So, what are you drinking now?

Sitting down to watch an oldie but a goodie: Sharky's Machine - at least I'm hoping it's a goodie. I haven't seen it since probably the early-to-mid nineties, but I remember liking it.

To accompany me on this walk down memory lane I decided to open up one of my bunkered treasures: Last Barrels. I've only had a sip so far, but it definitely is as good as I remember it. Simply delicious, and can best be described as the love child of bourbon and classic Canadian whisky. It's times like these I wish I had stocked up even more, but then again, there's too much whisky in the world to be drinking the same thing all the time.

Anywho, here's to you Burt!

@Nock that's a very good representation of the ongoing saga of Macallan, a once revered brand that was really elevated by a certain segment of the market that it has since turned it's back on. You can pinpoint the shift towards the "idea" of premiumization in Edrington's portfolio. Macallan's pivot towards using more cost effective bourbon casks in their "fine oak" range, the pole dancer series and then the multiplication of NAS decanter or numbered collectors series (editions & concept). You can see the same thing with Highland Park, the Earl of Magnus series led the way for the Norse gods and all kinds of other "limited" editions of 30,000 units

Sample kills:

Two Brewers Peated Release 12, Kilkerran 15 single cask, Naked Grouse, and Little Book Chapter 2.

Savouring the last 4oz of a Deanston 2009 Red Wine Bordeaux.

Sipping on some Great King's Street, waiting to open something funkier. If this is what grain tastes like, I like it better than many other blends

The funkier one will be the Wee Beastie, but not tonight.

@Nelom I guess you know that band!

@Nelom Reading the book about Charlie Watts written by the drummer of this band. I saw them open for the Ramones and entirely forget it.

The film is ok.

www.youtube.com/watch

@Nelom it was not Burt that stood out in the movie. It was the female lead and the sound of her voice.

My wife is planning a h3h blind tasting of Ardbeg when the pneumonia meds wear off. She makes masks "for the masses"--folks in Baltimore who can't afford them. I'm in charge of logistics and procurement :)

Sometimes what is called "virtue signaling" is just being a Mensch (a dignified human being). Don't profiteer from other people's misery. We give our masks for free and the special ones for auctions to benefit folks in Baltimore who can't do anything without a face covering....

These masks look dignified as well. My wife is a maker.

www.gofundme.com/f/masks-4masses

In any case, looking forward to the Wee Beastie. (This platform is not very good when it comes to editing or deleting--god bless, though--my wife works as an IT analyst).

@Victor I'm guessing that the 12 sherry cask has been replaced by that bloody awful 12 year old double cask. You are lucky to have a good supply at hand.

@cricklewood and @Nock Is this where the Golden Promise Barley went into?

scotchwhisky.com/magazine/latest-news/…

My nephew will be receiving this gift. A so to be expected husband and father, to be.

@paddockjudge Yeah, that's the one I think they are replacing it with. It's a flat out weakling compared to the old 12 Sherry Cask. Tried it once, never went back.

@BlueNote They are out of the Sherry Cask already? That was already meh.

@Nock Great post, very informative. Thank you. I can tell you one thing for sure, from personal experience: The visitor centre at that fancy ass new distillery is the coldest, most unwelcoming, jumped up, all over itself whisky experience I have ever had. At last count I have visited 36 distilleries since 2011, including the old Macallan distillery, and this one stands out as a monumental disappointment. The building is a wonderful example of architectural form following natural landscape, the location is gorgeous, the Highland cows in the field are the icing on the cake. It's inside where it all falls apart. Uniformed staff people follow you around making sure you don't steal anything, everything is more expensive than in any other visitor centre. You don't pay more than 5 pounds for a branded Glencairn anywhere else except Macallan where they are 7.50 GBP. If you want to taste anything you have to sign up for the overpriced tour. The once mighty and respected Macallan has lost its way, at least for us regular whisky peasants.

@cricklewood "...a once revered brand that was elevated by a certain segment of the market which it has since turned its back on." That's it in a nutshell, brother. Well put.

Waiting for the charcoal coals to get ready in the Weber grill, sitting on the patio with an old friend (no, not a person). An old (released Summer 2016) Westland Single Cask #3824 (Rum Cask Finish), 54.7% ABV.

@Nock, great post on your take on recent Macallan changes. I’ll be brief with my comment. Sherry fixes EVERYTHING. It is the barrels/barrel treatments that has changed.

Elijah Craig for the second time. It's still good without the age statement--lots of flavor, hardly any trace of alcohol-- but I should have purchased the handle of Buffalo Trace when I had the chance a few weeks ago. (My wife said it would be a deal breaker! No joke.)

I'll be eating up two more of those Ardbeg 5s. I was one of the suckers who would run out and drive two hours for Ardbeg Day, not that I would ever ever regret that journey. Ardbog was a good yield at one point. (One friend didn't appreciate what it was. He paid me back for it, but that's a bottle that one cannot just buy.)

I might change my mind, but I just opened my Ardbeg 5 to sniff (so that I'm not just talking or buying shit), but this smells...very, very good.

@OdysseusUnbound Lot 40 CS 2019 also is excellent for blending with Wiser's 23 Cask Blend. A recommendation from @paddockjudge.

Just broke down and tasted the Ardbeg 5. This is great and the finish is smokey sweet. For me, this is in Kilchoman territory. And better than some Kilchoman expressions.

(Ducks: Ok, make fun of my descriptors.)

I'm getting curbside service for another one of these babies.

After dinner, while studying distillation theory, Glenallachie SMWS 107.16 (7 year - Apr. 2011) "Truly a fairy tale" from a 2nd-fill toasted oak butt - 67.0% ABV.

Followed by Glen Scotia SMWS 93.112 (14 year - Feb. 2004) "Sweet and grubby" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 53.7% ABV.

Jonathan replied @Nelom I guess you know that band!

@Jonathan Actually, I'd never heard of it until just now.

fiddich1980 replied @Nelom it was not Burt that stood out in the movie. It was the female lead and the sound of her voice.

@fiddich1980 You're not wrong that she's memorable.

As for the movie, there was a lot about it I had forgotten, so it was a fun experience seeing it again. It held up quite well I must say. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Had some Springbank 15 while watching The House That Jack Built, last night. This one is such a mood dependant whisky, for me, but I enjoyed it quite a lot - seemed less funky and more smokey, perhaps a touch more 'together'? As for the film ... Well, Matt Dillon was tremendous but that Lars Von Trier sure does like to bait the audience. That said, I did laugh out loud a few times and then felt awful for doing it!

Ended up having a nerve steadying night cap of Rum66. I'm really enjoying this and glad I bought it - if this is what Bajan rum is about then I'm sold! Not as estery as Jamaican rum and it has this dry, traditional cola note I'm really liking. Perfect level of sweetness for me too.

Pepper Straight Rye. This is great stuff. I have some Elijah Craig, Orange bitters, vermouth...thinking of a mixed drink. I usually don't make them. Any recommendations?

@Jonathan Manhattan? Boulevardier?

@RianC Same for me on the Springbank 15. I’m down to the last quarter of the bottle and actually starting to like it (I might be just trying to convince myself that I like it) It’s been open about 6-8 months and has had lots of air. I really did not like it at all until very recently. Nonetheless, I won’t be buying another one.

Right now I am doing a HtoH with the Lagavulin 8 and Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Today the decision goes to the Lag 8 which I am finding more complex and more in keeping with what my palate responds to. Could be different on a different day.

Tonight’s study module was maturation accompanied by a couple of drams;

Balmenach SMWS 48.42 (10 year - Nov. 2002) "Grown-Up Ice Lollies" from a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.7% ABV.

Royal Brackla SMWS 55.53 (12 year - Aug. 2006) "The Old Curiosity Shop" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 59.3% ABV.

@BlueNote - Mine's been open about the same length of time and it's fair to say we've had some passionate dalliances but never really found enough common ground for anything long term!

It's quality isn't in doubt though and ive never seen as much barrel char accumulate at the bottom of a bottle before ...