So, what are you drinking now?

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

After dinner, 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.

My wife and I started off happy hour tonight with a Vieux Carre, but only had enough Benedictine for one round, so made Jerry Thomas Manhattan’s for round two. Both were made with Old Forester Rye 100 proof.

@bwmccoy it’s been a long time since I’ve had a Dalmore. I think the last one was the Cigar Malt. Not bad, but typically underpowered. I’d like to try one at a decent ABV.

Just got this trio of indys for Christmas. I’ve just had neck pours of the Glentauchers, the best one I’ve had by a long shot and the Tobermory, a kick in the head at 64.8%. Tasty, but needed a good shot of water to settle it down. I’ll crack the Benrinnes tonight. I’ve never had a bad Benrinnes and this one should be good at 56% which is right in my preferred ABV range of 46-60%.

Best of the season and health and happiness for the coming new, improved year (hopefully) to all my connosr friends.

@BlueNote - I’ve never been a fan of Dalmore, at least their official releases. I’ve owned two Society Dalmore’s. The first one didn’t do anything for me either. This one, however, is very nice. Notes of cedarwood, leather, tobacco, red wine and cocoa nibs.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday! Cheers and best wishes for 2023!

On Christmas Day, my family and I went over to my brother-in-law's house. After dinner, my brother-in-law and I had the following drams.

Strathmill SMWS 100.27 (11 year - Mar. 2010) "Colorful and flavorful" - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Oloroso hogshead - 55.3% ABV

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

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

Bowmore SMWS 3.336 (17 year - Feb. 2004) "Sublime maritime" - 2nd-fill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 57.4% ABV

Caol Ila SMWS 53.398 (11 year - Sep. 2010) "Death of the T-1000" - Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 58.2% ABV

Yesterday (Monday), my older son and his wife came over to celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts.

My son and I started off with a dram of 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.

One of the gifts my son and his wife gave us was a bottle of wine with a label that said, "Always read the fine print" in large letters followed by "You're going to be Grandparents" in tiny print. My son and I celebrated with a dram of Macallan Speymalt from Gordon & Macphail. 21 year (Distilled 1990, Bottled 2011). 43% ABV.

Later, I finished off the sample of William Larue Weller 2015 release 67.3% ABV that @Victor gave me last month. Thanks again @Victor for sharing all of the samples that you sent me home with.

@bwmccoy Congratulations to you and your family!

@bwmccoy That's the kind of fine print that is worth reading!!!!

@bwmccoy congrats!!

@bwmccoy wonderful news for you and your family. Congratulations.

@bwmccoy What a great way to end the year. Congratulations.

@Nozinan @65glenfarclas @casualtorture @Timp and @BlueNote - Thank you all for your kind words. At 57 years old, I'm not sure I'm ready to be a grand dad, but I guess I have 8 months to get used to the idea. It really hit home when my son asked me what I wanted to be called "Granddad", "Papa", etc. I hadn't really thought about it, but guess I had better start thinking about it. :-)

Last night (Tuesday), I finished off a couple of samples. Hine Rare Cognac and MacAloney's Caledonian "Darach Braiche". A peated Canadian (Vancouver Island) Single Malt "Spirit". 46% ABV.

Tonight, my wife and I met up with an old friend that we hadn't seen for a while at a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we headed back to our house for some drams.

Macallan Speymalt from Gordon & Macphail. 21 year (Distilled 1990, Bottled 2011). 43% ABV.

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.

Bowmore SMWS 3.336 (17 year - Feb. 2004) "Sublime maritime" - 2nd-fill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 57.4% ABV.

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

Later, I had a dram of heavily peated Caol Ila SMWS 53.398 (11 year - Sep. 2010) "Death of the T-1000" - Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 58.2% ABV.

Last night was just a couple Yuengling light. We’re in Kissimmee, Florida and we got in fairly late so I haven’t located a good liquor store yet. I’m hoping to find one nearby that carries bourbon I can’t get in Canada.

@OdysseusUnbound have fun in Florida! I wouldn't mind being in Florida right about now, myself.

Langatun 6 year-old (Batch #2) Swiss Single Malt Whisky. This is the third sample from the 2021 That Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent Calendar. The two preceeding it (Ledaig 17 year-old and James E. Pepper Oloroso Sherry Finished Straight Rye) were quite good. This one I'm not so sure about.

@YakLord Looks like you're having better luck than I have had with the 2019 ...

@YakLord I never really thought of Switzerland as a producer of fine whisky. I'm betting that Ledaig 17 was a good one though.

Yesterday (Thursday), I had to drop off a package at @jordytropp's house. We first had a couple of cups of coffee while visiting with him and his wife. Before I left, we had a dram of a single cask GlenDronach. Distilled December 15th, 2005, bottled 2020. 14 year old. Fully matured in a PX Puncheon Cask number 1928. Bottle #83 of 612. 58% ABV.

Later, after getting home, my wife and I had a couple of Black Manhattan's made with Maker's Mark 46 for happy hour.

@BlueNote There's a second Swiss single malt from Santis, but it's older and looks like it may be sherry matured. It's going in the line-up for a world whisky tasting along with the Dutch single malt (Millstone), Irish (un-named single malt), Japanese (un-named blended whisky), and World Whisky Blend.

@BlueNote The Ledaig was, as you said, quite a good one.

Last night (Friday), at my brother-in-law's, we had the following drams.

Linkwood SMWS 39.224 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "An orchard moment" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.6% ABV.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.85 (8 year - Apr. 2013) "View from the top" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 63.6% ABV.

Johnnie Walker Black Label - 40% ABV.

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.

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV.

@bwmccoy Go Seahawks tomorrow.

@bwmccoy Nice Friday night lineup. I've liked all the Glenburgies I've tried. Had a sample of a very nice SMOS 22 year old a couple of weeks ago. The same friend provided a sample of a SMOS 22 year old Imperial, a real beauty.

Best of the New Year to you and yours.

@bwmccoy - how was the Glendronach? I've cast my eye on those bottling before but the price has been a bit of a deterrent. If I knew the quality was high though ...

Still, I suppose one always takes a gamble on single barrels unless you're lucky enough to try it before you buy.

@BlueNote - Thanks! I agree. Glenburgie makes some quality spirit. I haven't had much Imperial, but I've really liked what I've tasted. Happy New Year's to you and your family as well.

@RianC - The GlenDronach is really good! The full maturation in the PX cask does not cover up the distillery character. It enhances it.

Last night, my family and I celebrated New Year's Eve at my brother-in-law's house.

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.

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.

We finished off the last of Balmenach SMWS 48.130 (8 year - Nov. 2012) "Yellow smash" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.6% ABV.

Blair Athol SMWS 68.71 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "Rather scrumptious" - After 10 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Oloroso hogshead - 58.6% ABV.

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.

As the clock struck midnight, while watching the fireworks display shooting off the Space Needle, we drank the appropriately named Caol Ila SMWS 53.395 (11 year - Nov. 2009) "Smoky explosion" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 56.4% ABV.

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

Happy New Year!