Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@Nozinan

I think I will stick to my Nadurra then.

Well, in another thread (I believe the what are you drinking now thread) I had mentioned that I wasn't planning to buy anything this year, since I had purchased quite a few things last year. What I didn't mention was (and intentionally saved for a post this year) that I had ordered two more bottles of the 18yo Glendronach on the 30th of December. They arrived on Friday, but technically I did buy them in 2020. HA!

This isn’t a purchase as such. The Pennsylvania liquor store system is having a lottery for bottles of Pappy Van Winkle. I place a bid for a bottle of 15YO and a bottle of 20 YO. You can only win one bottle. The lucky winners will know at the end of January. I’m not holding my breath as supply is very limited.

Glenlivet 12 Illicit Still. Why? On offer, of course

While true, I am ashamed to admit not one drop of any Glenlivet has ever passed my lips and that needed changing. I had wanted the 18 a while back but it was changed to 40% so I didn't bother. Nothing in the core range overly excites me either.

I know this is gimmicky (limited ed. my arse!) but reviews are very good and for £45 it was worth a punt. I'd guess it's a bit of a feeler from them to see how folk react to a more craft presentation?

@RianC With the exception of the horrid Founder's Reserve, I've never had a Glenlivet I didn't like.

@talexander The Founders must be turning in their graves. Either that or pissing themselves with laughter.

@RianC Can't read the photo...what is the ABV?

@Nozinan I believe 48%.

@talexander Master Distiller's Reserve was only slightly better.

@Nozinan - I can confirm it's 48% and NCF but with colouring, I believe.

I recently brought a couple of bottles of the Glenlivet. I think it’s very nice really, for 40€. 12 year old at 48, you can’t really go wrong. Very easy to go through a bottle.....

You can keep the silly hessian bag that comes with it mind you!

@Misty so this 48% ABV Glenlivet 12 yo is the new "Illicit Still" release? This is certainly a very desirable development, this big upping of the ABV of a mass release 12 year old. I look forward to tasting this one.

I have tasted maybe a couple of dozen Glenlivets. I have never owned a single bottle of any Glenlivet. I did think long and hard about letting go of what I correctly surmised was my last opportunity to get a bottle of 16 year old Nadurra. I am fine with that choice. A little more difficult memory was my choice to pass on a bottle of Glenlivet 21 Year Old Archive for $ 140 when I had the chance. I like that Glenlivet 21 yo Archive.

@Misty - No silly bag for me

@Misty, @RianC silly bags? My sister just bought herself her first ever bottle of Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength. She loves and uses the Laphroaig blanket which came with it. She gave me the Laphroaig head band which also came with it. I plan to wear the head band at whisky tastings.

@Victor How do they get the blanket into the canister with the bottle?

@Nozinan the head bands fit in more easily.

@Victor - You Yanks get all the perks! My bottles of Laffy CS came with a slap from an old Scottish gent saying, 'that'll teach ye fer'bein an English b'stard'

@RianC I greatly hope that you are right and that Illicit Still is NOT a limited edition, but merely the first batch of a regular release product. Wine-searcher.com shows Glenlivet 12 YO Illicit Still available currently from only 46 vendors in the world. Standard Glenlivet 12 is available at hundreds of vendors in my tiny state of Maryland. I will be disappointed if this one doesn't make it into the starting line-up. This serving up of uncut or lightly cut versions of the mass market standard-age products is the easiest way for the big companies to please connoisseurs. That migration to availability of uncut or lightly cut products is happening in a big way with US products. May it continue with Scottish whiskies. Next up: Glenmorangie Original Cask Strength !!!? Here's hoping.

Hey @Nozinan, have you heard? Old Grand-Dad 114 now has a sibling...Old Overholt 114!

thewhiskeywash.com/reviews/…

So far, it is available in only Pennsylvania and Ohio. I've been waiting for this day!!!

@Victor - Glenmorangie Original Cask Strength !!!?

Now that does sound good ...

Is the Illicit Still available on Amazon at your end? I ask as I thought it was an 'Amazon Exclusive' but maybe that's just a UK thing?

@Victor Save me a bottle!

@RianC wine-searcher.com shows zero Glenlivet 12 year old Illicit Still available in the USA.

As for Amazon, where I live it remains a felony crime to receive a bottle of spirits in the mail.

@Victor

Yes it’s the illicit still release, with a bonus hair band and hessian bag for some reason.

It’s a nice profile for young Glenlivet. The texture is thick due to the NCF, redolent with the typical Glenlivet pears, bananas and mangoes. Slight bit of bitter oak in the relatively short finish. Recommended if it comes round your way.

Would love to try the 21 Archive. Someday!

Forgot to add that it really improves with some air time...

@Victor, gotta get me one of them headbands too...since I retired my hairbands.

@paddockjudge I could use one of those hair bands or head bands. I haven’t had a haircut since last June. I’m Starting to look like my ‘70s self. I was just looking for an early ‘60s split window VW bus and thinking about spinning some Dead on the turntable.

I was getting a few stouts at the LCBO today during my one weekly trip out of my house, and I couldn’t help buying another bottle of Wild Turkey 101. I have no idea how long this state of emergency will last, nor do I know if the shipments from the USA will stop, so I thought it best to play it safe.

@OdysseusUnbound if shipments from the us stop there is still your Toronto Option. There is some rare breed snoozing here...

Foursquare's 12 year-old Single Blend Rum, the closest I'm going to get to another bottle of St. Nicholas Abbey Rum any time soon. When the new owners of the Abbey restarted the estate's sugar plantation and micro-distillery, they sourced their first barrels from Foursquare, releasing them slowly as Single Barrel rums as they aged: first as an 8 year-old, then a 10, then 12, then 15, and I think they ended with an 18 year-old. They're now selling their own aged rum, but way back when I had a bottle of 12 year-old single barrel, and it was fantastic, so when I saw a few bottles of the new Foursquare12 year-old had somehow managed to migrate north from Whitby, ON, I grabbed one...

@YakLord was not able to get to a store that had the Foursquare. When it was available in Toronto for same day pickup I ordered a few bottles but all the orders were then cancelled. The wound is still sore, now that it is available elsewhere.

So I'm content to sip on a small pour of Talisker 57N. Opened 4 years ago (and guzzled by one of my guests) and last poured over 2 years ago, it's nice to taste it again. I picked this up in 2015. 1 L at the DF in Israel for ~$110 USD. I don't think you could get the 750 cc version here for that price.

This one is nearing its end, but I was lucky to have a 700cc bottle muled to me from London in 2017. Another I would love to replace if I see it available at a reasonable price.

These arrived today, The RR10 at $40 Cad and a favorite daily sipper was a no brainer for me. The batch 1 KC Cask strength Rye at $75 Cad, another must. The Great Plains is simply a back up for a very good Canadian Whisky. I had to buy WP10 cask strength as I had never seen a Canadian liquor store offer a WP store pick. $130 Cad seemed reasonable.

A Talisker 18. Why? Well, I had planned on getting a few more old blends at auction this month but the prices have been crazy high, so I didn't bite. I did need a bit of a pick me up though so have treated myself to one of my favourites instead.

Its also on my wish list and is one I'll get every year when I can. Mmmmm