Hats and Drinks - A Match Made in Heaven

[Short Balding Guy]

Good evening. I got home and chilled out in the 40'f (4'c) temps sipping a standard Surley Pilsner. Relaxed and chilled was the result.

Continuing with a "Man with a Dram": After a dinner of miso soup and mushroom flatbread I wished to sip a whisky. Sitting down in a deck chair to enjoy the 95% moon I poured a small dram of Kilchoman Sanaig. The taste of light peat, pepper and fruity sherry taste is enjoyable tonight. I have not sampled the Kilchpman Machir Bay. I watched Whiskey Tribe and Ralphy (87 under new marking system) and purchased this under their advise. I do enjoy this whisky.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[Mm25]

Grass is cut. Enjoying a New Glarus, Wisconsin Belgian Red. Quite tart, but refreshing. Under an Akubra, snowy river.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Good evening. Arriving home this evening I enjoyed a Bauhaus Wonderstuff. The Wonderstuff is a Bohemian-style pilsner. It’s malty and rich, finishes crisp and is enjoyable. Complex in that it has a lemon, pineapple and a sweet wine hints. For a 5.1% ABV pilsner this is very drinkable.

Continuing a Man with a Dram; I followed the light Bauhaus pilsner with a small dram of Glen Rothes Makers Mark. This is a dry sherry cask aged whisky. This does not have an age statement. I picked this up a couple of years ago in order to compare it to a Arbolour A'Bundh. This whiskey is 48%ABV. The first sips highlight the dry sherry and as I finish the small dram it leaves a honey with dry spice tastes. This is a terrific dry sherry whisky when you do not wish for a lot of complexity of tastes. I have had a couple of other Glen Rothes and this bottle retains the distillers flavor profile that I have in my notes. I believe that a Glenronach 12 would be a cheaper alternative to this whisky which has risen in price in my neighborhood.

I enjoyed sipping the Glen Rothes Makers Mark.

The best whisky is the one you like.

Cheers, Eric -

​

 

[Mm25]

Afternoon wine in the courtyard of a local winery.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Tequila Thursday at home with a new bottle of Mi Campo Reposado.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

New to the market, Silverbelly Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey.

“Silverbelly – the color of his iconic cowboy hat – a premium spirit distilled exclusively for and hand-selected by Alan Jackson.”

 

[RickP]

Dealt with the city public works on a sewer backup all morning ( OUTSIDE this time fortunately) . Man ya gotta love 100 yr old utilities lol

Slowing the afternoon down with a big Rum Punch (Sailor Jerrys of course) and one of my favorite pipes under an Akubra Stockman

 

[The Shoe]

My first ever fur felt - a Christys. Bittersweet memories with this hat, but I still kind of like it. And I really like the Talisker Port Ruighe that it’s paired with.

 

[Blare]

The breakfast of champions

 

[The Shoe]

The breakfast of champions

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I don’t often have a beer for brekkie, but when I do, it’s a stout.

 

[RossRYoung]

Tis’ the season!

 

[The Shoe]

Here’s something a bit different.”Kahlúa” and milk made with a coffee bean and vanilla bean infused vodka. Easy to make, cheaper, and better than the real thing.

Hornskov Western weight to go with it.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Surley Brewing pilsner, a variety of Bubly Sparkling Water were my "jam" the last days.

This afternoon I enjoyed a Surley Supreme while prepping some Lentil/cabbage soup for the upcoming week. Lentils, chickpea, cabbage, onion, carrots, bone stock, curry styled spices, dollop of sour yogurt topped with chopped oven baked chicken. Delicious outcome. I do need to get some greenery and have the yogurt stay on top of the soup to make a more eye appealing presentation. This aft it is delicious and cleared my fridge of a bunch of stuff.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[Blare]

Old Fashioneds

 

[The Shoe]

Crazy days at work recently. Winding down today with an Ardbeg 10.

Fed IV today.

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Tired, sweaty and hot from the warm day at work. A Surley Supreme was a dynamite choice for a cooling walkabout.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[RickP]

Had one last errand today... Threw on an Orvis Chocolate Lab Ball Cap ( Its my Mr Moose Cap). Back home to close out the day with another big Rum Punch. Had my Flu and Pneumonia shots yesterday and my left arm is really sore... Rum helps with the pain mitigation! Better living through Chemistry!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Tomorrow, Halloween, is a business day off for me. Tonight I got home and opened a Surley Supreme (pilsner). After my walkabout enjoying the beer I added a down vest to fight the cooler temps and opened another.

My wife arrived home a while ago and we have been enjoying a Balvenie Double Wood 12. This Speyside whisky is aged in oak ex bourbon and sherry casks. This whiskey is owned by Grant and Sons (also own Glenfidich, Monkey Shoulder). The ABV is 43%. It is probably chill filtered and has color added.

This evening the balanced taste of bourbon and sherry was welcomed. This is not a challenging whiskey to sip. Tonight we agreed that it is a better option than our Macallen 12. Cheaper, in my neighborhood and less sweet. The Balvenie, while low ABV, is smooth, mellow and an easy sip. It finishes, to me, easy and quick. I picked this whiskey early in my whiskey tasting. Guests finished the bottle and I bought another based upon guest preference. Today a Glenlivet 12 or Glenfiddich 12 Amontillado sherry cask would be my overall choice at this age statement in this style.

In my opinion this is a great draw into scotch whiskey. A no surprise dram for a cold evening on the deck.

Finishing our evening, we have been sipping some Bubly sparkling waters as we discuss plans for the next days.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[The Shoe]

Tomorrow, Halloween, is a business day off for me. Tonight I got home and opened a Surley Supreme (pilsner). After my walkabout enjoying the beer I added a down vest to fight the cooler temps and opened another.

My wife arrived home a while ago and we have been enjoying a Balvenie Double Wood 12. This Speyside whisky is aged in oak ex bourbon and sherry casks. This whiskey is owned by Grant and Sons (also own Glenfidich, Monkey Shoulder). The ABV is 43%. It is probably chill filtered and has color added.

This evening the balanced taste of bourbon and sherry was welcomed. This is not a challenging whiskey to sip. Tonight we agreed that it is a better option than our Macallen 12. Cheaper, in my neighborhood and less sweet. The Balvenie, while low ABV, is smooth, mellow and an easy sip. It finishes, to me, easy and quick. I picked this whiskey early in my whiskey tasting. Guests finished the bottle and I bought another based upon guest preference. Today a Glenlivet 12 or Glenfiddich 12 Amontillado sherry cask would be my overall choice at this age statement in this style.

In my opinion this is a great draw into scotch whiskey. A no surprise dram for a cold evening on the deck.

Finishing our evening, we have been sipping some Bubly sparkling waters as we discuss plans for the next days.

Cheers, Eric -

I enjoy the Balvenie, but the price shot up suddenly over here, so while I have an unopened bottle on the shelf, can’t imagine I’ll be getting another. I can get too many tasty Islays (Caol Ila, Port Charlotte, Classic Laddie, Ardbeg 10) significantly cheaper.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I enjoy the Balvenie, but the price shot up suddenly over here, so while I have an unopened bottle on the shelf, can’t imagine I’ll be getting another. I can get too many tasty Islays (Caol Ila, Port Charlotte, Classic Laddie, Ardbeg 10) significantly cheaper.

When it comes to budget I agree with your point about competitive price points but comparing an Islay & a Speyside is apples to oranges. A good Sherry Speyside can be like a Sherry Brandy, but it’s not. When Balvenie 12 was introduced some yrs ago now it was among the highest rated newbies of that yr. Balvenie 12’s all around competition should be another Speyside such as Arbelour 12 Double Cask. Both have taken big price increases in the US since their introduction. I expect another increase (plus the 700 ml bottles) coming soon.

“Money can't buy you happiness, but it's more comfortable to cry in a Lamborghini than in a Kia…”