So, what are you drinking now?

@Nozinan, I’m all for Inclusivity! Gotta love an Israeli distillery for using an (sic) “ ex-Islam cask.”

…..I miss your blackberry

@paddockjudge oh my!

Looks like autocorrect strikes again…

@Nozinan, yep, ex-Islay … so easy to do… comical that it happened when discussing Milk & Honey.

Last night, I had a Black Manhattan made with Maker's Mark 46 for happy hour before dinner.

Later, I rated another open bottle. Teaninich SMWS 59.65 (13 year - Feb. 2008) "Red oak" - After 10 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-red wine barrique - 55.7% ABV. Rating: 88. I would have rated this one higher as well, but it tasted hotter than 55% even after adding water. Only two more open bottles to rate.

Before dinner, a chocolate Manhattan made with Maker’s Mark 46, sweet vermouth, crème de cacao and orange bitters.

Later, rated my last two open bottles.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.79 (14 year - Sep. 2006) "Adventurously awesome" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.7% ABV. Rating: 86.

Ledaig 18 year (2001) Gordon & Macphail's Connoisseurs Choice single cask - Refill Sherry Butt - 56.3% ABV. Rating: 93.

Iced green tea spiked with a shot of tea whisky. Ten years ago @whiskyjoe gave me a bottle of a Canadian Tea Whisky. I threw out the bottle and was down to a sample, but I think that it was from Forty Creek. The tea whisky was interesting, and yes, definitely tasted of black tea. No world mover, it, but certainly an interesting experience and adequately enjoyable.

This tea whisky spiked iced tea, on the other hand, is fantastic, and exceeds all of my expectations and even hopes. At the end of this glass it is gone. I am very glad that I tried this experiment!

Yesterday for happy hour, I had a Teeling Irish Cold Brew cocktail before dinner.

After dinner, I had a dram of Fettercairn SMWS 94.10 (13 year - Aug. 2007) "The gentle beast from the east". After 11 years in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry hogshead - 56.0% ABV. Still one of my favorite open bottles, but sadly, it is almost gone.

After dinner, I had some Glenfarclas 12. It is a perfectly enjoyable, if somewhat average bottle of GF12, say 84-86 pts. I followed that up with some Lagavulin 8 year. If I didn’t know better, I would swear this pour is from Talisker. It’s quite peppery and briny with some lovely smoke. But the smoke is not as peaty as I expect from Lag. Still a tasty pour, as always.

For tonight's happy hour, I started with a new to me cocktail called "Le Peach". 4 parts Scotch (Glenmorangie X), 2 parts dry vermouth, 2 parts Peach liqueur, 1 part simple syrup, lemon zest. I won't be making this one again. Too sweet and too much peach. Probably doesn't help that I used Glenmorangie X. It was supposed to be Arran 10 year old, but I don't have that in my cabinet.

I was so disappointed with the previous cocktail that I made an Old Pal; 2oz Rittenhouse Rye BiB, 1.5oz dry vermouth, 1.5oz Campari, lemon twist. Much better.

Drinking a sample of 1989 National Distiller's OGD 114. This is as good a Bourbon as I have ever had. I can see why people pay $800 for these 80's OGD 114's and 100's.

Happy hour tonight started with a “traditional Manhattan”, but made with Corsair Triple Smoke (Beechwood, Cherry & Peat) American Single Malt Whiskey Pot Distilled 40% ABV. It was ok; not bad, but not great.

I next made another Traditional Manhattan, but with Rittenhouse Rye BiB.

After dinner, Glenrothes SMWS 30.108 (12 year - Feb. 2008) "A Taste of Home" - Refill sherry butt - 64.3% ABV.

Finished with Glen Scotia SMWS 93.170 (9 year - Mar. 2012) "Mermaid karate" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV.

For happy hour, a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattans made with Rittenhouse BiB Rye.

After dinner, while playing on-line poker with the guys, Glencadam SMWS 82.37 (8 year - Nov. 2012) "Chewing pencils in a barbershop" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 62.9% ABV

Inchmoan SMWS 135.35 (12 year - Nov. 2008) "Stellar stuff!" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to a new oak hogshead, heavy char #4+ - 54.5% ABV

Finished with Linkwood SMWS 39.229 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "A merry dance" - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to an ex-peaty bourbon barrel - 61.2% ABV

Deanston 10 Amontillado (finish?) 59.2% sample, courtesy of @Timp. Cheers, mate!

Lovely drop - nutty, sweet, gingery spice and a rich malty core. Less funky notes from this fresher sample, it must be said.

N.b. If anyone hears of anything, anywhere coming from an amontillado cask, will they shine out the whisky bat-light in my direction? Thanks

@RianC Deanston is getting good reviews lately. I've got a Deanston 2008, 12 year old Oloroso, 52.7% on the way. The amontillado version sounds excellent. I hope the oloroso is also a good one.

Sunday afternoon, Arran 21 in the glass, Roxy on the turntable. Had to play this one in the back room. Bit too loud for madame.

On Sunday night, we had some friends over for dinner and drams. This couple normally comes to my tasting events, but missed the April and May tastings as well as the Charlie MacLean event due to their wedding and their honeymoon which was in Scotland. Since they missed the 3 events and since I have all but 2 of the whiskies from all 3 events, I walked them and my wife through the 16 whiskies.

We started with the 4 whiskies from the Charlie MacLean event. I had them go through the exact same process that we went through. They knew the distillery, age, cask and ABV. They had to write tasting notes for both the nose and the palate both without water and with, write a name for the bottle and rate the samples on a scale of 1-10.

Braeval (SMWS cask sample) 12 year (Sep. 2008) 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.1% ABV.

Ben Nevis (SMWS cask sample) 11 year (Sep. 2009) 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 66.8% ABV.

Linkwood (SMWS cask sample) 14 years (July 2006). After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished for 2 years in a 1st-fill Oloroso hogshead - 58.8% ABV.

Macallan (SMWS cask sample) 12 year (Oct. 2008). After 10 years in Oloroso butt, finished for 2 years in a 1st-fill Oloroso hogshead - 63.6% ABV. This one was the winner of the 4 cask samples as demonstrated by the fact that we finished off this bottle.

After dinner, I walked the couple and my wife through a blind tasting of the 6 expressions from the April tasting. They had to guess age, region, distillery, cask type and the Society flavor profile.

Auchentoshan SMWS 5.79 (18 year - Jan. 2003) "Paris in the spring" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 55.4% ABV.

Rhosdhu (Loch Lomond) SMWS G15.11 (13 year - Jan. 2008) "Worlds collide" - After 11 years in a refill ex-bourbon barrel, transferred to a refill ex-Trinidadian rum barrel - 58.1% ABV.

Glencadam SMWS 82.37 (8 year - Nov. 2012) "Chewing pencils in a barbershop" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon hogshead - 62.9% ABV.

Inchmoan SMWS 135.35 (12 year - Nov. 2008) "Stellar stuff!" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to a new oak hogshead, heavy char #4+ - 54.5% ABV

Auchroisk SMWS 95.52 (15 year - Jan. 2006) "Moorish and moreish" - After 13 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Spanish oak Oloroso hogshead - 56.2% ABV.

Linkwood SMWS 39.229 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "A merry dance" - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to an ex-peaty bourbon barrel - 61.2% ABV.

Of the 6 above, the favorites above in order from favorite to least favorite; Auchentoshan, Auchroisk, Inchmoan, Linkwood, Rhosdhu and Glencadam. After that, we did the same blind tasting format from the May event.

Deanston SMWS 79.6 (9 year - April 2012) "Rough and jumble" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.8% ABV.

Longmorn SMWS 7.269 (17 year - Feb. 2004) "Luscious, silky and sensuous" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 55.5% ABV.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.79 (14 year - Sep. 2006) "Adventurously awesome" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.7% ABV.

Teaninich SMWS 59.65 (13 year - Feb. 2008) "Red oak" - After 10 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-red wine barrique - 55.7% ABV.

Strathmill SMWS 100.29 (11 year - March 2010) "Misbehaving in a country house" - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead - 57.2% ABV.

Glenturret SMWS 16.60 (10 year - Nov. 2010) "Entering uncharted paths" - Re-charred hogshead - 56.9% ABV.

Of this group, favorite to least favorite; Longmorn, Glenturret, Strathmill, Glenburgie, Teaninich and Deanston.

After that, we had a small sample of the multiple bottles that they brought back from Scotland.

First was a valinch, hand-filled bottle, 2nd fill Syrah Hogshead single cask #483, distillery only release Port Charlotte heavily peated. SYC: 03 distilled 2009, bottled 2022, 13 year. 421 bottles. 61.7% ABV. 500ml bottle. This was an amazing dram!

Not to be out done was a 16 year (Dec. 1st, 2004 - Jan. 19th, 2021) Bunnahabhain Moine Sauternes Finish Heavily Peated - 53.8% ABV. As good as the Port Charlotte was, this one blew it away. Beautifully balanced between the peat / smoke and the wine influence. Sublime!

We finished the night with a Lagg (Isle of Arran) peated new make sample. 63.5% ABV. Our friends purchased a cask of Lagg almost 3 years ago and this was their first chance to visit their cask. Even though it is not yet whisky, they were able to bottle and bring home a 20cl bottle from their cask. They haven't tried it yet and this new make sample was not from their cask. If I would have tasted it blind, I would have swore that it was a Mezcal. I've only had a few new makes through the years and most of them I didn't like, but I liked this one a lot. It will be fun to try their cask sample at some point in the future and compare it to the new make.

Our evening spanned 9 hours and it was so great to hear all of the amazing stories from their trip and drink some amazing whiskies together. We were living vicariously through them. A great night indeed.

Yesterday (Monday) was Memorial Day here in the states. We went over to my brother-in-law’s for dinner. After a few beers and dinner, my brother-in-law and I had a dram of Laphroaig 10.

Tonight, finished off the last couple of sips of a couple of bottles;

Auchentoshan SMWS 5.79 (18 year - Jan. 2003) "Paris in the spring" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 55.4% ABV.

Rhosdhu (Loch Lomond) SMWS G15.11 (13 year - Jan. 2008) "Worlds collide" - After 11 years in a refill ex-bourbon barrel, transferred to a refill ex-Trinidadian rum barrel - 58.1% ABV.

Finishing the night with a dram of Undisclosed Islay Single Cask Nation release for The Water of Life Film. 6 Islay casks (5 unpeated + 1 peated) 48.8% ABV.

It’s Election Day here in Ontario and the outlook is bleak. My improvised vatted malt is making me feel better though: a roughly 4:1 mix of Glenfarclas 12 : Lagavulin 8. The front end feels like a lightly peated ‘farclas, but the lingering finish is all Lagavulin. Sadly, that was the last of my Lag 8.

Last night, a dram of GlenDronach SMWS 96.34 (11 year - March 2009) "Stroll Through the Seasons" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.2% ABV.

Tonight, Linkwood SMWS 39.229 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "A merry dance" - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to an ex-peaty bourbon barrel - 61.2% ABV

On Monday night, @jordytropp and I will be hosting the June Outturn Preview Tasting event here in Seattle for SMWS. Last night (Friday), I tasted the first 2 of 6 whiskies that we will be pouring for the blind tasting. I finished the night with a Kilchoman Machir Bay.

Tonight (Saturday), I started with a Vieux Carre cocktail for happy hour. Later, I tasted through the final 4 whiskies that we will be pouring on Monday night for the tasting. Since it is a blind tasting and since these whiskies haven't been released yet, I will reveal details of the 6 on Monday night.

A 19 year-old Blended Malt Scotch to celebrate my 19 year service anniversary at work...

@YakLord Nice bottle graphics. Any idea of the distilleries involved?

Getting to the end of this bottle of Old Pepper Single Barrel. I will hate to see this one get finished. Tried to get another single barrel from them last year when I was in Kentucky but they had none.

@BlueNote Nope. No idea what's in it...

For happy hour tonight, a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan’s made with Rittenhouse Rye BiB.

Sunday afternoon: G&M Linkwood 15 in the glass; Wes Montgomery on the turntable. Both very tasty.

@BlueNote - wasn't that Roxy cover banned? Can't imagine why ... Ha!

Odd fellow, Bryan Ferry, but he certainly had a style, and they made some great tunes.

Worked through some of the samples we got from the WhiskyLounge last week. Have to say, for what would have cost £95, it isn't a great deal - lots of samples but 25ml each and most are not would you'd describe as desirable. For perspective, it came with a bag of whisky stave smoked nuts, which were very nice, but guess how many nuts were in the pack ...

Anyway. I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth so here's what I've had so far:

Tenjaku, Japanese blend - not bad at all but very light. Would make a lovely mixer, I'd imagine.

Nikka, Taketsuru pure malt - this was actually pretty decent and 100% Japanese! A little peat with floral and scented wood notes. Too expensive, for what it is, but worth a try.

Jura 7 Wood - mmm. Not great. A fly landed in my sample so that ended it after two sips and I wasn't bothered. Rather musty and cardboardy.

Berry Bros Sherry cask malt blend - this was pretty good too. Standard sherry notes but easy going and pleasant.

Auchentoshan Savignon Blanc finish - too sweet and wine forward for me but she liked it a lot. Hard to see where the whisky started and the wine ended.

Picks to come are a Highland Park 15, Laffy 10 CS batch 14 (which I've micro tasted and bought a bottle thereafter!), a Blair Athol 2009 and Big Peat Xmas CS. A Hine cognac will also be savoured.

@RianC Looks like the best is yet to come. The HP 15, the Laph CS and the Big Peat are the ones that stand out. I’ve yet to try a Jura that I liked. That fly probably did you a favour.