So, what are you drinking now?

@Victor BTW 1942 is $300 Cdn here plus 12% tax

@Jonesz yes, usually it is, but there are some lesser batches. It is a well-loved tequila, including by me.

That is quite a steep price. I'd suggest trying a sample first, especially from a friend. I myself would not pay a price like that for much of any bottle of liquor. See how you like the 'house style' of Don Julio first. The standard Don Julio Anejo should cost well less than half that price. Maybe try a bottle of that first and just get a taste of the 1942 when you can.

Best option? Get some Don Julio 1942 from Mejico at a decent price.

Last night I opened a single cask Old Pulteney (15 @51.9%). A little heat on the first pour but, once aired, I fancy this will be delightful. Touches of the old 17.

Then had a Royal Brackla 11, MoM single cask @61% - love this! Big, bold flavours with a gorgeous barley sugar sweet base. And at half the price of the Pulteney, a steal

Last night, Speyburn SMWS 88.27 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "The nutcracker" - Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 54.0% ABV.

@Victor yep just checked and the "standard" Don Julio is just over my usual shutoff of 100 bux a bottle @$103 plus tax in my neck of the woods so much more affordable. Will likely take your advice.

@Jonesz at its best, which is usually, Don Julio 1942 is light, high-pitched, VIBRANT, and elegant. These are no doubt carefully selected barrels chosen for quality for this 2.5 yo anejo tequila. So 1942 is an older anejo, just 6 months from being classified as an extra-anejo. Don Julio Anejo standard is quite nice, but typically not so ALIVE. These are the standard barrels of anejo tequila from a very good distillery.

To use a bourbon analogy: comparing Don Julio 1942 to Don Julio Anejo is, with respect to FLAVOURS, like comparing Van Winkle 12 yo "Lot B" bourbon to W.L.Weller 12 yo bourbon. Despite some greater age for the 1942 compared to the standard anejo, the difference is primarily one of barrel selection. The Don Julio 1942 barrels are the barrels selected for this 'flagship' product.

@Victor Always some valuable tidbits from you. Thanks for the info on Don Julio. Not being a tequila drinker in the past (probably have only tasted a half dozen) it is nice to get some advice and I know from reading some of your posts that you do enjoy your tequilas.

@Jonesz I always thought of tequila to be for me, "the final frontier" and that I'd never find any that I liked. Then I tried a few of them and found that I liked most of them quite a lot, provided that they were 100% de agave, and not mixtos, which are usually 49% grain neutral spirits.

With tequila no longer "the final frontier", the only thing left for me was pisco, because I had never had one I liked. Well, I've since even had some pisco that I liked.

There is no substitute for experience. Nope, prejudices will just not give you any true or meaningful knowledge.

Last night (Thursday), I went over to @jordytropp's house to meet his parents who are visiting from Virginia. While there, we had a couple of drams.

First, @jordytropp opened up a 25 year Wemyss Blended Malt called Velvet Fig (42.3% ABV). This is a blend of Speyside, Highland and unpeated Islay whiskies aged in Sherry casks. While not a sherry bomb, sherry notes were front and center. There was also a fig note mid palate. I see where they got the name. It's a very beautiful blend.

Next, we finished off his bottle of Caperdonich (SMWS cask sample) 25 year (July, 26th, 1996). 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel. 51.4% ABV. So light, yet so complex. An amazing whisky! Thanks @jordytropp for sharing these two whiskies with me.

Tonight (Friday), for happy hour, I had a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan's made with Old Forrester Rye 100 Proof.

I was exploring a G&M Mortlach 18 Cask Strength 1st fill bourbon cask, 57.2%. Most Mortlach are finished in a sherry cask and interpreting the distillates character can be a challenge. This one is clean, garden herbs(sage, bayleaf, thyme). There is loads of sweet vanilla, creamy barley sugars, spices and citrus(some tropical fruits). A background of cured deli meats, yeast and oak. The addition of water rounds flavours. Overall, a sweet and sour experience - rhubarb&sugar. The nose out weights the palate. It drinks younger than it's eighteen years.

@fiddich1980 That sounds a like a really interesting dram. I do miss that cask strength G&M range. They bottled some lovely casks.

Last night (Saturday), for happy hour, I made two different Gin martinis. First up, I used Isle of Harris gin (pictured below). I was supposed to use a ruby red grapefruit slice for garnish, but we didn’t have any in the house, so I used a lemon and orange slice instead. For the second martini, I used Empress gin. While my wife and I love Empress, it didn’t work for this particular martini recipe. Compared to the Harris gin, the Empress tasted “flat”, very one-dimensional. To be fair, I used Isle of Harris’s martini recipe for both versions.

Later, after dinner, had a couple of peated drams.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.447 (14 year - May 2008) "The edge of midnight" - 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.

Yesterday I took it easy after being on-call the night before.

I have been working on a review for July 1 (Canada Day), and I tasted 2 samples of a Canadian Rye next to a freshly opened bottle. I didn't have the energy to finish all 30 cc that I poured, so I combined them and have put away the remaining 20 cc for future sipping.

On Monday night, I had a dram of Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Cask # 6140 Single cask release, cask strength 7 year (4 years New American Oak + 3 years Pineau des Charentes brandy cask) 50.5% ABV. This bottle has been open about a year. It has always been good, but now that it's down to its last few drams, it is downright amazing. Notes of dark chocolate, charred meat and plums. It was so good; I had a second dram.

Last night (Tuesday), after working late, I wanted something good, but not too complex. Balblair 18 year old - 46% ABV was exactly what I was in the mood for.

Last night (Wednesday), after all-day leadership meetings, I went out with a few of my co-workers for dinner and drinks. Over the course of the evening, I had 3 barrel aged Manhattans made with Woodinville (Washington) Rye (45% ABV). I don't have any information on how long the Manhattan was in the barrel, but the aging / wood influence was noticeable. It was very good, but it should be for $22 each.

Doing a Yoichi H2H. The 10 has a nice depth on flavours and nuanced complexity. Distillate is the driving factor on both, cask finishing definitely takes a back seat.

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

Had a JD BiB pre dinner now having a Signatory 15 Mortlach. The JD is perfect for casually sipping away at - loads of foam banana and oak but very easy to drink. The Mortlach is wonderful - big, rich and savoury. Mmm!

For happy hour tonight, my wife and I had a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattans made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

Tonight’s dram; 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.

A wee pour of Old Pulteney 15 (bottled for Tyndrum whisky) to toast the USA!

Happy 4th of July!

America, despite many current narratives, is still a great nation full of amazing people and, as a Brit, will always have a place in my heart for WW2 alone. Never forget! And, it goes without saying, never forget what you became free of and celebrate the freedoms you have! And that's from a Brit!

I'm getting all emotional (lol!) but, this is as good a place as any to say it - God bless America!

Cheers, Yankees!

A wee touch of music too toast with too! No real connection other than the date it sailed, but still a banger!

We’re visiting some of my wife’s family for a few days during the 4th of July holiday. Last night (Monday, the 3rd), we all had some of the whisky I brought (unfortunately, didn’t bring any American whiskey).

The Irishman The Harvest Single Malt & Single Pot - 40% ABV.

Speyburn SMWS 88.27 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "The nutcracker" - Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 54.0% ABV.

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.

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.

Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak - 46% ABV.

Celebrated 4th of July last night with my wife’s family.

The Irishman The Harvest Single Malt & Single Pot - 40% ABV.

Dalmore SMWS 13.97 (8 year - April 2013) "A wee, sweet-toothed Scottish picnic" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.9% ABV.

Glen Spey SMWS 80.39 (13 year - Mar. 2008) "Achingly beautiful" - After 11 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-Marsala barrique cask - 57.8% ABV.

Yesterday (Wednesday), on our way home from my wife's families place, we stopped at Bainbridge Organic Distillers (Bainbridge Island, WA). This was my first time visiting. We sampled the following;

Legacy Vanilla Vodka (my wife tried this one. I passed.)

Heritage Doug Fir Gin - not good. harsh.

Heritage Oaked Gin - Same gin, just aged. The aging / wood influence improves this one greatly.

Battle Point Wheat Whiskey (Barrel Proof - 67.3% ABV) - A very nice wheated whiskey. Bought a bottle.

Battle Point Maple Cask finished wheat whiskey - much better than expected. Not overly sweet.

2 Islands Islay Cask (Battle Point Wheat Whiskey finished in an ex-Laphroaig cask). 43% ABV. Perfectly balanced. The wheat is present upfront with the peat coming through in the finish. Bottle a bottle of this one as well.

2 Islands Barbados Cask (Battle Point Wheat Whiskey finished in an ex-Barbados Rum cask). This was very well done as well.

2 Islands Hokkaido Cask Barrel Proof (Battle Point Wheat Whiskey finished in Mizunara Oak from the Japanese island of Hokkaido.) - This one didn't work for me. Very harsh.

Yama Mizunara Cask. This one is the reason I wanted to visit this distillery. This is the world’s only non-Japanese whiskey to be aged exclusively in virgin Mizunara casks. While it was very, very nice, there is no way I would pay $500 for the bottle. I'd rather have 6 bottles of the Islay Cask for the same amount of money.

We also sampled their barrel aged maple syrup. Bought a bottle of this as well.

As we were finishing up, the lady helping us brought out a bottle of their gin that was finished in an ex-Laphroaig cask. There was only about a 1/4 of the bottle left and it's the last bottle they have. I would have never thought gin and peat would go together, but it was excellent. I would have bought a bottle if it was available. I asked the owner to please make another batch!

Overall, a fun time and a very positive distillery experience.

Later last night, after getting home, had a dram of Caol Ila SMWS 53.447 (14 year - May 2008) "The edge of midnight" - 1st-fill American oak PX hogshead - 57.6% ABV.

Tonight, 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.

Last night, as I am hosting a brother in law (who likes whisky) and a cousin of my wife (who likes gin and is a bartender in the UK), we had a couple od small after dinner drams.

We started with Amrut Cask Strength, 2007 Special edition, followed by a little of the Aberlour A'Bunadh batch 53. Two very solid whiskies.

Last night (Friday), for happy hour, my wife and I had a couple Vieux Carre cocktails made with Old Forester 100 Proof Rye.

Later, I rated 5 open, unrated bottles.

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. Rating: 91

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. Rating: 86

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. Rating: 88

Ledaig SMWS 42.77 (13 year - Feb. 2008) "Smoke from a burning drum" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 58.3% ABV. Rating: 90

Caol Ila SMWS 53.447 (14 year - May 2008) "The edge of midnight" - 1st-fill American oak PX hogshead - 57.6% ABV. Rating: 92

Tonight’s happy hour consisted of a couple of Jerry Thomas Manhattan’s made with Old Forester 100 proof rye.

Last night I did a head-2-head with a single cask Old Pulteney 15 and the discontinued 17 year old Pulteney (From a sample I'd kept from my last bottle).

The former is ex bourbon, and had more flinty, waxy and biscuity notes. The latter, had more sweetness (though not too much), floral notes and elegant toffee. I liked both but the 17 edged it; the single cask being less accessible, perhaps, the 17 more rounded and crow pleasing.

I was also pleased that the sample had held up after five years, and it's reassuring to know that retaining 'the dregs' is a sound strategy!

Currently sipping an after dinner (pork chops and sage and buttered new potatoes) Mortlach Signtory Vintage. Absolutely perfect 'desert' after the very savoury pork. I'm approaching the final quarter of the bottle now and it's at its best. I'm already planning my mourning period for when it goes ...

@RianC people like @Nock and I hate to let any even slightly interesting bottle go empty, because then we won't be able to compare it to something else at a later date.

As to Old Pulteney 17 year old, I am happily still sitting on an unopened bottle of it, and the last 2 oz from my previous bottle. Wonderful wonderful whisky!

Cheers, mate!