Which bottle did you just buy and why?

Picked up a bottle each of Rittenhouse Straight Rye 100 proof & Evan Williams Single Barrel. I picked up the Rittenhouse as it's a core in my bar and the EWSB as the reviews are promising and it sounds like something I'll enjoy.

All - I am in charge of buying a Glenfarclas 40 year as a present for a friend. Right now there are the 46% version (tube) and 43% (red presentation box from 2016), both at the same price in my local market. Any recommendations? I assume the 46% is a bit more desirable from a consumption perspective but the 2016 one is slightly more desirable as a collector's item (not that I have any intel that he is not going to drink the bottle).

You don't drink presentation boxes. This is whisky. It's about drinking what's in the bottle. The 43% version makes sense only if your friend doesn't care much about drinking whisky. But then why buy him expensive whisky?

@Victor - I don't disagree with your points. Isn't it is a fair assumption though that others may feel slightly different around the presentation/packing side? I was just trying to hedge bets a little bit as I don't know if he would like the visual as well as the liquid in the bottle. If he is just throwing either tube/box away, it would be about the difference between the 46% vs. 43% which I would assume you would always recommend the 46%, correct?

@msudukie, yes, I would always recommend 46% ABV over 43% ABV unless I had trustworthy information that the 46% ABV batch was inferior to the lower proof one. That information is of course subjective in every case, and can be either one's own experience in tasting both batches, or a high degree of trust in the opinions of one or more others who have tasted from both batches and made the taste comparison, or who have strong opinions about either batch.

There are some, probably few, on Connosr, who would place a high value on the attractiveness of the packaging. Most likely others will weigh in.

@Victor - Thanks. I agree that the 46% is the way to go.

46% + the presentation box of your choice from the birthday aisle in your local department store!

@Victor I agree as long as tasting is not an option. If try before you buy is possible, I would try both and choose the one I though was better.

The 2 are likely from different batches and so there can be tremendous variation. I learned that when I tasted and really enjoyed Macallan 12 bottled at 43%

@Nozinan, you let me know when you find somebody ready to pour us samples of both the 46% ABV Glenfarclas 40 yo and the 43% ABV Glenfarclas 40 yo. I will be very happy to taste both!

@Nozinan - Good point on batch variation - I haven't seen a lot of reviews on the 43% version and a ton for the 46% which are almost always glowing. Not being able to sample both, I guess I will place my bet with the 46%.

@Victor The LCBO allows tastings of certain spirits (a lot in some stores) and they charged for the samples. I could see a model like that put to work in this case, though I doubt the KGBO has both available (if any).

@msudukie I think that's a wise choice, and were I in your position I would probably do the same.

@Nozinan, you really think that the LCBO is going to make Glenfarclas 40 yo available for sample tasting? I don't.

@msudukie It'd odd that there would be two versions of the 40 year old. I bought 2 miniatures at the distillery in 2013, they were 46%, expensive (24 GBP each), and very, very good. That's the only way I was ever going to taste Glenfarclas 40 year old. I think you are wise to go for the 46% version. What kind of money are we talking?

@Victor Well, I don't think we can hold ourselves to the bar set by the LCBO for quality service. I can't bend so low.

Selling samples of expensive liquor is done online...you might be able to get both on Master of Malt. I can't see why it couldn't be done in stores as well.

@BlueNote - They released a 2016 version at 43% not quite sure why, maybe just one-off as have not heard they are switching to this ABV. Current price is 800 USD (plus tax). Crazy but guess good value compared to other 40 years!

@msudukie Yikes! The equivalent of 10 Uigeadails.

@BlueNote - I hear you. A trusted local shop owner said the 25 is going up $90 and 40 is going to be over $1000 in the very near term.

@msudukie , is your friend turning 40? So must it be that 40-year-old whisky?

If so, I totally get that. But it seems crazy steep to me, whether you measure it in dollar, pounds, or Uigeadails. I've heard (yes, just heard) that the 25 is better anyway.

@MadSingleMalt - yes, he is turning 40. The consistent feedback I hear is the 25, 30, and 40 are all great values for the quality. Less sure I have heard consistently that either the 25 or 30 are better than the 40. At least I am not getting the Balvenie 40 :-)

@MadSingleMalt I have had the 25 and I totally agree. I recall the 40 being somewhat ant-climactic and just a little bitter in that overaged, dried fruit way. Mind you it was a few years ago that I actually had the 40 and very recently when I had the 25. The 25 definitely made an impression. So, one GF 25 and seven Uigeadails?

@msudukie , perhaps you could consider a 40 of malt liquor?

@MadSingleMalt - LOL - I like the idea!

@msudukie The GF is relatively cheap for a 40 year old. HP 40 is over $3500 here.

@BlueNote : one GF25 and seven Uigeadail sounds good to me too. Or maybe instead of one GF40, perhaps one each of GF25 + GF15 = 40 combined years

@cherylnifer Or like a bazillion GF 12s...

@cherylnifer I like that. You can never go wrong with a 15 in the mix.

@Nozinan We need to get the verdict on @OdysseusUnbound's replacement bottle of GF 12 before we go for the bazillion.

@BlueNote I think he said he liked it.

I was thinking in terms of dollar value vs the older one.

But you're right...let's wait for the re-review...

@BlueNote The replacement GF 12 is really lovely so far. I’d worry that you might hit a few bad ones if you bought a bazillion of them, though. Law of averages and all that.