It’s hard to believe that we’re approaching the end of 2021. Here in southern Minnesota that’s partly because it doesn’t feel like it’s October yet. Yes, colours are beginning to change on trees and bushes but it’s still pretty warm out by our standards—this past week saw a couple of days with maximums in the 80s and we seem to have maximums in the 70s to look forward to for at least the next 10 days. As for the pandemic it’s hard to know where we are for sure. On the one hand, it’s clear that the vaccines are very protective against both infection and serious complications in case of breakthrough infection; on the other, cases are once again rising in our county. And so even though three of the four of us are fully vaccinated we are going to continue to be quite cautious until the fourth is as well. There was some hope that might be a possibility before Halloween but now we’re hoping it’ll happen before Thanksgiving. Until then meal reports will continue to be a mix of outdoor dining at restaurants and pandemic takeout reports. Whisky drinking and reviewing will not be affected, of course, by the weather. Though my consumption is lower than ever, I’m still good for three reviews a week.
What those reviews will be of is, as always, something you can help decide. If anything from the long list of potential reviews catches your eye please nominate it to the shortlist in the comments. On the food front: in addition to meal reports on Tuesdays I’ll have the usual weekly recipe on Thursdays. I’ll post a poll tomorrow of the candidate recipes.
- Aberlour 25, 1995 (Old Particular for K&L)
- Ardmore 23, 1997 (SMWS 66.197)
- Benromach Cask Strength, Batch 04
- Blair Athol 12, 2009 (Sovereign for K&L)
- Caol Ila 11, 2008 (53.345)
- Dalmore 18, 2001 (Cadenhead)
- Glen Scotia 11, 2008 (SMWS 93.138)
- Glen Scotia 17, 2002 (SMWS 93.140)
- Inchgower 22, 1998 (Sovereign for K&L)
- Kilkerran Work in Progress 5, Bourbon Cask
- Kilkerran Work in Progress 5, Sherry Cask
- Laphroaig 18, 1998 (SMWS 29.218)
- Linkwood 9, 2010 (Old Particular for K&L)
- Littlemill 22, 1989 (Glen Fahrn)
- Longrow 18, 2014 Release
- Macallan 12, 2008 (SMWS 24.149)
- Macallan 12, 2008 (SMWS 24.151)
- Macallan 12, 2008 (SMWS 24.152)
- Old Pulteney 15, 1982, Cask 1300
- Orkney Distillery 17, 2003 (OMC for K&L)
- Talisker Distillers Edition 2015
- Talisker 18, 2004 Release
- Talisker 20, 1982
- Tamdhu 20, 2000 (OMC for K&L)
My Annoying Opinions 
My votes are for #1 (Aberlour 25) and #5 (Caol Ila 11)…
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I really need to finish up the reviews of last year’s K&L casks before starting on this year’s (some of which are in this list). So odds of the Aberlour at least being reviewed are good.
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Kilkerran is a new distillery to me; those would be interesting reads. And a week of Macallan would not be unwelcome, either.
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I should have noted that the Macallans are not in hand yet. But I am hopeful that the friend who offered me samples from his SMWS order will have his bottles well before the end of the month. It’s an interesting trio: all the same age but from different cask types.
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