So, what are you drinking now?

@RianC cheers mate, good to be back.

Had a small glass of SA shiraz with some puttanesca (or whore's) pasta, for dinner. Love it! So salty, fishy and, dare I say, piquant! Wine was perfect with it, light to med bodied and fruity.

Just had an Old Pulteney 14 IB (Tyndrum aka Green Welly) - just checked my review and agree with my prediction that it would get better. Perfect for early April. About two drams left ...

Now having an Ardbeg 8 - clean, crisp and quaffable Ardbeg!

Cheers!

Tonight's OWG Tasting: a lineup from The Red Cask Company...

@YakLord That looks like an amazing line-up. I have to admit to a little pang of FOMO every time I see a CS bottling of Caol Ila... I have some CS unpeated 15 YO open, but I'm tempted to crack a peated bottling. It's been a while since I had one open.

My wife and I don't normally have happy hour during the week, but last night was Thursday, which is really Friday eve, right?

We had a couple of Remember the Maine cocktails made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

@Nozinan The Caol Ila was interesting. It honestly didn't taste or nose like it was cask strength, and the oloroso finish made it very different from every other Caol Ila I've ever had. It wasn't my favourite of the evening. I know some people like their sherried peat, but maybe I'm not one of them? My top three were the Dailuaine, the Invergordon, and the Inchgower. Consensus was that the Benrinnes doesn't play well with sherry and probably would have been better had it stayed in an ex-bourbon cask.

For Friday night's happy hour, my wife and I once again had a couple of Remember the Maine cocktails made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

I also rated a couple of open bottles.

Dry Fly Distilling O'Danaghers 5 year Single Pot Still Single Cask Celtic-style Whiskey - 45% ABV. Rating: 80.

Westland Distillery Cask # 6206 Single cask release, cask strength 8 year (4 year New American Oak Cooper's Select + 4 year 1st-fill Jurancon cask) 52.4% ABV. Rating: 88

Last night I had a few drams:

• RL Seale 12 Year (46%): it’s a shame this rum isn’t available in Ontario. It was the last dram from the bottle I purchased in Florida in 2022. Yummy.
• Redbreast Lustau: my cousin was over for a bit and wanted to try something that wasn’t smoky so I went Irish. She was very taken with it…until she looked up the current price for it.
• Ardbeg Ten: after my cousin left, I felt like some smoke so I finished off this bottle of Ardbeg to make room for something new as I don’t love having too many open bottles. This is one of the most consistently good “entry” whiskies from any distillery.

Tonight, I tasted 3 of the 6 whiskies that @jordytropp and I will be pouring on Monday night for the Society’s April Outturn Preview Tasting event. Since the tasting is blind, I will reveal details after the event.

Later, I had a sample that a friend gave me. He didn’t label it so I don’t have all of the details. However, I do know it was darn good! It’s an 11 year Caol Ila from Signatory. Full maturation in an ex-Sherry cask.

@OdysseusUnbound - "don’t love having too many open bottles"

Hear ya loud and clear! . Around ten is a healthy place for me but that still means I end up having some bottles open far longer than I'd like. And, of course, many bottles I want to open but have to wait until there's room. Like you, I have a 'one in, one out' policy! I always feel that the 'next' bottle I open is a lucky s.o.b.

Back on point: had a couple of local Somerset ciders that had been rested in oak (@7.4%) with a roast pork dinner. Lovely cider. The more it tastes like traditional cider lollies (or ice pops) the better, and this was in that vein. Med dry.

Had a Benrinnes 15 f&f pre dinner (see review). I've give it some time and patience but, no, it's not great. Tastes thin, over diluted and rather generic. I have blends half the price that run rings round it ...

Cheers

Yesterday (Sunday), I tasted the last 3 bottles for tonight’s event. Again, will reveal details later tonight or tomorrow.

For happy hour, my wife again wanted a Remember the Maine cocktail. We each had one. As usual, it was made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

I had the following whiskies tonight as part of the Society's Outturn Preview Tasting event.

Glen Grant SMWS 9.248 (18 year - Sep. 2003) "A major treat" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 55.0% ABV

Ben Nevis SMWS 78.74 (9 year - Jun. 2014) "Cheeky wee upstart" - After 4 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 2nd-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead - 58.7% ABV

Royal Brackla SMWS 55.87 (16 year - Aug. 2006) "The stage is set" - After 13 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead combined 2 casks and transferred it into a 1st-fill ex-bodega Oloroso barrique cask - 56.3% ABV

Auchroisk SMWS 95.79 (14 year - Oct. 2008) "Cross-cultural" - After 10 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill American oak ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead - 55.5% ABV.

Highland Park SMWS 4.365 (11 year - Jan. 2012) "You only live once" - At 5 years of age, combined several ex-bourbon hogsheads and then divided them up among several different cask types. This finishing cask was a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 65.7% ABV

Bunnahabhain SMWS 10.258 (9 year - Oct. 2013) "Quo Vadis?" - After 5 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill American oak ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead - 58.1% ABV.

My favorites of the night were the first one and the last one.

Officially on vacation starting today (Tuesday) due to Spring Break.

For happy hour tonight, my wife and I once again had a couple of Remember the Maine cocktails made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

Greetings from Vancouver BC!

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

I’m slowly working through my collection, so last night I opened a Lagavulin 11 year Offerman Edition Guinness Cask finish. Very Lagavulin, with a little extra chocolate sweetness but nothing over the top. Yummy.

Yesterday (Thursday), my wife and I visited The Liberty Distillery here in Vancouver, BC, specifically on Granville Island. We've been here before, but it has been many years. My memory of their products is mostly good, but not great. My wife sampled 4 of their gins and I sampled 7 of their whiskies.

Endeavor Gin (45%) 100% Organic BC Wheat. This is a very Juniper forward gin. My wife did not like this one at all.

Endeavor Origins (45%) 100% Organic BC Wheat. This one had more botanicals than the previous one, but my wife still didn't like it.

Endeavor Pink (47%) 100% Organic Wheat. Rose petals and rosehips were adding giving the gin a slight pink hue. You could definitely taste the rose notes, but it wasn't overwhelming. My wife enjoyed this one.

Endeavor Old Tom (45%) 100% BC Organic Wheat. Barrel aged in a French Oak. This was also a favorite of my wife.

Trust Whiskey Single Grain (100% BC Organic Barley) Barrel aged ex-bourbon 3 years (40%). This was very harsh.

Trust Whiskey Canadian Rye (43%) Barrel aged for 3+ years in an ex-Burgundy cask, finished in American oak. This was very nice. You could taste the Burgundy and the Rye notes. Very well balanced.

Trust Whiskey Southern (43%). This is their version of bourbon, but they obviously can't call it that. Barrel aged for 3 years in American oak. 75% Organic BC Corn and 25% Organic BC Rye. This one was very harsh as well.

Trust Whiskey Ancient Grains (44%) Barrel aged 3+ years in an ex-bourbon casks, finished in American oak. The ancient grains are Organic BC Spelt, Emmer, Korsan and Barley. This was pretty good.

Trust Whiskey Single Cask Madeira (42%) 100% BC Organic Barley. Barrel aged for 3 years. This was pretty good as well, but not as good as the next one.

Trust Whiskey Single Cask Burgundy (42%) 100% BC Organic Barley. Barrel aged for 3+ years. This was excellent. The burgundy notes were present but balanced with the barley notes.

Trust Whiskey Anniversary Cask Strength (62.5% ABV) 100% Organic BC Barley. Barrel aged for 7.5 years in oak (didn't specify what oak). This was pretty good. A ton of warm caramel notes. The caramel notes remained with the addition of water, but were more reserved. Preferred it without water.

Later, we went to our favorite liquor store in Vancouver: Legacy Liquor. I purchased a bottle of Lot 40 Canadian Rye Dark Oak (48% ABV). I've previously owned the standard Lot 40, so I'm anxious to try this one. We also purchased a couple of batched cocktails. We drank those when we got back to our room.

My wife had the Dashfire Fig and Cascara Manhattan Batch No. 001 (38% ABV). This was excellent! I'm sorry I only bought one and sorry that my wife chose it over the other one.

I had the On The Rocks Old Fashioned made with Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon (35% ABV). This was fine but paled in comparison to the Manhattan.

Tonight I had a 1/2oz pour of Mortlach 10 cask strength from Decadent Drinks and a 1/2oz pour of Springbank 10 to accompany it. Nice drams to compare and contrast. Cheers..

@bwmccoy Last time I was there (2014), they didn't have any mature whisky, just the Railspur White Whisky Spirit. Nice to see they're still going strong.

Tonight, my wife and I each had a Dashfire Fig and Cascara Manhattan Batch No. 001 (38% ABV). So good!

My wife had a couple of drams of Old Pulteney 12 Year Old - 40% ABV.

I had a dram of Westland Distillery Cask # 6206 Single cask release, cask strength 8 year (4 year New American Oak Cooper's Select + 4 year 1st-fill Jurancon cask) 52.4% ABV.

Followed by a dram of 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 our way home from Vancouver, BC, on Saturday, we stopped at a friend's house. I had the following drams.

Royal Brackla 18 year Sherry Cask Finish Palo Cortado (Distillery Bottling) 46% ABV. Very light sherry influence. If tasted bling, I would have thought it was ex-bourbon. Having said that, I actually preferred this one over the 12 year below that had much more sherry influence.

Glenkinchie 27 year (Distillery Bottling) Natural Cask Strength. This was a very nice example of this distillery, but it didn't blow me away.

Royal Brackla 12 year Sherry Cask Finish Oloroso (Distillery Bottling) 46% ABV. This was very nice as well, but not as good as the 18 year above.

Glenlivet 14 year (2007) from Signatory Vintage 1st-fill Sherry Butt 64.3% ABV. My favorite non-Society whisky of the night!

Miltonduff 32 year (Distilled Nov. 17th, 1982) SMWS 72.45 "Two + Two = Five" Refill ex-bourbon hogshead. 52.2% ABV. An absolutely beautiful whisky!

Inverleven 30 year (Feb. 28th, 1989) SMWS 20.25 "My God, it's full of stars!" Refill ex-bourbon barrel. 47.5% ABV. I don't think I've tasted any other Inverleven's before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I didn't care for this one at all.

Kilchoman 6 year (Nov. 6th, 2008) SMWS 129.6 "Peated candy" 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel. 58.9% ABV. A stunning young Islay example.

Bowmore 20 year (Sep. 25th, 1997) SMWS 3.307 "A journey into joy" Refill ex-sherry butt. 55.9% ABV. Everything I want in an Islay bottle; peat and sherry perfection.

Springbank 21 year (Nov. 8th, 1996) SMWS 27.112 "A broadside cannon barrage" 1st-fill ex-sherry butt. 54.7% ABV. I've had this one before and it lived up to my memory of it.

Longmorn 27 year (Jun. 15th, 1990) SMWS 7.199 "Self-perpetuating perfection" 1st-fill ex-PX hogshead. 52.3% ABV. Longmorn can be amazing and both of these that I had tonight met, maybe exceeded that.

Longmorn 21 year (Apr. 20th, 1993) SMWS 7.105 "Cricket pavilions and garden centres" Refill ex-bourbon barrel. 54.5% ABV.

A great night with great friends drinking great whisky!

Had an Old Pulteney 14 single ex-bourbon cask after dinner. One dram left and this gets better every pour! showcases the malt perfectly and I love Pulteney's style.

Now having a Glendronach 15 Revival from 2015, so the all oloroso, more than 15 years old ones. It's sherry heaven! But not too sweet, rather dry, spicy and herbal with leather and a wisp of peat. A real fireside dram, this one.

Cheers!

On Tuesday night, I had a small glass of On The Rocks Old Fashioned bottled cocktail made with Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon that we purchased in Vancouver BC last week (35% ABV).

Tonight (Thursday), I prepped for a private tasting that I will be conducting on Saturday night by sampling the first 4 of the 7 whiskies that I will be presenting.

Glen Garioch SMWS 19.68 (18 year - Feb. 2003) "Spoil yourself rotten!" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 57.6% ABV

Glen Moray SMWS 35.316 (9 year - June 2012) "Fine Fragrances" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.6% ABV.

Highland Park SMWS 4.346 (12 year - Oct. 2009) "Savoury and sweet" - After 8 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.9% ABV.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.98 (12 year - Feb. 2011) "Wood-panelled library" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.1% ABV.

For happy hour tonight (Friday), my wife and I had a couple of Remember the Maine cocktails made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

I also sampled the last 3 whiskies that I will pouring tomorrow night for a private tasting.

Benrinnes SMWS 36.194 (12 year - Feb. 2010) "Mid-winter celebrations" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred into a 1st-fill American oak PX sherry hogshead - 56.6% ABV.

Copperworks (Seattle, WA) SMWS 143.4 (3 year - Mar. 2018) "Coast to coast" - First-fill #3 charred barrel - 61.2% ABV.

Ardmore SMWS 66.223 (13 year - Nov. 2008) "Savoury combinations" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.7% ABV.

Sitting down now, watching the end of a baseball game on TV and finishing the night with Caol Ila SMWS 53.451 (11 year - Mar. 2012) "Particle accelerator" - After 7 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Spanish oak ex-Oloroso hogshead - 55.8% ABV.

Last night (Saturday), I led a private tasting for 5 people. I poured the following drams.

Glen Garioch SMWS 19.68 (18 year - Feb. 2003) "Spoil yourself rotten!" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 57.6% ABV. This one was well received by everyone.

Glen Moray SMWS 35.316 (9 year - June 2012) "Fine Fragrances" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.6% ABV. Overall, this was the least favorite of the night.

Highland Park SMWS 4.346 (12 year - Oct. 2009) "Savoury and sweet" - After 8 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.9% ABV. If there is any peat in this one, it is all but undetectable to me. However, one of the attendees HATES peat and he thought this was a peat bomb. He obviously hated it, but others really liked it.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.98 (12 year - Feb. 2011) "Wood-panelled library" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.1% ABV. This was the first Glenburgie that the attendees had tasted. They thought it was very good.

Benrinnes SMWS 36.194 (12 year - Feb. 2010) "Mid-winter celebrations" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred into a 1st-fill American oak PX sherry hogshead - 56.6% ABV. Likewise, they had not tasted Benrinnes before. This was the only sherried whisky in the lineup. They liked the different dynamic that the PX added to the whisky.

Copperworks (Seattle, WA) SMWS 143.4 (3 year - Mar. 2018) "Coast to coast" - First-fill #3 charred barrel - 61.2% ABV. I put this whisky into the lineup so that those who didn't like peat, could have a 6th whisky. Surprisingly to me, everyone loved it. This was favorite whisky overall along with the Glen Garioch and the Ardmore (for those who like peat). The attendees liked this one so much that we finished off the bottle.

Ardmore SMWS 66.223 (13 year - Nov. 2008) "Savoury combinations" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.7% ABV. For those who liked peat, they really liked this one.

It was a lot of fun to walk the attendees through these whiskies. This is the second time in two years that I have held this private tasting for this same group of friends. The tasting comes from a private school fundraiser. I think everyone had a good time. At least, they told me no one will out bid them at the next fundraiser.

Tonight (Sunday), my wife and I had a couple of pre-made cocktails for happy hour.

First, an On The Rocks Old Fashioned made with Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon (35% ABV). We finished off the bottle that we purchased in Vancouver BC earlier this month.

Next, we each had a Tip Top Proper Cocktails Old Fashioned (37% ABV). Unfortunately, they don't reveal which whiskey they use, but it is a much better cocktail than the On The Rocks brand that we had first.

On Monday night, had a couple of drams.

Dry Fly Distilling O'Danaghers 5-year Single Pot Still Single Cask Celtic-style Whiskey - 45% ABV.

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

Last night (Tuesday), I had a dram of Caol Ila SMWS 53.451 (11 year - Mar. 2012) "Particle accelerator" - After 7 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Spanish oak ex-Oloroso hogshead - 55.8% ABV.

It was so good that I had a second dram of it!

Last night (Thursday), went out to happy hour with a few co-workers. I had a "Bite Your Tongue" cocktail made with Mezcal (forgot to ask which one), Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino, Lime. I couldn't really taste the Green Chartreuse. It was all Mezcal. Not bad but could have been a little more balanced.

After getting home, Ben Nevis SMWS 78.62 (8 year - Nov. 2013) "At home on the range" - After 4 years in an ex-Oloroso butt, transferred to a 2nd-fill PX butt - 66.9% ABV.

For happy hour last night, my wife and I each had a Remember The Maine cocktail made Old Forester 100 proof Rye.

For our second cocktail, I ran out of sweet vermouth making the first cocktail, so I made us both a Black Manhattan made with Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon and Amaro.

If this is my last post on Connosr, might as well make it a good one.

We had some friends over for dinner and drams last night. I had our friends try the first three drams of the night blind, just to see what they thought of them.

Dry Fly Distilling O'Danaghers 5-year Single Pot Still Single Cask Celtic-style Whiskey - 45% ABV. There's nothing special about this one, but it's enjoyable enough. Having said that, my wife doesn't like it, so she had the final dram of Old Pulteney 12-Year-Old - 40% ABV.)

Westland Distillery Cask # 6206 Single cask release, cask strength 8 year (4-year New American Oak Cooper's Select + 4-year 1st-fill Jurancon cask) 52.4% ABV. Jurancon is a sweet white wine from Southwest France. My friends really enjoyed this one but thought it might have been a rum cask.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.389 (30 year - Jun. 1991) "Goodnight and joy" - 1st-fill ex-Sherry Butt - 55.5% ABV. Needless to say, this was well received. There are two unique aspects of this whisky. First, 30 years in a 1st-fill ex-sherry butt screams sherry-bomb. It's not! In fact, i would swear this is an ex-bourbon cask. Next, usually peat decreases over time. Not this one, it has retained a large amount of peat. A stunningly beautiful example of Caol Ila.

We took a break for dinner. I smoked 3 racks of baby back ribs. With the ribs, had an IPA beer.

After dinner, I poured 6 whiskies for our frineds to walk through blind.

They poured 4 drams for my wife and I to taste blind. The only thing they told us about the 4 whiskies were that they were all peated. They wanted us to rank which ones we liked best to least and to try to guess which distillery they were from. As usual, my wife did better than I did.

Redacted Bros. Blended Malt Scotch. 50% ABV. This is a teaspoon Laphroaig matured in ex-bourbon. This was my third favorite of the four.

13-year Ledaig from Single Cask Nation matured in a 2nd-fill ex-sherry. Distilled October 2005, Bottled in March 2019. 57.1% ABV. While this was my least favorite of the four, it was still a very good dram. I would happily drink this any day of the week.

8 year Caol Ila from North Star. Cask Series 023. Distilled February 2015.Bottled September 2023. Refill Solera Sherry Hogshead. 56.7% ABV. This was my second favorite of the four.

Octomore 10.4 Virgin Oak. 3 years. 88ppm. 63.5% ABV. This was my favorite. I really thought this was a Campbeltown offering, specifically Longrow. I was way off, but I really liked it!

After the flights, our friends wanted to finish off the Octomore, so we did.

We then finished off my bottle of Caol Ila SMWS 53.451 (11 year - Mar. 2012) "Particle accelerator" - After 7 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Spanish oak ex-Oloroso hogshead - 55.8% ABV.

A fun night with great friends and great whisky.

Having a sip of three Ardbeg Uigeadails. The oldest was bottled in 2007. The newest was just last year. Toasting the end of an era here on Connosr. Truth be told the new stuff can't hold a candle to that old one from 2007. It is just magical. @Victor's review on Uigeadail was the first time I posted on Connosr. That one post spawned friendships and a delightful whisky journey well over a decade. To friendships and the future! Cheers.