So, what are you drinking now?

Tomorrow, May 26th at 10:58AM PDT I complete my 50th orbit around the Sun. So tonight I'm celebrating, not the 50 years I've completed, rather the beginning of the next 50 years. To my fellow Connosrians I raise a generous dram of my favorite, Brora 30. I sincerely hope all of you have the opportunity to try this amazing whisky at least three times during your stay here on Earth. Yes, it's so epic I'm obligated to write such drama.

Sláinte!

How can I follow Brora 30 and you're 50th? Congrats on both!

Macallan 12yr. A classic.

A big Happy Birthday to you @Wodha. I'm surprised that Michigan here actually carries Brora, and the Brora 30 is only $400 USD! But the Signatory Brora 24 is more appealing at only a mere $224 USD.

But for now, we'll sip a bit of Mac 15 Fine Oak ... there's an intriguing sweet tartness that I've never noticed before; then my trusty and reliable friends ... Springbank 10 and Longrow CV.

@Victor & @Dramlette Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. I only met him a few times but became friends via 100's of emails. A true champion for the little guy. As you know, he has many, many friends. He will be missed.

Completed the Trilogy. Black "1st edition," Gold, and White.

@Wodha Many happy returns- i will open a newly procured bottle of Clynelish 14 in your honour and raise a toast. No, really, it's the least i can do..

belive it or not....Redbreast - a nice, but quite sweet Irish whiskey. My husband bought it for me for a "change"! I'm usually an Islay lass. Goes well with 80% or more chocolate!

@Wodha, Happy 50th Birthday! Congrats! Brora30 a perfect dram to start your back nine.

Wanted something with some Ooomph. Enjoying some TomHandy2010. A powerhouse this year.

@Peatlover LOVE the Redbreast. A friend brought a bottle back from Ireland and we were pleased to find it can be found in the States.

Glen Elgin 12. A quality dram.

Nothing yet. I'm playing with power tools, but later I will be enjoying Bowmore as it goes on sale Tuesday for $27 a bottle. :)

Getting started with a tipple of Black Bush and then I think I'm going to join @RobertH in having a Bowmore.

Sampling a few out-of-favor bottles that have been in storage for 6 months: Glenkinchie 12, Tobormory 10, Auchentoshan Classic. All are drinkable or blendable, especially after the palate has been primed ... but looks like they are still out-of-favor. The Auchen Classic is no where similar to or near the quality of the Auchen 12. Finally some Clynelish 14 to restore the state of goodness and well-being :)

Drinking Laphroaig 10 Year Old whisky tonight 43%. Better with a few drops of water added but I think I like Bowmore darkest more.

Just back from Islay Festival and Laphroaig 'found' some bottles of 15 year old in storage and made the 50 or so bottles available for sale. I was lucky enough to grab a few and will be opening one tonight to enjoy with two friends from out of town who have only experienced the 18. I think we'll enjoy both tonight -- should be interesting to have the original and its replacement side-by-side.

spiritsafe, let me know how that works out. Laphroaig 15yr is without question my favorite whisky. It was priced to be, not my daily drink, but a weekly special- which made it that much more special. I would always pause before I poured and appreciate what I was about to do. I miss that whisky. To me, 15yr Laphroaig, is near perfection. When I found out they were discontinuing it I panicked. I ran out and bought every bottle I could. After I finished a bottle, I felt like I had just eaten a dodo bird! I felt bad about doing it, but God it was good. I have three bottles left. They are my treasured possessions.

And one night I sat with a 15yr and an 18yr. The 15yr is perfect. It has the smoke and peat that make you love or hate peat and smoke. The 18yr takes all the great things about the 15yr and smoothes it out. The 18yr is wonderful.

So have fun with the two. I’d like to hear what you have to say about the comparison.

I just put both Laphroaigs 10 cask strenght (batch 001 & batch 002) head to head. They are both great, but there is a significant difference. Tonight, I'm trying the 18 year old and two indies.

@ClaySomething Finished the side-by-side...rough duty, let me tell you! I wrote two reviews and posted them to my profile -- check them out if you like. I still remain partial to the 15, but have some new found respect for the 18. I found the 18 to be more vibrant and energetic on the palette than the 15, and it had a finish that wouldn't quit -- but the 15 was just so amazingly smooth and sophisticated -- like kissing Audrey Hepburn in front of a wood burning fire. Okay...I gotta get out more. 18 the perfect dram before dinner...the 15 is the perfect dram for after.

Old Pulteney 12 while reading Rob Roy. i.imgur.com/B9eOMl.jpg

Bruichladdich "the organic". No age declarataion on it. Fresh citrusy nose, hint of vanilla. Bourbon cask, but i get more sherry notes. Very smooth dram. I'd almost say creamy. Custard actually. And that's not what I had for dessert!! Ha Ha. Slight peat/earthy. A young whisky, but a very good one.

Aberlour Alt-A-Bhainne Batch 33!!! Lordy!

Right now i am drinking the first dram from the bottle of 21yr Glengoyne i purchased whilst on the Connosr distillery visit. Stunningly beautiful this one!

Benrinnes 15yo F&F

Macallan 18. Delicious.

@Rex-Alban: Bennrinnes 15 -- "I ordered a quarter gill of it which is the usual Scottish measure. I hoped for a rich taste and a warm buzz. Instead, the first sip altered physics. I stepped into an alternative version of my life, one where I was a much richer, much more important, much more powerful man. One in which I’d lived right."

read the full article: www.drunkard.com/md_booze_reviews.htm

Having a bit of Dalwhinnie 15 yr right now. Starting to unwind now.

@Lars Dalwhinnie 15 is a nice dram. I've just said adios to a Glenlivet 12 year old. But I've still got some Dal left, so that's Friday night sorted then!

Johnnie Walker Gold Label. Mighty good whisky.

Yamazaki 18. Like toasted marshmallows.

Talisker 10, and most importantly I am really enjoying it for the very first time. This bottle of mine has taken 7 months for the full flavours and sweetness to emerge. Now I know what people like about this whisky.

@Victor. That's interesting. I've had my bottle of Talisker 10 for about 6 months and it does seem to be getting mellower and more drinkable the further down and the older it gets.