So, what are you drinking now?

Last night, my wife finished off our bottle 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 had a dram of Linkwood SMWS 39.225 (10 year - Feb. 2011) "Easy over" - 2nd fill ex-Bourbon barrel - 60.6% ABV

Tonight, at a work function, I had a couple of Manhattan’s. I asked for Rye, but was told there is no “well“ rye, only bourbon. I didn’t ask what bourbon they used. Not the best Manhattan, but not bad either.

Later, had a really nice cocktail called “ANOTHER WORLD “. Kaiyo Japanese Whisky, Legent Bourbon, Park Mizunara Cognac, Umeshu, Honey, Bitters. The nose was old lady soap (yuck!), but the palate was awesome (earthy). However, there is no way it was worth the $38 that they were charing for it. Glad the company was paying.

I had a few drinks with my wife last night. Given that we were planning a trip to Nashville (just the two of us for a few days this summer), I didn't make extensive notes.

• Dalmore 12 Year Sherry Cask Select (43% abv): I bought this simply because I was excited to see a Dalmore bottled above bare legal minimum. While it isn't bad in any way, it lacks some of the richness I noted in my last bottle of Damore 12 year. There are dates, orange zest, a touch of honey, and a bit of oak but it's a light to medium bodied whisky. Fine for background sipping but it doesn't live up to it's "luxury lifestyle" price tag. Yesterday I would probably have rated it 83/100 or 84/100.
• Blanton's Original: I didn't note the barrel number but this one is above average for sure. Plenty of the honey and blueberries I sometimes get (and enjoy) from Blanton's. No spirit notes, no over-oaking. Perfectly pleasant. Last night I probably would have scored it about 86/100.

Clan MacGregor Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV. This has always been a great favourite of mine among the inexpensive products. Yes, I could do just fine indefinitely on the desert island if all I had was standard Clan MacGregor blended Scotch.

The peating level here is in just the right balance and intensity to work at 40% ABV with the very malty base.

If someone said, "Here's a hundred bucks to spend on blended Scotch and it's got to last you 5 years on the desert island." I'd pick up a Litre of Clan MacGregor, a "handle" of Black & White, a "handle" of Grant's Family Reserve, and a 750 of Islay Mist 8 yo.

Finished off my bottle of Glen Moray SMWS 35.309 (9 year - June 2012) "Darwin's tipple" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.3% ABV.

Next, a single grain whisky. Strathclyde SMWS G10.37 (16 year - July 2005) "A jolly good dash" - 2nd-fill ex-Bourbon hogshead (heavy toast/medium char) - 57.7% ABV.

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

Managed to have a couple of drams last night for the first time in a while. Mortlach 15 G&M - love this bottle. It's become more floral as it's emptied and more All Spice(y). Glad I picked up a few of these as I only have one pour left. A top notch Scotch.

Then had a Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak. I noticed that some waxy and 'fresh' oak notes are coming out now. Makes me wonder if it spent some time in quarter casks. Lovely bacon and maple syrup sweetness with those familiar medicinal notes in the background. Glass smells amazing the next day!

For happy hour last night, I had an Old Pal cocktail. 2oz Old Forester 100 proof Rye, 1.5oz dry vermouth, 1.5oz Campari with a lemon twist garnish.

For happy hour tonight, I started off with a Greenpoint cocktail made with old Forester 100 proof rye.

Unfortunately, I only had enough green chartreuse for one cocktail, so next I made a Sazerac cocktail also with the Old Forester rye. I didn’t have any Absinthe for the rinse, but the bitters I used had similar flavors so it turned ok. I used Honest John NOLA bitters with notes of orange, anise, vanilla, hibiscus and gentian.

@bwmccoy I feel for you! That is a very sad state of affairs to run out of Green Chartreuse!

0940 hours on a Sunday-- what a perfect time for some whisky! I am greatly enjoying some Black Grouse right now. I've loved this bottle since I first bought it 11 years ago and it still tastes very good to me indeed. I used to compare notes in appreciation of this one with @Wodha back in the day when this bottle was newly opened. Nowadays there are some later iterations of this Black Grouse product with similar names. Yes, this is another inexpensive blended Scotch whisky with which I could be happy as my only alcoholic beverage on the desert island.

You folks have no doubt noticed that in the 12 years I have been in this club I have not bothered much with visuals relating to either whiski or food. This is because visuals are not very important to me. Whiski for me is my laboratory for the study of taste, smell, and texture. I really don't care what it looks like. Nor do I care much what food looks like. This is an expression of being someone who is kinesthetic first, auditory second, gustatory third, visual fourth, and olfactory fifth. I did have to learn a very great deal through visiting with the nose of all the various whiskis because, with the exception of studying and using aromatherapy/essential oils for the last 33 years, I hadn't paid much attention to the sense of smell until I became a whiski lover. But beauty comes through every one of the senses, and whiski is a great vehicle through which to appreciate the glories of the olfactory realm.

One more personal comment about the image of the Black Grouse on the box and bottle-- it reminds me of the one that got away, an objet d'art which taught me not to delay my commitment to make a choice and commit to an object of beauty which I admired.

I will tell the little story. This occurred in about 1991. My two favourite tourist destinations in North America are Vieux Quebec and Northern New Mexico, especially the area which runs from the Taos Pueblo in the Northeast to the Acoma Pueblo a little southwest of Albuquerque. I was at the Sky City of Acoma with Julie and I saw an Acoma black quail pottery being sold by one of the locals. I liked it very much but passed it by because I thought I would have the chance to buy it or one like it later. I was wrong. I have spent decades looking for one like that and never seen one again. Carpe Diem! And that Acoma Black Quail reminds me a lot of The Black Grouse. .

@Victor Carpe Diem indeed!

No drams for another week, but I’m sure the green tea is rejuvenating my liver.

Doing a CSNY marathon in memory of David Crosby. RIP Croz, you gave us some great music.

@Victor Could you squeeze in a couple of bottles of Cutty Sark Prohibition with your desert island stash?

@bwmccoy Supply chain issues with the green chartreuse?

@BlueNote - No. just too lazy to go to the liquor store.

Tonight’s cocktail - Vieux Carre made with Old Forester 100 proof Rye

@BlueNote sure! I love Cutty Sark Prohibition. That is a great one for the desert island. I think I am down to my last 2 oz of it though. My sister may still have a 3/4 full bottle on hand, if I am lucky. .

@Victor I have full bottle of Prohibition if you are ever desperate...

@OdysseusUnbound The price of Dalmore 12 has now risen to $150 CDN. Oh well, Macallan 12 sherry oak in now $170 here. It makes Glenfarclas 12 look like a steal at less than $65.

@Nozinan is it still available in Ontario? It’s no longer listed in BC.

@BlueNote I don’t know if it was ever available in Ontario. I bought my two bottles in 2014 or 2015 in Vancouver. I think I finished the first bottle couple of years ago. I still have the other one and it’s good, but I noticed that I so rarely would open it, that I don’t really need the other bottle.

@MRick, Macallan 12 YO is now a sulphur bomb! ...what a shame!

@paddockjudge @MRick I could never quite understand what would make a 12 year old at 43% worth that kind of money.

@BlueNote M-A-C-A-L-L-A-N, that is what commands the price.

@Nozinan It's a statement of luxury, for those who enjoy the finest things in life, those who work hard and play hard, for those who never compromise on quality or something along those lines. Maybe if this teacher thing doesn't work out, I can try my hand at marketing.

@Nozinan Dalmore 12 is available in Ontario: $109.95. Dalmore 15 is $189.95. Cigar Malt is $199.95.

Or was that discussion about Cutty Sark Prohibition? If so, then no, it was never available in Ontario, but was available in Quebec. I think the SAQ may still have some.

@Nozinan - you forgot the T-H-E

@BlueNote - it's at 40% over here ... No way I'd pay £70+ for such a whisky. I honestly wonder who IS buying Macallan these days!?

@BlueNote, the batches from a decade ago were marvelous and AVAILABLE, without sulphur, for under $100 CDN, sometimes in the $70 range. Price doesn't change the taste, but a poor tasting whisky is too expensive at any price.

@YakLord it was indeed the Prohibition. I went on an overnight training trip to Vancouver. It turned out to be an interesting course but only 15 minutes of it were useful. But as it was on the dime of the organization sending me I believe I rented a car and picked up beef jerky from BKH and I found a good store at which I purchased many bottles. 2 Nikka from the barrel and 2 Prohibition (still have one of each), and 2 bottles on behalf of @paddockjudge. I believe one was the Nikka Coffey Malt or grain, and a Whistle Pig if I recall correctly.

That was one of my first forays into muling.

Tonight, on the eve of Robert Burns’ birthday, I’m starting off with a dram of the Society’s Robert Burns bottling from last year. Glen Grant SMWS 9.224 (14 year - May 2007) “Harvest hayride happiness” - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.7% ABV.

Next, a Sherry dram. 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.

Finishing the night with a peated dram. Bowmore SMWS 3.336 (17 year - Feb. 2004) "Sublime maritime" - 2nd-fill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 57.4% ABV.

@OdysseusUnbound you need to use ‘bespoke’ and ‘curated’ more in your advertising copy!