Which bottle did you just buy and why?

Finally went to the liquor store after almost 2 months. Picked up things I was running low on and came across the new Ardbeg Wee Beastie, so I picked it up.

This arrived today, and after a thorough wipe down with Lysol wipes, a quick photo

Not all of these are for me.

2 bottles (Corry and one AP CS) are purchased for a friend, and one of the Plantation OFTDs are part of a birthday gift for another friend. The other 2 are for sipping and Flambés.

I felt it prudent to shore up my position on AP CS as it’s unclear if this will be back any time soon once it’s gone (plus it appears to have proven use as an anti COVID sanitizer).

Finally, I’ve been curious about Everclear for a long time. I’ve never tasted anything with such a high ABV. I figure I can give out samples to those who want them, and the rest can be used to support my disinfectant stocks.

@TracerBullet Be good to get your thoughts on the Wee Beastie when you crack it.

@Nozinan The last time I drank Everclear was in the mid 80's, on a ski trip to Big Mountain, Montana. Not a sipping spirit if I remember correctly but it did eat the rawhide inside my wine bag even mixed with orange juice. We each did a shooter as some kind of rite of passage I remember and that was good for a laugh as it reminded me of a 3 Stooges skit every time someone downed their shot :)

Delivery day today. A friend of mine picked up two bottles of Smith & Cross Navy Strength Rum for me at the Summerhill LCBO. HelloLCBO told me that S&C would eventually be available online, but that’s also what they said about the last batch of Redbreast 12 Cask Strength (spoiler alert: it was never available online or in any stores outside the GTA or Ottawa). Words cannot describe how much I loathe, nay, how much I abhor the LCBO.

@OdysseusUnbound I predict you will enjoy the nutmeg extract you just bought...

@Nozinan Wray & Nephew Overproof tastes like overripe bananas coated in nutmeg and I adore it. I’m also betting this will be one Cross I don’t mind bearing....

@OdysseusUnbound - nice, isn't it?!

@OdysseusUnbound That reminds me, I need to pick up some Wray and Nephew...

@Nozinan You really should. Dave Broom found it “a bit weird” in a daiquiri, but I thought the W&N daiquiri was a treat and went down really easily. Despite the 63 % abv, it’s quite smooooooth

@OdysseusUnbound I used it in place of Smith and Cross for Flambees because of the ABV. I may have used it in mojitos but I don't remember. We don't make cocktails much.

@Nozinan I am going to need you to tell me the batch number of that Corryvreckan (for posterity). I realize it isn’t yours . . . but I like to know what is out there.

I am SO jealous that you have the 190 proof Everclear. I have the 151 version. The Commonwealth of Virgina has decided that the 190 Proof should only be sold to people with a special license.

I love nothing more these days than experimenting with Everclear and low proof whiskies. Instead of adding a drop or two of water I add a drop or two of Everclear. It “opens up” the nose and palate in a totally different way. Laphroaig 10yo at 43% and Lagavulin 16yo at 43% really tug at my heart more when they are bumped up to about 50%. I will be very interested to hear what kind of experiments you try.

That Plantation O.F.T.D is a new edition to my local shelf. What do you think of it? How does it compare with the Smith & Cross, the Lemon Heart 151 and the Goslings 151. I also have the Wray & Nephew which is a totally different experience.

Just curious if I need to pick up a bottle given that I have the other three.

Just purchased a 3 pack set of 200ml bottles of Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door whiskey; Tennessee Bourbon, Double Barrel Whiskey and Straight Rye Whiskey. Why? Because I would never purchase a full-sized bottle of any one of these without trying them first, much less all 3, but for a relatively decent price (less than the price of any one full bottle), I can try all 3, so why not?

The Rye (46%) is aged in French oak “cigar” shaped barrels, so I’m anxious to see what effect French oak has on rye. The Double Barrel (50%) is a blend of 3 whiskeys aged for 6 years, then married together in new oak for an additional year. The bourbon (45%) is aged in new oak making it the only one of the the 3 that is pretty much standard stuff. The bourbon was the highest reviewed of all 3. The rye was well received, but since it is the most expensive, the reviewers weren’t sure that it justified the price.

I will report back with my thoughts when I open these.

@Nock I just cracked the Everclear. I agree it ought to be restricted. 95% is dangerous. But it isn't so I'm glad I have a bottle. Not ready for a review just yet. On the nose it has a fruity alcohol smell. The first (and maybe last?) taste is very interesting. It's almost not even wet, it seems to evaporate off my lips and tongue. Not much flavour. Do I get a hint of peat? Of course not! And as a sanitizer it seems to dry before I can coat all of my hands. A lot like rubbing alcohol.

Now, what to do with the other 748 cc.... I hope to try a few experiments, but not tonight. I think 2-3 sips of it neat was enough to put me off alcohol for tonight.

The batch information for the Corry that is not mine is L2364388 29/07/2019 000478

What I found surprising is that the Everclear also has a batch number.

I have not tried the OFTD from the purchase yet. I still have some of @Cricklewood's sample to polish off. What I like about it is the strong banana (ripe) flavour. It has a funkiness to it that is interesting. I think it will compete with Smith and Cross (and to a lesser extent Wray and Nephew) for the top flambé role, though I have not rules out combinations - imagine banana AND nutmeg! I also plan to try it in some cocktails perhaps. Of course, my favourite remains Lemon Hart 151 as a sipping rum. I've tried Lamb's 151 and it is not even close. If you can get the OFTD, and it shouldn't be pricy, It's worth not missing out.

I think I answered all your questions. let me know if you have more...

Black Fox Gin aged in Oak Barrels

Why? Some of my favorite gins have been aged in oak (Beefeater Burroughs, Barr Hill, Smooth Ambler) and it is got better than decent reviews in some of the sites I looked up.

Down to half a bottle of the current sipper so just establishing my on-deck bottle.

Thought long and hard about the Masterson 10 YO that was $35 off at my local LCBO however decided to pass for now.

Still have a 1/3 bottle of the Wiser 23 and a couple of other ryes (albeit American) in the bunker.

More likely is making a trek to Summerhill this weekend to get a bottle of the Kirk & Sweeney 23 YO Rum (when I ordered the 18, the 23 YO was sold out). That would be a nice side-by-side tasting.

oh, and if anyone is interested, the Koval was also $35 off (not sure which one though).

If anyone is interested, I can pick it up for you - just let me know.

@bwmccoy I've had a taste of the Bourbon. I thought it was ok, not great. I bought a bottle to give to a cousin who doesn't drink much, but is an absolute Dylan maniac. He's been to more Dylan concerts than I've had hot dinners, has a massive Dylan record collection and every book ever written about the great Zimmy. He lives on Vancouver Island and with the current conditions I don't know when I might get it to him. Let us know what you think.

@Nozinan, thanks for the quick reply. And you did get in all the answers! Much appreciated.

I am SHOCKED that you sipped the 190 Proof neat. Gosh, not sure I would have tried it. But what to do with it? I am sure you have some thoughts. But just in case you needed more: you can create your own bitters!

@bwmccoy I am very curious to hear your take on the series. The rye is the one I am most interested to hear about.

@Nock one must make personal sacrifices in the name of higher learning

Lagavulin 16. A cheap car insurance renewal 'freed' some cash so I had bought a Glenlivet 18 only to discover that I was getting the 40% version not the 43% so I cancelled the order.

That was whisky money, by rights, so I looked at my wish list and opted for this instead. Saved a few quid and know I'll be getting something that is usually excellent.

I rarely go to the liquor store, but I needed to pick up something for my older son’s birthday. I purchased a single barrel 15 year Sherry Cask Balvenie because both my son and his wife love sherry and Balvenie and I don’t think either of them have had this release.

I also picked up a bottle of The Botanist gin for my wife.

Also, my Rittenhouse BiB is low so I picked up a replacement.

While trying to decide what to get my son, I noticed they had the new Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old. I’ve heard good things about it and it was a relatively decent price, so I picked one of those up as well.

This is why I don’t go to the liquor store.

@bwmccoy I'm trying to minimize purchases but this is one I would probably go for if reasonably priced.

I like the label for the Ardbeg Wee Beastie, with the big red letters and the red claw marks to the left. Talk about avoiding No Age Statement: "GUARANTEED 5 YEARS OLD". How many people on here have stated, "I'd rather have a 5 year age statement whisky than an NAS whisky." ?

@Victor I am one of them. I am a big fan of Octomore.

@Nozinan @Victor - me too! In addition to Octomore, the original Port Charlotte series; PC5, PC6, PC7, 8, 9, etc.

@Victor My bottle of Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2008 was 6 years old and it was delicious. For the life of me, I can’t understand why someone would be reticent to buy a whisky with a younger age statement. If Laphroaig Quarter Cask carried an age statement, it would likely be 6 years old. It’s a whisky I almost always have on hand. If the Wee Beastie 5 Year is ever available to me at a reasonable price, I’ll certainly take the plunge.

@OdysseusUnbound Just checking around online re the price of the Wee Beastie. $45 in Oregon and anywhere from $39 to $55 US in other parts of the States. Less than the 10 yr old in most places. Of course that means nothing when it comes to Canadian pricing when you consider that the Ten is well over $100 In BC with the assorted taxes.

Found this old dusty sitting on a shelf today. Quintessential Campbeltown bottled in 2010. I tried to talk the guy into discounting it due to the poor state of the box and how long it had been sitting there. He knocked a whole $3 off the $90NZD price tag

@Hewie - amazing find, nice one! What a tight-wod though