Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@RianC happy birthday for today/yesterday!!! very jealous of the haul ! I’ve shown the misses your list in an attempt to increase my own chances of a Birthday miracle.... she says I have no chance

@conorrob - ha ha! I start laying the groundwork months in advance . . a little mention here . . . a little sob story there . . . 'oh they're so hard to come by' . . . etc etc

In truth, they were the result of pooling all cash gifts together and adding a touch of my own. The Cotswolds was from Waitrose and we had some vouchers so it only cost £38 - which is a very good price! I also found an online store, in Scotland, no less, that has some of the cheapest prices I've seen - well worth a look and they have some amazing IBs. Their niche is selling whisky and wellies, as you do!

thegreenwellystop.co.uk/whisky/…

I'm tempted to get another Cotswolds to keep in the stash as, being one of the first releases I'd imagine it could be worth a few bob in time and I have more vouchers I could use. This one is being opened very soon though . . .

@RianC Happy Birthday (or day near the day of your birth). Nice selections there. I keep seeing articles about the increasing number of English distilleries. It'll be interesting to hear what you think of the Cotswolds when you open it. I hope you've had a nice day celebrating.

@Hewie - Thanks mate! First impressions are on the 'What are you drinking' thread.

@Nock , that's a solid sweep of whiskys for a trip, The Kilchoman at the end is the cask strength I believe is that from the first or second batch?

@cricklewood Thank you. I was pleased. You are correct about the Kilchoman. It is batch #2. I already have an open bottle. I saw this bottle on the shelf on sale for $89.99. It was a no brainer for me (P.S. The Longrow Red was also on sale). A really great peated whisky. The only thing is that it has an odd mint note (maybe peppermint?) that could put some people off. I have to be in the right mood for that bottle. But when I am I really enjoy it. Glad to have a backup bottle.

@Nock I think many would be please with the opportunity to pick-up some Laphroaig 10 CS as well . Nice I've never had the Kilchoman CS, I believe batch two was particular as it was aged in quarter casks, I know some folks who rate it very highly.

Two new babies, though well known to most I think and nothing shocking.

1. Lagavulin 12 (2108). Been curious about this one for a while and just found it on a trip for €71/£61 which was rather nice as it sets you back £100-120 in London at the moment.

2. Laphroaig triple wood. Cause I'm running out of my quarter cask and wanted to try something new. Don't recall who here rated is well but curious to see what the additional maturation will bring into the mix compared to the QC and 10.

Lachaim

@RikS I’m a big fan of the Triple Wood !

I just picked up my Stagg Jr Batch 10 and a bottle of a Yellow Spot. I’ve enjoyed Green Spot several times with a friend who’s an Irish Whiskey enthusiast and I thought I’d give the Yellow a go.

@OdysseusUnbound Yes, in fact I believe this purchase is all your fault! :-) Which is to say that I believe it was your very nice impressions of this one that got stuck with me, so I thought I'd try it. I also wouldn't mind to get my hands on the CS, but it's a little tricky to find that one in the UK. So, we'll start with a triple....

My Benromach 15 arrived today. Here he is with his new friends!

@RianC i know people don’t swear on here .... so i’m Going English .... you git !!!!

@conorrob Just have a look at the “How Fucked Up is the LCBO?” Discussion if you want to see some swearing....mostly from me.

@OdysseusUnbound I retract my statement!

@conorrob @OdysseusUnbound - Potty mouths!

@OdysseusUnbound this ones for you mate

onemoredram.com/2019/03/…

@cricklewood But seriously.... even the Lag 8 is 48%. The 12 is CS. Why an 11 YO at 46%?

@Nozinan "Ron Swanson" is a Lag 16 drinker. He apparently likes them low in ABV.

Is this thing even real?

@MadSingleMalt it is. As a reaction to drinkers aversion to NAS offerings but still wanting new exptessions Talisker is launching this year a 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14,. 15,. 16, 17, 18,. 19,. 20, 21 and 25 year series (13 omitted as it's bad Luck).

@Victor Come on, 46% isn’t terrible. Didn’t Wild Turkey’s celebrity offering weigh in at 43%? And despite that, I hear Longbranch is alright, alright, alright.

@OdysseusUnbound I did not suggest that 46% was terrible, only that there was a reason related to the character of Ron Swanson why Ron Swanson Lagavulin malt might come in at a lower ABV than @Nozinan seemed to consider to be desirable.

@Victor Being something of a Parks and Recreation afficionado, I’d venture to guess that Ron Swanson would say “Son, there is no wrong way to consume alcohol”.

A friend brought a couple of these North Star Heaven Hill 9 year bottles in from Alberta and grabbed me one. Finished in an Islay Hogshead (Ardbeg), should be different if anything. Could not upload the picture for some reason so I put the link to whiskybase.

whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/…

Just got back from 5 weeks in Mexico where it was warm and sunny, unlike here where it is bloody cold. Having a hard time getting used to wearing a lot more than a bathing suit. Internet was iffy where we were staying so I have been out of touch for a while.

Anyway, good single malt was scarce down there, but I did buy a 43%version of Balvenie DW and a 43% version of Glenmo Original. A friend who spent some time in Palm Springs bought a bottle of Lag 16 because it was such a good deal, even though he is not keen on peat. Before he opened the bottle I gave him a taste from my open bottle and he made some remark about kerosene and with a few choice expletives re-stated his aversion to peat. Bottom line, He gave me the Lag 16 and I gave him the Doublewood. everybody happy, although I think I got the better of the deal.

@BlueNote and did you bring back some Mexican spirits?

@Victor I did sample some good tequila down there. Particularly liked some Patron I had in a restaurant. Jose Cuervo Familia Reserva was highly recommended by a very knowledgeable tequila lover. Looked all over, but never found a bottle. I'm told it runs around $150-200 if you can find it. Oh, well, I still have my unopened bottle of Don Julio 1942 to get into.

@BlueNote I am sure it is all dependent on your location and access. Here's what wine-searcher.com reports about Jose Cuervo Reserva de La Familia Extra-Anejo within Mexico:

wine-searcher.com/find/…

World average prices are $ 148 plus tax, $ 44 higher than in Mexico.

@Victor I'll be back down there next year. I'll have another look. Are you familiar with it?

@BlueNote I am pretty sure that I recommended that you get it last year and you tried unsuccessfully, ending up with a counterfeit. I have also posted on Connosr about it in the last year or so, as has @bwmccoy to whom I introduced it. @bwmccoy is now a big fan of Jose Cuervo Reserva de La Familia too. I think it is possible to find it in Mexico for around $ 100 still in some places. It is hard to touch it now in the USA for much below $ 150 USD plus tax.