So, what are you drinking now?

G&M Mortlach 15 tonight followed by a glass of Big Peat. Cheers all..

Family over for dinner. In need of dessert

Flambée bananas to the rescue with Plantation O. F. T. D. 69%!

I seem to remember the nose has more ripe banana in the sample I got from @cricklewood those many years ago, but I wonder if it’s because the bottle was freshly opened …

I couldn’t help but pour 10 cc to sip after everyone had left and my wife and I were watching a new K-Drama…

@Nozinan yes, banana flavours dissipate over time.

I greatly enjoy banana flavours in whiskis and rums, but they don't seem to last very long after the bottle is opened. Maybe a year or two. I still greatly miss those nice banana flavours I used to have from my bottle of Yamazaki 12 yo. .

@Victor the freshly opened bottle was the one I used yesterday. It could be that my palate is still off from COVID 19.

Sorry that I've been missing lately. Time flies. I haven't posted since the end of July. Not that I have been drinking; I just haven't had time to post between several family trips during August and playing catch up at work when I wasn't on vacation. Not related, but the Society cancelled all tastings in the states for July and August. I did host a Society tasting at the beginning of September. Between the end of July and now, I've had some unique whiskies. I'm trying to decide if I should try to catch up on the whiskies that I've had during my absence. I document everything that I drink, so I could, but I'm not sure if anyone would be interested or not.

All of that to say, I'm back and will try to once again be a contributing member of Connosr.

Last night, I was over at my brother-in-law's house to celebrate his oldest daughter's 15th birthday. After dinner, we had the following whisky's from my cabinet (the first two whiskies were from the September Society tasting);

Cragganmore SMWS 37.136 (17 year - Nov. 2003) "Bar nibbles" - After 15 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished 2 years in a 2nd-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead - 59.8% ABV

Dalmore SMWS 13.89 (13 year - May 2007) "Amped-up!" - After 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished 2 years in a 1st-fill charred with toasted heads wine barrique - 57.0% ABV

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

We finished the night by finishing off my bottle of a heavily peated Inchmoan (Loch Lomond) SMWS 135.39 (9 year - April 2012) "Smoked scrunch munch" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.5% ABV.

Tonight for happy hour, my wife and I are having a couple of Black Manhattan's made with Maker's Mark 46.

@Victor - I will send you a private message, but I will be coming to D.C. for a work conference the first week of November. It would be great if we could meet up while I'm in town.

Missed being on here for almost the past 2 months, but I have at least been reading everyone's posts. I just haven't had the time or at least, haven't taken the time, to post. It's good to be back.

I have 11 opened bottles that I haven't rated yet. I rated 3 of them tonight.

Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Cask # 6140 Single cask release, cask strength 7 year (4 year New American Oak + 3 year Pineau des Charentes brandy cask) 50.4% ABV. Pineau des Charentes is a fortified wine from the Cognac region using the same grape varieties which adds a floral sweetness to the traditional Westland flavor profile. Nose: walnuts, berries and waffle cone. Palate is cherry blossom, maple syrup and biscuit. Even though the cask strength ABV is only 50.4%, with water, it tastes hotter, but the chocolate malt really comes through. While I like the chocolate malt, I prefer this one without water. Rating: 89.

Next, I compared two Caol Ila's head to head; one ex-bourbon and one finished in a 2nd-fill ex-Oloroso hohgshead cask.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.373 (10 year - Nov. 2010) "The gourmand maltster" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 59.5% ABV. Nose is briny. The brine continues on the palate with smoked duck and figs. With water, the nose is olive brine, capers and singed thyme. Palate is smoky cereal, unfiltered apple juice, pink grapefruit and clove syrup. Prefer with water. Compared to the next Caol Ila, this one is "in your face". Rating: 92.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.391 (9 year - March 2012) "Dark secrets" - After six years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished 3 years in a 2nd-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead - 56.2% ABV. Nose is wet ash, smoked fish, glazed ham and bacon. Palate is herbal, burnt toffee, orange and nutmeg. With water, the nose is nutty and quince jelly. The palate is tar, ash, soot and molasses. Prefer without water, but it is great either way. Compared to the previous Caol Ila, this one is refined and sublime. Rating: 93.

Typing up my last set of minutes as Secretary of my Debating Society. That in itself would be worth celebrating, but the fact that I put it off from April until 2 days before the next meeting... To fortify myself I poured a 5 cc aliquot of ECBP. Given lots of air time in the glass it is quite sipable neat. This is is batch B517 (62.1%), from the bottom third of the bottle as gifted to me by @talexander.

My Dad visited on Sunday and we had a couple of drams. He likes Irish usually but nothing 'fancy' - Bushmills malt, Jamesons or Paddy's, whichever's discounted the most

No Irish open so we had a Talisker 18 first. Seemed to like it but got a bit nervy when I told him how much bottles are now! Hard to not like it, really.

Then a Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak. Again, a man of few words, but I think he liked the sweeter notes in this.

Who cares though?! Not seen the man in a long while and he seemed well and in good spirits, as did his wife. Having a whisky with my Dad is a rare treat!

Cheers

One of the benefits of drinking slow and FORO is that I often have on hand bottles that were reasonably priced when I got them but are now almost impossible to find.

I bought a number of bottles of Benromach 100/10 starting in 2016 after a video review by @Maltactivist. I was not disappointed. I picked up a couple more before they disappeared. This is my second bottle, opened in 2019, about half full. I can’t believe the last time I uncorked this was in July 2021!

It’s as good as I remember it, neat, in a Glencairn, as I contemplate the possibility that the jays will blow their 9 run lead over the Phillies….

@Nozinan they did but it will work out. Reminicent of the 93 World Series game 4

@Nozinan - The Blue Jays don't have anything to worry about with the way the Mariners have been playing the last few days! (3 out of 4 losses to the Angels and then a loss to the Athletics tonight.)

Tonight, I rated another open unrated bottle. Old Forester Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky 100 Proof. Rating: 86. Compared to Rittenhouse BIB (rating: 85) which has a distinct dill note, the Old Forester is more spicy and woody with a distinct cinnamon note. I have started using the Old Forester as my standard rye for cocktails.

In fact, for happy hour tonight, while watching the Houston and Tampa Bay baseball game, I had a couple of Greenpoint cocktails made with the Old Forester.

Greenpoint Cocktail: 2 oz Rye whiskey, 1/2 oz Green Chartreuse, 1/2 oz Sweet vermouth, 1 dash Angostura bitters and 1 dash Orange bitters. Garnish: Lemon peel (We didn't have a lemon so I used orange peel which was a nice substitute.)

I had a few small mid-week drams last night.

• Highland Park 12 Year Viking Something Or Other: How the mighty have fallen. This is probably the weakest bottle of HP12 I've ever had. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad in any way, but it's just boring. And I'm sure the Highland Park of old was at least somewhat peated. This bottle is naught but vanilla and sherry...but almost like artificial vanilla extract and phony sherry. There's no peat or smoke to be found. I can't quite articulate what I'm tasting in these drams but it's just "meh". The bottle is almost gone and to say I'd rate it 77/100 is being generous.
• Baker's 7 Year Single Barrel: Much better than the HP. The nose in particular is incredibly rich and inviting. Old barn boards, freshly varnished (in a good way), tobacco, cherries, all the things I enjoy in a high(ish) proof bourbon. This bottle of Baker's is dangerously smoooooth and drinkable. I had to remind myself that working after over-indulgence is unpleasant, so rather than have a second dram, I kept the empty glass around to nose while I did some lesson planning. My wife called me a weirdo, but that's totally normal behaviour, right?

Last night, I rated 3 more of my opened, unrated bottles.

Amrut Single Cask, Cask Strength. Ex-Rye cask # 709. Unpeated Indian Barley. Distilled July 2015, Bottled June 2021. 150 bottles. Bottled exclusively for Drammers (Selection #51). 60% ABV. Friends of mine are members of the Drammers club and picked up this bottle for me. Nose is liquid barley, vanilla and spice, but I'm not sure I would detect Rye though. The palate is almost identical to the nose except the barley is even more pronounced and it tastes a little hot and young. With water, the nose is now muted and jumbled. The palate is still barley forward with vanilla, but is now creamy and less "hot". Rating: 88.

Glenfarclas SMWS 1.257 (8 year - Dec. 2012) "Lip-smacking, and summery" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.1% ABV. It is interesting to taste a Glenfarclas without any sherry influence. The nose is delicate, but complex; dry, burlap, sandalwood, heather and custard. The palate is fruity; melons, nectarines, blackberries, lemon, pineapple and papaya with a spicy finish. With water, the nose is much the same as without water, but the palate is light, citric, sweet, lemon, barley and tobacco with oak to finish. Rating: 86.

Linkwood SMWS 39.224 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "An orchard moment" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.6% ABV. Nose is floral and fruity with toffee and a cigar box. The palate is warm with cream and sugar, honey, chocolate and ginger spice. With water, ripe melon, banana and sticky glazed pastries. The palate is maple syrup, a light wood note, herbal, cocoa nibs and orange zest on the finish. Rating: 86.

Opened this JD triple mash to celebrate fall.

The Bonded is significantly better than the triple mash in my opinion. So if you are choosing between the 2 newest JD offerings, the bonded is the way to go.

@casualtorture thanks for taking one for the team…

@casualtorture I should write this down somewhere. I'm sure the JD Bonded will be in Ontario before my 90th birthday (I'm currently 42, btw).

@OdysseusUnbound Like me and some of those Canadian Whiskeys you guys post. I rarely see them (if at all). It's kind of like a cruel payback.

@casualtorture if you would be so kind, what comparisons would you make between JD BIB and JD Old No. 7, Gentleman Jack, and JD Single Barrel?

I suspect I would like JD BIB, partially because it is at 50% ABV and largely because I am convinced that nowadays the distillers choose above average barrels for their BIB releases. In the olden days, before the plethora of elite products, the best barrels were still being incorporated into the standard products. Nowadays the quality of the baseline mass market products has to suffer somewhat due to the withdrawal of many elite barrels of whiskey from the overall mix. Once upon a time BIB was the American standard. Then the 40% debasement came into play and when the rare BIB products became available they were generally superior to the standard releases. The big return of BIB in the last 6 years has been both a welcome move for the whiskey appreciators because of increased quality at a relatively low price, and a practical move by the distillers who have a route to please the public by increasing quality in a lightly aged and affordably priced product.

Today I found out that Blue Spot is available on a one bottle per household basis at a liquor store in Alberta. The price is 225% what I paid in February at the LCBO.

Out of spice I poured 15 cc of this delicious CS pot still whisky. Although I scored it 88 neat and 90 with water, I am enjoying it so much neat that I don't think I will add water.

Also to add water I would have to get up...

@TracerBullet Except they can be ordered from Alberta at a fairly reasonable price. FWIW, some of the best Canadian Whisky is bottled in the US. I have been waiting to get a Found North, any batch for quite some time

@Astroke Never seen it around here. I will look harder!

Last night, I rated 3 more open, unrated bottles.

Cragganmore SMWS 37.136 (17 year - Nov. 2003) "Bar nibbles" - After 15 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished 2 years in a 2nd-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead - 59.8% ABV. On the nose; Manhattan cocktail; whisky, sweet and dry vermouth with a dash bitters. Also a hint of ginger. On the palate, chocolate, creamy, coconut and nutty. With water, the nose has beef jerky, along with more Manhattan cocktail notes. The taste is now peppermint, cocoa, roasted nuts, dried cranberries and ice cream. I prefer it without water. Rating: 90.

Dalmore SMWS 13.89 (13 year - May 2007) "Amped-up!" - After 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, finished 2 years in a 1st-fill charred with toasted heads wine barrique - 57.0% ABV. The nose is cedarwood, leather, tobacco with a hint of grapefruit. The palate has leather, red wine, tobacco, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, and raisin. With water, the nose has cranberry, orange, oats, honey, and nuts. The palate is now toffee, orange, cherry, figs, molasses and orange zest. I also prefer this one without water. I'm not usually a fan of Dalmore, but I really enjoyed this one. Rating: 91.

To rate the next one (a Glen Scotia), I tasted it head-to-head with another Society Glen Scotia that I really enjoy. The older one has been open since March and there isn't much left in the bottle. Here's the details on the Glen Scotia from March; Glen Scotia SMWS 93.170 (9 year - Mar. 2012) "Mermaid karate" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV. Nose; medicinal, seaweed, dried herbs, green olives, and salt. With water, the nose is even more salty, with dried fish, calamari, pepper and mustard. The neat palate is medicinal with seawater, green olive brine (dirty martini) and peat embers. With water, the nose has tartar sauce, capers, sea salt, iodine and smoked paprika. I previously rated this one a 90.

Now for the new, unrated one; Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV. The nose is fried pork skin, bacon, iodine and burlap (smoked meats and dry) with silage and olive brine. With water, the nose has lamb stock, cooking oils, aniseed, eucalyptus and farmyard notes. The palate is seawater, sardines, olive oil, lemon juice, black olives, heather and smoky bacon. With water, the palate is charred lemons and pineapples, tar and ginger spice. As much as I like the previous Glen Scotia, this one is even better. Rating: 92.

Last night, I rated my last open, unrated bottle.

A heavily peated Laphroaig SMWS 29.281 (10 year - Sep. 2010) "Driftwood Barbecue!" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.8% ABV. The nose has embers, charred veggies, smoked ham, salted caramels, tar and a hint of antiseptic. The palate has pulled pork, smoked bacon, rosemary and peppercorns. With water, the nose now has smoked oysters with butter, caramels, lemongrass and vanilla. The palate reveals biscuits, mango, hazelnuts, driftwood and lobster. This one has pretty much everything I want / look for in an Islay whisky. Rating: 93.

Last night my wife and I visited friends we only see a few times per year. After they treated us to a homemade steak dinner, my friend Shawn and I had a generous pour of Daftmill 2008. It was an enjoyable, if somewhat unremarkable malt.

@OdysseusUnbound even if unremarkable, a dram shared with a friend can be exceptional

I have two whiskies in my cabinet that I really do not like, but for different reasons.

Up North Distillery North Idaho Single Malt Whiskey (43% ABV) - has a strong taste of liquid play dough.

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 - tastes like peroxide.

I’ve been meaning to try to find something to blend with the Glen Scotia for awhile, but finally decided to try it tonight using the Idaho single malt. The first try was a free hand pour (didn’t measure), but more Idaho than Glen Scotia. All play dough, no peroxide, so free hand poured a little more Glen Scotia. Results were promising, so grabbed a measuring spoon. Tried 1 to 1, but still a little too much play dough. Next, I tried 2 parts Glen Scotia to 1 part Idaho. This is actually drinkable; no play dough or peroxide.

Finished the night with a peated Allt-A-Bhainne SMWS 108.19 (7 year - Nov 2011) "Forget Convention!" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 64.6% ABV.

@bwmccoy thank you for providing an excellent example of why "blended malt whiskies" are often superior in the quality of their flavours to "single malt whiskies". It is all about the skill and good taste of the blender.

Thursday night I polished off two samples from the Lowlands. First, a Daftmill 2010 - Summer Batch Release. I drank this while watching an old ralfy vlog from the distillery before even a drop had been sold, which was kinda fun! Excellent drop, floral and fruity, slightly oily and a touch waxy, classic (first-fill) bourbon matured profile. High quality but not worth the £100 it went for, in my humble. (88) Cheers @Timp! Reminded me of the James McTaggart Arran 10 special edition.

Then a Bladnoch 11. This one grew on me as it was more sour and bitter compared to the Daftmill on first acquaintance. They did share some similarities though (both ex bourbon) but this one had a touch more 'character' and quite a unique profile with some pepper and musty notes. (87). Cheers @Wierdo!

I think the Daftmill may have just edged it and was more of a crowd pleaser, with the Bladnoch being more of one to ponder. Not my go-to styles either but it's always great to try them. Lots coming out of the Lowlands these days and a reminder that I should keep a look out in future.

Last night I had a small pour of yet another sample - Benromach 15. Man, this must be one of the leatheriest whiskies going ... Just as I remembered it, well almost, maybe a touch more peat? Love the dry herbal profile too, especially the hints of menthol, but do think the leather almost whacks it a bit out of balance. (88)

Sitting through a tedious meeting of my professional association. Also watching the Jays try to finish off the Orioles in a heavy rain (not sure they don't just call it - it's into the 8th inning...). I was thinking bourbon and then I saw North of 7 barrel 16 in my satellite cabinet. This stuff is potent, so after letting it sit, and after numerous sniffs and a couple of sips neat (at 74.5%!), I have added a little water and it's tasting really delicious.

@Victor - Thanks @Victor for your comments about my blending post. My brother-in-law had his annual "guys weekend" (a Friday through Monday event) this past weekend. I took my recently created blended malt as well as small samples of each single malt that made up the blend. I also cleaned out my whisky cabinet of stuff that I'm not that fond of. The guys did me a solid and drank nearly everything that I took. While I still have some of the Up North Distillery North Idaho Single Malt Whiskey left, the guys finished off the following;

The blend of Up North and SMWS Glen Scotia

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.

Glenmorangie X - 40% ABV.

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

I also took a Revel Stoke Roasted Pecan flavored whisky (imported Canadian whisky with natural pecan flavor - 35%) that my sister gave me a few years ago. It's so bad that I didn't even add it in my whisky cabinet list on here. It is syrupy sweet. It would probably be ok on pancakes. Anyway, the guys almost finished that one off as well. All in all a very successful weekend for my whisky cabinet.