Which bottle did you just buy and why?

A cask strength Glendronach 11 year old , a 50th anniversary bottling for the Green Welly Stop , a Scottish retailer , a Benromach 100 proof 10 year and a Laphroaig Quarter Cask . The Glendronach and the Benromach are replacement bottles for ones I already have, because they are excellent and the Laphroaig QC I I've never tried before and it's time I put that right.

@KRB80 , thanks for the pointer! The Springbank's not on their site, but maybe I'll call.

And receiving shipments is indeed pretty badass, though also dangerous. I've been all about it since I discovered that (a) I can receive alcohol here in Wisconsin ; and (b) K&L and Binny's have awesome stuff to ship.

@OlJas No problem! Here is the Scotch list: joyalsliquors.com/products/show-product/…

The Springbanks are listed there.

I received 3 bottles for my birthday, Glenfarclas 15, Caol Ila Distillers Edition, and Amrut Single Cask Bourbon Matured - LCBO Exclusive Bottle #035/126 @ 60% ABV. I also received some gift cards and cash and with those purchased 3 bottles of Booker's 2015-1 Bourbon. It doesnt hit the LCBO shelves often, and this batch has been getting really good reviews.

A liter bottle of Caol Ila 12 for $35US on sale at the duty free when returning from my winter snowbird excursion. I love Caol Ila 12 and wished that I had more room in my duty free allotment so that I could have picked up another bottle at that price. The reg price of the 750ml bottle here is just north of $90 Cdn including taxes!

I just bought a Springbank 11YO Madeira 1997 from the store @KRB80 pointed me to above. It was the last remaining bottle at the store and, from what I can tell, in the world. (Not really, but it's a rare beast now in 2015.) Thanks, man!

So why? It's a highly regarded bottle that I've wanted to try for a long time. It's from a significant year to me. The Madeira angle reminds me of some drunken exploits my wife and I had back when we were dating. The price was more than fair ($73, no tax, reasonable shipping). And mostly because Springbank is awesome.

That store is worth a browse. If ya'll haven't already perused the list that @KRB80 linked to above, check it out. It's at least somewhat out of date (they no longer had the early Kilkerran WIP @ $43, for example), but not totally as my Springbank proved. You have to call to order, which is fun if you rarely get a chance to talk to any East Coast folks.

A Redbreast 12 Cask Strength and a bottle of Ben Nevis from Duncan Taylors Octave collection.

@Barnbip , how did you choose those?

@OlJas East Coast folks, eh? haha! We, in the MA/RI area anyhow, do have a unique accent...I'll give you that! ;) I'm glad I could help a fellow Connosr out. Enjoy, my friend!

@OlJas I haven't tried the Redbreast 12 CS but I've heard so many good things about it. I really like the standard Redbreast 12, so I'm quite sure it's a good buy! The Ben Nevis Octave was a shot in the dark. Found it at a good price...

Picked up Port Askaig 17. I've had it before, but it's been a while. I'm in need of a Caol Ila fix these days, so this should do the trick.

Welcome back Jonesz!

@Barnbip , thanks for letting us into your head a little bit. Please give us your take on the 12 CS v. the standard 12. I've only had the CS, not the standard 12. I thought the CS was very solid but nothing special. I'd but it again if the price was right, but it's not on my "gotta replace now!" list.

I think I've seen some folks say the CS is not just a more intense version of the standard 12—that it's pretty different. I'm recalling some rather vague memories here, but I wanna say that these same reviews have said the standard 12 is actually better (to them, of course). In any case, I'd like your opinion. Whenever I get around to buying an Irish again, it'll probably be a toss-up between Knappogue Castle (one of my mainstays) and one of the Redbreasts if I start hearing enough little devil voices on my shoulder like yours.

A couple of bottles of the New World Projects Single Cask Release #3 Doublewood - a cask strength Australian malt whisky produced in my city of residence: Melbourne, out-turn of 87 bottles.

There's a bit of history behind this particular cask. In any case, I am pleased to support the local whisky industry.

@OlJas if you are buying an irish whiskey, I can definately recommend Teeling Single Malt. A very nice and interesting whisky, bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered, natural color.

@OlJas & Barnbip; Redbreast 12 and Redbreast 12 CS are quite different from one another. And while I have stated that RB 12 CS is my favourite whiskey, to be honest, I love both 12yo versions nearly the same. But nearly all of my whiskey drinking friends prefer the regular 12yo expression over the CS. The regular 12yo noticeably less dry with more complexity. I find the regular 12yo personality changes depending upon with whom and where consumed in; the 12yo CS not so much so. What doesn't change is the quality. I have found that to be quite consistent from year to year. Perhaps less so with the flavor profile as I found the 2007 RB 12 to show more vanilla notes from the wood, and less fruitiness. Still two of my favorite go-to irish whiskies.

@Alexsweden I have to tell you that the Auchentoshan Valinch 2012 has improved dramatically in the last week. When you asked me my opinion the bottle had only been open 24 hours and it obviously hadn't settled down yet . Now I see it a bit like you I'd probably give it an 86 at the moment. I wish I'd had the opportunity to get the 2011 as well, the consensus seems to be that it's a bit better than the 2012.

Glad to hear it, @maltmate302! I've also read that the -11 is even better. Must be quite a drink!

Talisker 18 Year Old, there was a sale going on at one of the local liquor retail chain and the pricing is quite solid for a solid whisky.

Suntory Yamazaki 12 Year Old, is it me or is this particular bottle getting scarce? Anyway, I fancied some soft Japanese.

The bottle of Gooderham & Worts I had sent me over the edge... connosr.com/reviews/gooderham-and-worts/…

I ended up scouring the north side of houston hunting for more. Finally at one of my favorite stores I found some much needed spares. While I was there, I helped myself to a few other rare canadians and a good rum. Final Take: 2!!!!!!!! bottles of Gooderham & Worts Small Batch Lot # 4 2 bottles of Pike Creek 10yr Double wood Port Finish 2 bottles of Royal Canadian Small Batch (Blended by Sazerac) 1 bottle of Clement VSOP Agricole Rhum

My brother in law, in Calgary, was able to find a couple of the now disappearing stock of Amrut (unpeated) Cask Strength. None of the newer bottlings available, just the 2007 special edition. He was able to get one for $53 because it was improperly labelled! The other was $80 at another store. Both good prices in my opinion for an awesome malt.

The problem is, if they were newer bottlings, it would be easy to open them. I would feel like I'm opening a bottle of history with these (though they have identical flavours). I already have 2, so I'll just have to force myself to treat these 2 as a renewable resource...

@Nozinan , do you ever think that all whiskies get just a bit too precious if you sit on them for too long? I'm a stash-and-open-later guy, but I sometimes think it'd be more fun to just fly by the seat my pants: buy, drink, run out, pick up something new. I can't really see ever being totally out of whisky again, though. O the horror. But it might just be more exciting.

There were a few scotch that were moving fast at the SAQ our state liquor store, so I had to make a move.So, I bought a Valinch and two Arran. The first Arran is the 14 yo that is hard to get around here because it is gone before you even ear it's in. The second is my first exclusivity, an Arran 13 yo Old Sherry Cask, Cask Strenght, Private cask. I am very excited about that one. it may not be the best scotch I have, but it's fun to have a whisky to share with people who will be curious to taste an exclusivity.

@OlJas

I absolutely agree with you. Saving something for just the right occasion...when is just the right occasion? Especially if you have only one bottle.

This is something that, as a sentimental person who places sentimental value on things, I struggle with. I'm afraid I will end up a hoarder. Or I will die never having tasted some of my best Scotch. I only hope my kids will appreciate it.

That's why I will need to remind myself I will have 2 bottles put away for the future, and these 2 are for opening when the mood strikes me.

I am making progress....I plan to open a few rarish bottles when I meet up with some friends next week, including one that I have just one of...cask #1 of a Canadian single malt. At least I will know if it was worth what I paid for it.

But with respect to the Amrut, who knows when these CS expressions will be here on Canada again? Best to buy a few for the next few years. Especially at the lower price!

Look what happened to Bladnoch. All we need is one disaster and the distillery output could be altered forever.

My wife just returned from a business trip to the UK and brought me back a 1L bottle of the Aberlour 15yr Double Cask Matured...so technically I didn't buy it, but she bought it because she knew I'd like it and it isn't available here.

@YakLord , Your a lucky man. I'm sure you support each other.

@Nozinan, Collingwood is a treasure trove for renewable resources.

@newreverie Texas, the land of Canadian Whisky! You've got my attention!

@paddockjudge

If one can find it...

@paddockjudge Thanx hope to contribute a bit more than the past 3 months when my WiFi was iiffy at best,