Which bottle did you just buy and why?

Was visiting friends this past weekend to partake in one of their family celebrations, they surprised me with a gift bottle of The Lost Distillery's Stratheden Classic. They relied on the direction of their local liquor retailer in choosing this particular bottle. Looking forward to sharing this bottle with these same friends during the approaching holidays. Not necessarily for the spirit in the bottle but for which the spirit in which it was gifted to me.

@Mancub I'd ber taking that back, and talking to the mgr.

First: if the bottle was being held for a legitimate customer, it should be marked as such, and not for sale (to you or anyone, unless the original customer declines it). A bottle "hiding" in the back smacks of one of the staff hoarding it for themselves...if they want it, they can purchase it (and likely at a staff discount).

Second: The torn seal is an issue. Too bad you hadn't noticed at the time of sale (I usually open the box in the store, after this story I always will--"just to check the seal"). Now, it's possible--even likely--that the damaged seal was noticed at some point and brought to mgmt's attention, which might explain the bottle "hiding" in the back (although again, I'd hope someone would put a note on it). If this is the case, they should already know and be willing to take it back. If they refuse, then hey, you still have the bottle...

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, 69.7% ABV, because I didn't have a bottle from this batch yet, and because I only have 13 ECBP stored away.

@Nozinan, with this ECBP and the bottle of Highwood Ninety 20 yo which you are holding for me, that is 2 bottles toward my 9 (or 10) bottle 3 year budget. Looks like I will get at least one BTAC and one Van Winkle this release, too...but you can tell that I am serious about this strict schedule because I walked away from a true unicorn bottle which I have been thinking about for the last 3 years: Taos Lightning 15 yo Rye (MGPI sourced). I got home from Albuquerque and really could hardly believe that I let that one get away. I am very happy, however, that @paddockjudge was the one to buy that bottle. Maybe I will get a taste of it yet. 15 yo US Rye does not grow on trees.

@Victor, you @paddockjudge and I bought the last three in Albuquerque. I looked at my ECBP collection and I have 2 of this batch now. I regret passing on the 15y Taos Lighting but I wanted you and @paddockjudge to have first option on it. I'm glad I grabbed the the ECBP 69.7%.

Cheers

@Mancub,

Inform the store manager of your predicament and tell him very clearly that you expect the quality of the whisky to be uncompromised. Should the whisky be, in your opinion, compromised, you will be returning it for a refund. My experience is that most managers and staff are accommodating in a situation like this... most of the uncooperative employees are now retired and those that remain are probably not managers.

Been having tough time locating Bain's Cape Mountain grain whiskey at local mega grocery chain. Seems last year's inventory at grocery chain now exhausted and current stock not yet available from distributor. I did find and purchase two bottles through another source. Their last two bottles according to owner. On shelf next to them was a lonely bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh batch #54. So I bought that bottle also. Quite pleased with my purchases. Bain's Cape Mountain not as complex as Teeling's single grain but still an enjoyable end-of-day sipper

Picked up a bottle of Old Weller Antique 107. Excellent price and I wanted to do the Weller 12/OWA blend.

The 107 by itself is a total Red Hots Cinnamon bomb. I had the blend before and it's not bad but I think I may add in the KCSB per @Paddockjudge, certainly can't hurt.

@spitfire & @paddockjudge

Thanks for your replies and suggestions, I explained my situation to a helpful clerk and it wasn't an issue at all to return the bottle and receive a full refund. They didn't question the seal, just looked at it and proceeded to put my information into the computer. I will most definitely be checking all of my boxes in the future as to not run into this situation again. It just so happened that the money back covered the 2 bottles of Old Weller Antique 107 that I just picked up - score!

@Astroke - I was planning to save a bottle of the 107 to mix with the Weller 12 when I get my hands on it but mixing it with the KCSB sounds interesting. I'm looking forward to hearing how it turns out. Cheers!

I just bought a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban for my whisky club's next meeting? Why? Well, the main reason is that I plan to make that the base of a lineup of port-finished and port-matured whiskies. Its two sparring partners will be Ballechin #3 Port and Longrow RED Port.

Balvenie Roasted Malt 14 Year Old, a limited edition bottling from many years ago.

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Chances upon this on auction, and for a good price too.

@Mancub Finally poured myself the @paddockjudge 107/W12/KCSB blend. Actually quite good and no water required which I needed for the A107 to calm it down. Yup, not bad at all.

What's up gents. Been a while since I've posted, but now that my new job is rolling I should have some more time to devote to the site again. Out in Calgary for work, so naturally I had to pick up a few things that are not available in Ontario and are much more reasonable priced. I picked up a Stagg Jr. for a friend, and for myself I grabbed both Octomore 7.3 and 7.4. Definitely excited to add these gems to the collection!

@mscottydunc,

good to see you back on the board!

@Astroke, I believe @ Benancio deserves the credit for this recipe. I tried his version of the blend last month in New Mexico, it is delicious.

@paddockjudge it's a good blend.

Good to see the Blue Jays are still in it but I'm an Indians fan.

@Nozinan, some hideous monster just took control of our local liquor control system. I was out with @Jonathan last night while he picked up some bottles and noticed that the new price of Aberlour A'bunadh here is now $ 135.15 plus 9% tax, or USD $ 147.31 total. Shocking. Makes me think I should have picked up that second $ 63 bottle of it in Arizona a couple of months ago. Good thing your supply will last for awhile. I might even have to buy in Canada in the future.

@Victor

The only explanation is that they must have a new CEO who has come from the LCBO...

Traded in a couple bottles that I wasn't as interested in anymore and picked up an Old Pulteney 12 year old and a Tomatin 14 year Portwood. They are very different whiskies from one another, Old Pulteney in particular sounds nothing like what I've tried before, but that just makes me even more eager to try for myself.

@Mancub what did you trade in?

@Nozinan Maybe to say I wasn't interested in the bottles I traded in is not accurate, rather, I had multiples of bottles and wanted something a little different. I traded in a four roses Single Barrel, which I do enjoy, in fact I was drinking some with a friend over the weekend, but the last couple times I had it I wasn't too in impressed. The bottle didn't have the same power/aroma/flavor as it once did, maybe because it's been open for a while? A bottle of Highwood Ninety, I have another full bottle and one half full. I do really enjoy this one, though I recently drank it side by side with Benromach and I would take the latter over it most days. Last but not least, I traded in one of my bottles of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum. I feel as though I'm at a stage where I want to try a little of everything more than double or triple up on bottles that are at the moment accessible to me. Limited bottlings are a different story of course.

@Victor

The prices of nearly all Aberlour products are increasing substantially at the end of October in Michigan. The minimum shelf price of A`bunadh is slated to increase $25, from $84.96 to $109.96 (plus 6% State Sales Tax).

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling number 9.104 "Lychee Martini" - a 27 year old Glen Grant matured in a refill ex-sherry butt.

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It was the Malt of the Month for the October Outturn in Australia.

@Nozinan Recieved a list of available Scotch from Willow Park in Calgary (my Boss travels there once a month) and noticed A'Bunadh is $137.00 +Tax

@Astroke Count me IN!!!! - not.

That is INsane!

@Nozinan Calgary has some decent prices but lately I have seen a drastic price increase in many SM's. I mean Uigeadail is still only $112 there. Must come down to the distributors pricing I guess. KWM is $136 as well for A'Bunadh

@Astroke

I think I'll be holding off on A'Bunadh purchases for a while. My throughput has really slowed because my drinking has stayed the same and my variety as increased. Here it's still $100.

I have seen Uigeadail for under $90 this year in Calgary...If your boss can get to a Real Canadian Liquor Store. Ad while prices may be rising, the selection beats Ontario by a long shot!

@Astroke I also see that A'Bunadh is now $135 at some upscale Calgary liquor stores. Add 5% PST and that totals almost $142 out the door. Forget it!!. Here in Manitoba it is still $113 out the door and I used to think that was a gouge. Not too long ago it was $80 plus tax. I guess what I am saying is that scotch prices have now outstripped my pension and I am now focusing on Bourbons but that too may sson come to an end. Much of the fun has now been removed from being a whisky geek. May have to find a new hobby. Hope the bubble bursts soon.

With the pounds slide against the dollar and the euro the price of scotch abroad should drop in theory!

Strange all prices in U.K. For goods bought in other currency Oil, food etc have started to rise but you are not feeling the benefits on the other side of the pond, enough to make anyone cynical.

On the plus side A'bunadh is currently £35 locally, HP12 £25 and Laphroiag 10 £26.

@Pete1969; good about about the sliding value of the pound vs US Dollar. But recently I encountered two Scotland based retailers who's international shipping rates to USA have more than doubled since last July. While neither will explain why the increase in shipping cost, I suspect it may be tied in some capacity to passing of the Brexit referendum. Unfortunate, since the increase is enough of offset my enthusiasm to purchase.

@Pete1969; good "point" about about the sliding value of the pound vs US Dollar. But recently I encountered two Scotland based retailers who's international shipping rates to USA have more than doubled since last July. While neither will explain why the increase in shipping cost, I suspect it may be tied in some capacity to passing of the Brexit referendum. Unfortunate, since the increase is enough of offset my enthusiasm to purchase.