What is the next bottle you purchase or open?

Just opened the exquisite Booker's 2015-4 "Oven Buster". Haven't had a sip because I'm finishing off 2015-3 first. I've been refilling my 25th anniversary bottle with a new bookers (I've got about 10oz of 25th stored away in sample bottles for the Texas summit) and I have been eagerly awaiting this day. I've had 3-4 previous bottles of 2015-4 and it is without a doubt the best sub $50 bourbon I've ever had. I could smell it instantly after loosening the cork - orange, chocolate, and the kind of sugar crystal honeycomb that dissolves in your mouth like cotton candy. Expect the long overdue review of this fine offering soon.

@chrisbator Give Jim Beam Devil's Cut a try. If you can get Texas 1835 Bourbon (sourced from Kentucky). I'd take certain four roses cask strength recipes at $70-$80 any day.

@Nozinan thank you, should be a good whisky to open (eventually...)

Post #1500, well here's to whisky dram #1500 then

Next up.... Unless I see something too rare to pass up will be a Lagavulin 8.... Possibly an EH Taylor too...

Yesterday i celebrated my birthday with relatives and friends. I feel very much loved and they sure know what I like.. Among the gifts I got was two bottles of whisky that hit the spot perfectly.

I got the semi-new Glendronach 12 years old and also a Glengoyne 21 years old. I Opened and shared the Glengoyne with great pleasure and even the non whisky-drinking crowd agreed that it nosed wuite wonderful and those who sampled realised that there it a difference between whisky and whisky. I'm also looking forward to trying the Glendronach. Having spent roughly half the time in a barrel it is still almost as dark as the glengoyne. Active sherry casks anyone?

@Alexsweden Happy Birthday!!!

@Alexsweden I just picked up a GlenDronach 12 too..... replacing a bottle I finished months ago...

Now looking to get Old Forester 1920 when it arrives, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof when I find it priced reasonably, and possibly something to replace my basically empty Four Roses SB.

@chrisbator Have you considered OGD 114?

Lagavulin 12 YO anniversary edition. Open, that is, because @Talexander opened his and seems to like it a lot and I can't wait to open it any longer. The LCBO has listed it and I want to know if I "need" to get another bottle before they are all gone. Who knows, it may already be too late!

I'm headed to Calgary for my annual whisky pilgrimage (oops! I mean all my in-laws get together for family time) in a couple of weeks.

This will be a leaner year. The combination of a full cabinet, upcoming major expenses and skyrocketing prices, even in Cow-town, will mean that most of what I'm hauling home I've already bought.

But I will look out for a couple of good deals on a few items. If I'm lucky enough to get Laphroaig QC for $40, Uigeadail for $80 or a Corryvrechin for under $100 I will be tempted Also, my brother in law @Nosebleed has found a store that carries a lot of minis.

Next to open: Lagavulin 8.

Next to purchase: Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique (hopefully) or Kilchoman Loch Gorm.

@Nozinan

Awesome hope you enjoy the 12. I missed out on the 200th anniversary 12 at my local :( They only have the 2014 release left in stock. Would be interested to know how they differ from someone with both.

@sepsism oops, sorry, I meant the Lag 8. The only 12 I have is the 2010 version. I will open it one day but not any time soon.

@Nozinan No worries! I intend to crack my 8 sometime before Christmas, looking forward to it.

I had a bottle of the 12 2010 release but it's long long gone unfortunately. My all time favorite single malt so far although that possibly isn't saying much as I'm a newbie. I'll look to purchase another 12 in 2017 but it has a pretty hefty pricetag here in NZ.

Cheers.

@sepsism NZ? What is the single malt scene like there? I saw some CS NZ single malt on line but sadly the only stuff we get in Canada is 40% stuff

@Nozinan Quite a decent Whisky scene here actually, mostly driven by the crew at Whiskygalore here in Christchurch. They organize and run Dramfest every two years (wish it was every year!) which brings in some sizable crowds and is an amazing day. All the big distilleries turn out and are more than happy to share most if not their entire ranges for tasting. Being in the middle of nowhere comes at a cost though so I'd expect we pay quite a bit on top of the usual prices in some instances.

As far as actual New Zealand Whisky goes I'm not a fan so far, I can't actually tell you what I've tried but I think I've tasted one or two from Thomson. They actually have an 18, 21 and a 23 year old which I was quite surprised about. I'll reserve judgement until I can get my hands on some.

Might open my Glen Scotia Double Cask soon - anyone tried it before?

Compass Box The peat Monster - I've had it a while and recently acquired a spare. I had a holiday meeting of my debating society and this was just the thing to add "spirit" to the gathering. Review hopefully by the end of the month, and maybe a H2H with a cask strength version that @TAlexander was nice enough to give me a sample of.

I'm fixing to order an indie islay. Undisclosed but from one of the kildalton distilleries. Single cask and Sherry finished, i believe 8yrs old. Swedish bottler Svenska eldvatten is releasing this one right after Christmas.

For my upcoming birthday, I'm going to open one of the following. Anybody care to vote?

•PC7. This is my longest-held bottle, in the stash since early 2012 if memory serves. I would open it and so some side-by-sides with the Port Charlotte Islay Barley (already open), the Port Charlotte An Turas Mor (a sample I saved off years ago), and the Octomore 6.1 (already open).

•My whole line of Kilkerrans from the stash, now that the 12 has joined them. This would be the 12, WIP #1, WIP #6 Sherry, and WIP #7 Bourbon CS.

@Ol_Jas I would do the Kilkerrans to avoid peat overload.

@talexander , "avoid peat overload"??? Does not compute.

@Ol_Jas I opened my bottle of PC7 on my birthday in 2014. So that would be my pick.

Further, I have never had a tasting where I ever thought, "Now that was too much peat." Nor have I ever tasted a whisky that I thought was too peaty. Sure, there are peaty whiskies that need more complexity or balance to go with all that delicious peat. Does that put in firmly in the Peat Freak camp?

@Nock , so crack the PC7 and pitch my tent (so to speak) in the Peat Freak camp? I like it.

@Ol_Jas, PC7 is excellent. Go there.

@Ol_Jas I would strongly recommend you open your cabinet and pick the one that is pulling at your heart the most.

What he said!

Just picked up another Redbreast 12 Cask Strength and another Bowmore 15 Laimrig to bunker. I like these too much to wait 2-3 years for the LCBO to bring back when they are gone. Also a Lot 40, on sale this month and I had none left in my bar, seemed like a no brainer.

@Astroke I think the question is IF LCBO will bring them back in 3 years, not when... and then, at what price?

@Nozinan Yes, why take the chance these gems will surface again here. I am sick of nursing my Springbank 12 CS to the point I can barley remember it between pours but knowing I loved it.