So, what are you drinking now?

@OdysseusUnbound I think the variation is in the drink, not in you. Almost every Oban 14 I've had seemed to be a good bit different from every other Oban 14 I've had. None horrible. Some "meh". Some very good.

It always amazed me that I've known people for whom Oban 14 was THEIR drink. At first I could not fathom that choice. When I later consumed from the better batches I understood it.

@OdysseusUnbound Get the rest of that group to a re-education camp asap. Maybe waterboard them with Springbank 10.

@fiddich1980 - agree about those breakfasts! I had some Scottish black pudding the other day and it was lovely, very different than my usual Bury black pudding and more haggis tasting.

My trick for eating a fry up is lay off the carbs

@RianC It’s funny because my sister and brother tease me mercilessly about my refusal to eat oysters/mussels/wet bugs (I do love fish), but they won’t try haggis or black pudding, both of which I intend to consume as often as possible in Scotland.

@BlueNote Can I sign up to be “Springbank water-boarded”? I’d be just like Homer Simpson in the famous Hallowe’en episode where he gets sent to hell to be “tortured” with all the donuts in the world and ends up saying “MORE!”

@OdysseusUnbound - While I've never toured Oban, I did visit the distillery a couple of times (2007 & 2010). Neither visit was noteworthy in what they offered for tastings, i.e., standard 14 and not much else. However, I know that Diageo has been upping their visit center game in recent years at most, if not all of their distilleries.

Case in point, my wife and I also visited Talisker in 2007 and 2010. The experience was underwhelming. Toured in 2007. Was only offered the 10 year at the end to taste. Fortunately, I had a "Diageo passport" which also allowed me a taste of the 18 year. Similar experience in 2010. On our visit in 2016, the visitor center had been completely remodeled and they offered us EVERYTHING Talkiser makes during the tasting. I think they offered 7 or 8 different expressions. It was a completely different experience than 2007 and 2010. I hope that bodes well for you at both Oban and Talisker.

By the way, if you are in Edinburgh and can get to Glenkinchie, my wife and I had a crazy good experience there. Again, we didn't tour, but when I asked about tasting, they took us back to a room that was essentially the best stocked bar you can imagine with everything that Diageo makes. The lady pointed at the wall of bottles and said "what do you want? You can have anything you see and as much as you want". Unfortunately, we were driving to the west coast after that, so I wasn't able to take advantage of the offer, but I've had friends who have visited Glenkinchie and had similar experiences. Of course now that I say that, if you were to go, it's probably changed.

I hope you have a great trip! I will be living vicariously through you!

Last night, a dram of Balblair 18 year old - 46% ABV, followed by 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

Last night I attended an event with Hirsch bourbon's head blender, Kevin Aslan. Kevin talked us through 3 expressions; The Horizon Straight Bourbon Whiskey, The Bivouac Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and The Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Oak. I have a bottle of Horizon. It's a fine MGP bourbon, but nothing special. However, it was really fun to taste through the three back-to-back-to-back because they could not be more different. Details below, but The Horizon is a high corn MGP product. The Bivouac has slightly more single malt in the mash bill, but it makes a huge difference in the nose. Bivouac is 100% Bardstown (made and aged on-site). I assume the single barrel is also made by Bardstown, but not sure. They were reluctant to give details on that one for some reason.

The Horizon - 46% ABV (the batch, AHH0622, we had last night is the same batch that I have at home). 94% is 4 years 4 months old. 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. 6% is 8 years 4 months old. 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley. Nose and palate are a slightly sweeter than normal, but otherwise typical bourbon to me. You know it's bourbon.

The Bivouac - 50% ABV (Batch AHH1122). 95% is 3 years 5 months old. 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. 5% is 8 years old. 72% corn, 13% rye and 15% malted barley. The nose on this one was all single malt but was all bourbon on the palate. It was a really cool dichotomy. The nose had a dusty note that the first one didn't have.

The Single Barrel - 63.6% ABV. Barrel no. GLD23030. 90% is 8 years 7 months old. 72% corn, 13% rye and 15% malted barley. 10% is 3 years 7 months old. 74% corn, 18% rye and 8% malted barley. The nose on this one was earthy and then evolved to where I got a mental picture of the smells when my mom used to make pickles; vinegar, dill , etc.

While all three expressions were very drinkable, I liked them in reverse order. The single barrel was the best, in my opinion, followed by the Bivouac and the Horizon.

After the event, they were offering either an Old Fashion or a Manhattan made with the Hirsch Horizon. I had the Manhattan. It was pretty good, even though I prefer Manhattans be made with Rye. A fun night with fellow whisk(e)y enthusiasts.

Last night (Friday), for happy hour, my wife and I had a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan's made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

Later, I finished off a sample of Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength - 62.8% ABV.

Finished off the heels of bottles of Lagavulin 16 and Laphroaig 10 sherry oak with my father in law whilst watching the champions league final. Good drams for a good win. Cheers..

Last night (Sunday), for happy hour, my wife and I had a couple of Vieux Carre cocktails made with Old Forester 100 Proof while sitting in the hot tub after a day of yard work.

Later, a dram of Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak - 46% ABV.

Followed by a dram of Highland Park SMWS 4.304 (16 year - Jan. 2005) "A proper summer dram" - After 14 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a shaved, toasted and recharred (STR) 1st-fill ex-Pedro Ximénez barrique cask - 58.3% ABV.

Fighting Cock Bourbon, 51.5% ABV/103 proof. This seems like the perfect name for a drink to celebrate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Denver Nuggets just won their first NBA championship in franchise history tonight, in a game which was very much like a street brawl, or...a cock fight. Nikola Jokic, the 7 foot tall Serb Nugget Center, is currently the best basketball player in the NBA. I love to see the triumph of a man who is extremely modest and humble. No braggadocio, no egotism, no flash, just extreme competence and great loyalty to his teammates. Bravo Denver Nuggets. Bravo Nikola Jokic !

Tonight, The Irishman Single Malt Irish Whiskey - 40% ABV

@TracerBullet, I think they'd have to try pretty hard NOT to make something better than the Ardcore.

@MadSingleMalt It's been such a long time since we've heard from you!

I hope all is going well with you and that your drams are always excellent.

Last night, Balblair 18 year old - 46% ABV

Having a couple of drams from newer bottles tonight.

Highland Park SMWS 4.346 (12 year - Oct. 2009) "Savoury and sweet" - After 8 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.9% ABV.

Ledaig SMWS 42.77 (13 year - Feb. 2008) "Smoke from a burning drum" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 58.3% ABV.

On-line poker with the guys tonight.

Glentauchers SMWS 63.91 (19 year - May 2002) "Oh behave!" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 52.3% ABV.

Speyburn SMWS 88.28 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "Big, complex and impressive!" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 54.3% ABV.

Glen Grant SMWS 9.235 (17 year - Mar. 2004) "The proof is in the finish" - After 15 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-Spanish oak Oloroso hogshead - 55.8% ABV.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.447 (14 year - May 2008) "The edge of midnight" - After 11 years ex-bourbon wood, transferred to a 1st-fill American oak PX hogshead - 57.6% ABV.

Last night was my eldest son's high school graduation ceremony, and I celebrated afterward with a dram of Lagavulin 16. This bottle has been slightly below average, at least in regards to what I expect from Lag 16. Good, but not great. I hope time and air will improve it.

@OdysseusUnbound I'm finding the 8 year old more appealing than the 16 lately, both in taste and price. The 16 has become a stupid price. Congratulations to your grad. What's next for him?

@OdysseusUnbound - congrats on you son's achievement - that must of been a proud moment! I've got to wait another 10 years for my first to finish school. You don't look old enough ,

@OdysseusUnbound - Congrats on your son’s graduation.

For last night’s (Friday) happy hour, my wife and I had a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan’s made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

Saturday afternoon my debating society had its first in-person meeting since the pandemic came to Canada. It was a non-traditional Honourary President's night - in the past held at a posh place with fancy food and dress. Instead, my amazing wife (without whom it would not have been possible) and I had 22 people over in our backyard, and I BBQed 29 beef burgers, 3 beyond meat burgers, 5 hot dogs and some corn on the cob. others brough salads and dessert.

We have a number of traditional toasts (including one to the Monarch, which for the first time in the memory of any active member, was made to the King). Because I know that the honorary president, who was a part of my first whisky tasting group in 2011, really likes A'Bunadh, I made that (batch 53), Arbeg Wee Beastie (for the peat lovers), and Glenmorangie Original (for beginners) available for the toasts. No one had the Glenmo, my brother chose the Ardbeg, and everyone else who partook (including me), had the A'Bunadh.

I don't know if it was the batch, or the fact that the honourary president, my friend, has incurable cancer and I have not had a chance to sip whisky with him in years, but it tasted especially good this time.

Interesting note:

I was hesitant to put out a bottle of rare awesome whisky because one of the guests was the one who drained a decent volume of my first (and at that time only) bottle of Taliker 57º N in one go. You can read about that fiasco here:

connosr.com/talisker-57-north-whisky-revie…

But this time she didn't even have a drop of whisky. So my fears were for naught.

In all a great evening and probably one of my top ten experiences of tasting a single whisky.

Tonight, my brother-in-law came over and we had the following…

Finished off my bottle of Glen Grant SMWS 9.235 (17 year - Mar. 2004) "The proof is in the finish" - After 15 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-Spanish oak Oloroso hogshead - 55.8% ABV.

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.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.447 (14 year - May 2008) "The edge of midnight" - After 11 years in an ex-bourbon cask, transferred to a 1st-fill American oak PX hogshead - 57.6% ABV.

Ledaig SMWS 42.77 (13 year - Feb. 2008) "Smoke from a burning drum" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 58.3% ABV.

@BlueNote My son is headed to Carlton University (Ottawa) in the fall to start a B.Sc. in Neuroscience and Mental Health.

@RianC You're too kind. I'm closing in on 44 (December of this year) and we had our kids when we were fairly young. I certainly don't feel that young, but I do feel as though the time has flown by. It's crazy. One day they're asking you to carry them around and the next they're costing you tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and residence fees.

@OdysseusUnbound funny, I’m 10 years older than you but I won’t be paying tuition for 2 more years…may need to sell off the collection to pay for that.

Needed something with a little extra octane tonight. Tomintoul SMWS 89.17 (9 year - Dec. 2012) "Keep nosing" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 67.5% ABV. That hit the spot.

@Nozinan Who knows? Maybe our Pree-MAIR will do an about-face and decide to properly fund post secondary education by then. (Unlikely) I have to say, you don't look 10 years older than me. Maybe getting out of the teaching profession early on has maintained your youthfulness.

Don Julio 1942 tequila. Cheers mates!

@Victor I have never had 1942 but it is on my bucket list once I save enough pesos. Is it as good as it sounds?