So, what are you drinking now?

I’m about to drink some of my newly discovered Woodford Reserve. I don’t remember buying it, but hopefully the flavour will be memorable.

@paddockjudge I've never had that particular combo but i've been privy to a few of your vattings containing those three distilleries and they've been rather chewy and interesting. Cheers

First father/daughter gym session after our summer hiatus, it was a good session and even better conversation afterwards. I am home now winding down with a head to head of Lagavulin 8 200th anniversary and Longrow NAS, this should be interesting.

Tonight is our last night in Texas;

Glenallachie (SMWS 107.16) 7 year (April 2011) Toasted Oak Butt 67% ABV

Glen Scotia (SMWS 93.112) 14 year (Feb. 2004) Ex-bourbon cask 53.7% ABV

Glen Scotia (SMWS 93.106) 13 year (Mar. 2005) Port cask finished 58.4% ABV

Penderyn (SMWS 128.7) 5 year (Mar. 2013) First-fill barrique, shaved / toasted / re-charred 61.1% ABV

Westland (SMWS 133.1) 5 year (Oct. 2011) Virgin oak barrel, heavy char 57% ABV

Nikka Yoichi Single Malt

I’m finishing off the remnants of the samples that I brought with me.

Decent wee bourbon, FEW 2013 SMWS B4.3 63.4 % 3yo Full flavour behaviour

@cricklewood, that good ol' Longrow NAS! I somehow always overlook that one, and it doesn't get too much attention from the crowd, despite its quality and value.

I think it would get a lot more play if they put an age statement on it.

@MadSingleMalt I honestly really like that Longrow NAS, it has a great profile with a good zippy lemony almost passion fruit side that helps balance the more mineral, damp basement and engine oil aspects.

At the price it sells locally it can get overlooked. I read an interview with one of the guys from JA Mitchell and he mentioned the Longrow NAS is essentially the same vatting recipe as the old Longrow CV and that they have no plans to change it or put an age statement on it for now as it works in their portfolio along with a yearly Longrow red & the 18.

What floored me is that he said there are only about a 100 casks of Longrow that are produced every year...it helps put things in perspective.

@cricklewood, I always appreciate that "100 casks" point too. I think they put it on the back label of some releases.

As for the NAS, I really do think it would get a lot more attention if it was "Longrow 8" or whatever. Kinda like how Lagavulin 8 does - I'm sure that thing does waaaaay better than it would if it was just called "Lagavulin Peated."

@MadSingleMalt I didn't know the number of casks filled was used prominently in their advertising and labels, It helps frame the idea of "small batch" or "limited" editions as defined by folks like Highland Park or even Bruichladdich for example. It requires anywhere from about 30-60 casks to be able to provide 10,000 to 15,000 bottles depending on casks size and bottle proof....crazy

Fore sure even a bold 5 or 6 year age statement wold would probably still roll out a fair number of bottles, I would prefer that myself or even better if they can just provide the vatting details, real transparency.

I’m sipping some Bushmills 10 I got as a housewarming or cottage-warming gift. The first dram is much better than I expected for a youngish 40% triple distilled malt. I recognize a lot of these floral and fruity flavours from the other Bushmills offerings. There’s also a light industrial note in here that isn’t unpleasant at all. It reminds me of the smell of the oil used to lubricate sewing machines, if that makes sense.

I have been dry for the past three days (we hosted a big part for some of my wife's co-workers on Saturday). So I started off the evening with a small dram of Springbank 10yo. This bottle is now at the half way mark and developing better than I expected. Less citrus and more earthy leather notes. Nice.

Then I moved on to ECBP batch A119 67.6%. I have neglected this bottle of late in favor of the lower proof B519 at 61.1% for some reason. I do enjoy the A119, but I wouldn't call it one of my favorites of the ECBP releases.

Just tucked my wife into bed so just one more small dram with a book before I head down. What will it be?? It should probably be something at cask strength to keep up with the ECBP. I have just decided on a BenRiach 1994 PX finished 18yo at 51.4%. Tons of deep fruits, peat, leather and old fireplace. Perfect for a book.

21yo NZ whisky 43%. Very decent, I even assumed it was a higher abv. Lots of honey and tropical fruit on the nose, vanilla custards squares, orchid flowers. Palate starts out rather pine/grass or green malt driven. Sweetness follows through promptly before bitter oranges and tree bark. Lingering finish but bitter notes stay around too long.

@OdysseusUnbound - I've never had the Bushmills 10 but it's one I keep looking at when I see it on offer. I also feel that the standard Bushmills has a slight industrial note to it and I'd wondered if that would come out in the 10. It'll be interesting to read your review on it.

Last night I had a JD Master Distiller no.4 and then an Arran 10 JMcT Ed. In the mood for both but the Arran was really shining - definitely gets better with water.

I've been out in the rain all day and am now sitting down to a generous pour of Talisker 18. I'd normally 'work up' to this but felt I needed it's warming, aggressively cuddling charms straight away. It's not disappointing

@RianC I was really happy with the first dram. I’m not even bothered by the low abv. It’s a nice, light summer whiskey.

For the first time I am doing a comparison between Aberlour 12yo Double Cask Matured 40% and Aberlour 12yo Non Chill-Filtered 48%. 40% is smooth caramel with soft fruits in comparison. The 48% has so much more depth with charcoal oak and coffee grinds prominent difference, both having those classical ‘Aberlour sherry notes’. Drying and licorice with the NCF

Inspired by @Astroke, I poured 10 cc of Wiser's Dissertation. I must have not had any in almost a year. It was nice to taste it again.

Thank you to the good doctor for releasing this.

On a Friday night after a long week: Benromach 10 100 proof. Dark fruit, sweet malt, barbecued meats, chocolate, old books, leather, smoldering embers. I'd like to try the recent Peat Smoke Sherry Cask to see how it compares.

@Hewie Why is it I feel envious looking at that photo? I have a bottle of it open! In fact I tasted it this month! It is a very fine whisky

After a couple of late nights in a row due to returning from Texas on Tuesday night and attend The Rolling Stones concert in Seattle on Wednesday night, last night, I was able to sit down with a bottle that is a new addition to the whisky cabinet. Unfortunately, it didn’t do a lot for me. I’m not a huge fan of Dalmore any way, but I was hoping that a single cask, cask strength version might impress me. Not this one. It’s not bad; very drinkable, but nothing really stands out about it either. I had a small dram without water and one with. Not much difference between the two. I do, however, love the name; more fitting for Elton John than The Stones, but still a great name.

11 year (May 2007) Dalmore (SMWS 13.75 - “Briny Dancer”) from a 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel. 59.1% ABV. Society flavor profile: Oily & coastal, but I would put it in the “Light & delicate” profile myself.

Here’s a photo of the fireworks at the end of the concert. The concert was awesome!

@bwmccoy Glad you enjoyed the show. They're in top form. I went with a walker (broken leg) and just had to stand.More than just a spectacle:this was history. Had some Laphroaig Fino before the show then succumbed to the 12$ beers. So, so good, with a different setlist almost eery night. Mick's voice is still strong and he enunciates. Keith is Keith. Ron has really grown as a soloist. The backing band was also superb. Wish I could have taken some scotch into the arena.

Friday night dinner. I BBQed tuna (perfectly seared) and marinated Korean short ribs. After dinner I poured for whoever wanted.

My nephew chose Amrut Peated CS, and I showed him how to do the Ashok manoeuvre in a Highland Whisky glass. My uncle selected the Classic Laddie, in a Canadian Glencairn (with ice), and I chose to have some Johnnie Walker Island Green in a standard Clencairn.

Got to get those enzymes induced for tomorrow...

If you ever want a beer that tastes more like a whiskey based cocktail than a beer, you have to try a Firestone Walker Old Man Hattan. Wow! I’m not a huge fan of most barrel aged beer, but this is amazing. Tastes just like a Manhattan cocktail. Sweet without being syrupy sweet. Dessert beer. As it warmed up in the glass, it got even better! Can really taste the bitter barrels that it was aged in. Love this!!!

Tonight, a 16 year (June 2002) Longmorn (SMWS 7.221 - “Hop Scotch”). After 15 years in an ex-bourbon barrel, it spent the last year in a 1st-fill ex-IPA barrel. Very floral with only the slightest hint of hops in the finish. 50.3% ABV. I was pleasantly surprised. Really good.

Finished the night with a real treat. 20 year (May 1998) Laphroaig (SMWS 29.263 - “Exquisitely Playful”) from a 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel. 54.9% ABV. Simply sublime.

Yesterday, with my sister:

Balvenie Tun 1509, Batch # 3. Yes, this is truly 95 class whisky, and it should be for $ 400 per bottle. At least this one delivers for your $ 400.

Laphroaig 15 yo, OB, recent release: perfectly likeable Laphroaig, albeit a little thin. I would be drinking the 10 Cask Strength in preference 80% of the time.

Laphroaig Lore; I like it, but would still in preference mostly be drinking 10 CS, 18, or 20+ yo releases

Dad's Hat Rye, approx 80% rye content, resurrecting the old Monongahela Western Pennsylvania rye tradition. Excellent nose, virtuous palate; finishes a little too bitter for my taste. A good solid rye.

G & M 12 yo Mortlach Cask Strength, 1998 I think. Loved this one. My sister brought a bottle home.

Kilkerran 8 yo, Cask Strength. Very enjoyable. I encouraged my sister to buy a bottle of this or the 12 yo and she chose this one. Love it. Love the nose neat, and much prefer the palate with water.

Amrut Fusion. @Maddie bought her first bottle of Amrut yesterday. We opened it and it is an excellent one, not like @dbk's off bottle of Fusion from April 2011. We also ordered bottles of Amrut Intermediate Sherry Matured, and my sister ordered a bottle of Naarangi. Hopefully they will be available from the distributor.

Corsair Hydra. This is one weirdo whiskey, from Corsair, the home of many a weirdo whiskey. This is US malt whiskey with the barley smoked using the smoke of pecan, apple, sugar maple, black walnut, and persimmon woods. It's aged in new charred oak, as are most US malts (I do hope that that changes soon). It's hard to pick out different flavours in the nose-- they tend to fuse together. The palate is even stranger, seeming more like an aged rum or showing the sort of wood influence in a brandy. On the positive side, I'll bet that this will be one fascinating bottle to watch change with increasing air exposure. Connosr member Darek Bell is doing with his two Corsair Distilleries the kind of creative play many of us wish we could do with whisk(e)y.

Oh, and our liquor store owner/buddy mentioned in passing that John Glaser dropped into his store for about 40 minutes for a chat a week or two ago. It was sudden and on short notice so no real opportunity for him to notify his buddies like me who would make the effort to drop by if we knew in advance.

To give you some idea of the ENORMOUS number of new US distilleries which have recently come into existence, take a look at this article on the new US Middle Atlantic Whiskey Rebellion Trail. Scroll down to the lists of distilleries. These are all located in the region in which I live and I have only heard of a few of them.

distillerytrail.com/blog/…

@Victor - Sounds like a great line up! The Corsair sounds very intriguing . .

Last night I had some Benromach peat smoke - I've left this alone for a couple of months and the air has improved it. I had it alongside a Caol Ila 12, and while the overall flavour of the CI was preferred, the BR was much richer and fuller on the palate. I also had a Ben Nevis 10 - beautiful, old-skool whisky with some bite! This bottle is coming to the end and I'll be sad to see it go - it's also sad that the price has jumped from £30 to £50 and bottles are scarce - seriously, what's up with that distillery!?

I'm working early tomorrow so making the most of the afternoon and having a few small drams while cooking. Had a Hazelburn 13 and now having a Powers 12 from a snifter - the Irish is really improving as the bottle goes down - the nose is delightfully spicy and honeyed. The HB has become a classic sherried dram - rich and leathery.

@RianC that Benromach peated was way better in the final drams for sure.

Sounds like you've got a good line-up going while your shanks are cooking!

@cricklewood - re the Benromach. It reminded me of that recent thread about peated whisky and how it changes. The peat in this one has become so much more integrated and it's much better for it - compared to the CI 12 it was like it had a wisp of tangy smoke rather than the 62ppm that are in there! The CI was much drier and medicinal by comparison.

@Victor Wow! How did you get a taste of the Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch #3? Is that something owned by you, your sister, or a generous friend? I agree that the Laphroaig 15yo and Lore are both expressions of Laphroaig I would gladly pass over on my way to the 18yo . . . or the 10yo CS.

I have tried a few CS expressions of Mortlach (mostly from Signatory) and I have always been really intrigued. Sadly, I have never been able to pick up a bottle after a tasting. It seems like a very thick and viscous spirit with a touch of sulfur.

And what do you mean that you “ordered” a bottle of the intermediate Sherry? I heard that Amrut had suspended that expression? Please tell me it isn’t the case!

Tonight, I started off with Longrow 46% (white label). The bottle is now at the half way mark and has been opened for a year (July 21st 2018). It is now getting to a really good place for me. I really enjoy the burnt tire on the finish.

Moved on to the Longrow Red 11yo Cabernet Franc 55.9%. This is also excellent, but very different from the basic white label. For whatever reason I was really dialed into the white label tonight.

I switched to my bottle of Compass Box No Name 48.9% (batch 1). Good, but I am really not digging it liked I hoped. Mostly Ardbeg, but sadly masked by other things. I am sure fans would say it is “rounded” . . . but I am just not a fan of rounded Ardbeg. Give it to me raw and at cask strength (Amen’s heard from many of you)

So, I finished off the evening with a final dram of Ardbeg Corryvreckan 57.1% 22/10/2018. A fantastic finish to a delightful peated evening. I will say it isn’t my favorite batch of Corry, but it certainly isn’t one to turn your nose up at. Glad I have a second bottle in reserve.