What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using
©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

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Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Loch Lomond Original 40% APV


I bought this unknown (to me - but not to the single malt crowd) single malt on a whim, liking the name, liking the price - about $25 U.S. maybe a little less - and always looking for a good tasting bargain.  My rule of thumb is that there are no bad single malts but in general I have found cheap price usually gives a lower level of satisfaction.  However I have found exceptions from time to time.  This is on the verge of being one of them, though for my taste it was somewhat too mild, too bland and not enough  finish.  But still strangely appealing - and many reviewers use basically the same description - oddly different, oddly flavoured, etc. - what I call a great 'Flask' single malt.  Even though many reviewers used the words 'sweet' etc I did not find that at all.  Most of all I was interested in trying to make the finish longer.  After several - 3 or 4 - sippings over a week or so I decided to add about a quarter teaspoon of honey,  eight or so drops of lemon juice, and about 15% by volume of Laphroaig to the remaining 750 ml.   The result - for my taste - was great, being my tipple of the month with the finish delightfully long, the overtones of peat that some reviewers touted was now truly in place and the overall delight in nuanced flavours was superb .  Since I found a great buy on Laphroaig some months ago my total dollar into my semi-blended malt is less than $30 and really is on my list of repeat buys on the Loch Lomond Original Single Malt - score out of bottle about 73 and score with a bit of touch up about 78 to 82.  Great bang for my buck.

July 2013


June 2013 - norvellhimself playing around with photographs