only hope my next bottle (Batch 11) is as good as Batch 9 was. Yummy. From start to finish, this bourbon was way smooooooooother than the abv % would lead one to believe.

Yesterday, at my brother-in-law’s for Thanksgiving dinner, we had;

12 year (6 March 2006) Ardmore (SMWS 66.131 - “Full steam ahead”) from an ex-bourbon refill hogshead. 57.5% ABV

Ardbeg 10 year (forgot to get the batch number)

9 year (22 October 2008) Bunnahabhain (SMWS 10.162 - “Big wave sofa”) finished in a first-fill Oloroso hogshead after maturing most of the time in an ex-bourbon hogshead. 61.4% ABV

Finished with Balvenie 12-year Doublewood.

2019 release Van Winkle 10 yo, 12 yo, and 15 yo bourbons; 2019 release George T. Stagg, Thomas H. Handy Rye, and William Larue Weller; Old Pepper (MGPI) Bourbon and Old Pepper Rye; and Corazon Tequila 'finished' in 1792 bourbon barrels, Blanton's barrels, and W.L.Weller barrels.

That 2019 12 yo Van Winkle "Lot B" is very caramel-y, more than I would prefer. The PVW15 this year seems less pointed/zippy than usual. I would still be happy buying a bottle at $150, though. The Handy is outstanding, and very easy to drink. William Larue Weller is always a slice of Heaven, every year. The 2019 George T. Stagg did reflect a less intense approach than usual, in keeping with its very low ABV-- 58.25% ABV The Horror!. Quite enjoyable and approachable despite the low ABV horror.

We liked both of the Old Peppers. My sister bought a bottle of the Old Pepper Rye and also a bottle of the Corazon in Blanton's barrels.

This store will continue to pour out these bottles free to their customers today, until the bottles are empty, or the store reaches its 8 pm closing time.

Erratum: 58.45% ABV for 2019 George T.Stagg.

@OdysseusUnbound I have only had the Oloroso version of Hazelburn, but I love it. I wonder if a 1:1 mix of sherried Hazelburn with Longrow would taste like Springbank.

Right now: Springbsnk 12 CS 56.2. Wonderful. I'll have to save the heel to compare with the higher proof one that I have yet to open.

Let's raise a glass in honour of the Scotland - her people and their spirit

5 CC of Wild Turkey Rare Breed, just to see if I would regret having purchased a backup of it from the Zyn Black Friday sale. I did not.

A few small pours of Montelobos mezca l this week. I'm turning to it over whisky to be honest as it makes a great change and is something new for the senses. Dangerously easy to drink ...

Last night, had a dram of Bladnoch SMWS 50.56 (23 year - July 1990) ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!’ - Refill barrel - 60.3% ABV while watching the first James Bond movie “Dr. No”.

@bwmccoy - 'underneath the mango tree' ... A scene forever burned into my memory

@bwmccoy The Connery years; the best years by far. The Moore/ Brosnan years the worst. The jury's out on the Craig years. I hope that lovely sounding Bladnoch was neither shaken nor stirred.

This afternoon three friends and I will be digging into the dozen samples of Canadian whisky so thoughtfully chosen and sent to my by @paddockjudge. Each of us will record our thoughts and report back. We should each get a 10-15ml taste of each of the whiskies. I'm sure that will finish me off for this chilly Saturday.

@BlueNote, looking forward to the interpretations from the group session.

Wiser's Seven Rebels, a BC Liquor Stores exclusive. Having an after dark dram in a small brandy-style snifter whilst awaiting the completion of back ribs and wings in the oven. This one is opening up nicely after dipping below the bottle shoulder and getting some air. The new oak is shining through, Speyside casks continue to accent the rye flavours. a bit sharper than when I opened it. Easy entry, hot finish.I'm liking this, a lot!

A big thank you to @Bluenote for his generosity and thoughtfulness, it is very much appreciated.

We put up the Christmas tree tonight and I was planning to open a new bottle to celebrate, but I’m still in a bourbon mood so it was:

• Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: this gets better with every pour.
• Booker’s “Kathleen’s Batch”: it’s a shame this one is so expensive. Very different character than the Russell’s but just as delightful.
• Weller 12 Year: Hallelujah! After 19 months of air exposure, the bitter, cough syrup note on the finish seems to be gone. This is finally drinkable and enjoyable. Though I have to say, I still think I prefer the Antique 107. I’ll have to try it on a fresh palate to assess properly.