What a delightful review and interesting in comparison to Ralfy's own take and scoring on JW Blue Label. 

Be wary of the latest releases of Port Ellen though, they're not as good as the one's from a few years back and the prices have gone through the roof. Likely all the good casks that remain are already gone. The best bottle of whisky I ever had was Port Ellen one from around 10 years ago now, cost €120 and was well worth it. I drank 3/4 of a bottle and got up and went soundly to work the next morning. It was the missing link between the Islay malts and Speysides. Magnificent! Next one I bought was around 100 Euros more and nowhere near as good. At the wine merchants I go to in Delft, they've broken the €500 mark and some well over a grand now.

Whisky's become too much of a collectors game now. A bottle of 1937 calvados will cost you €387, a bottle of whisky from the same period €3,387.00, if not another couple of grand. I've asked my wine merchant who buys all the really ancient and expensive whiskies and he confirms it is collectors and not for drinking. A shame really.

Very interesting discussion.

I totally agree re Duty Free entry level whiskies. And I think the same about Gin - a good G&T requires gin and tonic, of course, but also a chilled glass and some other things. Once mixed with tonic and lime slice I doubt I can taste any nuances of the gin in it.

Different opinion on brandy - for example the cheaper Schladerer cherry/fruit brandy tastes notably "scratchier" in the throat than my #1 favourite Ziegler Wildkirsche No 1.

You can tell the differences between Gins, some differences are quite stark.

Its easy to taste the difference between Tanqueray and Plymouth Gins. Tank is the quintessential London Dry, whereas Plymouth is, quite literally, in class of its own. Both superb.

Some of the 'Boutique' gins are foul...some, interesting. I've recently been enjoying Thomas Dakin Gin (Manchester), which is flavoured with Red Cole (Horseradish) amongst other botanicals and the Horseradish is quite prominent, to my 'educated' palate on the finish.

I've also been partaking of quite a bit of Tequila as of late, I'm quite partial to a 'rita or four...

So - my Cordo friends will have to take a break for Summertime.

just too hot

Your mother rocks.

Asbach is for old people.

In summer, my #1 drink is Grüner Veltliner.

A rainy day. A walk into city centre, rolling solo, FT weekend and sushi and Diet Pepsi, a blast with the sports car, some silence.

C&Js, N. Peal jumper, Hackett jacket, old comfortavle PRL chino, a PP back from Geneva's service.  I am so grateful for being able to enjoy great stuff made ny knowledgable people.

And many great things great minds have created are either to be enjoyed for free, or almost free. Think of music, literature, arts.

And the nameless cobbler who has built all my C&Js - what a great guy.

Pepsi and Coca Cola are indeed great products, made by knowledgeable people, but only a few know the exact ingredients. Bill Bryson strikes me as warm real ale fan, looks the type.

I don't touch the diet stuff myself, too much sorbitol sends my stomach into irritable bowel territory.

501s are crap compared to what they used to be, which is what made them iconic. The LVC repros are pretty good though, albeit way too expensive for my tastes. Coke and Pepsi are poison imo but whatever floats your boat. Marlboro Lights are 'nice' if you smoke and don't want to give up I suppose, to non-smokers and plenty of smokers who would rather not be smokers, they are revolting.

C&J shoes are often superb though!

indeed. craft coke, anyone?