So, what are you drinking now?

@fiddich1980 - Good news! Heard good things about this one and snagged one. Quite a fair price too, considering the brand.

@BlueNote ,@RianC HP seems to be doing a decent job with their Cask Strength Series. It does not score high eighty with reviewers .but, does impress on the palate. There is not much on the "Viking references", and the box declaration would give a Chubby Jackie Steward, a measure of satisfaction.

Last night, I celebrated the first signs that my family's health was finally improving with a few drams.

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. I haven't had this one since August. At that time, it had kind of fallen out of favor with me. I just didn't like it as much as when I first bought it. Either time has dulled my memory or improved the whisky because it tasted really good last night.

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) 50.5% ABV. Like the previous one, this hadn't tasted as good the last few times, but last night was back to where it was when I first tasted it in April and the reason I purchased it. A lovely combination of chocolate and wine.

Finally, a small pour of a peated Allt-a-Bhainne SMWS 108.47 (10 year - Sep. 2011) "I dream of genie..." - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.1% ABV. Again, not one of my favorites, but it tasted pretty good last night.

My palate must have been in a really good mood last night. :-)

@bwmccoy excellent to hear!

@BlueNote and @Victor - Thank you both for your kind words!

Last night, I finished off a couple of bottles.

Linkwood SMWS 39.224 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "An orchard moment" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.6% ABV. Of course, the last dram was the best tasting dram out of the bottle. :-)

and a peated Glenturret SMWS 16.60 (10 year - Nov. 2010) "Entering uncharted paths" - Re-charred hogshead - 56.9% ABV. Glenturret's peat is more of a sweet BBQ smoke than peat. The warm wood flavors from the re-charred cask provide a nice compliment and balance to the smoke.

Last night, Craigellachie SMWS 44.149 (14 year - Oct. 2006) "The early bird gets the worm" - After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 2nd-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead - 62.1% ABV. A really nice example of a sherry finished Speyside whisky.

While playing on-line poker with the guys, I had a few drams that have never lived up to their potential, much like my poker playing tonight.

Glen Grant SMWS 9.224 (14 year - May 2007) “Harvest hayride happiness” - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.7% ABV. This was the best of the three tonight.

Finished off my bottle of Glenburgie SMWS 71.79 (14 year - Sep. 2006) "Adventurously awesome" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.7% ABV. This one never lived up to its name and tonight was no exception. Not sad to see this one go. On a positive note, I'm making room in my whisky cabinet.

Finished the night with Balmenach SMWS 48.130 (8 year - Nov. 2012) "Yellow smash" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.6% ABV.

Came home from dinner with my mother and I have one more (long) chart to complete.

I keep some bottles in my office because I have no room in the cabinet in the basement. Often stuff I have not yet reviewed.

I do like a high proof or CS bourbon to accompany the tedium of putting into the chart what I already have in my head. Often it has been Booker’s or OGD 114. But those are below stairs. So I saw this one, what I understand is a good batch of ECBP. I agree with that assessment. Thanks @Talexander for the heel.

Last night, I tried a new to me cocktail. It’s called Jive Turkey.

.75 oz rye whiskey, .75 oz Amaricano (Amaro from Fast Penny Spirits - Seattle, WA), .75 oz dry vermouth, .25 oz of St. Germain and 1 dash of Angostura bitters.

Build in a mixing glass with ice, stir it and pour in a Nick and Nora or a fancy coupe. No garnish.

Verdict - It wasn’t bad and fortunately, it got better the longer it sat in the glass. However, I won’t be adding this one to my cocktail rotation.

No comments just testing driving a Bourbon for a near future group tasting.

@fiddich1980 is it "worth" Cdn$260 though (Ontario pricing)? My bet is no! Even with the crazy whisky pricing of late, even 18yo single malts haven't hit that price range (yet). Two Hundred Sixty Bucks for Bourbon is way beyond jumping the shark ... even in, relative, 2022 terms.

@65glenfarclas I'm not going to get into the details of it. I opened it to let it breathe. Its destined for a group tasting which means that it isn't being "Tatered". Yes, it is up there in price but, I figured it was worth a shot after seeing what it is selling for on winesearcher. Just wait until we see Diageo's pricing for their special releases this year. Lagavulin 12 and Talisker 11, they're expected to be in the $220 - $260 Canadian dollar range.

Had some friends over for dinner. one of them likes bourbon so I gave him a tour of my cabinet. He picked ECBP Hazmat edition (70.1%). I thought I would have to pick up my son at the time so I didn't have any. As soon as I heard that he was getting a lift home I returned to the cabinet. I picked one of my favourites, OGD 114. Hard to believe the last time I had some was just over a year ago. Nearing the end of the bottle and as good as ever, if not better.

Tonight, while watching The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

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.

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

Laphroaig SMWS 29.281 (10 year - Sep. 2010) "Driftwood Barbecue!" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.8% ABV.

For last night's (Sunday) happy hour, my wife and I had a couple of Black Manhattan's made with Makers' Mark 46.

For happy hour last night (Monday), my wife and I had a couple of Vieux Carre cocktails made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

Later, I finished off my bottle of a peated Allt-a-Bhainne SMWS 108.47 (10 year - Sep. 2011) "I dream of genie..." - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.1% ABV.

My mother-in-law and her husband are visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday. Last night (Wednesday), we had Black Manhattan’s made with Maker’s Mark 46 before dinner.

With dinner (grilled Tri-Tip roast), I opened a 2010 vintage red wine blend from one of our favorite wineries in Washington State. This bottle has been resting in our wine fridge since 2013. It was gorgeous and paired beautifully with the grilled meat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving night after everyone else went to sleep, 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.

Just had a Fuller's London Pride with a lovely Chinese - veg spring rolls, egg fried rice and crispy duck pancakes with plum sauce. Tasty stuff all round.

Now on a first proper pour of the 70's Dimple I got last week as I settle in to watch England v USA. The nose really is to die for ...

Obviously cheering for Eng er land! But hope the US (and Canada - nice to see you boys joining in!) get through their groups. I think the US have a great chance too even if they lose tonight.

@bwmccoy Happy Thanksgiving neighbour. I see the US and the English ended in a nil nil draw today. That’s a very good result. Canada could have so easily got a similar result with the Belgians. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Long, busy week.

After dinner at my mother’s we came home and my wife and I watched an episode and a half of our current k-drama.

I poured a half ounce of Ardbeg Corryvreckin. Sipped it neat tonight. It’s been just over a year since I last had some.

I remember tasting it with @Victor and @paddockjudge, probably in 2019. I think we remarked that it seemed to be a good batch.

@BlueNote - Happy Thanksgiving! I think the nil - nil draw between England and the US was about the best of all possible scenarios. England remains in 1st place and the US still controls their own destiny. However, if the US can’t beat Iran on Tuesday, they will be coming home.

Late last night (Friday), Caol Ila SMWS 53.373 (10 year - Nov. 2010) "The gourmand maltster" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 59.5% ABV. Liquid barley and wet ash, in other words, perfection.

@Nozinan that bottle of your Corryvreckan is the best I have ever tasted.

I am an unabashed Ardbeg enthusiastic, but I have not liked several of the batches of Corryvreckan I have tasted. Or, as @Nock put it, the first two bottles/batches of Corryvreckan I owned were the two worst batches of Corryvreckan that he had ever tasted. Which is why I am always guarded when discussing Ardbeg Corryvreckan, and never give it an unqualified endorsement. Now YOUR bottle, sure!, I'd love to have half a dozen that taste just like that one of yours did in 2019.

@bwmccoy USA in the World Cup, half full or half empty? Two matches and you held your opponents to 1 goal scored...OR two matches and you scored a total of 1 goal?

@Victor I have yet to have a less than stellar bottle of Corrvreckan including the most recent one from early this year. I have, though, had a couple of iffy bottles of Uigeadail. Ardbeg 10 seems always reliable and consistent from my experience.

Iran took a pretty good spanking from England, so the US should be able to handle them. Glass half full, definitely.

Port Charlotte OLC:01 a 9 year old at ABV 55.1%, in anticipation of getting my hands on the latest release of the Port Charlotte Cask Exploration Series, SC:01 in the next few weeks.

Such a treat! I am watching my favourite spectator sport, which happens to be women's basketball. My two favourite US women's college teams, Connecticut and Iowa, are playing against one another in an early-season tournament championship game. This calls for breaking out the primo samples which my friends @bwmccoy and @Nock gave to me on 9 and 11 Nov 2022.I was so tickled that I could get @bwmccoy and @Nock in the same room for some tasting.

Linkwood 10 yo SMWS 39.224, 62.6% ABV An Orchard Moment, a sample from @bwmccoy. I see the origin of the name. This one is SOOOOO Apple-y! My string of enthusiastic reactions for every single Linkwood whisky I have tasted remains unbroken. Thank you @bwmccoy! .

Bruichladdich Octomore 8.2, 58.4% ABV, a sample from @Nock. Utterly delicious, as expected. Thank you, @Nock!

OK, ladies, let's see who's going to win! It's a little sad that one of my two favourite teams will have to lose this game. I watch both of these teams play every time I get the chance. I am a fan.

@Victor - glad you liked the Linkwood!

Tonight, my wife and I had a couple of Black Manhattan’s made with Maker’s Mark 46.

Tonight, 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.

Followed by Mannochmore SMWS 64.127 (12 year - May 2009) "Going luxe" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred into a 1st-fill custom toasted American and European oak barrique cask - 58.4% ABV.

My wife teaches at the same school that my son attends. This is only relevant because my wife normally doesn’t drink during the week. However, we’ve had literally 1 inch of snow on the ground since Tuesday. I had to pick them up from school at Noon on Tuesday for an early closure and school was closed both yesterday (Wednesday) and today. Unbelievable for only 1 inch of snow!

Since school is closed, my wife asked me last night if I would make a cocktail. We had a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan’s made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

Later, I had a dram of SMWS Batch 15 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.

@bwmccoy Snow days for adults! Love it!

Snow days are starting to go away in some areas in favor of remote classes. Personally I think that is a mistake. I'm glad my boys got to experience the joy that is the unexpected (although usually anticipated) day off from school due to winter weather!