Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@JayRain Bayview used to great clearance sales in that back room, not so much anymore.

@Astroke Was that the only way you were able to get a bottle? By that I mean, you couldn't call and reserve one? I know that they pop up and out of stores quick. Last year the Blanton's Gold was delayed because of a labeling issue, but I kept in contact with my local LCBO that was set to get a case and as soon as it came off the truck an employee called me to pick up my bottles. I didn't think we in Ontario were at that line waiting stage?

@Mancub @Astroke

The times they are a-changing. It's so difficult to predict what will be available and how much, and what the demand will be. Gone are the days when there was enough to go around for everyone, and you could replace a bottle easily when it was done.

Last year after a couple of bottles came and went quickly (Like Devil's Cask) I grabbed a whole bunch of Laimrig for me and others as soon as they were available and then they lasted on the shelves for months. It took a while to get them to their owners, who could have gotten them earlier but who wants to take the risk?

More recently I went to Scrivener's square which had listed many dozens of Blanton's Gold and there were none. Luckily they found some at a nearby store. I asked for 4 (not all for me) of 8-10 to be held for 15 minutes and they agreed. I left that store with one remaining and they were sold out in Ontario 2 days later.

Similar experience with Stagg Jr.

My analysis is that people are no longer confident that the LCBO will be able to get enough premium quality product to match demand so every release generates a rush to buy. It's great for business and probably gets people to buy more than their immediate needs, which increases the gap between supply and demand.

Of course, this heightened sense of FOMO also increases the amount people are willing to pay for a bottle. Case in point the 3% increase in the price of Blanton's Gold this time around, and it still flies off the shelves...

@Nozinan How true. Bourbon and special releases fly off of the shelves at the LCBO, there is a craze and a feeling that you must buy-buy-buy before someone else does and it's gone. Getting off topic of this thread a little, but I for one would love to form a group of fellow whisky drinking Ontarians and boycott specific brands/bottles. We all talk and complain about prices and the situation we're in, but we've helped create it and we certainly help perpetuate it. I think as individual consumers it's easy to forget how much power we have, but if we stuck together and took some action, maybe we could change a few things/bring some prices down? Stop buying Balvenie and Ardbeg in Ontario (the prices are insane compared to everywhere else), stop buying premium NAS whiskies that are more marketing than substance (The Glenlivet Cipher), and when a bottle sees a big price increase (Highland Park 25yr was $349.95 in 2015 and now $899.95 - Highland Park 21yr $349.95 - $459.95 - Balvenie 15yr SiB $176 - $280), we should refuse to buy it. These are just a few of the recent nonsensical increases, but everyday the LCBO increases prices by 5-10% and beyond on bottles for no apparent reason other than that they will sell.

Going to get back on topic here...just purchased Compass Box Great King Street Artist's Blend. I tried the Glasgow Blend and enjoyed it a lot, so was excited to see just 1 bottle pop up for sale in the online inventory for me to grab. The only way to purchase this through the LCBO in the past 6 months was to order a case of 6, so I feel lucky to find this.

@Mancub Last year, a store in Brampton held a bottle for me. This year I dropped into the Oakville store and asked them if they were getting any, the Vintages guy told me he had 11 bottles and would be given out 1 per customer, first come first serve. I decided to come to the store when it opened and there were 4 other guys there for the same thing. Not like there was a real lineup. They did sell out but I believe I could have shown up at noon and got one.

Four bottles of the Nikka 12 Year Old Premium Blended Whisky.

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170209/…

Age statement on Japanese whisky are hard to come by these days.

I have a kindred spirit in sengjc, as I recently added four bottles of The Yamazaki 12yo to my bunker. Could not resist since I last encountered this simple but straight forward malt at my local spirits retailers last August. I had assumed that would be the last I would see of an age stated Yamazaki but not so. Now makes me wonder if a fresh batch has been distributed from the distillery, and that the State of Michigan has refreshed it's warehouse supply. It was an impulsive buy on my part. Probably would have been better served purchasing some more desired bottles on my wish list, but presented with this most unexpected opportunity, I pounced. Suppose I could have done worse . . . Between friends, I will just call this an indulgent Valentine's Day gift to myself :-)

@Astroke I was not even aware - where they hold the food tastings?

@JayRain, may do them there now, before they had an area where they put out the gift packages (wines) but there was a shelf that had clearance items. Last time I was there was nothing on clearance.

The what: A 350 ml bottle of John Lee, that bourbon I posted about earlier.

The why: I was curious. :) And since I can't get it at home I figured I'd give it a try. The verdict is that it's a reasonably serviceable bourbon. Nothing special, and I won't be buying it again, but I don't consider it a waste of money.

I just bought a Lagavulin 12 yo CS 2016. I read some good things about it and... well, it's the Lagavulin 12 so it as to be great.

Mate returning from overseas and helped me to get a bottle of Auchentoshan Blood Oak from duty free:

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/…

Now I have two, one to keep for much later and the other for sharing in the more immediate future.

Another bottle of the Sullivan's Cove Private Cask no. TD0347.

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170213/…

Now that I have two of these, looking forward to opening one in the near future.

@cherylnifer

Nice pickup on the Yamazaki 12 YO's, it's my first love as far as Japanese whisky go - about 10 years since.

The what: Fire Water Bourbon

The why: Again, I was curious about a whisky I'd never heard of. And I felt like it could be fun to have this somewhat controversial-looking bottle on my shelf. :)

Just put in an order for caol Ila 12 which I found my collection lacking of. Kilchoman Sanaig, a whisky I tried and enjoyed at an expo last fall and a Glenmorangie quinta ruban that I'm gifting a friend. All of them for a good price on sale! Happy days

Hp 12 for my birthday

My new cabinet addition is Stranahan's Colorado (Malt) Whiskey, Binny's Single Barrel # 12-1736. Why? It was a gift from a friend who likes Stranahan's and has visited the distillery 2 or 3 times.

@Victor Is it a virgin oak like the regular one? I would be curious to know If you taste the banana in that one. It's the first time I am hearing of a full strenght Stranahan and will be waiting for your review.

@Robert99, yes, this single barrel bottle of Stranahan's uses new oak aging, as do the regular batch productions of Stranahan's malt. I will be happy to tell you about the flavours of this bottle when I open it, but that could be quite a while distant in time.

@Victor Thank you for the answer and I perfectly understand about the waiting. People with big collections have a great problem: picking the right dram to drink each night. Of course some will not be visited as often as other and this is without talking about the management of the opened bottles. To your beautiful problems, Cheers!

Picked up The Glenlivet 18 on an Amazon Lightning deal, cheapest 18 year on the block at £48. That is currently less than half the price of Highland Park and although I have never tried it I am hoping for good things as I like the 15 and miss the 16 nadurra and the cheap and cheerful 12. I have tried the 21 and was a little underwhelmed and will not be hunting a bottle out and the 25 is a little rich for my budget.

A bottle of The Kincardine. It's a combination of 7 year old Amrut, Macallan and Glen Elgin. A very interesting whisky indeed!

@Barnbip pretty lucky. I saw it sold out on Master of Malt, and for a pretty high price too. Sounds like it might be a special blend, and looks like possibly cask strength.

I bought a bottle of Gooderham & Worts 4 grains to make my own opinion. I only had a sip but I don't think I will ever become a fan. It is way too young for me. I hope air will improve it.

@Robert99 I've enjoyed mine more every time I come back to it. Mind you I bought it in 2014, I haven't poured it (for anyone) since October and it's over 2/3 full, so you can tell how much I reach for it. This is one of those products that I really wish had a mini or 200 cc bottle to buy, as I'm glad I tried it but may never finish the bottle. That said, if offered in the home of a friend, and nothing better was around I would probably say OK.

@Nozinan Understand me, the flavors are big and quite good but it is rough. So I hope you're right and that it will improve with time.

@Robert99 I find it interesting that there is a graininess to the mouthfeel, an actual texture to it that I rarely find in clear liquids. I agree with your assessment completely.

Had my sister grab me a Balblair 1990 in Nova Scotia, could not ignore a 24 year old Sherry finished SM for $165 CAD, tax in.

@Astroke do you think, if I paid for it, she would pick up a bottle for me that I could eventually get from you?