Which bottle did you just buy and why?

Been on a tear! Mars 2011 The Revival because I like the Ardbeggian/Bruichladdich story. Nikka Miyagikyo 10 and 12 because the NAS was very nice already. Nikka Taketsuru NAS because it was cheap. Ledaig Peated 90's bottling because I want to try every distillery bottling and it was only €30,- :) Longrow 18 because I adore Longrow and the price was nice. Nikka 20yo sample because it might be the last chance I'll see it in a couple of years. Oh, and another Hakushu Distillers Reserve because peated Japanese whisky is good to my tastebuds :)

Well, I just was able to pick up a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 10yo (107 Proof). My "guy" was looking out for me. I am grateful as it is my favorite of the Van Winkle line to drink. Yes, I am in the minority. But the 10yo is what I enjoy the most of the 10, 12, 15, 20 and the Rye. (I have yet to try the 23, but if it is even "more-so" than the 20 I can't imagine I would enjoy it).

So here is to buying Van Winkle to drink.

Having your birthday certainly has it perks! I just got a nice bottle of Bunnahabhain from my dear brother in law.

Yamazaki 12 and Nikka Taketsuru 12, some super awesome guy from a Dutch whisky forum put them on sale for pretty good prices considering whats going on. €80 and €75 respectively. Especially the Taketsuru seemed impossible to find here.

It seems that the Bunnahabhain Mòine, similarly to HP CS, is exclusive to the Swedish market. Good for me!

Talisker 10 year old and a Talisker Skye not tried anything from Talisker yet and both bottles discounted. Will be trying when I finally get over the cough I have been bothered with for 3 weeks probably the Skye first to get a proper comparison.

Four Roses Single Barrel on a discount. €20,- for a bourbon like this totally felt like a steal :)

@PeatyZealot, yes, that was definitely a steal. I've never seen a price remotely close to that in the US for Four Roses Single Barrel.

Four Roses small batch 2015, Del Maguey Chichicapa and Marca Negra Mezcal. This is my first foray into the world of mezcal and I've heard good things about the Del Maguey and I bought the Marca Negra on a whim. Looking forward to receiving the mezcal heard its good for peatheads like me.

@maltmate302 , I heard the same and I was totally disappointed on that score. I had the Chichicapa. It's fairly decent on its own terms—very "green" in every sense—but it's not a contender for the smoky crown.

And that said, it is a fine spirit and I've rather craved it on occasion since finishing my one bottle a year or so ago.

@OlJas I'm disappointed that it's not as smoky as I've been lead to believe ,I thought I was buying a Mexico-Islay hybrid .Glad to hear it's a high quality spirit in its own right. Ralfy gave it a 93 which is as high as he ever marks but he also said that people who like Islay whiskies WILL like it which is not necessarily the case.I still haven't received mine from Fine Drams but it should arrive in the next day or two and I'll leave you know how I get on.

Pappy 15! My number just came up after 2 years on a wait list!!!!!

@Nock I've only had the 10 and the 23 of Pappy. Both are fantastic, but I do find the 10 with a little water to be very good. The 10 lacks the dark fruit character and wood of the 23, but it makes up for it with great bourbon forward flavor profile and wheaty sweetness.

@Nock That is an embarrassment of riches. Happy Happy Birthday

Ben Bracken 28 year old, a none existent distillery bottling for Lidl supermarket, they put out a decent age expression every Xmas. This year is a 28 year old Speysider chill filtered in a red presentation box for £50 and a 22 year Islay in green box £45, they have also done 3 age statement sherry cask finished blends under the name Glenalba 34, 25 and 22 years £50, £35 and £30 all the bottles are at 40% ABV. Thought might as well try a single malt at that age and price even if it is mediocre not a great deal lost but past years they seem to have got it right only 6000 bottles in circulation but do not expect it will be a collectable. If they have any of the blends left next pay day will be buying a bottle. Didn't get the Islay as mum has bought my first Ardbeg for Xmas.

@Pete1969 , your first Ardbeg—fun! Have a peaty Christmas and a smoky new year.

@OlJas working 22:00 Xmas eve to 07:00 Xmas day then 12:00 a 18:00 Boxing Day so no booze Xmas and not confirmed yet but looking like a 16:00- 04:00 New Year's Eve and don't know if got New Year's Day off yet would be a 15:00 to 23:00. So will be an alcohol free new year as well anyone want to swap jobs. :-(

HP 12 because it was on sale for a very, very low price and I couldn't pass it up. Glenmorangie 12yr Quinta Ruban because I like to always have a couple on my shelf and I was down to only 2. It's the only Glenmorangie I really enjoy and the Port finish with 46% ABV is pleasant to me. And finally, Longrow 11 Port Cask. I couldn't wait to open and taste. It did not disappoint. Going back to get another as soon as I can leave the office.

Just picked up a club bottling ... 19yr Royal Lochnagar, completely new to me

@Bigtuna congratulations on getting your hands on a bottle of Pappy 15! Two years on the wait list is a long time. I am glad it came in for you. I am just grateful that all my "wait list" whiskies came in this year. I hear that Virginia ABC is going to stop fulfilling orders for the Van Winkles and BTAC next year (so everyone who was on the list and still waiting is SOL). They are trying to develop a new system. That only means less availability for me. Very grateful to have the few bottles that I do. I plan to space them out as they are likely the last I will see.

@newreverie, thanks for the well wishes. Yes, an "embarrassment of riches" indeed. I would not turn down an opportunity to try the Pappy 23 . . . but I won't go out of my way or pay the prices need.

Today I added a few more Virgin 7yo 101 Proof Bourbon bottles to the stash. It has an age statement of 7 years and it is 50.5% ABV. That is a huge value for only $13 a bottle. It will absolutely hold its on against bourbons 3x's the price.

Can you even find an age statement Scotch over 50% ABV for under $70? I am just saying. I would love to drink a 7 year old single malt scotch at 50% ABV or more.

My three bottles of Talisker 10 arrived today at £25 each including delivery. Also I've just ordered a 23 year old Aberlour, 20 year old Tobermory and a 17 year old Benrinnes all from the excellent Whiskybroker. Plus I'm on a list for GT Stagg, Thomas H Handy and Sazerac 18 but I won't know if I'm getting any of these for 4 to 6 weeks. Wish me luck!

@Nock, that is great that you were able to lay in some stock with four of the 2015 release BTAC bottles and a bottle of Van Winkle 10 yo. It is really true that bracing for near total disappearance of supply is a very real consideration with all of these whiskies now, just as real as the recent sudden disappearance of nearly all of the Japanese age statement whiskies from the shelves.

The situation is looking increasingly grim for supply to the average customer for these two allocated lines in the US. Recent numbers put the 2015 BTAC bottles at 31,345 total bottles among these five whiskeys. Three Baltimore vendors with allocations reported that their 2015 BTAC and Van Winkle allocations were cut by 75%, 70%, and 30% respectively, just from 2014 to 2015. One store reports a total 2015 allocation of BTAC and Van Winkle of 5 bottles: a Van Winkle 10 and 12, a George T. Stagg, a Thomas H. Handy, and a William Larue Weller. That store has given up trying to sell these whiskies. They are just going to pour these 5 bottles out to whoever walks into their store on 'Black Friday', the day after US Thanksgiving Day. This is the second year they have chosen to do this.

All of my chits are in this year, and we did pretty well, considering the overall situation. We wound up with 2 bottles of Van Winkle 10 yo, 1 bottle of Eagle Rare 17 yo, and 1 bottle of William Larue Weller. So I got 4 bottles and that store that is pouring out 100% of its allocations got 5.

Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel and Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch. Why? Because I haven't tried either, have heard great things, almost anything by Buffalo Trace is being allocated now, and because they were $85 from the LCBO.

I just went back and purchased the Col. EH Taylor Straight Rye as well. Might as well get the full trifecta!

Exclusive bottlings of Amrut: images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/…

Taking a leave out of @Nozinan 's book.

Typo: *leaf

@mscottydunc You received your Col. EH Taylor bottles from LCBO already?

Just had confirmation that I will be receiving my 3 bottles of BTAC ( GTS, SAZ 18, Handy) by the 1st of December.so I'll soon know what all the fuss is about. To say I'm ecstatic is an understatement .

After a conversation that started on a review of a Bowmore so poor that it isn't even bottled under its own name, I was convinced to spring for a Bowmore Tempest 10 YO batch 5. At $80 I decided on one, not 2, but not bad for LCBO, only about 3 dollars a dram.

Just been on a Xmas splurge with loyalty vouchers from Waitrose supermarket, Highland Park 12 because my first bottle just got better and better, Bunnahabhain 12 sherried light smoke non chill filtered sounds like an awesome mix, Balvenie double wood I wanted to try something from the distillery, Dalwhinnies Winter Gold like the 15 year old and was a bargain price, Laphroiag 10 tried it in a bar and enjoyed hoping my tastes are heading towards the peatier end, Laphroiag quarter cask because I liked the 10 and it is stronger proof. All 6 bottles cost just under £140 as my bank was also doing cashback at 5% even the wife accepted it was a good deal but a caveat I can't buy anymore until the collection is reduced a bit. Also got a bottle of Aberlour 15 year and Old Virginia 12 year old bourbon a bottling from France coming from online for €50 with the wife's Disaronno order to save on shipping which she also knows about so no doghouse for me this festive period.