Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@Nock so the Stagg Jr is 66.05% ABV. Yes the Ardbeg Grooves is just the standard release. Thanks

@Hewie That appears to be from batch #3 which was released in the Fall of 2014. Wow! I have one unopened bottle, but I don't have any notes for it yet. Let us know how you find it.

Just picked up a bottle of Clyde May's Alabama Style Whiskey. It's my first purchase of the year, so it feels somewhat momentous. The reason I caved is because it's a style of whiskey I've never tasted and reviews were intriguing. Apparently it starts life as a bourbon and then finished with dried apples. Haven't had any yet, but I'm looking forward to tasting it tonight.

(2) Benromach 10/100 for the bunker(FORO)

(2) Benromach 15

(1) Longrow 9yr Single Cask Sauternes

(1) Longrow Red 11yr Pinot Noir

(1) Longrow 14yr Sherry Cask

Another Springbank fanatic I met on FB needed a mule to grab/ship a couple Single Cask offerings that he was unable to get in his area. The store was about 1.5 hours away from me and I was interested in the Longrow Sauternes SC as well so I helped him out. Also, I've been looking for the last of the remaining bottles of the B10/100 and came across a couple bottles at this store at a reduced price (same with the Benromach 15) and couldn't pass it up. A day after I planned this out, the SB distributor for RI got a new shipment in which included the other two Longrows which I have been waiting for as well. What a whirlwind these past couple of months have been!

Just got a Springbank 15. Why? Well for starters, the price was unbeatable; I paid significantly less for this than I would have for a Springbank 10 (in Ontario prices). And a fellow Connosr is holding another bottle of this for me, which I hope to pick up before the end of May. It’s a bit of a gamble to have 2 bottles of something I’ve never tried and that appears to be fairly polarizing on the whisky-web, but I’m willing to gamble on Springbank. I’d rather have 2 bottles of something kinda disappointing than live with the disappointment of passing up a great deal on a bottle I may end up loving.

Not bought but acquired as a gift. My wife arranged a get together for friends from work, med school and high school to celebrate my 50th birthday last month.

Although the rule was “no gifts” I was still gifted 4 bottles of whisky.

One friend had just flown in from Florida and for something at DF that he was sure I could not get in Canada. I didn’t tell him that Clyde May’s is at the LCBO.

Another friend was told that if her friend was “into whisky”, he won’t have tried this. I am looking forward to experience the Howitzer in the future.

My former whisky mule from Florida, now in California (but still has some of my Bladnoch in Florida... when will I get it?), probably my longest standing friend since 1984, stopped in at Summerhill and was convinced by the clerk that the Weller Special Reserve is fantastic, and correctly guessed I would not have tried the Kirkwall Bay, which we opened together after everyone else had left.

So much for having fewer bottles at the end of the year...

@OdysseusUnbound I don't think you'll be disappointed with your purchase. I love the Springbank 15. It has much more sherry influence than other whiskies in the range and maybe a bit less complex as a result but it makes up for that with an increased richness.

@OdysseusUnbound - for what it’s worth, I agree with @Wierdo. I would be very happy to have 2 bottles of Springbank 15 in my cabinet.

@bwmccoy I currently have one unopened bottle and am very, very curious to see how it tastes. Sadly, this bottle is not meant for me...

@Nozinan - to me, the 12CS and the 15 are the best in their core range. The regular 12 is a great, everyday dram. I was very disappointed in the 18. While there is nothing wrong with it per se, the 15 is better in my opinion and a lot less money. I haven’t tried the 21 year old enough to have an opinion. It’s out of my price range. :-)

@bwmccoy I'd agree with everything you've said there. Springbank 12 CS would definitely be a desert island whisky for me

I finally managed to snag a bottle of Springbank 12 Cask Strength. Been after this one for a while, but always just missed it...until now.

I was having a wee side by side last night with Springbank 12 CS (Batch 6 from Jan 2013 at 53.1% ABV) and the latest Longrow Red (11 year Pinot Noir coincidentally also at 53.1% ABV). I was trying to decide whether to buy another Springbank 12 CS (different batch) or the Longrow 14 Sherry Wood. Surprisingly both are still available here in NZ.At the moment the jury is out - I just can't decide! Springbank 12 CS is never disappointing

@Hewie get both and put off future purchases a bit.....

I didn't buy them, but recently my mother gifted me with a bottle each of Lagavulin 9 YO Game of Thrones House Lannister & Mortlach 12 YO the Wee Witchie.

Off subject slightly but it's currently the Campbletown whisky festival. I'm getting all sorts on my Facebook feed and it looks like an event that would be great to attend. They do a festival bottlings including a Hazelburn 21 year old. Sounds amazing but £250 a bottle

@Frost - Have you tried the Mortlach yet?

I ask as I've been eyeing up the new 12 and 16 (which are currently on offer at MoM if anyone's interested?). I've only had one Mortlach and that was the F&F version - but what a whisky it was!

@RianC I didn't try this Mortlach 12 yet. My gut says it is bound to exceed the OB "Old Rare" 500ml debacle.

@Wierdo I was going to go to this this year but my car broke down last week and so I couldn’t get there. It wasn’t just the 21 ... they were offering a few other interesting bottling too - including a Kilkerran which wasn’t mentioned in the email.

The longrow really interested me

@conorrob they have quite a few good bottlings. A kilkerran 15 year old being one. One advantage of the festival bottles being sold at quite an expensive price at the time is I suppose it puts flippers off. I'd love to have a 21 year old Hazelburn but £250 is crazy money.

@conorrob Somebody posted images of the bottles they brought at the festival on Facebook. I must confess to feeling envious!

@Wierdo yeah jealous is the word I’d use too haha

Maybe next year ...

@conorrob reinforces that whisky is a rich man's pursuit to some extent. The guy who posted that on the Springbank fans Facebook group had come from Holland. And that was only part of his haul. He'd picked up 20 bottles I total. You think an average of say £60 a bottle that's £3k. Then you've got travelling accommodation, food & drinks whilst you're there. I bet he spent £5k on the trip in total!

Benromach 2006 Peat Smoke ...'cuz I wanted to finally try it.

Del Maguey Chichicapa

Del Maguey Madrecuixe

Del Maguey Arroqueno

The mezcals because I just got into them and am currently under a state of high intrigue that borders on obsession.

@Wierdo plus the duty ( not sure how that works in the Eu but I’m sure it’s a thing) honestly though I’d spend my months mortgage to have a few of those bottles haha

@KRB80 I have a bottle of Del Maguey Chichicapa buried somewhere in the bar. Thanks for reminding me to get around to it.

Not a purchase as such but I've moved wards at work and my old staff team got me some Caol Ila

Bought a bottle of Kingsbarns - Dream to dram and Glasgow Distillery - 2019 Release Because both are new distilleries and I'm curious about their malts.

Thought I should pick up a bottle of this while I still can. It sounds like it has disappeared from many places Since it's discontinuation but there's still a few sitting around. Looking forward to cracking into this one. Bottled 14/04/17

@Hewie Good call! If I could get my hands on another bottle I would. If there are any left in Nova Scotia (IF I GO) in October I will try to get one.