Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@OdysseusUnbound for me, El Dorado 12yo is a readily available rum that opened my eyes to how good a sipping rum can be! And yet, rum seems to be more "hit & miss" than my experience with whisky. I bought the Diplomatico Exclusiva rum thinking it would be comparable, but found it to be overly sweet and rather simple. Any suggestions?

@dloewen I really enjoyed the El Dorado 15 Year. Have you tried Plantation Xaymaca? I’m fairly certain it’s one of the few Plantation rums which doesn’t make use of added sugar or dosage. It’s rich and has a bit of funk. Real McCoy 12 Year is a very “bourbon-esque” rum. Also, if you can find Smith & Cross, it’s a big bold rum but quite sippable neat or on the rocks. Appleton 8 and 12 are very “whisky drinker friendly” in my experience.

@OdysseusUnbound Thanks. I'd be more of a sipper than a cocktail drinker, although I'm not averse to the odd Cuba Libre. I'll start with the Appleton's 12.

Thanks guys. I'll see what the seriously lame BC Liquor Stores have to offer.

Saw this one on Instagram. A Canadian craft distillery, Last Straw, partnered up with the online whisky commentator Whisky in the Six.

Wanting to support local distilleries (it is in the city just north of my own) I ordered a bottle, and plan to sample it out. It arrived today.

So far, unimpressed. No shipping confirmation. No tracking number. I had to pick it up from the post office. I could hear it knocking around in the box. It could have broken in transit. The front label appears stained.

But we all know what’s important is what is inside. At 56% I hope it will be flavourful.

Here we go...

Upon further study, the "stain" appears to be part of the design...

@Nozinan I'm skeptical of collaborations between youtubers looking for revenue/views and producers .... but now that someone who's not connected with the "whisky in the 6" or his fanboys has bought a bottle, I'm really curious to read your thoughts.

@65glenfarclas It smells good. I was not impressed wth my first sips (some off-notes) but with time and a little water it improved. I will be sampling it out to some colleagues, and at some point will try to get a review in.

@Nozinan I'll be anxious to read a review on this! A whisky mate of mine has been peaking my interest in Last Straw stuff, but have no experience yet.

@OdysseusUnbound Thanks for the rum recommendations, El Dorado 15 will probably be my next buy as the others you've mentioned aren't available in Niagara. Also, is the El Dorado 21 worth the price of admission?

Glendronach 15. Heard good things about it. Love sherried whiskey.

@dloewen I loved the El Dorado 15 Year, but I’ve never tried the 21. El Dorado is one of the few sweetened rum brands that I really enjoy. If you want something really different, yet incredibly authentic allow me to recommend Wray & Nephew Overproof. “Wray & Ting” is apparently a favourite of Jamaicans. I don’t have access to Ting up hear in East Nowhere, Ontario so I made due with Grapefruit Bubly, simple syrup, and fresh grapefruit juice. Delightful.

@OdysseusUnbound I enjoy the 21 quite a bit but would only recommend it to those who don’t mind sweeter styles.

@OdysseusUnbound I know where I can get some Ting for you. If you ever come into town let me know in advance and I'll pick some up. Maybe that will serve as an incentive.

I really need to pick up some more Wray and Nephew overproof. It's great in mojitos too. And flambees...

@OdysseusUnbound Wray and Ting now that brings back some memories. Have friends who live in Jamaica. Such a beautiful place alternated with such a threat of violence. Think a bottle of W&N is calling!! A sunny day here so that might have to be todays quest! Cheers..

@Nozinan - Wray and Nephew definitely make the best mojitos! No discussion required

The only draw back is that after a couple (of doubles), you've probably had enough ...

My birthday 'lot' from auction arrived today. I also received a Ledaig 10 from my partner, which was also very nicely received.

I'm nearly at my yearly allocated purchases already and there are two auctions just opened that have some rather alluring bottles in them ...

@jack09

Good choice. I had purchased two bottles of the new released Revival back a couple of years ago when I went to Taipei. I must admit, I think I enjoy the Oloroso sherry influenced whisky a bit more than those that have been influenced/matured in PX sherry casks. However, I do enjoy both the 15yo and 21yo Glendronach. Having said that, I will say that I have stocked up on the 18yo Glendronach, since it has one I thoroughly enjoy, exclusively matured in Oloroso sherry casks. If you can find it, I recommend the Glen Garioch 15yo Olorso Sherry Cask Matured (which is different from the Gen Garioch Renaissance 15yo).

Nevertheless, I will always have a bottle of the 15yo Revival on my shelf.

Just ordered a Ben Nevis 6 year (distilled Dec. 2013). Full maturation in a 1st Fill Amontillado Gorda. 67.6% ABV. Cask #1278. 754 bottles. Single Cask Nation bottling. Why? because;

1. I have never been disappointed with a bottle from Single Cask Nation.

2. I'm a big fan of Ben Nevis.

3. I'm a big fan of full term maturation in sherry casks, especially Gorda's and while you see Amontillado finishes from time to time, it is somewhat rare for full term maturation, even if it is only 6 years.

4. 67.6% ABV

5. Tasting notes sounded pretty interesting; "A study in contrasts: effervescent yet unctuous, drying yet juicy, salty yet sweet. Walk through a warm greenhouse, smell the fresh potting soil, and pull warm fruit from the vine and you’ll have an idea of what this dram has to offer. It’s a lot of fun!"

Just picked up the Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength Festive Season Edition (Santa hats on sheep). 58.6% ABV. Thanks to the posts (peer pressure?) from @bwmccoy!

Also just got the new Ardbeg Committee Bottle, Arrrrrrrbeg. This one might be the last Committee bottle I buy unless Ardbeg starts getting their pricing back down to something that makes sense. I love Ardbeg but even $280+ for the 19 yo Traigh Bhan seems excessive (or am I out in left field on this?).

@TracerBullet No. You are in dead centre field. Couldn't agree more on Ardbeg's current pricing policy: Over hype it and over price it.

A complete lack of self control over the last few months, without regrets. The assistance from the "little whisky group", is very much appreciated. I will have amassed a decade worth of Lagavulin 12 Cask Strength by 2022. A decade horizontal tasting will be in order in 2023.

@fiddich1980 So jealous over those Cadenhead Caroni's, I wish I had known they were there.

@TracerBullet - I hope you enjoy the Kilchoman. The standard ABV Machir Bay is fine, but I think it really shines at cask strength. Totally agree with you on Ardbeg prices!

@fiddich1980 I’ll look forward to reading about the Lag ‘12 vertical.

@fiddich1980 that Lag 12 decade comparison sounds amazing.

I can never really pick up on the subtle differences between releases because I generally have a year or two between finishing one release and opening another.

I've just brought my first bottle of Ledaig 18 year old. Not sure when I'll open it, but have heard good things about it.

I just picked up a Laphroaig Cairdeas Port & Wine Cask. I suppose I should do a mea culpa since my complaint to the KGBO was not ignored, but rather was rewarded with a bottle sent to my hometown store for purchase. The women working said they fielded at least a dozen calls today enquiring about said bottle.

@OdysseusUnbound Way to go,sometimes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. It still does not excuse the KGBO from dropping 500 bottles online without any purchase limits and unannounced. Now where and when are are the remaining 400+ bottles in their warehouse being released?

@fiddich1980, the 400 bottles of Laphroaig Cairdeas Port & Wine Cask are in the warehouse, right beside the 600 bottles of Elmer T. Lee 93rd Birthday Limited Edition 2013 release.

@Astroke, that Caroni is more expensive than Mister Sam.