Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@Nozinan I admire people in your line of work with your dedication. It's an essential service and we are all going to need it sooner or later. I raise a glass to you.

Cheers.

The oogie. Why? because I've never had it.

A couple of bottles of the William Grant & Son Rare Cask Reserves Cruinnich 21 Year Old blended scotch whisky.

A limited release of 4,900 bottles for the Australian market only back in 2014, and only available via a rather famous local retail chain.

Information on the web indicates that a group of Aussies, having won a competition held by said retail chain, were spirited to Scotland to help with the selection of the casks that would make-up this blend, guided by none other than Brian Kinsman, famed master blender of Glenfiddich.

Blended for the 'Australian palate', whatever that means. Anyway, my guess is that this is probably intended to go head to head with the likes of Chivas Royal Salute and Johnnie Walker Blue Label as it does belong in that category.

Probably didn't sell as well as the hype, now available for a limited time of 30% off, which is why I decided to give this a shot to see if it's all that or if it is left wanting - one to keep and one to enjoy.

Springbank 16 Local Barley...because I fell into some spare cash and couldn't help myself.

Kilkerran 12...stocking up.

Laphroaig quarter cask, because I have never tried it and it was on discount (30eur)

Calling all Campbeltown fans—party at @KRB80 's house!

@bourbondrinker $85 here. I like it but I'm still nursing the DF bottle my sister in law bought me that I opened 2 1/2 years ago.

Occasionally it goes for about $40-50 in Calgary. if needed I'll look there.

@MadSingleMalt LMAO! C'mon down.;)

Because I recently scored a Highland Park 18 for $70, I returned the other one I bought a few weeks ago for $110. But the store only did exchanges—not refunds—so I had to buy some new stuff in its stead.

Well, $110 that you must unexpectedly spend on liquor is fun. And this is still that same store I talked about above with the great prices on some bottles (though some stupid high ones too). Here's what I considered but didn't buy:

•Redbreast 12 CS for $75

•Laphroaig Cairdeas 2016 for $75

•Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015 for $75 (maybe the last one left in the wild around me)

•Linkwood 15 for $60

But here's what I chose:

•Laphroaig 10 CS batch 6. Because it was still on sale for $58. And because it's such a great whisky (and at such a great price) that surely, one day, it'll come to an end and I'll find myself remembering its glory days and wondering why I didn't stock up enough back when I could.

•Booker's bourbon, unknown batch (I didn't check). Because it was $50. Because people rave about it and it might finally be the bourbon that wins me over. And because I'm sure the guys in my club will dig it.

@MadSingleMalt Bookers is one of the only bourbons that I truly enjoy. Brown sugar spice....It definitely needs water though!

@KRB80 I prefer my booker's neat.

Crown Royal Cask 16, the 3rd returned bottle I have picked up in the last 2 years on returned bottles to the LCBO. Why, an excellent trade chip for Bourbon.

@Nozinan You're a braver man than I!

@Astroke,

As you mentioned "an excellent trade chip for Bourbon." ...or Danfield's 21...just saying...it would be nice to keep some of those bottles on this side of the international border.

@paddockjudge Yes, agreed, but it seems to carry more value down south

@Astroke, Agreed! However, value is in the eye of the beholder...or Canadian Border Services.

@paddockjudge well if they want it they must come to this side of the border, so international Whisky trades are pretty much limited to Western NY. Since I have an open (80% full) bottle of Cask 16 on the go, any and all interesting trades are considered.

@paddockjudge Looks like I am down to 70%. Great minds drink alike

Springbank 16yr "Local Barley" ... bought another one so I can open one and save the other.

Talisker 18 ... backup bottle

Talisker 10 ... 'ol cabinet faithful that always needs to be replaced when finished.

@Astroke, How much was this bottle for? Where can I find out about returned bottles at LCBO?

@DevD I check the online inventory and just scroll through the Whiskey section. The Cask 16 was priced $99.95 as it was the last price on the system. Last year I picked up a Danfields 21 year and before that an Elmer T Lee. Just missed a MaCallan Cask Strength 1 1/2 years ago for $99. Once I see them online I call the store and see if it's actually there and ask them to hold it. Of course it helps if the store that got the return is close enough to drive to it.

Octomore 6.1 and 7.3 got tired of waiting for Laphroaig to sort out the Cairdeas and cask strength release so spent the money I had put away last night. £90 and £114 respectively.

Typically email today saying Laphroaig release is tomorrow, c'est la vie, there is always next year.

Arran 14; Kilchoman Machir Bay; Killkerran 12; Springbank 15; Glenfarclas 15. Had them shipped from Calgary because they were either not available here or a much better price than here. Opened the Arran and the kilchoman last night for a wee taste. Let them sit in the glass for 25 minutes. B- for the Arran 14 and A for the Machir Bay. I won't judge the Arran too harshly yet as I know it gets generally good reviews. And I suspect my taste buds were a little off from drinking a fair bit of wine at a dinner party the night before. But it did seem younger than 14. I'll try it with a drop or two of water next time.

Tonight it's the Killkerran and the Springbank with a quick taste of the Springbank 10 as a reference point.

@BlueNote Isn't Calgary Grand?

@BlueNote , that Campbeltown three-way sounds fun! Let us know who comes out on top.

@BlueNote very keen to hear your thoughts on your wee Campbeltown comparison there too!

@Nozinan It is indeed. We should have a summit there sometime. The big East Meets West Tastetoff and Buying Frenzy.

@MadSingleMalt @Hewie I'll be into that in just over an hour from now.

@MadSingleMalt @Hewie @Nozinan Well guys, it was almost too close to call. The Ten stands on its own merit and will always be favourite, but between the Killkerran and the15 it was almost a draw. The Springbank DNA is obvious immediately in the Killkerran. I am already wishing I had got two. I went back and forth between the two several times and noticed some subtle differences in complexity. I'm not very good at pinpointing specific flavour influences, but I could determine that they were very similar for both. In the end, I gave the blue ribbon to the Springbank 15, but only just. The extra three years just seems to give all the parts the opportunity to integrate properly and smooth out the mouth feel. But from my very subjective point of view the Killkerran is right there beside it on the podium and I'll be looking for more. It's one I would never have thought to try if it wasn't for you guys on Connosr touting it enthusiastically. It's one of the major benefits of being a member here. All hail the brothers Thibault.

Cheers all, have a great and malty weekend.

@BlueNote the 10 is your fave? I'll have to give it a try sometime if it and I are in the same city.

Have you tried the 12? I find it tends to vary between great and fantastic.