So, what are you drinking now?

@Hewie, where are you?...seriously, in which part of New Zealand do you reside?

@Victor, I just finished up my first bottle of Kavalan Solist at the end of the year. A bottle that was acquired by trade with a friend I met here actually.

One of the best sherried whiskies I’ve ever had.

@paddockjudge Cheers!

@paddockjudge hey there. I'm in the lower North Island. The region is called the Manawatu, and my city is Palmerston North. Just back from holiday up in Tauranga. You commin' to visit?

@Hewie, I wish a visit was being planned.

@Hewie, check your pm

@CanadianNinja yes, I've been a huge fan of Kavalan Solist Sherry since I first tasted it in early May of 2014. We never see it or Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique offered for sale in my region. My sister's bottle is the first time a full bottle of it has come within range of my tasting glasses.

Luckily for me @Victor, most in the Kavalan range is readily available for us in Japan.

....But I’ve been noticing the prices are slowly getting higher and higher...

Before dinner, Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Cask # 2549 Single cask release, cask strength (4 years 2 months) made with only Washington select pale malt - 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon (Heaven Hills) cask - 60.1% ABV.

After dinner, compared 3 Glen Scotia’s head-to-head. I’ve never tried a Glen Scotia official bottling until @jordytropp gave me a sample of Victoriana; a cask strength distillery offering. Thanks @jordytropp!

First up Victoriana. Nose: sweet campbeltown funk, black liquorice and oak. Palate: funk, dark fruits and unsweetened chocolate (cocoa). Summary: a quality cask strength offering with everything you would expect from this distillery and region. Thanks again @jordytropp for the sample!

Next up Glen Scotia SMWS 93.112 (14 year - Feb. 2004) "Sweet and grubby" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 53.7% ABV. Nose: muted campbeltown funk without the sweetness or the liquorice found in the Victoriana. Palate: a lot of similarities, but “dirtier”. Also, salted caramel fudge and honey. Summary: I like this one, but don’t love it. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it just doesn’t have that “X” factor that would make it better, in my opinion.

Finally, 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. Nose: light smoke and funk with some earthy, red wine notes. Palate: dried red fruits, iodine, strawberry jam, peat and bonfire ash. Summary: For me, this is the clear winner of the 3, followed by Victoriana, then “Sweet and grubby”.

I have a friend that was able to order a bottle of the Kilchoman Club 8th Edition. He was nice enough to share a dram with me. Boy I wish I had ordered one of these! It was very reminiscent of a Lagavulin to both of us so I poured us some Lagavulin 16 to compare. The Kilchoman has a much more oily mouthfeel and is much more viscous than the Lagavulin 16. This is a vatting consisting of 3 bourbon barrels and one oloroso sherry butt to round it out. Peat is definitely present and seems on the same level as the Lagavulin 16. So far, this is one of my favorite drams in awhile.

Detailed label information:

and the drams!

First, big thanks to @Wodha for starting this thread over a decade ago ... Waaaay before my time on here but a favourite thread of mine for sure!

Back to task - SMWS 66.139. Deerstalkers and Hillwalkers 12. Which, I believe, is code for Ardmore ;)

First taste of a sample from @Wierdo. Nicely sweet nose with some tart fruit notes, green apple and sharp raspberries that kind of thing, with some creamy vanilla poking through. A little smoke in the background. Taste is sharp and tart with more green apple and A much bigger tang of peat than the nose suggested. Finish is quite tannic with more sharpness and vanilla.

On first impressions this is OK but leans a bit too much to the sharp side for my own tastes. It reminds me a little of a single cask Balvenie I once had. The sourness and bitter grain notes really dominate.

@TracerBullet Nice. Looks like it took some colour from the sherry cask.

Tonight, Copperworks Distilling Company (Seattle, WA) American Single Malt Whiskey Single Cask No. 97 Release No. 16. Aged 38 months in a new French oak cask - 58.9% ABV.

And Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Single Cask #3824 (Rum Cask Finish) 54.7% ABV.

Tonight, Glen Ord SMWS 77.57 (9 year - Apr. 2009) "Down the old wax mines" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 59.1% ABV.

And Caol Ila SMWS 53.298 (11 year - September 2007) "Tokaji and tug boats" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 60.0% ABV.

About to enjoy a glass of one that is a constant staple of my collection... Old Grand Dad 114.

Balvenie 14 YO Golden Cask. Yes it survived the move to my aunt and uncle’s new address (packed away for some months). It was the only open scotch and I find that even though it is less than 1 fifth full and I gassed, it remains a solid dram.

I'm currently sipping a blind sample given to me by @Nozinan . I'm trying to focus on nosing and tasting without jumping to guesses, but my brain keeps trying to play tricks on me.

@Nozinan, have you ever had the Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask?

I absolutely loved the bottle I had. If I remember correctly, it was my first introduction to Balvenie.

@CanadianNinja 'm not sure if I have tried the Caribbean cask. I'm not even sure how different they are. Both 14 YO, both rum casks. could they be the same whisky with different names, like Benromach 10/100 proof and in the US- Imperial proof?

@Nozinan, check this out.

cigarpass.com/community/threads/…

This particular comment makes sense. Perhaps this is the case?

‘The Golden Cask is a "travel retail only" release, is stronger (47.5% ABV) and is un-chill filtered. The Caribbean Cask is 43%, and probably chill filtered. I can't find anything about the period spent in rum casks, but it could certainly be different, or different rums. I'd definitely get the Golden Cask now, and as the Caribbean Cask is part of the standard line now, you can get it any time if you want (although what I've seen of the reviews say it's not anything all that special).’

He’s wrong of course about the Caribbean Cask being chill filtered.

....And about it ‘not being anything special’! ....IMO.

@CanadianNinja @Nozinan - id never heard of the Golden cask version but want to try it now. The Caribbean cask is definitely chill filtered though but agree it is a tasty, if very sweet, dram.

‘The Caribbean cask is definitely chill filtered though...’

It seems you are correct @RianC!

I was of the thinking that all of Balvenie’s line was non chill-filtered....

Tonight, Auchentoshan 16 year (Jan. 2003) from a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 55.9% ABV

Enjoy @bwmccoy!

@CanadianNinja Balvenie are one of those half and half distilleries that pump out the 40% C.F. stuff but also offer their fair share of 'craft' (eulgh ... shudders) bottlings. I get why but it's a shame they don't fully commit.

@RianC, is there any other word that has come as close to losing its meaning in the industry than ‘craft’!? Haha!

Last night a Springbank 15, which is now definitely showing its many talents. Not exactly my favourite style but the quality and craftsmanship are without question.

Then a Wisers Dissertation. This is starting to open up nicely too and has lovely notes of toffee and rounded spice notes with some sweet menthol. Finish is lovely with a gorgeous balance between oak and sweet; almost zero bitterness.

I also had a Theakston's Old Perculiar ale with dinner. Well, I opened a bottle but drank little of it as it had a certain tangy flavour that I wasnt getting on with. It was also a poor choice to accompany spicy noodles and tuna steaks. We live and learn