So, what are you drinking now?

Tonight, at my brother-in-law’s, a socially distanced Christmas.

Bushmills SMWS 51.15 (16 year - May 2002) "Boiled sweets and cut flowers" - First-fill barrel - 56.4% ABV.

Ben Nevis SMWS 78.41 (19 year - Dec. 1997) - "A real sherry monster" - Refill ex-Oloroso sherry butt - 57.1% ABV.

Allt-A-Bhainne SMWS 108.14 (7 year - Nov 2011) "An enjoyable curiosity" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 66.2% ABV.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.325 (7 year - Mar. 2012) "When two powerful pearls meet". After six years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished in a refill ex-Madeira hogshead - 61.2% ABV.

Finished the night by killing off one of my brother-in-law’s bottles;

Ardmore SMWS 66.154 (10 year - July 23rd, 2008) “Robocow” - refill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.8% ABV.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

@bwmccoy

After all of that, I think being socially distant would be necessity.

I would be legless.

Opened a Glendronach 15 last night. Enjoyed it as much as the sample I had, if not more. Not too sweet, slight leather and blonde tobacco, toffee, dry and complex ginger spices. My kind of sherried whisky.

Yesterday, Black Manhattan (Maker’s Mark 46).

Later rated another recently opened bottle; Glenmorangie Dornoch - 43% ABV. Rated it an 88.

A friend gave me a little Christmas prezzy consisting of a sample of Blackadder Westport 22 year old Glenmorangie, and a sample of a 22 year old SMWS Highland Park called “Big Boys Smoking in the Sauna.” Both were excellent. The Blackadder was a real beast and needed water to calm it down. The Highland Park was flat out stunning. I can’t remember the exact ABV, but both were in the mid-50s. I gave him some SMOS 24 year old Imperial and some of Mrs. BlueNote’s world class butter tarts. I’m calling it a wash.

@Wodha I just noticed that you checked in. Stay in touch brother, it’s your thread.

All the best for 2021.

@paddockjudge My sedative.

Well, I finally opened my Christmas bottle, two days later. I was going to open it on Boxing Day, but just didn't around to it. Don't ask why. ^_^

It is a 2020 bottling, but I am not too worried whether or not this has 'x' old whisky in it because of the closing and re-opening of Glendronach. That stuff makes for 'repetitive' talking points on whisk(e)y enthusiasts youtube reviews. I am happy to have it, and I am looking forward to tasting it. I am still enjoying the nose.

@ajjarrett - Nice! And I hear you about the amount of chatter Glendronach's get over the older juice. Opened a 'new' 15 Boxing day and, while I've never tasted the older, famed version, this one is a damn good whisky.

I think, sometimes in these cases, rose tinted specs can cause folk to miss the quality in front of them as they reminisce for an older taste.

Tonight (Sunday), my older son and his wife came over for a belated Christmas celebration. After a Black Manhattan (Maker’s Mark 46), followed by a Jerry Thomas Manhattan (Rittenhouse BiB Rye), we had the following;

Westland Distillery Cask # 2542 Single cask release, cask strength (6 year-Distilled 2012) 27 months in Coopers Reserve New American Oak followed by 45 months in an ex-Pedro Ximénez Hogshead - 50.8% ABV.

Kaiyo Whisky Japanese Mizunara Oak - 43% ABV.

High West A Midwinter Nights Dram; Act 7 Scene 6 - 49.3% ABV.

We finished the night with Ben Nevis SMWS 78.41 (19 year - Dec. 1997) - "A real sherry monster" - Refill ex-Oloroso sherry butt - 57.1% ABV.

@ajjarrett I reckon it’s 24 years old. I don’t think that whisky from after the distillery shut down will be included in the Glendronach 21 until 2023.

@MRick Thanks for the reply.

Like many aged stated whisky, I suspect there is a bit older stuff inside the bottle. At this time I have only had the neck pour, so it is a bit hard to get into at its fullest. However, I do noticed that there are some (not many though) neck pours that I can get into and enjoy and appreciate right away. Nevertheless, I think the 21yo Glendronach is one bottle I look forward to making a bit of a dent in.

Finally getting a chance to sit and relax with the first pour from my Christmas bottle of Talisker 10. A wonderful surprise from my longtime girlfriend who remembered that this bottle is a longtime favourite that had been absent from my cabinet for far too long. Thanks babe!

@Pudge72 Great to have you back on Connosr!

Let’s hope we can meet again to taste in person in 2021.

Maple Cinnamon Whisky Sour...

@Pudge72, Far too long! Good to see you returning with one of my favourite single malts.

Talisker 10 is a must have whisky for my cabinet.

@Nozinan @paddockjudge it is great to hear from you! Life has taken a turn for the much better for me the last couple of years. It has however resulted in me spending much less time (and $$ lol) on whisky related pursuits. I hope to be a bit more of a presence here in 2021...and hopefully by the summer or fall, we will be in a position to put together another epic tasting. Here’s to a healthy 2021!

@BlueNote Thank you for your kind words!

2020 has come and gone. It lasted about 6 months too long. 2021 is finally here Time for us to stand up and cheer! Yay

JD Old No. 7...

@YakLord My mini of Glenfidich 12 was sacrificed in a noble cause, my wife’s Christmas fruitcake!

@MRick That's what spiced rum is for...

@YakLord We don’t like the sweet stuff. It’s brandy or whisky in our house.

@YakLord I can identify. That's the only size bottle of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 which I have ever owned.

@MRick We have a bottle of spiced rum that is only for baking...

@Victor It's from a set of five 50ml minis: Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Honey, Old No. 7, Gentlemen Jack, and Single Barrel.

Well, I am on the second neck pour, and the level of whisky in my 21yo Glendronach is hovering at the top of the bottle just a littl ways from the base of the neck. Again, first impressions are mixed. The nose is something I can enjoy for 'hours', while the taste is a bit astringent. I won't make any final judgements now, but I can say I am leaning towards 'enjoying' and 'appreciating' the 18yo more.

I should also say that I enjoyed the 15yo Revival more when it was exclusively Oloroso. Now before anyone claims it is my since of nestalgia and 'memories' kicking in, I can tell you that a current favorite ex-sherry matured whisk(e)y is the 15yo Glen Garioch, which is exclusively Oloroso ex-sherry cask matured. If you can get your hands on one of those, I recommend it. Or at least if you get a chance to try, I would suggest you do so. Assuming that you enjoy ex-sherry cask matured whisk(e)y.

In other words, if I buy more bottles of Glendronach, it will be the 18yo. Unless the 21yo develops into something that I will end up desiring (I am glad I have two bottles).

Short note* The Glen Garioch 15yo I am referring to isn't the Glen Garioch Renaissance 15yo.

Got a sample of the Wee Beastie from a friend. I'm reserving judgement until I have a bottle of my own, but so far, I think I would stick with the Ten.

Does anyone else think that Ardbeg is holding back supplies of this stuff just to keep the hype up and the faithful salivating?

@BlueNote I think it's pretty good. It's been a long time since I've tasted the 10. I will have to crack my bottle which I bought in 2011 and put them H2H sometime.

@BlueNote - As you know, while I didn't think the Wee Beastie was bad, it didn't live up to my expectation of it. I would happily drink it, if it was offered to me, but like you, I think I prefer the 10 for the same money (The 10 is $4 more than Wee Beastie locally).

Behind in my posting;

Monday - a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan's made with Rittenhouse BiB Rye.

Yesterday (Tuesday) - A Green Point Cocktail (basically a Manhattan with the addition of Green Chartreuse liqueur. I again used Rittenhouse BiB Rye).

Later, after dinner, I had a dram of Bushmills SMWS 51.15 (16 year - May 2002) "Boiled sweets and cut flowers" - First-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.4%. I rated this recently opened bottle an 89.

Tonight (Wednesday), I'm starting off with a Black Irish Coffee Manhattan (Standard Jameson, Jameson Cold Brew, Amaro, Coffee bitters and Orange bitters).

Had another Black Irish Coffee Manhattan before dinner.

Later, had a dram of Woodinville Whiskey Company Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Madeira casks - 53.27% ABV.