So, what are you drinking now?

@Hewie Nice line-up!

@Victor was kind enough to leave me with the rest of the sample of the bourbon wood (I assume it's the same batch because of the age and the ABV) we tasted last year. I reviewed it in October, and finished the sample this month. This is definitely one I would enjoy a bottle of if it were available in my price range.

Had my first taste of Bowmore 12 last night and was pleasantly surprised. Had a nice tangy, smoky peat thing going on (more than I expected actually) with a subtle lemon and floral honey side. Yes, a bit underpowered but an 'allround' flavour that I liked.

On Sunday night, I opened my recently acquired bottle of Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old. I am going to need to visit this one some more before I finalize my thoughts on it. It's very good, but not at all what I was expecting. Ardbeg states that it is a "Monster of a dram". No, it's actually quite approachable. There is some lemon citrus (reminding me of a Lagavulin 8 or 12), but there is some ash as well (reminding me of a Coal Ila). I'm not disappointed that I bought it, but I'm still not sure what to think about it.

Tonight (Monday), we had friends over for dinner and drams;

First up, we killed off my bottle of Miltonduff SMWS 72.31 (29 year - Dec. 1983) "Something Old, Something New" - Refill Hogshead ex-Bourbon - 48.3% ABV.

BenRiach 20 year old.

Bruichladdich 1984 23 Year Old Golder Still

Balvenie 21 Year Old Port Wood Finish

GlenDronach Port Wood

Knockando Master Reserve 21 year (1994)

Caol Ila 18

Talisker Select Reserve "House Greyjoy" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 45.8% ABV.

Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old

A great night, sitting on the deck, eating grilled New York steaks and drinking some amazing whisky with friends.

Tonight, my wife and I attended a Women Who Whiskey virtual tasting with Westward distillery located in Portland, Oregon (USA).

We sampled their new make (reminded me of a slightly funky rum, i.e. bananas.)

Next was their American single malt. Fruit forward; pear mostly. It’s ok, but not something I would seek out.

The last sample was their “two malt” expression; 90% American single malt, 10% malted rye. Again, fruit forward, mostly peach. I also got a little espresso or coffee note. I’m assuming this was from the cask (all of their casks are new oak with #2 char / medium toast). This one was my favorite of the three, but again not something I would run out and buy.

After the tasting, while grilling chicken, steak and a turkey dog for dinner; Maker's Mark Cask Strength.

After dinner last night, Oban Bay Reserve "The Night's Watch" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 43% ABV. Wow! The nose was amazing last night; pear and apple notes; the palate was still significantly average, but the nose was off the charts for some reason.

@bwmccoy, thanks for the 411. I’m always sceptical of commercial themes, but a great nose gets me every time.

@SKEPTIC Tone doesn't often come across online. I was trying to be funny. Not sure what bothered you. Here, we have a 6 foot rule, and I at first thought that N. was referring to a 20ml rule. And I wasn't sure if kids were drinking whisky. Maybe I myself had too much. My grandfather and sisters used to get small bits of rye. I guess it wasn't a good joke because I didn't provide any context, and even with context, it doesn't work. Oh well. I have a dry sense of humor that can often be taken seriously, but I think that it was clear that I was being facetious.

Ardbeg 5. Looking forward to cracking open a new Longrow 10 tomorrow. The five is just a lot of fun: fragrant, some sherry casks, but really sharp/angular. Not a long finish, but the smoke stays around, and there's some unexpected spice. In terms of age/profile, I'm reminded of Machir Bay: a few sherry casks, mostly bourbon casks. It's by no means a peat monster--but neither was the last Ardbeg 10 that I had. The 10 has more vanilla and maybe a better mouthfeel, but it was less interesting to me. As long they stock this, this will probably be my go to for weekends or "hump days."

Two Brewers Innovative Release 14 for Canada Day 153 years in 2020 - notes a dark porter nose, roasted chocolate barley and yeasty grain. Palate of orange, chocolate covered gritty almonds and macadamia nuts, tart dusty coca powder intermixed with a slight sour note with dry Ovaltine malt flavour a long finish starting light creamy ending with an effervescent drying malty mouth feel.

@Nozinan I really didn't mean to insinuate that you were feeding whisky to kids. It was silly humor that didn't come across well.

@MadSingleMalt How did you like the Malbec Longrow Red?

@MadSingleMalt I liked the Red from 1.5 years or so ago, but it was not cheap and a bit soaked in wine, though that seems to be the idea.

@Jonathan, a Longrow 10 you say???

@Jonathan, that Longrow Red Malbec was my favorite but one, as I've been tasting through all my old Longrow samples and tasting the new club bottle this past week. The only one I liked better is the Longrow Red Port.

From my journal on the Malbec: "Such a big punch! Pow! Deep, rich, dark. 90+ material on the nose. The palate includes a dollop of that yocky fizzy peat bass drum that I sometimes get clobbered by. Ooof. Quite good though...let's say, 88."

Tonight, a before dinner dram; Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Single Cask #3824 (Rum Cask Finish).

After dinner, Braeval SMWS 113.15 (9 year - Oct. 2008) "An apricot jamboree" from a refill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.6% ABV.

Finished the night by killing off my bottle of Lagavulin 9 year "House Lannister" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 46% ABV. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. Of the other GoT bottles that I’ve tried (Dalwhinnie, Talisker and Oban), this is the only one I would consider purchasing again.

@MadSingleMalt If I see the Longrow Red again, I'll pick it up just based on those comments.

Picked up a bottle of Sagamore Calvados Finish Rye whiskey (among a few other things...). This one was a big hit with both my wife and me. Nice apple notes along with the traditional spice you get with most rye whiskeys. I might have to pickup another bottle of this one...

Had a Modela especiale with chili for dinner. Been enjoying the Mexican beers of late and this is my favourite. Light and crisp but with a strong malty backbone and far too easy to drink ...

@RianC Have you tried the Negra Modelo? Dark and flavourful, you'd probably like it.

@BlueNote - Negro Modelo was my first dark beer. Add lime with Mexican food = heavenly!

@Jonathan I was, at the time of the post with Nozinan, in a back and forth with Wayne Kramer (MC5), who will be one of the people to play my anniversary with my wife. The others are Gary Lucas (Beefheart, Jeff Buckley) and Kristof Hahn (Swans, Alex Chilton, Les Hommes Sauvages). I will make it publicly available, also to people here.

Having more Ardbeg 5 now. I really like it. Might stock up on some non-CS Springbank next time I am buying.

Gary Lucas did an album of music for Max Fleisher (Popeye, Betty Boop, etc.). The album is called Fleisherei. Fleisher was more interesting than Disney. He performs while the films play (and also does classical, '30s Chinese pop, and Jewish songs in front of the UN). Anyone who knows about Beefheart or Buckley knows what I am going on about. I'll send a link once the details are out. youtu.be/VNttqN1wUMY

I should add that Gary Lucas plays every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. He's done over thirty shows since Covid-19 hit us. He's easy to find on FB, and he's a god-like guitarist. I pay for every show I watch, but they are free.

Without Gary, I wouldn't be here talking about whisky. Incidentally, my big whisky thrill? The local place has now stocked the Uigeadail batch that I like. I'm not traveling for whisky these days--though I probably should-- so it's nice when a local place knows what to stock!

@BlueNote - No but I've seen it. Ill have to give it a go, cheers.

Tonight while grilling, Copperworks Distilling Company SMWS Cask sample (46 months - Mar. 2016) - New oak (18 month air seasoned staves) heavy toast, medium char (#2) - 60.2% ABV.

After dinner, while playing on-line poker;

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

Talisker Select Reserve "House Greyjoy" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 45.8% ABV.

Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old

Port Charlotte 10

Back to Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old.

Yesterday, before dinner, Jerry Thomas Manhattan’s for my wife and I.

@bwmccoy I’m guessing you’re liking the Wee Beastie?

@BlueNote - Actually, I’ve been a little underwhelmed with the Wee Beastie. I like it. It’s good. I’m enjoying it, but it’s lacking something. It’s not a “Monster of a dram”, but it is a good value dram.

Last night, while watching the kids light off fireworks, my brother-in-law and I had a dram of Caol Ila 18, followed by the Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie.

@bwmccoy Good to know. It’s arriving here this week. It’s fairly reasonably priced (for BC) so I think I’ll give it a try.

Jerry Thomas Manhattan

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

Oban Bay Reserve "The Night's Watch" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 43% ABV

Talisker Select Reserve "House Greyjoy" Game of Thrones Limited Edition bottling - 45.8% ABV

Almost like Christmas - well it is winter time here in NZ. A fruit mince pie and a (naked) gingerbread man to go with some BenRiach peated port pipe 12 yo single cask.