So, what are you drinking now?

Big Peat

Peat Monster Reserve, for the review, and Highland Park 18. Drinking these never gets old.

HP 18, Best spirit in the world. There is some smoke in the hp, but it must be simply squashed by the peat monster.

@RobertH, my friend, I started with The Peat Monster Reserve and proceeded to the Highland Park 18. The echoes of the smoke from The Peat Monster Reserve served as a nice antechamber for the glory of the sherried Highland Park 18. When the flavours are fully out in their display, the HP 18 is a most magnificent whisky, as you well know. Our bottle is in full bloom now. The Peat Monster Reserve, by contrast, is a rather paradoxical whisky: the peat is strong, but it never overpowers. The QUALITY of the peating is just so beautiful, that it can be rich without ever being too aggressive.

It's Thomas H Handy rye 2011 for me tonight to accompany a nice grilled steak.

Tonight, dinner and whiskey: 24 oz prime rib and flourless chocolate cake at The Palm Restaurant in DC, accompanied by 25 yo Rittenhouse Rye, barrel # 3. Both combinations of food and whiskey were out of this world.

Port Charlotte An Turas Mor by Bruichladdich. Works well after couple o'beers)

The Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve, followed by a small portion of Bulleit bourbon for comparison. Sweet, followed by floral and spicy.

My wife and I are enjoying an abundah with some traditional Slovene walnut dessert bread (Potica).

Revisiting my Redbreast 12 year tonight.

Had a glass of Jefferson's Presidential Select 18 (Batch 16) last night while playing cards. Very pleasant nose, but am finding the palate somewhat 'confused'. Next time, I'll add a slight bit of water.

@grapefruitmoon : so, do you listen to Tom Waits while drinking the whiskey? Doesn't get better than that.

I concur @mrbubb

Clynelish 14.

After a long week I decided that I would have a sip of Arberg Uigeadail last night along with some samples of Christmas baking. It was sinful, especially with a new recipe called Buckeye balls 2 (chocolate covered balls of peanut butter, butter and vanilla) think reeses peanut butter cups.

I brought a bottle of Bowmore 12 with me to a Christmas/Housewarming party last night. The general reception from the three or four people who sampled it was positive. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of people in a "new" circle of friends that like whisky.

How about a little Stronachie? Maybe the Snow Phoenix, or the Shackleton.

@RobertH My friend surprised me with the Snow Phoenix as an early Xmas present last week. My initial impression is a very nice dessert whisky with a rich fudge (as opposed to sweet fudge) theme. Overall, it seems like one that will improve and 'settle down' the longer the bottle sits, after being opened. A very pleasant addition to the cabinet. :)

Over the course of last week I opened 3 bottles: Glengoyne Scottish Merchants Choice, Glen Moray Mountain Oak Final Release and The Glenlivet French Oak 15yo.

@Pudge72 I keep passing that Snow Phoenix in the LCBO and debating on whether or not to get a bottle or two. There are just so many whiskies out there to try and a finite amount of funds...sometimes I'm paralysed with indecision. Are you going to do a review?

@Pudge72, "...paralysed with indecision". Doesn't that say it all. The more choices the harder it gets, though I have noticed that more and more I'm avoiding the lower strengths i.e. 40% and even 43% abv. no matter how interesting they may be: A one man campaign, if you like, to see traditional strengths reintroduced.

Of course my efforts will make not a shred of difference. Fortunately, the Whiskies I like most have strengths of 46% abv. and above, (mostly)!

@A'bunadhman ...I can most definitely relate to @cpstecroix's dilemma (that's why my wishlist is at 74 bottles...and counting!). So I am attempting to prioritize from lowest to highest cost bottles, with exceptions for trips to the US, and any limited/discontinued releases at the LCBO. Gaah! :)

An Armagnac: Château de Tariquet VSOP. Strong oak tannins in that one, reminds me of Maker's 46 with lighter palate.

Tried an old, opne bottle of Black & White blended scoth whisky that used to belong to my father. Can't date it, but it's probably from the 80s or 90s. Light peat on the nose, light peat on the finish, and a whole lot of nothing on the palate. It has a creamy body, but that's it: extremely boring.

Bunnahabhain Toiteach! Lordy! If there is a heaven, it's streams will flow with Toiteach. Rates low in the Whisky Bible but high on my pallette.

Signatory distilled at Caol Ila 1999. Nice but I prefer the original.

Dalmore 21 year tonight.

Ardbeg Uigeadail. Yeah, it's Christmassy. It's festive. Thank you sir, amy I have another?

Started with a little Glenfiddich 18, now Yamazaki 18.

@MFish85 Glad to see you are keeping it "legal" :)

Now I am drinking The Irishman 70 .. This blend has 70% malt content and is .. absuloutly fantastic, and tbh this is one of the best blends I have had, so look out for it. I am a great fan of blends, JW GL, Chivas 18yo and more ..... this Irishman 70 is a pot still blend and it is one whoooor of a dram.