So what AREN'T you drinking now?

@Nozinan Whisky could be an issue. I've been wondering and debating what a whisky infused with truffle would taste like? The debate is which whisky(possibly Bruichladdich Black Art) and which truffle(white or black).

@Hewie if you want the recipe? I'll follow you and then figure it out how to send you the recipe. The private message system on Connosr has a length limitation.

@fiddich1980 I think black truffle might be a good place to start, white can be intense and it's best parts (IMO) are ephemeral and therefore harder to capture in other mediums like oils or butter.

That said I think the experiment could be fun.

What am I not drinking... Octomore 7.3

I noticed folks on Instagram posting pictures of what they bought at Liquor Depot's 20% off sale, then some dude posts a picture of Octomore 7.3 saying he didn't buy them because he's not into peat...I frantically messaged the dude in the hopes of getting a hook-up for him to answer that some guy behind him cleared the shelf of all 20 bottles they had

That's my desert Island whisky, the one to rule them all and on my last trip to Calgary I called and visited every damn store I could think of in search for it and then to learn it was so close, within reach this whole time...I almost cried my damn self to sleep.

Caol Ila CS, G and M bottling I got by way of Nova Scotia. Great bottling (oh, to have another - wait, I do, just a different cask).

I'm on call today. Its been buy.

Last night I covered the empty glass from my 15 cc pour. What a nose! It beats many a glass with liquid, to be sure. Incredibly complex. Campfire with some green wood, possible pine, dusty basement... and more.

I have a cabinet full of open bottles, and a drawer full of samples. I am not on call, I don't have to drive. Perfect evening to do a review or 2.

Can you believe I couldn't pick something I wanted? I gave up on reviewing and thought "what can I have for plain enjoyment without evaluation? Nothing.

I figured if such a wealth of choice and nothing spoke out to me, I probably didn't want any whisky tonight.

What a waste of a perfect opportunity!

@Nozinan Not at all! It always has to be the right place and the right time. It'll speak to you again another time.

@Nozinan, that is sound advice from @talexander, .......................a true whisky whisperer

@paddockjudge The whisky, she is a stern mistress. But treat her right, and she will love you forever.

@talexander, truer words have never been spoken, not every day is Ballantine's Day. Sláinte

A Whisk(e)y I think I will not be drinking is the upcoming Mister Sam as it looks to be a Bourbon/Canadian collaboration the likes of Little Book II with a much larger price tag and bigger proof point.

onemoredram.com/2019/04/…

Just got back from Japan and tonight I’m not drinking these little beauties - they were poured straight from the bar in the Yamazaki distillery and cost 1800jpy (£13) for the three ... that’s right ... all three for £13! Got my notes so Mini reviews to come :-)

@conorrob OHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GODDDDDD!!!!

@conorrob 13 GBP plus airfare...

@talexander I know ... I know ...

@Nozinan yeah that’s a fair comment the sashimi ain’t half bad either in local Kyoto so maybe you could move the cost of flights onto a slice or two of toro instead

@conorrob My wife wants us to take a trip to Japan. She hasn't been able to convince me. You have.

@Nozinan if you need any more convincing take a peek on what did you just buy and why ... already booked my tickets to go back ... haha

@conorrob I used to have a Connosr List about what purchases I would have made differently if I could travel back to 2010. I would add to that list now that I would have put away about 15 or 20 bottles of age-stated Japanese whisky. Which ones? Hhhmmm...

1) Yamazaki 18 yo 4-5 bottles; they cost $ 90-120 each in 2010

2) Taketsuru 17 yo, 4-5 bottles, they cost $ 80-120 each in 2010

3) Hibiki 12, 17, 21 yo, at least one each

4) Karuizawa, a couple of these, assuming I could find some which aren't strongly sulphured

5) 1 each Hakushu 18 yo, Yoichi 15 yo, Yoichi 20 yo

6) 3 or so bottles of Ichiro's Malts, with or without age statements.

Most of these bottles were rare in my region, even in 2010. Purchasing off of this list would also have required on my part anticipating the huge price increases later, since most of these were already quite expensive at that time.

@Victor The solution is simply to win a big lottery...

@Victor I’m in complete agreement with you and would love to see that list! Even the distilleries shelves were virtually empty. We were the second tour of the day but grabbed a bottle of the distillery suntory each before we started. When we returned after the tour everything was gone leaving everyone else disappointed. It’s so hard now to find many of the bottles you just mentioned. The taps are drying up and the bottles that are left just keep rising in value

The Taketsuru 17 you mentioned I bought and tucked away a few years back and this trip gave me my first opportunity to try it. Honestly one of the best drams I have ever had. And at just over £5 a pop I made sure I had enough drams to last me till I decide to open my own bottle. (Strangely we found this in a British style pub called the hub, they must have known We were coming)

@Victor,

That is a great flashback Japanese whisky shopping list.

For me, a case each of Yamazaki 18 YO and Taketsuru 17 YO. Hibiki 21, as many as I could find!!

@Astroke, it was just a matter of time before another Super-Premium-Elite North American Blend was offered by a major producer. Who's next?

Since we're talking about what we aren't drinking, On Wednesday I was so happy to finish up my "blending exercise" putting together my presentation for yesterday (including video of the ultimate selfi, ultrasound of my liver and lung), that I decided to take the opportunity to have a good blend. I made it to the cabinet. I looked at my half-full bottle of JW Green, and my 2 drams of Cutty Sark Prohibition, and, exhausted, went to bed. I was exhausted after I got back from London Ontario last night (2.5 h each way with traffic and weather) and today I have a sore throat...

@paddockjudge I just don't see a blend of George T Stagg and Seagrams VO working :)

@Astroke that last one killed me. From bottom shelf to top shelf. Imagine the reactions if such an exercise occurred.

@Nozinan for me that sore throat is always a foreboding sign that I better cool it and take it easy.

I've skipped plenty of nights of late and while it bums me out. It's not as bad as drinking when you're not feeling it.

@Astroke, come on man! VO was my teenage staple.

@cricklewood - The sore throat did indeed develop into a full blown cold. Not a man cold, as I'm still able to function, but enough that I can't taste or smell anything properly.

Normally I would try to have a nice dram before I seal my collection for Passover, which starts tomorrow, but it won't be possible. That means that next week I'll be heading to an EPIC Tasting with a palate that hasn't had any whisky in 20 days...

. . . this, sadly!

masterofmalt.com/whiskies/laphroaig/…

Doesn't pop up often but £160!? Come on!

@RianC One of the annoying mysteries of whisky... ...and to fuel your annoyance (and mine), a few more links below from the US - where the same UK product is readily available at around $60/£45

www.wollastonwines.com/sku32425.html klwines.com/p/i/… arlingtonwine.net/spirits/…

And no, I don't buy that this is just down to tax if anyone wants to make that argument.

@paddockjudge I don’t know about Super-Premium-Elite, but I’ve been in touch with the people at Alberta Premium, and I’ve been told to keep my eye out in the upcoming months....whatever that means.