What was the last bottle you finished?

@nooch For me the 15 is the sweet spot in the GF lineup. No need to go further up the ladder, except maybe to the 25 which last time I tasted it was outstanding. But bang for buck? 15.

@Victor Absolutely true. The appeal at this time is the perfect balance of those three factors.

Not a whiskey but Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila that was done to it's last taste.

Going to be in Texas next week so will look to re-stock w a nice sipping tequila and add the Lemon Hart 151.

Continuing on w the finishing of near-empty bottles, friends and I finished off the Jefferson's Chef Collaboration (unfortunately wasted a third of the bottle doing some basil-infused whiskey which did not end well), and Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin (58.8% - punchy as I do my gin neat) and Whittaker's Small Batch Gin (the peppercorns are evident but not over-bearing).

Got both in gins in London and will need to replenish a bottle from the Southern US next week - any recommendations?

ps - have not read Newreverie posts on the site in a while - may all be well w him and those close to him

@BlueNote @nooch @Victor I had an oustanding GF15 yo about 5 years ago, 2 years later, the 17 yo was outstanding. Since then, I have found all GF in that price range (15 yo, 17 yo and 105) with the alcohol being way too much in front. So now, I would not buy a GF without tasting it first. So, for me, GF quality has not be constant in recent years.

@Robert99 I have found that with the 12. It used to be a very good dram but recently not so much. I've never had a 15 I didn't like though.

Bottles from a whisky tasting six moths ago till now:

Empty: Redbreast CS batch B1/15 Exceptional and memoriable, Springbank 10 Balanced and flavourful, Springbank CS batch 5 good but, needed to be aired because of sulphur, Lagavulin 12 CS 2014 Lapsang Souchong tea. Almost Emptied: Amrut Fusion Bourbon beginning and ending in sweet savoury spices, and Nikka Pure Malt Nas which has a Lowland Auchenstohan flavour -balanced.

@fiddich1980 Pity about the Springbank CS. Springbank are usually meticulous when it comes to cask selection. Did airing it out make any difference?

Knob Creek Single Barrel. Liked this one a lot. Will have to see how it compares to the standard version.

@boatracer It might be hard to compare fairly. This is a nine year old bottled at 60% and the other is now NAS and I think 50%.

@BlueNote It took over 6 months for the sulphur fade, but it was still present as a background note. Springbank 12 CS batch 5 52.2 ABV was a batch that a few reviews on line mentioned sulphur. My only advice is that if you have a single malt with sulphur notes. 1) do not gas it and let it sit on the shelf for a few months 2) increase the amount of air in the bottle ie. 50/50 then let is sit for a few months 3) Ralfy's advice add some to another Springbank. The latter was neat because a few drops of the 12 CS to a glass of Springbank 10 made the 10 that much more enjoyable. I've found that not using the gas preserve on some Bourbons is a better choice. This was the case with an Eagle Rare I picked up in 2014. The bottom half was much more enjoyable than the first half, over a 2 year period. The goes for a Weller 12 and the Amrut Fusion. I wonder if it is bottle aging?

Finished my first bottle of JP Wiser’s Dissertation, good thing I have another two. And I will be giving my dad one tomorrow as part of a birthday present.

@boatracer So that will leave you with one... I have about 2/3 left of my original bottle with 2 stored away. I know this leaves me with a long term FORO, but nothing can be done about that...

@Nozinan the 2 in reserve didn’t include the gift. So should be good for a bit.

@boatracer Reassuring....

Finished up a bottle of Glenfiddich 15 year old Distillery Edition today. It is the only 'Fiddich I really like (51%, NCF) and I'm happy to have another one in the bunker.

Just finished a lovely Wiser’s Dissertation. Now if only I had a Lot 40 Cask Strength or a Gooderham & Worts Little Trinity 17 YO to take its place.

@OdysseusUnbound I opened mine in May and I still have under half a bottle left, and I thought I was drinking it fast...

Strathisla .... 12yr .... from the Seagrams collection... 1994/5 bottling An amazing mouth feel, a nose as well. Only 1 bottle left, which I will sip so very slowly .

Cardhu 12 years, and went and got another soon after. Actually I believe I've always had a bottle of it on the shelf... first introduced to it in 1991, I was bar tending for Orient Express hotel's Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. Now looking to get some of the older ones.

@BlueNote years back I used to drink the regular 12 yr Fiddich like juice, then sampled the 15, and haven't ever bought another of the 12 since. I always ensure I have a bottle of the 15 now.

I agree .. my “go to” dram is Balvenie 14 Caribbean Rum Cask ... the combination of the spicy of the Bal mixed with the old rum barrels gives an amazing caramel blaze in your mouth.

Just killed a WTRB and a bottle of HP Einar this week.

Already replaced the WT that and 101 are always in the rotation.

First bottle of Einar, unfortunately I have a second and I prefer the HP12, not a bad whisky but a bit of a non event compared to the 12.

One of my quirks is that when going to a wedding or event, I bring my own stuff (if I intend to drink). I will be having a better quality spirit and bypass the venue mark-ups. I always bring enough to share w my immediate table as well as a couple of additional drams for those interested.

At a gala this weekend, I decided to bring the Angel's Envy Rye Finished in Rum Casks. Knowing my table, my intent was something that was spirit-medium (50%) but w a sweet caramel taste and finish.

It was a hit - my table & two tables beside us ended up finishing 2/3 of a bottle (keep it in the car just in case of a need for refill). I know that Angel's Envy is not a popular pick on this site but I quite enjoyed - even moreso w water as it brought out more vanilla cake and took away some (but not all) of the bite on the throat

Versus prior tasting, it was not as sweet (time/air has toned it down a notch) to its betterment. Definitely not a rye for all but a reasonable starter to the uninitiated.

@JayRain I think you're better off not bringing booze in your car. It can get you in trouble if a cop stops you and it's not stored away properly.

Plus what can you bring that competes with what is there?

Please excuse me if my opinion is clouded by the selection at the last wedding I attended. There was so much there...it was beyond belief, and beyond my ability to taste it all.

Of course, not every wedding has a bar hosted by @paddockjudge...

Apologies - in the haste to get out trick or treating, I forgot to close w a reference to the epic wedding hosted by Paddock Judge.

The intent was there, the execution was off.

May all your Halloween's have been good times

@JayRain, you are not alone! It is not a question of preserving the bank balance at a cash bar, but rather the opportunity to indulge in, and share with others, something enjoyable as opposed to something barely tolerable. I've employed bottles, minis, flasks, travel mugs, etc. They all add to the experience. I am often surprised at the level of interest (participation) when some high quality amber nectar is available.

Recently an opportunity to do it the right way presented itself. I supplemented the regular open bar at a reception with 3 dozen bottles of whisky, ten each of single malt, bourbon, Canadian, and six world whiskies. It was well received.

@JayRain, @Nozinan, I posted a comment and the two of you were a couple of minutes ahead of me. We'll do that line-up again some day!

@paddockjudge I would say, with that line up, that you were light years ahead of us!

@paddockjudge 3 dozen bottles of whisky - I've never had the pleasure of attending a function like that! Wow.