Holiday Round Up

It's amazing how much writing can pile up in a short time. Even more amazing is how much a little cut can affect one's ability to write. So this will be my attempt to catch up on everything that has happened in the last few days.

Chanukah brought The Box two wonderful whiskeys -- Suntory Hibiki 17 and Forty Creek John K. Hall Small Batch Reserve. Both required much intervention to get here. Both of these whiskeys do their countries proud. John Hall is a true artist who's work is magnificent and looks to have an amazing future for us all to look forward to. Suntory doesn't export Hibiki at all. My guess is that they're either selfishly saving the best for themselves,
 or keeping Hibiki on the island to drive tourism. Whatever their answer may be, Hibiki is one of my new favorites and holds a special place in the Box's Royal Court.

Christmas brought us The Laphroaig 15, Old Potrero Hotaling's Whiskey, and Connemara. All tree of these are distinctive in flavor. The Hotaling's has an aggressive complexity of flavors including a strong botanical note that's rreminiscent of Junipero Gin. Both the Connemara and the Laphroaig have a strong essence of the ocean that is probably from the peat used to halt the malting process. More details on these whiskeys will come as we get their tasting notes posted.

As I mentioned in the open, I cut myself. I've got three stitches on my left index finger, right at the knuckle. The mobility is nearly back, typing is bearable, but Guitar Hero is still a painful prospect.

The shot glasses for our next tasting event are in. These will be available for sale on this site shortly. I'm very pleased with the results and with the timing of their arrival. We were told that there was no way that they would be ready for Christmas, but on the morning of the 24^th, we found them on our front porch.

I've also been working on our "got hooch" shirts. Those should be ready for the new year on either fluther or cafepress.

Last and certainly not least of my updates surround the CADHC fund raiser. We've gotten great support from almost everyone we've talked to. Skyy has pledged to donate Suntory, Tullamore Dew, Glenrothes, Bowmore, Achentoshan and Glen Garioch. Diageo has promised Crown Royal, Bulleit, George Dickel and hopefully Bushmills and Johnny Walker. As we get the donations here, they will all be cataloged in the whiskey list on the event page.

That sums up all of the happenings here. I've got a link round-up of other stories to add later.

Happy Holidays!