Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@Astroke, oh so true!.... but every once in a while they welcome you home with open gates.... and you can drive a truckload straight through.

@paddockjudge so true, and then you kick yourself for the ones you left behind.

@paddockjudge Yup, the first 2 Rendezvous Rye's I hit the border with, said what I had, was prepared for the worst and he waved me through.

@Astroke @Nozinan @paddockjudge If you tell them the truth (honesty, as you know, being the best policy ) they will usually wave you through, particularly if you are only one bottle over. But if they catch you in the lie, they will make you pay. We have never been charged for having four bottles between my wife and me.

@BlueNote, my personal best is thirteen... a shipload of minis ....plus the guy riding shotgun. I usually get asked a few questions. I reply calmly without attitude (fully prepared to pay my share) and there’s never a problem. One of these days I’ll be asked to pay the duty, but until then I’ll just keep smiling.

@paddockjudge I must have a face that isn't trustworthy. Even though I've never had anything to hide, and I've always been polite, I seem to get trouble and attitude from border security agents every time. The first time I crossed into upstate NY, a border agent almost convinced me that I was doing something wrong with his questions.....We were just going to a Sabres-Canadiens game.

@OdysseusUnbound, there's your problem! It's a well established fact, CBS officers are BRUINS FANS. Outside of The Flour Mill you should probably keep the Habs Fan thing on the down low....next time tell 'em you're going bowling at Kenmore Lanes.

@paddockjudge Good idea. I couldn’t even pretend to act as though I think the Bruins (spit) are “Wicked awesome”...

@OdysseusUnbound Not to mention that pesky little rat, Brad Marchand. I hate the little bugger, but I wish he played for Vancouver.

@BlueNote Oh I hate Marchand, but I’d take him on the Habs in half a heartbeat. He’s what Gallagher would be if he had any offensive talent whatsoever....

@OdysseusUnbound Don't mention the Habs. They just beat the Canucks. I had to have some Kilchoman STR just to calm down before bed.

These three beauties arrived yesterday. I’ve been wanting to try something from Loch Lomond for a while. As for the other two, the prices were too good to pass up.

@BlueNote Be sure to take your time with that Springbank 15. It evolves beautifully with time and air.

@OdysseusUnbound Will do. My last one took some time to relax. I had a small dram of the Croftengea tonight. Wow, is that ever different. My first impression was of bananas, both on the nose and on the palate. We'll see how this one evolves.

I just read the notes on the Croftengea bottle and they state: “Expect robust nose with fruity notes of BANANA and honey.” The banana was certainly the prevalent component of the nose and, from the small sip I had last night, on the palate too. I was expecting it to be quite heavily peated, but the peat is hardly noticeable at all. It will be interesting to see where this one goes.

My friend with the SMWS membership has a society bottling of Croftengea that he has yet to open. I’ll see if we can swap samples and do a head to head.

@BlueNote I consider you to be lucky. I love banana in whisky but seldom find it. My Yamazaki 12 yo had it strongly, but it disappeared after the bottle was open a couple of years. It's what I liked best about it.

And it is surprising and impressive to me that your bottle/box tasting notes actually bear some resemblance to the actual flavours of the whisky.

@Victor Perhaps @bwmccoy could give us a tasting note on the SMWS Croftengea. I had another sip tonight and I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up loving this. I got more than the big banana hit this time. It’s quite complex and I’m sure it will become even more so with some air time.

@BlueNote here’s the official tasting notes; (by the way, I’m having a dram of it right now. Sorry, but no banana notes on this one).

Croftengea (THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY CASK #122.23)

Region: Highland / District: Southern

“Highly a-musing”

The first nose had the sweet smokiness of honey-cured bacon and curried smoked salmon cubes, followed by liquorice and the light medicinal smell of muscle rub. On the palate a ferocious attack of sweet perfumed smoke but, taking into account the age, all fairly well balanced and quite satisfying in a mysterious way.

With water, like a salt and oil body scrub enriched with Dead Sea minerals, sweet almond oil and a snuffed out perfumed candle. To taste, a very sweet start before charcoal grilled spiced pork herb sausages arrived and a lengthy slightly bitter finish.

Flavor Profile: Peated

Cask: Second-fill ex-bourbon hogshead

Age: 7 years

Date distilled: 11th February 2011

Bottles: 72 (USA allocation) Total of 301 bottles

Alcohol: 57.7%

@bwmccoy Very interesting. That bears very little resemblance to what I’m tasting. But I am starting to quite like this one.

I just picked up the Dalmore Port Wood Reserve at 46.5%. I am not a fan of most of the Dalmore offerings at 40%. At 46.5% I was will to give the Port Wood a try. Most of the reviews seemed to be on the positive side. I will know soon.

@DaveM I was shocked at how much I enjoyed my last bottle of Dalmore 12, despite the 40% abv. Keep us updated on the Portwood.

Santa has been kind this year ... although I think I may have hurt Scotches' feelings

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, may your Hanukka be full of light and, should you not be celebrating at this time of year then be well, happy and merry

My local liquor store is a little shop that carries a small amount of whiskies and scotches. I ran across a bottle of Glenlivet 21 YO so I thought I would use that as my Christmas cheer this year.

@RianC, I like all whisky, I don’t discriminate. Perhaps some words of wisdom from Fred Noe, son of Booker Noe and 7th generation Beam Family Distiller, will put your mind to rest. When asked a few years ago about barrel treatments and maximizing extraction from wood after dumping barrels and how it may affect some other whisky makers, Fred was quoted as saying (I’ll paraphrase this) phuck the scotch guys.

The last of the classic Lagavulin 12 CS bottlings; bought, because of my fetish with Lagavulin 12 CS collection continuity and purchased with gift cards. It is my last purchase for 2019. The Lagavulin 12 CS 2019 will be available in 2020, sporting a new livery and a higher price tag.

Not a purchase, a gift. My brother’s family went to China while I was in Israel, and someone from my sister in law’s family remembered that one time I showed an interest in Bai Jiao.

There are affordable Moutais.

This one does not appear to be one of them. I can only hope it was cheaper in China.

@Nozinan what a thoughtful gift. Not meaning to be crude but the image makes it look like a bottle of lighter fluid I'm sure it'll taste better than that

@Hewie Don’t be sure. This is a white spirit made from Sorghum. I have no idea why some is expensive and some is cheaper. I know some of them are aged.

I have to say I liked other Bai Jiao I tasted from XinJiang. That one was 46% and unclear what grain was used. It was quite fruity. This one is 38%. Strange.

Not sure when it will get opened though....

@fiddich1980. Where did you buy the LAG 12 and what did it cost? If you don’t mind my asking.

@BlueNote My suspicion is he got it at the LCBO. I got one too a little while back when I traded in some unwanted bottles. At the time it was $160.05 and the only way I would ever get it is as a trade in.

I see Zyn is selling the 2018 for $148.00 and the 2017 for $149.00