So, what are you drinking now?

Last night (Friday), for happy hour, I made a Dirty Martini for my wife and a Black Manhattan for me. I used the same rye, amaro and black walnut bitters again this time, but it wasn't as good as it was when I made one last Friday night..

Last night, Saturday (Christmas Eve Eve as it were), my older son, his wife and their infant dauaghter (my first grandchild), came over for an early Christmas celebration. While exchanging gifts, my older son and I had the following drams.

Strathmill SMWS 100.40 (10 year - June 2012) "Well Red" - After maturing for seven years in an-ex bourbon hogshead, transferred to a first fill d'Arenberg Australian shiraz barrique cask - 62.1% ABV.

Craigellachie SMWS 44.169 (20 year - Nov. 2002) "In the wooden box" - After 17 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a first fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead - 60.6% ABV.

Caol Ila 18 year (Distilled 2001) - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel (Cask # 308899) - 57.1% ABV - Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice bottling.

Later, I ended the night with Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Wheat Whiskey - 43% ABV.

Christmas Eve drams;

Glen Moray SMWS 35.310 (20 year - May 2001) "Hints of matchbox" - After 17 years in an ex-Oloroso butt, transferred to a heavily charred 1st-fill puncheon - 57.8% ABV.

Caol Ila 18 year (Distilled 2001) - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel (Cask # 308899) - 57.1% ABV - Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice bottling.

Had a quiet one on the whisky front yesterday. Just a large pre dinner dram of Glen Scotia 11 yrs 54.7% white port cask finish.

This was released for the Campbeltown Malts festival 2023. A nice dram showing the white port influence with its sweetness but still a touch of peat smoke and distillery character. Nicely integrated and good value at £60.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas Day. Cheers.

I had my first dram in Calgary this trip yesterday. My nephew's wife decided to join me. I picked a 1994 Glengronach 17 YO single cask that was open at my sister - in - law's home. @Nosebleed picked it up for him, me and @paddockjudge many years ago. He opened his. Mine will be opened when I retire.

Yesterday, went over to my brother-in-law's house for Christmas dinner. We had the following drams.

Dry Fly Distilling 3 year Straight Wheat Whiskey - 45% ABV.

Scapa Skiren (Batch SK24) 100% 1st-fill American oak casks - 40% ABV.

Linkwood SMWS 39.224 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "An orchard moment" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.6% ABV.

Glenfarclas SMWS 1.257 (8 year - Dec. 2012) "Lip-smacking, and summery" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.1% ABV.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.85 (8 year - Apr. 2013) "View from the top" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.6% ABV.

Glen Deveron / Macduff SMWS 6.71 (14 year - Mar. 2009) "Twin notes of a family favourite" - 1st-fill Spanish oak Oloroso butt - 54.5% ABV.

Strathmill SMWS 100.34 (11 year - Mar. 2010) "Oh, to be in a bodega again..." - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Oloroso hogshead - 56.7% ABV.

Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) Ode To Islay Heavily Mesquited American Single Malt finished in a mix of ex-rye, ex-bourbon & 2nd-use Whiskey Del Bac Dorado casks - 55% ABV.

Caol Ila 18 year (Distilled 2001) - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel (Cask # 308899) - 57.1% ABV - Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice bottling.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.454 (11 year - Mar. 2012) "Freinds and a fall bonefire on a Pacific beach" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 58.5% ABV.

Tonight (Tuesday), I rated my last open, unrated bottle.

Copperworks Distilling Company Special Release 33 Pale Malt aged in a single ex-Fino Sherry cask for 30 months - 50% ABV. Rating: 89.

Yesterday (Wednesday), I took a truck load of firewood over to a friend's house. He rewarded me with the following drams.

Ardbeg Anamorphic - 48.2% ABV. I'm not familiar with this release. Honestly, I can't keep up with them all. However, it was a very nice dram. A little more fruit and a little less peat than typical Ardbeg, but still enjoyable.

Dalmore 21 year - 43.8% ABV. I'm not a huge fan of Dalmore, but this was probably the best Dalmore that I've ever had.

A'Bunadh Batch # 069 - 61.2% ABV. I haven't had an A'Bunadh in a very long time. This batch lived up to my memory and expectation.

Cotswolds Sherry Cask - 57.4% ABV. Not sure if I've had Cotswolds before. I was very impressed with the quality!

Glen Moray SMWS 35.170 (30 year - Jun. 1986) "A dram for an Arabian Prince" - Re-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 46.4% ABV. While I'm obviously not an Arabian Prince, my friend poured it for me any way. Seriously, this was stunning. My favorite of the afternoon.

Cotswold Founder's Choice (Shaved, toasted and recharred Amewrican Oak Red Wine cask - 60.5% ABV. Another quality dram from this distillery. The red wine influence is very balanced. This bottle was opened for me. It will be interesting to see how this develops over time.

Finished with Laphroaig Quarter Cask - 48% ABV. I haven't had a Quarter Cask in quite a while either. Again, lived up to my memory of it. This bottle was opened for me as well.

@bwmccoy How did you like the Anamorphic? I was intrigued but it is on the pricier side for a bottle.

@TracerBullet - Just updated my post with notes on all of the whiskies. My friend told me what he paid for it. While it was good, I would not have paid that much for it. Would you have enjoyed the whisky? Yes, I believe you would have. I did. However, in my case, if I had paid what my friend paid, I would probably have buyer's remorse because of the cost.

@bwmccoy I figured it was good but is it good enough to warrant that kind of price? It's going for about $199 USD in my area. Just seems like everyone is releasing more of these "special" bottlings with corresponding hefty prices. Without getting to try, it is difficult to judge which expensive bottles are worth the price.

Yesterday (Thursday), I rated a recently opened bottle. Cotswolds Founder's Choice (shaved, toasted and recharred American Oak Red Wine casks - 60.5% ABV. Rating: 90.

I also had a dram of Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Wheat Whiskey - 43% ABV

For last night's (Friday) happy hour, I made my wife and I a Whiskey Sour (pictured below) using Browne Family Spirits (Spokane, WA) Bourbon. This was the first time that I've made a whiskey sour. Not sure why I haven't made one before now, but I will be adding it to my standard cocktail lineup.

In order to make the cocktail, I opened my bottle of Browne Family Spirits Bourbon, so I tried some of it neat in order to rate it. I rated it an 84.

Later, while watching James Bond in Casino Royale, I made my wife and I Vesper Martini's (3 ounces Botanist Gin, 1 ounce Vodka, 1/2 ounce Lillet Blanc with a lemon twist.

@bwmccoy Don't think I've ever seen a Whisky Sour served in a Martini glass. Looks classy!

@YakLord - Thanks! I didn't even really think about it, but now that you mention it, it should have been in a coupe or a rocks glass. Will do so next time. Thanks for pointing that out!

Last night (Saturday), we had some friends over for dinner and drams.

Inchmurrin SMWS 112.94 (20 year - July 2000) "A stranger in these lands" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.0% ABV.

Daftmill 2006 Summer Batch Release (12 year - Bottled 2019) - This is a batch of 7 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrels - 46% ABV.

Tullibardine SMWS 28.92 (10 year - May 2012) "A walk in the countryside" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.5% ABV.

After dinner, a Craigellachie from The Sovereign bottled for K&L Wines. Single Sherry Butt - 59.9% ABV.

Glen Garioch 21 year old from Adelphi Selection - 58.8% ABV.

Kilkerran 8 year old Cask Strength - 57.1% ABV

Lagavulin 16 Year Old - 43% ABV

Inchmoan SMWS 135.15 (8 year - Feb. 2011) "Back to the suture" - 2nd-fill hogshead - 57.4% ABV

Finished the night with Ardmore SMWS 66.238 (11 year - Sep. 2011) "Blackbeard's treasure" - After eight years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to a refill Trinidad rum barrel - 62.3% ABV.

For New Year's Eve last night, I went over to my brother-in-law's house and we had the following drams.

Cotswolds Founder's Choice (shaved, toasted and recharred American Oak Red Wine casks - 60.5% ABV.

Strathmill SMWS 100.40 (10 year - June 2012) "Well Red" - After maturing for seven years in an-ex bourbon hogshead, transferred to a first fill d'Arenberg Australian shiraz barrique cask - 62.1% ABV.

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.197 (9 year - Oct. 2013) "More pirate than puffer" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.8% ABV.

Glen Moray SMWS 35.310 (20 year - May 2001) "Hints of matchbox" - After 17 years in an ex-Oloroso butt, transferred to a heavily charred 1st-fill puncheon - 57.8% ABV.

Caol Ila 13 year from Gordon & MacPhail Discovery series.

Lagavulin 16 Year Old - 43% ABV

Rang in 2024 with a Laphroaig 10 year - 43%.

Happy New Year!

Last night, Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Wheat Whiskey - 43% ABV.

Followed by Inchmoan SMWS 135.15 (8 year - Feb. 2011) "Back to the suture" - 2nd-fill hogshead - 57.4% ABV.

Tonight, Bruichladdich Islay Barely 2013 - 8 years - ex-European & ex-American oak casks - 50% ABV.

Copperworks Distilling Company Special Release 33 Pale Malt aged in a single ex-Fino Sherry cask for 30 months - 50% ABV.

Last night (Wednesday), Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) Dorado Mesquited American Single Malt - 46% ABV.

Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) Ode To Islay Heavily Mesquited American Single Malt finished in a mix of ex-rye, ex-bourbon & 2nd-use Whiskey Del Bac Dorado casks - 55% ABV.

Friday night happy hour is officially underway.

My wife wanted a dirty martini.

I’m having a double Sazerac cocktail made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye, simple syrup, Peychaud's Bitters, Absinthe and a lemon peel garnish. (Pictured on my family tartan.)

Tonight’s cocktail, the whisky version of a Negroni; a Boulevardier. Equal parts bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth with an orange peel garnish. For the bourbon, I used Browne Family Spirits (Spokane, WA) Bourbon Whiskey aged a minimum 4 years (45% ABV).

Tonight, I finished off the last dram of a couple of bottles.

Bruichladdich Islay Barely 2013 - 8 years - ex-European & ex-American oak casks - 50% ABV

Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof - 67.3% ABV

Tonight’s cocktail is a whisky sour (in the correct glass this time @YakLord ). For the bourbon, I used Browne Family Spirits (Spokane, WA) aged a minimum 4 years (45% ABV). Added a dehydrated orange and some random drops of Old Forester Smoked Cinnamon bitters for garnish.

Last night (Sunday), Caol Ila 18 year (Distilled 2001) - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel (Cask # 308899) - 57.1% ABV - Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice bottling.

Lagavulin 16 Year Old - 43% ABV.

@bwmccoy how was that Caol Ila?

It sounds fantastic.

@Nozinan - It is! First, it's Caol Ila. Second, it's Gordon & MacPhail and third, it's 57.1% ABV.

It has notes of cured meat, fruit, honey-roasted ham, black pepper and most importantly in my opinion, lingering smoke!

Tonight, Dry Fly Distilling 3 year Straight Wheat Whiskey - 45% ABV.

Followed by Copperworks Distilling Company Special Release 33 Pale Malt aged in a single ex-Fino Sherry cask for 30 months - 50% ABV.

Last night (Tuesday), Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) Dorado Mesquited American Single Malt - (46% ABV).

Followed by Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) Ode To Islay Heavily Mesquited American Single Malt finished in a mix of ex-rye, ex-bourbon & 2nd-use Whiskey Del Bac Dorado casks - 55% ABV.

On Wednesday night, Glen Scotia SMWS 93.197 (9 year - Oct. 2013) "More pirate than puffer" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.8% ABV.

Followed by Ardmore SMWS 66.238 (11 year - Sep. 2011) "Blackbeard's treasure" - After eight years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to a refill Trinidad rum barrel - 62.3% ABV.