So, what are you drinking now?

@Victor thanks for that. Not had the Navigator but again sounds an interesting expression.

Mixing things up tonight. For the cocktail hour, my wife and I are having Jerry Thomas Manhattans. I'm reminded just how good these are. Not as good as the Black Manhattan, in my opinion, but a very close second!

Yesterday I took the plunge and had a go in the kitchen for the first time in a while. Made a Moussaka (which I completed but it was a bit much in retrospect) and had some lovely red to go with it. Small portions though still as losing my balance would not be a good thing right now!

I do love a good claret and this was a nice one - needed a touch more body to be 'really good' but had a lovely balance of sweet, fruity and dry, tannic notes.

@RianC, Steady as she goes mate!

I too enjoy a good bottle of Bordeaux (or Rhone), but at my house it is mostly Italian, Spanish, and S.American reds, with a few Zinfandels and Primitivos from Lodi, California in the mix. To come full circle, I'm a big fan of Carménère from Chile. This varietal originated in Bordeaux, go figure! In an attempt to purge my inner-wine-snobbery, I purchased Bordeaux futures this year and last. A couple of cases from assorted appellations, all of them value picks....fourth wave ready. There's something about a nice glass of red at meal time that goes beyond explanation.

Bon appétit!

@paddockjudge - I highly doubt there's any Latin genes in my family (hers, quite possibly!) but I fully understand why the 'Barbarian hordes' coveted it so ha!

I think we share similar tastes in red. Chilean reds are right up my alley, big, bold and spicy! I'm quite partial to a Chianti as well - the earthier the better where wine is concerned for me.

Just helped myself to pretty much two adult sized portions of the moussaka and washed it down with the last of the red, mmmm! Cheers!

Last night, I co-hosted a virtual Society tasting for the Seattle chapter of Women Who Whiskey.

Clynelish SMWS 26.161 (8 year - April 2012) "Put the pebble to the petal!" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.9% ABV. Floral; honeysuckle. Needs a little water to open up.

BenRiach SMWS 12.43 (28 year - Nov.1991) "Desire lines" - 2nd-fill ex-sherry butt - 54.8% ABV. This is simply sublime! Stunning!

Glenallachie SMWS 107.21 (8 year - May 2012) "Bounty on the galleon" - 1st-fill ex-sherry butt" - 63.3% ABV. The Sherry influence on this one is more pronounced than the 28 year 2nd-fill BenRiach. The 63% ABV does not drink hot or young. Very good dram!

Ardmore SMWS 66.186 (11 year - Nov. 2008) "Bivouac breakfast" - Refill ex-bourbon barrel" - 58.1% ABV. This is more smoke than peat and it is excellent!

@bwmccoy such fun! Women Who Whiskey. There is nothing like hanging out with the girls. This is all still virtual I expect. Do you expect that in the future you will be interested in doing these WWW tastings live? It's nice to have the ladies physically present.

I am a kinesthetic person. I like to have the other person's aura right there in the room with me.

@Victor - yes, this was a virtual event. That is why I had to fill 96 - 1/2oz sample bottles last week.

Your comments are very timely; the head of the Seattle chapter of the Women Who Whiskey mentioned that last night's tasting was their last virtual event. All of their future events will be in-person going forward.

While the virtual tastings that I have attended over the past year have been a great distraction to being stuck at home, they in no way compare to the in-person events. I can't wait to start hosting tastings in person again! I would much rather pour whisky into a Glencairn glass than a sample bottle.

@bwmccoy Hear, Hear. I can't wait to get together with my whisky mates and clink the Glencairns. 15 months of this virtual shit is about enough. There are three women in our extended group (one being my wife) who are developing very sophisticated palates for the holy water. A couple of our guys have to now go and smoke their expensive cigars somewhere at the bottom of the garden.

Tonight, Ben Nevis 6 year (Dec. 2013). Full maturation in a 1st Fill Amontillado Gorda. 67.6% ABV. Single Cask Nation bottling.

@bwmccoy You're giving me Ben Nevis envy, man.

@BlueNote, I find my very good friend @bwmccoy to be a continuing advertisement for "stuff you'd like to drink." This keeps people aspiring to new quality finds. This builds Connosr.

And it's great to be able to consult with an actual SMWS rep.

@Victor Have to agree with you. More often than not, I want "what he's drinking now."

Ardbeg Galileo, 49% ABV, Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Release, 55% ABV, and Lagavulin 12 Cask Strength, 2010 release, 56.5% ABV.

Yes, it remains true for me that if I could drink from but one Scottish distillery that distillery would be Ardbeg. Why Ardbeg? I am an intensity buff, a Big Flavours Lover. Bring on the high test stuff, viz. the heaviest of the PSB (peaty, smoky, briny) Islay whisky. I like the best PSB of Ardbeg a little better than I like the best PSB of Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, or Kilchoman. Plus, for me the PSBs of Ardbeg which use wine do it more skillfully than do the PSBs of these other distilleries, Bruichladdich Octomore 2.2 Orpheus excepted.

I remain serenaded by the wall of sound of the 17 year cicadas here.

For cicada fans and those seeking to overcome their insect cringing, here is an entomologist speaking on cicadas for 28 minutes. @ 14:00 there is lots of discussion of people and animals eating the cicadas. Have fun!.

mymcmedia.org/mocos-most-famous-the-bug-gu…

@Victor - we had Cicadas when I was growing up in Texas. Spent many a summer day playing with the insects and their shells. Spent many a summer night falling asleep to their sounds. They are such an interesting creature! Great memories.

Finally the cocktail influence has occurred lol.

2 old fashioned cocktails tonight with the addition of ginger syrup I made earlier tonight. Not authentic but good.

A small Springbank 10 to finish and @RianC, you were correct mate, lovely batch.. cheers all..

About last night...

A friend and I met at a mutual friends house for a happy hour whisky tasting that turned into a Happy Hours whisky tasting. It was just the 3 of us sitting around a large dining room table with whisky bottles on a Lazy Susan in the middle of the table. Spinning for Scotch as it were...

Clynelish SMWS 26.151 (26 year - October 1993) "Fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers". Refill ex-bourbon barrel - 47.3% ABV.

Glenlossie SMWS 46.100 (27 year - November 1992) "Heart of Gold". After 25 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Spanish oak ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead - 53.2% ABV.

BenRiach SMWS 12.43 (28 year - Nov.1991) "Desire lines" - 2nd-fill ex-sherry butt - 54.8% ABV

Bruichladdich Rare Cask 32 year - 1985 (It was a sample, so I don't have any further details). It was amazing with a whiff of smoke in the finish. Probably my second favorite of the night.

Bruichladdich 15 year (2003-2018) single cask from Valinch& Mallet Hidden Casks Collection. 54.1% ABV. Full term maturation in an ex-Maderia Butt. Bottle #380 of 392. This was the funkiest Bruichladdich I have ever tasted and not in a good way. If tasted blind, I would have sworn it was a Campbeltown whisky. Water helped a little, but not enough. While I didn't detect Sulphur, I'm wondering if this was a bad cask. Something wasn't right.

Mannochmore 11 year (2007) from A.D. Rattray. (It was a sample, so I don't have any further details). This would have been great on its own, but after that previous Bruichladdich, it was outstanding! :-)

Compass Box Rogue's Banquet. Even though this is only 46%, it held its own against the cask strength whisky we were drinking. Beautiful, rich, creamy. Everything you would expect from Compass Box.

Caperdonich SMWS 38.22 (25 year - June 1992) "Love letters on linen paper" - Refill ex-bourbon barrel - 51.0% ABV. A beautiful whisky! Enough said!

Bladnoch SMWS 50.95 (27 year - Jan. 1990) "Magical Moments" - Refill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.8% ABV. Apples, caramel and cigar tobacco. In a word, lovely! (I thought of you @Nozinan)

Tullibardine SMWS 28.30 (25 year - June 1990) "Pure Indulgence" - After maturing in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 2nd-fill ex-Sauternes hogshead - 53.3% ABV. Orange marmalade and duck in a wine sauce. Not sure I agree with the name, but still a very nice dram.

Glen Moray SMWS 35.202 (25 year - Oct. 1991) "Christmas spice and honeyed Stradivarius" - After 24 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill American oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead - 55.6% ABV. Honeysuckle, cigars, eucalyptus and cooking spices. How many ways can I find to describe another beautiful whisky without just repeating myself?

Our host then pulled out an unopened bottle and asked me to open it. I'm not worthy...

Macallan SMWS 24.139 (30 year - May 1989) "Beauty beyond skin deep" - Refill ex-sherry butt - 46.9% ABV (Cask Strength). The name says it all. Absolutely stunning! This is what I expect Macallan to taste like and then some. By far, my favorite of the night and a real treat to open and taste this one! Bottle label pictured below.

Daftmill 12 year (2007 Winter Batch Release) 46% ABV. Sorry, while not bad, it was doomed after that Macallan. Seriously, this is good, but should have had it before the Macallan.

Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! (Mickey Heads retirement bottling) 51.8% ABV. While good, it seemed like it was lacking something. I commented to our host that I'm surprised Mickey Heads would want his name associated with this, but maybe my palate is getting blown by this point.

Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength Festive Season Release. 58.6% ABV. Yes, @BlueNote the one with the Santa hats on the sheep. :-) Not my bottle, of course, but I'm always happy to drink this one again. This one tasted like I remember it, so maybe my palate isn't blown.

Finished with a very unique, artisanal Mezcal called METL. 50% ABV. Everything on the label is handwritten in Spanish, but I'm thinking @Victor would like the details, so I will do my best. Maestro mezcalero: Gilberto Radan (?). Estado: Durango. Poblacion: Nombre de Dios. Maguey empleado: A. durangenjis (?). Numero de destilaciones: 2. Nombre Cozun: A. cerizo (?). All of that to say that this was a very good Mezcal.

So nice to taste whisky with friends in person again and the whisky wasn't too shabby either. :-)

Tonight’s cocktail, the Q1908.

2oz Empress Gin

3/4oz simple syrup

3/4oz lemon juice

3/4oz egg white

@bwmccoy Wow, that’s an epic tasting. I’m hoping beyond hope that Kilchoman does the Santa hats thing again this year.

Very Long Week

As usual, Friday ended up being twice as busy as expected.

Finishing up my last note after the Jays game got cut early due to weather, and also finishing up the last few cc of my sample bottle of North of 7 Barrel 16. Thank you @fiddich1980 for stepping up when I was still waiting for my bottles to arrive. I've sipped this sparingly over the last few months. I plan to showcase this for my Canada Day review, which is a great excuse to open one of my bottles. Starting to get hints of FORO and thinking I should have been in for more than 2 bottles (but I feel that way about a lot of bottles).

Last night, after the gin cocktail, I was in the mood for more gin, so after dinner, I finished with a glass of Society gin neat.

Makar (The Glasgow Distilling Company - Scotland) SMWS GN1.3 (Aug 2017) "Coriander meander" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 57.8% ABV.

@bwmccoy Man, that's some hefty gin.

Just about to start the Bruichladdich masterclass with Adam Hannett at the 2021 virtual Feis Isle Bruichladdich day. Touch early for me but will have to persevere!! Cheers..

@Timp Of all the baby blue tins I've tried (including the old 10 at 46% and the classic laddie), I think my heart goes out to the Laddie Classic, one of the bottles I do NOT have a spare of and which I wish I did...

@Timp @Nozinan I wish I had a couple more bottles of the Laddie Ten: Second Limited Edition in the cabinet. By the time I realized that it was quite outstanding there were no more to be had. At least not in my neighborhood.

I am a fan of The Laddie Ten (First Edition) myself, which is why I still have 2 or 3 bottles of it in stock.

@Victor @Nozinan @BlueNote with you on all those. Wish I had more of the 10 also. Today’s blind tasting turned out to be amazing and well worth the £50 outlay for the samples. All single cask drawn this year.

1. 2003, organic barley, chalice, refill bourbon barrel. 57.1%

2. 2004 Islay barley 1st fill bourbon barrel. 58.4%

3. 2009 Bere barley 1st fill bourbon barrel. 59.8%

4. 2011 Biodynamically grown barley, 1st fill bourbon barrel. 60.9%

5. 2014 1st fill bourbon barrel. ( seemed to have negated to take notes on this-Blame it on the cat bringing some unfortunate uninvited wildlife into the house! Bloody thing! ) 61.5%

6. 2005 three times distilled 1st fill bourbon barrel 69.3% Quite something this one.

Only had a small taste of each as early but the bere barley was my favourite. Hope to post more comprehensive notes as I taste them more fully. Cheers.

I don’t normally drink whisky in the early afternoon, but last night I grilled / pecan wood smoked a tri-tip roast. I had the leftovers for lunch today with a pale ale beer. After finishing, I had that smoky, meaty taste on the palate. Decided to pair that with a meaty peated Highland dram. Glad I did! It paired perfectly.

Glenturret SMWS 16.46 (6 year - July 2013) "Cooking on a rusty grill". Re-charred hogshead - 64.9% ABV.

Now I have to go finish mowing the yard…

I bottled up some samples for a friend. In return he gave me some homework. I'm doing #1 to #4 tonight, and will do #5 to #7, plus my own 21 year-old Cameronbridge, some other night.

Cocktail hour; a couple of Black Manhattan’s (Maker’s Mark 46) for my wife and I before I grill / pecan wood smoke a flank steak.