When I've been drinking (and it hasn't been very often), it's been wine, so I completely forgot this thread existed.
Picked up a bottle of Lagavulin 16 year... It's very different from all my other stuff. I like it.
That was my go-to staple. Unfortunately, I finished my most recent bottle of it last year (or was it 2 years ago?) and haven't replenished it with like yet. However... I did get a Lagavulin cask strength about 4 or so years ago. Yet to be cracked. Maybe soon?
Has anyone tried the Crown Royal Northern Harvest? Whisky Bible voted it the best whisky of the year. I wasn't overly impressed.
I got one of these for a Christmas present about a year and a half ago. It's the most drinkable rye (straight or on the rocks) that I have ever had. Not something I would see myself running out to buy when it runs out, but at least it's not like someone is feeding me turpentine, like other straight ryes. Which makes me agree with this part of this post:
For a $40 bottle of whisky, it's pretty decent.
Now, about Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban...
Polished off a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. I HIGHLY recommend it. It is reasonably priced (I guess this is subjective but whatever, I think its a bargain for the quality). It's got great complexity, hint of toffee and some sort of spices but yet very easy drinking. I've never gone through a bottle this fast. I LOVED it. Will be kept in my permanent rotation from now on
I got a bottle of this from a Professor as a token of gratitude for the hard work we did in reporting on his research grant. In turn, I made it my "year-end is now complete" celebratory dram. Unfortunately, with the passing of my late father-in-law, I put that on hold for many years. I think I might break into it again this year, the last year that I'm going to be overseeing my current team's year-end reporting. I might even bring it into the office for everyone to share...
...oooh, somehow I sense liability falling onto me if someone decides to drive afterwards. Hmm. Let me mull about that for a bit more.
New additions:
Since the Auchentochshan 3+ years ago, I've killed off the aforementioned Lagavulin 16, a bottle of Jameson, Macallan cask strength, Dalwhinnie 15, and only added a Bowmore 15 "Darkest", and a Aberfeldy 12. I think the Lagavulin cask strength was added before the Auchentochshan. Lots of uncracked bottles sitting there now as I work my way through the opened (and not-yet-dried cork stopper) bottles, privately hoping uncracked bottles won't dry out the corks.
I had the (good? mis?)fortune of trying a Japanese whisky in March. Supposedly was a high-end one, something a good buddy of mine had in his collection, received from another friend of his. Had the refinement of a young-ish whisky. They've got a long way to go to try to reach the same level of standard as single malts, for better or for worse.
That's all for now. Until then, may your drams be neat, and your palates be full.
