Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@cricklewood A Great King's Street finished in Spice Tree casks sounds like a winner.

@Jonathan.

I've enjoyed most of what I've tried from Compass Box, I think the quality of the components and the attention to blending really helps set their products apart.

If they were in the high 30-40$ range locally I would take more of a chance to try them. As it is they are very close in price to the rest of the Compass box range 55$-75& so its less tempting to take a chance.

There's very little info on those store selections but I also think it's a wonderful idea to finish those entry blends in oak cross or spice tree barrels

@cricklewood & @Jonathan - I've had a couple of bottles of Compass Box inc. Spice Tree and have never been disappointed although the ST didn't 'rock me' like it does with some - was still a quality and enjoyable dram though.

Also tried both the Artists and Glasgow blends. Again very decent. I preferred the former. The GB was OK but crumbled when I added water and lost all its peaty nuances.

Hedonism was the big revelation but I feel it's a bit pricey for what it is.

My Springbank 12 CS arrived today along with the Blair Athol F&F 12. Mmmm!

The SB juice looks so thick (or viscous), just from swishing it in the un-open bottle. Very promising . . .

@RianC SB 12 CS has been a consistently excellent malt, and gets better with time after opening.

Spent the weekend in New Jersey at my daughter's soccer tournament - we had time off Saturday afternoon and the team made its way to NYC.

Having been a few times before, I passed on the sightseeing and decided to hit up 6-7 liquor stores. I had specific purchases in mind (1 cognac, 1 mezcal, 1 whiskey) and set out on a 4 hour walking tour (enjoyable until the snow turned to rain).

Mostly due to relatively higher prices than last time, I ended up passing on whiskey (came close at Ambassador Wine & Spirits but balked when saw online the same whiskey at another store for US$25 cheaper).

Very pleased w the outcome though - ended up w a Barr Hill Gin that has been aged in Oak Barrels, an El Jolgorio Madrecuisce (Mezcal) and a Darligalongue Armagnac that is a distilled blend of 70% in 1974 and 30% in 1976.

We enjoyed a half bottle of the Mezcal that night (none had tried it before) and can't wait for a special occasion to crack open the Armagnac.

Made my first purchase of 2018 today. Long weekend getaway to visit friends in mid-state Florida. Obtained bottles of Glenlivet 16yo Nadurra (10/13), Old Pulteney 17yo, Old Pulteney 21yo, and Nikka Yoichi NAS. Only planned purchase was the Yoichi as encountering the other three bottlings was completely unexpected. Very pleased.

Like @cherylnifer, I too made my first 2018 buys today. Unplanned--and yes, in violation of my "no bottles in 2018 pledge"--but what's a boy to do when he encounters Bruichladdichs on clearance? And then once that ball was rolling, I couldn't resist a couple interesting Irish bottles.

• Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm 2007, $30

• Bruichladdich Islay Barley Claggan, Cruach, Island, and Mulindry Farms 2009, $30

• West Cork Peat Charred Cask NAS Single Malt, $38

• West Cork Bog Oak Charred Cask NAS Single Malt, $38

And this place (Woodmans in Rockford, IL) had so many crazy-good prices that seemed straight outta 2009: Connemara $37, A'bunadh $70, Ardbeg Ten $38, Redbreast 12 CS $68, a bunch of decent-looking (?) Canadians under $20--and plenty of other stuff I'm surely forgetting. It was nuts.

@MadSingleMalt, Damn! Those are some outstanding prices there. Prices like that might even tempt me to buy a few more bottles. I have never believed that obtaining quality is "supposed to be expensive".

I would just love to go back to 2009 to buy some more whisk(e)y!

My Birthday treats! I could add the Talisker 57 as well but it wasn't to hand.

The minis are a selection from M&S including a 14 Glengoyne. I've fancied that for a while and may buy a bottle if it's any good.

The Talisker 18 is getting popped later

@JayRain, those are some nice picks. I'm a huge Bas Armagnac fan.

@MadSingleMalt - wow those are steals of deals! Nice one!

@MadSingleMalt Those are the grand theft of deal steals. Killer.

@RianC well a very Happy Birthday to you. Between what you were given for Christmas, your own purchases, and now your Birthday, you've got a few very nice bottles to choose to sample from. All the best for the coming year and all that it brings! I'll be interested to know your thoughts on the SB CS 12. I've got two different batches open (I should do a H2H at some stage). Is this the latest one?

@RianC Just showing a picture of that Talisker 18 is cruel and unusual punishment.

@Hewie - Thanks - yeah, I've done very well for myself but do seriously need to reign it in!

I assume the SB 12 CS is the latest batch. It came in at MoM and I bought it the next day, two days later they'd sold out!

@BlueNote - Would it make it any better if I said it was heavenly?

@RianC it would make me that much happier for you, brother.

@RianC Talisker 18 is a bottle I’ve been hunting for for 3 years. I have yet to come across one either in Canada or Scotland. Well done!

I have to post a mea culpa here. I have failed Frugal February. A friend texted me and told me that there were some bottles of Redbreast Lustau available online. I’ve missed out on this one several times and the FOMO was too strong for me to bear. I ordered one. I also saw that the LCBO nearest to my place of employment has 4 bottles of Laphroaig Triple Wood in stock. I’ve never tried that one. Oh Fortune! How you mock me! I will wait until Thursday (pay day) and let the whisky gods decide my fate...and Thursday is March 1st.

@OdysseusUnbound - You're only a few days out and it's not a leap year so I'd count that as a win

@nooch & @BlueNote - Not sure where you're based but I got it from Masters of Malt - they still have some as far as I am aware . . .

I know they ship to the US but not sure how cost effective that would be? I've been looking out for it for two years and it came in about 3-4 months ago. I think they do it in relatively small batches at what seems like random times, so I'm glad I finally got a bottle.

Going off last night, it wont be around for very long!

@RianC unfortunately I’m in Canada. By the time I buy, ship to the us, and pat duties I’m adding $200 in cost. Hopefully some makes its way here to a shop one day.

@OdysseusUnbound beware the Ides of March. I was doing well in February, hadn't spent more than $50. Then yesterday I dropped over $200 on a couple bottles and some craft beer. Oh well.

@RianC I like your thinking. I mean, it will be March by the time I physically receive the bottle. So maybe I get off on a technicality???

@OdysseusUnbound I think you win on the technicality...

I've been lucky that I've not really been tempted so far this year. I would like to keep to my resolution, but clearly if a unique opportunity presents itself I won't say no.

The point is to be reasonable about purchases...not hamper quality of life...

@RianC I’m also in Canada, Vancouver to be precise. Nobody can ship here, so no chance. I will be in the UK for 5 weeks in September, so I should be able to round a couple up.

Cheers

@Nozinan “...not hamper quality of life.” I love it, words to live by.

@BlueNote, in @Nozinan's profession it is all about 'quality of (remaining) life'.

"Do no harm" Dr Nozinan!

Will anyone hate me for adding that the same place with all the 2009-style prices I mentioned above also had shelves full of Talisker 18 and Redbreast Lustau?

I wasn't surprised by the Talisker 18. They're common (though expensive) around me. This place's price was, I think, $135.

The Redbreast Lustau was a surprise, though. I've never seen that anywhere, and they had an overflowing shelf of it. $68, I think?