Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@fiddich1980, I would be up for a blind, the last one was a lot of fun, I got two out of three. Somehow I am sensing this one will not be a simple task.

@Wierdo - It's been so long since I tasted that first bottle that I received from the Society (2007) and I was very new in my whisky journey at that time (less than a year), that I would not feel comfortable answering your question, especially if it was your deciding factor in you making a purchase. I will say that I do remember liking it, but it is definitely on the lighter and delicate side. Having said that, being cask strength does help.

If your interested, here are the Society's tasting notes from that first bottle; The nose is full of sinful things, with its iced caramels, toffee bonbons, sweetie tobacco and burnt paper—definitely one to linger over. The neat taste is equally seductive with sweet, dry and warm flavors of burnt caramel and a liquorice root aftertaste. Water tends to break the spell; the nose becomes more leafy and minty and the taste turns to nuttiness and menthol. Give this dram time and the nose has pure honey. Heavenly, in a naughty kind of way. Distilled: Feb. ’94 Alc.: 57.8% ABV 12 years old.

Here are the Society's tasting notes of the one that I just purchased (which I have not tasted yet); Fruit poured from the glass in a vibrant yet balanced stream of apricot jam, apple sauce and ripe plums. A spicy tingle of pink peppercorns delivered fresher notes that carried on to green grass and tomato plants in a greenhouse. A sweet malty character came from digestive biscuits that turned into ginger snap biscuits on the palate as we encountered a pleasing tongue tingle. Melted butter and creamy vanilla introduced custard with a thick wedge of sponge cake. The finish combined strawberries and cream with fruit jelly sweets before softening to a lasting mineralic edge that left the palate feeling clean and refreshed. 61.6% ABV.

Finally, the only other time that I've tasted a Braes of Glenlivet was at a friends house earlier this year. He had a 21 year from Alexander Murray & Co. Also distilled in 1994. It was only 43%, but I remember that it blew me away. It had the most amazing nose (apples and other fruits) and a liquid candy palate. A very memorable dram. I loved it. Hope some of this helps.

@OdysseusUnbound Geez, they still have not changed that picture of the BP for the Rye. Is the same picture from last year which I did not get allocated a bottle of. Had pick up the Rye in Alberta so I would have a back up. Good Luck, they may have more of this than you think this year. Just looking at the other Buffalo Trace products that have flooded in this year like the Weller 12 online debacle release and the bagillion bottles of Weller Antique and Blanton's that hit the shelves.

Lots of E H Taylor in Alberta which is usually not the case. LCBO is the king of Buffalo Trace in Canada.

@bwmccoy thanks I appreciate the reply. The one from Douglas Laing i was looking at had been matured in a Sherry Butt which might bolster a delicate spirit.

I think I will take the plunge at some point with it. And don't worry I won't blame you if it's not so good!

@Wierdo - FYI... the first Society Bottle in 2007 (SMWS 113.14) was also from a refill Sherry butt, so take that into account as you read the tasting notes. It wasn’t a sherry bomb by any means. It was probably a heavily reused butt based on color and lack of what I would expect from Sherry dominance.

The 21 year from Alexander Murray was matured in ex-bourbon casks. Tasting notes from the back of the bottle state “exceptionally rich and complex - aromatic and polished, with a fantastic sweetness. Fruit preserve and biscuit combine to show a rounded whisky”.

@bwmccoy If your Bunna is anything close to the Bunnahabhain Moine Oloroso mature Feis Ile 2018, your in for a treat. Of course the Moine is peated but the Oloroso is superb in it and I hope the Oloroso notes in your Bunna will be as good.

@bwmccoy I've been looking at the SMWS website. How do you know which distillery a whisky is from? They all seem to have descriptions 'apricots and stewed pears.. a walk by the sea in autumn' etc. But they don't actually tell you which distillery they're from.

@Wierdo

www.whiskyportal.com/smws/

@Wierdo there are several websites that post the codes (first # on bottle is the distillery code. for example 1 is Glenfarclas).

Ahh ok. Thanks for letting me know!

Just picked up a Wiser’s Seasoned Oak 19 Year Old. Why?

• our resident Canadian whisky expert, @paddockjudge , scored it a 92. That’s a strong endorsement.
• I had $90 worth of LCBO gift cards burning a hole in my pocket, so the bottle cost me $9.95
• Maybe it’s because Winter is here (it was -26 Celsius here yesterday), but I’m really finding myself craving Canadian whisky lately.
• I’m still honeymooning a bit from my visit to the Hiram Walker distillery.
• FOMO

@OdysseusUnbound, timing is everything! I just happen to be enjoying a wee pour of Seasoned Oak. The bottle was opened two weeks ago. It is amazing! Hiram Walker is an absolutely amazing distillery! ...AMAZING!!!!

@paddockjudge better than Legacy?

@Nozinan, Legacy scores a 95 on paper and 100 in my heart. Seasoned Oak is a very nice whisky, but nowhere near the heights of Legacy.

@paddockjudge I asked our tour guide at Hiram Walker about the rumours of Legacy’s return. She said she gets asked about it all the time and that Don gets asked about it in every blending class he leads. She could neither confirm nor deny the rumours, but she saw Legacy’s eventual return as a logical, no-brainer for the Wiser’s brand.

@OdysseusUnbound

Thank you for taking the fight to the heart of the matter.

@Nozinan If you check out Don Livermore’s Instagram, you’ll notice that he gets comments about Legacy on many of his posts. A whole lotta’ people are clamouring for Legacy.

I was at the LCBO at Spadina and Dupont in Toronto, grabbing a bottle of Wiser's Deluxe to make sick Pammy some hot toddies....and sitting there by its lonesome in the Whisky Shop cabinet was a Lot 40 CS 2018 release: "Excuse me, can you open the cabinet for me? I can't believe that bottle is just sitting there!" "Someone probably just returned it." "Returned it? Who would return that particular bottle, that's crazy! Wait, I know...... THE WIFE GOT TO HIM." (Laughter from surrounding staff and customers)

@talexander I made the decision already that if I serendipitously come across another bottle of the stuff I would probably pick it up. So far the wife hasn't "gotten to me", but unless I start drinking (or sharing) more of what I buy she very well might..."

@talexander I'm guessing you rescued that bottle?

I opened a 2018 recently and man it is going down a treat, I find the oak is more supple on this edition, dangerously drinkable. I might just have to break down and pick up another while it's still easily available on SAQ shelves.

@cricklewood Yes, it has been rescued and adopted into my family!

Lagavulin 12 year old, 2016 200th anniversary edition. On sale at KWM. Had to do it even though I'm on the program until Feb 1st.

Won the LCBO EH Taylor lottery, and picked up a bottle of Small Batch. Yum!

@talexander That's the one I didn't put in for ! Moral of the story: always buy all the whiskies. Looking forward to a review as awesome as Rush's Moving Pictures

Suntory Hakushu 12 yo malt, 43% ABV, and Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye, 2009-2018, 59.8% ABV. Why? I've known Hakushu 12 for years and decided it was time to buy a bottle, during the window in which it was available here. As for the KCCSR, I like the Knob Creek 50% ABV Rye, and expect that I will like it even better at Cask Strength.

This was phase I of a "Whiskey Rocks" day here in Montgomery County Maryland. I lined up with a folding chair at 7:30 am in the cold for a 10 am store opening. I was about # 75 in line. One guy had been there for about 36 hours with a tent. Why? Some scalper-worthy bottles were being sold.

My main interest is in the 89 bottles of 2018 release George T. Stagg being raffled off this afternoon 2 hours from now, from those who registered in person. I have tasted the 2018 Stagg and want some. Maybe I will get some today, maybe not.

That Knob Creek CS Rye is fantastic!

@Victor - Nice finds and good luck!

One guy had been there for about 36 hours with a tent

Now that's dedication.

@talexander, excellent to hear about the Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye!

@RianC I think the motivation was the half a dozen bottles of O.F.C. 1993 for $ 2,518.99 each plus 9% tax . They have a secondary market value, I hear, of $ 7,000 to $ 8,000. $ 3-5,000 profit to hang out for 36 hours? Not so bad, particularly if you are a dealer and hire somebody to do it for you for $ 500.

(1) Longrow 15 Single Cask Chardonnay (had to buy another of this gem)

(2) Springbank 12 CS (Batch 15 & 17) ...cuz I'm a SB whore.

I also found a Batch 7 a few weeks ago at my shop. I believe it was the first batch I ever bought and it was from the same shop. It just randomly appeared on the shelf out of nowhere so I had to grab it.

Nice also to go back and read that Whisky Advocate Magazine named the 2018 release Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye to be the # 2 ranked best release whisk(e)y of 2018, and rated it at 94 points. I had not known that when I made the decision to buy it.