So, what are you drinking now?

@paddockjudge thanks - that'd be good to read

@talexander I am hopeful too. I won't be ordering any Weller 107 this time.

@nooch I can tell you from first hand experience that Glen Breton Ice wine finished single malt was an expensive waste of time.

@paddockjudge @Victor I did some searching and found this article. It's a bit long winded but the crux of it is as you both stated: "A rise in temperatures increases the evaporation losses of both ethanol and water, while humidity influences the relative rate at which ethanol and water are lost. At high humidity more ethanol than water is lost and the strength is decreased; at low humidity more water than ethanol is lost and the strength increases (Philip 1989,Whisky Technology, Production and Marketing by Inge Russell)" maltmaniacs.net/E-pistles/… This article is more scientifically sound: thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-science/… Cheers

@Hewie It's my understanding that dry = higher ABV and wet is lower ABV. This is born out with Scotch vs bourbon. Also how Amrut has a large Angel's share but maintains the ABV.

@Hewie, that article by Nabil is a gem. It is the one that first comes to mind. Thanks for posting the link.

@nooch I bet that one (the ice wine 21 year old) is going to require some serious coin.

@BlueNote listed for £199 apparently - so at least $270us I would think.

@nooch That would probably make it about $400 in Canada, at least in BC and Ontario.

@BlueNote based on the cost of the core range glenfiddich I would say $375 anyway.

@BlueNote oops - the core range 21 is a laughable $470 at the lcbo. Just looked it up. It was £110 at the Glasgow airport duty free (about $180cad). Guess I should've picked one up. Nice markup. Wow. So this will go for $600. Lcbo is ludicrous.

@nooch thankfully there are plenty of reasonable options, even at the LCBO

Glencadam tasting: Origin 1825, 10 yo, 13 yo, 21 yo. NAS Origin 1825 was youngish tasting, but had some dimension; the 10 yo was very citrusy sharp barley, the 13 yo, 2003-20016, from the distillery which was reopened under new ownership after a 3 year closure, was pleasant and light, with noticeable wine influence; the 21 yo showed polish and sophistication and was far ahead of the others. It was also priced at $ 240, plus 9% tax. Would I want to own any of these in my collection? Sure, the 21 yo would be very nice, at half the price. That one would have rated 91 points from me.

Today, I attended the launch of a new distillery for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Westland Distillery in Seattle, WA is now distillery 133 for the Society and today they released the bottling of cask number 1. In addition to tasting 133.1 (“Speakeasy sneaky peeky”,virgin oak - heavy char, 5 year old - October 2011, 57.0% ABV), I tasted Westland’s Garryana 2.0 (Oregon oak casks) and they also opened up a bottle of their up coming “Peat Week” release.

Also, the Society has recently starting bottling single cask Cognac. They had 3 bottles that we sampled (All were XO and were from the Grande Champagne region);

C5.1 - “A tapestry of flavours”. 44.9% ABV

C4.1 - “A tantalizing tightrope”. 57.5% ABV

C3.2 - “Strolling through bliss”. 60.9% ABV

I’ve never had Cognac before, but I thought these were very good. Not as good as Whisky, but enjoyable. Had each of them without and then with water. C3.2 was my favorite.

I was treated to some great unusuals at a friend's house. A private bottling of Ardmore which was very nice. A private bottling of Swedish BOX whisky which was super Sherry-heavy and finished of with some Glenfarclas 105.

@bwmccoy Every Westland I've ever had has been excellent.

@talexander - I agree, especially their single cask releases. Matt Hoffman, master distiller, and his team do a great job setting themselves apart from other American craft whiskey distillers. Per Matt, their success and uniqueness is attributed to their 5-grain mass bill (all Barley, but roasted at different levels including some that are normally used for Stout and Porter beers), which provides the chocolate and coffee notes in their whiskey and their use of a Belgian brewer’s yeast, which provides the floral and tropical notes.

@bwmccoy I wasn't aware that the SMWS dealt in anything other than Scotch whisky. Interesting.

@BlueNote - while Scotch is their focus, they have branched out over the years. They’ve offered Japenese and Irish for quite some time, but recently started offering Bourbon, rum and now American Single Malt & Cognac.

@bwmccoy I wasn't aware that there was any American Cognac

@Nozinan I don't think there can be, can there? I was under the impression that Cognac have to be from Cognac. I'm assuming @bwmccoy means American Brandy... or am I misinformed on what constitutes a Cognac?

@Nelom

I was joking. I'm pretty sure that @bwmccoy meant American single malt , and also Cognac as 2 new genres, not american cognac.

@Nozinan - I knew you were joking and yes, I did mean they now bottle Cognac (from France) and separately, American Single Malt Whiskey. :-)

Speaking of Cognac, a cousin of mine from Israel is in town after filming an "amazing race" - like show in Ontario and Quebec. He likes cognac, so I poured us a small measure of Martel XO (a gift long ago from one of my in-laws). After that I introduced him to some Canadian whisky (in a sly plan to transition him to Scotch by week's end), and I chose Wiser's Dissertation.

Next time we sit down to dram I am considering Highwood 90/20 followed by Redbreast 12 CS. Or maybe Glenlivet 12? If we have a third opportunity, some sherried stuff.

Tonight, 18 year Aultmore (Feb. 1997) SMWS 73.72 - "A ray of sunshine".

Last night we were able to get to the Redbreast but nothing else. Had some great wings north of the city though...

tonight might be an off-night. I really want him to try A'Bunadh before he leaves.

@Nozinan May I ask what wings you are referring to?

@JayRain Buffalo Wild Wings at 400 and Major Mackenzie

Apparently my cousin's favourite place for wings. Not available in Israel.

They did have some fine wings, especially the dry lemon pepper...

Tonight I introduced my cousin to Sherry cask matured Scotch and I chose Bladnoch 10 YO. I wanted him to try a clean sherry monster and the added thrill of drinking from what is for all intents and purpose a closed distillery.

@Nozinan Thanks for the recommendation - have yet to find a place that beats Barque (Roncesvalles) which is quite the trek from Oak Ridges