So, what are you drinking now?

Alberta Premium Cask Strength Batch 4 sample courtesy of @Nozinan. The most approachable of the series so far but, maybe not as complex as previous releases. The Lock Stock & Barrel 16 as a complimentary side kick.

@Nock we can leave the Lagavulin 16 home. There's plenty of good Lagavulin 16 around. I just seem to have gotten a bottle of one of the few bad batches of it.

Longrow 11 Rundlets and Kilderkins--------YESSSS!!!

You are still bringing those 10 Octomores, right?

@Nock - Wow! Thanks! I can probably try the standard Longrow at another time or another place, but those other three that you listed sound amazing! Thanks again!

Before dinner tonight, while watching the World Series, since it is raining heavily for the first time this fall, I figured I could use some liquid sunshine; Loch Lomond SMWS 135.42 (21 year - July 2000) "Fun in the sun" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 54.9% ABV. The initial palate is a wonderful liquid barley note, but the finish is industrial which spoils what would otherwise be a great dram.

Later, while playing on-line poker with the guys, I rated several recently opened bottles. A couple of them I compared head-to-head with other casks from the same distillery that I had previously rated.

First up a couple of Glenfarclas whiskies head-to-head.

Glenfarclas SMWS 1.257 (8 year - Dec. 2012) "Lip-smacking, and summery" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.1% ABV. Previously rated an 86.

Glenfarclas SMWS 1.253 (8 year - Dec. 2012) "The real deal" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.5% ABV. Rating is also an 86.

Next up was a Glen Moray SMWS 35.309 (9 year - June 2012) "Darwin's tipple" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.3% ABV. Rating is also an 86, but that is with water. This one needs a little water added.

Then a Blair Athol SMWS 68.70 (12 year - Aug. 2008) "Intriguing idiosyncratic" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred into a 1st-fill custom toasted American and European oak barrique - 59.5% ABV. Rating is 88.

Next up is a head-to-head of a couple of Glenburgie's.

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

Glenburgie SMWS 71.87 (10 year - May 2011) "Cowboys at dinner" - After 8 years in an Oloroso butt, transferred into a heavy charred 1st-fill puncheon - 58.2% ABV. The sherry influence raises this one to a 92.

Finished the night by comparing two Caol Ila's head-to-head. Wow. These were tough. One had a better nose, the other one had a better palate. I wound up rating them both the same because they are so similar while also being different.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.373 (10 year - Nov. 2010) "The gourmand maltster" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 59.5% ABV. Previously rated 92.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.395 (11 year - Nov. 2009) "Smoky explosion" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 56.4% ABV. Also rated 92.

Tonight, rated the last two recently opened, unrated bottles in my cabinet.

Highland Park SMWS 4.296 (20 year - Sep. 2000) "Life-affirming" - At 17 years, selected ex-bourbon hogshead casks were vatted then split among a variety of casks. Final 3 years spent in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 56.1% ABV. Rating 85

Batch 15 SMWS blended malt whisky. A 10-year-old consisting of peated casks from Islay and Orkney matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-PX and ex-Oloroso casks - 50% ABV. Rating 88

I was able to fix a babysitter and took my better half out for some cocktails in a local bar/rum distillery, and a South Indian curry last night.

I had a cherry bomb sour that was really well-made and not too sweet and an espresso martini, which might have been the nicest cocktail I've ever had! Like an Irish coffee but with hazelnut liqueur. Yummers!

Curry was amazing too and they served one of my favourite Indian dishes, masala dosa. Had a beautiful mutton curry for the main. Very authentic and tasty but we were the only ones in there, which was a bit weird. Mind you, don't know about where you guys all live but, for a Friday evening, the city centre was like a ghost town - very odd. This is the norm, apparently.

And on Thursday I'd had a pig of a day, ending with teaching science/sound to a class of unruly 7 year olds with an array of percussion instruments, so my head felt like it contained a bee hive! Cue doing something I don't think I've ever done before, walked through the door and poured myself a.large pour of whisky, Arran 10 to be precise. Tasted as good as ever and sorted my head right out! Didn't Jack Torrance say it's medicine ...

A JW Centenary Blend after taking the family to a bonfire and firework display, in memory of the failed attempt at blowing up Parliament by Catholics way back when. Truth be told, looking at the current crop, we should be in mourning .

Joking aside, I often think of what would have happened had they been successful. Would have, arguably, severely changed the course of British, and possibly world, history.

I also had a can of Abbot's ale, from Suffolk, whilst there - very nice stuff. I'll be buying more ...

Pappy Van Winkle 15 yo, 53.5% ABV, my air-damaged bottle. I am experimenting with augmenting this to improve the last 100 ml of this bottle which has been open for 4 years. This time I'm adding a little Gosling's 151 Rum and a little water. That diminished the nose and kind of took over on the palate, so I tried adding a splash of Van Winkle 12 yo Lot B bourbon, 45.2% ABV, from a taste-intact bottle to the mix. .That revived the aggregate a good bit, but the overall result remains only fair, not yet to "good". I tried once more adding some Mount Gay XO rum, also with only fair results, but slightly better than the first combo. I will probably just bite the bullet and drink the rest of the 15 yo without further entertaining additions.

The take-away? The quantities of rum have to be extremely small or they will overwhelm this wheated bourbon. These attempts have been trial and error, in this case mostly error, in the cause of science. Once upon a time I owned a bottle of Barcardi Reserve Rum, which worked very well for this purpose. That product is no longer made.

The moral of the story? Finish your bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 15 yo in the first 2.5 years after you have opened it.

Wait a minute...now I am simply adding some intact VW12 yo to the diminished 15 yo. This gives pretty good results, though the combo lowers the proof from the 15 yo quite a bit. If I had a bottle of the VW 10 yo, 53.5% ABV open, I would try that next. It should work pretty well, I would think, but the original PVW15 profile for which people go bonkers, will inevitably be modified somewhat, no matter what is added to it.

Comment on my history of buying Van Winkle bourbons and ryes. I put in almost all of my stock between Fall 2010 and Fall 2012. It was not easy to buy Van Winkle in those days. Not at all. But if you hustled you could get some, at least in my state of the USA. In 2010 I would grade US national chances of buying Van Winkle at B-, and chances in Maryland at A. In 2011 I would describe US national chances of buying Van Winkle as C-, and my local chances as A-. In 2012 I would describe US national chances of buying Van Winkle as C-, and my local chances as B+.

Then, in 3rd quarter 2012 the secondary market prices for Van Winkle went vertical. PVW15 went from an average price of $ 250 to an average price of $ 750 in a very short time.

I was able to buy some additional bottles of Van Winkle after 2012 only because of the relationships which my sister had established with liquor store owners and managers BEFORE the madness hit in 3rd quarter 2012.

All I can figure out about the recent-- last 9 years-- prices for Van Winkle products is that the big money of the world must have decided that they liked this stuff in 2012 and would buy up all they could of it...along with all of the long-aged age-stated whiskies of the entire world.

@bwmccoy that Glenburgie “Cowboys at dinner” is one I was curious to hear more about. Is it just a sherry bomb? Or is there some rustic funk to it?

@victor I was wondering which rum you were adding to the Pappy 15yo. I know you mentioned an 8 year old. But rum is certainly quite varied.

Last night I was drinking a from a freshly cracked bottle of Ardbeg Uigeadail 21/06/21. I posted 3 months ago in Ardbeg Uigeadail Batch Notes that this was a good batch. I went out and picked up 4 new bottles at the time. BUT this bottle fresh bottle is not good. It is so spirity and youthful. Way too much. I am leaving the cork off for a few days. I hope that will help. I can’t tell you how much good air can do for sherry dominated whiskies. As this is one of the darker Uigeadails in a long while my hope is that the air is what helped my last bottle go down so well.

The simple truth is that I all the bottles I have opened lately have been disappointing. Could it be me? Or just the bottles I am picking. I hope there isn’t something off with my nose and palate.

@Nock the rum that worked well for me as an additive was Bacardi Reserve. I finished off my bottle, and that one is no longer made, so I don't currently have a go-to for the purpose. That puts me back to experimentation.

@Nock - I'll bring you a sample of the Glenburgie. As you will see below, I compared it to another sherry finished whisky that I like a lot to determine if I should also bring it to you, but when compared head-to-head, the Glenburgie is the better of the two. The nose to me is fresh (green) tobacco leaf. While I wouldn't call it a sherry bomb, the sherry influence really comes through in the palate, more so than on the nose.

Last night (Saturday), my wife and I had a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan's made with Old Forester Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky 100 Proof.

Tonight, my wife and I had a couple of Vieux Carre cocktails also made with Old Forester.

Later, I compared the whisky that @nock asked about to another whisky that is similar, but as mentioned above, the Glenburgie is the better of the two.

Strathmill SMWS 100.34 (11 year - March 2010) "Oh, to be in a bodega again..." - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Oloroso hogshead - 56.7% ABV.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.87 (10 year - May 2011) "Cowboys at dinner" - After 8 years in an Oloroso butt, transferred into a heavy charred 1st-fill puncheon - 58.2% ABV.

On Thursday our provincial government passed a law that stripped education unions of the right to strike. That’s unconstitutional, and would have been tossed out quickly on precedent. But there is a clause in our Charter of Rights that actually allows governments to do it anyway. So they did.

The law set fines at $4000 per day for any worker (most of whom make less than $40k per year) who was off the job.

They went on strike anyway.

After 2 work days the government caved. The workers won.

A rare victory and it happened because all the unions made it clear if the govt. didn’t cave there would be a general strike.

The only whisky I could think of that was appropriate to celebrate with victory was Wiser’s Legacy. One legacy to celebrate another.

@Nozinan I was hoping to pour a celebratory dram tonight as well, but my stomach is acting up these days so I had some green tea after dinner instead.

In Washington DC for a work conference. Last night, at the hotel bar, had a Manhattan made with Bulleit Rye.

Macallan Double Cask 15 year-old paired with chocolate cake...

Last night, our work conference took us for a catered dinner at the International Spy Museum. In addition to seeing James Bond’s original Aston Martin, I had the following drinks.

I asked for a Manhattan, but instead received a rocks glass full of ice and a shot of Maker’s Mark. :-)

After that had two fingers of Johnnie Walker Black neat also in a rocks glass.

Later, I tried the one cocktail that was on the menu; a Burnt Honey Bourbon Sour made with Bourbon (don’t know which one), burnt honey syrup, lemon juice and orange marmalade with orange peel garnish. It was ok, but had no desire to drink another one.

I then ordered another Johnnie Walker Black neat. This time it was served in a wine glass. :-)

After getting back to the hotel, I had an FDR’s Manhattan made with “Maker’s Mark whiskey, vermouth, bitters, orange and cherry” (this is exactly how it is listed on the menu) serve up.

Amrut tonight with @bwmccoy chez moi:

1) Amrut Naarangi 50% ABV, Batch No. 03

2) Amrut Intermediate Sherry Matured 57.1% ABV, Batch No. 2

3) Amrut Madeira Finish Special Edition, 50% ABV, Batch No 1, newly opened bottle

4) Amrut Portonova, 62.1% ABV, Batch No. 16, another newly opened bottle

None of these disappointed. And soon will be @Nock.

@Victor - Thank you for an amazing night and for sharing some very special whiskies!

@Victor Those are four impressive Amruts. Of those I have only the Madeira cask open. I am waiting on a friend to open the Intermediate Sherry (Batch 20) and Portonova (Batch 6). I bought an extra bottle of each in 2018-19 just as they disappeared in Calgary in order to introduce him to them. I have been trying to meet with him since 2015. I may have to start without him...

@Nock and @Victor - I don’t have time to post the 24 whiskies we drank right now, but, thank you both for making my visit an epic tasting.

Unless one of them beats me to it, I will post the details of our outstanding tasting later today! Just know it was one of the best tastings that I have ever participated in!

Following a dinner of Korean BBQ chicken and beef, as well as 보쌈, my nephew and I wanted something that would stand up to the spices we had just enjoyed. We settled on Talisker 8 CS (L1104CM004 59.7%). It cut through the palate numbing spices nicely.

@Nozinan bien entendu. I considered it to be a coup of epic proportions that I was able to introduce @bwmccoy to FOUR excellent whiskies, none of which he had previously tasted. I consider it to be no small feat to present him with multiple whiskies both new to him and at the same time excellent. I am very pleased with myself about this.

The next morning @Nock arrived carrying an unbelievable number of large boxes of whisky. We sampled as many for which we had time and alcohol tolerance. But as an example of the situation I think we only managed to get around to 4 of the 10 Octomores which @Nock brought.

@Nozinan as you know from having tasted with me quite a few times, I usually afford myself the personal indulgence while enjoying the whiskis of not bothering to keep a written record of the dozens sampled. I offer my profound thanks to those, you among them, who have done the work to keep track of the fun for later pleasant reminiscence.

@Victor - Now that I'm home, I can confirm the Amrut's that I have previously tasted. Four of them are in the picture below (these are all 50ml "airline" bottles from a virtual tasting with the master distiller Ashok Chokalingam that I attended sometime during the pandemic).

The first is what I call their standard release because it just says Indian Single Malt Whisky on the label (46% ABV). I was very impressed with this one. Beautiful representation of "liquid barley".

Next was Fusion (50% ABV). I had tasted this one on several occasions prior to the virtual tasting. While not bad, this one never did anything for me. That was confirmed again during the virtual tasting. It was my least favorite of the four.

Next was Peated Indian (46% ABV). I liked this one, but compared to the next one, I liked the next one better.

Final of the four is Peated Cask Strength (62.8% ABV). I really enjoyed this one. I can't pick one because they are different, but the standard release and Peated Cask Strength were my favorites.

Prior to your house on Wednesday night, the only other Amrut that I had tasted previously is the bottle that I now own and brought you a sample of; 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. I rated this one an 88. I like it a lot. I'm anxious to see what you think of it when you get a chance to try it.

Thank you @Victor for the four amazing Amrut's that you shared with me. They were all amazing, but also all so different: Orange to Sherry to Madeira to Port. It is obviously a treat to drink anything with you, but it was extra special since none of the four that you shared with me are available anymore. It means so much that you shared these very special bottles with me. Thanks again!

As @Victor mentioned, on Thursday, @Nock joined us. What @Victor didn't mention was that @Nock left his home VERY early in the morning in order to drive 5 hours to meet up with us by about 11am because I only had a few hours before I needed to leave for the airport. This was my first-time meeting @Nock in person. @Nock - I can't thank you enough for doing all that you did for us! I really appreciate you driving all that way and for sharing so many of your amazing whiskies! Since we only had about 4 hours before I had to leave, we were only able to taste through 23 different whiskies. While that is a lot in a short amount of time, I didn't feel as rushed as you would think. Also, I felt like we gave each whisky its due attention in the time that we had. All whiskies listed below were provided by @Nock unless otherwise noted. Also, all are Original Bottlings unless otherwise noted.

@Nock wanted us to start by comparing a Bruichladdich to two Springbank's. It was surprising how well these went together. Obviously, Bruichladdich doesn't have the Campbeltown funk, but the rest was very similar.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley (50%) 6 year (2009-2015) Opened 2016, rebottled 3 times in 2019 and once again in 2021.

Springbank 10 year (46%) Bottle 17 of 328. Opened 2017, rebottled in 2018 and 2020.

Springbank 20 year (51.6%). I failed to get the details of this bottle, but the 10 year was easily the best of these three.

Next @Victor suggested we try one of his Springbank's. A 14 year Bourbon Wood (55.8%). This one was very similar to @nock's 10 year. Beautiful stuff.

Next, we tried three Springbank 12 year Cask Strength batches head-to-head-to-head.

Batch 15 (56.5%)

Batch 17 (56.2%) Bottle 18 of 332. Opened 2018, rebottled in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Batch 18 (I failed to get the ABV or other details of this one.)

Batch 15 was hands down the best of these three!

Next, 3 Longrow's head-to-head-to-head.

Longrow Peated (46%)

Longrow 11 year Rundlets & Kilderkins (51.7%) Distilled Nov. 2001. Bottled June 2013. 9,000 bottles. Opened 2017, rebottled 2017 and 2018.

Longrow Red 11 year (55.9%) Cabernet Franc. Bottled January 2018. Opened 2018, rebottled 2020.

Of these three, the standard peated did not stand up to the other two. Both 11 year olds were very nice. For me, the red edged out the R&K, but I think I was the exception on that.

Next, were three sherried whiskies head-to-head

BenRiach 18 year Single Cask Limited 1994 Release (51.5%, I think. My picture is fuzzy in that area of the bottle.) Bottled April 2013. Bottle 224 of 298.

Ledaig 18 year (2001) Batch 19/067. Bottled Jun 20th 2019. 202 bottles (56.3%) from Gordon and MacPhail. Small world - This is the exact same bottle that @jordytropp gave me as a Christmas present last year. My bottle is long gone. It's a stunning whisky. What a treat to taste it again. It did not disappoint. It lived up to my memory of it.

Longrow 14 year Peated Sherry Cask Matured (57.8%)

It is really hard for me to rank these because they are all so good. While obviously similar, they are also so different. I have to stick with the Ledaig as #1, followed very closely by the Longrow and the BenRiach in that order, but this is really splitting hairs at this point.

Next up: 5 Port Charlotte's (4 OB's and 1 Independent bottling)

Port Charlotte Islay Barley (50%) 2008. Bottled Feb. 2016. Opened 2018, rebottled in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Port Charlotte PC7 (7 year) Sin An Doigh Ileach "It's the Islay Way" (61%) Bottled Oct. 2008. Opened in 2014, rebottled in 2016, 2017 and 2020.

Port Charlotte PC8 (8 year) Ar Duthchas "Land of our Heritage" (60.5%) Bottled 2009.

Port Charlotte MRC: 01 2010 (59.2%) 7 year.

Elements of Islay Port Charlotte Pl4. Bottled 2015 from two Chateau Margaux casks (61.2%). Opened 2019, rebottled 2021.

I have previously owned both PC7 and PC8 shortly after they were released, so it has been years since I tasted. What a treat to be able to taste them again after all of these years. Of those two, PC7 is the clear winner. Of the other three, I would say MRC, followed by Elements and then Islay Barley, but again, splitting hairs.

Next up was a Laphroaig 25 year (45.1%), but I can't remember if this was @Victor's or @Nock's bottle. (Sorry!). Unfortunately, we should have probably had this before the Port Charlotte's or maybe even the three Sherry bottles. This is a beautiful whisky, but I think it was in the wrong order that day.

We finished the tasting with four Octomore's (3 OB's that were all X.3 meaning they are all Islay Barley and 1 independent bottling.

Octomore 9.3 (62.9%) Irene's Field Octomore Farm (2012 Release)

Octomore 7.3 (63.0%) Lorgba Field Octomore Farm (2010 Release)

Octomore 8.3 (61.2%) 5 year. 309ppm. Cask makeup: 56% ex-bourbon, 44% ex-European. Opened 2018, rebottled 2021.

Rest & Be Thankful Octomore bottling (63.9%) Distilled March 19th, 2008. Bottled May 6th, 2015. (7 year). Cask Number 2008000908. French Oak Cask. Bottle #97 of 316.

I'm a huge French Oak fan, so the Rest & Be Thankful bottle came out on top, but they were all stunning.

I apologize for the long post, but I wanted to convey just how epic of a tasting this was. Even at that, I felt like I missed a lot of nuanced details and am frustrated at how lacking some of my notes are. @Nock - Thank you again for all that you did to make this tasting one of the best that I have participated in. @Victor - Thanks for hosting, introducing me to @Nock and contributing to the tasting as well. It was such a special time getting to see you again @Victor and @Nock, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you. As I said on Thursday, if either of you are in the Seattle area, I look forward to hosting and attempting to return the favor that you gave to me. "Thanks" seems hardly appropriate but will have to do for now. Until we meet again...

Caol Ila 12 year-old vs. Valinch & Mallet Caol Ila 11 year-old...

@YakLord - The (lack of) color on that Valinch & Mallet Caol Ila is impressive, especially for an 11-year-old. Looks like new make compared to the standard 12 year. :-) A much-used cask, I'm assuming.

On Thursday night, I came home from DC to a sick wife and child. We made it through the night, but it was evident on Friday morning, they needed medical attention. After spending all day at Urgent Care and then the Emergency Room and after getting them to bed after we got home, I thought I was ready for a dram. However, I was so drained, I didn't even make it through the one dram before falling asleep on the couch. I finished it after I woke up a few hours later. :-)

The dram: Strathmill SMWS 100.34 (11 year - March 2010) "Oh, to be in a bodega again..." - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Oloroso hogshead - 56.7% ABV. This is such a good whisky and was exactly what I was looking for. I just had to drink it in stages. :-)

By the way, fortunately nothing too seriously wrong for either my wife or son, but they needed to be seen by medical professionals and get some much-needed medications. I am so thankful for the doctors, nurses and other workers in the medical field. The staff at the ER were obviously very busy, but they never seemed to be overwhelmed. At least not that they let us see. Everyone we encountered was friendly, empathetic and amazingly helpful. God bless them all!

@bwmccoy It was a sherry cask, too. Nothing to indicate what fill, though. Plus, probably no e150a in the V&M.

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 2. ABV 63.9%, neck pour from a freshly opened bottle. The richest Highland Park I've had to date with depth of flavour(peat, heather, vanilla orange, forest floors, spicy oak). It has a great form which climbs and expands on a lengthy plateau. A solid Highland Park.

@bwmccoy Glad to hear your loved ones were not seriously ill. We owe a lot to the medical professionals who are there when we need them.

@fiddich1980 The best HPs I've had recently are from indy bottlers but I will certainly look out for this delicious sounding OB.