Aside from an assortment of "that's my favorite Scotch" depending on what night it is. This is my all time favorite. Made of unobtanium. Released once and it's gone forever. Now that's Rare.

Last it was listed, was $128 a bottle, strict limit two to a customer. I was in IL visiting and wanted two bottles from a store. Manager said, one per customer. I said, fine. One for me and my girlfriend wants to buy one. He got it, I got two bottles.

Made in 2011 and I still have some left. In fact I think I still have five bottles left. Seems that making the rounds in Northern IL, I found three places that would allow me to buy two bottles of Ardbeg Alligator - so I ran up my American Express. Just figure, by the time I got back to Wisconsin, I had rung up over $$$ in Scotch.

Skipped last years release, it was $100 a bottle. Other years I stuck to the Max. which was two bottles.

The local store got six. Three people waited in line, each of us got two of the Limited Edition “Auriverdes”, I wasn't impressed enough for a road trip for the Scotch cellar. Ardbeg Galileo was the 2012 special release, which I did manage to find four bottles. Two in Wisconsin, two in Illinois.

Recently I've found my long time old favorite Rye has become, hip and in? Which is fine with me. Added to the Whisky collection, a few of these small batch like Bulleit and Knob Creek, top favorites for now. When I was bartending in the 80-90s people knew I was partial to Rye Whiskey. (with the "e" in the US, without in Scotland) There were roughly three brands on the market. Now there's a whole section.

Is this good or what? Same goes for the popularity of Single Malt Scotch, some makers I couldn't buy in the USA in the 80s. Now they are in the better large stores, everywhere. And the limited releases have become a recent way for distilleries to boost special sales. I just don't have the finances or taste for all of them.

When they start at $100 a bottle and up, no thanks.

Sippin' and Grinnin'