Well that looks like a real adventure.
Let’s get into winter survival training mode.
73 Joe
Don’t get me started [again]
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Hmm, glad that I don’t go to your dentist… or perhaps I should as I really like Laphroaig… which reminds me I have a bottle that needs opening. Agreed that it is an acquired taste. However, when you’ve had a free trip around the distillery (myself and Peter G3YCT on an expedition to the island in 1971) and tried everything from the raw spirit to the finished article, then it becomes attached to your genes! I mostly drink 12 year old Bowmore nowadays as I’ve become a wuss. 
You may well recall discussions some years ago about a large group of us hiring a sizeable property somewhere in Scotland and doing just that. I’m not sure what scuppered the idea, but maybe it needs to be resurrected once the current ailment is in retreat.
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OT, non-drinkers ignore.
Laphroaig just needs practice and a good splash of water. Lots of practice. I really enjoy it. Not too fond of Ardberg products. When Bruichladdich re-opened they had no vintage product so sold a non-vintage blended malt of various ages, Bruichladdich Rocks. It was not pricey and was fantastic. They don’t sell any more as they have aged barrels available.
I’ve been consuming lots of Bowmore the past few years. Both No. 1 which is a non-vintage and the Bowmore 12yr. The 12yr is £40/ 70cl bottle in supermarkets to get a price point. It’s expensive at £40 but my local supermarket sells it at £25-27 every 6months and it’s a steal at that price.
Ooooh scary… that’s one we agree on 
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Whisky is good in containing the alcoholic in me as I seem to always have had enough after a single glass. The same cannot be said of Kraken Rum unfortunately.
Appleton Estate 8yr Reserve Rum is currently in vogue here, a recent birthday present.
I can tell you what will make you a Whisky fan, The Dalmore 18yr. As I had an significant birthday recently my work colleagues think enough of me (despite my outspoken nature 
) that they bought me a bottle of this. As it’s £125/bottle I was genuinely pleased they thought so much (only 20 people in my office) I also have a healthy sized amount Cotswold Outdoor vouchers to spend.
Anyway Dalmore 18yr… makes every other whisky taste horrific. Shame it is so expensive or I would drink it all the time.
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So kind of you to offer Andy, I can be there for about 8 this evening? 
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Off Topic… In September I began a phased retirement. One of my previous colleagues explained that when he reached 55 he was going to try and become incompetent so that by the time he got older he was able to be incompetent without trying and when the inevitable budgetary issues occurred a magic door would open… <This story is not related to my radio operating skills –I hope> Over the last year I have been quite careful to direct some work to colleagues and perhaps be somewhat less useful and have managed to redirect the “I don’t know what we would do without you” comments with ways of doing without….
So far the 1 day off a week appears to be linked – (Butterfly Effect?) to a day of rubbish weather – It is probably factored into forecast models, but sailing over a somewhat uncertain horizon is the possibility of having more time so if these ideas get off the ground please count me in. I fancy having a go at both some of islands south of Barra and some of the ones on Harris and Lewis. Easter should be on Mull which also seems to have some rarely activated summits.
Fingers crossed that Covid behaves itself, my escape tunnel does not collapse and hopefully the fantasy activations that fit between e-mails as I look at OS maps become real. Probably too early to pencil in dates – I might still be working …. 73
(PS I do like the Islay malts but the hills on Islay don’t look as inspiring as some of the others…but I would be happy to be proved wrong)
Paul
this is not really " off topic "
I am retiring from January … and all these considerations are related to that. 
But I think I’ll start by collecting more winter bonus points than ever before.
73 Armin
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Shhhhh… don’t tell Mark M0NOM
My daughter said to me, to quote verbatim: ‘you need to get a better paid job so you can pay for me to go through University’.
Unfortunately retirement is a long off dream for me. I can tolerate so much talk, but I might not want to share a summit with you folk if you keep on about it 
M.
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what a pity… the Lake District is on my bucket list 
73 Armin
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It’s generally more fun if we’re spread around on different summits anyway, so no worries. Happy to share a pint in a pub afterwards
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Putting up a most wanted list might generate some DXpeditions…
That’s exactly my feel when I try whisky. May be I should try that Dalmore 18yr… may be not.
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Have you seen the price Guru? That will make your eyes water before you open the bottle.
Yes, that’s why I wrote “maybe not”. That’s the best way to prevent myself from liking it 
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Olavtoppen, Bouvet Island, 3Y/BV-001. Go big or go home
Can you imagine the pileup !
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I think the go home or stay home (or at the boat) is the more common situation.
But definitly something that will bring you and SOTA headlines at ham radio news - if it works out.
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The World’s most remote island apparently and 93% covered by glaciers with a January mean temperature of 1°C.
Hmm…
But it would be a great expedition.