September was a busy but unusual month on the blog. A lot of readers but not seemingly always reading what people mostly seem to come here to read. The most read post, you see, was an entry from my food poetry series that petered out in the spring; “At the Lahore Karhai“. Usually, my posts about anything literary compete with my jam recipes and reviews of Japanese whiskies for the fewest possible readers. But it turns out this post on the Imtiaz Dharker poem has picked up a lot of views since the summer. Why this should be so, I don’t know. I should be happy, of course: I like the poem a lot and if my post is getting more people into reading Dharker, then great. The literature professor part of me worries though that the post may perhaps be being used as a crib by students somewhere. Is this poem often assigned at school in the UK? It wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the case. At any rate, if you are one of the people who has been reading my thoughts on that poem do write in in the comments on that post.

Also picking up a lot of views in September, many months after it was posted, was my review of Sakura, a Japanese restaurant in St. Paul, the site of my last dine-in meal before the pandemic shutdowns happened. A sign perhaps that more and more of my local readers are going back to restaurants. This was the 5th most read post of the month. Elsewhere in the top 10, two recipes (Spicy Tomato Chutney at #2 and Keema with Potatoes and Peppers at #6); four pandemic takeout reviews (Pho Valley at #3, Godavari at #4, Grand Szechuan at #7 and iPho at #8 despite only having been posted two days ago). The only whisky review to make it in was, unsurprisingly, the 2020 Laphroaig Cairdeas at #9. Rounding out the top 10 was my post on 1950s Bombay cinema. I whined a little on Twitter a few days ago about the seeming lack of interest among my readers in the Bombay cinema series; but this makes me realize that I’m being too needy: the lack of comments doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of interest. I will try my best not to let this series peter out as all my announced series on things other than booze and food usually do.

On to the usual list of potential booze reviews for the coming month. A slightly shorter list than usual so I can look like I am reviewing more of what I promise. As always, please make nominations to the shortlist in the comments.

1. Allt-A-Bhainne 7, 2011 (SMWS)
2. Ambassador 25 yo, Blend
3. Ardbeg 12, 1998 (Chieftain’s)
4. Auchroisk 22, 1990 (Whisky Fässle)
5. Balvenie 15 SB, Cask 1708
6. Ben Nevis 22, 1991 (Signatory)
7. Ben Nevis 24, 1991 (Signatory)
8. Ben Nevis 26, 1991 (Signatory)
9. Bladnoch 11, 2001, Lightly Peated, Sherry
10. Bowmore 11, Feis Ile 2017
11. Clynelish 24, 1989 (Adelphi)
12. Convalmore 21, 1984 (G&M)
13. Dufftown 9, 1999 (G&M for Binny’s)
14. Glenburgie 14, 1997, Cask Strength Edition
15. Glenburgie 16, 1998 (Chieftain’s)
16. Glenglassaugh 30
17. Labet 2003, Marcs de Jura
18. Ledaig 10, 2005 (Signatory)
19. Ledaig 17, 1998 (AD Rattray)
20. Littlemill 22, 1990 (Berry Bros. & Rudd)
21. Tamdhu 26, 1984 (WWW forum bottling)
22. Teaninich 10, 2008 (SMWS 59.56)
23. Teaninich 10, 2009 (SMWS 59.58)
24. Tomatin 23, 1976 (Old Malt Cask)