I have three bottles waiting to be opened. A Jura, which is a common but pleasant tipple, often sold at a discount. An Old Pulteney 12yo, which I've never had before. And another first for me: Aberlour A'bunadh, a whisky bottled at cask-strength (61% in this case), which is something I've never had.
Some people seem to see drinking cask strength as a measure of the hairs on their chest; but others say they are only sold like that for poseurs, and that it should be diluted to the normal 40% for drinking (the bottle says to add a dash of water). Since that involves using local water (or bottled mineral water, I guess) rather than the water at the distillery which is often credited with giving the whisky much of its character, that seems like a net loss to me - but I can't begrudge an otherwise generous gift!
