So, what are you drinking now?

@bwmccoy, Hahahaha, I’m sure MM has a fan base, I just can’t feel the love.

@paddockjudge - full disclosure... My wife and I did see M M in concert a few years ago, but I was there for the opening act; Boz Scaggs. He was awesome! Sounded exactly like he did in the 70’s. M M should have been the opening act for Boz!

@bwmccoy, they are a tight knit group, add Toto and Doobie Brothers to the circle. I saw Bozz Scaggs a few years back, magnificent!

Tonight, started with Miltonduff SMWS 72.75 (10 year - Feb. 2008) "The flower of youth" from a refill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.3% ABV.

Next, I did a head-to-head of two Caol Ila’s;

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

Caol Ila SMWS 53.305 (10 year - Sep. 2008) "Totally tropical smoke" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 59.8% ABV.

Wow! What a difference. On the nose, the 11 year is very subtle compared to the 10 year. The 10 year nose reminds me of an Octomore. On the palate, no comparison, the 10 year blows away the 11 year. The 11 year is very good on it’s own, but it is the lesser of these two by a wide margin. Dang, this 10 year is something special.

Last night I had a bit of OGD 114. Powerful bourbon notes (vanilla, caramel) but also light cinnamon and strong spices that a Serge Valentin would struggle to describe. The high rye component is what hits me hardest. This is a wonderful whiskey.

I talked my SO into picking this up for G&T. She approves.

Went to my brother-in-law’s house to watch the Super Bowl. After a few beers;

Braeval SMWS 113.24 (7 year - Oct. 2011) "Attack of the killer florists!" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.4% ABV.

The Big Swirl SMWS 10 year old Blended Malt Batch 07 - Ex-Spanish oak casks + ex-bourbon casks matured for final 2 years in 1st-fill ex-sherry hogshead - 50% ABV.

Ardmore SMWS 66.153 (11 year - May 2007) “Herbs on a grill tray” from a refill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.9% ABV.

Ardmore SMWS 66.154 (10 year - July 2008) “Robocow” from a refill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.8% ABV.

Congrats to Kansas City Chiefs on their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years.

@bwmccoy Not to mention you don't have too many Canadian doctors playing on a winning superbowl team...

Tonight, Glenallachie SMWS 107.16 (7 year - Apr. 2011) "Truly a fairy tale" from a 2nd-fill toasted oak butt - 67.0% ABV.

Drinking local tonight;

Westland Distillery Single Cask # 2549 Single grain (Washington Select Pale Malt) 4 years 2 months in a 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon (Heaven Hills) cask - 60.1% ABV.

Westland Distillery Single Cask #3824 standard 5-grain mashbill (Rum Cask Finish) 54.7% ABV.

I just opened my Alberta Premium 20 Year Old. I’m glad they stuck with the classic kitschy AP bottle style. I may have preferred a synthetic cork topper, but at least the screw cap is a sturdy plastic one, not a flimsy, easily bendable “metal” one.

The nose is a bit odd, so I’m going to catch up on some work-related things and let it breathe for a bit longer.

I've started nosing, sipping, and taking notes. This AP20 is unique, that's for sure. This is a pretty complex whisky that will take several tastings to really understand, and it's intriguing enough that this won't feel like a chore. I have to admit I'm a little disappointed by the low proof which makes the body feel a little on the thin side (I think...first tasting here). But there's a really interesting contrast between the nose and palate. The nose is rather aggressive (and a little bit disjointed) with spice, mint, pine sap, butterscotch and fresh cut wood while the palate is soft and quite fruity.

This is going to sound painstakingly, stereotypically Canadian, but when I first opened and nosed this, I swear I got faint aromas of an idling snowmobile's exhaust. It sounds weird, I know, but it was there in the background. I can't say it was unpleasant. I've often perceived this type of note (though not this exact note) in various Ardbeg expressions, but never in a Canadian whisky.

@OdysseusUnbound I still have not gotten around to opening my AP 20. I simply don't have the time or a place to put it once it's open... But open it I will, and hopefully soon.

@Nozinan Let me know if you’d prefer a sample. That way you can decide if you want to open yours sooner rather than later.

When I was a resident I occasionally used to pop down to the medical student lounge to get cheap pop from the vending machine.

One night on call I went down and put in my 50 cents and pushed “mystery pop”, hoping for lemonade. I got Labatt’s 50. I tried again and got cherry coke. Ugh. With my last 2 quarters I pushed my luck once more and got another 50. There were only ever 2 beers in the machine at any given time. What were the chances? I drank water that night. I put the beers in my call room and the cherry coke in the fridge.

Now, 21 years later, I am having beer on-call for the first time ever!

Well, sort of. And it doesn’t really taste like Hoegaarden... but it’s not bad.

Last night (Wednesday), finished off my bottle of Miltonduff SMWS 72.75 (10 year - Feb. 2008) "The flower of youth" from a refill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.3% ABV.

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

Glenkinchie 12 and loving it!

It's Friday night

For my birthday today, I opened a special bottle that's been collecting dust in my cabinet since 2012.

Bruichladdich Golder Still (23 year old - 1984, bottled 2008) Cask Strength (51% ABV).

Bruichladdich unpeated spirit and bourbon casks: Unique in that the spirit was matured in hand-made squat American bourbon hogsheads – dumpy casks that American Coopers experimented with briefly in the Eighties. This extra wood contact reminds me of an even older style of whisky. Even though this is unpeated, I get the slightest hint of smoke on the nose and in the finish. Could it be from the char in the casks?

Nose: barley, biscuits, vanilla, yellow fruits, sea spray, oak and a hint of smoke.

Palate: warm barley sugar, light bourbon soaked oak, almond and toffee.

Finish: sweet, mellow and very long with a slight hint of smoke.

I love Scotch from the early to mid-eighties. This one does nothing to change that!

치맥 Time!

치 - Chi - for “chi-Ken” - Korean for fried chicken

맥 - Maek - for maek-ju - Korean for beer

Since I and my uncle and brother were enjoying Lagavulin 8, I opted for the alcohol free version. It isn’t quite the same.

@bwmccoy, I have a bottle of Bruichladdich Redder Still that I am dying to open but I have yet to bring myself to do so.

Haha! This is a major problem of mine....

@CanadianNinja - Never seen or tasted a redder still in person. On my bucket list. Very envious! I've been waiting for a long time to open this one. It did not disappoint. It was worth the wait. I'm sure yours will be as well!

Finished the last of my Hazelburn 10 tonight and I’ve opened my Glenfiddich Fire and Cane. Let’s see what this is all about.....

I'm having drams of 11 yr. IB Caol Ila (Berry and G.M). I love IB Caol Ila.

A Canadian friend who has ended up back home `after teaching Jewish/Religious Studies in US universities for some years is frustrated by his rye options. He likes AP, but seems not to have many AP options in Canada. . He spent time with the US options--including the Canadian imports--- so he knows what he likes (spicy, bold). Any suggestions for what I can recommend to him? He doesnt have time for lotteries. He's a generous person when it comes to what he'll drink, but he compared the last Canadian rye he had (Dillon's) to cheap grappa with flavoring. Also, if there is a recommendation, is there a recommendation for ordering him a bottle from either the US or Canada?

Finishing the night with peat!

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.

A heavily peated Glenturret SMWS 16.33 (8 year - Dec. 2009) "Melville’s other monster" from a re-charred hogshead - 62.0% ABV.

Tonight, so far I’ve had:

• Alberta Premium 20 Year: the “snowmobile exhaust” note is gone, and this is a really interesting rye. I want to tuck it back in my cabinet to see what time does to it. Last night I rated my first pour a 86/100. Tonight it’s easily a 88/100.
• Booker’s “Kathleen’s Batch” 2018-01: I finished the bottle tonight. This was a fantastic bourbon. I wish I had another bottle. Review forthcoming.
• Maker’s Mark 46: I just opened this bottle, so we’ll see what this is all about.

Were you to do one, I’d be interested in your review of Maker’s Mark 46 @OdysseusUnbound.

Just poured a glass of OGD 114.

Jones and Reyes are about to throw bones. I’m hoping for a big upset by Reyes!

....Highly doubt it though....

Truly awful judging tonight!!!

Now moving on to a glass of Uigeadail....

@CanadianNinja First impression was favourable, and I will definitely post a review at some point.