Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@Nozinan and, what was the verdict?

@MRick The jury has not decided yet. The port finish is powerful, but I'm getting hints of layers of flavour coming through underneath. I suspect there is some rye in the mix (some of my colleagues can speak better to it) which adds a very welcome spiciness.

Just picked up the 2020 Kilchoman Club release (stock photo). Why, because I didn't get a bottle of the 2019 Club Release and a friend did and it was a phenomenal dram! (IMO) I have been regretting forgoing that purchase last year, so I made sure I got one this time.

@TracerBullet congratulations! Looks like those Kilchoman Club bottles have already become rare, collectible, and expensive.

@Victor I'm kicking myself that I didn't get last years bottle. I can only hope that this one will be as good! Looks like they still have bottles available for Kilchoman Club members. I actually figured it would be gone by now but they have limited it to one bottle per member.

@TracerBullet Nice. I’ve yet to meet a Kilchoman I didn’t like.

I’m not sure who has or hasn’t seen this, but Dr Livermore announced on Instagram that some Lot 40 Dark Oak will be available tomorrow morning from the Wiser’s online shop. @Nozinan @paddockjudge

@OdysseusUnbound

Last week W22 sold out in 3.5 minutes.

Today this sold out in less than 3 min.

@Nozinan and I was in a meeting with my boss. Oh well, I probably didn’t need any more whisky right now anyway. And I hear there will be a “full” release in Jan-Feb. Now I’ll just wait to laugh at all the guys on Facebook whisky groups trying to sell “BATCH 1” of Lot 40 Dark Oak for $200/bottle.

@OdysseusUnbound But the signature!!!!!

@OdysseusUnbound I can wait as well. No FOMO here, knowing this will be released by the boatload and will most likely be added to the core range. Plus avoiding the shipping costs from Wiser's is a bonus.

@TracerBullet It will be an interesting club release this is the first I know of unpeated Kilchoman being released.

@cricklewood Plus 100% Islay. I really like that they can do that!

@Nozinan Alas, you can’t drink the signature.

@OdysseusUnbound What exactly is dark oak? Alligator char?

@MRick Yeah, I think they take the standard Lot 40 and give it an extra maturation in Char #4 barrels. It’s also bottled at 48% abv, as opposed to the standard 43%.

@MRick I've been accused by my close whisky friends of not drinking my whisky, so signature or not the result is the same. So might as well have the added bonus of the signature when I look at the bottles waiting to be opened...(and waiting, and waiting, and waiting...)

It seems the universe is not without an ironic sense of humor. After saying I was holding off on all new purchases, a friend texted me a picture of Booker’s in stock at the LCBO closest to my school. I’m only human...”Granny’s Batch” (2020-01) is bottled at a robust 63.2% abv.

@OdysseusUnbound how many did you get?

@Nozinan well they don’t give them away ya know, so at $110 I decided to limit myself to one.

@OdysseusUnbound Looks like they've boosted the price again.

@Nozinan do you believe in “old bottle effect”? If so, you just might have the last laugh.

@cricklewood I believe my bottle of “Kathleen’s Batch” also ran me $110....I liked it right away, but the last third of the bottle was absolutely magical.

@OdysseusUnbound. I thought the LCBO pricing was in line with SAQ. My bad.

I also enjoyed Kathleen's batch immensely but it took me awhile to warm up to it, I felt the oak spice was fighting with the ABV burn.

Although I tend to feel that with bourbon most of the time the final 1/3 is often the best.

@cricklewood I agree with that last sentence 100%. As to SAQ vs LCBO pricing, I feel that the LCBO wins the "rage-inducing incompetence" race every time. Although I suppose they make a lot of money for the Ontario goverment, so not all is lost. Hmmmm, maybe I'm not "buying in excess"; maybe I'm "contributing to our collective healthcare and education". That sounds much better.

@OdysseusUnbound I see a humanitarian award in your future!

@OdysseusUnbound Consider it an investment. The tax you pay for your whisky now will fund your liver transplant later...

Couldn't resist the $10/10% sale on Aberlour a'bunadh...the LCBO had 50 bottles in inventory this morning (online order only)...now down to 42 bottles.

Finally met up with a friend who travels a lot for work (or did before Covid). He picked up a bottle of Macallan 12 Sherry Oak for me at about half the Ontario price tag. I’ve only had a single sample and it was just ok for me. I’ll try a full bottle and form a more educated opinion, for science!

In line as I type this to get this years Penny’s Proof from Sagamore. Why? Because I really like what they are doing at Sagamore and it only costs a penny!