What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[OscarV]

Strange weather day today, it started off with rain then stopped and very cloudy and overcast and in the 50's but damp so it feels like Laphroaig 18yo, neat.

So that's what I'm sippin'.

[Gillman]

Definitely with Megawatt on Singleton, the 12 year old single malt from Glendullan distillery. Classy, rounded whisky, as good as it gets in the non-overly sherried or peated mold. It has a character I try to attain in my mingling and blending efforts.

Gary

[JamesW]

Started with Islay Mist 8, Talisker 10, and now Lagavulin 16.

[ggilbertva]

Besides bourbon, I also enjoyed my new Yamazaki 12 year and a Bushmills 1608. All good pours.

[unclebunk]

First taste of Clontarf Single Malt Irish Whiskey last night. Nothing striking about this whiskey--"pleasant" would pretty much sum it up but the sale price at Binny's was terrific and it'll go over well with visitors who want something "easy" to drink.

[boss302]

First taste of Clontarf Single Malt Irish Whiskey last night. Nothing striking about this whiskey--"pleasant" would pretty much sum it up but the sale price at Binny's was terrific and it'll go over well with visitors who want something "easy" to drink.

Yeah, I think Clontarf is an excellent "starter" whiskey-- it's basically Cooley or IDG juice (I forget which) that has been charcoal-mellowed, a la Tennessee Whiskey. So, yeah, it's quite mild and mellow, but those of us with a little more skill would tend to look elsewhere.

I recommend Kilbeggan, Michael Collins, Feckin', Kellan, or Irish Manor as excellent "sipping" blends.

[boss302]

Well, I finished off my bottle of Compass Box Hedonism, a vatted Scotch Grain whisky (distilled from Maize, sometimes with wheat). Most of the grains in this blend were over 20 years old.

The dominant flavor-- Vanilla Cream. I also picked up some rich spice notes of clove, with the occasional hint of toffee.

Then something interesting happened-- after finishing off that bottle, I ended my night with a dram of Glenmorangie Original. Usually, I can get a strong taste of Vanilla Cream from this as well, but, after the Hedonism, I guess my palate was burned-out on that flavor, so it decided to pick up something I've never tasted in Glenmorangie before-- Golden Delicious apple.

So, now I'm making it a common practice to try multiple spirits (small pours, of course) in a single sitting. Let's see what else I can pick up!

[Megawatt]

Well, I finished off my bottle of Compass Box Hedonism, a vatted Scotch Grain whisky (distilled from Maize, sometimes with wheat). Most of the grains in this blend were over 20 years old.

The dominant flavor-- Vanilla Cream. I also picked up some rich spice notes of clove, with the occasional hint of toffee.

Then something interesting happened-- after finishing off that bottle, I ended my night with a dram of Glenmorangie Original. Usually, I can get a strong taste of Vanilla Cream from this as well, but, after the Hedonism, I guess my palate was burned-out on that flavor, so it decided to pick up something I've never tasted in Glenmorangie before-- Golden Delicious apple.

So, now I'm making it a common practice to try multiple spirits (small pours, of course) in a single sitting. Let's see what else I can pick up!

Very interesting how direct comparisons can bring out different qualities in a whisky. After a dram of Connoiseur's Choice Caol Ila, I had Lagavulin 16 and it tasted and smelled very strongly of green apples, which I had never noticed before.

[JamesW]

JWB and now Jura Superstition. The Jura has nice smoke but is just a tad too sweet for my tastes.

[smokinjoe]

Bush Pilot's Canadian. Pleasant enough, this evening.

[ggilbertva]

Green Spot Irish Whiskey. Delicate yet full of flavor. Great example of a pure pot still Irish.

[JamesW]

Islay Mist 8 and now Talisker 10.

[unclebunk]

Green Spot Irish Whiskey. Delicate yet full of flavor. Great example of a pure pot still Irish.

Yes indeed. My friend just came back from Ireland this week with two bottles of Green Spot for me and I'm happy as can be. Off to Binny's to pick up some Guinness FES as an accompaniment for tonight's relaxation.

[Megawatt]

Crown Royal Limited Edition. A very pleasant sipping blend that falls somewhere between rye and rum in its flavour profile.

[Megawatt]

Interesting how direct comparison brings out hidden characteristics. After finishing a glass of Crown Royal LE, I poured a bit of Sazerac rye and was immediately struck by intense peppermint notes which were not obvious when tasting the rye alone.

[ggilbertva]

While rooting around the open bottle collection last night, I pulled out a bottle I've had sitting around for sometime; '93/'04 Edradour Marsala Finish Cask Strength. This is one of a series of special releases by Edradour. The nose has mild peat, iodine and overtones of the Marsala wine cask. The entry is much more appealing, loads of flavor with a mix of sweet and peat. I'm not a big fan of peat/smoke, but this puppy is delicious. Too bad it's a 500ml bottle. I have another one with the Port finish and I may have to open it up.

[JamesW]

Amrut Peated. Just picked this up. Very flavourful... it's my first time trying it but it's one of those that tastes like you've been there before. At first the nose reminded me a bit of Ardmore Traditional cask (with more peat of course), but now I'm not so sure. I need more time with this one... getting better as it opens.

[smokinjoe]

Maybe, it's this whacked weather we're having. So, I decided to change it up from my bourbon train, and go with something different. I reached deep into the cabinet, and out came this Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 18. A very tasty whiskey.

[JamesW]

Maybe, it's this whacked weather we're having. So, I decided to change it up from my bourbon train, and go with something different. I reached deep into the cabinet, and out came this Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 18. A very tasty whiskey.

The batch 18 was my first Aberlour A'. A sherry bomb to be sure and a nice change from bourbon indeed.

[unclebunk]

But right now I'm just finishing an Auchentoshan, ... almonds and chocolate-covered cherries, bitter cocoa, hints of peat and smoke.

Just got my first bottle of Auchentoshan recently and was really impressed. It went over big with a number of house guests.

[unclebunk]

This is my first bottle (almost gone now.) My first pour or two, I wasn't too impressed. I guess it wasn't what I was expecting or I didn't give it enough time... But it was colder than cold-hell here a couple weeks ago. Heating is shit in paradise, so we take a deep hot bath in the winter to get warm. Japanese bath tubs are much shorter and deeper than in the US, and they have a heater that keeps the water hot. I went in with a triple pour of Auchentoshan, and came out much later (after everyone else had gone to bed) a true believer with great appreciation for the stuff.

I wasn't expecting much either, perhaps because Auchentoshan is a Lowland whisky which I tend to associate with "pleasant" but "bland." I know that I shouldn't make that broad generalization but I do. But mid-way through my second pour I began to really appreciate the subtle charms of Auchentoshan and was able to tease out some wonderful flavors that sold me on the whisky. It's kind of like my experience with Bunnahabhain in that I first thought it was the blandest of Islays but soon began to appreciate what a truly fine dram it really is after I put my preconceptions to rest.

[JamesW]

Last night I had a nice pour from the standard Black Bottle NAS (~5yrs old) before hitting the single malts. I've always like the BB, and last night it was superb. For about $20 in the US, you really can't beat it for value. While being quite young, it has very pleasant smoke and peat, is slightly sweet mid-palate which then turns into a slightly dry-ashen finish that lingers nicely.

If you like the Islays as much as I do, this is a must-have everyday pour. To stretch your premium dollars a bit further, I also suggest adding a splash of the Laphroaig QC. This really adds some nice complexity.

[unclebunk]

Last night I had a nice pour from the standard Black Bottle NAS (~5yrs old) before hitting the single malts. I've always like the BB, and last night it was superb. For about $20 in the US, you really can't beat it for value. While being quite young, it has very pleasant smoke and peat, is slightly sweet mid-palate which then turns into a slightly dry-ashen finish that lingers nicely.

If you like the Islays as much as I do, this is a must-have everyday pour. To stretch your premium dollars a bit further, I also suggest adding a splash of the Laphroaig QC. This really adds some nice complexity.

I've done that a lot, James, and it's mighty fine. But now you've got me thinking about Laphroaig QC. I might light a fire, pour some LQC and watch the snow continue to fall. What better way to spend a cold winter night!

[JamesW]

I've done that a lot, James, and it's mighty fine. But now you've got me thinking about Laphroaig QC. I might light a fire, pour some LQC and watch the snow continue to fall. What better way to spend a cold winter night!

I'm right with you on that. Reaching for the Laph as we speak :grin:

[JamesW]

Added some Ardbeg 10 (which seemed a little dry tonight) and now some Lagavulin 12 CS. This dram is superlative. Wow! Just outstanding.