Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@ajjarrett you are making me laugh!

@Victor I made myself laugh a bit because it isn't as if I need a legitimate reason to buy a bottle of something.

This thread has me laughing As I still can't taste or smell anything, all drinking is currently a vicarious pursuit! Well, you know what I mean!?

As for weight - was able to get into my 32" Levi's (same waist as when I left high school) until about five years ago, which is roughly when we had our first kid. However, Less activity, less sleep but more food, led to a sudden realisation that none of my denim fit me anymore! That was about 3-4 years ago. Then covid came along and a rather non flattering summer beach pic (Baywatch, I wasnt!) later and I had to do something.

I am now just about able to get into those 32's again but some are, er, more snug than others but it's progress. I've been doing more exercise than just golf (as I used to play 3-4 times a week pre kids, with a few jogs here and there, now it's twice if I'm very lucky) and eat much less prior to going to sleep. The latter was the main cause, I think, and a very bad habit.

Main difference now (as I approach 42) is that I know I can't rely on metabolism alone. And to think I used to curse not being able to bulk up more when I was younger - ha!

If it were more practical, I'd 100% adopt a paleo style diet and completely avoid refined carbs and sugars.

Picked up a few bottles today.

• Benromach Contrasts: Peat Smoke aged (8 or 9 years?) in first fill sherry casks. The malt is apparently peated to 55 ppm so I think this one will be interesting. I haven’t seen it in Ontario, but an acquaintance ordered a case from another province and offered me one at cost (about $105, I think).
• Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14: I thoroughly enjoyed the previous 12 year version so I’m hoping this one will be at least as good.
• Deanston 12: a friend asked about this one recently and I dug up my review to see what I thought of it. My own words seemed to chide me for not having purchased one of these sooner.

@OdysseusUnbound Good haul. I really enjoy the Quinta Ruban, more even than I remember liking the 12 YO. It seems plentiful at the LCBO but I doubt there will be any left when my bottle needs replacing in a year or two. I so wish I had fewer open bottles so I could go through them quicker...

It has been a very long time since I posted here. Felt like it was time. I just got back from a trip to Chicago where the wife was interviewing for a job. It was an excuse to pickup some whiskies at Binny’s. And boy did I. I have been on a bit of a moratorium on spending of late . . . but I haven’t been to Binny’s since 2015. Here is what I came back with.

Bimber Ex-Bourbon 59.1% USA Ed. 225 of 254 Bottled Oct. 2020 Cask 154 Why? I have hear so much about Bimber of late. I was shocked to see it on the shelf. They had three version (Ex-sherry and virgin oak). I opted for the Ex-bourbon because I figure it should best display the distillery character. My guess is that I will kick myself for not buying more.

Bunnahabhain 6yo Staoisha Heavily Peated 61.3% Distilled October 18th 2014; Bottled May 25th 2021: cask 10772 Dechar/Rechar Hogshead 289 bottles for Binny’s. Why? I am very curious about the peated version of Bunnahabhain. And at 61.3% it was hard to pass by. I have already opened it. Not bad, but certainly doesn’t hold a candle to the Corryvreckan.

Kilchoman 8yo 55.9% Single Cask 203/2013 Ruby Port; Distilled 4/4/2013; Bottled 8/6/2021 Why? It was the last bottle on the shelf. I have had some amazing Kilchoman’s and some slightly off ones. This is already opened and so far so good. I really like the port influence. It is subtle and allows the peated spirit to shine.

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 4 58.6% Why? I picked up batch 1 and loved it. I am hoping this is similar.

Laphroaig 10yo CS 58.6% batch 014 June 21 Why? I have the collection going. This is the first time that Laphroaig has released two batches of the Cask Strength in the same year. I was thankful my liquor controlled state managed to import a few bottles of batch 013 which I picked up in November. I doubt I will see this batch in my state. Now I have one bottle. I likely won’t open it. I have heard very disappointed remarks about this batch compared with batch 013 and 012.

Port Charlotte PAC:01 2011 56.1% 40PPM 8yo 100% Concerto barley, 6 or 7yo 1st fill ex-American oak barrels finished for 2 years in French Pauillac wine barrels.
Why? I have loved every bottle of Port Charlotte I have owned. My guess is that this will be no different. I am excited to open it . . . but I am saving it for now.

Waterford Luna 1.1 Biodynamic 50% The Arcadian Series 3years old Why? Well, to be honest I am very curious about what Mark has been doing at Waterford since leaving Bruichladdich. True story . . . I actually had a dream about seeing this on a shelf and not being able to buy it several months ago. We don’t get any of this in Virginia. So I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try one. Is it young? Yes. Overpriced? Yes. But that doesn’t stop the curiosity.

Chicago trip part 2

Ardbeg 25yo 46% 25/06/2021 L2428660 750mL - this is the second batch. So far it doesn't seem to have been reviewed anywhere.

This is IT. I honestly never thought I would see a bottle of this in the store . . . let alone for under $1000. So, when I saw it for $899 I was flabbergasted. I know it has been selling online for $1200 and up. The wife gave me the go-ahead. She said it was our belated 10th anniversary gift. A few hours later she would buy her own “belated anniversary gift” at Chanel. She asked if I was going to open it. I said that it wouldn’t be any time soon. She suggested I open it on our 25th anniversary. So 15 years? No problem. I have been holding on to a bottle of Lagavulin 12yo CS batch 3 since 2003. I am glad I now I have the collection of the 21, 22, 23, and now 25yo. I am sure that none of them are “worth the price.” But, I just couldn’t help myself. I am an Ardbeg fan-boy to the extreme.

@Nock, my good friend! I see that you are remaining very @Nock-like ! ! !

@Nock, good to see you back! That is an epic haul. Ardbeg 25 is a Nock-worthy trophy. Great pick, and a great pic!

@Nock Welcome back. Man, you've outdone yourself this time.

@Nock "If the nightingales could sing like you..." the nightingales would sing the praises of Ardbeg. You and me, brother.

Ardbeg "...brought a new kind of love to me." Ardbeg fans? Yes.

The classic from Maurice Chevalier, 1930 (I would also have included the wonderful Marx Brothers version, but Youtube just took it down.)

bing.com/videos/search/…

I saw a particularly good deal on Ledaig 10, so grabbed a couple before the Ralfy brigade snaps them all up.

I picked up a Blue Spot from the KGBO.

@fiddich1980 How? they don't list any available!

@Nozinan They are showing up but, also going quickly. The one location had 26 bottles listed all were gone in about an hour.

@fiddich1980 that is one good-looking bottle of Irish whiskey! Congratulations.

I treasure my one unopened bottle of Connemara Cask Strength.

Cask Strength Irish Whiskey is wonderful. You may not see Two Stacks blended Irish whiskey in Canada, but it is a revelation. 65% ABV too.

@fiddich1980 Was able to get 1 in Hamilton. They did not even show online. Despite the no limit on the website they are being strict and pulling them out of the back room 1 at a time.

@Astroke this should probably be on another thread, the one about the LCBO.

They are releasing by the spoonful all over southern Ontario.

I checked a couple of times this morning and 5 showed up in Richmond Hill. The lady I spoke to agreed to hold one for me because I could not order online, as long as I was there within 1 h.

When I got there there were 2 left, mine was the only one she had agreed to hold. She has received about 50 calls.

If they wanted to be fair they would have done a lottery, but who knows if those lotteries are even fair…

@Nozinan Glad to see that you got one. I am sure this thread will shift to How F'd up is the LCBO, eventually.

@Astroke Yup. Zero available online and zero for people not in the GTA. Business as usual at the LCBO.

@OdysseusUnbound

It is getting nasty.

I went to Bayview Village in the hopes of snagging another and people were getting extremely angry, upset that some people had them held over the phone and some did not. One person threatened one worker with getting her fired.

Guys...this is a bottle of whisky. Life and death do not depend on it. Everyone on the front lines is TRYING to do their best. The management (as usual) screwed up the roll-out. Get a friggin life!

(I can say that smugly because I was successful in getting a bottle. But I'm open to sharing!)

Here is what arrived this past Sunday. Darroze Les Grands Assemblages 30yo, 43%abv.

Why? Because I am afraid to go outside the neighborhood. Ummmm. Well, I do go to the supermarket and get take-away on occasion.

I might upload another photo with a lighter background. The armagnac isn't that dark. ^_^

@ajjarrett, that’s a great pic! The brandy looks deep, old, and begging to be opened.

I have a bottle of Cognac almost as dark as the image you posted. Daniel Bouju Trés Vieux Cognac Grande Champagne Brut de fût.

Don’t repost…. It is making me drool.

@OdysseusUnbound agreed, the entire 480 bottles should have gone online only with a 1 bottle limit

@Astroke @fiddich1980 @OdysseusUnbound

Has anyone actually tried it yet to see what all the fuss was about?

@Nozinan no, not yet. This is batch 2 and most of the glowing reviews are batch 1. I will get around to it shortly though.

@Nozinan Wait, we’re supposed to drink this stuff? I’d better change my Instagram account.

Well my local LCBO had a few bottles of Blue Spot listed as available for same day pickup but when I tried purchasing one, I only got error messages. I consoled myself by purchasing a bottle of Yellow Spot and a bottle of Kilkerran 12 instead. I really need to slow down on the purchasing….

@paddockjudge

Well, I think the liquid in the 30yo Darroze is dark because of the Riedel box making it appear darker than it usually is. I will take a photo once I open and have my first pour, which of course will be posted (eventually) on the 'What are you drinking now?' thread.

@ajjarrett, yes, the black box is making it dark…… it’s beautiful!