Over the New Year's holiday, we had some friends over for my annual meat fest before my three months of the veggie life. The wife made a variation on the traditional Bo 7 Mon (7 courses of beef) which was quite good. To ring in the New Year, I bought a bottle of Suntory 18 Year Single Malt Whisky. I've had the 12 Year before and it was pretty good as a change of pace to Oban and Glenmorangie. After having the 18 Year though, I'm ready to make it my new standby. Rich/smoky flavor, extremely smooth, no harsh after taste. I usually have one or two glasses during a meal but probably ended up knocking back a few more because of how good it was.

Only issue is price. At the few bars that had it (Ozumo is one), price was about $30 a glass (and well worth it). Bevmo usually sells it for $99 but they were out of stock at the few places I called. I eventually ordered it online from a UK company and price with shipping was about $135. Still, I'll make sure to have at least one bottle in the house at all times.

Having a chill dinner with the wife at Cesar in Berkeley. Sipping on an Oban - my favorite every day drinking single malt. Wife's having a gin & tonic. Good tapas here. The jamon plate was superb.