The first half of October was fairly warm around these parts but we’re now a few frosts into a chilly fall; and winter is clearly on its way. Now that we have a working fireplace again there’ll be a fair bit of whisky consumed in front of a fire—though not the ones being tasted for review (those will be consumed far away from any nose-cancelling aromas). Alas, the cold weather is less compatible with eating out. In October we ate dinner on a few heated patios and lunch in the sun on another. I’m not sure how much more of that we’ll be able to do before the real cold gets here. On the other hand, odds seem good that our younger boy will finally have received both his Covid shots by the end of the month and so if numbers in Minnesota continue to get better we will probably start eating inside restaurants again in December. That’s the current hopeful thinking anyway. In the meantime, if you are in the Twin Cities metro please hit me with recommendations of places that do still have heated outdoor heating for November.

Reviews of wherever we eat out—or get takeout from—will continue to be posted on Tuesdays. Thursdays will see recipes as usual. You may have already seen the poll from this past weekend to select the four recipes for the month. It’ll be closed mid-morning on Monday so if you haven’t voted, take a look here.

Here now is the usual long list of potential reviews. I’d planned to review the Macallans last month and didn’t get around to it so those are already on the books for November. The other nine slots are up for grabs. As always, please feel free to nominate to the shortlist any you’re particularly interested in.

1. Ardmore 12, 2006 (SMWS 66.140)
2. Ben Nevis 20, 1997, King of the Hills (Old Particular)
3. Caol Ila 10, 2008 (SMWS 53.305)
4. Glen Scotia 11, 2008 (SMWS 93.138)
5. Kilchoman 9, Bourbon Influenced Batch
6. Kilchoman 10th Anniversary Release
7. Lagavulin 11, Offerman Edition Guinness Finish
8. Laphroaig 18, 1998 (SMWS 29.218)
9. Littlemill 22, 1989 (Glen Fahrn)
10. Longmorn-Glenlivet 1971-2004 (Scott’s Selection)
11. Longrow 18, 2014 Release
12. Macallan 12, 2008 (SMWS 24.149)
13. Macallan 12, 2008 (SMWS 24.151)
14. Macallan 12, 2008 (SMWS 24.152)
15. Oban 18, 2020 Release
16. Old Pulteney 15, 1982
17. Orkney Distillery 17, 2003 (OMC for K&L)
18. Orkney Distillery 21, 1999 (ImpEx Collection)
19. Plausibly Speyside’s Finest/Glenfarclas 28, 1992 (OMC for K&L)
20. Possibly Speyside’s Finest/Glenfarclas 28, 1992 (Sovereign for K&L)
21. Talisker Distillers Edition 2015
22. Talisker 18, 2004 Release
23. Talisker 20, 1982
24. Tamdhu 20, 2000 (OMC for K&L)