Trav Le Bleu

Just an observation, something I've noticed recently. In movies and TV, you'll get scenes where extremely powerful and affluent people share a glass of whisky... and it'll be something cheap, like Johnny Walker, Teachers or, heaven forbid, Bells. I get why... it's product placement of the brands most likely to pay the most... but it's so unrealistic.

Completely forgot what an amazing debut album this is.

It's extremely likely if you go back 200 years. Even 100-150 years ago large numbers of Irish, Scottish and Chinese. Famously whole communities proudly keep their old country traditions alive. Countries such as USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the whole of the Americas basically... have no business refusing immigration considering the foundations of their current governance.

If you'd told me at the start of the season that by this point we'd be 13 points behind Man City and less than 10 to Spurs and Man Utd, I'd have bitten your hand off!

Fixed

Man City are showing how important confidence is. They've lost their swagger and don't believe they just have to show up anymore. When you're super confident, you don't have to think, you just do and it happens. No way Pep has become a bad manager over night and Man City can still field a team of elite players despite injuries. Confidence has gone. What's that got to do with us? Well that's RVN's starting point, minus the reserve team of elite players. If he can keep us up, that will be quite some achievement.

Well, if money's no object, obvs!

I wouldn't spend that much for a novice. There's many good whiskies you can get for £30-40. Glenmorangie is a fair start, the older the smoother, but even within one distillery brand there can be quite a difference. Unless you live near a whisky shop and are restricted to supermarkets, you might not get much choice. Highland Park (from Orkney) you might get in a supermarket, possibly Glenlivet or The Macallan. Other option are Irish Whiskies. Jamesons' higher end bottles are great and, if you can find it, I highly recommend Teeling! Edit: can't believe I forgot to include Penderyn.

I'm still not certain which way up it flips.

Naughty step for you. But don't worry, having sorted countless parcels for the prison, I can confirm Santa doesn't care if you've been naughty or nice.

Errare humanum est * all my Latin is from Asterix books

If you're insane enough, just about anything can be turned into a weapon.

God?!

And what LCFC don't not never didn't unknow about whisky isn't worth knowing!

100% agree. Our game is on Sunday.

Wilfred Brambell

Isn't Wilfred Brambell dead?

No, the Christmas miracle would be Danny Ward coming in for the rest of the season and keeping a clean sheet every game.

This Could Be Texas - English Teacher Album on repeat in the car.

At work they keep playing... And frankly, it's...

Weirdly, when I pronounce Bells it comes out sounding like p**s.

I'd say germoline.

Because pot kettle black.

Re: mixing (and again, it's all to taste), personally I have a few differing single malts on the go at any time and these are for savouring when I'm relaxing or need to relax, or with friends who'll appreciate them. Then I'll have a bottle of blended (but a decent one, no ditch-water Bells!) for mixing, or a bourbon. I'll often drink bourbon neat though, especially the better stuff (try Four Roses ) As far as mixing goes, a Rusty Nail (whisky/Drambuie) or Godfather (whisky/amaretto) is as nice a drink as there is, but don't waste expensive stuff on it.

All to taste, but as a rule - and this is true of any drink - cooling a drink will lessen the intensity of the flavour. Adding room temperature water does the opposite and brings out aromas and flavours, but again, it's all to taste - experiment. With something like a 60%, adding a few drops will have the effect of making it between 40-50%. Depending on how much you put whisky you put in of course ! Single malt whiskies in general seem to be getting stronger. Used to be anything above 40% was fairly rare, but 43-46% is fairly common now.