So, what are you drinking now?

Nikka from the Barrel..oh my oh my! I opened it two weeks ago and at first it tasted a little dusty. Now it has opened up like a flower. It really is an outstanding whisky with several layers of fruitiness ranging from the freshest apple to the sweetest date. Adorable!

Pulled out an oldie but goodie last night; 1981 Old Taylor 86 pf. This particular bourbon has a big butterscotch profile......very tasty indeed.

Ardbeg 10 last night. It made me want to weep with happniess...it's so, so good, it's better than I remember it.

Last night it was Auchentoshan Three Wood with Lindt Dark Chocolate infused with Sea Salt. Quite an interesting contrast in flavours.

I had a flight of rye whiskies last night. First off was the Buffalo Trace White Dog Rye, followed by the Sazerac Rye, and finishing with the Sazerac 18. I'd had the 18 before, so I knew it was good. I'd had the BT White Dog Wheat before which had a wonderful buttered popcorn nose. Unfortunately the Rye version lacks this and is a harsh drink. I can't recommend it. The baby Saz is okay, it doesn't quite measure up to the 18 though.

Dos Maderas aged Rum (5 years bourbon casks and 5 years PX casks), simply amazing.

Followed with Laphroaig 10 and Ardbeg 10.

I'm in the mood for Highland Park so I poured myself the 12, the 18, the new 21 at 47,5% and the 25 - the 21 is just amazing and a stromg contender to supersede the 25 as my favourite original HP Expression. The whole range of HP offers excellent Quality and even if the Standard 12 is slightly weak and has a tendency to be bitter these are great Whiskys.

50/50 mix of A'bunadh and Bunnahabhain 12.

I call it ... the A'bunahabhain! (typing that made my head hurt)

@FMichael Next time, before pouring anything down the drain, try cooking with it.

@chickenium Did the A'bunadh overwhelm the Bunna or was it still detectable? (Nice name by the way. I have some "Benromangie" lying about somewhere =)

@Wodha @FMichael Or create a "house blend" with any unwanted whisky using a large decanter and throw in whatever dregs, bits and pieces, unwanted sample bottles of Chivas Regal etc. you have or are gifted with. The effect of combining with other whiskies and oxidation sometimes does wonders and still after all that, if not to your tastes entirely, makes for a great mixer.

@systemdown The sherry was a bit muted but definitely still there with a bit of vanilla from the bunnahabhain.

Half the fun of blending scotches is making up names. I still need to try Lard Beg (Laphroaig CS and Ardbeg Alligator), Big Mo (Big Peat and Glenmorangie Astar), Lady Laga (Ladyburn 12 and Lagavulin 16).

@chickenium Nice, would've expected the sherry to dominate. "Lady Laga" - haha! This almost needs a thread of its own..

I,ve been doing this for a while too, used to chuck all the last bits into one bottle and call it my vatted dregs. Some times excellent and ive never had something crop up that wasn't at least drinkable.

I'm having a dram of Booker's to finish off the night.

last evening was Johnny Walker blue, Bruichladdich ten , and Rocks. The johnny walker was very smooth and quite flavoful , but alas the finish was almost non existant. A disappointment on that aspect. not what I would say is worth the cash outlay. I somehow expected more, and was left wanting.

The last 2oz. (or so) of a delicious Talisker 10yo. that had found its' way to the back of the cabinet - It had been there for a few years in a 200ml. bottle and even though I can't remember exactly how it tasted when freshly opened, it certainly tasted brilliant in every dept.

The only reason I found it was that I went looking for a 200ml. bottle to fill with a pretty special Glenmorangie 13yo. Cask @ proof that I have been saving for a while: A great ending to a great day.

Slainte!

Tried the Suntory Yoichi 15, and the Gordon MacPhail Secret Stills Islay 1991 Bottling. The Yoichi won, and surprised me with it's very subtle peat element. It's fairly delicate nose was a bit deceptive — I found the palate to be rich stewed fruits and warmed nuts. A little bit of a formal dram, but nice. The Secret Stills in question purportedly comes from Bowmore, which was a surprise. It was much more medicinal and crisp than what I typically find in Bowmore. A bit more like a sweet Laphroaig maybe...?

I also tried the A.D.Rattray Cask Islay Vatting No.1, which was not a favorite. It's pure Islay, to be sure, but whoever blended this can't see beyond pure peat, smoke and ash. It's a very blunt instrument. I got wet bricks and ashy soot, and won't be back for more.

Forgot to mention! Last week with @bwmccoy at the Beam Spirits Confidential, I had the opportunity to try the new Laphroaig PX Cask, which is currently available only through the travel/duty free market. If you see this one, grab it! Rich, thick sherry, toned-down peat. Very eloquent palate - lots going on. I'll need to revisit with a proper pour to get my tasting notes fleshed out, but this was one I didn't want to finish. Good, good stuff.

Sitting on the deck, having an IPA before moving onto whisky after dinner.

Wanted to second what @EvaRees said about the Laphroaig PX. Very enjoyable. (A special thank you to Simon Brooking, Laphroaig / Ardmore Master Ambassador, for pulling it out of the Wellie boot for us.)

After the event, @EvaRees and her husband introduced my wife and I to a great bar in Seattle. Truly, a "hidden gem". I ordered a glass of Bruichladdich 21 Black Art 2. WOW! It’s one of those rare whiskies that you don’t even have to drink. The nose is amazing and there is a lot going on in the glass. Obviously, I did drink it and the taste is as good, if not better, than the nose. And the finish goes on and on and on… That is one amazing dram!

Thanks to @EvaRees and her husband for a great evening!

Laphroaig QC followed by Big Peat. It'll be a sad day when that one is discontinued du to shortage of Port Ellen. Hopefully they'll replace it with something good.

Pappy Van Winkle 15 Buffalo Trace Fall 2011 release, vatted 50-50 with my somewhat over-the-hill bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 20. This tastes quite good.

Friday Meeting at Vienna's 1st Whiskylodge - Bladnoch 6 lightly peated & 20 year old; St. Magdalene 26 year old Chieftains Single Cask, BenRiach 17 Solstice, Caperdonich 1972/2003 Hart Bros., Macallan 1993 Bourbon, BenRiach 20 year old Single Cask Bourbon Hogshead by A.D. Rattray - great Stuff but except the Solstice all cask Strenghth so I need to rest a bit...

@Victor - that sounds like a decent start in the weekend...

@maltster, I would love to follow up with the line-up you have just tasted.

Danfield's Limited Edition 21 Canadian Rye Whisky...my first Canadian whisky in a long time...almost as spicy as The Spice Tree, but with a softer nose. Fantastic!

@YakLord, yep, that Danfield's 21 is one of the really good Canadian whiskies. I liked my bottle of it a lot more after it had opened up over a couple of months, though.

Sadly having to drink lots of beer for work lately, but thankfully tonight I was able to mix business and pleasure! Moondog's Bourbon aged Barrel Stout. Nice thing is you can really taste the bourbon on this beer!

Lagavulin 1991 Distillers Edition. I bought it a year+ ago because it was typically Connosr 'Top 10' Most Popular. For a year I had to agree with Mr. Murray that the peat and wine fought with each other here, and this really didn't work well. (yeah, 87 rating, but I was expecting 93+) NOW, however, with more oxidation, it has sweetened, mellowed, smoothed out the rough edges that go bump in the night, and it is bloody fantastique (sic)! To my palate, now, a "95 class" whisky.

@SquidgyAsh There's a micro-brewery in the town where I own my chocolate shop and he does this red beer matured in ex-Elijah Craig cask and it's a blast. We created a beer and chocolate pairing event and this one with the chocolate is a real firework, the finally of the tasting.