What is the next bottle you purchase or open?

@RianC I can't believe you would have nagged....surely it was just frequently repeated reminders Nice pick anyway. We'll look forward to hearing your thoughts on it when you open it - and we'll try not to nag you about it too much

@RianC , a little nagging never hurts, especially if it culminates in Talisker 8

I bought a bottle of Caol Ila 18 Unpeated CS last night. Why?

•I got my annual raise this month. And even though it was smaller than I'd hoped for, I always like celebrate that with a new bottle.

•It was $90, which seems like a great price these days. $10 less than than 15-year sitting right next to it.

•I typically really like high-proof Caol Ila, at least the peated ones I've had. And I did try one of these unpeated ones (I forget which year) at a friend's house a while back and really dug it. It could pass for a Springbank.

•My club will have a Caol Ila night this winter, and the 18 Unpeated will be a fun one to share with those guys.

•Even though I'm not supposed to be buying any more whisky right now, I just moved a bunch of bottles from my stash (see the regerts thread) so I felt justified in nudging the needle +1 back in the other direction.

@MadSingleMalt Interesting... look forward to read your review on this one. Unpeated Caol Ila... sounds like a contradiction in terms, so I'm curious about your verdict!

@RikS If I'm correct, this 18 is part of a single production run that produced the 15, 17 and now 18.

I picked up the 18 for just over $100 CAD (thanks again @astroke) but we're pretty sure the price was a mistake. The 17 YO was about $170 at the LCBO a few years ago ad I lucked out on a 15 on sale in Calgary last Decembe, for about $100.

So while I'm surprised it's more expensive than in Canada, I'm also Surprised at how inexpensive such an old, CS limited release is.

It ma be a while before I get to mine. Please let me know how it is @MadSingleMalt.

My Talisker 8 and Benromach 10 arrived today! The former is off limits (for now) but I've noticed that the Ben 10 packaging doesn't have the plastic stand like it used to (bottle dated July/17) so they must have stopped that. It was a nice touch but a bit pointless, really.

I just hope it doesn't reflect a drop in quality!? We shall see but I'd be surprised if that was the case.

@MadSingleMalt - Seems to be well received the unpeated Caol Ila. I've enjoyed every CI I've tried bar the Distiller's edition which was far too white-winey for me (I only sampled it though). I'd be interested to try it unpeated - let us know how you find it as I know you like your 'beefy peatys' so it would be interesting to see your take on it.

I sincerely hope you don't regert your purchase!

@RianC , that silly little gold-medal stand is gone from the Benromach packaging??? I won't miss it ether, but it was charming in its way, wasn't it? I still remember when I first heard about it in a Ralfy video many moons ago.

@RianC, I think I'm repeating (or maybe unrepeating) myself, but I tried one of the Caol Ila Unpeateds recently at a friend's house and quite liked it. Very much in the style of an ex-bourbon Campbeltowner: zippy, salty, and little dirty. That's totally up my alley.

And of course it gives you the opportunity to taste what's "underneath" a malt you usually get in all its peaty glory, so it has a big "fun" component too.

There is a G&M Scapa 10yo downstairs in the shop next to the office. Thinking about picking it up but price seems a bit steep at $89.99. Thoughts?

@casualtorture Never been a huge fan of Scapa, myself...

@casualtorture

Well, I cannot really comment on the Scapa part of your post, so I hope this isn't much of a tangent from your post. I never had many opportunities to try any whisky put out by an independent bottler. Since most of my consumption has been with OBs, that is what I tend to spend my money on. I am one of those who likes to try before I buy, but it isn't to find IBs to try. Thus, I find the "risk" a little too high for my tastes, no pun intended. I might be the only one here since there is a strong liking of IBs over OBs on Connosr, but I could be wrong about that as well. Anyway, I usually go with an OB that I truly like before I go with an IB that I am not at all familiar with. I have made purchases based on a Ralfy, or other Youtuber's, reviews, but they haven't been purchases that broke my budget.

So, here is my penny's worth. If you are interested in trying an IBing of Scapa, go for it. If it is in your budget, then go for it. Just don't forget to report back. ^_^

@casualtorture, for my sake, I could hardly imagine a $90 Scapa ever winning any of my money.

@RianC, here's my take on the Caol Ila 18 Unpeated.

It's punchy.

Rather "low"-pitched for a being an ex-bourbon malt. Nothing like a boring "neutral" malt (say, Glenmo 10 or a Balblair).

The nose is lively & fresh! My favorite quality in a whisky.

It's really syrupy! Thick, oily, mouth-coating.

The advertised "salty edge" isn't really there. Well, maybe kinda. But it's not the mouthful of seawater I crave.

The finish is butterscotchy.

Quick enjoyment rating: 87. Good stuff.

@MadSingleMalt You're making me want to open mine

@Nozinan, go for it. I rarely buy & open within 24 hours, but this was a fun one to jump right into. And rather autumnal, I would say. When better than here and now in the glory of early October?

@casualtorture - I'm a huge G&M fan, so I might be inclined to buy it for no other reason than if it meets G&M standards, it is probably quality stuff. Having said that, my wife loves Scapa where it has been hit and miss for me, actually more miss than hit. However, when it's a hit, it is pretty darn amazing. We've owned 3 Society Scapa bottles; 2 I didn't care for, but 1 blew me away. Another example, my wife and I toured Scapa a couple of years ago. Most of the stuff that we tasted didn't do anything for me, but they had a 23 year from a single sherry cask that was stunning! All of that to say, if the price is comfortable for your budget, it may be worth it since it is from G&M. Can you get enough details from the bottle to see if you can find a review of that exact bottle on-line? They may help you decide. Hope some of this helps!

Just got back from 5 weeks in the UK, 3 of them in Scotland. 21 distillery visits all with visitor centres and shops. Some are far better and much friendlier than others. The best ones for us were all of the Islay distilleries except Lagavulin where they couldn’t care less unless you are taking the expensive tour. Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich were particularly good and generous with the tastings. Tobermory on Mull was excellent and HP and Scapa on Orkney were very receptive. Of the Speysiders Balblair, Tomatin, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie were all friendly and generous. The new Macallan is an impressive piece of architecture, but a soulless, all business factory inside. Their merchandise is all priced higher than anywhere else and the place is full of uniformed minions standing around making sure you don’t touch anything. It’s the only distillery where we didn’t buy at least a glass or a lapel pin. Missed Glenfarclas this time as they are closed on Sundays. Here’s a bit of the booty that came home.

@BlueNote Is that a Laphroaig 10 CS?

Yes it is and I can’t wait to get into it. I had a taste of the Lore there too, but decided the CS was the one to buy. They were about the same price; 60GBP. The Balblair 1990 is really excellent too. The 2 Bunnahabhains are a 14 year old peated PX finish CS and an 11year Old Muscat finish also CS. The Glen Scotia is a limited edition Campbeltown Malts Festival bottling peated ruby port finish at 57.8% and it is spectacular. Got It at a small whisky shop in Tarbert just before heading over to Islay. My wife decided we had to have the Balvenie 17 Doublewood after we had a taste at Glenfiddich.

@BlueNote - Nice haul! Happy to see you snagged a Laph CS 10 - very jealous! What is the Bunna? Is it the peated one? (that I'm not going to attempt to spell so early in the morning!)

@MadSingleMalt - That sounds delightful! Thanks

@BlueNote a 5 week booty call to the UK then!

I see MoM have sold out of Talisker 8 - yet again my nagging hunch saves the day ;) ha ha!

They'll be re-stocked by tomorrow, no doubt!

Jesting aside - this seems to be getting very promising early feedback. I can see a Laga 8 situation happening where it becomes part of the standard OB line up . . .

@BlueNote, that is always an excellent situation when one's wife is insisting that bottles of whisky be purchased! It is a boon in the moment and an excellent harbinger of good things to come.

As for the sign, that sign is very earth-centric. For all we know there may be thousands of places in the universe where whisky is made.

@BlueNote, that Glen Scotia sounds killer.

I have the opportunity to purchase this year's Laphroig Cardeas for $71. What say yee? Yay or nay?

@casualtorture I paid $105 CAD for mine, but I haven’t opened it yet. But I love all Laphroaigs so my endorsement probably doesn’t count for much.

@casualtorture Will you miss the $71? If not...go for it.

Unless you won't miss missing out...

@casualtorture For 71$ I'd buy 2