Köstritzer Schwarzbier (black lager)

Damned good.

Ever clear cut with water. I realized I don't drink for the taste....

A friend gave me this stein for Christmas.
Couldn't think of a more appropriate brew to christen it with !

Nice stein!

Jameson IPA Caskmate, Great Divide Barrel Aged Hibernation Ale, Lagunitas Litle Sumpin' Ale.

I've got to say: I've become increasingly fond of this New Holland American White Oak Beer Barrel Rye. When I'm in the mood for a whiskey, lately, I more often reach for this New Holland spirit than any of the others I have on hand.

Tonight will be Knob Creek bourbon.

Taylor Fladgate 10 yo tawny port. So good! A few comments about other 10 yo tawny ports in recent memory:

Dow's – a close second to the Taylor Fladgate. If my store is out of the Taylor Fladgate, I buy the Dow's.

Fonseca – a distant third. Too sweet, a bit short on character.

Well, finishing up the night with Samichlaus, it is from last year. I need to get some more. Very tasty!

Merry Christmas!



ARman

I LOVE YOU BOURBON

I love you too Handicorn

Boulevard Snow & Tell (meh), St Bernardus Christmas Ale, Robert Burns Single Malt.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year Bourbon, neat of course.

quote:

Originally posted by mr kablammo:
Silly Scotch Ale aged in scotch barrels, Arran Robert Burns Single Malt (NAS), High West Double Rye. Thankfully I had Duck & Fennel sausages, mashed potatoes and rutabegas, and dilled herring for dinner. Otherwise I would be reeking of alcohol!

I say this in a tone of humor;
I hope you live alone after that combo because what you reek nobody should be a part of !!!

Some Dry Fly Distillery Port Barrel Aged Bourbon. A375 bottle protected by some fresh 357 goodness in the form of my new GP100 2 1/2" 7 round bit of Freedom.

My big kid got me a bottle of Lagavulin

mmmm- it's a (cough) little peaty (cough cough)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC,

First of all - Happy New Year everyone!





Did a little side by side taste testing after a brief discussion about MaCallan 12 vs 18. MaCallan 12 has always been one of my favorites (always being since I started my Scotch and other Whisky endeavors last spring). I'd purchased an 18 with high expectations and while it was very good, I was underwhelmed considering the price point. This is the first time I've tried them side by side though. Because I'd been planning on cracking a Balvenie 17 Doublewood tonight I thought I'd throw that in the mix. Now I don't have the gift of expressing what's going on with my palette and I don't think that's a prerequisite for enjoying whisky. I had some 2 year aged Gouda and some ice water to cleanse.

The first thing I noticed which comes through in the pictures even was how much darker the younger 12 was than both of the others.

I started with the 12. Nosing - strong Carmel and toffee and a bit of vanilla. Absolutely wonderful. Tasting was also full of buttery caramel and toffee, changing flavors pleasantly through the long lasting finish. So very smooth and pleasant.

The 18 nosing was less caramel, more fruity. Tasting was certainly brighter, almost like a white wine influence which is probably the extra 6 years in the sherry cask. I would have expected a deeper, richer taste being aged longer. Like the 12, the 18 was complex in its transition to a wonderful finish.

I was anxious to get to the Balvenie as I'm a huge fan of the Balvenie 12 Doublewood. Nosing - surprisingly mild and subtle. I really had to get in there to get hints of caramel and vanilla. Tasting - maybe the smoothest of the bunch but certainly the least complex. Very tasty but certainly not as much of a sherry Bomb as the other two. Rightfully so considering it is only finished in sherry casks as opposed to the two MaCallans. All 3 are excellent Speyside single malts, which happens to be my favorite region.

Which one is the winner? ME! Honestly though, lucky for my pocket book, I think the Macallan 12 is my preferred dram.

I'm on a rye kick for the New Year so it'll be Masterson Rye

Glass of red wine, Sirius 40's Channel on, just mellowing out. Debating on a slice of cold pizza.

Asbach 3 Yr brandy, Robert Burns Single Malt (nicely smoothed out at the bottom 3rd portion of the bottle), Squatter's Hop Rising, Sazerac Rye, Einbecker Mai-Ur-Bock. All evened out with goulash and kasha for dinner.

Tonight, Old Granddad 114. It's pretty good, especially for the price.


ARman