Well, one of the most consequential weeks in recent US history is upon us. I am guardedly optimistic that this Tuesday will go better than the one four years ago but I am also steeling myself for the worst. The reports of what may be in store if Trump and Co. win another four years are alarming enough but it will all pale, I’m sure, in comparison with what will actually happen if another four years of this shit come to pass. I mean, I thought after the last election that the next four years were going to be bad but I didn’t realize just how bad they’d be. This time I’m a citizen and will be casting my first-ever vote in a governmental election (I never did in India before leaving in my early-20s). I hope the rest of you who are citizens are planning to vote too—if you haven’t already. And I hope all our votes will be counted.

Talking about the month’s potential whisky reviews in the light of all that seems trivial but here’s hoping that taking pleasure in the trivial will not seem utterly compromised by the end of the week. In that hope, here is the usual long list of potential whisky reviews for the month. As always, please write in to the comments if you’d like to nominate anything to the shortlist.

1. Ambassador 25 yo, Blend
2. Ardbeg 12, 1998 (Chieftain’s)
3. Ardmore 12, 2006 (SMWS 66.133)
4. Ben Nevis 20, 1997 (Berry Bros. & Rudd)
5. Ben Nevis 20, 1997 (Exclusive Malts)
6. Ben Nevis 21, 1996 (Whisky Doris)
7. Ben Nevis 22, 1997 (Single Malts of Scotland)
8. Bladnoch 11, 2001, Lightly Peated, Sherry
9. Bowmore 17, 2002 (Blackadder)
10. Bowmore 25, 1994 (Adelphi)
11. Clynelish 24, 1989 (Adelphi)
12. Convalmore 21, 1984 (G&M)
13. Dufftown 9, 1999 (G&M for Binny’s)
14. Glencoe 8, Blended Malt
15. Glenburgie 14, 1997, Cask Strength Edition
16. Glenglassaugh 30
17. Glenrothes 12, 2007 (SMWS 30.109)
18. Glenrothes 12, 2007 (SMWS 30.110)
19. Highland Park 12, 2006, for Spec’s
20. Jameson Irish Whiskey, Bottled Early-Mid 1980s
21. Labet 2003, Marcs de Jura
22. Nantou, Omar, Bourbon Type, 2016 Release
23. Springbank 9, Local Barley
24. Springbank 18, 2016 Release
25. Tamdhu 26, 1984 (WWW forum bottling)
26. Tomatin 23, 1976 (Old Malt Cask)

At the food end of things, I’ll have at least another Indian restaurant review—maybe two—and am also hoping to make it back finally to some Ethiopian favourites in St. Paul. If you’re in the Twin Cities metro and have come across any  new places during the last few months that you’re enthusiastic about please let me know about those as well.