So, what are you drinking now?

@thecyclingyogi, very nice whisky, that 1993 Portwood. Thanks for sharing.

@Victor thanks for the side by side wih the 21y/o :)

Auchentoshan 12 Year old and listening to the Sherlock Holmes soundtrack 2010 tonight.

Redbreast 12, and then something from the Lowlands to honour a new friend in Edinborough

Cardhu 12.

Nothing, nada, rien, bugger all. We're on the detox/cleansing diet for 30 days. Getting a bit twitchy already after two weeks. I have two bottles of the new Bruichladdich 10 year old The Laddie coming on Thursday and that will be my first dram come the end of the month. First you tox, then you detox, and then you retox.

@BlueNote, you and me both. It has been 3 1/2 weeks for me with no whisky. In my case it has been getting some deadly serious work done. At other times it could be a cleanse, or an extended spiritual retreat program. I plan to break the fast tonight. Time for communing with the other, more liquid, spirits...Slainte!

Cheers @ victor. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I had lttle tasting evening today, starting with the Glenlivet 18y, which is great. Then the GlenDronach 18y Allardice, which will definitely be my next christmas dram! And finally the Ardbeg Uigeadail! And this is simply awesome stuff! I guess I'll have one more now ^^

Making the most of being stuck at home due to the snow. Just made a couple of Irish Coffee's for the wife and I with Bushmills White Label. Yum!

I had an icewine pairing with dinner, now I'm onto Johnnie Walker Gold, and later a Guinness to round off the night.

Glenlivet 18 again.

Sitting under 6" of fluffy new snow (a rare treat in Seattle), with a crackling fire and a Bowmore Darkest. Good times.

I have 2 Classic Malt Coastal Packs open: Why both? The Clynelish 14yo. that's why! I couldn't believe that the first sample could be so lack-lustre, so I opened the second 200ml. bot. and it is exactly the same. Beautiful Nose, crisp, delicious and inviting palate but unfortunately that is where the story ends. No finish at all. Both samples exactly the same; great start and then nothing!

The Caol Ila and the Talisker are both excellent with the Caol Ila just shading the Skye Whisky by a whisker. A shame, really, I have a fondness for the better expressions of Clynelish - not for this example though....anyone else with this set?

Ardbeg 10

@A'bunadhman I am awaiting delivery of the same as an Xmas present from my brother, the brown classic malts set I believe? big fan of talisker and clynelish, haven't tried the caol ila before but I'm looking forward to it. Should arrive this week we're told, though it was ordered mid December! I'll let you know what i think when it finally arrives.

An evening of the spice tree and talisker 10. Satin and steel :)

@smokeybarrels: I'm pretty sure you will like the Caol Ila; I thought it the pick of the pack. The power of the Caol Ila always amazes me, to the point of wondering if, in fact, the Whisky is a higher strength than the stated 43%abv. The power and especially the texture suggest that it is: I guess that it is just a well made 'old school' Whisky...I like it a lot!

Recently I found a review on this site for Sheep Dip Old Hibridean 1990 by TheFitz on this very site. I, not only found a great dram, but also a great site! I had to hunt around a bit here in Holland to find Sheep Dip Old Hibridean, but I managed it, and I'm now sitting down, enjoying this well crafted blend of really old whiskies. Rumour has it, it contains In effect, Dalmore 34, Fettercairn 36 and Ardbeg 40. It is, without a doubt, old whisky, that's for sure. Doesn't need any water, it's rich and smooth and utterly delicious. The best bang for my bucks in a long time!

@A'bunadhman I do have the same Coastal Pack and the Clynelish 14 actualy states 46%. Hope to have a taste this evening and maybe give a follow-up on the finish.

@CognacFan: Your right the Clynelish is 46%abv. It was the Caol Ila I was referring to in my comment which is the 43% Whisky; perhaps I was unclear.

@A'bunadhman Quite clear you were, I just got mixed up in the flow of the conversation.I cracked open the bottle of Clynelish14 along side of a new Glenkinchie12 coming from another pack I have. I thought trying it next to something mellow to compare. The nose on the Clynelish was the most satisfying in my short whisky history, but the finish was quite shy, even to say if it showed up at all.

Balvenie 14 yo Caribbean Cask, with a nod to @JeffC's new bottle. (It might need a few weeks to open up, Jeff)

Second, Kentucky Gentleman blended bourbon: yep, that $ 7 bottle is still quite drinkable.

Next, some Old Potrero Single Malt Rye, ...great rye nose, with a lot of charred oak on the palate, along with very intense rye flavours...

And, finally, knock me over with a feather...Abraham Bowman 10 yo Rye @69.4% abv, rye-lover's heaven...thank you again, @hp12! for turning me on to it while there was still some to be bought.

Ardbeg 10, at the office... long work day, much needed reward.

@Victor That Abraham Bowman rye sounds quite intriguing. Have you reviewed it here yet?

@EvaRees, no, I haven't done up a review of the Abraham Bowman 10 yo Rye yet. It was from one of three private barrels of Bowman Rye sold to The Party Source in Bellevue Kentucky, apparently one with "excessive evaporation", leading to very high proof and extreme concentration of flavours for a 10 yo product. For awhile now it has been my top favourite of all my bottles, though that can certainly change. @hp12 did do a review of the whiskey from one of the other two barrels of Bowman Rye sold by The Party Source last summer and fall. I will probably do a review of it before too long, though, I have to say, one of the reasons which I haven't yet is probably that I like it so much that I almost consider it too personal an experience to share! I will be happy to share some of the whiskey with you when I see you, though.

In 2003 the Bowman distillery in Fredericksburg, Va., became one of the three distilleries in the Sazerac Company empire, along with Buffalo Trace and Tom Moore/1792 Ridgemont (or whatever name they are calling that one currently).@HP12 told me recently that he was told when visiting Bowman that they don't plan to produce rye whiskey there in the foreseeable future. This special edition Bowman Rye was distilled before Sazerac Company bought the distillery. Bowman is the home of the Virginia Gentleman bourbons, and their new Bowman bourbon line is a good one, including Abraham Bowman 18 yo bourbon barrel strength @ 69% abv. So that one is a quasi-Sazerac Antique Collection whiskey.

As for The Party Source, it is a fantastic store, with an active private barrel program, and a brisk online business. TPS is actually building a distillery and working with Buffalo Trace (Sazerac) to make experimental whiskeys. I am so very happy that Dramlette's 80 year old Catholic nun aunt put her on to that store!

I am currently drinking something very unusual for me, Jack Daniels Old No. 7. The nose is quite good, better than I remember. The palate and finish still strike me as HORRIBLE. Every now and then I buy a $ 1.07 mini of this just to remind myself of what it tastes like, and also to re-use the bottle for samples. Dramlette's comment, upon sharing the dram: " ...no finesse."

And now, ...at age 58, I am having my very first 'Jack and Coke', on the rocks. Camouflage works wonders for Jack Daniels. Why would anyone drink this spirit neat?

@Victor - well, Old No. 7 has it's time and place - it's all about context. As I mentioned in my review, it's the perfect whisky to have if you're playing poker, reading Keith Richards' autobiography, or whilst snorting coke off a hooker's ass. Then it's perfect.

@talexander, when I am playing poker with you I will have my Jack Daniels Old No.7 with Coca-cola and ice.

www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-14251.aspx The above, Grosperrin from 1980 at 50.5%; our bottle was sealed in 2004. Very much dried fruits, dates, sultanas and oak on the nose with a liquorice and vanilla on the palet. Note the ultra smooth type of Cognac that you get out of the main houses today. Fantastic.