Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@JayRain I really enjoy Angel's Envy. Been a buyer since it was first released. Always try to pick up a bottle when I am in the US

@Jules Not particularly - I actually have had the privilege of the international (47.6% from DeGaulle) as well as the typical 40%. Even though I would give a nod to the higher ABV, I still thoroughly enjoyed the LCBO 40%. From nose to finish, the sweetness of the grapes just worked for me. I would even type that it is was my 'hook' whiskey which then grew into greater appreciation for other profiles.

@maverickdrinker Picked up the Rye in a recent foray to Cleveland - still a couple of bottles to open before that one (Danfield's 21, Willet 6 yo but looking forward to it.

@Nozinan I am curious about what you think of the 2015-04. I find it to be superior to the fantastic 2015-01

Currently I am only missing the 2015-05 out of the six for the year.

@newreverie

I wish I could tell you. I've tried the 2015-5 with my brother in law but to have a H2H with 2015-01 I am waiting to unseal my sample with (and for) @paddockjudge.

As to the 2015-04, it was purchased in Calgary after I left so I may not see it until December, and after I get it home I'll be splitting that bottle with a friend before trying it.

@newreverie, that's a nice line up of Booker's, well done.

@paddockjudge I now have the entire bookers 2015 collection, 1-6. The plan is to bring all six unopened bottles to the 2017 whiskey summit (Texas) where we will all sample the last of my booker's 25th anniversary (2014-01) along with the six 2015 editions. Then create a new mix for my 25th anniversary bottle, maybe leave a little of the 25th anniversary in the bottle to pull off a blade&bow style 25th anniversary solera.

@newreverie,

Sign me up for 2017! A Booker's Hextu of all six 2015's and the 25th Anniversary bottling for a kicker! That makes it a Septu Session of Booker's.

I'll be bringing the Three Grain Revelation Exercise to Albuquerque. It culminates with the blending of a Wiser's Legacy clone.

Blantons Gold because it was 27€ a bottle. Also 2 cask strength Blantons at 43€ each. Looking forward to trying them now!

@Misty,

Bless the Emerald Isle! Those are excellent prices. Blanton's Gold is CDN$100 if you can find it. That is the same price as the last few years. The highly skilled whisky-ninja, @Nozinan, has secured two bottles for me.

Barrel proof Blanton's is high grade unobtainium in Ontario. Nice haul!!

Bowmore Devil's Cask release ll @56.3% ABV and the reasons why:

I can't afford to buy expensive releases.

This one wil likely be expensive in the future.

This was the last bottle in our province of Manitoba, Canada.

It is not NAS but is a youngster of 10 Years. Optimum time IMHO for a peated dram.

Really enjoyed my bottle of Devil's Casks l release.

Lucifer and I have an AFFINITY!

Jonesz

Going to save it for our Diamond anniversary in 10 years.

@Jonesz - good catch. I just picked up the third release (which is sadly NAS) after it popped up as a single available bottle in Ontario. It's still available in the uk for 3-4 times the price I paid.

@Nozinan I am going to "look out for" as Ralfy says the 3rd release., I don't know why the delay but the 2nd release was just made available here in Manitoba about 2 weeks ago. They are already gone and it was only due to helpful MLCC staff members that arranged to have this one transferred to a nearby store that I was able to get one. Wonder why they went to NAS as this is apparently the last release and the first 2 were 10 YO. The third is Double Devil in that it is PX and Oloroso cask matured. Sounds lovely IMHO. Make you a deal, when I open mine in 10 years I will trade you a sample.

@paddockjudge

Thanks! There are some quirky off licenses here in Cork alright. It was funny, I was in a small one complaining about the difficulty of getting cask strength ryes for our club tasting. The owner brought me into his store room out the back to root around, because he reckoned he had some old American stuff stashed somewhere. Now it's not rye and the bottles are a bit rough looking, considering how much dust was on them. But how bad, for that price I couldn't refuse.

picked up a bottle of eagle rare 10 and Sazerac rye. Becoming hard to get in Ontario. They used to sit on the shelves, and the eagle rare 10 was part of the vintages essential program. Times have changed now though.

Also picked up Aberlour A'bundah batch 53 after seeing all the great reviews. Still have batch 24 to crack open. Might pick up another bottle as getting a cask strength sherried scotch for $100.00 is becoming rare in Toronto....

@Jonesz If I get to it by then, I can be convinced to make a sample swap...

@maverickdrinker batch 24! Wow. I was lucky to find, accidentally, a batch 28 in Nova Scotia in 2011...so you must have been on the forefront of the trend. It would be very interesting to see what you think of the two batches that are temporally so far apart.

@maverickdrinker, Thanks for the heads up. I didn't realize Eagle Rare 10 YO was again available in Ontario.

Marc Brown, CEO of Buffalo Trace/Sazerac has admitted that all BT & Saz product is allocated. Everything is promised and there is not enough product to satisfy demand on a continual basis. Stockouts will occur.
Get it while you can!

@nozinan Been drinking Arbelour A'Bundah for while but never really paid attention to the batch number. I stopped buying it for no specific reason but have now decided to put away a few of batch 53 and start to stock them before prices get out of hand.

I have to say I was surprised at the batch number as I still remember have batch 12 long ago. great stuff.

@paddockjudge got lucky with today's purchase. Was going in to pick up an Arbelour A'bundah and saw both the eagle rare and Sazerac rye on the shelves.

Missed out on the Blanton's gold but I'll have a chance to buy it next time I am in the US, depending on where the CDN $ is vs. USD$

Might be wise to give your local LCBO a call to put a bottle or two aside for you as I did notice a couple of people grab a few bottles of each after me...

Interesting, @maverickdrinker

I've noticed my consumption of A'Bunadh has decreased over the past year or so, as I've become more aware of other styles and spirits. I used to go through 1 to 1.5 bottles a year. I'd been buying ahead to match batches with my age (44,45,46 and soon, 47). But I've been less careful to get them since then. I have 49 because i was told it was fabulous, 50 because it's 50 (though that one is in the hands of a fellow connosr out of town, and 53 because of the great reviews. I'm not worried about the intervening years because I drink less than a bottle of it a year now (including archive samples and tastings), and I have quite a backlog.

It used to be my favourite whisky, now I would say it is among the 10 or so expressions in my top 5... ;)

Imperial 1995, Signatory 19yr old bottling... Girlfriend was picking it up as our current club bottle and decided to pick up their last bottle of Balmenach, 27yr chieftain's bottling from 2011. No idea what either of these will taste like, well some 'idea' but no experience.

@maverickdrinker, Blanton's Gold is not sold in the US. US residents have to get it from outside of the US. I've never tasted a drop of it.

@victor Thanks for letting me know. Just assumed it would be available in the US. I stand corrected and regret missing out on getting some even more...curses....LOL

@maverickdrinker, yes, it is quite odd that Blanton's Gold and Blanton's Straight From The Barrel are not sold in the US. For some reason, the owner of those brands, Age International, chooses to sell them exclusively in international markets.

@Victor That is extremely unfortunate. It just means I'll have to save some to share with you next time you're in town.

@Nozinan, yes, please. And thank you, Dr. Nozinan!

a little bottle of woodford reserve and a bottle of bulliet 10 today...

Laphroaig Quarter Cask X 4. They were on at Real Canadian Liquor Store in Calgary Alberta for $35.98 per bottle and included a 50ml mini on the side. My Brother-in-law was gracious enough to go down and purchase them for me. Out the door cost with tax was $151.52 In Manitoba that would have cost me $329.91 excluding the mini's. If that isn't a reason to buy them what would be a reason. Oh ya QC is a favourite Islay of mine.

@Jonesz QC is an excellent whisky, and I have put a text in to my brother in law. If he buys two the savings are so high it even covers the cost of a checked bag...