Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Happy New Year!

This year Santa once again spoiled one of us with a lovely bottle of Scotch - this time it is the Bowmore Darkest 15 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch (available at your local LCBO).

Dark, as advertised, with aromas of caramel, orange, raisins, sherry, and smoke. Very smooth on the palate with flavours of butter, chocolate, raisins, and oranges.

Charlevoix "Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus" Triple

9% alcohol, 70 IBU

Hazy blond with aromas of lemon, bread, orange, and banana. The taste is quite smooth and blends the lemon and bread. Nice clean finish.

Le Trou du Diable "Grivoise de Noël" Strong Belgian Ale

7.5% alcohol

Dark amber with a small beige head and very Christmas-y aromas of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, yeast, and caramel, as well as a very light touch of bubble gum. The taste is crisp and has a nice spiciness to it with flavours of cinnamon and ginger.

Merry Christmas to me.

Acquired as a gift from a friend, but available in stores in Quebec.

Flying Monkeys "Chocolate Manifesto" Imperial Stout

Wow. If you like dark chocolate, this is the beer for you.  Opaque dark brown with a small medium brown head. The aromas are amazing. Dark, rich chocolate liqueur and chocolate milk, with just a hint of coffee beans. Just a touch sweet in the mouth, rich and smooth, with flavours mirroring the aromas plus just a touch of charcoal right at the end, giving it a surprisingly clean finish.

It would be hard to do a milk stout better than this. Buy a couple if you come across them as this should age quite nicely.


10% alcohol.
$12.95 at LCBO

Pisano Cisplatino Pequeña Reserva Tannat Merlot 2012

Deep purple with loads of smokey blackberry, plum, blueberry, as well as a touch of earthiness and mint. The taste is big and well structured thanks to the Tannat, and has flavours of blackberry, plum, and cherry. Great value in this wine. Pair it with rare red meats or hard cheeses.

We need to see both more Tannat wines, and more from Uruguay.

$15.95 @ LCBO

Pouch Envy - Advent Calendar Day 24

It's the final day of this year's beer advent calendar!

Today's beer is from Refined Fool Brewing. It's their "Pouch Envy" Australian Pale Ale

5% alcohol, 20 IBU

Hazy pale yellow amber, and very lively with a big light head. The aromas are lemon, orange rind, oats, and tropical  fruits. The taste is smooth  and crisp, with the lemon and tropical fruit coming to the foreground. Clean finish.

Stinger - Advent Calendar Day 23

Trafalgar Ales "Stinger" Dry-Hopped IPA

7% alcohol, 78 IBU

A clear, very solid amber with a firm off-white head and subtle aromas, including orange, funky mango, and a touch of pine and oatmeal. Very smooth and rounded in the mouth with some caramel and toffee coming through as well as a touch of copper-iness. Despite the roundness, it is quite carbonated and comes off like a good quality ginger-ale.