So this just arrived today.
Signatory Rare Reserve Cask Strength Collection North Port/Brechin 40 yr.
Single Cask, 1976 Vintage, 50.4 ABV.
And before you go asking me to adopt you or something, just know that I won this in a Master of Malt competition, and could never afford to actually buy something like this. In any case, looking forward to opening it this evening 😄
Signatory Rare Reserve Cask Strength Collection North Port/Brechin 40 yr.
Single Cask, 1976 Vintage, 50.4 ABV.
And before you go asking me to adopt you or something, just know that I won this in a Master of Malt competition, and could never afford to actually buy something like this. In any case, looking forward to opening it this evening 😄
They say that knowledge is a lifelong pursuit, and I’m doing my part 😝
In addition to a good variety of “research” at the counter, picked up some lab equipment for continued research at home. A good day 🥃 😋
Love doing side-by-side tastings, so had to bring out the Glendronach 15 yr to compare to the 21 yr I just bought. I think you can tell in the photo that the 21 is noticeably darker. As expected the 21 is very clearly family with the 15, but just better across the board, with more depth, noticeably better integration and a real “oh, this is why you pay more” luxury feel. Worth all the extra money? Not sure. But glad I have them both 🥃 😋
Light changed before I could get close enough for better shots :(
So got these two bottles I’ve been wanting for some time to finish out my whisky-themed Golden Week holidays. Think my liver’s gonna need a holiday now, but it was a fun way to enjoy the days off during Golden Week.
Just wish this sub allowed videos cuz the way that Glendronach box rotates open is quite slick.
So yeah our Golden Week holiday this year has essentially become Whisky Week. No complaints tho.
Picked up 3 new bottles tonight, all things I had been wanting to try for a while. Looking forward to all of them, but that PPM number on the Octomore is a bit intimidating. I mean I know Octomores always “feel” less peaty than what the PPM numbers suggest, but come on… 189.5 wtf?
During Golden Week they have new fancypants bottles coming in every day, so we had to go back today.
As someone who typically turns up my nose a bit at blended whiskies, I was totally shocked by this Nikka Premium Limited Blend. Probably the best blended whisky I’ve ever had. So many layers and so well integrated. Fantastic whisky.
The other big highlight was the Japan-only 14 yr single Pauillac Cask Octomore—just a perfect combination of cask type and aging to complement that Octomore peatiness. Wow.
Not exactly rare, but I just love MR2s and don’t see them that often. Oh and the “cautiously” is how they parked a mile away from the curb to avoid banging the door on that metal railing lol.
Inspired by u/kiwi8185 ’s post from yesterday (that included a photo of Chichibu 10 which I have been wanting to try), today wifey & I headed back out to the Whisky Tasting Wonderland that is Bic Osakeya in Kichijoji.
The Chichibu 10 was as expected—definitely has that Chichibu character, but the age gives it a rounder, better integrated, nicely matured flavor.
Also tried a Longrow for the first time. Wow that was much better than I expected—Campbeltown just killing it as usual.
First time trying Yoichi 10 and Miyagikyo 10, and they were surprisingly deeper and more complex than their NAS counterparts. Interestingly the 10 yr versions taste more similar to each other than the NAS versions, which are more distinctly different from each other.
Did a 30 yr Sherry lineup: Oloroso, Amontillado & Palo Cortado. Figure I should actually try drinking some Sherry directly instead of only via Sherry-aged whiskies lol. Not as sweet as I expected, salty even, but very rich and flavorful.
Did an Oban Special Edition lineup too. Nice, but I just don’t get too excited by Oban 🤷♂️
Tried 3 little Bourbon samples downstairs—all solid but I think I just like Scotch better. Oh and if any of y’all are looking for a 20 yr Eagle Rare, I know a guy 😂 They have some truly unserious bottles down there behind the counter on the 1st floor. Good times 😊