So what AREN'T you drinking now?

I just cancelled my order of Glenlivet 18 after discovering Amazon had been 'cute' with their product info. Basically, turns out I was most likely getting the new version @40% not the one at 43%. No way I'm paying a premium price for a whisky presented like that. You almost got me Amazon ... almost!

And Glenlivet ... very disappointing!

Laimrig 4

I called a patient to make an appointment for tomorrow but then it sounded like she was about to expire so I set up a video visit, so no alcohol.

Then, because I had already set the oven in preparation to baking a bread recipe I received from Lemony Snicket, I went to put the dough in the dutch oven, forgot the lid was 450 degrees and burned my fingers on the lid.

second degree burns. I sent a photo to an ER colleague who recommended antiinflammatories... so I put a cover on the Laimrig. Maybe tomorrow...

No... I'm on call tomorrow.

Doh!

@Nozinan Ouch!

My Feis Ile bottle from Bruichladdich finally arrived. Since the UK was closed down due to the Covid-19, all the Islay distilleries (except Ardnahoe, I believe), held online Feis Ile activities. I was hopeful that all the distilleries would have had their Feis Ile bottlings available to purchase online, and they did, except they weren't shipping to the US so many would not take US orders. Bruichladdich did and shipped once restrictions were lifted. Ardbeg, as you all know, does not do a Feis bottling like the other distilleries, meaning a bottle available only at the distillery, they do the Committee Bottle which ships through the distributors. I was so disappointed to not have the chance to get a Bunnahabhain or Kilchoman bottle, but thankful to get the Bruichladdich and the Ardbeg. Oh, and I'm not drinking it... yet.

Epic Failure! I’m not drinking from this particular bottle of Macallan Cask Strength....

@paddockjudge

I gave this a like not because I had a bad case of schadenfreude, but because you shared your 'fail' photo. Too often most people only share the good moments, but hey, these things happen to all of us. Thanks for sharing. Yay! I am not alone with a broken cork moment.

@ajjarrett, thanks for your candid response to my minor misfortune. When I showed @talexander the photo his response was “FFS”. I had a good chuckle. Lately I’ve had some poor luck with corks. I’m liking the synthetic “corks” more and more.

@paddockjudge

I must admit the following: I have no idea what "FFS" means, but then again it took me a while to know what LOL, IMO and BFF means. Now don't laugh, but I still use a rotary phone and occasionally two old coffee cans on the end of the string to communicate.

I would suggest sending the photo to Macallan and simply say, "go synthetic". haha. Well, you can be a bit more elaborate than that, but I think it might be helpful to receive that kind of feedback.

@ajjarrett Here's a hint: the first word is "for" the last word is "sake" Fill in the blank.

@paddockjudge I hate it when that happens.

@paddockjudge - bummer! Not exactly a major incident but it is damn annoying when it happens!

I have a different issue with my Bulleit 10 - the cork's been fraying at the edges and what's left in the bottle is now roughly 5% cork detritus. Not that appealing ...

@RianC, a paper type coffee filter or tiny mesh strainer will solve that problem easily... I’m sure you’ve already contemplated a solution by which you can save the last pour. I recently had a Glenfarclas 15 YO which suffered a corkage catastrophe. I filtered the entire bottle through a paper coffee filter. I thoroughly enjoyed the aroma of whisky filling the air. The difficult part is finding a replacement for the damaged cork.

Glenfarclas is a repeat offender. I purchased 4 bottles each of ‘farclas 15 and also 17YO back in 2014. From the eight bottles four have experienced extreme bottle stopper instability. I have two unopened bottles. This is the first Macallan CS of many to have malfunctioned.

@ajjarrett, I’m slowly transitioning to digital as I no longer drink coffee...I miss those coffee cans.

@paddockjudge Synthetic corks and screw caps all the way. This ridiculous cork business MUST END. Hit the streets and chant STOP THE CORK! STOP THE CORK!

@ajjarrett Fee For Service....

@Nozinan

Thanks! I was experiencing a moment of FOMO for not understanding. : P

@paddockjudge once you recover from your Macallan cork trauma, can you tell me how it differs from the newer Classic Cut in terms of flavour and quality? I gather that the newer release uses both European and American oak casks seasoned with sherry. I’m wondering if it is worth a punt.

@MRick @paddockjudge IMHO the old CS is much better than the newer Classic Cut

@ajjarrett, our friend @Nozinan can often be super-focused on billing, uhm, I mean work.

FFS is a texting colloquialism for ... For Fuck Sakes....terse and to the point!

@MRick, I’m not a fan of Classic Cut. I found sulfur in the first release. I seldom enjoy sulfur. I would rather have Mac 12 YO Sherry, available in Canada for $120 - $150.

Macallan Cask Strength is much better than Classic Cut. THE CS has a richness that is seldom found in single malts. It is liquid Christmas cake AND it is clean. There is nothing off-putting about CS. It is my favourite single malt. Only six years ago it was available in Canada for $75 - $100. Today it is practically unavailable at retail. You may find the rare bottle, generally offered in the $1,000 - $2,000 range. Mac CS is also the main component in my favourite blended malt, the Dram of Desire which was created for @RikS..... Mac CS, Glenlivet Archive, Laphroaig 18 (Lore or Triple Wood CS will do) in the ratio of 8:4:1 or 6:3:1 if you want it a bit smokier.

@paddockjudge And whilst I have not ACTUALLY tried it yet.... I just have to close my eyes and.... delicious!

Haven't been on for a while, so I hope you're all keeping well friends!!

@paddockjudge I was trying to be polite...

@RikS, nice of you to drop bye. Trying to stay positive in this challenging year.

@Nozinan, you were extremely polite, as always. I couldn’t resist taking a shot

@paddockjudge thanks for the considered reply.

@MRick, although it is more expensive than Macallan Classic Cut (and lower abv) I recommend Glengoyne 21 YO for a clean, rich, and spicy Sherry malt experience.

I've heard a number of wine makers here in NZ say they prefer screw tops but most of the people spending lots on a bottle want to see a real cork. The wine winemaker at the last wine tasting I was at said that for their premium bottles they use corks which are individually pre-sniffed by the Portugese cork importer to ensure that they are free of the fungi that produces TCA - the cause of corked wine. The whisky industry will have a hard time switching to synthetic cork or screw tops based purely peoples expectations of what premium bottles should look like (despite what is best).

@paddockjudge - Thanks and yeah I'm on the filter hunt as I type!

I've had Glenfarclas cork issues as well. I once got a free bottle of the 12 as the first cork totally crumbled into the bottle on opening. I told Masters of Malt, sent a pic and voila! They said dispose of the first bottle as I saw fit so I assured them it was going straight down the drain

@Hewie, ah yes, the old Portugese cork sniffers. I prefer to have my cork soaked .........

@Hewie, perhaps our fellow Connosr members have not yet watched this master class on cork soaking....

bing.com/videos/search/…