Tommy says, "high tech, schmigh tech," simplify your life.

As I was riding my fifteen year old rock solid steel frame Eros, Bianchi road bike (Bianchi, green.) I was passed by a whirlwind pack of road bikers with their high tech carbon composite frame machines, synthetic one piece suits, aerodynamic helmets, Polar heart monitors and Global Positioning Systems. Further down the road, I passed and elderly man walking in a yellow Polo shirt, Bermuda shorts, canvas sneakers, listening to a 1960's vintage hand held transistor radio via a single earphone with an old dental mirror duck taped to the side frame of his thick glasses so he could see who was rapidly approaching from behind. Oh yeah, he was also wearing the biggest s*** eating grin on his old weathered face! Who is enjoying life more? High tech, schmigh tech. Sometimes the simple things in life are the best. For example, a Scotch single malt whisky distilled the same way for over 1300 years. Tonight, after an high stressed, high anxiety, wired day, unwind with a dram of The Balvenie, 15 year old. Pale gold, with an oak nose, cedar orange and pineapple taste with a peppery finish. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy takes the family on a leisurely sunset cruise in the Big Lake on the "Maaltley Crew."

Another breathtakingly beautiful day, 80 degree water temperature, and clear blue skies. The family and I boarded the "Maaltley Crew" for an anticipated spectacular sunset. While I have absolute respect for Mother Nature and would never take a chance with the family by imbibing while in command of the "Maaltley Crew," I couldn't help but wonder , wouldn't it be heaven on earth off the shore of Grand Heaven to enjoy a Port Ellen single malt as the sun sets into the Great Lake? The Port Ellen I had in mind is one I purchased several years ago, the 1979, 22 year old Limited Edition Numbered Bottles, first release 2001, 56.2 vol., unfortuneately no longer available. The color is green, a grassy, grainy nose, nutty, malty first taste and peaty, salty finish. As Captain of the "Maaltley Crew," I had to make an executive decision before the sunset, "we are going back to port," I commanded. The moans of protest and disappointment heard as we hastily made our way back to the marina with the sun setting to our backs were quickly assuaged with a dram of the Port Ellen once on shore in the dark. We missed the sunset but gained a dram of the Port Ellen. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy's consternation turns to joy.

As I reluctantly reached into the "Honey Do" jar (after all I am on vacation) my feelings of consternation quickly turned to joy as I unfolded the little piece of paper to reveal the following list.

1. Renew membership to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

2. Sign up for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society President's Club enabling me to receive the Preisdent's Choice monthly and a 13th bonus bottle at Christmas.

3. Renew my subscription to the magazine, The Malt Advocate.

4. Renew my subscription to the magazine, Whisky.

5. Mow the grass.

Well, planning my day, I think I can accomplish four of the five chores. After all, I am on vacation.

Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy proposes "Two a Day" and introduces dram number/letter (10A and 10B) on the single malt whisky bucket list.

Often, I have heard professional athletes expound on the virtue and benefits of "Two a Day" as it relates to training sessions in preparation for a grueling season of competition. Why not apply this concept to the cocktail hour and the single malt whisky bucket list? Yes, two cocktail hours a day and two bucket list drams a day. Let's discuss a dram of Bruichladdich 10 year old Islay single malt whisky and a dram of Bunnahabhain 25 year old single malt whisky to complete the bucket list as 10A and 10B respectively. Let's start with the Bruichladdich, number/letter 10A on the single malt whisky bucket list. This Islay with a bright green appearance has a sea air flavor with salt, iodine, and seaweed notes. The grassy sweetness gently fades away into a subtle marine genre. I remember one Christmas day enjoying dram after dram as the kids viciously ripped into their presents. The next thing I remember is waking up the next morning reaching for a dram of Bunnahabhain 25 year old single malt Islay whisky, dram number/letter 10b, that I vaguely recalled my partner dropping off as a Christmas present. This bottle is accompanied by an Alder wood box lined with Hessian and closed with solid brass fittings. It is amber in color with a sherry nose. The first uncut taste is sweet, caramel, and oak. The finish is smokey nuts and malt with lingering oak spices as expected after 25 years soaking up the essence of an oak barrel. "Two a Day," two single malt whisky bucket list drams....double the pleasure. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy ponders the thought process behind the new Macallan's advertising campaign and discusses the Macallan 18 year old single malt. Dram 9.

Why is the Distillery, Macallan's new advertising campaign showing their beautiful elixirs in a whisky tumbler chocked full of ice cubes? Talk about slamming the door shut on the bouquet and flavor! OK maybe some whisky afficiandos enjoy an ice chilled dram once in a while, but seriously, as the temperature plunges so does the quality of the flavor, expoentially!!! I implore you to try a dram of Macallan 18 year old single malt whisky, dram number 9 on the single malt whisky bucket list...NEAT. This whisky is matured exclusively in selected sherry oak casks from Jerez, Spain. It has a rich dark brown sugar cane color that you would expect having been aged in a sherry cask but not the dark red mahogany of an old Ben Nevis. The uncut taste is dominated by dried fruits, spices, and a trace of chocolate with a background of northern spring feed mountain pure water. The finish is smooth and mellow and lends itself to total relaxation. So slam the door on your girlfriend, you wife, your kids, or your parents (saying goodbye to any possibility of an inheritance) but don't add ice to this dram slamming the door shut on this whisky. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman

Tommy's thoughts on federal excise tax, The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 , and Bowmore 21 year old . Dram 8 on the single malt whisky bucket list.

Let's talk about the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. The first test of our new nation's Federal Authority. When deeply in debt due to expenses incurred by capitalists over charging for shoddy war time supplies for the Revolutionary Army of the Colonies, the Feds came up with a novel idea. Let's tax the people where it hurts. We'll tax whiskey production! Thus a national policy was established. Recklessly run up debt, then tax the people to death. Well "the people" once again rebelled against this outrageous tax and humiliated the tax collectors with torture and by tar and feathering as they burned down their homesteads and offices like poor old John Neville and his slaves. Which brings me to the point of this piece, Bowmore 21 year old single malt whisky, dram number 8 on the single malt whisky bucket list. Unfortunately you can no longer purchase this whisky. It was given to me many years ago by a patient expressing his gratitude to me for saving his life. If you like the smell of pine oil, smoke and tar, you will love this whisky. Dark in appearance, this Islay ignites in your mouth delivering salt and more intense tar flavors. The finish makes your skin squirm with sweat and heat. The Whiskey Rebellion was squelched when Alexander Hamilton and George Washington assembled an army of over twelve thousand miltiamen and marched westward to establish a precedent. Tax, tax, tax, and then tax some more. But in this case the exquisite expression of a dram of Bowmore 21 year old single malt whisky overshadows the disgust you will feel when you pull out your billfold to pay for your whisky knowing full well that the good old United States government is pocketing a significant portion of the price. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman.

What do Fred MacMurray, Glenrothes Vintage 1987, and Tommy Maaltman have in common? Dram number 7 on the single malt whisky bucket list.

Last night we watched the sun slip into the Great Lake resulting in a glorious sunset accompanied by the sound of the waves gently lapping up onto the sandy shore. Or was that sound the sound of my three sons enjoying drams of Glenrothes Vintage 1987 , dram number 7 on the single malt whiskey bucket list. Sometimes I feel like Fred MacMurray who played Steven Douglas, the widower father of the TV show "My Three Sons" (1960-1972) as I try to teach my boys about the finer things in life. But they didn't need any help or guidance when it comes to swilling the old man's single malt! The Glenrothes Vintage 1987, still available, holds a special place in my heart since one of my boys was born that year and on his 21st birthday I presented him with a bottle lovingly cradled in a wood box. Glenrothes Vintages 1984 and 1989 have a similar special meaning for me but are no longer available making me happy I did the same for my other two sons. The rich golden brown color makes this a very attractive malt visually to enjoy in the summer by the lake as the sun is setting. The taste is of sweet vanilla, lemon and ginger. The finish provides enough smoke and peat making a campfire unnecessary. In Michael Jackson's (the whisky epicurean not the pop culture icon) words, "The flavor metaphors evoke childhood, but this is a very adult sophisticated malt." Rest both of their soles. Michael Jackson the pop culture icon died trying to get a good night's sleep. Michael Jackson the whisky epicurean died battling the ravages of Parkinson's Disease. The sunset was heaven on earth, the whisky was heaven in a glass. The Jacksons are hopefully in the real heaven. I'll have just one more please. Slainte, Tommy Maaltman