So, whats it gonna be for christmas?

@TheConscience

Sounds delicious. Let us know how it turns out!

I will be working abroad for a month over Christmas - away from my whisky collection. Fortunately I am working on an island where the alcohol is duty free. I've worked there before and managed to squeeze a few bottles of single malt in during my post. So I will see what the local stores have in stock and set myself up with a small bar for the stay.

Redbreast 12 ... saved specially for christmas

For Christmas, I am thinking I will open my new bottle of that most exotique of whiskies, The Bailie Nicol Jarvie blended Scotch. Exotic in the Western Hemisphere anyway,...can't buy it locally anywhere in North or probably also South America. I LOVE BNJ, and to think, I didn't used to like a lot of citrus in whisky! The only downside? BNJ is so damned drinkable that a bottle can disappear in a flash! I'll have to keep this away from family gatherings...and figure out how to replace this bottle once it is gone.

I bought myself an early christmas prezzie with Bowmore 15 Darkest. It was pricey, but is really extraordinary. It moves through the flavours like a symphony, one flowing seamlessly into the next an unrelenting torrent of both bold and soft movements. It ends surprisingly dry after the almost brandy-like sweetness throughout most of the palate.

I'm very tempted to pick up another, different bottle as well. I just finished my Laphroaig QC and there's a long winter ahead with only Bowmore 15 and Ardbeg to be had in terms of Islays.

Cocktails! Especially of the gin variety. For beer: barley wines, strong belgian ales, and lambics. Likely whip up some eggnog, and I picked up a bottle of readymade Evan William's eggnog tonight as well. And hopefully a bottle of Uigeadail is waiting tucked in my x-mas stocking this year.

@AdamH I must admit - I chuckled aloud when seeing 'gin' mentioned; I've always thought of gin being a spring/summer mixer ie gin & tonic...Don't think I've ever had gin after Labor Day (early September).

When I visit my inlaws in Iowa later this month - it'll be a Merry Scotchmas with my brother-in-law...Will bring a handful of bottles (leaning towards an Ancnoc 12, Talisker 10, Glen Garioch 12, Aberlour 16, and probably the Ardbeg Uigedail that I'm looking forward to get rid of).

@Nozinan a Good wife is beneficial to your whiskylife :)

@AdamH an Ardbeg-Mojito is not too bad :) But personally I don't think the Oogie would be the best choice for it...

@FMichael Sure gin is a summer day favorite for some but for me the spice, heat, botanicals and/or floral characteristics lend itself nicely as an apertif to heavy holiday foods. I enjoy my Negroni and the ocassional Clover Club, egg white and all.
@PeatyZealot No, likely not the best choice. I'll pick a budget blend like JB and add some Drambuie.

Hi all, I'm thinking something really different and older than the norm. I'm going with Talisker 25yo 2009 bottled at 54.8. I purchased four bottles recently for $149.99 A bottle. I can easily open one, merry Christmas to all at Connors!

@luckyshot

I reversed the negative vote. I am certainly envious, but looks like someone else was "sour grapes" jealous.

I have a couple of bottles that need to be finished up, so most likely just those. Luckily, they are good 'uns- A bit of 4 Roses 125th anniversary during the day, and a Benriach single cask that night. Possibly a nip or two from the 9 batch of Tun 1401, though I do want to save some for New Year's Eve.

@luckyshot wow, very nice work!

Although Christmas is generally quite warm in my part of the world, I'll still have myself a dram or two. I'll be opening a single cask Glendronach - It looks like Christmas in a bottle, so hopefully it'll do the trick.

@luckyshot OK You saved enough to send a bottle to unfortunate people like me! This bottle is $488 per here in the Canadian Heartland. I can only dream about such extravagance. Good buy!

Glendronach 18 will be the x-mas dram.... rich sherry all the way for a cold Yuletide !

@Jonesz hi all, yeah jonesz I thought the price was a error, but the bottles sat on the shelf For some time. Great buy indeed.

For me it stands between a bottle of Laphroig Quarter Cask or Bowmore Darkest 15.

I know what I´m getting with the QC, its lovely in the winter cold! However I´ve heard some good things about the bowmore. Opinions anyone?

A great question! I have my eye on a bottle of Compass Box Flaming Heart. I like to have something unusual that I haven't tried for Christmas, and it seems to fit the bill. May add a Glenfarclas 105, which I've enjoyed before, and has that "fruitcake" type taste appropriate for the holidays!

I love all the choices members are going to enjoy on this most special of days. I was initially leaning towards something like the Laphroaig Quarter Cask or 18yo, Aberlour A'bunadh batch45, or perhaps my recently arrived bottles of either Palace Bar irish whiskey, or The Irishman 12 yo Single Malt irish whiskey. But I have decided to do something quite different. After a little research, I think I am going to sample White Horse blended scotch. There is an appeal to sampling something with a blend of a blend of Lagavulin, Talisker, Caol Ila, & Linkwood (among others). I realize that does not guarantee an "all-star" experience, or even pleasant tasting and flavor, but I love the first three listed, so I am going to give it a go. Plus, the $17.99 price (Northern Michigan) is a help to my already strained holiday shopping budget. Here is to all of you !!!

@cherylnifer Get the Laphroaig 18, its so tasty :)

As tradition wants that we give eachother presents with Christmas evening but seen my wife has no clue about (good) whiskies I got clearance to buy it myself. So I've bought myself a Laphroaig 10yo and a Glenlivet 18yo as gifts for under the Christmas tree. I will happily pretend to be surprised when opening the gifts :-) On second Christmas day my folks come over for dinner also, and probably it will be the yearly basic Glenfiddich bottle. I'll have to hide the previous unopened bottles somewhere...did one in the past and it's not for repetition. But he, it's gesture that counts? ;-)

so I've arrived in the city of private liquor stores and excellent selection (and lower prices)... As expected the first of 9 dram evenings ended before it started. Too many kids, too little time.

We'll have to plan our time carefully and take opportunities as they arise.

Today, when the ladies return from their shopping, my brother in law and I get to start our first hunting trip.... Luckily, we use credit, not firearms, and we bring home whisky, not protein...