What is the next bottle you purchase or open?

At the latest LCBO/Waddington's auction, I purchased a lot of three bottles of Something Special blended scotch for $CDN200 (including buyer's premium and HST). There was no info on the date of bottling on either the Waddington's website nor the packaging, so I looked around online for the image of the bottle and found this: masterofmalt.com/whiskies/… So retail price is about $CDN300 each (not including taxes) so I think I got a pretty good deal! Plus I just opened it and it's quite good - old school sherried blend with a bit of peat running through. Very nice. Glad I got three of them!

@talexander that certainly is a lot of something special!

@Robert99, I should have better addressed your query about wood usage. New Oak for Lot No 40 jumps up the spice in Dissertation (and Legacy). The rounding of Dissertation is done with some more subtle rye (if you can believe it). Dissertation by volume is 7/8 rye whisky. Although new oak has a huge influence on these whiskies, the method of distillation and the physical properties of the pot-style still are equally important...and the type of Rye (Brasutto).

Legacy is kept in check by the double distilled corn, aged in what some of our Connosr friends refer to as "tired" barrels... (barrels don't get tired when entry proof distillate of 94% is slashing away at their insides...they won't give bourbonesque sugars, but they will make great whisky). The amount of corn in Legacy (2:1, corn:rye) creates the perfect medium with which to frame the rye.

@Nelom, Legacy has approximately 1/3 rye (Lot No 40).

@Robert99, No need to collect Wiser's 15 YO, I have a hunch it will be around for a while...especially at $49.95.

@paddockjudge Thanks for your answer, I totaly get what your saying about the wood jumping the spicies and about the subtle rye.

Since you're so kind to educate me, I would ask another question. What gives a nutty note to the Last Barrel? I know, I am a bit annoying, but I am sure there is other Connosr member who will appreciate your answer.

@Robert99 The Last Barrels are very different from the other expressions we've been discussing. Instead of being distilled and matured separately, All the grains were mashed together and a cup of sour milk was added. No joke.

@Nozinan I read about the milk, but I didn't no it came from one mash like an American whisky. Interesting. I don't like it as much as Legacy and Dissertation but I can already notice some improvement with air exposure.

@Robert99 In fact someone, I think I know who but don't want to "out" anyone, referred to Last Barrels as Canadian Bourbon.

@Nozinan My guess would go for our harcore Canadian Whisky ambassador in residence.

@OdysseusUnbound, you could make your Legacy, in the dark, parched future of a "discontinued legacy era". Two parts Wiser's 15 (30 ml), one part Lot No 40 (15 ml), and a couple of drops of Deanston Virgin Oak (1 - 1.25 ml). Shake, pour, enjoy.

@paddockjudge Is Wiser’s 15 100% corn? I know the 18 is....

@Robert99, for the nuttiness that you detect in Last Barrels, my best guess is the barley and the oak. LB 14 YO is basically a sour mash done in used barrels or a combination of new (not many if any) oak and experienced barrels. If this was made a quarter of a mile north of the Hiram Walker Distillery of Windsor, ON, and aged exclusively in new oak, it would be bourbon, 14 year-old sour mash bourbon. Last barrels is an example of how bourbon would taste without new oak.

@Nozinan, the real "Canadian Bourbon" is CROWN ROYAL HAND SELECTED BARREL...the geographical location prevents it from being called bourbon.

@paddockjudge Oh, I stand corrected. Math was never my strong suite.

@OdysseusUnbound, I believe it is all double distilled corn at 40%.

@paddockjudge Thanks for the answer and for the "experienced barrels" expression. Nice!

@paddockjudge I defer to the superior mind....and the Canadian whisky expert.

If my Brother in Law is successful in packing the Lot 40 CS and an Old Scout bourbon, I suspect that those will be opened some time in the next week and a half. But there are 2 other bottles he's procured for Connosr colleagues that have priority in the suitcase.

Apparently my MoM order came with a flask or something so that should come over too.

@Nozinan So the Lot 40 had to be left behind on account of some meat that was shipped. I guess I can't complain about Alberta Beef.

So it looks like I'll have to take my chances with everyone else for the Lot 40, and hope that we can crack that Old Scout sometime in the next week

Was contemplating getting the 2014 release of the Rosebank 21 Year. Cannot seem to find anything comparing it to the 2012 release.

And of course the news of the re-opening and upcoming releases of old stock makes things more complicated.

I am looking at two bottles of Glenlivet XXV on SWA. They are from two different batches (0115B and 0913A). The latter appears way darker. I assume SWA keeps their lighting the same. Are there that sizeable of batch variations in the XXV?

I think it will be the 2017 Cairdeas and/or the Glenfiddich XX.

@msudukie I have no idea. But the Glenlivet XXV is pretty amazing.

I'm considering a bottle of the Kaiyo Mizunara oak whiskies. Anybody had these yet?

Various sellers have them, but I found out about them on the K&L blog:

spiritsjournal.klwines.com/klwinescom-spiri…

@MadSingleMalt The price is right. I'd give them a try at that price. Most decent Japanese whiskies have got very spendy lately.

@talexander Agreed - the Glenlivet 25 is superb

A friend gave me a 500ml bottle of Nikka from the Barrel a while ago. I think I'm going to open it up and check it out this weekend.

Enjoying a sip from a very fine and newly opened bottle of Jefferson's Reserve. Very Old, Very Small Batch, Very Good!

Bottle 1915 Batch 319

@paddockjudge nice...where did you get that?

@Nozinan, the bottle of JR was a birthday gift from my brother. I believe he picked it up in Vermont. I happen to have two more bottles from a different batch one I obtained locally and the other is half of a pair hunted down by a friend of mine.....oh, wait a minute, it was you, my friend.