Which bottle did you just buy and why?

I got a tip from a fellow Connosr that this was now available in Ontario. The 2020 second release release, 66% ABV, Alberta Premium cask strength rye. For $69.95 this was a no-brainer.

How did I end up with 14 bottles? I’m glad you asked!

I ordered 2 online for in-store pickup but I was not sure they would be honoured. Last time I purchased this way it was reversed. I called the store and they happened to have them on the shelf. I was on my way to see a patient right near the store so I went in. One of our group said clear the shelves, figure the rest out later.

So I did. 12 bottles. I left the display bottle. And then got an email that my 2 bottles were ready. So I ended up with 14.

I am sure I will find a good home for these...

OGD 114, found it for $29.99, most places have marked it up to $35. So nice to find somewhere that still sells it for $30. And we needed something for the game tonight. I'm pulling for the Chiefs, not because I want them to win. I just want Brady to lose.

@casualtorture I don’t care about the Superbowl, but I applaud your acquisition. I have managed to find a few bottles of OGD 114, usually for less than $30 including shipping in the US. Getting it here has been the challenge.

One of my favourite bourbons.

I just bought a bottle of Knob Creek 9 Year 100 proof. It was $7 off which was reason enough.

@Nozinan is the second batch of Alberta Premium Cask strength as good as the first?

@MRick @Nozinan I just tried some last night - I'd have to do a side-by-side to really assess but it seems to have a more minty, herbal note than the last batch.

@talexander @MRick

I only tried it once. Hopefully I will also do a H2H soon. First impressions - very enjoyable.

Here is the thing though. As my Connosr friends know, I am inexperienced in terms of rye. I cannot write too intelligently about it. I only know what I like. I like bold cask strength flavours and this has it. Very spicy in a good way.

I like the minty/herbal side of rye; I can even handle the dreaded dill. As for spiciness, it goes well with the fruity side of rye. I’ll have to pick one up.

@MRick Good luck. They pop up and disappear quickly. Hopefully there is more coming.

I got no dill in my tasting...

@Nozinan @MRick I don't recall any dill either - though I actually love the dill note in some ryes.

These beauties arrived today (not the one on the left, I should add). Got them for a reasonable price and have almost scratched my JWB itch ha! I want to get some form the late 90s and early 2000s to compare. Not bad to be getting on with though ...

@RianC Older bottlings of JWB can be fantastic (as can JWR) - maltier, heavier and sometimes a little smokier

@talexander - Yes, I've enjoyed several of your reviews of them and, from my limited experiences, would completely agree. The Black I am currently drinking (pictured) from the late 70s or, most likely, early 80s is easily the best blended Scotch I've ever had.

I picked up these 2 based on what I thought was very good pricing, SB15 for $116 Cad and the Solist Port for $183 Cad all tax in.

@Astroke That Springbank is a real chameleon. I’m glad I have another bottle in the bunker. I’m not sure what it is about SB, but it seems to taste radically different every time one drinks it, even from the same bottle. Everyone’s palate will vary from one day to the next, but Springbank seems to be the bottle that makes this phenomenon the most noticeable.

@OdysseusUnbound Springbank is challenging. The 12CS was hard for me to wrap my taste buds around. Not even saying that as something derogatory. It's just a challenging dram.

@casualtorture Absolutely. I think that's something most people love or hate about SB. It's certainly not a "casual drink with the boys and/or the wife" type of dram. Most are drams to linger over. At least that's been my experience.

@OdysseusUnbound It took me a long way down the bottle to muster up some love for the SB 15. I didn't think I would buy it again, but if I see it at the right price I will grab one. Until then I'll be content to have a couple of bottles of 10 year old on hand.

@OdysseusUnbound This is the first time I picked up the SB15. Always searched for the 12 CS like most I guess. I have had the 21 and 25, but only samples. Look forward to this one at a non LCBO price.

@casualtorture @OdysseusUnbound @BlueNote I think that I just figured out why it took me a good 7 years of malt buying before I chose to buy a bottle of Springbank. It was because I had some bar samples of it first. Those samples told me that I would have no clue what to expect from something named Springbank. Some of the samples were good, even great, others not great at all. If I had bought a bottle of Springbank first, rather than trying samples of it first, I would have been stuck with the bottle I had bought, learned to "love the one you're with", and appreciated its better qualities by necessity. I've had the same experience with Ledaig. I'm sure I would have learned to love Ledaig fine if I had invested in a bottle, rather than having tried samples from other people's bottles. Some day, maybe, I'll buy some Ledaig. Ledaig reminds me of mezcal.

Thanks to @Nozinan for advising that the online LCBO had the Alberta Premium Cask Strength available for a limited time last week.

Was able to get a bottle for myself and a bottle for my brother-in-law

Tamdhu 15, largely on the strength of the @OdysseusUnbound review. My brother picked it up for me during a KWM sale.

@MRick I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Otherwise, I'll have lingering guilt over your disappointment (I was raised Catholic, after all).

@OdysseusUnbound Your description makes it sound right up my alley.

@MRick I second @OdysseusUnbound. I'm on my second bottle courtesy of KWM's recent sale.

Another 'trip' to the auction house and I managed to get a couple more JW Blacks - both at 43% with a ltr from the 80's and a 75 cl from early 2000's.

I also snagged two old Green labels (The 'pure malt' bottling), each for less than a bottle would cost now. Nice!

I have a few more desirables but, once acquired, I'll hang back for a while. The prices can be cheap(ish) but the delivery costs and other extras add up!

My foray into the world of rum continues. I picked up Martin and Rebecca Cate’s “Smuggler’s Cove” and I’ve been slowly acquiring more rums, liqueurs and syrups lately. Today I picked up some Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, because well, I just have to try a proper Hemingway Martini, what with him being one of my early literary influences and all. I also picked up a bottle of Havana Club 7 (for a moderately-aged, column distilled rum) and an El Dorado 8 (for a moderately-aged blended rum). I’ll likely pick up a Gosling’s Black Seal 151 before the weekend. It’s not Lemon Hart 151, but it’s the only available dark 151 so it will have to do for now.

Edit that should read “Hemingway daiquiri” not Martini. Oof. This week is already too long.

@OdysseusUnbound and all. I don't know much about rum, but I'm starting to get curious. Where does a guy start?

@BlueNote I suppose that depends if you want to stick to sipping or dive into the world of cocktails. I found Appleton 12 Year to be a very friendly introduction to rum for a whisky drinker. Pusser’s is also easy to sip and works in a wide array of cocktails. I’m not sure if I should thank @cricklewood for his generosity and guidance through a rum masterclass or curse him for treating me to a few rums I can’t get here in Ontario.

Plantation is a very divisive brand in rum (because of a colonial approach and other political considerations, but that’s another subject entirely), yet I have to say that their Xaymaca Dry, 3 Star White, Grande Reserve (and more) are really damned good.