So, what are you drinking now?

@BlueNote - I couldn't even respond to your baseball comments in my last post after the Mariner's lost 4 games in a row. They will now basically need to win out the season in order to make the playoffs. A win tonight against Houston is a step in the right direction. I will root for the Blue Jays if the M's don't make it, but since I'm originally from Texas, I will begrudgingly root for the Rangers as well. Anyone but Houston, please.

Tonight, I rated two more open bottles. A couple of really nice peated expressions.

Highland Park SMWS 4.328 (14 year - Jan. 2008) "Meets expectations" - At 9 years of age, they Society combined selected casks, then they returned the single malt into a variety of different casks to develop further. This 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel is one of those casks. Personally, I would have named this one "Exceeds expectations". Rating: 90

Ardmore SMWS 66.229 (15 year - July 2007) "Tarred and re-feathered" - Matured for 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being transferred to a first fill American oak Pedro Ximénez hogshead - 59.4% ABV. This one is stunning! Rating: 94

@bwmccoy Good win for the Ms last night, bad loss for the Jays against the dreaded Yankees.

I've become a big Ardmore fan in the last few years. I've had quite a few indy bottlings, all at good strength and all very tasty.

Off to Hood River tomorrow to spend a few days with the inlaws and see what the Oregon liquor stores have to offer.

@BlueNote - Safe Travels. I'm headed to central Washington this weekend for my brother-in-law's annual guy's weekend. At least there won't be any drinking or poker playing...

Tonight, I rated the last 3 open, unrated bottles in my cabinet.

Strathmill SMWS 100.40 (10 year - June 2012) "Well Red" - After maturing for seven years in an-ex bourbon hogshead, transferred to a first fill d'Arenberg Australian shiraz barrique cask - 62.1% ABV. Rating: 89.

Ben Nevis SMWS 78.62 (8 year - Nov. 2013) "At home on the range" - After 4 years in an ex-Oloroso butt, transferred to a 2nd-fill PX butt - 66.9% ABV. Rating: 88

Copperworks (Seattle, WA) SMWS 143.4 (3 year - Mar. 2018) "Coast to coast" - New American oak barrel, #3 char - 61.2% ABV. Rating: 87

Last night (Thursday), some of our management team and I took my boss out for happy hour in celebration of his retirement this coming Monday. I had an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan, but I didn't ask what whisk(e)y they used for either one. The Old Fashioned was not very good. Glad I switched to the Manhattan.

After getting home, I was trying to decide which of my whiskies I was going to bring with me for our annual Guys Weekend, so I sampled the following:

Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) American Single Malt "Classic" (Batch C '19-5) - 45% ABV.

Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof - 67.3% ABV

Hudson Whiskey NY "Back Room Deal". New York Straight Rye Whiskey finished in peated Scotch barrels. 46% ABV.

Last night (Friday), for guys weekend, my brother-in-law and I had the following drams:

Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) American Single Malt "Classic" (Batch C '19-5) - 45% ABV.

Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof - 67.3% ABV

Arran Sherry Cask - 55.8% ABV.

Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak - 46% ABV

Port Charlotte Valinch 2011 PLC:01 - 62.1% ABV

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

Highland Park SMWS 4.328 (14 year - Jan. 2008) "Meets expectations" - At 9 years of age, they Society combined selected casks from the same distillery. They then returned the single malt into a variety of different casks to develop further. This 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel is one of those casks. 60.6% ABV.

So it is just past 7am on Saturday morning and I just completed a Scotch Malt Whisky Society virtual tasting with members from around the world. This was an attempt to set a Guinness World record for the largest on-line whisky tasting. At this time, we don't know if we set the world record or not, but it was interesting drinking 3 drams between 6 and 7am local time.

The first dram was Linkwood SMWS 39.224 (11 year - Sep. 2010) "Sunshine in a wooden bowl" from a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.5% ABV.

Next, Royal Brackla SMWS 55.78 (13 year - Sep. 2009) "What a spread!" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill PX hogshead - 59.2% ABV.

We finished with a Blended Malt called "Batch 15". 10 years old (April 2011). 50% ABV. It was a peated dram made up of a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-PX and ex-Oloroso casks.

This world record attempt is part of the Society's 40th Anniversary Celebration.

@bwmccoy Good on you! I tried to join that but the tasting kits were all gone (for us on this side of the pond). Still could get them in the UK though.

@bwmccoy - best of luck with the record

Last night, for the final night of Guys weekend, my brother-in-law and I had the following drams.

Hudson Whiskey NY "Back Room Deal". New York Straight Rye Whiskey finished in peated Scotch barrels. 46% ABV.

Woodinville Bourbon (45% ABV)

Whiskey Del Bac (Tuscon, AZ) American Single Malt "Classic" (Batch C '19-5) - 45% ABV.

Linkwood SMWS 39.224 (11 year - Sep. 2010) "Sunshine in a wooden bowl" from a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 61.5% ABV.

Royal Brackla SMWS 55.78 (13 year - Sep. 2009) "What a spread!" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill PX hogshead - 59.2% ABV.

Society Blended Malt "Batch 15". 10 years old (April 2011). 50% ABV. It was a peated dram made up of a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-PX and ex-Oloroso casks.

At our monthly guild planning committee meeting on Monday we had an eau-de-vie made from pressed and distilled green olives, a rye finished in sherry casks, a rye finished in Belgian Sour Ale casks, and a young single malt finished in mezcal casks.

The olive eau-de-vie was interesting and I could see using it in cocktails. The mezcal finished single malt was undrinkable and went down the drain.

Behind in my posting...

On Sunday night, after getting home from guy's weekend, I tasted through the 6 Society whiskies that @jordytropp and I would be pouring on Monday night for the Society's October Outturn Preview Tasting event. I also tasted them again on Monday night at the event.

Glentauchers SMWS 63.94 (8 year - Feb. 2013) "Old style enthusiasm" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.6% ABV.

Inchmurrin SMWS 112.94 (20 year - July 2000) "A stranger in these lands" - 2nd-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 56.0% ABV.

Glenfarclas SMWS 1.279 (11 year - Jun. 2011) "Deeeep" - After 8 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill Spanish oak Oloroso hogshead - 63.1% ABV.

Glen Moray SMWS 35.310 (20 year - May 2001) "Hints of matchbox" - After 17 years in an ex-Oloroso butt, transferred to a heavily charred 1st-fill puncheon - 57.8% ABV.

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.197 (9 year - Oct. 2013) "More pirate than puffer" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 59.8% ABV.

Bunnahabhain SMWS 10.245 (9 year - Oct. 2013) "That shed won't paint itself" - After 5 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-PX hogshead - 59.3% ABV. This was my favorite of the night by far!

Getting ready to start vacation. Will be heading to Ireland and Scotland so whisky will be had! @bwmccoy When in Edinburgh, we have plans to stop at both SMWS Members Rooms. 28 Queen Street for drams and The Vaults, Leith for dinner and drams. Sadly we were unable to get the apartment at The Vaults as it was already booked.

We will be traveling for about 14 days spending most of our time in Scotland in Speyside although we will be hitting the Highlands and Inverness.

@TracerBullet - enjoy your trip! Hopefully you'll get to sample some amazing drams and scenery

Currently, a Lagavulin DE 2021. I do feel a little let down by this bottle but, that being said, it's far from bad and quite enjoyable to casually sip away at. The px influence has toned down a bit with air; it's less sweet, which is a plus. I can see why some would like it more than me though - it's a Lagavulin 'light'.

@TracerBullet - will be living vicariously through you! Hope you have a great trip and look forward to your postings!

I’m in Spokane, WA for work again. The only whisky I brought with me is a sample from a bottle that a friend of mine recently brought back with him from Scotland.

Last night (Friday), I had half of the sample. A 10 year Linkwood from a Cadenhead’s Warehouse bottling from an ex-bourbon hogshead. 57.9% ABV.

I’m a huge Linkwood fan and this one did not disappoint. A stunning example of what this distillery can be.

Arrived in Dublin today. We are tired but we visited Trinity College to see The Book of Kells. We then headed to Jameson for the Secret Tasting Tour.

Yesterday (Saturday), since my business trip was a bust (again), my wife, younger son and I went to a distillery in Spokane that we weren't familiar with; Browne Family Spirits. We shared a flight of their Reserve Single Malt (45% ABV), Reserve Bourbon (45% ABV), Reserve Rye (45% ABV) and their Distiller's Rye Cask Strength Single Barrel (59.46% ABV) - pictured below. The single malt was my wife and I's favorite, followed by the Bourbon. I was disappointed with both of the Rye's. The flavor profile was very light. I couldn't detect any spice notes you usually get with rye. Neither was bad. They were both drinkable; they just didn't do anything for me. After the flight, I had a Manhattan cocktail made with their Rye. It was fine, but nothing special. Again, it was too light.

Later, my wife, younger son and I met up with my older son, his wife and their new baby. After dinner, we went to a whisky bar. I had a Green Spot (40% ABV) and a WhistlePig Farmstock Rye (43% ABV).

Today (Sunday), before driving home from Spokane, my wife, younger son and I went to a distillery (Dry Fly Distilling) that we've been to before, but they've recently relocated to a new location in Spokane, so we wanted to check it out. With lunch, I had a flight of some of their whiskies; 3 year Port Finished Wheat Whiskey, 6 year Triticale (rye & wheat hybrid), a Cold Smoke Scotch Ale (from Kettlehouse Brewing in Bonner, Montana) barrel aged wheat whiskey, a local brewery (Lumberbeard) Stout barrel aged wheat whiskey, a Triticale Port Finished and their version of an Irish whiskey (5 year Single Cask, Single Pot Still). They were all 45% ABV and all very good. So much so, that I did some damage to the credit card after visiting their bottle shop on the way out. See my "Which bottle(s) did you just buy and why?" post for details.

Visited Roe & Co. yesterday.

One more from Roe & Co.

Hi everybody!

I found myself nearby during this current orbit and thought I’d check in before heading out to deep space again.

I’m been on a Bunnahabhain kick lately. There’s something perfect about it.

I recently picked up a bottle of Loki Icelandic Single Malt, smoked with sheep dung. It has an earthy-grassy finish. It went well with the view of icebergs and Puffins while sitting on Black Sand beaches.

I’m reading about all your recent quaffs.

@Wodha - great to hear from you!

Tonight, I finished off a sample of 10 year Linkwood from a Cadenhead’s Warehouse bottling from an ex-bourbon hogshead. 57.9% ABV.

Also had a dram of Isle of Raasay Single Malt (Lightly Peated) - 46.4% ABV

When to Teeling yesterday. Tried the Wonders of Wood- Virgin Portuguese Oak, Rising Reserve 21 year old and the Distillery exclusive. The 21 was my favorite but was not worth the asking price. The Wonders of Wood was the second favorite.

Last night (Tuesday), Strathmill SMWS 100.40 (10 year - June 2012) "Well Red" - After maturing for seven years in an-ex bourbon hogshead, transferred to a first fill d'Arenberg Australian shiraz barrique cask - 62.1% 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

Tonight, Clynelish SMWS 26.210 (9 year - Oct. 2012) "A yum, fun and waxy one" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.1% ABV.

Followed by Ardmore SMWS 66.229 (15 year - July 2007) "Tarred and re-feathered" - Matured for 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being transferred to a first fill American oak Pedro Ximénez hogshead - 59.4% ABV.

Stopped in at the Queens Street location of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society last evening. Was a great experience and my friend and I had two drams each.

Tonight we are having dinner in Leith at the original location, The Vaults.

Here is a picture of our first two drams.

Bruichladdich Octomore 8.2, 58.4% ABV

Between @Nock's birthday and re-watching a movie about Bruichladdich, I've been thinking about Octomore. Thank you for the sample @Nock.

Here is the movie:

www.youtube.com/watch

I think that you will like it if you haven't already seen it.

For those who are unfamiliar, the way that Bruichladdich gets three times the polyphenol levels of typical Ardbeg or Laphroaig is by doing the smoking at the lowest possible temperature. It's all in the movie. Cheers, friends!

Port Askaig 100 Proof...

Last night (Thursday), Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 - 8 years - ex-European & ex-American oak casks - 50% ABV.

Copperworks (Seattle, WA) SMWS 143.4 (3 year - Mar. 2018) "Coast to coast" - New American oak barrel, #3 char - 61.2% 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.

Friday night's happy hour was a pre-made Earl Grey Old Fashioned from Dry Fly Distilling (Spokane, WA).

Later, finished the night with Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Wheat Whiskey - 43% ABV.