So, what are you drinking now?

@Nozinan - Early days, and id like to do a h2h at some point, but it was more the banana and slightly rotting fruit funk that is present in both. Any white rum I've had before, which isn't many, tasted pretty neutral by comparison.

Rating the last of my open bottles; Lagavulin 9 year "House Lannister" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 46% ABV. Rating: 89.

Who cares what we are drinking. It's the how! (Seriously, went to Total Wine in Baltimore because it was on the way to the crab place. No social distancing and high prices. I left without buying a bottle.) www.youtube.com/watch

Two dudes who weren't buying a thing were standing in front of the whisky. I had to let three women go and then waited until the dudes decided not to buy anything. The local shops in B-More (and Pine Orchard) keep things orderly.

Just poured a glass of Bunnahabhain 12! Ralfy’s recent review got me in the mood.

And you all know how much I love my Bunnahabhain whiskies.... ; )

Last night, Braeval SMWS 113.24 (7 year - Oct. 2011) "Attack of the killer florists!" from a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.4% ABV. A surprisingly complex dram for its age.

In honour of @Victor's special day, I did something special.

I have a blended bottle containing 4 of the 6 2015 Booker's batches. The only batch from that year that approaches the 01 (not included) is this blend. Booker's is the first bourbon I bought after @Victor directed me toward it.

OGD 114 is the first whisky he reviewed, and also a bourbon I searched out because of his recommendation.

I am currently giving air (and a few sips) to a 1:1 ratio of these 2 bourbons and the results so far are promising.

While I chart, @Bluenote, of course....

In honor of @Victor‘s birthday, I selected a 34 year single grain Lowland whisky. Why? Because it’s my understanding the single grain is wheat and because it is finished in new oak. It reminds me of the wheated bourbon’s that @Victor shared with me when I visited him a few years ago. I think @Victor would approve of this one.

Girvan SMWS G7.15 (34 year - May 1984) "Mind-altering hugs" - After 32 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a new oak hogshead, heavy toast/medium char for the final 2 years - 57.2% ABV.

Finished the night last night with Lagavulin 9 year "House Lannister" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 46% ABV.

@bwmccoy I have been taking a serious look at the GoT Clynelish. Is that one that you have had?

@Nozinan Be careful not to spill any on the charts.

@Hewie I finally got round to the Tobermory 12. It's a very accessible, very pleasant, very drinkable whisky. It's not one that makes your jaw drop with its power and complexity, but for the price I would say it would make a very decent, first up, daily drinker. 46.3% ABV, non-chillfiltered. Non-peated and aged in bourbon casks, I'll try it again after being open for a while. I'm pretty sure already that I would buy it again.

@BlueNote - I love Clynelish and if the GoT Clynelish would have been an option when my wife purchased the Talisker, Oban and Lagavulin, I would have asked her to pick that one up as well. I’ve not had the chance to try it, but would buy it just because I love Clynelish. I would also be interested in the Cardhu. I have tried the Dalwhinnie and it’s not bad, but I wouldn’t buy it. Not really interested in the Royal Lochnagar or the Singleton GoT bottles, but would try them if offered. The Mortlach that was a late addition to the set seems way over-priced to me; wouldn’t buy it, but would love to try it. I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised with the whiskies in the GoT lineup that I have tried. None of them were home runs, with possibly the exception of the Lagavulin, but all that I have tried were better than I thought they would be.

@BlueNote good to hear that about the Tobermory 12. That has been the role of the older bottle of 10 in my cupboard - a 'first off the rank' daily drinker. And as you say being unpeated, bourbon cask, 46.3% - it's a lovely sipper. I'll be interested to see if you get much of that special funky, farmyard, BO type quality it can possess.

@bwmccoy Many thanks. I'm thinking along the same lines as you: if it's Clynelish it can't be bad.

Cheers

@Hewie I'll give you a progress report after my next visit.

@BlueNote They are electronic charts...and I don't want to short out my computer...

I’m finishing the last of my Laphroaig Quarter Cask. This bottle must have had a hole in it because it disappeared really quickly.

@Nozinan So, no more clipboards hanging on the end of the hospital beds? I really am getting old.

@OdysseusUnbound I know what you mean. I was shocked to see that I had about 2 inches left in a bottle of QC that I swear I just bought. It’s my go to Laphroaig and, apparently, I’m going there a little too often.

Cheers.

I finished the last of my IronWorks Distillery (Lunenburg, NS) Rum Boat Rum, and now I’m having some Foursquare Premise 10 Year (46%) Rum. This one is odd because the nose is really out there with rubber, white glue, and a little fruitiness, but the palate is rich and fruity. There’s quite a disconnect going on, but I dig it nonetheless.

Tonight it’s the Balblair 1997, a house favourite, followed by the NAS Longrow Peated, a dram I am very quickly warming up to. (Ok grammar cops: a dram to which I am very quickly warming up. Or should it be: a dram up to which I am quickly warming?). Can you tell I’ve got too much time on my hands these days? Back to the Longrow and Miles Davis, ESP.

@BlueNote - Nice! I was listening to some Miles Davis earlier while eating lunch on the patio taking in some sun and drinking an IPA with my sandwich. This working from home isn’t all bad.

@BlueNote, that is the type of errant pedantry up with which I will not put.

Last night, Oban Bay Reserve "The Night's Watch" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 43% ABV. This is only the 2nd or 3rd dram since opening recently, but it didn’t taste as good last night as it has previously. I guess more research is needed...

@bwmccoy I'll give you a report on the Clynelish when it arrives. It's around 52%, so I'm expecting a bit more oomph than the Oban.

@MadSingleMalt Nice one, Winston.

Tonight while playing on-line poker with my brother-in-law and some friends, Caol Ila SMWS 53.305 (10 year - Sep. 2008) "Totally tropical smoke" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead" - 59.8% ABV. This is what all non-sherried Islay whisky should taste like.

Kill Devil 17 Hampden Single Cask. I wanted a change and some green funky brine.

Before dinner, made my wife and I Gin and Tonics with the Empress 1908 Gin and Fever Tree tonic. Sadly, killed off the Empress bottle. It will be replaced!

The G&T went down way too quick and I was still in the mood for Gin so I had a small pour of Botanist Gin on ice.

Still in the mood for Gin, so I had a small pour of the best Gin that I have ever had. SMWS GN1.3 from Makar in Glasgow called “Coriander Meander” from a Second-fill barrel. Distilled: August 2017 ABV: 57.8%. There is no need to mix this one with anything. This is sipping Gin at its finest!