So, what are you drinking now?

Just got ahold of a bottle of Glenmorangie Finealta... First taste from a newly crack'd seal:

This one pushes good buttons for me. Drinking it neat, from a Bottego del vino single malt glass (a little rounder/squatter/and wide mouth'd than a Glencairn, despite being about the same volume)

Caramelized fruit (apricots?), vanilla, and spice, with a hint of smoke. The finish is on the long side, with a crisp feel.

@Scotteq I was looking forward to that malt, but when I tried it, I was in a cigar bar and the smoke was so prominent in the air, it clouded my senses and I still don't feel like I really got a good smell/taste of it... I need to try it again.

I am pairing up a Ballantines 12 and 17 yo. The 12yo is really pleasant, sweet with lots of caramel and is very smooth. The 17yo is a bit more complex and damped, and I can feel more alcohol through. If I was going on an Island on my own for 2 months I would choose the 12 over the 17.

I just opened and am sampling two new bottles: Willett 18 yo "Sopressata" 69.7% ABV bourbon (one of 131 bottles), and Lagavulin 12 yo 56.5% ABV 2010 release. God is it ever easy to get used to drinking top shelf whisky!

...and for contrast with Lagavulin 12, ...Lagavulin 16, Lagavulin DE 1991, Caol Ila 12, Talisker 18, and Talisker DE 1993.

Really enjoying the Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project purchased today. (Barrel #4)... may pick up a bottle of barrel #36 tomorrow....

Had a few friends over last night and everyone grabbed a bit of their favorites, Dalmore12, Arran 10, Aberlour A'bunadh. One friend asked about the JW black label 12 which sat unopened for quite a few years. So after a bit of discussion we opened it up, I can honestly say my guest and I were pleasantly surprised it's quite a good blend.

Laphroaig Triple Wood...very very tasty.

The Arran Amarone Cask Finish Unbelievable nose, chocolate and strawberries.

Talisker '98 Distillers Edn. TD-S: 5LX @ 45.8% abv. This is a beautifully crafted Malt and recognizable as a Talisker. I'm not sure that I prefer it to the several other expressions from this distillery available at the moment (?)

I think that the postcard 10yo. is my preference but they are all drinking superbly. What I have noticed with the D.E. is that it really works with just the smallest amount of spring water or rain; just a few drops really! The more I taste the D.E. the more it is growing on me and it has taken time to come forward.

Tonight's festivities, dinner at Acadiana restaurant in DC, with five Willett bourbons and some Blanton's. One of the Willetts stood out, the other five whiskeys were uninspiring.

@A'bunadhman I just cracked open the Talisker D.E 98 and was certainly impressed. There is alot going on for sure and it certainly will need many drams to appreciate it in its entirety. For me the Talisker 10 is wonderful so the benchmark is set very high but the richness and sweet/bitterof the D.E certainly leaves its mark.

@Victor, I just finished a Blanton's Original Private Reserve Single Barre lBourbon, 24 Apr. '11. Barrel #316, Rick #43, 46.5% abv. and I would have to say it was outstanding. Likewise a Buffalo Trace at 46% abv. My stockist reordered the B/T. and it is now 40% abv. It looks the exact same bottle but at a lower strength??

@A'bunadhman, I like, drink, and own a lot of bourbons, but I have thus far tried at least 5 or 6 different barrels of Blanton's without finding one that I would care for enough to order a drink of or wish to buy a bottle of. If I could I would sample your bottle. I am still hoping to find some Blanton's that I like a lot. Thank you for your concern and your suggestions. It would be a long trip to Brisbane for me to take a taste of your bottle from barrel # 316. George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Old Weller Antique 107, Eagle Rare 17, Eagle Rare 10, Elmer T. Lee, Hancock's Reserve, Rock Hill Farms, Ancient Ancient Age 10 yo, Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star, Ancient Age 50% ABV, and Buffalo Trace are all bourbons which I like and which are distilled at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. So far Blanton's is the only one of their products of which I haven't found any that I like.

@A'bunadhman, about the ABV of the Buffalo Trace, I would assume that the new labeling is accurate, and that a lower ABV product is being provided. I am not aware of the 40% ABV bottling and would consider it unfortunate to have the product further diluted. As far as I am concerned the higher the proof the better.

@Victor, Surely a profit margin grab; sadly, the 46% abv. was first class and I resent the change so, I'll be 'voting with my feet', as they say. Many Malt Whisky Distillers have done the same - 43 to 40% abv. Don't they realize that Malt Whisky drinkers are generally pretty 'savvy'.

@A'bunadhman, some of these spirits industry corporate decisions are hard to understand.

@Victor, The drop in strength that hurt most was when, about 5 or 6 yrs. ago, Glengoyne introduced a 12yo. @ 40% abv. and deleted their landmark 12yo. @ 43% abv: The brightside was that the last issue was the best ever Glengoyne - Those of us in the 'know' scoured the bottle shops and Liquor Barns and came up with about 4doz. all told of the 43% abv. I found 11bot. at a out-back pub (your Out West) & the owner / manager was so delighted to sell a case, that he discounted them to what was less than cost, IIRC about Au.$35.00 per bot. when the very ordinary 40% was selling for around Au.$ 55.

Personally I would like to see the the bottom limit in strength raised to 46% abv. and special bottlings offered at proof (Amer. 114.4 proof, Eng. 100 proof or 57.2% abv.)

@A'bunadhman, yes 46% ABV minimum would be a good start. I would prefer 50% as a minimum. On the positive side of things, there is a real blossoming in what is available in the international spirits industry in recent years, including many more cask strength/barrel proof products than before. Diluting whisky can certainly give a good experience on many occasions, but I want to have the choice, starting from the full-bore full throated original undiluted unfiltered out of the cask product.

@Victor,Lots of positives and many superb Whiskies but what I find disturbing is the trend to marking many Whiskies as "Cask Strength", when, in fact, they are anything but; it seems that any strength between 49% and 63% qualifies for this mantle.

My Grand-daughter bought me a so called 'Cask Strength' (50.5%) for my birthday, why?...Her Mother told her, "Poppy likes 'Cask Strength' Whiskies".

@Victor And I'd rather be able to just pour whisk(e)y into my glass and drink. Instead of experimenting to figure out how many drops of water make it taste the way I want and then having to keep track of that for future considerations.

Thanks both, helpful comments. JL - that brora sounds like a good shout. Whiskynotes - I didn't think it wad impossible to be impressed by these European whiskies. I've heard great things particularly about the Swedish Mackmyra....sadly not yet tried myself. Anyone else got views on these Euro whiskies?

apologies....wrong thread!

A bit delayed but...this past weekend was an American whiskey journey. On Friday night, @WhiskyJoe and I cracked open the Old Weller Antique 107 (53.5% abv) that I purchased the weekend before. This was followed by the chocolatey awesomeness of Parkers Heritage Collection 4th ed. 10 yo wheated bourbon (62.1% abv). WhiskyJoe then got to taste the flavour storm that is Bookers Small Batch Bourbon (63.7% abv). Each glass was awesome.

Saturday night had a glass of Woodford Reserve in front of me at a restaurant. An awesome banana bread profile to the nose. The palate and finish were unremarkable, though there wasn't anything specifically wrong with it. As I had eaten beforehand, I am willing to give the WR another tasting to see if I get more after the nose in the future.

Kavalan (kavalanwhisky.com). It's my third bottle - I have to say, this is great single malt whisky. If you're looking for something different but still single malt, I suggest you give Kavalan a try.

Knob Creek 9yr Single Barrel

It's 7pm. and the temperature is down to 27deg. from a blistering 33deg. so, mea culpa, it's Beer; very good beer, Coopers Sparkling Ale which is one of the Worlds' few bottle fermented Ales and it is most efficacious in every way, however it is not Whisky, it is Beer.

From now 'til the end of March Whisky drinking is a hit and miss affair and very much dependent on the late afternoon cool change in this 'neck of the woods'. High Summer is not the time to broach your finest Longmorns et al. Last Summer my boys and I decimated a few cases of Knob Creek 9yo. single cask and were happy to do so; now it no longer imported, I know not why? My friend in Chigago says that he buys the good Knob Creek for US.$27.00 at his local supermarket. Could this be true?

This Winter I will open a Port Ellen 1978 @ 60.9 abv. bottled at 20 years of age and purchased from Berry Bros. and Rudd by my wife a few years ago.: I don't know how they got her to spend such a premium for a single bot. Berry Bros. know how to soften you up with their very special and personal 'Whisky tasting' - They have sold me a few gems over the years, when some of their better Whiskies were in fact Berry Bros. and Rudd in house bottlings and quite affordable...

Arran Malt Finished in an Amarone Wine Cask. It's good, just not my preference. A bit too heavy on the wine.

@Wodha, I'm finishing a bottle of CAOL ILA 12yo. @ 43% and I have a small problem: This is an excellent Whisky but I suspect it is more than 43% abv. The legs, the texture and the mouth-feel suggest (to me) a Whisky of about 50% abv.

CAOL ILA provide a batch code on the bottle , so here it is...

L0349CM000 07381802

Can any member help with this dilema? I know this Whisky is more than 43% abv; by how much i"m not sure and of course, I've been known to be wrong, (often). This has been gnawing away at me since I opened this little treasure: Any suggestions?

Got our 1st bit of snow only a couple of inches last night so I opened my first Arberg Uigeadail. Very happy with the purchase. For anyone hesitant about Arberg get a bottle/glass of Uigeadail, perfect balance of smoke, peat, sweetness and very smooth.