When you're on you're on

Laws here in Japan regarding marijuana are very different from back home so unfortunately, this only applies when I go back to Toronto....

But I love having a dram on an empty stomach and just after having a few puffs. My ability to pick out certain aromas and flavors greatly increases.

@casualtorture, when I'm "on" everything tastes GREAT, I would likely rate Lambertus in the mid 80s on one of those days. I try to taste as many as I can when I'm "on". It's not always a clean palate. I call it a heightened palate. It doesn't happen often, perhaps once or twice at most every couple of months. I tend to lean towards old favourites when this happens....one of life's pleasant surprises.

@paddockjudge I’ve only tasted Lambertus once (and I have a sample; lucky me) and I can’t imagine ever rating it in the 80s. In fact, I think I’d rate it even lower on a day when my palate is “on”.

@OdysseusUnbound....that's a glass-half-empty my friend.

I had two servings of Lambertus in the same sitting. It has some interesting characteristics, and that was a regular palate day.

@paddockjudge Being the only person to survive 2 servings of Lambertus in one day is an accomplishment indeed. But I agree with @OdysseusUnbound in that the better my palate is working, the worse it would taste.

@casualtorture - I find brushing my teeth is like the kiss of death for my palate, maybe with the exception of (some) rye. I was laughing to myself recently thinking how nerdy I've become as I now brush after dinner with a wet brush but no paste so as to not 'kill it'.

Good thread this. I seem to have periods where my taste and smell are at peak and then periods where everything seems off and I primarily taste burning alcohol. I think meds I sometimes take definitely affect this but I find when I'm like that it's best not to even bother or sup a simple blend (if it's needed ha!).

Peaks and troughs, I guess? It's definitely worth knowing how we change like this, especially if we're writing reviews. On an off-day even something like Talisker 18 would struggle to get into the 80s. Mood is another big factor for me.

And is it just me or does anyone else find that too often they're in a great mood and everything is on point on ... a bloody Monday night! And come Friday the heartburn (or whatever) decides to join the party

@RianC Good points

I have a tremendous backlog of reviews I would like to do. I want to have a good palate for those. For some, samples I will never taste again or the last of something I will never see again (like the Laddie Classic), I want a perfect palate, so clearly it will be awhile before I get to them...

@RianC having a dram less than an hour after brushing yes I would agree. If I wait an hour or 2 and drink water in between, that seems to do the trick.

@RianC it is fine brushing your teeth without paste. I do it often. What you are doing is cleaning them. The brush does the work. The paste is mostly to give you a good-taste incentive, maybe abrasive whiteners, and maybe fluoride if you lack it. This from a dentist, me.

@Victor - Vindication! Thank you

My dentist told me years ago that toothpaste was a waste of money. If I did use it, I wouldn’t drink whisky for quite a long time after.

@Rian, I'm reading your post and nodding my head. That damned Talisker 18, it never tastes good on a Friday, and the heartburn, when it arrives you may as well lockup the cabinet and pray for relief.

@BlueNote In that case, toothpaste saves you a lot of money on whisky...

@paddockjudge There's a drug for that heartburn...

@paddockjudge - ha I had exactly the same problem last night! I took two Rennies (on top of my daily Omeprazole) after dinner, had two sips of Springbank 15 a bit later, which was smelling divine, and had to pour it back!