Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@BlueNote , I found the Tamdhu 10 to be totally fine & solid. The sherry's not too heavy, and I liked that. No off-notes.

I couldn't see paying $60+ for it, though. The old Tamdu 12 (back when it was budget buy from the old owners, in the black package with the lion on it, before the current fancy Coke bottle version) was just as good in my memory, and that old one was only $25 (well, yeah, back in 2009). And I recently saw the Coke bottle Tamdhu NAS CS for ... was it $50? ... which didn't do any favors for the value proposition on this new 10.

But I could recommend it to anyone looking for a lighter, easier sherried malt if the price is right.

@MadSingleMalt I haven't heard good things about the CS, but I do like the 10 and I do like the "Coke" bottle, has a nice vintage look.

Just picked up a bottle of Redbreast 12 Cask Strength based on comments and reviews by @Nozinan and Fionnan O’Connor’s book “A Glass Apart”.

@OdysseusUnbound I have no doubt you will be happy with that purchase. I find time in the glass and a bit of water brings out some really nice flavour.

I hope you'll review it. I like reading your reviews.

Uigeadail may arrive this weekend...

@BlueNote , gotcha. Thanks. I had a vague impression that the CS was similar to A'bunadh and its ilk, but maybe it's not in the same league.

I like the Coke bottle too. I just noticed that that repackaging marked a ~tripling in the price.

@Nozinan Any weekend that comes with Uigeadail is a good weekend.

@MadSingleMalt I don't have first hand experience with the CS, but the reviews I have seen are luke warm.

Funny how that price thing works. I guess the mighty minds that come up with this stuff have to have mighty pay cheques.

@OdysseusUnbound I enjoy the 12yo CS Redbreast, so I think, to lend my words to @Nozinan , you won't be disappointed. I also enjoy the 15yo as well, even at 46%ABV, it is still one of my favorite drams. And I will admit, I think my dram of choice between the two is the 15yo; however, I do have friends who prefer the other-way-round.

@MadSingleMalt @Nozinan @Robert99 I'm happy to report that I did go back and pick up that bottle of Kilkerran WIP #7 Bourbon CS. I'm a pretty happy chappy right now, but I don't think I'll open it for a little while. Thanks for your input everyone.

@ajjarrett , you're killing me! I'm sitting on a bottle of that Redbreast 15, and I've been trying to convince myself to return it to the store in hopes of getting credit toward an unrelated splurge bottle.

@Hewie , nice!

I'm not alone in thinking it's a rather autumnal whisky. You're in New Zealand, right? If I were you, I'd save it for the first crisp day in March or April.

It'd be fun to know exactly how many of those are sitting on worldwide store shelves anymore. They made 6,000, and fans have been gobbling them up since day 1, as soon as "best whisky of 2015" reviews started circulating. Maybe @Hewie got the very last one left in the wild!

@MadSingleMalt I am convincing myself when I will buy another bottle of the 15yo Redbreast. I am curious what reasons you are coming up with for taking your bottle back?

@ajjarrett , at the risk of repeating my small little buying-for-my-club drama, I originally bought a Redbreast 15 for my club, not realizing that the group had already gone through a bottle in the days before I joined. And we don't do repeats.

So I bought a different Irish for our March meeting instead (Redbreast 12 CS).

And now I have this Redbreast 15 that I would surely enjoy, but which I would also much rather put toward a bottle of 1977 Old Pulteney that's gathering dust and filling my dreams at the same store. So I'm hoping they'll do a swapparooni for me. But if not, I'll happily drink the Redbreast 15 on my own. :)

@MadSingleMalt That story delivers a good reason for swapping the 15yo Redbreast.

@MadSingleMalt thanks, and yes, I think I'll do that (wait until Autumn to pop its cork).

@MadSingleMalt Do yourself a favour, keep the 15 and get the Old Pulteney.

In 15 years the Redbreast will be 30 and you won't miss the monry you spent.

Another successful sports trip complete (two Astro games, Alabama, Texas A&M and Texans/Chiefs.

Went a little extra on the spirit purchases based on a very decent selection that a liquor store (Specs) had:

• Smooth Ambler Gin Stillhouse Collection - had this beauty before and even though I was on the hunt for a new Gin, I could not pass up the last bottle in the store

• Lemon Hart 151 - as recommended by many Connosr's (thanks to all, looking forward to it - any suggestions on how to best consume?)

• Old Bones 10Yr Bourbon Batch #3 - was not intending to purchase a bourbon as have a few unopened bottles yet but developed a rapport and trust w a gent there and decided to give it a whirl

• Kilkerran WIP #7 Aged in Sherry Wood - was even less interested in purchasing a scotch (having 30+ bottles unopened, it just does not make sense) but wanted to give it a try (even if it is not the apparently superior Bourbon Wood) and it was the last bottle in the store

  • Solorzano Extra Anejo - as a fan of sipping tequila, it is the one spirit I am still willing to pay a pretty peso for. The sales clerk actually came up to me to talk tequila and suggested to go w this fraction of the cost offering (against a Herradura Seleccion Supreme or Casa Dragones 16)

As I now only purchase spirits outside of Ontario (will respond to that thread shortly, I filled my intention list of 3 (gin, rum, tequila) and not too upset w myself over the 2 whiskeys (still a learning for the next trip about sticking to your vision)

But @JayRain , you gotta seize the malty opportunities when they come!

@JayRain , is that your first Kilerran? When will you open it?

I have that same one too, unopened. It'll be my first "Sherry Wood" Kilkerran, so I can't tell you much about it, except what you already know: Despite being from the same "generation," it's not supposed to be too similar to the WIP #7 "Bourbon Wood." Aside from the completely different wood, it's 46% instead of the magic cask strength that the Kilkerran gods unexpectedly blessed us with in the "Bourbon Wood."

@JayRain I recommend a 10-15 cc pour of the LH 151. Once you sniff it and try it neat, I find it opens beautifully with 1-2 drops of water.

@Nozinan Thanks much - will do

@MadSingleMalt

Over the next few weeks, there will be a decision as to what 2 bottles will be opened next. The Kilkerran is a dark horse versus other offerings so we will see.

Definitely no regrets but still have an over-arching plan to adhere to.

The hardest one to leave behind was a Springbank 12 YO Cask Strength. Fortunately, one of my buddies decided to pick up the last bottle in the store.

Highly recommend Specs (Smith St location) for anyone visiting Houston.

@JayRain, Nice line-up of ball games! I know that Specs store on Smith. Picked up Bushmill's 21 and Balcones True Blue a few years ago....the Balcones didn't stand a chance, it didn't leave Houston.

@paddockjudge Beggars cannot be choosers but ideally would have preferred a game where the outcome at least had some form of suspense. That typed, had great seats to each game and got to see phenomenal athletes like Altuve, Correa, Tyreke Hill and DeShaun Watson (he is going to be special). Alabama RB Harris should also be a NFL first rounder.

Would recommend Specs in a heartbeat (albeit it is a bit puzzling when you walk in)

@paddockjudge Too bad w Edwin's injury - Cleveland/Houston would have been a superb series.

@paddockjudge Now YOU're just bragging.

A couple of bottles of the 1993 Glendronach 24 Year Old from sherry cask no. 652 - amazing colour.

These massively sherried, single cask bottlings of substantial age are increasingly hard to come by and expensive.

I wasn't in the market for any more scotch, having decided to curb my spending for at least a couple of months. But A'bunadh for £32 couldn't be passed up. This might also have been posted in the discussion on bottles to stash, because it's reassuring to have one of these in the back of the cabinet, even if it is just the one.

@dougwatts , wow: killer price.