We’re back home in Minnesota after a couple of weeks on the East Coast, and gearing up for the start of the busy season at work. Life on the blog will continue as normal. I have a lot of food reports yet to come from DC and New York—those will probably spill over into October. Alas, I did not have the opportunity in either city to visit any whisky bars, so no reports on anything like that: we were too tired every evening after full days of museums etc. We walked an average of five miles a day on the trip (the boys slept very well each night and so did we). I will, however, have the usual complement of spirits reviews: three per week, mostly whisky, some brandy. The long list of potential reviews is below, as per usual. Take a look and if anything catches your eye please nominate it to the shortlist. I was hoping to get to the new Laphroaig Cairdeas in August but didn’t have time to look for a bottle. I still don’t have my hands on one but expect to rectify that shortly. So that will be coming for sure(ish). Everything else is up for grabs.

1. Balblair Handfilled, June 2018
2. Ben Nevis 14, 1998 (Exclusive Casks)
3. Benriach 12, Heredotus Fumosus, PX Sherry Finish
4. Benriach 18, 1998, PX Sherry Finish
5. Bowmore 10, 1999, Bourbon/Syrah (Murray McDavid)
6. Bowmore 11, 1995, Bourbon/Viognier (Murray McDavid)
7. Bowmore 16, 1996 (SMWS)
8. Bunnahabhain 11, 2004, Feis Ile 2015
9. Caperdonich 36, 1972 (Lonach)
10. Copper & Kings, Butchertown Brandy
11. Fitte et Latterade “Domaine Le Chaou” 31, 1987 (Armagnac)
12. Fitte et Latterade “Domaine Le Chaou” 30, 1988 (Armagnac)
13. Glen Moray 14, 2004 (Old Malt Cask 20th Anniversary Release)
14. Glen Ord 15, 1996 (Liquid Sun)
15. Glen Ord 15, 1997 (Liquid Sun)
16. Glendronach 19, 1993, PX Butt 26
17. Laphroaig 9, 2001 (SMWS 29.88)
18. Laphroaig Cairdeas, 2019, Triple Wood CS
19. Lheraud Bons Bois 1976 (Cognac)
20. Lheraud Borderies 1975 (Cognac)
21. Lheraud Grande Champagne 1976 (Cognac)
22. Linkwood 20, 1991 (Berry Bros. & Rudd)
23. Longmorn 17, 1996 (Van Wees)
24. Longmorn 36, 1976 (Malts of Scotland)
25. Milburn 25, 1975, Rare Malts
26. Pellehaut 17, 2000 (Armagnac)

And stop me if you’ve heard this one before but that long-threatened/promised review of Indian-(ish) is coming for sure this month!