So what AREN'T you drinking now?

@fiddich1980 @MadSingleMalt

Moutai is a brand of Bai Jiao, a Chinese spirit based on Sorghum, but occasionally rice or other grains. I am by no means an expert on it,

However, I would note that in Xinjiang province I tried and was gifted some very fragrant Bai Jiao, bottled at 46%. It was tasty and inogffensive. While it couldn't hold a candle to the wine spirit I tried there (still hoping for a bottle one day) I would definitely choose it over LAMBERTUS.

Oh, and according to my sister in law and my wife, you're a little early in your new year wishes.

@Nozinan Chinese New Year is Feb. 16. The festivities/dinner takes place in evening of Feb.15. Moutai is based on Sorghum and wheat. The LCBO currently has stock on Mautai Prince 53%ABV and a Standard 40%ish version. A higher end version "Flying Fairy" sold out in January. What is this infamous Lambertus you mention? I've seen it mentioned but, not detailed on a few other forums. It like the "spirit that dare not speak it name".

@fiddich1980, Lambertus is not a "young spirit", it is only the worst whisky I have ever tried...twice.

@paddockjudge You are the only person I know to have finished a dram of it...and you did it twice...in the same sitting!

@fiddich1980 Agreed, Chinese new year is next week, hence my remark about it being early.

Moutai, as you call it, is a specific brand of Bai Jiao. My sister in law pronounces it Mao tai. That's because it was the brand favoured by Mao and became the star brand.

There are other notable brands. Apparently Kinmen is popular in Taiwan. Their Kao Liang is based on the Kao Liang strain of sorghum.

My favourite (of the very few I've tasted and fewer I remember), is the one I tried in Shihezi, Xinjiang. I can't read the packaging so I can't tell much more than it was bottled at 46%. There is no caramel (it's clear) and I can't tell if it's chill-filtered.

I prefer it it every soju I've tried. I prefer almost any whisky in my cabinet (Lambertus excepted) to Bai Jiao

@fiddich1980 I had my fair share of BaiJiu in China. Happy Lunar New Year! Dog year which is me.

@casualtorture So you're 24?

@Nozinan 23 born in '94. My wife and her parents are all sheep so I say I'm the sheep dog haha

@casualtorture I'm a rooster...my wife refers to me as a chicken...

94? That was the year I got me SECOND degree!

@Nozinan the jokes I mad last New year's for rooster people were a bit more dirty...

Pure Speculation on my part: "BaiJiu" my Cantonese is rusty Bai =to celebrate/a gathering/ to par take in celebrate Jiu=alcohol/spirit/beer. I maybe way off if it's Mandarin. @casualtorture it is your year. I'm an old goat.

I’m also a goat (December 1979).

@fiddich1980 it's literally translated as "white liquor." Bai，白=white。 jiu， 酒=liquor

So bai jiu. 白酒

@fiddich1980 Mandarin. Cantonese escapes me.

@casualtorture Thanks. Vocal reading to me in Cantonese "buyi jiu". Remind me of my parent's Cantonese term which referenced a " a formal invitation to friends and neighbours for a celebration which involved food and drink - with emphasis on liquor ". The cantonese term to "drink alcoholic/liquor was "um-jiu". It is the written Chinese both simplified and complex which would provide universal meaning to the multitude of Chinese dialects.

This thread offshoot is more interesting than many examples of what it's about.

What a night! Blue Jays sweep a double header!

2.5 hour OMA district teleconference!

Train wreck at work that I have to put into words (yes, @bluenote, charting)

Each of those would be reason alone to have a dram (or 2), either to celebrate or to get me through...

But I'm on call!

I'm not even sure what I would reach for if could tonight, but definitely something cask strength!

@Nozinan Keep calm and carry on.

@BlueNote Not tonight... tonight I'll keep calm and DRAM on...

@Nozinan A much better idea.

Cheers

Recovering from some mysterious pain for which I've taken anti-inflammatories, and on the tail end of my cold I picked up on Thursday night.

I really enjoyed listening to the Ontario Leaders' debate tonight. This would have been a great night to open my newly acquired ECBP Hazmat 70.1%.

Maybe on election night. I have a feeling there will be much to celebrate... or a need to drown my sorrows.

@Nozinan, you were too late on the barrel proof bourbon. I didn't catch that cold, even though I did share the same air as you on two 500 mile drives last week. Hope you are feeling well soon.

p.s.

it is really good ECBP Hazmat Edition 70.1%.

@paddockjudge I know... I thought I tasted hints of it in a cheap bourbon you served me in Maryland...

Drinking vicariously tonight. On call, so nothing with alcohol, though I had some more of my favourite long drink (PC diet tonic water and lime with ice).

Started with Ballantyne's Finest, then later Macallan 12, then 18, and soon....Mac CS.

A big thank you to @paddockjudge for allowing me to taste vicariously through him tonight.

Ardbeg Oogie

I'm taking a couple weeks' break from drinking, but last night I took a tiny splash in a glencairn just to nose. Very nice, and very tempting! It was sad to see it wash down the drain.

@MadSingleMalt You could have poured it into a small bottle and saved it for the next time...

Ehn. I deliberately chose something that I have plenty of & don't feel sentimental about. The problems was just that once it started playing its sweet little tune in my nose, I knew that it belonged in my belly instead of the drain.

@MadSingleMalt Written like someone who doesn't have to pay $170 a bottle in Ontario...

Highland Park 35 yo Octomore 2.1

@NamBeist Me too...

Sending a twelve-pack of some very nice Canadian whiskies to Thailand for a whisky-loving nephew.