So, what are you drinking now?

@RianC Congratulations on the new job mate. Lagavulin 16 for me tonight, Always lovely. Cheers.

@OdysseusUnbound @BlueNote - I like what I term 'happy hip hop', so things like De La Soul, ll Cool J and such, but could never really jive with the heavier, darker styles.

@Victor @RianC and @BlueNote - Since @Victor educated me on all things tequila and mezcal, I have tasted many others, but Jose Cuervo Reserva de La Familia Extra Anejo tequila remains my favorite with Don Julio 1942 being second.

Tonight, I rated an open bottle. Since 2007, I've owned over 200 different Society bottles and there is only 2 that I wish I had not purchased. This is one of them. Glen Scotia SMWS 93.148 (12 year - Feb. 29th, 2008) "Tour de force". After ten years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, it was transferred into a first fill port hogshead - 56.4% ABV. On paper, this seems like a no doubt winner, but it's not! This is Campbeltown funk that is beyond its sell by date. The weird thing is the first sip is the worst. After that, it improves a little, but not much. I'm going to do some blending with this one to see if I can improve it, but I'm not hopeful. Rating: 75, but it would be lower if it didn't improve a little after the first sip.

@RianC - forgot to congratulate you on your new job in my last post. Well done! Happy for you!

@bwmccoy - Cheers, mate!

@RianC Congrats on the new job. I'm not the biggest hip-hop fan either but that show took me back to junior high school. Slim Shady was all the rage in those days. One of the better halftime shows I've seen.

@casualtorture - Thanks, mate! Yeah some of the tunes took me back as well. Memories ...

Well, this came in last Saturday. I just opened it, so what I am about to enjoy is the first pour. Darroze Domaine de Monturon 2004, a 17yo at 50% abv, First impression, my nose is very very happy....I look forward to the development. I decided to treat myself, as if I needed a reason, a pour tonight after organizing my parents' tax docs for their CPA.

A Springbank 10 as I finish a day early due to school closures for predicted storms across the UK. The plan is to drive North to my Mum's tomorrow for a few days over half-term but that may have to wait.

Such a lovely drop that's getting better with air - creamy and rich, and the barley really does take centre stage. Almost sticky ...

Bruichladdich 10 red wine cask 61.7%. Sadly the last of this bottle. A really nice dram and worth every penny I paid. Retained that Bruichladdich character with the red wine cask adding sweetness and additional depth. Cheers.

Last night, I rated another open bottle. It was one of the two bottles that I opened last weekend with my brother-in-law.

Up North Distillery North Idaho Single Malt Whiskey (43% ABV)

I have to say, while still not good, a few days with some air exposure has improved it slightly. When first opened, I got liquid bread dough with a chemical note that my wife described as "Play Dough". I thought her description was spot on as usual. Now, it has more of just a bready note. Again, not great and pretty one dimensional, but slightly better than when it was first opened. I rated it a 70 which is much higher than if I had rated it when first opened.

@bwmccoy 70=avoidable on my score card. Maybe they should stick to growing potatoes in Idaho.

I had to shovel and snowblower 3 times this evening and I know I will wake up to another pile of snow in the morning.

After the second round I decided I deserved a dram. Tempest seemed appropriate. I decided to devant my bottle into a 1 oz sample bottle and underestimated what was left (about an ounce) which ended up in my glass. I watched a couple of half episodes of Dr. John with my wife while sipping it. At one point I had a couple of pieces of dried mango and the sips I took after that were delicious.

So happy the second last oz of this rare bottle are as good as the first. Can’t wait to open the next bottle when @bluenote comes to visit.

@Nozinan I might just surprise you one day. And I won't come empty handed and hopefully I won't have to try and enjoy the Tempest through a mask.

@BlueNote - 70 is probably the lowest I've ever rated on here. If this hadn't been a Christmas gift from my well intentioned older son, it would be poured down the drain.

Tonight, I rated the last of my unrated, open bottles.

Corsair Triple Smoke (Beechwood, Cherry & Peat) American Single Malt Whiskey Pot Distilled 40% ABV.

This was a birthday present also from my older son, but he did much better with this one. While it doesn't blow me away, it is very drinkable with some nice notes of Maraschino cherry and faint smoke. Rating: 80

@bwmccoy - shame! I've had Play Doh notes in whisky before - not very appealing at all!

Opened a bottle of Ballechin 17yrs Fino cask 55.5% Signatory for Whiskysponge tonight.

Thick mouthfeel, lovely impact from the fino cask, caramels, butterscotch and a significant farmy note which I do like in my whisky.

Oddly enough at this strength it didn’t improve with water in varying amounts, so I think this might have to be consumed at full strength. First pour, but is appearing to be a good un. Cheers..

@bwmccoy It's the thought that counts and he sounds like a good son.

@BlueNote - Yes, I've been very blessed with 2 great sons. The only scary part was he actually sampled this whisky at the distillery before he bought the bottle for me. He said he tasted notes of cinnamon and thought it was good. I would have loved notes of cinnamon over what I got. I think I've got some work to do on helping him train his palate. :-)

Decided to break in a Christmas gift I received from my youngest (he’s 21, OMG!) this Christmas. He got me this exquisite Japanese Whisky glass. Poured myself a dram of the Hibiki Japanese Harmony. It’s been a long week and this was a nice way to cap it off! Slainte!

@bwmccoy Are you sure it wasn't Hot Tamale cinnamon that you son got? Or maybe it was the 'cinnamon fire' Jolly Rancher.

Fancied a Clynelish tonight and this fits the bill with all that lemon and grapefruit bitterness, metals and waxes that we expect from a decent one. Equinox and Solstice Candlekitty 10 yrs 48.5% Signatory for Decadent Drinks. Cheers.

Winter is very much present, cold, windy, and bracing. A couple of warming drams:

Kavalan Soloist Oloroso at 58.6%. It gets sweeter with water. The cola and oak note is distinct. It swims well with H2O.

Laphroaig 10 Sherry Cask at 48%. This one punches above its weight.

Started off this evening with a classic margarita. Not sure why but just craved one. My wife requested a Gold and Delicious cocktail. Followed that up with a virtual dram with a friend that just recovered from Covid. Both of us had a Kilchoman. Me a Sanaig and he with a red wine cask. I am finishing off the evening with an Old Fashioned made with Sagamore Double Oak.

I just poured myself a second glass of the Darroze 2004 Domaine de Monturon, and I just turned on Kenny Burrell's 'Stolen Moments' album. This is a way to enjoy a Saturday evening. If you want to see the bottle I have poured my evening drink from, just look at the post I made three days ago and you will see the bottle.

First drink of the week. It's been a day.

Made a rum old fashioned using a blend of a plantation Barbados/Jamaica blend and a few drops of Stolen Overproof (AKA Hampden) Jamaican rum for added funk. I even threw in one of those luxardo cherries.

Will finish with a pour of Octomore 7.3 dubbed "whisky pop rocks" by @fiddich1980 at one of our tastings

Last night (Friday), had a couple of Margaritas made with Hornitos Reposado for happy hour.

Tonight, started with Copperworks Distilling Company Special Release 34 WA state peated malt (Skagit Valley Maltings) aged for 49 months in 8 new American oak - 52% ABV.

Finished with Glen Scotia SMWS 93.148 (12 year - Feb. 29th, 2008) "Tour de force". After ten years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, it was transferred into a first fill port hogshead - 56.4% ABV.

An Erdinger wheat beer and a Bacchus cherry beer followed by a Tamdhu 15. My Mum wasn't that keen on the Tamdhu, which surprised me. She's a bit of a peat monster, truth be told, so it will be some 'laffy 10 sherry Oak tonight ...

@cricklewood, nice to see Octomore continuing the "whisky pop rocks" character with v7.3 and @fiddich1980 for remembering the pop rocks niche (he has the instant recall of a google search engine, the man never forgets a sip). In 2012 Octomore 4.2 was one of my earliest "whisky pop rocks" experiences. I'm not a Bruichladdich fanboy, but they do have a number of releases which I fancy.

Been a day of hassle with the storms we’ve been having so I have been looking forward to tonights aperitif. Trees down all over the place. Cheers..