What is the next bottle you purchase or open?

@paddockjudge The 12 is about the only good thing HP has left in the AS affordable category. I just re-tasted my Valkyrie: what a weakling piece of crap that is. I thought I was going to barf reading the Viking bullshit on the box. The Full Volume is not too bad, it's main saving grace is that it is about half the price of the OB 18.

@Nozinan maybe the problem will be solved

thebeaverton.com/2018/04/…

@BlueNote, the last HP, prior to this 12 YO, was a Signatory Highland Park 1991, 20 YO tainted with sulphur, a big disappointment for @Victor and I. It was given to me in a trade as a bonus item...not because it was tainted, there was also a bottles of Glendronach Parliament 21 YO and Revival 15 YO added to that trade as well and both are nice whiskies. Perhaps I'll sit on this recently acquired bottle. It joins another HP 12Y0, acquired in a trade with my brother a few years ago. He had received a number of HP 12 YOs ten years ago at his 40th birthday party.

Too bad about the Valkyrie. I rec'd one of these for Christmas and returned it for two Wiser's Legacy and a 5 cent credit, both bottles of Legacy have been opened The verbiage, ad nauseam, on the packaging is what strongly influenced my decision to return it, untried.

Some whisky won at auction: - A bottle of Grant’s Deluxe Scotch from a bygone era. It comes in a interesting looking ceramic decanter complete with a ceramic stopper. - Another bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old, an excellent whisky for the casual dram.

Recent purchases: - A couple of bottles of the 1996 Arran 21 Year Old Limited Edition Single Cask #600. - A bottle of Longrow 18 Year Old (2017 Edition).

From this month’s Society outturn: - A couple of bottles of SMWS 39.151 “A Blue Lady and a Seraph’s Smile”, Linkwood matured for 19 years in sherry wood. - A bottle of SMWS Exotic Cargo (Batch 01), the Society’s first bottling of blended malt whisky.

@sengjc Let us know how Exotic Cargo is!

@sengjc I think @Cricklewood served that Arran at our last tasting. Let me tell you it was the star of the night.

As for the Longrow, that is the one I ordered, but after accepting my order the store went silent. They haven’t answered my email, zip, nothing. At least they haven’t charged my credit card. So I will be looking for your impression and will probably have to taste it vicariously. Enjoy your nice picks.

@Robert99 ZYN?

Flying out of UK next month and pre ordered Lagavulin 12 and 2 bottles of Makers CS. The Lag because it’s got great reviews and the Makers because I love the cask strength version and it is half the price of UK retail.

@Pete1969 that is a massive saving on the MM!

Knocked off the last of my Compass Box Flaming Heart Special Edition last night. Sad to see that one gone and not sure if I would spring for a replacement at the current price. I might try the No Name blend though.

@Astroke Yes

@Robert99 Hmm, that doesn't sound good. I was about to start ordering from ZYN as I was told their shipping costs were quite reasonable. I think I'll hold off until we see how things go with your order. Please keep us posted.

@BlueNote This is not my first order. It was all good before the Supreme court decision on the Comeau case came out last week. I will keep you posted.

@Robert99 Brynne can be slow to answer emails, as you know she mails them from her residence. I have waited quite a while on some orders. Keep hounding is what I do.

@Robert99 I doubt they (ZYN) care one bit about that case. It was always illegal to ship it anyway. Craft Cellars just started a Canada Post shipping to anywhere in Canada on their new E-site. Unfortunately they have decided to charge 13% GST/HST to Ontario buyers which I will no pay because it is illegal to ship it anyway. Call the store, with the time difference you could get her in the office.

Anyone know what stores carry Aberlour A'bunadh in South Central PA or Northern Maryland. Don't really want to drive 5 hour round trip to the DC area.

Question gents - thoughts in Kilchoman? I am eyeing a bottle of 10yo Kilchoman which has some very strong reviews (although Whisky Cast gives everything good reviews), but it’s hella expensive. What’s the general consensus on their expressions?

@nooch Good! At least what I've had which is Machir Bay and 100% Islay. I hear Loch Gorm is the one to get. I also hear that Sanaig is not quite up to their standard.

@nooch tried it. It's nice. I was looking at it for something smokey but not peaty. I recall it being quite straight forward, a wee thin. In the end I instead settled for a Ledaig 10 which also fit what I was looking for and I believe was quite a bit less pricey. You may want to check it out before?

@nooch I really like Kilchoman but they are all quite young and extremely peaty, if that's your thing.

@talexander the 10 yo is obviously as old as they get at this point.

@Robert99 Just ordered one of the last 2 bottles of Springbank 12 CS, latest batch ($92.50 tax in) from ZYN and I expect the order to go smoothly but not timely.

@nooch, I would expect that Kilchoman 10 to be priced high based on it being a "first" age milestone for the distillery. Their stuff is good, but I'm guessing the 10 is not worth its price.

(Again, that's a guess. I haven't had it, and I don't even know what price we're talking about. But I'm confident in my baseless claims nonetheless. )

@Astroke Nice purchase. I find the 12CS is an extremely solid, under-rated Scotch. And that price sounds exceptional given recent increases in Alberta.

@Nozinan, under-rated?

@MadSingleMalt, my sister is very fond of quoting one of my father's favourite lines, "Often in error, never in doubt."

@Victor I worked with a surgical resident who often quoted his own mentor: " I am often right, occasionally wrong, but never unsure."

@MadSingleMalt Under-rated. Perhaps a personal observation, but I often pass over the bottle for other spirits in my cabinet, and the when the mood hits me and I choose Springbank 12 CS, I am often surprised at the extend to which I enjoy it.

My SMWS starter kit came in yesterday, so stay tuned for reviews of the 3 malts within....