I’ve interrupted the flow of beer-related posts to this beer blog once before. I have to do so again.

I was at the store today shopping for a get-together we’re having tomorrow. I had rough ideas on a cocktail, so I was picking up ingredients. I also snagged some beer and some wine (Smuttynote Robust Porter [new to Georgia!], Magic Hat Hi.P.A, and Sweetwater Hummer). We have a habit of having too much of everything at these things (food, soft drinks, adult beverages… all in plentiful – perhaps sometimes ridiculous – quantities).

While there, I spent some time drooling in the Scotch aisle. The drool was brought on by a single bottle. And not a cheap one. At least not cheap to me (I’m sort of a Scotch newbie – but a very enthusiastic newbie). The store was asking $86 for a bottle of 16-year-old Lagavulin. That is about mid-range for good single malts – at least at the Georgia World of Beverage (priciest bottle of Scotch there was a 21-year-old Macallan for ~$130).

I very seriously considered throwing it in the cart. My wife would not have been happy. “You have an expensive bottle of Scotch already. You were supposed to get stuff for tomorrow – not for yourself.” She doesn’t actually complain much. She’s wonderful and understanding. But my spending $86 for one bottle of Scotch would not please her.

Come to think of it, I drooled over another bottle of Scotch that was similar in price (a hair less expensive): 10-year-old Ardbeg.

I think I am, at this moment, doubting my decision to forego. I think lustily of those Scotches. My current expensive bottle of Scotch is a cask-strength Laphroaig. From what I’ve read, many place the standard 10-year-old Laphroaig in similar rankings as the Ardbeg and Lagavulin. So maybe I would have been disappointed by them after thoroughly enjoying this cask-strength whiskey. But probably not. If I were to base it just on price I would think that both these whiskeys were nicer since they are both a little pricier. No matter, I lust for them. Perhaps next time I’m at a bar, I’ll try one or both of them. They may be very pricey at a bar ($15 for one drink), but it’s still cheaper than forking over 160+ bucks to try them from my own bar.

By the way, today is also The Session. I’m afraid I’m just not that interested in participating. I have no fizzy, yellow lager in the house (except for Samuel Adams Boston Lager? Probably not what was in mind when the topic was decided). You can read all about the topic here.