Christmas Gift Guide 2015

Stockings are hung and lights are a-glow, Christmas shopping has begun and not even a chance of snow!  I promise I wont continue rhyming through this post, but I WILL recommend a couple of my favorite things that may guide your Christmas shopping this year!  Merry Christmas to all!

1. Vans Hi-Tops
2. Barbour Heritage Sweater
3. Lush Dream Cream
4. Finisterre CWS Caelus Parka
5. Rx Gear Jump Ropes
6. Bon Maman Fig Preserves
7. Sony Cybershot
8. Rotring Mechanical Pencil
9. Mortar & Pestle
10. Springbank
11. Stance Christmas Socks
12. The Nordic Cookbook
13. Lancaster Brewing Winter Warmer
14. Vans x Pendleton Slip-Ons

Glenmorangie's Water to Whisky Guide

Check out Glenmorangie's Water to Whisky graphic over on their site.  Definitely one of the best visual guides for Whisky distilling on the web and beautifully done.  So pour yourself some of the original and check it out!

Whisky Flavor Profiles and Data

If there's something nerdy on the internet that involves graphs, plotting, numbers, and animated maps, you bet your bottom dollar I'm a fan.  So when I came across this info graphic on this blog, I had to share with you.  As you may or may not know, last year a squashed my 2013 goal of consuming 100 different kinds of beer.  This year I'm bent on discovering whisky and doing tons of pull ups, you know, to keep things balanced.  I wont bore you with the latter.  Below is the article:

His analysis of the data led to the question: where did the source data come from in the first place? With some crowdsourced sleuthing, Christopher discovered the data comes from the first edition of the book Whisky Classified: Choosing Single Malts by Flavour by David Wishart. The story behind the data is quite interesting, and worth checking out if you're a whisky fan.

It turns out the data file Luba used comes from the first edition of the "Whisky Classified" book, and there were a few typos in the data to boot (for example, Bowmore had a Medicinal ranking of 1, but was actually a 2 in the book.) A commenter "Florin" at the Scotch and Ice Cream blog cleaned up the data and re-ran the analysis, and generated four slightly different clusters: peaty whiskies, ex-sherry whiskies, ex-bourbon / no peat whiskies, and whiskies with some ex-sherry blended in or with some peat. Extending the analysis to five clusters apparently succeeded in "separating the hard-core peated whiskies from the less-peated ones".  - Here

Upgrade Your Christmas Gifts For Under $15

Well, well, here we all are again. Officially one month from now it will be Christmas.  Swirly winds filled with snowflakes, warm fireplaces, good food and cheer, loved ones around us, what else could you possibly want or need?!  Well, for those still searching (or beginning your search) for the perfect gift or stocking-stuffer, look no further! 

"Heap on the wood! - the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still." - Sir Walter Scott

1. Glencairn Scotch Whisky Glass
2. Antler Chew for Dogs
3. Dark Rum Votive
4. Duck Rabbit Milk Stout
5. James Joyce's Ulysses
6. 24 of Hank William's Greatest Hits
7. Chromed Brass Guitar Slide
8. Southern Tier Krampus Helles Lager
9. Bandana in Fishing Lure Print
10. Authentic Wool Boot Socks
11. Vermont Cinnamon Cider Syrup
12. Cocktail Ice Cube Trays
13. Elixr Mexican Santa Theresa
14. BW Film Ilford
15. Dr. Bonner's Peppermint Castille Soap
16. Swedish Morakniv Classic

Gear For Colder Months

Things I have and things on the wishlist for the colder months ahead...

1. Helle Harmoni Knife
2. Dubliners by James Joyce
3. Burt's Bees Hand Salve
4. German Kerosene Lantern
5. Steam Horse Bandana (on Muffin-the-Dog)
6. Hiut Denim Jeans
7. Stanley Thermos
8. Cricket Leather Belt
9. Heritage Redwings
10. Springbank Whisky