Tar balls and a Presidential fly over in Air Force One

Week two and Jill is making slow but steady progress. Less pain, less numbness, and more range of motion. Which reminds me of the answer one of my favorite old patients used to say every time I asked him about his wife. "Oh, she's as ornery as ever!" I'm celebrating with a 1.153, Bowmore (Islay) with a distinctive sea salt taste of brine and an undercurrent of petroleum products. Come to think of it , most of my Islay's have a strong petroleum taste, almost as if someone sprinkled tar balls into my pristine whisky. I'm going to ask President Obama for a fly over in Air Force One at tax payers expense of course to check out the situation. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy's better half gets the knife as described in a letter to Brother Dave

Dear Dave, At the conclusion of a tough week and the beginning of a new one, I am sitting in the sun room at our house with your sister, my better half, sipping a cask strength 111.7 (Lagavulin, from Islay.). I chose wisely. The whisky expression was harsh, with a strong taste of iodine and antiseptic. It reminded me of the smell of Betadine, a surgical scrub soap swabbed on Jill's neck seconds before the business end of a stainless steel number 15 scalpel blade expertly plunged into her neck stopping a millimeter short of her spinal cord. I personally feel more comfortable in an operating room of a hospital than in most social settings. Especially, ones attended by JAG/kinder garden teacher whom I thought was quite rude in retrospect. Perhaps she saw my written critique of her meatballs. Seriously, who makes Mexican Italian meatballs? In any event, Jill's nerves are healing nicely and she should be 100% in a few weeks. Meanwhile I'll continue to soothe my neves with this fine whisky. Wish you were here. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman.

Community Organizers and historic parallels.

Several years ago an obscure minority became exceedingly facile in his ability as a community organizer. Through the years he rose through his party ranks to become leader of his country. As the leader he radically changed the course of a nation into one of socialism, collectivism and communism. Do you know who I am talking about? Some might say Barak Obama but I am actually referring to Josif Djugashvili, better known as Joseph Stalin! The similarities are uncanny. To settle my nerves I decided to have a very large dram of 22.28 (Glenkinchie) a Lowlands and the President's choice. No not Obama's, Allan Shane's. It pays to be in the President's club of the SMWS. The whisky was smooth, warm, mellow and had a taste of honey. Very easy to drink and enjoy. The perfect dram to calm things down when you get agitated. Let me know if you plan on visiting Michigan this summer. It's getting close to whisky tasting on the shores of Lake Michigan season. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Dentists, anesthesia, an Islay and Tommy remembers loosing his two front teeth.

While I was pondering the Time Square act of terrorism, I enjoyed a large dram of cask strength single malt from the Distillery, Bowmore, an Islay. If you have ever been anesthetized with ether, you will never forget the sickening smell of old rubber and phenol as you drift off into a disturbed sleep. That is exactly what the dram tastes like when cut with a few drops of water. It reminded me of when I was three or four and was administered ether by an old alcoholic dentist with a severe Parkinson's tremor prior to pulling out my two front teeth. It brought back fond memories of being asked mockingly at Christmas time, Tommy will you sing All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth?, until the permanant ones finally grew in several years later. As you know, I am a big fan of the Islays, but I must admit not Dentists, and this was a remarkable whisky. With this most recent act of terrorism I can't help but wonder, are we the American public becoming anesthetized to these assaults on our way of life? I hope not. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Bolshevism, dangerous times and an exquisite Orkney

Well we survived another week of Bolshevik Obama's antics. I'm celebrating with a thirty year old Highland Park from the Orkneys. An earthy peat and smoke filled whisky with a toffee fudge chocolaty surprisingly sweet finish most likely due to the sherry cask. For anyone who doesn't think we are in dangerous times I recommend that they read the epic historical work of Alan Bullock entitled Hitler and Stalin, Parallel Lives. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy, memories, writing, and whisky.

Hi Dave, I just poured three fingers of 3.148, sat down by a fire (it's 10 degrees here) and thoroughly enjoyed the Greece travelogue. Thanks so much for taking the time to put pen to paper and creating a lasting story of our wonderful trip. I really enjoyed reliving our experience. It is quite remarkable what we have done over the last decade. The 3.148 whisky, an Islay, had a nose of damp ashes. The taste was tarry with hints of ammonia and the scent of granny's armpit. I really appreciate what you are doing and plan on binding the finished product for my home tasting room table. Do you find like me that some of your best writing occurs while sipping whisky? Thanks again. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy goes west to the Tetons to taste whisky in a rarefied atmosphere.

Dave, I will be tasting numerous expressions of single malt whisky in Jackson Hole, Wyoming beginning January 16-23, 2010 at the Moose Trail Lodge. I have plenty of room and you and any other of the Californians are more that welcome to join me. The Lodge sleeps 18 and so far I am the only one going. I realize it's early for planning. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman