End of a long work day. Already had a headache from staring at a goddamn screen all day. It knew it was ill-advised, but I poured a dram of Glendronach 12 as my “unwind at the end of the day” scotch. The second I whiffed it, the sweetness literally sent a stabbing pain through my eye. Don’t speculate about medical conditions, I’m just saying that saccharine shit made my headache worse. I needed something dark and smooth like Quincy Jones, something higher proof, definitely not sweet. Something peppery and savory, oily and nutty. I knew what my head needed and it was this. Coarse ground peppercorns on the nose, a full mouthfeel and a punch of alcohol that’s somehow mellow and even-tempered. The finish was long and relaxing. It delivered everything I needed to prepare me to listen to my wife complain about the kids with an amused smile and to treat the little dickens with indulgence and a gentle hand.