So, what are you drinking now?

@Nozinan ha ha, maybe

In an effort to consolidate bottles before an upcoming move, I chose these two drams tonight:

Six Isles blended malt

Double Barrel 10 Bowmore + Highland Park

The Six Isles is better. "Darker," more substantial, with a nice little nutty core.

The plan is to combine some heels in that Six Isles bottle. And after all, as long as all the dumped-in malts are from Scotland's whisky islands, it'll still be "the six isles." I already dumped in Laphroaig QC, Lagavulin 8, and some of that Double Barrel.

...and I followed those two budget malts with a half-dram of PC7. Wow, what a difference! The PC7 is miles ahead of that Six Isles or the Double Barrel: Richer, fuller, more potent, and just more delicious.

@MadSingleMalt, PC7 is a beauty! Right up there with the best from Islay.

Ordered Longmorn 15 before dinner: Nose: Soft oak, Meade, heather, vanilla, fruity sherry background Palate: sweet mild sugar (white refined), honeydew, creamy mouth feel, mild spice (white pepper, nutmeg), slight fruit (tart strawberries), citrus (lime) Finish: medium white peppery, fading sherry background subtle oak Conclusion: refined/well engined dram and good casks -dunnage storage

Local restaurant with a decent old school select of single malts.

We had a Halloween party last night and a friend who I have over for scotch quite often decided to “repay” me by bringing this beauty over. I think I’ll have to get a bottle. Wonderful stuff.

@OdysseusUnbound When you come to pick up your Ardbeg perhaps we can open an earlier bottling of A'Bunadh and you can compare.

Talisker 57 Degrees North and Clynelish 14 yo. This 6 year open bottle of Clynelish 14 tastes better now than it did in the first year it was open. Both are very nice.

@OdysseusUnbound, I hope that your friend gave you not only a taste of A'bunadh but also a sample.

@Victor The bottle of A’Bunadh did not survive the night. I got more than a sample of it (my friend kept filling my glass with it). But none to taste at a later time in a less hectic and busy environment. I found it similar in character (though not identical) to Macallan Sienna, but maybe because it’s bottled at cask strength, the A’Bunadh was much richer and the flavours were far more vivid. There were lots of red fruits, raisins, dates and some nice oakiness on the finish. It’s the first time I actually believe that a NAS scotch contains some older whisky. I will be buying a bottle of this before Christmas.

Jack Daniel's No. 27 Gold. Very smooth, maple, rich and delicious. Just in the mood.

@murrayaitken I think some of the best -tasting drams are the result of being "in the mood" for a specific expression.

There are times when I look at my cabinet and I know exactly what I want to sip from a collection of dozens of open bottles. And there are times when I'm just as spoiled for choice and I can't think of anything I want, and I walk away empty handed...

@Nozinan oh I can relate to that. I have similar issues, sometimes standing and debating with the the bottles but almost never walk away empty handed, just couldn't cope with that...

@murrayaitken My success in drinking whisky fluctuates between MLB hitting champ and this year's Jose Bautista...ie I bat around .200 to .350. Sometimes I want one but am on call. Sometimes I want one but I'm busy, or sick or whatever. With runners in scoring position I'm a clutch hitter...about .500. Half the time I find what I want, and half the time I decide I'd rather just read about it on Connosr...

@OdysseusUnbound Aberlour A'bunadh has been on my wishlist a long time now, and since joining this site just recently I've read so many great comments about it, so now I'm in search of a bottle again... but so far it seems not much around my areas... will keep on my radar.

Kilchoman Machir Bay tonight. I really need to get some more of this.

@BlueNote please tell me what you think. I'm tossing up between this one and either Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Heavily Peated or Ledaig 10. Any thoughts?

@Hewie, you didn't ask me, but I'll comment anyway. I've had all three. I'd go with Machir Bay first, the PC Heavily Peated second, and Ledaig third. The interesting thing with Ledaig is that virtually every bottle of the stuff is its own individual world. If you taste one, don't expect the next one to taste the same. They seldom do. So when you do get your Ledaig don't think that you know what Ledaig tastes like. You only know what that bottle of Ledaig tastes like. Ledaig tends to be rather funky. Some love that. Others dislike it. A few, like me, are somewhere in the middle between the two. In the right mood Ledaig is a hoot. In the wrong frame of mind it is simply annoying.

@Hewie , I'll echo @Victor but come to a different conclusion.

If you like funky stuff, get a Ledaig.

Beyond that, Machir Bay is totally solid. It's a reliable pick.

I'd put PC Scottish Barley last. It's OK, but it comes across as rather flat compared to other peated whiskies. Of course we have the batch variation issue yada yada, but I'll probably never buy another bottle of it. (I would buy other PCs, just not Scottish Barley.)

@MadSingleMalt, yeah, the PC Scottish Barley Heavily Peated I sampled was somewhat flat and disappointing...not vibrant like other PCs, consistent with what you've said. I am not so down on it yet because I only did have the one sample of it, and have been waiting to give it another tasting.

In sharp contrast, Ledaig is not to everyone's taste, but it is not boring. Not boring at all.

@Victor Is the Ledaig 10 different from the Tobermory 10?

@Robert99, Ledaig is moderately to heavily peated; Tobermory is to the best of my knowledge either unpeated or lightly peated. Tobermory sometimes comes with wine finish. I haven't yet seen any references yet to any wine influence in any of the Ledaigs.

@Victor Thanks for the answer. I didn't like Tobermory 10 on the long run but it was interesting enough at the beginning to give it another try. Ledaig seems more appropriate for my Peathead so I will have a look at it. I have to consider that Ledaig is close to $40 cheaper than PC Scottish here, it is also half the price of PC Islay. Did you have that last one?

@Robert99, not, I haven't yet had a chance to try the PC Islay Barley. I would like to try it.

@Victor @MadSingleMalt Thanks for the input gents. As you can probably guess I was after something peated but not the typical Ardbeg or Laphroaig etc. Given that I enjoy the funk in springbank I thought the Ledaig may be an interesting option. The batch variation sounds worrying though. I've read people comment that it also changes dramatically as it sits in the glass. The PC is well priced here and I was hoping it would be a winner. Oh well.

I took my boys out trick or treating and it’s friggin cold (it snowed earlier). So I’m warming up with a nice cup of Assam Banaspaty tea....spiked with some Wild Turkey 101. Whisk(e)y and tea is just one of those things that hits all the right notes for me.

@Robert99 & @Victor, the Port Charlotte Islay Barley is excellent. Fresh, clean, & zippy without a hint of the nastiness that sometimes befouls a young peater.

When I did my Port Charlotte SBSBSBS a few weeks ago, it was just as good as An Turas Mor and similar, in case that's a reference point for you. (But not as good as PC7. )

@MadSingleMalt, yep, that is a good reference point for me. I like An Turas Mor a lot, but, like you, I do like PC7 much more.

@Hewie Sorry, I missed your reply yesterday. I have not had the PC Scottish Barley, but between the other two I would go with the Machir Bay. The Ledaig 10 is good, but a bit of an acquired taste. That said, I will be replacing my bottle of Ledaig 10 because it seems I have acquired the taste. Already have another Machir Bay in the bunker.

Cheers

Had drams of Glenmorangie 10 and Nectar D'Or. Just not much going on with the 10 - guess it is an easy drinking whisky, good place to start. Nectar D'Or is as good as I remember. Great nose. Bit spicy but overall great dram.

George T Stagg, 2012 release, 71.4% ABV. I am toasting the victorious Houston Astros. Congratulations Astros!!! This is their first US MLB championship in their 55 year history.

Abraham Bowman 17 yo, 73.75% ABV for the second round. God I love this stuff! No water needed here.