So, what are you drinking now?

Tonight (Friday), my wife and I had a couple of G&T’s made with Luxardo London Dry Gin for happy hour before dinner.

After dinner, I had some of the ice sphere left in my glass from the G&T’s, so I poured a little Hirsch The Horizon Straight Bourbon Whiskey - 46% ABV in the glass to sip on while I did the dishes.

Later, had a dram of Speyburn SMWS 88.28 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "Big, complex and impressive!" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 54.3% ABV while watching the Pittsburgh Pirates play Home Run Derby against my Mariners.

Finished with a dram of Inchgower SMWS 18.45 (11 year - June 2010) "Hola!" - After 8 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead - 57.3% ABV.

Tonight, Glenlossie SMWS 46.128 (11 year - Mar. 2010) "Lotta good stuff" - After 9 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill toasted Caucasian oak barrique with toasted heads - 54.5% ABV.

Followed by 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.

For happy hour tonight, I made 2 different gin-based cocktails that I’ve never made before. Both also had cognac. The Gin-Blind also had Grand Marnier and orange bitters. This was my wife and I’s favorite of the two. The Delmonico No. 1 had dry and sweet vermouth and angostura bitters (the darker of the two pictured below).

Later, had a dram of Speyburn SMWS 88.27 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "The nutcracker" - Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 54.0% ABV

Last night during our planning committee meeting (for a whisky group, not for work)...

Had a bbq last night after painting the front of the house in scorching hot conditions.

Beer was needed and my local wine merchants usually keep a few decent beers. Most of it was overly hopped ipa's, so not to my liking, but I spotted a case of a Canadian beer, Moose Head lager, lurking in the corner.

Never had a bad Canadian beer and this hit the spot - light and refreshing but with just enough substance to keep it interesting. Just what I wanted

To all Canadians - is this considered a decent beer over there or hog wash? For a lager, I thought it was excellent.

@RianC Moose Head beer has quite a few detractors. I am not one of them. I have always liked Moose Head. But, like all bottled beers, it is imperative that what you are drinking is fresh and hasn't been sitting around on a shelf for too long. I've consumed quite a few Moose Heads in my day. Very EASTERN Canada.

Plantation Rum O.F.T.D. 69% ABV, a sample gifted to me from @Nock. OK, @Nock, I will do a mini-review of this rum.

Nice fragrant medium-band-width molasses nose at lower range of medium pitches with some higher pitches of half-straight-sucrose and half caramelized sucrose. Good strength of flavours.

There is a lower-pitched effect in the mouth, much more bass in range. This is woody, like a good bourbon, meaning that the sweetness tastes more from oak than from added sugars.

Loses a little, but not a lot, in the finish.

Bottom line: this is a nice sipping rum, with a lovely nose and plenty of power. This is a total molasses trip, and a solid performer.

The throaty power and meaty thick texture of Plantation 69% ABV make me think of this as the rum analogue of William Larue Weller Bourbon.

Molasses rum flavours will never for me equal in appeal the flavours of wheated bourbon, but the parallel is still very strongly present.

It's very easy for me to see why you like this. This is powerful while also being clean and in certain aspects, e.g. the nose, elegant.

My scoring:

Non-Sequential Strength: 23 Quality: 22 Variety: 22.5 Harmony: 22 Total: 89.5/100

Sequential, Neat/w H20 Nose: 23/23.5 Palate: 22/22.5 Finish: 21.5/22 Balance: 22/22.5 Totals: 88.5/90.5

After studying the Plantation 69% Rum I had some OB Glenfiddich 18 yo, 43% AB. This is one I have always liked better than most people on Connosr seem to. At 18 years Glenfiddich manages to get a good bit of spiciness from the wood they are using. This is rather dry and rather spicy, qualities I like very much in whiski.

@Victor I'm a fan of this rum. It, along with Smith and Cross (to which you introduced me) are ideal for flambe bananas.

I find that this one has ripe banana on the nose. Do you get that as well?

@Nozinan no I do not get any banana flavours on the nose of the Plantation 69%. I really wish that I did. I love banana flavours in rums and in whiskis. That probably varies somewhat with batches and bottles.

As for Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Pot Still Rum, my first bottle was GREAT, as was yours, but I got a second bottle from presumably a later batch that started out not even good. After 4 years of air it became good but still nowhere near the first bottle 'great'.

Rum was my first spirits love, but it disappoints me more than any other category. Why, or how does it disappoint? 1) I don't like the taste of sucrose added to any alcoholic beverage, and that is common in rum, 2) the 90% of rum made from molasses has some charm, if it is full-bodied like a good bottle of Smith & Cross, but there is usually a rather crude component of flavours in molasses that just does not do it for me, and 3) range and variety of flavours is just usually not there with rum-- most rum is sort of a one trick pony. And if that trick is molasses, it becomes only occasionally impressive to me in a good way.

I much prefer Rhum Agricole as a category to the typical omnipresent molasses rums. When rhum agricole is done right it is quite elegant and sophisticated. Molasses rums are to me by contrast quite crude.

Part of last night's Isle of Arran tasting: Lagg Batch #2 and Batch #3. Not pictured, Arran The Bothy Batch #2 and Batch #4.

Been in the mood this afternoon/evening and started with a Laga DE - much, much better with air - I actually enjoyed this pour! Lots of honey, spice and (thankfully) some of the distillery character coming into the fore. Night and day difference since my last pour. As so often happens with finished whiskies, the cask seems to swamp the malt at first but, given air and time, the malt starts to reassert itself, as is the case here.

Glen Scotia Victoriana - much more creamy and malty than the Laga but equally, if not more, enjoyable. Lots of vibrant oak with this but also some more mature elements which balance nicely.

Those were post/whilst making dinner drams. Had a wee Moose Head lager with beef and celery stir fry (think I'm in love with smell of oyster sauce btw ). Post dinner:

A Freshly opened Edradour 10 Signatory Vintage UCF collection. Might be the darkest whisky I've ever had! Love it! Edradour has a note I can't pin down - something yeasty and funky - and it's often overpowering, but here it's a delight. Not a total sherry bomb (amazingly) but nippy and rich. Is it peated? I think not, but it has a real nose and tongue peat style nip to it. Oak? Heavy and dense but full of flavour. Might have to stock up on these, quite the bargain!

Currently savouring a Mortlach 15 Signatory Vintage. Not quite as dark as the Edradour but nearly so. Much more savoury but also poised and quite elegant. This sits close to perfection for my tastes - sweet, savoury, herbal and fruity. A perfect balance.

Cheers!

A Master of Malt single cask bottling of Royal Brackla. 11.5 years in a refill sherry butt, presented raw and @60.6%

Enjoyed the first pour of this and it just gets better. Bright, golden barley sugar base with light stone fruits, dark spices and toffee. Fairly one dimensional but juicy and inviting. I like whiskies like this - honest, fairly young but full-flavoured and powerful. Very spicy finish. Needs water, mind. About two tsp to a 35 ml pour, and it will take more.

Not bad for £50 (sheesh!) and I'll be keeping an eye on Brackla - I like the style.

Ardbeg Heavy Vapours as it is Ardbeg day.

Split this 5cl mini with my younger brother during a family get-together this afternoon...

@TracerBullet What's the verdict?

Last night, my wife and I had @jordytropp and his wife along with another couple over for dinner and drams.

I started off with 3 bottles that @jordytropp brought over. The first one was the best whisky of the night! Thanks @jordytropp for sharing this beautifully complex whisky.

Caperdonich (SMWS cask sample) 25 year (July 1996). 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel. 51.4% ABV.

Next, a Cadenheads single cask Glenrothes-Glenlivet 21 year old. 50.9% ABV.

Next, a single cask GlenDronach (2005-2020) 14 year. Cask # 1928. Full maturation in a Pedro Ximenez Puncheon. Bottle 83 of 613. 58.0% ABV.

Then we finished off my bottle of Speyburn SMWS 88.28 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "Big, complex and impressive!" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 54.3% ABV.

After dinner, our other friends poured @jordytropp and I a 3-bottle blind flight tasting where we had to pick our favorite and then pick the theme of the flight. @jordytropp got the theme correct (all Campbeltown whiskies), but I didn’t. I thought they were all from Islay.

First was Hazelburn 9 year Barolo cask matured. 57.9% ABV. This was nearly everyone’s favorite, but not mine. It was my 2nd favorite of the 3.

Next, Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2019 bottling. Rum cask finish. Peated. Distilled in 2003. 51.3% ABV. This was funky, but I didn’t detect the Rum finish. It also changed a lot as it sat in the glass. A very interesting dram.

The final dram of the flight was my favorite of the 3. Kilkerran Heavily Peated. Peat In Progress. 57.4% ABV.

Finished the night with a dram of Caol Ila SMWS 53.447 (14 year - May 2008) "The edge of midnight" - After 11 years in ex-bourbon, transferred this whisky into a 1st-fill American oak PX hogshead - 57.6% ABV.

A fun night with great friends!

Just got back from weekend Grief Camp as camp doctor. This was my 9th year doing it.

The camp, Camp Erin, was founded by a famous MLB pitcher, Jamie Moyer, who befriended a child with cancer. After she died he started a camp for grieving children who had lost caregivers or siblings. The camp brings together grieving children and teaches them skills to move forward with their grief. Most MLB cities have a Camp Erin now.

As I relaxed at home after showering off the bug spray and sunscreen, watching a K-drama with my wife, I wanted something appropriate to the occasion, so I poured a small measure of, what else? Wiser's Legacy.

(with a splash of W 23 CS... But I think I prefer each of them on their own)

Tonight, started with a sample of Benriach The Smoky 10 - 46% ABV.

Next, a sample of Colkegan Single Malt Whisky from Santa Fe Spirits - 46% ABV.

Finished with a sample of 10th Street Peated Single Malt (California) - 46% ABV.

These samples are left over from a pandemic era virtual tasting kit. I enjoyed them all/ The Benriach was my favorite, followed by the 10th Street and then the Colkegan.

@BlueNote Sorry for the late reply.

It was good. I could definitely tell it was Ardbeg. The color is pale straw (most initial comments from people is how pale this is) On the nose I get that Ardbeg peat and the barley cereal sweetness. On the palate, there is a mint note that I get in Ardbeg 10 but it is a bit more pronounced in this Heavy Vapours release. I also think that this is sweeter than the 10 yo. (I really need to taste this against the standard 10 when I get a chance) Ardbeg peat is there but the mouthfeel on this is very viscous. The pic I have included shows the legs on this one. Let me tell you, they linger a long time!

The finish is medium in length and the peat smoke tapers off to a slight ashy note.

Note as good to me as the Dark Cove release but better than the Ardcore from last year. I would consider purchasing another bottle of the standard release as this is a good unique bottling.

Last night (Monday), @jordytropp and I conducted an SMWS blind tasting for 38 attendees. We had the following drams.

Glenfarclas SMWS 1.265 (9 year - Jan. 2012) "OMA at the cinema" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.3% ABV.

Tomintoul SMWS 89.17 (9 year - Dec. 2012) "Keep nosing" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 67.5% ABV. Check out that ABV!

Teaninich SMWS 59.69 (13 year - Feb. 2008) "Exotic Tantalisation" - After 11 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 2nd-fill charred red wine barrique cask - 54.5% ABV.

Auchroisk SMWS 95.58 (15 year - Jan. 2006) "Sunny beach with hot sand" - After 13 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 2nd-fill ex-port barrique cask - 59.1% ABV.

Dailuaine SMWS 41.150 (15 year - Mar. 2006) "A voluptuous vortex" - After 13 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-Oloroso Spanish oak hogshead - 60.9% ABV.

Ledaig SMWS 42.77 (13 year - Feb. 2008) "Smoke from a burning drum" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 58.3% ABV. Numerous attendees thought this was an Ardmore.

One for quiet contemplation.

@fiddich1980, sir, how would you describe the flavours?

@Victor I've been slowly sipping this one over the past two years. I have struggled to describe the flavour components but, I will give it a shot {objective and subjective)

Nose: Heady spirit from walking through a distillery plant. Wood barrels holding liquor. There is a fermented grape type aroma which transitions to a sweet fruity character(Russet Heirloom (Golden Skin) Apples). Well aged and integrated Armagnac/Cognac with a hint of smoke. There is no searching for aromatics. This one comes out to greet you with honey/pollen.

Taste/Texture: Oily, mouth coating. White juicy grapes, followed by crisp firm Russet. Touches of tartness. Spikes and flecks of Conteau(orange liqueur). A sweet tobacco notes joins in but, it just shows it presents. Spicy mild freshly ground black pepper and heat sits as the canvas. The heat level is just perfect. Liquid can be swirled in the palate without being harsh.

Finish: It is long fruity, orange, ripe pineapple/tropical fruit ,oak is in check, exiting with spices. Yet, the complexity of this one give a false ephemeral sensation.

Rumored to be a Blend of Tomatin and Girvan

**The additional tasting not is Bergamot used in Earl Gray tea. It has an orange flavour characteristic.

@fiddich1980 thank you very much!

We’re headed to Scotland in August. Planning and organizing for 8 adults is tough. I’m not going to get to see Islay which is disappointing, but we’ll get to see a lot nonetheless. One of the distilleries we’re visiting for sure is Oban so I’m having a dram of the 14 year now. It’s better than I remembered. There’s more salt and “slate” (aka Talisker-ness) than I remember, but it’s also much fruitier (oranges and peaches) than Talisker.

@OdysseusUnbound always salt in Oban in my experience. Oranges? Sure, I'd like some, but I haven't yet encountered any in Oban.

@OdysseusUnbound I hope the Oban tour in it's present form is better than in 2006. I think I ended up buying a Lagavulin 16 at the distillery shop. Breakfast meals in Scotland are fabulously satisfying. The black pudding is memorable.

@fiddich1980 I’m a bit worried that the only two tours we have booked are Diageo distilleries (Talisker and Oban) but when you’re with a group of 8 who don’t really drink whisky and who don’t (for some odd reason) don’t want to plan the entire Scotland trip around visiting distilleries, you take what you can get. My wife and I will be in Glasgow at the start and end of our trip so I hope to drag her out to Glengoyne.

@Victor It’s subtle and I’d say there are more peaches than oranges, but there’s definitely a little orange zest on the nose. Perhaps absence has made the heart grow fonder because this one is better than I remember Oban 14 being. Although it could also be a good batch. Tonight this was easily an 87/100 or 88/100 point whisky for me whereas I remember thinking Oban was about an 84-85 in the past. Maybe I’m easier to satisfy because I’ve been drinking less.