Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@OdysseusUnbound - I bet that smoky rum would make some killer cocktails!

I just purchased a Society Feis Isle 2021 bottling. Why? Because it is a heavily peated Bunnahabhain aged in 2nd-fill ex-PX casks. However, there is more to the story.

First of all, this is not a single cask, like most of what the Society releases, this is a vatting of several casks of heavily peated Bunnahabhain spirit, but this is where the story gets really cool, in my opinion.

The Society took ex-PX sherry butts that had previously aged Glenmorangie. Then took them to the Speyside Cooperage and had them cut-down to hogsheads. They then re-charred the now ex-PX hogshead and aged the heavily peated Bunnahabhain for 7 years before bottling. I'm assuming that it was a total of 4 butts that were broken down into 4 hogsheads because the total outturn of bottles was 932 bottles and this is an exclusive to the U.S. chapter.

Distillery 10 Small Batch called "Smoky Maritime Hit". Distilled October 2013. 59.6% ABV.

Society tasting notes: Sweet, smoked raisins, beech smoked prunes, smoked orange marmalade and chargrilled lobster served in a smoky balsamic sauce – in three words: massive, sweet smoke! However, nothing could prepare us for the taste neat, ‘we were going up in smoke’! Soy roast whole duck with a tangerine-hoisin glaze, salty, briny and ashy but at the same time it was like biting into a toffee apple - crunchy crackly caramel surrounding a juicy ripe apple. With water we dowsed a beach barbeque with sea water, opened a heather ale and had smoky candy floss before we ate a Reuben sandwich with homemade smoky Russian dressing and a spiced rum soaked Jamaican ginger cake accompanied by a ‘Phenol Espresso’.

I can't wait to try this one!

@bwmccoy I can understand your reluctance to give up your Society membership. Their offerings are unique and not available any other way. So far I have resisted joining because I have 2 friends who are members and I can always get one of them to pick me up anything that piques my interest. However, I rethink that position every time I read one of your posts. I've become a bit of a fanboy for Bunnahabhain these last few years, so your last one really got me thinking. I don't know if you have visited the distillery, but I can assure you they have one of the friendliest, most generous visitor centres on Islay.

I just bought a bottle of Glen Scotia Victoriana. I bought one at a small whiskey shop in Tarbert a few years ago and loved it. I haven't had it since and when I saw it at a decent sale price I decided it was time to get reacquainted with this memorable cask strength offering from Campbelltown's underappreciated other distillery.

@BlueNote I wish there was more Glen Scotia on the market. I’ve tasted a bunch of their stuff and it’s fantastic. I also have an unopened Glen Scotia 15 Year that I look forward to opening soon.

@BlueNote - I've always wanted to try that Victoriana, it sounds interesting. Those Shackleton bottles appeal as well - has anyone here tried either of them?

@OdysseusUnbound I was tempted on the 15 after seeing Ralfy's review. He could hardly contain himself and awarded it something over 90 points.

@RianC I had the original Shackleton bottling. It was very good and it was expensive (almost $200 Can as I recall). I think we were paying for the story as much as the whisky. I heard from friends that the subsequent bottling, called the Journey, was nowhere near as good.

@RianC I've been enjoying the newer Shackleton. It's a decent Blended malt.

@YakLord I haven't seen that one. It must be a third version. Sounds good. What's the price like in your area?

@BlueNote It was around $55 when the LCBO had it (which wasn't for very long). I picked mine up in 2018 at Travel Retail in Heathrow...1L for about the same price. It's an ongoing NAS Blended Malt from Whyte & Mackay.

@YakLord - I have a bottle of that in the stash I'd completely forgotten about ha! I'll have to crack it some point then. Cheers!

@BlueNote - The 15 is very nice whisky and I've been tempted to get another bottle. I would say it's very much a mood whisky though and I seldom have time to fully indulge in a dram these days, so my bottle is still around almost a year after opening. Make of that what you will.

It's also good value in the UK too (under c£50).

@BlueNote - I see them both at auction and they generally go for what was the rrp of around £100. Good to know about the second one. There's probably better for less.

I got an email notification from the Whisky Exchange about getting Springbank 10 in stock and I bit! I feel like a guilty schoolboy as I've bought way more than I should have this month already but it is one that I know I'll regret not getting more of if/when supplies become even scarcer than they are now.

Apart from a few totem malts and more Arbegs, I've got all I wanted this year. Self-discipline required from here on in with a few treats at xmas! My own brain rolled its eyes at that one

@RianC cheers for posting that up mate. Just sprung for one too. Gotta get in quick, so much appreciated.

If you're after Springbank 10 it's been in stock at Cadenheads for the last couple of months. The 15 too. The only thing with Cadenheads is the UK delivery charge is quite steep if you're only getting the one bottle at around the £10 mark. So I tend to buy 2 or 3 bottles when I order from then

@Wierdo - Cheers! Glad you saw this, mate, I was just about to pm you!

@RianC Good luck with that mon ami. The year isn’t even half over yet. I keep making those hollow promises to myself (and herself), but I’ve accepted the fact that I’m a spineless weakling when it comes to whisky.

@BlueNote - Ha! That just about sums it up!

In fairness, I had a wish list at the start of the year and have (bar more Springbank 10s if possible, and a few others that I know won't be going anywhere anytime soon, so no rush) got everything I wanted.

The auctions have been my Achilles heel, and I will no doubt be back, but they are just so damn tempting - it really is like being a kid in a sweetshop Best to just stay away for a bit methinks ...

The trouble with whisky wish-lists is. I have a list then I see a good review or get an email about a new release and add another bottle to the list. Then another. Then another....

@Wierdo - it's all about prioritization for me nowadays as my lists are never ending! Is it a limited edition or limited to single purchases? If so, it goes to the front of the queue.

Likewise, if it is a recurrent bottling, like say a Corryvrekan, it can wait until I want to drink a bottle.

The trouble with auctions is It's easy to convince oneself that it is literally the LAST bottle of that whisky on earth and you'd be a fool not to buy it ... it's also worth bulk buying so I tend to justify a cheap extra bottle or two to, you know, make it worthwhile ...

If I don't pull out the stops for her 40th later this year though I may find some of my collection meets an untimely accident

@BlueNote - Yes, I agree with you. I was able to visit Bunnahabhain on my last trip to Islay and had a great experience. I didn't take a tour, but the staff in the visitor center were amazing and very generous with the drams. Will definitely go back there on my next trip to Islay and will make sure that I take a tour as well.

@bwmccoy @BlueNote Hoping to get to Islay next year a visit Bunnahabhain again as well. Since my last visit, they have taken down quite a few buildings and built a new visitor's center. I recommend a tour of Warehouse No. 9 if you can manage it.

@TracerBullet good tip. Thanks, its on the agenda.

@bwmccoy @TracerBullet on my list too if we manage to get there this year. Booked in for September but we shall have to see. I hope the slightly austere character of the place hasn’t been lost too much in the redevelopment. I too thought the staff welcome was lovely. Nice photo TracerBullet.

Kingsbarns Dream to Dram. Why? It was reduced at my local bottle shop to £40 and although the reviews have been slightly lukewarm I am interested in these new lowland distilleries. I like a fruity one and hopefully there is not too much new make character and more on the peach, apricot and orchard fruits. Had read markjedi1’s review so thought it worth a punt. Not expecting too much. Cheers.

Getting ready for Fèis Ìle next week. Kilchoman is June 3rd!

@TracerBullet Are you going virtually or for real?

I just popped for a Talisker Distiller's Edition just because I haven't had it for a few years and the price was right. Not sure what year it is; maybe 2019. Also bought another Glenfarclas 15. Again, too good a price to pass up. I now have one on the go and four in the bunker. Not doing real well on the restraint program.