Which bottle did you just buy and why?

I got what appears to be a steal today in a really small rural shop. G&M Glen Grant 21yo for $79USD. From what I can find it was distilled in either 1993 or 1995. Any of you fine gents know which? Either was I couldn't pass on this at that price. He said it had been there on the shelf for years.

Better photo of bottle

@casualtorture I suspect it was bottle around 2008, from looking at Whiskybase reviews. In any case - "A Dusty". That style of box was around from the 1990 thought to 2011. The corks came in around the 2007. That's my best guess.

@fiddich1980 good info on the cork, I remember these used to be twist off and didn't notice this was a cork until you mentioned it.

@casualtorture Excellent score. I hope the shelf it was on for years was away from any excessive heat or sunlight.

@casualtorture looks like this one thewhiskyexchange.com/p/22615/…

Call TWE and they may be able to tell you more?

Edit: ok, I too just spotted the Cork now

So I already picked up 5 Bruichladdich The Classic Laddy Scottish Barley at 50% as you might note in the “Steal of a Deal” thread.

But wait, I bought more!

The truth is that my birthday is right around the corner and I just couldn’t help myself.

1. A bottle of Dow’s Vintage Port 2016 (along with a half bottle) – why? I once was a big vintage port drinker. That has really tapered off. But on occasion I find myself in a mood. And supposedly this is a vintage for the ages. Almost everyone has declared 2016 a phenomenal year. So, I might as well pick it up while I can.

2. A one Liter bottle of Pusser’s Rum at 42%. Why? It was on close out for $12.59. The normal 750mL bottle is $24.99. So, half price with an extra 250mL? Another Steal of a Deal honestly. The ways of the Virginia Liquor Control Board are beyond our understanding.

3. 2 bottles of the Oban Game of Thrones Night Watch. Why? They were all sold out in Virginia last Christmas. I picked up two bottles each of the Lagavulin, Talisker, and Clynelish last Christmas. This was the one bottle I wanted that got away. The prices on the secondary market got crazy quickly. However, for some strange reason many bottles of the Game of Thrones series magically just appeared at this one store in Virginia Beach here in October ???? The ways of the Virginia Liquor Control Board are beyond our understanding.

4. Buffalo Trace. Why? I honestly don’t know. Maybe just for spite. They had big signs “one bottle per customer.” Seriously, people in the bourbon world have lost their minds when start buying up Buffalo Trace, Elmer T. Lee, and Blanton’s like it was Pappy Van Winkle. Clearly the demand for “bourbon-in-demand” is huge.

5. Everclear 151. Why? I really wanted the Everclear 190 . . . but Virginia has decided that you can only buy it if you have a grain alcohol permit. They just changed this in the last three months. I could 190 Everclear legally back in June. (The ways of the Virginia Liquor Control Board are beyond our understanding.). Back to the “Why?” Because I just watched Ralphy’s recent video on using high proof rum to boost the flavors of a low proof Laphroaig 10yo at 40%. I immediately thought of Lagavulin 16yo at 43%. Unfortunately, Virginia is really stingy with high proof stuff (see exhibit "a" above). This is probably my best option for a high proof neutral spirt. I will start experimenting soon. Obviously, it will thin out some flavors, but maybe the ABV boost will help the experience for me?

@BlueNote This shop did not have much sunlight anywhere so I should be good. We'll see.

@Nock I have heard tales of Virginia's alcohol board laws. I know Virginia along with Alabama are ABC states and everything there is quite a pain.

@casualtorture much truth. It often feels like I leave a state just as the laws become relaxed. Washington State was ABC controlled when I lived there. Tennessee was a great challenge when I lived there. I am sure that once I move on from Virginia they will at last end this horrible system of theirs.

By the way, great find and a great price with that Glen Grant 21yo.

The Balvenie 15 yo Sherry Cask. Why? 1) Good reviews, 2) I love the 17 yo DoubleWood, and 3) the price was right.

I was going through some of my hidden stash and I came up with these.

Gordan and MacPhail Caol Ila 11 CS: Why? Unlike many, I already like the standard Caol Ila 12 bottling--though I haven't had it for some years-- and am curious to see what it's like dialed down to 11 in years but up in abv., with no color or chill filtration.. My local whisky monger recommended this IB, were it to come back in stock, and the price is right. I cared enough about this one to pay for it over the phone rather than have it stuck in the storage room with "Jon" on a label. (I once missed a bottle that way from the same shop...)

@Nock, the question begs to be asked........when is your birthday?

@paddockjudge as a clue . . . next Thursday will be a massive day of peat in my house hold. Many peated expressions will be opened. Thankfully, I will have the day off. I was trying to figure out a way to take Friday off as well and make it a very long weekend. Sadly, it did't work out. My recent cold has put me a little behind on things.

Finally completed this long awaited trade, thanks to Elmer T Lee for putting me over the top.

@Astroke That appears to be one of the older sourced Willett Ryes from around 2012-2014. Well done.

@Nock Yes, MGP sourced. Curious to see how good this 4 year Rye is.

@Astroke I was (and am) a big fan of Willett's Rye (what they sourced and what they have distilled). I went through several different batches of these 4yo MGP bottles. I still have bottle one left from barrel 1475. To this I have now collected Willett's 2yo 55.7%, 3yo 55% and the recent 4yo 55.8%. One day I plan to open them all and see how the Willett distillate evolved and compares with the MGP juice they originally released.

My own experience is that those Rye's have always benefited from air time. Let us know when you get around to cracking it.

I finally pulled the trigger.

When I turned 50 my wife threw a party. I received (despite the “no gifts”) request, several bottles of whisky and a bottle of champagne.

I opened the Howitzer to try it, and thankfully @paddockjudge took the bottle with him at his last visit. I opened the Kirkwall Bay, and it’s not bad. But I did not want to open an entry level Weller and Alabama style whisky (made and purchased in Florida) to add stuff to my cabinet that I will never get through.

Also I was behind in my goal to end the year with no more sealed bottles than I started with.

So over the past few weeks i’ve Been looking for things to cull.

I scanned them all with the LCBO app to ensure they were listed and I calculated 6 bottles I could return and get these two beauties by adding $5.55. Today I pulled the trigger, called ahead and arranged to bring them in to the only store that had both of what I wanted.

Sadly, I will be on-call in just over 2 hours, so I can’t have a celebratory dram. Sober October continues...

@Nozinan Nicely played. I have a sample of that Lagavulin 12yo CS 2018 arriving soon. I plan on doing a little epic Lagavulin 12yo CS line up to see how it compares with several others from the past decade. Do you plan to open that one soon? Or do you have a different batch open? It seems that one should always have a Lagavulin 12yo on hand.

Here is what I sacrificed for those two bottles:

1. Peat Monster. I remembered, just before I entered the store, to check if there was a receipt from Calgary. Sure enough, I removed a Safeway receipt that said I paid $62.04 in December 2015. I received a $76.20 credit.

2. The Madeira was one of two bottles I received as gifts from 2 different people. I still have one left to try and tell each giver if I liked it.

3. I paid $56.95 for the Knob Creek 9 YO SB in 2016, and was credited $62.95.

4. I wa a assured by my friend that he was told in Florida’s that the Clyde May’s could not be bought in Canada...

5. I don’t know what my other friend was thinking when he bought me the Weller. He has seen my cabinet. It’s not my style.

6. The Glen Breton Rare I bought in 2009. I don’t know how much I paid. Probably not much less than it costs now. This was among three first 4 bottles of whisky I BOUGHT for my collection. I still have a bottle of the ice wine cask finish - because it is no longer listed and I can’t even find it on wine searcher.

I have no regrets.

@Nock I have a sample of the 2017 courtesy @fiddich1980, an open bottle of the 2015 (only a third left but well-shared and enjoyed), and samples of the 2011 and 2013. I also have a sealed bottle of the 2010. I am well-positioned for the apocalypse.

@Nozinan excellently done, with that exchange. .

@Victor I will still likely end the year with more bottles than I started if I go for the NBC and AP releases. But having been gifted 6 bottles this year, without those my balance would have been closer.

@Nozinan Excellent trade off

@Nozinan ah yes, I know it very well-- the dilemma of the "can't pass it up bottle." To be sure, I don't want to proliferate bottles at this time, but...if I were offered 5 BTACs and 4 Van Winkles at dealer prices this autumn, I would most certainly be buying 9 more bottles.

A Happy Halloween ... I guess.

@Nozinan - That seems like a great trade! Say what you will about the LCBO but that they allow such trades (without proof of purchase, I presume?) is a very nice option to have - I don't think the UK has anything like it.

This was $16, I hadn't had it before and heard a couple people say it was decent so giving it a shot