So, what are you drinking now?

@Ol_Jas

Technically, you haven't met me, but I like heavily peated whiskies but I'm not a big fan of heavily hopped beer. Maybe I'm not drinking enough of it, but I can't manage to drink enough Scotch let alone adding more to the list...

@Nozinan , you're probably one the countless exceptions to my unfounded rule.

But there's also the chance that you'd really dig some heavily hopped beers if you tasted them more often. They seem to have a parallel with peaty whisky, where (A) some people take to them immediately; (B) for most, it's an acquired taste that's off-putting at first; and (C) some people will just never like them.

For me, nothing's better in the summer than big fat IPA. And nothing's better in the winter than a big fat Islay single malt.

@Ol_Jas I LOVE heavily peated whisky. But I can't stand hoppy IPAs. It's not just the bitterness, because I enjoy a lot of bitter drinks and foods (black coffee, grapefruit etc.). There's something else in those IPAs that I just can't stand. Maybe I'm just averse because of all the hipsters pretentiously extolling the virtues of craft beers no one has ever heard of.

@Ol_Jas And for what it's worth, my summer drinks (other than whisky) are, in no particular order:

• any beer by Innis & Gunn (except their Toasted IPA offering, obviously)
• Hockley Dark (traditional English Ale)
• Old Fashioned
• Gin & Tonic with lime (none of that cucumber in my G&T, more hipster nonsense)
• Mint Julep
• Dark & Stormy
• Dark rum
• Cheap-ish bourbon on the rocks with a wedge of lime (don't judge me until you've tried it)
• Red wine

@OdysseusUnbound Have you had Lemon Hart 151 dark rum? It's an experience and a half...

@Nozinan No. If they don't carry it at the LCBO, chances are I haven't had it.

@OdysseusUnbound Ever travel to Toronto? I know someone who is very sparingly pouring from his bottle (and looking for a good reason to do so, like a fellow Connosr visiting...)

@Ol_Jas Interesting postulating there - I've got some similar theories myself (about people who don't like blue cheese typically also don't appreciate olives, anchovies ....). I'm not a big fan of taste bud smacking IPA's. The beer just becomes a carrier for the hops (the malt is non existent) and they tend to be one dimensional. However, I do love ales - with lots of biscuit, caramel, and big round malty notes - with fruity or herbaceous additions from the hops. I also like a dark and heavy stout, which are often quite bitter. Interestingly, I do like most peated malts I've tried, but I'm not a fan of the more medicinal (dare I say chemical-like) Laphroig peat profile. It would be some interesting research to investigate the parallels between peoples beer and whisky preferences. More research needed :)

I am a fan of pretty much any craft beer except lagers and IPAs. IPAs are just too bitter. And in the beginning all those hops were to preserve the beer on its way back from the East Indies (hence India Pale Ale). It wasn't for taste. @OdysseusUnbound I&G is absolutely wonderful.

@Hewie I love, love, love olives of all types. I like anchovies in things, not necessarily alone. Blue cheese is iffy. It depends on the type and context of the meal. I have to disagree on Laphroaig though. I find the 10 to be one of the most interesting malts around, probably because of that curious, medicinal taste. But Lagavulin 16 is still my true love (though Ardbeg 10 has tempted me a few times )

@OdysseusUnbound just think, if we all had the same tastes then there wouldn't be the (need for the) huge range of whisky we have to choose from today! I used to work with a guy who worked in the wine industry. His saying was "the golden palate is in your mouth". It doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks - if you enjoy it then good on you!

So, back to what I'm drinking now, or rather, what I'm eating now. I don't often eat anything with my whisky, but tonight, to go with a pour of Glendronach 12, I'm having date stuffed with almond and covered in dark chocolate - all the way from the UAE. Perfect, and I found them on clearance at my supermarket in NZ!

Just had a few drams of Green Spot Irish whiskey. My buddy got the bottle as a gift from an employee. He knows little to nothing about whisk(e)y so he asked me to sample with him. I had never had it, so I had zero preconceived notions. I really, really liked it. A lot. I may have to buy a bottle. If that's what good Irish Whiskey tastes like, I may need to explore that avenue. Wow. Very impressed.

Thinking about Green Spot a bit more, I'm reminded of Glenfiddich 12, but higher quality, if that makes sense. Like Glenfiddich 12 in High Definition.

@OdysseusUnbound My first real experience with Irish whisky was when a friend and mentor brought over a bottle of Writer's Tears I had given him and we went through about half the bottle (him more than me). It may not have been the best Irish I've had, but none with a better memory...

Currently enjoying a dram of my freshly opened bottle of Talisker 10. It's a freshly opened bottle and the whisky only got 10 minutes in the glass before I tasted it, so I'm sure the taste will change over time. Initial impressions: similar character to Springbank 10 but with a little less pepper and a bit more sweetness. But like I said, the first drink is usually not very representative of the rest of the bottle. Sláinte, folks !

@OdysseusUnbound still one of my favourites. Give us a review once you've spent some time with it

Had another wee dram of Talisker 10 tonight. After only one day, the character has changed a bit. It's a bit smokier and more peppery than yesterday. The sweetness is a bit toned down, and there appears to be more ginger and white pepper showing up on the palate. I've only had 2 drams from this bottle but I feel like Talisker is going to be a regular in my scotch rotation. Lovely.

@OdysseusUnbound Talisker 10 is my everyday after work dram. Great stuff especially for the price. (here in China where its $27usd anyway)

@casualtorture I've been on the lookout for Talisker 18 for years. Any experience there?

@casualtorture I'm trying to stay civil, but the fact that you're paying the equivalent of $35 CAD for Talisker makes me want to say very nasty things to you. Do I dare ask what Lagavulin 16 goes for????

@nooch, are you contemplating traveling from Canada to China just to buy some Talisker 18 year old? That would be some expensive whisky. So too it would be expensive for @casualtorture to travel to you to bring you a bottle from China. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding some Talisker 18 in the US. My county in Maryland currently has 156 bottles on hand. These 18 year olds have gotten pricey, though. Cost in Can$ here would be close to $ 190, tax included.

Today, June 14, is US National Bourbon Day. I'll be heading over to Baltimore shortly to Shawan Liquors to meet Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. I am not drinking anything now, but I expect to be drinking something soon,...bourbon, and probably a few other whiskies.

@Victor I'm going to Scotland in August. 75£ from masters of malt. I might have it shipped to my hotel for free. It would be about $110 Canadian.

Old Weller Antique 107, private single barrel, Laphroaig Lore, Old Scout 12 yo private barrel bourbon, and some Wheatley Vodka (from Buffalo Trace). The OWA and Laphroaig Lore were wonderful. The Old Scout was very good. The BT Wheatley Vodka was above average and rather nice, not that I am interested in buying a bottle of vodka.

There were about 3 industry guys, 2 store managers, and a total of 5 whiskey lovers present (including the two of us) to visit with Harlen Wheatley for about an hour. One guy brought his new bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 25 yo to be autographed.

I asked Harlen Wheatley how long Age International's contracts extend with Buffalo Trace. He told me, "...99 years, which should be about 90 more years." So the Ancient Age and Blanton's lines should be continuing...and continuing to be distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery, for a very long time to come. Current Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star is 4 years old, he reported.

He said that the Bowman Bourbons are twice distilled at Buffalo Trace before being shipped to A. Smith Bowman for a third distillation followed by barreling and storage at Bowman. I asked him why the first two distillations are at BT for the Bowman products. He said that Bowman has expanded to the point that it lacks the distillation capacity at its own distillery to maintain its product lines.

I asked if Sazerac 18 yo Rye is vatted as a fresh batch every year now, after having depleted that multi-year supply used through the Fall 2015 release. He said yes, a new batch every year is now expected.

@OdysseusUnbound Laga 16 is 358rmb. Divide by 6.9 is the rate right now I believe for usd.

@nooch yeah its here I haven't bought it though. it's 1350rmb, divide by 6.9 for usd.

Having a dram of Sullivan's Cove Single Cask with tonight's cigar.

Grassy profile appears to have dissipated when paired with a robust smoke. It now takes on an almost Armagnac-like quality with a lingering sweetness.

@casualtorture My currency converter tells me that's roughly $69 CAD. For Laga 16???? I'd be in peaty, smoky, Swanson-like heaven.

Systematically I am checking out the 12 partial bottles I was recently given to me by a catering company owner. Opihr Oriental London Dry Gin was a delight. That stuff is fierce and extremely peppery. I love it. Blue Coat Barrel Aged Gin from Philadelphia is lovely. I find standard Blue Coat Gin to be very batch variable. For this reason I do not trust it. The bottle of Hendricks Gin is up to snuff and representative. The Glemorangie Original I was given is an excellent representative bottle. The Buffalo Trace Bourbon bottle is from a batch which is very woody and, in my book, above average. Bayou Louisiana Rum was given to me in three varieties. The one I like most is the one I didn't think I would like at all: Satsuma (little oranges) Rum Liqueur. Great! The spiced Bayou rum is OK, as is their Silver Rum. They are to the sweet side and maybe have had sugar added. I already reviewed the bottles of Henry McKenna Bourbon and Famous Grouse from this What's left? Oh, yeah...standard Jameson. Hhhhmmmm...this bottle is passable, but not one of the best batches. Neither one of the best nor worst batches, not one I would buy, maybe a rating of 70. And?...Laphroaig 10 43% ABV (North American ABV): Laphroaig has still never seriously disappointed me, something which I cannot say about any other frequently sampled distillery. This Laphroaig 10 will do fine. Life is good!!!