So, what are you drinking now?

@bwmccoy that looks fantastic. Sounds like you made good use of your day

Not yet but I will be raising my glass later to the actor Michael K Williams who passed away yesterday.

Very sad to hear this news about one of my favourite actors. He was outstanding in everything I saw him in but positively blazed in The Wire. Boardwalk Empire was also tremendous - an actor that not so much stole scenes but enhanced them.

RIP Chalky White

Running for office during Covid is no fun. I just checked my spam email for my campaign account and found many many emails that landed there from people asking about my position on one thing or another.

I need some fortitude to start tackling them.

A little Wiser’s 22 YO CS port finish should do the trick.

@Hewie - Thank you! It turned out pretty good, but I'm going to need to get a smoker to take my meat cooking game to the next level. :-)

Tonight, Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010 - 50% ABV while watching my Seattle Mariners baseball team blow a great opportunity to move up in the playoff standings.

Later, I drowned my sorrows with an outstanding dram; Caol Ila SMWS 53.320 (12 year - Sep. 2007) "Raiders of the flossed ark" from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 58.2% ABV.

@bwmccoy jeez the photo of that steak brought instant hunger pangs...gotta stay away from all the food porn on this site

@RianC Sad day hearing about Micheal K on Sunday, I'm not much for celebrity follower but he was such a presence, he really grew into a force with every role. add another level to the major suck of the last year and a half.

@cricklewood - If we can ever get back to normal travel and you are in the Seattle area, your welcome to stop by anytime for steak and drams. :-)

Tonight, Ben Nevis 6 year (Dec. 2013). Full maturation in a 1st Fill Amontillado Gorda. 67.6% ABV. Single Cask Nation bottling.

Followed by a peated St George's Distillery English Whisky Company SMWS 137.7 (7 year - Feb 2012) "How to kill your dragon" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 65.5% ABV.

@bwmccoy Be careful, I may just take you up on that offer but I wouldn't come empty handed. I know I am not alone when I mention how much I epic dram nights.

@bwmccoy The Jays, on the other hand, are coming on strong. One of these days when some semblance of normalcy returns to the world, we are going to meet the Oregon in laws in Seattle for a Jays/Mariners game. Hot dogs, beer and baseball; the perfect stress reliever.

@BlueNote - I would love nothing more for the Jays and the Mariners to make the playoffs, especially if that meant knocking the Yankees, Red Sox and Oakland out! :-)

Lat night, a dram of Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010 - 50% ABV.

Tonight, started off with a Black Manhattan made with Maker’s Mark 46.

After dinner, Braeval SMWS 113.37 (7 year - August 2012) "Picking fruit from an oak tree" from a second-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 64.1% ABV.

Ended with a peated Speyside dram. Allt-A-Bhainne SMWS 108.25 (8 year - February 2012) "Gets your blood pumping!" from a second-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 65.9% ABV.

A Glen Scotia 15 while making a lamb Rogan josh earlier, and a Fuller's Pride with it. Both lovely drops but, when I'm in the mood, the GS is outstanding whisky - I even picked it over SB 10 today. Lovely balance of sweetness and maltiness with a hint of farmyard funk.

@RianC I think this belongs in the boilermaker thread Love a lamb rogan josh. I need to revisit the GS15 - my last bottle was underwhelming but I'm appreciating less in your face whisky now and a good malty malt is delicious

Post climbing cocktail. "Grips before sips" as the folks at North of 7 & Coyote Rock Gym like to say... This is the gin-based La Bicyclette, with vermouth and St. Germain.

@RianC @Hewie Have you tried the GS Victoriana? The 15 is a lovely dram, but I think the cask strength Victoriana is a good notch up. I too love a Rogan Josh, or pretty much anything curried for that matter.

@BlueNote I had a sample pack of the Double cask, 15, and the Victoriana. Based on that I bought a full sized bottle of the 15 - it was a great price for 15 years. It was ok but didn't wow me then. It seemed like the poor cousin of Springbank. I've tried the Victoriana a few times now and yes it is enjoyable but a bit down the list for me.

Tonight, Ben Nevis 6 year (Dec. 2013). Full maturation in a 1st Fill Amontillado Gorda. 67.6% ABV. Single Cask Nation bottling.

Tonight I had:

• Larceny Bourbon: I got this one on sale and I can’t say the first pour was all that impressive. It tasted very green and sap-ish. It seemed a bit too oak-forward and had a little bitterness that I don’t normally get from bourbon. At the risk of sounding snobbish, the words “poorly integrated” came to mind. Time will tell if this one gets any better.
• Ardbeg Uigeadail: this one never disappoints. Smoky, sweet, and at 54% (or so) abv, it’s in the Goldilocks zone for me.

Lots to celebrate tonight.

• Did my first online event of the election (guest speaker for a healthcare "town hall"). Went well.

• Cracked the seal of my new bottle of AP CS rye 2021 edition. Very flavourful. This is a promising whisky.

Now I have to prepare for tomorrow's 2 debates. I have the right dram for that...

Saturday evening I tried a new cocktail. The Peach Violet Empress Gin Sour. Turned out to be pretty good. It can be made with peach simple syrup or peach liqueur. I tried both ways and recommend the liqueur. It is too sweet, IMO, with the simple syrup.

@OdysseusUnbound I agree, Uigeadail never disappoints, but it does vary from batch to batch. I’ve noticed, at least on my last bottle, that the peat/smoke component has diminished and the sherry influence has increased. I just bought a replacement on a recent Craft Cellars sale for comparison and because I always have to have one on hand. The first one I bought about 9 or 10 years ago, once again on a recommendation from @Victor, had a specific batch code and was quite spectacular. It was a bit like the first time…well, you know.

@TracerBullet - That looks great and Empress Gin is one of my wife's favorites. Could I get the recipe for that cocktail, please? Thank you in advance!

Last night, I had a dram of Bladnoch Adela 15 year Oloroso Cask Matured - 46.7% ABV. I am so glad that I bought this bottle. An absolutely beautiful whisky.

@bwmccoy Peach Violet Empress Gin Sour

2 oz Empress 1908 Gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, .5 oz peach liqueur, .25 oz Creme de violette, .25 oz simple syrup, 3 mint leaves

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold and then double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with an edible flower if desired.

@BlueNote Funny…this bottle of Oogie feels like it has a bit less sherry influence than my last bottle. It’s still wonderful though. Ardbeg’s combination of smoke and sweet is so delectable that I don’t think they need all the silly marketing. But then we’d have one less distillery to poke fun at so I guess I’ll count myself lucky.

Maker's Mark, while I work on a bourbon maple syrup reduction to drizzle over the pecan encrusted trout I'm making for dinner...this stuff is absolutely pedestrian compared to the Weller Antique 107 I had at the bourbon tasting back in July...

I’m revisiting Larceny. It’s a bit better tonight than my first taste two nights ago. Maybe my palate was off. That said, there’s still a touch of bitterness on the finish.

After dinner I had:

• Wild Turkey 101: this is my first bottle of the new version of WT101. Thankfully it’s just as consistent as ever.
• Booker’s 2018-01E: I adore Booker’s. That is all.

I rocked my all-candidates' debate tonight! So while I finished up charting (yes @BlueNote), I celebrated with my "Love and Courage" dram of FC Heart of GOLD.

@BlueNote @Hewie - That was poorly worded, I had the beer with the curry afterwards so technically it wasn't a boiler maker I have a bottle of the Victoriana I was gifted for Father's day and will likely open it when I finish the 15 (there are so many on the list though and impulse usually wins the day ...). I think I'll like it, going off reviews etc.

More of the GS 15 last night as I think it's starting to flatten out a touch and is nearing the end (been open about 18 months now). Will I buy another? Not sure. It's a lovely, rich, malty drop but I think one that is wholly mood dependant and I'm seldom in the mood or have the time to ponder. Something like SB 10 is more quaffable and cheaper ...

@bwmccoy Thanks for your take on the Adela. As soon as I see any kind of sale price I’m on it.