Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@bwmccoy and in 2010 that Johnnie Walker Gold Label that you would be drinking was the Centenary Blend with the 18 year age statement, not the current NAS JW Gold. There are still a few places that sell the 18 yo Centenary Blend, but it costs twice as much as the current NAS JW Gold Label.

@RianC FWIW the 18 yo JW Gold Label is well worth having. I still own one unopened bottle of it myself.

Bruichladdich classic and Ardbeg 10 as good value for money in the supermarket today.

The laddie blind sample bottles part of the 2021 Feis Isle set up. Looking forward to the on line masterclass on the 30th. Cheers.

Arran Sauternes cask finish to go alongside my Arran Amarone cask finish. Head to head coming once I open the sauternes!

Compass Box Peat Monster, Peat Monster Arcana, and No Name No. 1, all for our club's freaky-deaky, monstrous-peaty, trick-or-treaty Halloween tasting this October. You gotta plan ahead!

Also just bought: 10 pounds of haggis brats for our off-season (deferred from January due to COVID) Burns night, this year in the guise of a sunny May BBQ.

Burns BBQ! (BBBQ)

@casualtorture - I've never tried any of the Arran finishes but hear the sauternes is the best of the bunch. It's also not badly priced over here. How is it, and how does it compare to the standard 10?

@RianC well, I've owned 3 bottles of the cask finishes now, and I would rank them:

1. Amarone
2. Sauternes
3. Port (well below the other 2, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is better imo)

The amarone and sauternes are both very good. Probably just comes down to preference. Whenever I have time to sit down and review them both I'll do a head to head for sure. Looking forward to really examining them side by side.

@casualtorture thoroughly agree with your assessment of the finishes. Would be mine too for what it’s worth. Enjoyed them all tbh. Cheers.

As you can see a Bunnahabhain 10 heavily peated 43% G and M Discovery range. Not had lots of peated Bunnahabhain but this is lovely, all gentle creamy peat smoke. Present from my father in law. Very thoughtful and appreciated. Cheers. Tim.

@Timp Such a light color! I love a peated Bunnahabhain!

@TracerBullet yeah I thought that but clearly not a totally inactive bourbon cask! Colour as it should be.

@casualtorture @RianC my experience with Arran Cask Finishes:

1) Amarone c. 2011 batch from the LCBO, HORRIBLE! EVERYONE who touched it hated it. It turned some people off to Arran at that time. This was @cpstecroix's bottle

2) Amarone c. 2014 batch my sister bought in Maryland: Very Good. Delicious.

3) Sauternes c. 2013 batch my sister bought in Maryland. OUTSTANDING. Clean, beautiful, vibrant, alive, and bright. By far the best Sauternes treated Scotch I have encountered. Runs laps around Glenmorangie Nectar d"Or.

4) Sauternes c. 2017 my sister's second bottle bought in Maryland. Not near the equal of the first bottle of Sauternes treated Arran, but solidly good to very good

5) Port at a tasting in 2013 Good. Not compelling.

6) Sherry at a tasting in 2013. Good. Not compelling.

I like Isle of Arran whisky a lot, especially the now near-extinct 14 yo. My experience with Arran does not let me credit them with much consistency. And I'd like to drink from some of you gents' bottles of the OB Isle of Arran 10 yo, because the two bottles of Arran 10 from which I've tasted to date I have not liked

@Victor Interesting, thanks for the breakdown. I imagine there might be more variation in these wine finished whiskies as opposed to standard bourbon and sherry cask matured whisky? I can't imagine there are a ton of amarone and sauternes barrels lying around for master distillers to pick through. I'm always impressed when I see things aged/finished in something weird like palo cortado casks and it actually taste good.

@MadSingleMalt Good to hear from you. Hope you’re doing well.

@casualtorture Totally agree on the Glenmorangie Quinta. The 14 yo is an excellent bang for the buck, IMO.

@Timp Been looking at the G&Ms lately, but thought they might be a little weak at 43%. Your post is making me rethink that.

@BlueNote I was a bit disappointed at the rebrand which took away some brilliant lines. I think the discovery range is just as it says tbh but been very pleasantly surprised by some of the more expensive Caol Ila offerings.

@BlueNote How does the Quinta Ruban 14 compare to the Tomatin 14?

@MRick I can't help you there, my friend. I haven't had the Tomatin 14. I have my eye on a cask strength 14 yo Tomatin matured in recharred American Oak that looks very interesting. If I spring for it I'll report back. But of course it will not be similar to the Glenmo Port finish or the standard Tomatin 14. I can tell you that the Tomatin 18 is absolutely bloody brilliant.

Picked up a few more old bottles at auction. I've also checked into rehab

Another JW Black from the same era as the one I loved, I'll hang on to this one for a while though. An Antiquary 12 from the 90's (it cost £14!) - dig the bottle shape and supposed to be a very good blend.

I also picked up an old vatted malt called Bennachie 10 Years @43% - only cost £20, is from c90's and will be an interesting curiosity. Lastly, a 90's era Black Bush. I'm gonna take ralfy at his word and hope that the older bottles are much better than today's, as the last Black Bush I had was awfully bitter in the finish.

I was looking at a Morthlach 12 bottled in the 80's by G&M but it ended up going for over £200! Bet it's damn tasty though ...

Picked these up yesterday. Glenmorangie because I have not tried the Cadboll Estate yet and I love how Dr. Bill plays with the different aspects of whisky making to achieve different flavor profiles. The Lagavulin Offerman Edition - finished in Guinness casks, because Lagavulin is my desert island scotch and I love Guinness as well. Plus the casks are from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore which is very close to where I live. (In fact I will be there Friday!)

@TracerBullet The Cadboll Estate was part of a Glenmorangie tasting I did a couple of weeks ago. It was really, really nice. Probably the best of the lineup, although maybe the Signet was a touch better.

@YakLord I really like the Signet but it has been awhile since I have had it. In general, I like most of what Glenmorangie has put out. The Sonnalta PX is still one of my favorites. Too bad it was a limited release!

The haul.

@TracerBullet Let us know what you think of the Cadboll. Pity they didn't take it to 46%.

@BlueNote Yeah, was a bit disappointed that it was just 43%.

I picked up a few staples today (Havana Club 3 Años, El Dorado 5 Year) and I also picked up some Rittenhouse Rye BiB since I almost never see it near me and I’ve never tried it. I also grabbed a bottle of Havana Club Cuban Smoky, aged in ex-Islay casks. Gimmicky? Probably but it’s worth a try.

@OdysseusUnbound I’d take a chance on that gimmick; Havana Club Cuban Smoky.

@TracerBullet I couldn’t resist opening my HC Cuban Smoky. It’s pretty good. Not much smoke on the nose (a bit) or palate (almost none) but it is noticeable on the finish. It also tastes like there’s some older rum in the vatting despite it being NAS. I may have to get another few bottles.

@TracerBullet I'd kill for another bottle of Sonnalta PX. I bought two several years ago on @Victor's recommendation. Sadly, long gone.