So, what are you drinking now?

Stagg...burning a hole on my tongue,...in the best possible way....

Oban 14.

Ichiro's Malt, Five of Diamonds... just superb!

@CanadianNinja Jealous...

I wish I could share a dram with you @systemdown! It's a very well sherried whisky, and due to the high ABV the flavors just explode.

@CanadianNinja Mmm perhaps we shall someday? You never know!

Loving Scotland!!! I was allowed to bottle and drink a 39 yr old 1964 cask strength Balvenie today!! BenRomach was lots of fun!! Right now I'm drinking a mystery whisky from the owner of Abbey Whisky. I'm guessing it's an Islay, Coal Ila I suspect.

Totally digging the BenRomach Peat Smoke that we bought for my father in law today. My wife decided he wouldn't like it as much as we hoped and I wanted more whisky. A match made in heaven as far as I'm concerned!

Finished off my bottle of Glenlivet 15 French Oak, and then cracked open the Dun Bheagan Islay 8 year-old, which scuttlebut says is Lagavulin. It was good, different from Lagavulin 16, but good in its own right.

@SquidgyAsh Do you have any tasting notes on the Benromach Peat Smoke? Going to Alberta in a couple of weeks and see that it is available there. I seem to like anything Peaty and Smokey, might give it a try. Glad you are digging the "spiritual" homeland Jonesz

@Jonesz Not yet but if I get a chance I can possibly do some rough notes tomorrow. Quite enjoyable overall. Around 35 pounds and easily worth that. Not sure how much it'll be Canadian though.

I'm trying the Very Old Barton 6yr old. This is good I'm enjoying a small break from scotch. :)

@YakLord...the Dun Bheagan 2002 Islay will fill my Lagavulin fix for the rest of this year, now that my bottle of the 16 is no longer. I've really enjoyed the 2002, and I would give it an edge over the 2003 bottling in terms of being a slightly richer overall profile.

On the eve, a three-dram HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOAST to May 29 natives @talexander and @paddockjudge. First, Corby's Lot 40 to recognise the Canadian Rye whisky love of each of you; second, Baker's Small Batch to note the bourbon appreaciators that you are; and, finally, Ardbeg Supernova 2010 to celebrate your love of malt whisky. To you two excellent gentlemen and hard-core whisky-lovers. I am very happy to know you both!

@Victor...well said, and well celebrated!! Happy Birthday to 'talexander' and 'paddockjudge'. My next pour, albeit not for several days, will be in your honour. The best to you both!

@Pudge72 - it is indeed enjoyable! I picked up the bottle last year as a lower cost alternative to the Lagavulin 16...and I'm not at all disappointed!

A very Happy Birthday to the birthday boys! And I'm glad fellow Connosrs like the Dun Bheagan Islay 8yo - I picked up a bottle specifically to contrast to the Laga 16, yet to try it, but sounds like a winner.

Tonight, it's the Connemara Cask Strength. This is an outstanding drink!

Watching a little baseball with Springbank 10. Have a great night, guys.

Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel.

@Pudge72: Big Peat is another good value Whisky of outstanding quality: It is a 'Vatted' Malt of Argbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen and is truly delicious!

@Victor - A TERRIFFIC TRIFECTA of world class drams spanning one ocean, two continents, and three nations. That's one heck of a salute! Thank you for the kind words and warm greetings.

Last night, I sampled some Talisker 10 (last third of a bottle, but it's been "gassed") next to a freshly opened Talisker DE.(2001/2012). Although the 10 had a little more smoke, I was surprised to find that almost every other aspect of the DE tasted more powerful: as pungent and peppery as other samples of the 10 that I have tried, with added complexity and subtlety from the secondary sherry maturation.

This was not my experience with the 200ml DE that I had previously tried (1992/2005) as part of a sample pack. That one seemed toned down, more obviously sherried and less interesting than either the 10 or the 18. The 200 ml bottle also had two more years in the cask, but that may have been because the whisky wasn't up to snuff earlier. Before I pick up another one of those sample packs, I'll definitely be checking out the vintage of the DE. In this case, older doesn't seem to be better.

I'll have to try the head-to-head again soon...

Tonight it's Isle of Skye 12yr old. @Victor said to try this one. Wow was he right there is a lot going on in this one as well. Very nice. :)

@talexander HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Toasting you with whisky almost as old as you are - Crown Royal Limited Edition 1974 , next to last dram from Bottle ABF482 and a generous pour (after all, it is my birthday too!) from Bottle No. BAH075 which has been open since May 29 2012. Salute!

Broke into the bourbon tonight. Started with some Four Roses Ltd Single Barrel 2012 - Straight with a big ice ball while grilling. Post dinner drink of Old Forested Birthday Bourbon 2012 neat. The nose on the Old Forester has really gotten quite nice. Reminds me a lot of Hibiki 12YO of all things.

Royal Canadian Small Batch. I've finally found a Canadian I like.

Clynelish 14 to start with tonight.

@Wodha - You found a gem! I'm currently stuck on this one, again. This is '70's style top shelf Canadian. A butter bomb. Smooth, flavourful and well balanced - a complimentary expression to the Caribou Crossing Single Barrel stablemate.

Moved on to PC8 now.