Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@talexander Forty Creek submitted it to Davin's Canadian Whisky group and they judged it WOTY. Forty Creek then gave the entire 102 bottles to the LCBO and of course they made sure no bottle saw private ownership as far as I know. Not sure what they could have done any better but by giving it to the KGBO, it became just an obscure footnote in Canadian Whisky history. Of course that is just my conspiracy theory :)

@Astroke Well, they could have done better by producing more bottles - if they only did 100 or so, and gave them all to one buyer - that's pretty incompetent.

@Astroke, it took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting the rye and wine to work well together. I'm certainly not rushing out to get a couple of six-packs .... like I did in the early years.

@paddockjudge Hmm ... additive of 20 year old fortified wine made from Baco Noir grapes as part of the Forty Creek Victory could make for an interesting development in the taste profile as the bottle fill level drops. Please keep us posted on flavour development as you work through the bottle.

@Astroke Is the new Arran 18 different from the previous version, or is it just new packaging?

@fiddich1980, Forty Creek Reserve releases tend to get better as the fill level declines. I'm curious to see how the 20 YO Baco Noir evolves. I'll post my findings in the months to come....while drawing a sample or two.

@BlueNote I have never had the older version 18, but this new one is very good. Not so much a Sherry bomb but Sherry forward for sure.

Haven't posted for a little while but I just had to share the bottle I just bought - George T Stagg 58.45%. Picked up some bottles of Weller special reserve and my new favourite store offered this at the original price. Must be so little of these left floating in the UK market so I'm super happy to have been offered one. Happy hunting (and more importantly drinking!)!!

@conorrob - That's a find and a half mate! Nice one

@RianC Thanks man... actually proper psyched as its been quite some time since I've got lucky with one these rarities... Good things come to those who wait though right ?

@conorrob STAGG!!! Outstanding. The 2019 release I see. Is this your first bottle of George T. Stagg? It should be great, even at the for-George-T.-Stagg piddling proof of 58.45% ABV. A bunch of them have been released at over 70% ABV. It has been about 4 years since I have been able to get a bottle of Stagg. I was supposed to get a bottle of the 2019 release when they were released last fall, but personal issues prevented my contact from being able to deliver. Odds are good I'll get one in 2020, because the vendor was sorry last year that I got left out. Drop me a line and tell me how you find your Stagg. It is always good to read a success story!

@Victor If your vendor happens to have an extra bottle this year...

@Victor Yep very first bottle! The guy wanted to sell it to someone who'd drink it so had been keeping it aside. Haha yes I did do a little reading and it's a real shame it's at a lower abv but as someone who has never even tried it before... I'm sure it'll do just fine. I'll have to look through your reviews to see what the older ones were like for comparison. Shame I can't get a taster to you when it is open! See thats awesome, the odds are reversed for me unfortunately ... almost no chance I get a 2020 of any of the Buffalo Trace antiques unless I get lucky in a ballot! Will do, and I'll be sure to leave a review on the site too along with maybe a sign-up sheet for taster bottles! The success stories seem to get less and less every year for me now but the odd one still makes it worth the hassle.

@Nozinan well played sir ... haha

@conorrob Thanks, but @Victor has been extremely generous with his BTAC collection. Sure, it means a long drive for a tasting but there is a great BBQ place about halfway on the trip (or was before COVID) called GIO’s.

If I had one Stagg it would be pretty much as if I had none. I would be loath to open it. Though I got lucky in my first BTAC lottery in 2014. I was one of 3 Ontario Connosrs who scored different CS bottles and we all opened them together (with others)

I still remember the guy who took 4 oz samples of each....

Ardbeg Blaaack 46%, Wee Beastie, and Kilchoman 100% Islay.

Why?

To meet & greet a fleet of sweet peat that can't be beat.

@MadSingleMalt Quite a feat.

@Nozinan hmmmm yeah maybe you are right. I honestly didn’t realise it was this hard to get... though the big eshops in the U.K. (thewhiskyexchange and MOM) only tend to get a few bottles each so I suppose that was a hint. It’s there to be enjoyed though right .. you guys definitely did the right thing!

@MadSingleMalt just opened a wee beastie myself .... would love to know your thoughts when it’s open!

@conorrob Me too. I’m holding off until the reviews are in.

@Astroke I like the new Arran bottles, although I've not seen them in the flesh. Very minimalist. Better redesign than Benromach.

@Wierdo Agreed. I like the new look.

I don't have it yet but a buddy picked up a bottle of the new Laphroaig Cairdeas 2020 Port and Wine Cask release for me. I have been looking for a bottle but he found it first and for $64.99! I couldn't pass up that price.

AnCnoc 24 and Nikka Coffey Malt. Why? Because I have no self-control Well, there seem to be few bottles of the AnCnoc left and it's one I simply had to get hold of. I also heard the Nikka was discontinued last year and its prices were going up up up! I saw it for £50 and thought, 'Why not?'. It will be interesting to try a malt made in such a manner. I have also used two new (to me) independent shops and am hoping for no delivery shenanigans ...

But that IS IT until Xmas ...

@RianC The four recent bottle additions to your cabinet make an enjoyable and excellent whisky exploration - enjoy!

@fiddich1980 - Thanks! Yes, a definite self-indulgent splurge on my part but I still have some change left over from my surprise tax rebate, so I can still, just about, put bread and nappies on the table

Would be good to share them, via the magic of Zoom again, with you at some point!

@RianC You may be a bit disappointed with the Nikka. From my experience, the more you drink of it the drowsier you get. I think it's decaf...

@Nozinan - That's not good! With Daddy day creche having been in full swing for three months (today I made balloon swords, dogs and dinosaurs ... the T-rex was fiddly as hell!) I need cocaine, not coffee!

@RianC Self control is highly overrated.

@RianC Dads' Lives Matter!