@ContemplativeFox thanks so much, but I’m increasingly finding that my desire for recording tasting notes has taken a backseat to the people and places in which I’m enjoying my whisky. We’ve spent much of the past year exploring an empty Yosemite Valley, and most of my whisky has been nipped from a flask under the stars. Regardless of the drink, for some weird reason, I keep giving them all 5 stars ;)

@cascode Yes, that find really turned out to be an incredible find, given that both bottles ended up being wonderful! The ‘89 Balblair was the 2nd release (bottled in 2010). I actually managed to find quite a bit of vintage Balblair on discount. I think American retailers were generally confused by the vintage system, as they were all significantly underpriced compared to the standard age statement versions!

@fomo Whoa! Congrats on that find! Looking forward to reading your tastings :)

@fomo Mate! That’s the find of the century! Which release of the Balblair 89? I still have a couple of bottles of vintage release, including an 89 2nd, which I’m guarding.

@cascode thank you, it really was an incredible find. I had to do a double take when I saw a few dusty bottles sitting on the bottom shelf of the most unlikely (and unsavory) corner store. Even more incredible, the store was trying to clear out several bottles of ‘89 Balblair (21yr old), and the owner agreed to sell a lot of 5 bottles (2 OP21 and 3 Balblair ‘89) for $400, including tax. That’s a lot of money, to be sure, but the value seemed incredible. It’s also why I refuse to pay secondary prices, as the hunt can be such a satisfying part of the experience.

@fomo congrats on finding it! Bottles are rare now, even on the secondaries. Everyone is hoarding.

@cascode many thanks for the recommendation, I will certainly add it to the list! Your review of Old Pulteney 21 kicked off quite the hunt for me, and resulted in another one of my absolute favorite drams for the year.

@fomo Yep, the 15 and Victoriana remain the high-points of the core Glen Scotia range for me. If you ever get a chance try a pour of a cask-strength single cask Glen Scotia don't pass it up. They sell both peated and unpeated spirit to just about all the independent bottlers.

Thganks Fomo. I will look for it.

I highly recommend the 15 year, which has become one of my favorite regularly available single malts.