Which bottle did you just buy and why?

I made a point today of stopping in a liquor store that is especially well stocked... far better selection of all kinds of whisky than anyplace else I have found to date in Maryland. I was surprised to see a bottle of Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength Batch 007, so I grabbed it!! Last week I found a bottle of Batch 008... this is how obsessions start; I will need to complete a quest of obtaining them all.

@dcbill , what do those 10 CSs sell for where you are?

And good luck finding the earlier batches!

Just restocked the cabinet with Springbank 10, Hazelburn 10, Benromach 10 and Kilchoman Machir Bay.

@MadSingleMalt This was $79.99 plus 10% Maryland tax. I had just been asking Victor if it was unusual to find the older CS batches because I landed the 008 a week or so ago. I felt like seeing a 007 was a must buy. Might have to get the others at auction.

@dcbill , for what it's worth, I've never heard too much about big variation among those 10 CS batches, so you might not want to break the bank just to nab the earlier ones.

Possible exception: I wanna say that some folks have ragged 005 for being too sweet & oaky. But even that one, I think, was still really good.

Well, everyone, I am back with another 16yo Nadurra story. If you had read some of my earlier posts, I was able to score three bottles of the 16yo Nadurra at a small liquor store. After that, I decided to go around the area I live in looking to see what small shops had. So today, I decided to go to a local "discount liquor" store called, "Ok Discount Liquor." Snazzy name, right? I walked over to the whisky section, and it was quite small, but right before my eyes were two bottles of the 16yo Nadurra. They were marked at 83.99 USD, not including tax. After tax, it ended up being 87.59 USD. Well, someone once said, a picture is worth a thousand words, so I hope the batch number and ABV is clear enough for you all to see. Once you see you will understand this next two sentences. I couldn't believe my eyes. I didn't think this would be available, except for special orders and at a higher price. I was completely gobsmacked.

@ajjarrett Yes, you saw correctly: Batch 0606A, 57.2 ABV

@ajjarrett 2 questions:

did you buy both?

what is the significance of that batch? That it was bottled 11 years ago?

@Nozinan Well, it is just an older bottling. 0606 = June 2006. So, the youngest whisky in this 16yo Nadurra, was from a spirit that went into the barrel in 1990. Most of the bottlings I have seen recently (which isn't many now that it has been discotninued) are 2013 and 2014, maybe 2012.

I didn't buy the other bottle, but I might go back and get it. I am currently doing odd jobs for my money, so I need to wait a while. It sucks to be unemployed.

@ajjarrett Well, after due consideration, that's as close as you can get, I think, to a "dusty". I hope you picked up both, and that you compare one to a more contemporary bottling.

I think that's actually a very impressive find. It was probably sitting in that store for a decade. What city did you find it in?

@Nozinan I live in Aurora, Colorado, which is on the eastern border of the city of Denver. I will go back and get the other bottle, at least I plan to. I have a few bottles of later batches, ten to be exact. HA. I am on the hunt for the depleting 16yo Nadurra. I haven't heard of the term 'dusty' before. I am glad the box wasn't covered with dust, but I am even more glad it was still on the shelf for me to buy.

Just scored 2 bottles of Glenfiddich XX from the KGBO. One was for my brother as a thank you for his help and it's his favorite distillery. The other is for us to enjoy at his place and to determine if we should pull the trigger on anymore.

First impressions are really good, the blending is really well done on this and the increased abv is a boon. I know...I know dreaded NAS... Sigh

Just bought a Glenfarclas 12 because I've heard good things about this distillery and they're hard to come by in my neck of the woods.

@OdysseusUnbound glenfarclas is a great source of sherried drams. My favourite is the 15yo, which is in my top 10. When I went to the distillery Murray, a host, couldn't have been nicer. He gave us 5 or 6 drams for free in a vertical tasting that included the 25 yo. Great stuff.

@nooch Yeah, the 15 is the Glenfarclas sweet spot. A great distillery to visit too.

@nooch I appreciate a quality sherried whisky, but they generally aren't my favourite. I have, however, found a few Macallans I really like in the past 4 months, so I'm always open to changing my mind. I love big, smoky scotches (e.g. Lagavulin, Ardbeg, Laphroaig), good Canadian rye whiskies (e.g. Lot 40) and high rye bourbons (e.g. Four Roses SB). I want to try as many whiskies as possible, though, and Glenfarclas seems to have a great reputation. I'll have to review this one later on. Ironically, this 'Farclas 12 was locked behind glass at my local LCBO (it sells for $75 CAD) yet there were multiple Macallan Edition no.2 ($175 CAD), Macallan Sienna ($190), HP 18 ($200), Johnnie Walker Blue ($300 CAD) just sitting on the shelves.

@OdysseusUnbound there's a bit of Christmas cake spice to a sherried glenfarclas dram, so hopefully you connect with that. I recently opened a bottle of Caol Ila 18yo...such subtle peat. Not the heavy hitter that the other islay drams you described are. Much more delicate. In terms of Macallan, my favourite thus far has been the Edition No. 1 having has a variety of the travel series bottlings, the 10, 15, and a wee dram of the 18 that was too small to really give fair judgement too. The Edition No. 1 is complex and very balanced. I've been very tempted to get Edition No. 2, which is apparently fantastic, but the $180 price tag is scary. I got No. 1 for $99. Right now I'm feeling reckless, so I'm debating a few higher end drams. Springbank 18, Dalmore 18, or another bottle of Highland Park 18. I have a Calgary mule who will pick one up for me. Decisions, decisions.

Consider attempting the Spirit of Toronto Whisky Show in May at Roy Thompson Hall. I went this year and tried a huge array of drams (including Canadian whiskey and Bourbon) that I was curious about. It's a good way to try a lot of different drams without having to commit to buying a bottle.

@nooch Is Spirit of Toronto a good place to purchase whiskies not normally available at the LCBO? Or is it more "try a bit of everything in sight"? Are prices any lower on bottles or is it the same usual Ontario robbery?

@OdysseusUnbound no purchases there. It's totally tasting only - but they have drams not normally available. I had the whole dalmore line, for example, from 12yo to King Alex III. It's a good opportunity to try lots of whisky.

@Nozinan

Well, I decided to go back, and get the last bottle of the 16yo Nadurra on the shelf at the OK Discount Liquors. On my way there, I decided to stop at a few other stores to see what they had. No luck at the other stores, so I was quite pleased to see the bottle of 16yo Nadurra still on the shelf. Same price as before. So, although not as old as the LUCKY 0606A, it is still a good purchase.

Batch: 0614C ABV: 55.2% Price in USD: 87.59 (w/ Tax)

@OdysseusUnbound The Blue was most likely just the box. I've seen them on the shelves and one person knocks one and they all go flying...

@nooch SOT has been worse each year I've attended. The first year was the best and the bourbons were extraordinary. They even opened a Port Ellen (I missed that). The masterclasses can be entertaining. But the prices go up. We did an afterparty and the quality of the drams was even better than most of the stuff at SOT.

@ajjarrett I think it was a prudent choice.

@OdysseusUnbound it'll be good to hear what you think of the 'farclas 12. Last time I had it at a tasting I wasn't impressed. I remember being disappointed with the nose, and it having an off-putting (to me) varnish note. Plenty of lovers of it out there though!

@Nozinan I completely agree. No reason to pass up such a bottle, in case someone else finds it and buys it up.

@ajjarrett I haven't had the 16 YO Nadurra in a long time, as few people have it open. I remember liking it from my brother in law's bottle. I have 2 now, and over the years my appreciation of bourbon maturation has increased, so I'd probably really like it now.

@Nozinan The 16yo Nadurra is in my top 5, maybe even my top3 favorite whiskies. It is one that I share with close friends who happen to have the same appreciation as I do. As the saying goes, quality over quantity. I have seen people drink a decent size dram, as if it some cocktail to be gulped (a little exaggeration, but I think you know what I mean).

@nooch @OdysseusUnbound The 15yo Glenfarclas isn't available in my area, but the 12yo is. However, I am contemplating to purchase the 17yo. I had an opportunity to try the 15yo, while I was in Tokyo, but decided not to pick it. I am happy I got the Bruichladdich Laddie 8, but I slightly regret not getting the 15yo Glenfarclas.

I look forward to hearing how you enjoy the 12yo, @OdysseusUnbound. I know I need to get a couple of expressions of Glenfarclas in my library. If I may inquire? How much was the 12yo, since (as you said) they hard to come by in your area?

@ajjarrett Sadly, I do.... that's how I lost about 1/4 of a Litre of Talisker 57 North

@ajjarrett The 'Farclas 12 in Ontario is $ 74.95, which is within the realm of reason.