What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[jeffrey r]

Opened up a Jameson Black Barrel last night, and it's a nice dram. Rich and fruity, smooth, balanced sweetness. It's about $32 a bottle around here which makes it a good deal imo.

In that range, I currently have open Michael Collins 10 Yr Single Malt (more scotchy for an Irish), and Black Bush (more complexity, less fruity, perhaps a bit less "easy drinking" than the Jameson). Out of these three, I'd probably lean towards the Jameson for a regular bottle. Waiting to open up my Powers 12 Yr, which may trump all of these considering how much I like the regular Powers.

That was a nice gift of Green Spot you got Ejm. Hopefully it makes it over to the US soon for the rest of us...

[AaronWF]

I'm sipping on a double Chivas in the Ft Lauderdale airport waiting for my delayed plane back to Chicago. I chose it over Maker's and KC because I was really surprised by my affection for it last time I tasted it. It's decent sweet malt forward with some nice salt and smoke on the back end. $20 for a double here. At that price, I needed the double...

[Yeti]

Last night I spent three arduous hours rooting for my beloved Virginia Tech Hokies to overcome Rutgers in the Sun Bowl. During, and for a good time after, I shared Aberlour A'bunadh batch 32, Balvenie 15 year, Glenfiddich 15 year, Ardbeg Uiegedail, Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Laphroaig 10 year Cask strength with a few close friends.

To victory!

[MacinJosh]

Just starting to dabble in the Darkside really, and tonight it's Lagavulin 16s turn. Mercy. This is simply streets ahead of the Laphroiag QC I had tried earlier, and I adore that whisky. Just every kind of smoke imaginable on the Lag, but sweet and spicy. Briny too. Tremendous finish with smoke for days. So damned good on this cold Winter evening.

Lag 16 blows Froaig QC out of the water IMHO. Not even in the same league.

[MacinJosh]

Morning pour of Green Spot! Smooth as silk. I prefer my bourbon a little more aggressive but really enjoy the drinkability of this Irish whiskey. When it is gone I will need to work my resources in the UK to get a couple more bottles brought over.

Mike

Have you had the Yellow Spot? I think it's even better than the Green!

My thoughts:

Yellow Spot 12yr, 46%

Color: Straw yellow.

Nose: Vanilla icing and cake batter. A lovely whipped cream note with a whiff of powdered sugar. Very sweet. A floral undertone of wild flowers and orchids. An exquisite nose!

Taste: A wonderful, sweet, sugary entry that is very front palate. White icing, vanilla bean, and simple syrup. The sweet notes are all very forward. Mid-palate introduces some softer floral notes including jasmine and white peony tea. Warm honey notes play throughout.

Finish: Very soft with lingering sweetness. A touch of honeydew melon.

Rating: What a wonderful. fantastic dram. Lovely sweetness with delicious floral undertones. Delicate, well rounded and incredibly refined, this is one of the best Irish whiskies I've ever had. An absolute delight! I'm scoring this one a 94.

[fancypants]

Unfortunately, I am not enjoying my recently purchased bottle of Lagavulin 16 tonight. It slipped out of the box as I was carrying it in to the house and broke on the concrete steps. It was a regular pour of mine about a decade ago, before I moved away from scotch for a while. I can say that it did smell every bit as delicious as I remembered it. I also remember paying about half of what I did for this bottle. Some of it seems to have soaked in to the leather soles of my shoes. A haunting reminder with every step.

[Yeti]

What a shame. I haven't broken a bottle, but I've had plenty of clumsy moments. I dropped a Cambus 1963 in my driveway, but it just dented the box a bit. I dropped a GTS 2012 last night but it was on carpet with the cork in. So far, so good...

[squire]

That has only happened once to me but it changed forever the way I carry the bottle.

[MyOldKyDram]

Did you cry? I would have cried. Ouch, that's just horrible.

[fancypants]

I didn't cry, but I did let out an involuntary "Ffuuuuuucckk" like Ralphie did in A Christmas Story... then washed my mouth out with some George T Stagg.

[jtexaslonestar]

... then washed my mouth out with some George T Stagg.

That will surely learn ya!!!:slappin:

I dropped a bottle of Willet 20 yr old on my #57 stone driveway, but it only scratched the top of the bottle below the neck. I haven't opened it yet, so I hope their barrel selection meets or exceeds their bottle selection!:grin: Sorry for your loss, I will have a pour of my Lagavulin in honor of its passing tonight.

[smokinjoe]

With all of the bourbon I've been hittin' over the last week, or so, I figured I'd change it up. So, opened up the final bottle of the Glenfiddich Sampler Pack I purchase a couple of months ago. The 18 yr and 15 yr I tried previously were wonderful. Tonight, the 12 yr. It's OK...Serviceable...Decent...OK...Not offensive...Did I say OK? I don't know what the retail prices are for the Glenfiddich line, but for me, no doubt that I put out extra coin for the more aged versions over the 12 yr. And, would totally skip the 12.

[compliance]

Glendronach 12. Santa brought me this one because I had been wanting to try it. I have a tendency to find non-Islays boring, but there's plenty here to like. I'm enjoying it a lot and look forward to trying some of their older expressions next.

[squire]

Seagrams 8 yr VO Gold

[Yeti]

The Balvenie 15 Year Single Barrel. I really love the central Balvenie profile. To me it's like vanilla bean ice cream - basic, stripped bare, and delicious. It also pairs extremely well with vanilla ice cream coincidentally.

[Wryguy]

Stopped by a buddy's place on the way home from work and we quickly tasted through a Balvenie 14 Rum Cask and a Laphroiag Cairdeas. Found the Rum Cask to be a bit odd and kinda forgettable, didn't really get much sweetness or spice from the casking. Not a big Balvenie fan though. The Cairdeas was amazing on the nose, but sadly the palette was just average Laphroaig to me and the finish was surprisingly short. I wonder if a little water would have opened it up, but I often forget to try that. What can I say, I like it neat.

[Yeti]

I haven't had the rum cask, but I really loved the 2012 Cairdeas. A fruitier and more drinkable 'phroaig than the 10 year cask strength. Although that has another 6% or so depending on batch.

[unclebunk]

Lag 16 blows Froaig QC out of the water IMHO. Not even in the same league.

With respect, I'm afraid I couldn't disagree more. While Lagavulin 16 is a classic among classics, Laphroaig QC is arguably the best of the "standard" offerings from Laphroaig and a mighty fine whisky that many consider a classic as well. It's just a matter of mood, for me. But I find comparing most Islays a difficult and sometimes unfair exercise because, in many respects, it's like comparing apples to oranges when I do. Lagavulin and Laphroaig are entirely different creatures to me, just as Highland Park 12 and Talisker 10 would be. That's not to say that I don't have favorites and a pecking order when push comes to shove, but that's more because of personal preferences than one necessarily being better than another. Know what I mean?

[timd]

With respect, I'm afraid I couldn't disagree more. While Lagavulin 16 is a classic among classics, Laphroaig QC is arguably the best of the "standard" offerings from Laphroaig and a mighty fine whisky that many consider a classic as well. It's just a matter of mood, for me. But I find comparing most Islays a difficult and sometimes unfair exercise because, in many respects, it's like comparing apples to oranges when I do. Lagavulin and Laphroaig are entirely different creatures to me, just as Highland Park 12 and Talisker 10 would be. That's not to say that I don't have favorites and a pecking order when push comes to shove, but that's more because of personal preferences than one necessarily being better than another. Know what I mean?

I agree.

I love Laph CS - but also love Laga16. I drink a lot more Laphroaig, however, because of the price... and there's times I want that briny, smokey kick in the teeth from the CS.

Other times the elegance and power of Lagavulin is all I want!

Cost is a factor, but mood is a bigger factor.

That said, I'd take Laga 12 CS over any of them at any time!

[portwood]

Glendronach 12. Santa brought me this one because I had been wanting to try it. I have a tendency to find non-Islays boring, but there's plenty here to like. I'm enjoying it a lot and look forward to trying some of their older expressions next.

If the opportunity presents itself, try the 15 year old "Revival" - most people (myself included) consider it the best of the standard Glendronach range (12, 15, 18, 21).

[compliance]

If the opportunity presents itself, try the 15 year old "Revival" - most people (myself included) consider it the best of the standard Glendronach range (12, 15, 18, 21).

I saw that Ralphy named that his whisky of the year for this year too. I'll keep my eye out for it.

[portwood]

I saw that Ralphy named that his whisky of the year for this year too. I'll keep my eye out for it.

Just enjoyed a dram of the GD 15.

Bottle almost dry - good thing I have two more in the bunker (purchased before Ralfy's endorsement :grin:)

[jtexaslonestar]

Hitting a few Islays tonight during the game. Ardbeg 10, Lag 16 and Alligator. No complaints to be had.:cool: The Alligator is friggin' phenomenal.

[ChainWhip]

Hitting a few Islays tonight during the game. Ardbeg 10, Lag 16 and Alligator. No complaints to be had.:cool: The Alligator is friggin' phenomenal.

Love the 'Gator!

[Max Power]

Opened up Compass Box Spice Tree tonight. Digging it.