Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@paddockjudge I also have both. I enjoy the first release but this second release with the charred barrel brings it to an almost a barely legal Kentucky straight rye profile. Had it side by side with a Michter's Barrel Strength Rye and found them somewhat similar despite the 100% Rye vs 51%+ Rye.

@Astroke, oh yeah, the chewy, darker, and surprisingly spicy KWM Shelter Point Rye barrel #346 is a great example of what ADL can do with unmalted 100% rye. This second style is clearly different from the house style, but nonetheless delicious.

The 25 YO Alberta Premium (2006) remains my favourite ADL release. The Alberta Springs label has also produced some memorable releases over the years.

@Nock, A lineup of BIG, FLAVOURGASMIC whiskies. In typical Nock style, you knocked them off the shelf and left none behind.

I am a proponent of selective buying and also a supporter of hoarding. Buy what you like and fuck the rest!

We’re going to need three days when next we meet.

@Victor – Yes, things have at long last turned a corner for me and Springbank. I was buying the 10yo as early as 2005 with very little enjoyment. I have bought at least 3 or 4 bottles of the 10yo since that time, one of the 10yo 100 Proof (which in the USA meant 50% ABV) bottles, and one 15yo. It was really this particular batch 15 of the 12yo CS that turned the corner for me. I then found batch 13, batch 17 and batch 18. Batch 18 was my least enjoyable because that Springbank “funk” is really dialed down. I have really grown to love the variety of each release. Springbank strikes me as the “consistently inconsistent distillery.” And I think that is certainly the problem you were encountering with questionable bar drams.

I also find that Springbank is a “mood” drink for me. And in the last 3 months I have often found myself reaching for a batch of the 12yo CS in between Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Port Charlotte. When I am in the “mood” it really hits a particular spot for malt, sour, brine, mineral, burning tire, and wisps of smoke. When I am not in the mood . . . it just seems slightly bitter and off. I think my most recent “mood” on Dec. 11th was very pro-Springbank. I blind scored Batch 17 in a flight of six non heavily peated whiskies. I scored it a 95 for my personal enjoyment. That is the highest I have ever scored any batch of the 12yo other than batch 15 on one occasion. My average score for batch 17 is now a 93 (with 5 scores). And that seems about right to me. And this has led to my most recent splurge. I know how bath 15 tastes. I will be curious to see how that Local Barley 10yo and the 20yo turn out.

@Nozinan, I think you are on to something with Springbank and air. I think most of the bottles of Springbank (and Bruichladdich) really need air time to open up and come into their own. I also think that Springbank is a really complex and challenging single malt to “get into.” But for people who do “get into it” there really isn’t much else out there like it. I can totally see why many people don’t like it. And I can see why for people who do like it . . . it can become fanatical.

@paddockjudge Amen! I have explored far afield from my flavor home on Islay. And I still like to venture out on occasion. But finding your “wheelhouse” is very rewarding. This is one reason I move further and further away from reading other people’s reviews. I know what I like. I know the people whose reviews I can reliably interpret. To heck with awards and “whisky of the year” accolades.

And yes, the next tasting should require a minimum of 3 days. And possibly a liver transplant midway through.

@Nock Invite me and I can do the before and after liver ultrasounds!

@Nozinan, you must attend, you are my trusted navigator, Siri will never find the great diners and greasy spoons we stumble upon. In addition, you are the number one “shotgun” at border crossings.

I picked up a Lagavulin Distillers Edition. To my surprise, it’s younger than it used to be. They used to be 15-16 years old, but the 2020 version is 14-15 years old (2005-2020). I’m sure I’ll still enjoy it as I have an irrational love for Lagavulin (and Laphroaig) but it’s curious nonetheless. Perhaps Diageo’s staff chose maturity over age, inspired by Edrington group’s great NAS successes.

Tamdhu 15. Had a Master of Malt voucher so thought, why not? Hear good things about this across the board and a good sherried whisky is a rare thing these days. I'm going to open this, once I have finally rid myself of the slightly disappointing 'farclas 25 and Springbank 15, and compare it h2h with the Glendronach 15.

I plan to hoard whichever I prefer most.

@OdysseusUnbound how is that 2020 version? I used to buy and enjoy the Distillers Edition of Lagavulin. Not having bought any for several years, I picked up a bottle in 2018. I was surprised to find that the sherry cask influence was much reduced from what I remembered. Perhaps that was just one batch but, if that is the current trend, I’d just as soon see Diageo scrap the Lagavulin D.E. and make more 12 Cask Strength.

@MRick I haven’t opened it yet. I’ve been on a cocktail kick during these Xmas holidays. Last night was Margaritas with the wife. We used 1800 Silver tequila. I prefered El Jimador Reposado, but my wife found that one “too smoky”. Oy vey. And here I was hoping to find a decent bottle of Mezcal to try next....

I've been avoiding the inter-provincial underground whisky railroad for some time (since the social media blabber mouths started openly tempting the tax authorities), but threw caution to the wind recently and gave it another shot. I was afraid/skeptical about the fact this was a Canada Post order, but, all arrived without incident.

When the Ontario Finance Minister (probably with the Premier's blessing) decides it's ok to vacation travel to the Caribbean during a pandemic (essentially breaking the law) while telling everyone else to stay home, one shouldn't feel so bad breaking a law that remains on the books simply for tax revenue reasons.

Though I've broken this law before, never "advertised" it to the world. In the good ol' days - before the facebook/youtubers/instagramers took over the whisky game - shipping from Alberta (and Europe) to Ontario was a "well known secret" discussed among the whisky nerds only by word of mouth. Since it's now out in the open, what the hell...might as well participate in the bragging game like everyone else, LOL. Having said all that, the pandemic may lead to legal reform but, until that happens, caveat emptor...

Tamdhu 15: bought because of good reviews and the few remaining bottles in Ontario are too far from home.

Ardbeg 5: not a fan of any of the overpriced "special" releases but an age stated beastie? why not! Also, if/when it comes to Ontario it will be at least 25% more expensive.

Big Peat: drank a bottle about 10 years ago when I was still "learning" to like peat so I'm curious to see how this stacks up with the other big Islay peat monsters

Deanston 18: wanted to buy it while it was available in ON but always baulked at the asking price ($190 down to $170). $150 delivered looked reasonable

The Gauldrons: some good reviews out there for the Douglas Laing blended malts so decided to pull the trigger on the Campbeltown edition hoping for some Springer (my fav distillery) content.

So long annus horribilis, hoping for a better 2021.

@OdysseusUnbound Funny, I too like the El Jimador Reposado in Margeritas. Good bang for the buck.

Also did some cross Provincial shopping for some sale priced Rye's including the overpriced Peerless Rye. At $100 cad, clearly overpriced but at least worth a go without dropping $195 at the LCBO. The Old Malt Cask 12 year Dailuaine (20th anniversary of OMC) was purchased because the price was fair, I never had ta Scotch from this distillery before. Scored an 88 on whiskybase so why not. The flimsy box for the Dailuaine was all but destroyed when it arrived. Opened the HW DR immediately, delicious stuff.

@65glenfarclas A very nice still life. Well scored.

Just popped for Arran 21. Happy New Year to myself. And Happy New Year to the connosr gang. It can only get better.

@65glenfarclas I have a bottle of the original and the CS editions of Big Peat. I also had 2 200cc bottles of the 46% version. I opened one with 14 others and still had enough left for a review and to give part of it away. It's ok but not stellar.

Last arrivals of the year from Calgary. My wife and children came back after a week helping to look after @Nosebleed’s family. I could not go because of work commitments.

But my wife did let me order some things from KWM (free delivery in Calgary) which I had sent over and she brought them back.

1. Milk and Honey Classic, 3 YO single malt bottled at 46%. Why? Because I like it and who knows when the LCBO will have it. Having sampled out my bottle there isn’t that much left and I figured I would want another. The second bottle is for a colleague who likes sherry cask-matured Scotch and would love an Israeli Single Malt.

2. Milk and Honey “the last one” what I presume is their last underage bottling. I got it because I don’t have it and I thought it would be nice to add a sixth spirit to the vertical tasting.

3. SMOS Caol Ila 8 because @talexander reviewed it and filled me with FOMO and because I recently finished an independent CS CI and I felt it only proper to try to replace it.

4. OMC Mortlach 50% 11 YO mini to increase my Mortlach experience from the one IB I have tried, hopefully building up to one day opening a very special rare malts bottling.

That’s it for me. I’m not allowing myself to spend any more money on whisky for the rest of the year.

@Nozinan That's right - no more spending money on whisky for the rest of 2020! You have incredible self-control.

@talexander whisky builds willpower!

@Nozinan Nice one - that SMOS CI looks especially good. I've got a serious hankering for some CS CI - I'm hoping to find some reasonably priced bottles this year

I came by this dusty accidentally.

My colleague for whom I had purchased the Milk and Honey Classic got his Covid Shot today so I dropped it off in case he wanted to celebrate getting shot with a shot.

When he saw what it was, he was very appreciative and insisted he give me a bottle in return despite my protestations.

A 40% whisky is nor usually on my radar, and I had no intention of increasing the size of my collection so early in the year. But sometimes you have to do things you did my plan on to make other people happy.

@Nozinan

Well, getting a shot of COVID is a guarantee way of getting it. That is what I call, taking one for the team. As for the SCAPA. Never had it, but it has always intrigued me. ^_^

I just bought a Jim Beam Devil’s Cut. Why? I enjoy the Beam house style, and I needed an inexpensive cocktail bourbon since I haven’t really been in the “thoughtful sipping” mood these days.

@ajjarrett / @nozinan I very much enjoyed the Scapa 16. We opened it as part of an Orkney Vertical several years ago, with HP 12, 15, 18, and 21. Very different from Highland Park, but still quite nice. The new Scapa Skiren, while also enjoyable, isn't nearly as good.

@OdysseusUnbound Devil's Cut is not bad (a bit too woody for my taste) - as far as standard Beam offerings go, I do like the Jim Beam Black enough to buy it occasionally.

Given my high consumption rate I decided to make a large purchase today, my first of the year.

4 750 cc bottles from Dillon’s Distillery, a blend of distilled grape and rye spirits, unaged, bottled at a very respectable 80%.

I would have to see the labels but I suspect it is non-chill - filtered and natural colour (it is clear and colourless).

I have tried this before and the nose is very pleasant.

At a price of $15 a bottle, tax included, and free shipping as the total is over $50, I consider this a steal of a deal. Spray attachment included!

After all, we can’t all sanitize with Jim Murray’s whisky of the year, can we @cricklewood?

Today, the American chapter of the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society released their list of bottles for the January Outturn. One caught my eye (Actually, more than one caught my eye, but I'm trying to be good). Why did I decide to purchase this one bottle? Because it is peated, has that Campbeltown funk and it is finished in a 1st-fill port hogshead. What's not to like? I also had a $50 gift card that I received from mother-in-law as a Christmas present. Merry Christmas to me! :-)

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.148 (12 year - Feb. 29th, 2008) "Tour de force". After ten years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, it was transferred into a first fill port hogshead - 56.4% ABV.

From the official tasting notes; "Big, chewy, oily and powerful! Flavors of dried apricots, pear and guava accented by apple-wood smoke".

In some cases FORO can be a survival skill.

Yesterday my first order of 2021 arrived. Look at these beauties... 80% ABV, non-chill filtered, no added colour, untainted by sulphur.

So there’s a little glycerol and “fragrance”, and the added peroxide means I won’t do more than nose it (can’t really avoid it), but with fewer than 2 bottles of the donated spirit remaining it was time to pull the trigger.

Now my collection of Dillon’s sanitizer is not as impressive as @ajjarrett’s Nadurra stash, I admit. But I’ll take it....

@Nozinan

I have to inquire, what is the fragrance?

If it is freshly cut grass, along with ripe pear and apples, that might be close to my naddura.

@ajjarrett smells more like newmake to me....