Which bottle did you just buy and why?

Brought a couple of IBs. (My first IBs). Linkwood 11 yo a Master Of Malt bottling which I'm pretty sure is actually the Cadenhead Linkwood talked about earlier on this thread as it's the same year of distillation and bottling, same age and same abv (58 .8%) as the Cadenhead so I guess MoM must have got Cadenheads to bottle it for them.

I've opened that one and it is great stuff (now sold out at MoM and Cadenheads)

I've also brought a North Star Macduff 11yo which is also cask strength at 55.2%. Yet to open that one.

I'm trying to widen my scotch horizons and try a few IBs and I figure one of the best things about IBs is you can try distilleries you don't see much and they are often cask strength.

@OdysseusUnbound @talexander Society has moved a little but still looks down on polygamy and polyamory.

Has society progressed enough to allow open displays of single malt polydistilly or polyregiony? I sure hope so.

I know we have accepted it in the blend world...

@Wierdo You are right about IBs giving you an opportunity to try lesser known distilleries. I’d never heard of Glen Keith until a friend gave me a sample of a 20 year old Signatory bottling. Very tasty. I’ve got a Cadenhead Dailuaine on the way as well as a Distiller’s Art Miltonduff. I’m sure you will love the MoM Linkwood if it’s the same as the Cadenhead one.

@BlueNote one of the things I've noticed about IBs is the prices are in a sense fairly bunched up.

The two 11 year olds I brought were about £50 a bottle which is a bit pricy for an 11 year old (but then they're cask strength). But whiskies from the same bottlers which are 20 years plus in age are around £100-120. Which is actually fairly reasonable for older whisky.

So whereas with most official bottlings the difference between a 10 year old and a 20 year old will be a 200-300% increase with IBs the difference is around 100%.

So I definitely plan to buy one or two older whiskies that are IBs. I've been considering one or two of the Old particular range from Douglas laing as they seem reasonably priced for aged whisky.

@Wierdo A lot of those lesser known distilleries are primarily big blend factories, but the stock they do put aside as single malt is often very good and the best of the Independent bottlers are able to sniff out the best casks. The fact that they are generally always Cask strength, non chill filtered, natural colour and decently priced is a bonus. If you get a good one it is a good idea to jump on a second bottle as they are usually single cask and limited quantity. Let us know if you find anything really good. Cheers.

@Wierdo - There's a Ben Nevis 20 on MoM at CS by the Single Malts of Scotland @£135. It's one I think I'd like but it will have to wait until my Bday in Feb now - that's if there's any left . . .

Those two IBs you picked up sound lovely, hope you enjoy them! Agree about IB prices as well. I've had a few now but mostly younger peated stuff like Ardmore and Ledaig. I've not had a bad one yet to be fair.

@OdysseusUnbound, Free love and open marriages were de rigeur at one time. A guy can’t be expected to stay faithful to one whisky partner forever.

@RianC I think Ben Nevis is starting to get some overdue recognition. Their OB 10 is very good, and I had an 8 year old cask strength called Glencoe that was quite exceptional, should have bought a full bottle. I’m betting that 20 year old IB will be a winner.

@BlueNote - That Glencoe sounds nice! It would be a lot for me to splash out on a bottle but my 40th is on the near horizon so perhaps one to keep for then?

I felt it might also be opportune to make an off note gag about me going up 'Ben' a couple of times and camping out on the Glencoe camp site but, na

I came across this bottle on the shelf at Binny’s Joliet. Many highly rated/sought-after bottles never make it to the shelf there, so I went ahead and purchased it for about 65 USD. Christmas probably will be a good occasion to pour a dram of the whisky that Whisky Advocate has touted as #1 in the Top 20 of 2018!

25% Off Day at Liquor Depot in Calgary! What's a guy in Toronto to do?

Why call agent @Nosebleed (procurer extraordinaire), of course.

• I picked up a replacement Amrut Naarangi as I am enjoying the one I opened. While $10 more than World of Whisky (which is sold out), with the discount it was $13.79 less than the previous one. This one will await a very special occasion.

• Amrut Bangalore Tiger single cask. Got it on spec - Never tasted an Amrut I didn't like, and with discount this one was $97.00 with tax - a no brainer

• At the LCBO Corryvreckan is $204.95. At full price it would be hard not to buy one selling for $114.99 + tax, right? Well, what if the discount makes it $90.55 out the door?

I admit my goal to keep the cabinet from growing this year is now unattainable, but heck, if the government can buy a 10 billion dollar pipeline, I can do this. I assure you I'll reach balance more easily next year than the government will.

@plattvillepeat fun bottle - we only get the 50cl version here in the UK. Not the 75.

Damn @Nozinan, nice purchases. I didn't know there was any of that Bengal tiger single cask left.

I think that one was finished in PX but most reviews mention the influence is very light.

@cricklewood this one is Bangalore Tiger, not Bengal. Looks like it was matured in bourbon then finished in sherry. Given Amrut’s track record, it was worth taking a chance.

@Nozinan Wow, what a deal on the Corry.

Picked up my Ben 10/100 today. I met my friend in an LCBO parking lot and resisted the urge to go in and pick up a bottle of Laphroaig Triple Wood. I know it’s not the most popular Laphroaig expression, but I really enjoyed it.

And with that bottle, I guarantee I’m done buying for the year

this is not a guarantee

@OdysseusUnbound There's still my trip to Calgary...

Not trying to tempt you or anything.

I've just bought a bottle of Ben Nevis 10 because it's one I really want to try. I couldn't find any available here in NZ until I stumbled upon some for a bargain on a random website. Now I'm a bit nervous about what is going to arrive.

@Hewie - Do let us know how you get on. I know @Wierdo seemed to enjoy his bottle. I'm yet to open mine but it's very much at the head of the queue . .

Early xmas presents have arrived! The Talisker came with a lovely little tin mug as well!

Less than two weeks till 'He' comes now . . . oh, hang on!?

@RianC Both delishhhhhhhhh!

@RianC I'm disappointed to say that despite being advertised online the company didn't actually have any in stock (I know it was too good to be true) Now I hope I get my money refunded

@Hewie - That's annoying! Hope you get your money back, mate.

@Hewie they do that at Christmas, evil merchants. Myself was trying to buy a Lagavulin DE yesterday at half price with my online supermarket as advertised... And surprise surprise.... Once the basket was full... Oops... That one was sadly out of stock too.

Little Book 59.4% abv., crafted By Freddie Noe, son of Fred Noe, Grandson of Booker Noe, 8th generation Beam Family. This is a beautiful whisky consisting of 40 YO Canadian Club double distilled corn whisky, Alberta Distillers 100% RYE 13YO, and Knob Creek Rye 9 YO. All are at Cask Strength, yes, the Knob Creek label displays CASK STRENGTH.

This is the style of whisky I attempt to blend with the resources available to me from my reference library. I've used these same whiskies together, and with others, but not all of them have been cask strength. Are you a WHISKY or WHISKEY enthusiast, one capable of enjoying all styles (not looking across your bottom teeth at only single malt scotch because your head is so fucking far up your arse)? Then this is a whisky which you MUST try.

Modestly called Whiskey, this showcases three magnificent examples of the finest North American whisky available today, and successfully marries them in a cornucopia of cask strength flavours. This has it all, light fruits, dark fruits, nuts, smoked meats, florals, spices, herbs, and oak. Well balanced, complex, and a lingering finish that does not easily go away. Pepper, honey, and mentho-lyptus ignite an explosion of flavours on the exit. A clean oak bed carries the finish long, unless you happen to repeat the drill sooner rather than later. Back up the truck, paddockjudge is raiding the warehouse!

@RianC Redbreast 12 CS is on my list. (It's a long list)

@Wierdo - I know the feeling!

Despite my aforementioned guaranteed moratorium on whisky purchases, I just ordered 2 bottles of Old Weller Antique 107 from the KGBO. Why? Well, it’s a wheater that was terrific right out of the gate and has improved with time, unlike the Weller 12, which was quasi-undrinkable at first and has improved only slightly with about 8 months air exposure. I’ve also read rumours in several places about a price jump on all Weller products in the near future. Why take a chance? For $36 per bottle, OWA is an unbeatable bourbon.

The research on the net points to the word "SMOOTH". It is cheap compared to the old price of $79 Canadian dollars. I figured, why not give it a try for $56?

Talisker 10.

Why? Despite my self-imposed buying ban, I couldn't resist the price of just 37 big ones.