3 Wise Whiskies -- 186 lbs (-43) [17X]

My last new expression explorations for the year:

● Monarch of the Glen 15yr
-- Top of the MG line, this blended scotch is complex, smooth, and affordable. The 8 yr is still the better value, IMO.
● Bowmore Legend
-- This affordable Islay single malt is just the right level of smoky peat for me. I expect we shall be seeing each other again.
● Glenlivet 12 Yr
-- I have been reading about the history of Glenlivet for quite some time, and I was not disappointed in the smooth, firm, Speyside taste, but I regret not being able to travel back to the early 1800's to do a barley-to-barley comparison.

It's been a tough year, though I am happy to have successfully taken control in a weird and unhealthy way and shared that with you. I wish you all the best in 2013!

What I consumed Sunday -- 186 lbs (-43) [17X]:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● .875 oz Glenmorangie The Original
● 6 oz Monarch of the Glen 15yr
● 6 oz Bowmore Legend
● 6 oz Glenlivet 12 Yr
● .5 Nissin Cup Noodles w/ grated cheddar cheese + broth
● 4 Hershey's Kisses
● 10 bites apple
● Big bite Vegan Original Superfood Crisp (tastes like wheat grass)
● Slice Honeybake ham & 2 slices turkey
● Big bowl of air-popped popcorn w/ Flavacol
● 10 Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwiches
● 12+ Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels
● 6 oz Old El Paso no fat refried beans w/ salsa
● 3 Nutter Butter cookies
● Potato skin w/ grated cheddar cheese
● 5 oz Liberte blackberry yogurt
● 1.5 oz Ballantine's

What I consumed Saturday -- 187 lbs (-42) [10X]:
● Coffee w/ 20 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● 6 oz Monarch of the Glen 15yr
● 6 oz Bowmore Legend
● 6 oz Glenlivet 12 Yr
● .5 Nissin Cup Noodles w/ grated cheddar cheese
● 2 slices Round Table cheese pizza
● 2 peanut butter filled pretzels
● .25 peanut butter & grape/fig jelly sandwich
● 12 cheddar cheese cubes w/ 4 Pepperidge Farm Golden Butter crackers
● 4 mini pretzels w/ white rice
● Jade Dragon garlic chicken wings w/ grilled onions
● Slice Honeybake turkey
● 2 slices swiss cheese
● 2 Hershey's Kisses
● 3 oz Glenmorangie The Original

What I consumed Friday -- 186 lbs (-43) [16X]:
(voided system)
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 1.5 oz Hamilton's Islay Regional Malt
● 4 oz Glenmorangie The Original
● Burger King Wisconsin White Cheddar WHOPPER® (.8 bun)
● New York Cupcakes pralines & cream cupcake
● 3 oz Monarch of the Glen 15yr
● 3 oz Bowmore Legend
● 3 oz Glenlivet 12 Yr
● 3 plates Olive Garden salad
● 1 piece Olive Garden Lasagna Fritta
● 1 Olive Garden Lobster Cannelloni with Shrimp
● Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo (no pasta)

Glenmorangie The Original -- 187 lbs (-42) [9X]

My family is pretty amazing at putting up with my drinking hobby (especially after The Incident), so I scored a bunch of cool stuff this Xmas. Pictured here are a bottle of 10 yr Glenmorangie, a nosing glass*, and one of many precision measuring devices designed save time and mess.

The Glenmorangie is mighty tasty--honey-sweet but very firm, like scotch married mead. Makes the Hamilton's Regional Malts seem watered-down in comparison.

* Whisky is more fun in a nosing glass, whether you nose it or not

What I consumed Thursday -- 187 lbs (-42) [9X]:
● .75 oz Hamilton's Lowlands Regional Malt
● 5 oz Hamilton's Speyside Regional Malt
● McDonald's pancake (.8) w/ sausage & .5 hash brown
● Thin slice Cold Stone Creamery peppermint ice cream cake
● 2 thin slices Cold Stone Creamery cookie dough ice cream cake
● 3 oz Hamilton's Islay Regional Malt
● 2 peanut butter filled pretzels
● Several handfuls of Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● 4 slices Round Table cheese pizza w/ 1 slice Honeybake ham & 2 slices turkey
● 7.5 oz Glenmorangie The Original

What I consumed Wednesday -- 186 lbs (-43) [15X]:
● 12 oz Hamilton's Islay Regional Malt
● 5 slices Honeybake ham & 6 slices turkey
● 3 slices Wickles pickles
● Green beans
● Small piece Marie Callender's apple pie
● 10+ peanut butter filled pretzels
● 6 oz Glenmorangie The Original

What I consumed Tuesday -- 187 lbs (-42) [8X]:
● 12 oz Hamilton's Speyside Regional Malt
● 3 Banquet chicken tenders
● 2 slices deli chicken w/ 2 slices reduced-fat cheddar cheese
● 6 oz Glenmorangie The Original
● 1.5 dinner rolls w/ butter
● 1.5 sugar cookie w/ frosting
● 6 slices Honeybake ham
● Way too much cheesy garlic mashed potatoes
● Sweet potato marshmallow casserole

What I consumed Monday -- 185 lbs (-44) [7X]:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 18 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● 16.5 oz Hamilton's Highland Regional Malt
● Bite of apple
● 7 Banquet chicken tenders
● 3 slices deli chicken w/ 2 slices reduced-fat cheddar cheese
● McDonalds Caesar salad w/ grilled chicken & .25 pack dressing (no croutons or tomatoes)
● Kentucky Fried Chicken biscuit w/ butter & honey
● 4 sugar cookies w/ frosting

What I consumed Sunday -- 186 lbs (-43) [14X]:
● 16.5 oz Hamilton's Lowland Regional Malt
● 2.5 oz Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter popcorn
● Few pieces of chicken from Campbell's chicken noodle soup
● Small portion of Rotisserie chicken
● Rice 'o Roni chicken flavor
● Large portion of asparagus

Hamilton's Regional Malts -- 187 lbs (-42) [7X]

I get the impression that serious whisky drinkers don't take this whisky line, well, seriously. And because they're so fun, well, neither do I! After a couple months of exploring blended scotches* that tend to be subtly different from one to the next (a key reason I pair taste), these 4 whiskies are refreshingly distinct from each other**. I also think the idea of an affordable, one-brand introduction to the 4 major Scottish whisky regions is pretty darn clever (granted I don't have much experience with single malts, and I can't afford to acquire it either):

● Hamilton's Lowland Regional Malt
-- Tasted a bit like ass to me, but in a fun way. "Ass" probably isn't the right adjective, but was the only label I could find for a taste I could not otherwise identify.
● Hamilton's Highland Regional Malt
-- Subtly creamy, sweet, and citrusy.
● Hamilton's Speyside Regional Malt
-- Creamy and slightly smoky, this was the most well-balanced and my favorite of the 4 "expressions". I could see, and afford, drinking this semi-regularly.
● Hamilton's Islay Regional Malt
-- Very peaty and smoky. I thought this is what I like most in a scotch, but this perhaps a tad much. Still very enjoyable, though.

* The blended scotches I've tried up to now were composed of grain and single malt whiskies from multiple distilleries. The store where I bought the Hamilton's line categorized them as "vatted scotch", i.e. composed of single malt whiskies from multiple distilleries. Such whiskies, as one might interpret from the latest regulations, are supposed to be labeled "blended malt whisky" on the bottle, but these just say "single malt". So it is not clear to this consumer which to believe.

** To emphasize how different these are from each other, I tried blending them together in every possible equal-part combination, and each was less distinct than any single whisky on its own.

What I consumed Saturday -- 187 lbs (-42) [7X]:
● 4 oz Hamilton's Highland Regional Malt
● 4 oz Hamilton's Speyside Regional Malt
● 4 oz Hamilton's Lowland Regional Malt
● 4 oz Hamilton's Islay Regional Malt
● Orange
● Half toasted bagel w/ butter & hummus
● Criss-cut fry
● Slice Papa Murphy's cheese pizza
● Half bag of Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● 3 peanut butter & Hershey's Kiss cookies
● Bowl of chilaquiles

What I consumed Friday -- 187 lbs (-42) [6X]:
● 4.5 oz Hamilton's Highland Regional Malt
● 4.5 oz Hamilton's Speyside Regional Malt
● 4.5 oz Hamilton's Lowland Regional Malt
● 4.5 oz Hamilton's Islay Regional Malt
● .4 Nissin Cup Noodles w/ grated cheddar cheese
● Hollowed-out toasted bagel w/ hummus
● Half toasted bagel w/ slice reduced-fat cheddar cheese
● 5 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels dipped in Jif chocolate silk peanut butter
● Bowl of Campbell's chicken noodle soup
● Several handfuls of Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● Bowl of lettuce w/ grated cheddar cheese & Newman's Own lite Italian dressing
● 3 slices Papa Murphy's pepperoni pizza & 1 small slice cheese pizza
● 4 pretzel M&M's

Vacation Diet Challenge -- 187 lbs (-42) [5X]

First day of vacation and my daughter practiced her artistic make-up skills on me while I cried over a 5-pound weight fluctuation. I should lay off the tortilla chips.

What I consumed Thursday -- 187 lbs (-42) [5X]:
● 12 oz Johnnie Walker Black
● .33 Nissin Cup Noodles w/ grated cheddar cheese
● 9 Pepperidge Farm water crackers w/ hummus
● 3 Banquet chicken tenders
● 3 slices deli chicken w/ slice swiss cheese
● 2 oz White Horse
● 2 oz J & B Scotch
● 12 oz frozen broccoli w/ parmesan cheese & 2 turkey meatballs
● Small portion spaghetti w/ sauce, 2 turkey meatballs, grated parmesan, & slice of garlic bread

What I consumed Wednesday -- 188 lbs (-41) [6X]:
(refilled system, and then some)
● Coffee w/ 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Scrambled eggs, sausage link, & slice bacon
● 8 oz J & B Scotch
● 16 oz Harbinger pumpkin/squash stout
● 16 oz Mr. Kitty blueberry cask ale
● 2 soft diablo chicken tacos w/ tortilla chips
● McDonald's Angus burger
● Juanita's tortilla chips w/ grated cheddar
● Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels dipped in Jif chocolate silk peanut butter
● Hot chocolate w/ 2 oz J & B Scotch
● 3 slices deli chicken w/ 2 slices swiss cheese

What I consumed Tuesday -- 183 lbs (-46) [2X]:
(voided system, again)
● 12 oz White Horse
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 3.75 oz Port Clyde Sardines in soybean oil
● 2 12 oz Obsidian Stout
● 1 oz Crunchy Cheetos
● Small bowl of lettuce w/ grated mozzarella & parmesan cheese & Newman's Own lite Italian dressing
● Juanita's tortilla chips
● Juanita's tortilla chips w/ grated cheddar & diced chicken
● Piece of almond sugar cookie and gingerbread head

Taking It Slow -- 186 lbs (-43) [13X]

For the record, I'm being less aggressive about hitting my original goal of 180 lbs after returning to this diet after a 2 week hiatus. There are a number of reasons for this:

● To try and repair a shoulder area injury I've had since this summer, and rebuild muscle mass I have loss*, I am taking a protein powder supplement at least every other morning and eating a protein lunch, which 1) adds more calories to my diet and 2) subtracts any gains from intermittent fasting
● I am planning to make a new video which I want to shoot part of when I am honestly 181 lbs, and I'm waiting until the holiday vacation to start that project, so I am attempting to time reaching 181 lbs 1-2 weeks from now
● I’m excusing myself from avoiding some temptations during the holiday season, with all of the extra cookies and other treats

Given this, I wouldn't be surprised if I don't hit 180 lbs until next year. Even so, I will still have over 6 months until my 50th birthday, and that is a lot of time left for more drama and other fun, and I don't plan to disappoint. Let's call that my New Year's resolution.

*This appears to be working. Despite hovering at 186 lbs, my Ironman weight scale claims I am at 20% fat (down from 22% at the same weight a month ago). Metabolic age ... 39!

What I consumed Monday -- 186 lbs (-43) [13X]:
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 4.5 oz pouch StarKist Tuna Creations (Sweet & Spicy)
● 10 oz Famous Grouse
● 1.5 oz Planters Smoked Almonds
● 3 bowls taco-seasoned ground beef w/ lettuce, grated cheddar, salsa, & cup 'o noodles
● Hot chocolate w/ 2 oz Famous Grouse
● Coffee w/ 1.5 oz Famous Grouse

What I consumed Sunday -- 186 lbs (-43) [12X]:
(pigged out again)
● .5 oz Famous Grouse
● .5 oz White Horse
● .5 oz J & B Scotch
● .5 oz Johnnie Walker Black
● .5 Nissin Cup Noodles w/ 12 cheddar cheese cubes
● 5 oz Liberte blackberry yogurt
● 6 mini pretzels w/ 2 cheddar cheese cubes
● 6 mini pretzels w/ Jif chocolate silk peanut butter
● ~10 Sponge Bob Squarepants Cheese Nips w/ Jif chocolate silk peanut butter
● Half chocolate graham cracker
● 20-30 Sponge Bob Squarepants Cheese Nips
● 8 oz Ballantine's
● .75 large movie theater popcorn
● Bbq chicken breast w/ rice pilaf
● Almond sugar cookie

Last of the Big Blended Brands -- 186 lbs (-43) [11X]

This collection of whiskies is probably the last of the affordable, popular blended scotch whiskies I'll be exploring (there are a couple I've missed, Bell's and Black Bottle, which are not sold at my liquor supermart). These 4 scotches are at the pricy end of the lower tier, what I would call bottom-middle-shelf, but I've found none of them to be worth the slightly higher price tag, so I guess that would make me a bottom-shelf person at heart (no surprise here).

● Famous Grouse
-- Supposedly the top-selling whisky in Scotland, this is the work of famous blender William Gloag (would it be top-selling if it had been called "Famous Gloag"?). This is the smoothest of the 4 and tasted strongly of vanilla.
● White Horse
-- I was debating whether to buy this until I read this post (http://www.whisky.com/brands/white_horse_brand.html), which paints an interesting history and calls out the key single malts used in this blend. Of the 4, this was the only peaty one, but not as peaty/smoky as I prefer.
● J & B Scotch
-- Supposedly the top-selling whisky in Europe, I believe J & B Rare was another whisky to be found stocked in my grandfather Poppy's liquor cabinet. I found this similar to Dewar's in being well-rounded and somewhat lacking in distinction, yet somehow a tad classier (as if I know anything about class).
● Johnnie Walker Black
-- The next shelf up from Johnnie Walker Red, I found Johnnie Walker Black label to be similar to J & B Rare, but slightly smoother and complex.

Pair tasting (1 tbsp of one followed by the other) results for these 4 whiskies:

● Famous Grouse -> White Horse: White Horse a tad bitter
● Famous Grouse -> J & B Scotch: J & B Scotch a tad creamy & spicy
● Famous Grouse -> Johnnie Walker Black: Johnnie Walker Black a tad creamy & bitter
● White Horse -> Famous Grouse: Famous Grouse
● White Horse -> J & B Scotch: J & B Scotch a tad creamy, spicy, & bitter
● White Horse -> Johnnie Walker Black: Johnnie Walker Black smooth & clean
● J & B Scotch -> Famous Grouse: Famous Grouse a tad spicy
● J & B Scotch -> White Horse: a tad bolder
● J & B Scotch -> Johnnie Walker Black: no change detected
● Johnnie Walker Black -> Famous Grouse: Famous Grouse semi-sweet vanilla
● Johnnie Walker Black -> White Horse: White Horse a tad smoky
● Johnnie Walker Black -> J & B Scotch: J & B Scotch a tad creamy & semi-sweet

Please note that there are many variables here and I am not being consistent about when I do the pair test, whether I rinse my mouth with water in-between, or what I drink and/or eat between tests. It would require multiple of the same tests to factor these variables out, and just for my palate, so please take with a grain of salt.

What I consumed Saturday -- 186 lbs (-43) [11X]:
(pigged out this weekend)
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● Half big chocolate chip cookie
● 5 slices bacon
● Cow Pals cheddar/mozzarella cheese twist
● 3 oz Famous Grouse
● 3 oz White Horse
● 3 oz J & B Scotch
● 3 oz Johnnie Walker Black
● Order Jade Dragon ginger pork
● 30-40 Sponge Bob Squarepants Cheese Nips
● 2 fortune cookies

What I consumed Friday -- 184 lbs (-45) [6X]:
● 3 oz Famous Grouse
● 4.25 oz Underwood Roast Beef spread w/ 3 Walkers Highland Oatcakes crackers
● 4 oz White Horse
● 3.66 oz Napoleon Tiny Smoked Oysters w/ 3 Walkers Highland Oatcakes crackers
● 2 oz Johnnie Walker Black
● 2 oz J & B Scotch
● Big bowl of potato chowder w/ Tabasco
● Half slice Top Pot Doughnuts squash/pumpkin loaf
● 4 oz Ballantine's
● 10 Pepperidge Farm water crackers w/ 3 slices of cheddar cheese
● Small chocolate chip cookie
● 2 sugar cookies

What I consumed Thursday -- 182 lbs (-47) [2X]:
(voided system)
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 3.75 oz Bumblebee Sardines in mustard sauce
● 1.76 oz Chocolate peanut butter Balance bar
● 4 oz J & B Scotch
● 7 oz Johnnie Walker Black
● Spaghetti w/ sauce, 3 turkey meatballs, grated parmesan, & slice of garlic bread
● Bite of Top Pot Doughnuts cinnamon sugar blueberry
● Third of Top Pot Doughnuts apple fritter

What I consumed Wednesday -- 183 lbs (-46):
● 7.5 oz Dewar's
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● 5 oz J & B Scotch
● Big bowl of potato chowder w/ Tabasco
● Half slice Top Pot Doughnuts squash/pumpkin loaf
● Bites of Top Pot Doughnuts cinnamon sugar blueberry & raspberry chocolate donuts
● Third of Top Pot Doughnuts apple fritter

What I consumed Tuesday -- 184 lbs (-45) [5X]:
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 4.5 oz pouch StarKist Tuna Creations (Hickory Smoked)
● 4 oz Dewar's
● 6 oz White Horse
● 10 Pepperidge Farm water crackers w/ 2 slices of swiss, 2 slices of cheddar cheese, & .33 cheddar/mozzarella string cheese
● Big bowl of potato chowder w/ Tabasco
● About a dozen handfuls of Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● Half piece of carrot bread

What I consumed Monday -- 185 lbs (-44) [6X]:
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● 4 oz Dewar's
● Small Steamer's blackened salmon Caesar salad
● Small plate of Qdoba cubed beef & chicken w/ beans & salsa
● 6 oz Famous Grouse
● Bowl of potato chowder
● About a dozen handfuls of Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● Half piece of carrot bread

What I consumed Sunday -- 186 lbs (-43) [10X]:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 10.5 oz Old Crofter Scotch
● 4 slices Papa John's cheese pizza w/ bbq pulled pork
● 4 pretzel M&M's
● .33 Kraft cheddar/mozzarella string cheese
● About a dozen handfuls of Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● 3 pieces bacon & slice of french toast
● Coffee w/ 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder

The 12 Whiskies of Christmas -- 186 lbs (-43) [9X]

AFAIK, these whiskies have nothing to do with Christmas, other than there are 12 of them--well, were 12, as I've already opened 4 of those, rather than waiting until December 25th when the 1st of the 12 days of Christmas begins. I am not completely off the mark, though, as Christmas pervades the month of December, as evidenced by most commercial Advent calendars, which begin on December 1 regardless of when Advent actually begins. And while a whisky advent calendar with 24 little bottles would have been more appropriate than 12 750 ml ones, the latter was a better value for this year's budget. The first 4 whiskies I dove into quickly confirmed this, as they have provided much holiday cheer despite their bottom-shelf status:

● Monarch of the Glen 3yr
-- This is the least aged of the Monarch of the Glen offerings. I think the 8yr has been my favorite Monarch thus far, but this is only a tad less smooth.
● Old Crofter Scotch
-- I read a review that claimed this was comparable to Dewar's White Label, so I thought I'd see for myself. Indeed, in back-to-back tastings of these 4 whiskies (see below), I had the hardest time telling the difference between Old Crofter and Dewar's.
● Ballantine's
-- This is supposedly the second largest selling scotch world-wide, after Johnnie Walker, and far more affordable. This is my favorite of the 4. It has a creamy taste like Teacher's, but not Teacher's earthy flavor. Like a number of the scotch blends I've tried, Ballantine's started from a wine and spirits merchant experimenting with blending during the mid- to late-1800's.
● Dewar's
-- Another well-known, affordable brand sprung from nineteenth century blending alchemy. I found Dewar's (and Old Crofter) to be very solid and drinkable, but indistinctive.

For the 12 Whiskies of Christmas, I am doing a full combination of tasting pairings in groups of 4. Here are my results for this round:

● Monarch -> Dewar's: Dewar's slightly stronger & bitter
● Monarch -> Old Crofter: Old Crofter slightly less smooth, but close to same
● Monarch -> Ballantine's: Ballantine's creamier
● Old Crofter -> Monarch: Monarch slightly bitterer
● Old Crofter -> Ballantine's: Ballantine's more creamy & sweet
● Old Crofter -> Dewar's: about the same
● Ballantine's -> Monarch: Monarch slightly more bitter; took on a fraction of Ballantine's creaminess
● Ballantine's -> Old Crofter: Old Crofter took on a fraction of Ballantine's creaminess & sweetness
● Ballantine's -> Dewar's: Dewar's took on a fraction of Ballantine's creaminess & sweetness
● Dewar's -> Monarch: Monarch slightly stronger
● Dewar's -> Old Crofter: Old Crofter faintly bitterer, but pretty much the same
● Dewar's -> Ballantine's: Ballantine's slightly spicier

Most interesting above is the influence Ballantine's had over all the other whiskies.

What I consumed Saturday -- 186 lbs (-43) [9X]:
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● 10.5 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● .35 order Jade Dragon ginger beef w/ white rice
● 3 slices reduced-fat cheddar cheese w/ 6 Pepperidge Farm sesame seed crackers
● 2 coffee w/ 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● 4 slices Papa John's cheese pizza w/ Jade Dragon ginger beef
● 10 cheddar cheese cubes w/ 5 Pepperidge Farm sesame seed crackers
● ~2 oz dark chocolate & sea salt kettle corn

What I consumed Friday -- 186 lbs (-43) [8X]:
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 3.66 oz Napoleon Smoked Mussels w/ 3 Walkers Highland Oatcakes crackers
● 5 oz Dewar's
● Slice Garlic Jim's cheese pizza
● 2.5 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● 2.5 oz Old Crofter Scotch
● .4 order Jade Dragon ginger beef w/ white rice
● Several big forkfuls bbq pulled-pork
● 20-40 Sponge Bob Squarepants Cheese Nips
● 3 slices swiss cheese w/ 1 turkey meatball & 5 Pepperidge Farm sesame seed crackers

What I consumed Thursday -- 184 lbs (-45) [4X]:
● Coffee w/ 1 tsp fiber & 24 g Syntrax Matrix Chocolate protein powder
● 2 oz Old Crofter Scotch
● 2 oz Ballantine's
● 4 oz Dewar's
● Mystery brownie
● Mediterranean chicken w/ rice, hummus, and some weird mashed garlic stuff
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● 1.5 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● Bowl of lettuce w/ Newman's Own lite Italian dressing

What I consumed Wednesday -- 185 lbs (-44) [5X]:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber & 1.5 oz Ballantine's
● 3.66 oz Napoleon Smoked Baby Clams w/ 3 Walkers Highland Oatcakes crackers
● 50 oz Bud Light
● Tortilla chips, bean dip, and salsa
● 1 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● 1 oz Old Crofter Scotch
● .5 oz Ballantine's
● .5 oz Dewar's
● Bbq pulled-pork sandwich on hamburger bun
● Bbq pulled-pork sandwich on 2 slices reduced-fat cheddar cheese

What I consumed Tuesday -- 184 lbs (-45) [3X]:
● 1 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● 3 oz Ballantine's
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 1.76 oz Chocolate peanut butter Balance bar
● 4 oz Dewar's
● 1 oz Old Crofter Scotch
● KFC Doublicious sandwich
● 20 Sponge Bob Squarepants Cheese Nips

What I consumed Monday -- 185 lbs (-44) [4X]:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● McDonald's pancake (.8) w/ sausage
● 2 Walkers Highland Oatcakes crackers
● 4 oz Dewar's
● 12 oz Budweiser Select
● 1 oz Ballantine's
● 4 plates taco-seasoned ground beef w/ lettuce, grated cheddar, pico de gallo, and tortilla strips
● 1.5 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● 1.5 oz Old Crofter Scotch

What I consumed Sunday -- 186 lbs (-43) [7X]:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 2.5 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● 2.5 oz Old Crofter Scotch
● 2.5 oz Ballantine's
● 1.5 oz Dewar's
● 6 Safeway beef, cheese, and jalapeno appetizers
● 11 Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwiches
● Bag frozen broccoli, cauliflower, & carrots w/ sliced cajun turkey & 2 slices reduced fat cheddar cheese
● .6 Fosters Farm corn dog w/ some corn bread removed

Scientific Support for Alcohol-Induced Weight Loss -- 187 lbs (-42) [5X]

Every diet I've ever looked into discouraged alcohol or forbade it outright. I figured it should be possible to lose weight with normal drinking, but was surprised how effective it was and how drinking small amounts throughout the day seemed to increase weight loss. I started poking around and found low-carb + alcohol diets dating back centuries, but none bothered to explain why that worked. Then I read an article on an intermittent fasting website that included references to several scientific studies over the past few decades which shed some light on the subject. One study in 1991 found substantial evidence for alcohol-induced weight loss at heavy consumption levels when normal carbohydrate calories were replaced with alcohol calories:

Interestingly, the same study found adding large amounts of alcohol calories to a normal day's intake had relatively little effect on weight gain (esp. compared to chocolate):

Although a confirmed, comprehensive model for these and subsequent observations still does not exist, even after 20 years, there is evidence for several probable contributing mechanisms:
● Increased metabolism by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and decreasing blood glucose
● Energy wastage associated with the induction of the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS) that occurs with higher, sustained alcohol consumption
● Impaired energy utilization of other fuels, particularly fat, due to displacement and/or changes in mitochondrial function

It is a bit disappointing that more research hasn't gone into fully understanding this phenomenon, but not surprising given the stigma attached to heavy alcohol use (as defined by the NIAAA). I am curious to know, for instance, if keeping BAC levels low (say, < .03%) with chronic consumption is reasonably safe--it's certainly better than high levels. And do the health benefits of maintaining low body and fat mass outweigh the use of alcohol to do so (for people that are not successful with healthier lifestyles)? I feel like there is a happy medium here, and while I'm having fun experimenting to find it, the result will not be statistically significant for anyone interested in trying something similar, at least without further support from the scientific community.

What I consumed Saturday -- 187 lbs (-42) [5X]:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● Very thin slice of chocolate gingerbread
● Grape gummi, mango liquorice, and apricot fruit leather
● .75 oz Hot Mate assorted rice crackers
● Starbucks old-fashion chocolate donut
● Plate of Jade Dragon sesame chicken
● 2 oz Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● 2 oz Old Crofter Scotch
● 2 oz Ballantine's
● Cheese-only lasagna w/ turkey meatball
● 16 cheddar cheese cubes w/ mini pretzels & apple slices

What I consumed Friday -- 189 lbs (-40) [9X]:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● Half thin slice of chocolate gingerbread
● Quincy's triple garlic burger & fries
● 1.76 oz Cookie Dough Balance bar
● Large portion Jade Dragon pork roll, sesame chicken & rice (last hurrah)
● Grape gummi
● 2 fortune cookies
● Cup hot water w/ 3 tsp instant buttered rum drink & 2% milk

What I consumed Thursday -- 191 lbs (-38) [6X]:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● Small slice of chocolate gingerbread
● Steamers fried clam strips w/ french fries smothered in vinegar, tabasco, tartar sauce, and ketchup
● Costco giant chocolate muffin top
● 2 big plates taco-seasoned ground beef w/ lettuce, grated cheddar, salsa, and tortilla strips
● Half slice Cheesecake Factory pumpkin/pecan cheesecake w/ whipped cream

What I consumed Wednesday -- 188 lbs (-41) [5X]:
● Slice of chocolate gingerbread
● 2 slices Flying Pizzeria chef's special
● Chocolate chip cookie
● Rotisserie chicken leg & thigh w/ reduced sodium Stovetop stuffing
● Cup of warm 2% milk w/ 3 tsp instant buttered rum drink

What I consumed Tuesday -- 189 lbs (-40) [8X]:
● Apple fritter (last donut?)
● 3.66 oz Napoleon Tiny Smoked Oysters w/ 3 Walkers Highland Oatcakes crackers
● 1.76 oz Cookie Dough Balance bar
● Big slice of chocolate gingerbread
● Spaghetti w/ sauce, 3 turkey meatballs, grated parmesan, & 2 slices of garlic bread
● Small slice each of Papa John's & Papa Murphy's cheese pizzas
● Cup of Sponge Bob Squarepants Cheese Nips

What I consumed Monday -- 189 lbs (-40) [7X]:
● Trader Joe's pumpkin bar
● 2 loaded plates Indian buffet
● Half Papa John's large, thin pepperoni, sausage, and spicy sausage pizza w/ Tabasco Buffalo Wing sauce
● 5 Earth's Best organic mini waffles w/ syrup
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber & 2 tsp instant buttered rum drink (no real rum :-()

What I consumed last Sunday -- 187 lbs (-42) [4X]:
● Frost Doughnuts Pecan Caramel Creme & Pumpkin Old Fashioned
● 4 gummi bears
● Plate of Yea's Wok Sautéed String Beans with Tofu
● Hero sandwich
● 10+ pieces honeydew melon
● Rotisserie chicken leg, thigh, & wings w/ reduced sodium Stovetop stuffing & asparagus

Back To More Fun -- 189 lbs (-40) [6X]

As fun as it's been eating whatever I want whenever I feel like it, I can honestly say that The Whisky Diet is more fun. Although I've been loading up on the crap I've been avoiding (ice cream, burgers, subs, donuts, pizza) rather than gourmet food, I am not enjoying it as much as I used to (at least according to my fallible memory). It's still fun, mind you, but it is a meaningless fun--devoid of challenge, learning, and complexity. After a lifetime of thumbing my nose at gourmet food, I can imagine it being a deeper fun, so perhaps I will give that lifestyle a try if I ever have the time and money for it. But for now, I have decided to jump off the wagon next weekend, and make scotch my sole playground, before I gain too much of the weight I lost.

Why scotch? I had already been gravitating towards scotch when I started seriously exploring different whiskies. Whereas I used to hate the smoky, peaty scotches, my taste buds did a 180 on this diet and now I love them. I have this romantic notion that they represent the purest form of earth that can be metabolized by humans. That is probably the purest form of BS, but the elicited emotion, the physiological effects, the fascinating history, and the dieting results are all very real and deeply fun. While I enjoy all types of whiskies, scotch currently feels most worthy of long-term, exploratory focus, inasmuch as I can afford it. Fate sealed the deal when I got hospital-sick on Canadian whisky and Irish whiskey, so those are out for now--though I may dabble in scotch-style blends and single malts from outside Scotland, especially where the opportunity feels right.

So, enough jibber jabber. Here's what's on the menu for December:
● Monarch of the Glen 3yr
● Old Crofter Scotch
● Ballantine's
● Dewar's
● Famous Grouse
● White Horse
● J & B Scotch
● Johnnie Walker Black
● Glenlivet 12 Yr
● Hamilton's Highland Regional Malt
● Hamilton's Speyside Regional Malt
● Hamilton's Lowland Regional Malt
● Hamilton's Islay Regional Malt

What I consumed Saturday -- 189 lbs (-40) [6X]:
● Yea's Wok egg roll
● 4 bites McDonald's pancake w/ syrup
● 6 oz instant buttered rum drink
● Plate of Yea's Wok Chicken Sautéed with Fresh Ginger Sauce
● Frost Doughnuts Pumpkin Walnut Fritter & White Chocolate Raspberry Old Fashioned
● Half Papa John's large, thin pepperoni, sausage, and spicy sausage pizza w/ Tabasco Buffalo Wing sauce
● 16 cheddar cheese cubes
● Slice Papa John's cheese pizza
● Apple slice
● 2 gummi bears
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber

What I consumed Friday -- 188 lbs (-41) [4X]:
● Big slice Marie Callender's apple pie
● 2 mouthfuls Nissin Cup Noodles
● 5 pieces Yea's Wok General Tsao's Chicken
● Starbucks Cranberry Bliss bar
● .67 Starbucks snowman cookie
● Plate of Yea's Wok Sautéed String Beans with Tofu
● Plate of Yea's Wok Chicken Sautéed with Fresh Ginger Sauce
● 10 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels dipped in Jif chocolate silk peanut butter
● Slice Marie Callender's apple pie
● 13 Ritz crackers w/ 2 slices of swiss & 2 slices of cheddar cheese

What I consumed Thursday -- 189 lbs (-40) [5X]:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● McDonald's sausage, egg, & cheese McGriddle
● 7 bites McDonald's pancake w/ syrup
● Cheese-only lasagna w/ 2 turkey meatballs
● Most of large popcorn at movies
● Yea's Wok egg roll
● Half Yea's Wok Chicken Sautéed with Fresh Ginger Sauce
● 3 pieces Yea's Wok General Tsao's Chicken
● Big slice Marie Callender's apple pie

What I consumed Wedneday -- 187 lbs (-42) [3X]:
● Trader Joe's pumpkin bar
● Starbucks old-fashion chocolate donut
● McDonald's Big Mac meal
● .75 McDonald's CBO grilled chicken sandwich
● Spaghetti w/ sauce, 3 turkey meatballs, grated parmesan, & 2 slices of garlic bread
● 6 Golden Butter crackers
● Coffee w/ 2 tbsp milk & 1 sugar cube

What I consumed Tuesday -- 188 lbs (-41) [3X]:
● Trader Joe's pumpkin bar
● 6 Pepperidge Farm Harvest Wheat & 6 Golden Butter crackers w/ 2 slices of swiss & 1 slice of cheddar cheese
● Banana & 2 apple slices w/ Peanut Butter & Co Dark Chocolate Dream peanut butter
● Half peanut butter & jelly sandwich
● Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter popcorn
● Red Robin Tropical Sunburn Tavern Burger
● Red Robin fries & half grilled cheese sandwich dipped in sweet onion & bacon sauce

Intro Video -- 187 lbs (-42) [2X]

Without whisky or work to distract me this week, I'm having a bit of fun putting on a bunch of weight I lost. My new wager with myself is how much weight will I gain on before resuming the diet?

Meanwhile, I put together this video about some of my recent experiences:



What I consumed Monday -- 187 lbs (-42) [2X]:
● Carrot bread
● Krispy Kreme sour cream donut
● Couple of bites Nissin Cup Noodles
● Subway 6-inch hot pastrami sub on Italian Herbs & Cheese bread
● Bowl of Breyer's strawberry ice cream
● 17 Pepperidge Farm Harvest Wheat crackers w/ 2 slices of swiss & 2 slices of cheddar cheese
● .5+ peanut butter & jelly sandwich
● 3 scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, 4.3 slices bacon on toast w/ ketchup & tabasco
● Bunch of asparagus

What I consumed Sunday -- 186 lbs (-43) [6X]:
● McDonald's egg, bacon, & cheese sandwich (half the biscuit)
● Starbuck's apple fritter
● Taco-seasoned ground beef w/ lettuce, grated cheddar, and Newman's Own lite Italian dressing
● Krispy Kreme Banana Kreme & Strawberry donuts
● One-third bag Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● 10 green grapes
● Cheese-only lasagna
● Carrot bread

What I consumed Saturday -- 186 lbs (-43) [5X]:
● McDonald's egg, bacon, & cheese sandwich
● McDonald's hash brown
● 2 mini Dum Dum lollipops
● 16 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels
● Starbucks turkey & swiss sandwich (half the bread)
● 6 bites McDonald's pancake w/ syrup
● Dairy Queen Peanut Butter Buster
● One-third bag Snyder's buffalo wing pretzels
● Taco-seasoned ground beef w/ lettuce, grated cheddar, and salsa
● 16 cheddar cheese cubes

What I consumed Friday -- 184 lbs (-45) [2X]:
● Jack In The Box Loaded breakfast sandwich
● 20 Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwiches
● Campbell's chicken noodle soup

I'm Done (for now) -- 182 lbs (-47)

Well, I over-did it at a party last night and woke up in a hospital at 2AM*. Given that I put my family through a terrible ordeal, I'll be abstaining from alcohol for at least a month. I may suspend the diet until then as well. I'm also going to transition to weekly, instead of daily, posts.

With all my talk about control, I'm pretty disappointed in myself.

* Blood tested .244 BAC

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffees w/ 2 tbsp Seagram's VO whisky & 1 tsp fiber
● Half Starbucks cinnamon bun
● 8+ oz Seagrams 7
● 4+ oz Seagrams VO
● 4+ oz Jameson
● 8+ oz Bushmills
● 2 mini crab cakes
● 3-4 bacon wrapped blue cheese
● 2-3 thin egg rolls

184 lbs (-45)

Whisky to the rescue again!

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffees w/ 2.5 tbsp Seagram's VO whisky & 1 tsp fiber
● .98 Seagram's VO
● 10 slices potato w/ grated cheddar, bacon bits, & 5 slices bacon
● Coffee w/ 3 tbsp Seagram's VO whisky

Seagram's VO -- 185 lbs (-44) [3X]

I couldn't make it until this weekend's whisky shopping, so I paid about $5 more for a bottle of Seagram's VO, supposedly the largest selling Canadian whisky, at the grocery store (oh, the shame). In my typical unsophisticated fashion, I found the mild vanilla taste quite comfortable. I also thought it would be good in coffee, and confirmed that this morning.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● .65 Seagram's VO
● No-meat lasagna w/ 12 oz Archer Farms asparagus stir fry
● 2 small slices garlic bread w/ grated parmesan

186 lbs (-43) [4X]

If anyone has a pool going (as if) for when I hit 180, I am planning to stay home all of next week, which will hopefully be a no-op diet-wise. I'm betting on myself to land it between 11/30 and 12/7.

What I consumed yesterday:
● 12 oz Budweiser Select
● .68 cups Canadian Club Reserve 9 Yr
● No-meat lasagna w/ 2 turkey meatballs
● Small portion of spaghetti w/ sauce, grated parmesan, & 1.8 turkey meatballs
● 14 Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwiches

Grant's & Chivas -- 185 lbs (-44) [2X]

I tried experimenting with Grant's and Chivas, taking them in different order separated by a coffee break. I found them to be incompatible both ways:

● Grant's -> Chivas Regal: Chivas tasted more bitter/acrid
● Chivas Regal -> Grant's: Grant's tasted slightly sour/curdled

I'm almost done with the Grant's and will come back to experimenting with it after finishing my tour of inexpensive blended whiskies.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 14.5 oz Del Monte Green Beans (low sodium)
● 5 oz Chivas Regal 12 yr
● 2 oz Grant's Scotch
● 4 bites Starbucks cinnamon bun
● 15 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels dipped in Jif chocolate silk peanut butter
● No meat lasagna w/ 2 turkey meatballs
● Coffee w/ 2 tbsp whiskey
● 5 spoons of Dreyer's French Silk ice cream
● 2 small bowls of Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels w/ semi-sweet chocolate chips & raisins

Chivas Regal -- 186 lbs (-43) [3X]

The original Chivas Regal was aged for at least 25 years. The 25 yr is still being produced today and sells for $300 (before taxes & fees). I went for the $20 version, of course, and I'd say it stood up very well against all the blended whiskies I've tried thus far.

That the attractive Chivas Regal packaging says Chivas Brothers was established in 1801 is a bit misleading. The grocery store that was to evolve into Chivas Brothers opened in 1801, but James Chivas didn't start working there as an assistant until 1838; didn't start selling his first blended whisky product until the 1850's; didn't bring in his brother until 1857; and Chivas Brothers didn't start selling Chivas Regal until 1909, at which point no Chivas family member was running the business.

The interesting history of Chivas Regal (and The Glenlivet) is chronicled here:



What I consumed yesterday:
● 15 oz Chivas Regal 12 yr
● 2 apple slices
● Half slice buttered toast
● Half Starbucks cinnamon bun
● .6 Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut granola bar
● 2 spoons of Dreyer's French Silk ice cream
● 16 cheddar cheese cubes
● Jade Dragon twice cooked pork
● .75 fortune cookie
● 2 mini Reese's peanut butter cups

185 lbs (-44)

[more system unloading, and partial reloading, yesterday]

This is around the least I've weighed since getting married in 1991. In this past week, I've lost almost as much weight as the week when I first started this diet, which is pleasantly unexpected. All the sooner I can start the fun maintenance mode!

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey & 2 tsp fiber
● 3.66 oz Napoleon smoked mussels w/ 2 Saltine crackers
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● .86 cups Chivas Regal
● Small slice garlic bread w/ grated parmesan & a turkey meatball
● 2 pieces no meat lasagna w/ a turkey meatball
● Small portion of spaghetti w/ sauce, grated parmesan, & 1.25 turkey meatballs
● Smore

Exercise Routine -- 186 lbs (-43) [2X]

I've mentioned that I do (and have done most of my life) light exercise--but what does that mean exactly? This is my morning routine:

● 30 minutes of lazy stretching
● 4-8 back bridge push-ups
● 30-50 sit-ups
● 10-20 side leg-lifts (each side)
● 8-12 cross-sit-ups (each side)
● 15-25 side-to-side crunches (not sure of the real name)
● Back stretching
● 3-9 reverse sit-ups
● 5-8 reverse leg-lifts (each side)
● Various arm & shoulder exercises (alternating days)
● Neck & shoulder stretching
● 80-120 jumping jacks

The whole routine takes about 90 minutes. I've added back & shoulder stuff through the years, because I've had painful injuries in these areas just from getting old. I also try to take several walks a day, adding up to 1-3 miles.

I realize some folks wouldn't consider this light, but almost none of my routine involves exertion or breaks a sweat. It's the same routine I had at 229 lbs, and I probably burn less calories now being 40+ pounds lighter.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● .82 cups Canadian Club Reserve 9 Yr
● 12 oz Archer Farms Mediterranean blend vegies w/ grated cheddar & 6 slices bacon
● 8 Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwiches

Whisky Pairing -- 186 lbs (-43)

[big, healthy poo last night]

I was surprised when Grant's, which I previously characterized as being mildly uninteresting, tasted rich and complex when following Monarch of the Glen 12 yr--the latter tasting slightly over-bearing to me. It is fascinating that Grant's made Teacher's taste peatier, and Monarch made Grant's taste richer. I suspect this is part of what makes blending such an art, but I can't help wondering if something is lost when you throw them together in the same batch, rather than letting one precede the other. Jerry Dalton, a master distiller, writes of a "second sample syndrome", where he tended to rate second samples lower than the first, which I experienced when Grant's made Cutty Sark taste like turpentine--but I am finding a number of cases where the second sample tastes better.

You can read Dalton's essay here:



What I consumed yesterday:
● 12 oz Budweiser Select
● .41 cup Monarch of the Glen 12yr
● .37 cup Grant's Scotch
● 7 slices potato w/ grated cheddar & bacon slices

187 lbs (-42)

So close, and yet so far. The closer I get, the more I start daydreaming about giant sub sandwiches. And I can't say I feel great. My butt and feet are more sensitive, and I'm chilled or freezing much of the time--not one of my brighter ideas doing this going into the winter. I'm not sleeping great, either. I keep waking up from dreams about demons or zombies, and my body feels like it was really fighting those things (until I stretch and drink coffee). I don't feel unhealthy, mind you, but I seem to have added a few more annoyances to my growing list of getting old, rather than getting rid of any. But I will soldier on. Once I hit 180, I'm hoping I'll get used to it--otherwise, I may embark on a new quest of adding strategic padding.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● .46 cup Monarch of the Glen 12yr
● 12 oz Archer Farms southwest corn & black beans w/ taco-seasoned ground beef, grated cheddar, & pico de gallo
● 12 Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwiches dipped in Jif chocolate silk peanut butter

188 lbs (-41) [2X]

I was going to introduce you to my Ironman, but now he's telling me my metabolic age is 47--the fickle bastard.

P.S. Yesterday was about as dry as I get.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● 12 oz Budweiser Select w/ 2 tbsp whiskey
● 2 bowls lettuce w/ taco-seasoned ground beef, grated cheddar, pico de gallo, a few tortilla strips, & Newman's Own lite Italian dressing

189 lbs (-40) [4X]

My body told me to take it easy yesterday, so I did (for a Sunday).

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 2 coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey & 2 tsp fiber
● .5 cup Grant's Scotch
● Trader Joe's pumpkin bar
● 4 slices potato w/ cheddar cheese & bacon bits
● Chocolate peanut butter Balance bar
● Lots of steamed asparagus
● 3 slices bacon
● 8 mouthfuls Pop-Secret Movie Theater Butter popcorn

Boardwalk Whisky -- 189 lbs (-40) [3X]

As I alluded to yesterday, Canadian Club is the smuggled whisky of choice in the prohibition-era HBO television series Boardwalk Empire. No whisky diet would be complete without it.

Side note: I had ordered Canadian Club Reserve 10 Yr, but received Canadian Club Reserve 9 Yr. I haven’t been able to determine if both a 9 and 10 year are currently produced, or the folks at Beam Inc. decided that the 10th year didn’t make a valuable difference.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 10 mouthfuls Pop-Secret Movie Theater Butter popcorn
● 1.25 cups Canadian Club Reserve 9 Yr
● Apple slice dipped in caramel
● 10 Cheez-Its
● 3.5 slices bacon
● 2.5 oz Nissin Cup Noodles Spicy Chile Chicken w/ 1 tbsp whiskey (no noodles)
● Jade Dragon beef satay
● Jade Dragon sweet & sour chicken piece (no sauce)
● 13 cheddar cheese cubes & 9 mini pretzels
● Coffee w/ .25 cup whiskey
● .25 cup Absinthe Ordinaire

188 lbs (-41)

My emotional connection to whisky runs deep on my mother's side of the family, but it wasn't until I started watching "Boardwalk Empire" that I found a connection on my father's side. My paternal grandparents hailed from Philadelphia, and they spent most of their summers in Atlantic City -- I think they even owned an apartment there, and several of my grandmother's relatives lived there. I spent many vacations in Atlantic City in the 70's and formed many memories in this magical place. I learned to tie my shoes, bodysurf, jump on a trampoline, and play ping pong there. I met many cousins, heard my first Beatles album (Abbey Road), saw Star Wars at a drive-in, and was introduced to the best hoagies I've ever tasted in Atlantic City. But my favorite memory of all is the boardwalk itself. My family would rent bicycles and ride from one end of the boardwalk to the other. I would always look forward to seeing the giant Mr. Peanut by the peanut store and smelling the fresh peanut and taffy aroma as we rode by.

This was all before gambling was legalized and casinos started springing up, so there was a family-friendly innocence at that time. I had no idea that Atlantic City flourished during Prohibition in the 20's, and was a major smuggling destination for Canadian whisky:



I will be drinking Canadian Club today in remembrance of what, for me, was the 2nd happiest place on earth--largly built by whisky.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 12 oz Tsingtao beer
● Bamboo Kitchen chicken w/ vegetables (no rice)
● 12oz New Belgium Somersault Ale
● .9 cup Monarch of the Glen 12yr
● Slice bacon
● 7 slices potato w/ cheddar cheese & bacon bits
● 4 Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwich
● Coffee w/ .25 cup whiskey
● .25 cup Absinthe Ordinaire

No Butts -- 189 lbs (-40) [2X]

I love everything about this diet, except losing my butt padding. I can feel my bones crunching when I sit on bare surfaces now!

What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 12 oz Budweiser Select
● .95 cup Monarch of the Glen 12yr
● McDonald's Caesar salad w/ grilled chicken, pinch of mozzarella & Newman's Own lite Italian dressing (no croutons or tomatoes)
● .5 McDonald's small french fries
● Coffee w/ .32 cup whiskey

189 lbs (-40)

Finally! I'm back in the eighties. I can almost see the eye of the tiger.

(Sorry if that song is stuck in your head now.)

What I consumed yesterday:
● .32 cup Cutty Sark
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● McDonald's pancake (.8) w/ sausage
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● .32 cup Cutty Sark
● 2.15 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● 8 Papa John's buffalo wings w/ blue cheese dressing
● 4 Papa John's chicken poppers w/ blue cheese dressing
● 5 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels
● Snyder's peanut butter pretzel sandwich
● Papa John's cheese pizza slice (no crust)
● Coffee w/ .25 cup whiskey & 2 tsp fiber

Leftovers -- 190 lbs (-39) [5X]

I planned to finish off just the Teacher's last night, as it looked to have at least a third cup left; so I was surprised when it only filled two-thirds of a third cup. At the end of the night, I thought I'd have what looked like two-thirds of a third cup of remaining Cutty Sark, but it easily filled a third cup with possibly as much left over (I dare not guess again). The bottles are different colors/shapes and maybe Teacher's has a slightly thicker bottom, but at the end of the day I have absolutely no skill at estimated the volume of a bottle. I decided to pass on the Cutty Sark until breakfast.

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffee w/ 2.5 tbsp & 2 tsp fiber
● 4.5 oz pouch StarKist Tuna Creations (Lemon Pepper)
● .22 cup Teachers Highland
● .55 cup Monarch of the Glen 12yr
● 12 oz Archer Farms frozen veggies w/ grated mozzarella & cheddar
● Big slice garlic bread w/ grated mozzarella
● .75 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● 10.5 oz Campbell's Vegetarian Vegetable soup

Progress Photo -- 190 lbs (-39) [4X]

I was really hoping to be back in the 80's today. Maybe tomorrow.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● .32 cup Teachers Highland
● 1.5 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● 3 slices Boboli pizza tops w/ 3 turkey meatballs
● Small portion of spaghetti w/ sauce, 2 turkey meatballs, & grated parmesan

Keep Walking -- 190 lbs (-39) [3X]

Finally got to Johnnie Walker Red yesterday, pretty much the global standard for blended scotch, but a bit pricy so I bought the cute 375 ml bottle. Johnnie is another scotch I fondly remember from my grandparent's liquor display, with the cool striding man and square bottle. The squareness was a brilliant marketing strategy to reduce breakage and fit more bottles on store shelves. It's good stuff, but costs extra for the brand. If anyone out there cares to sponsor me, I'd gladly drink more of it, but until then, I'll walk other ways.



What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● .1 cup Grant's
● 2.5 oz Nissin Cup Noodles Spicy Chile Chicken w/ 1 tbsp whiskey (no noodles)
● 1.65 Johnnie Walker Red
● 2 slices Boboli pizza tops
● 22 Fritos corn chips
● 3-egg omelet w/ cheddar cheese, bacon, & Red Robin-seasoned ground beef
● 6 Kroger tater bites
● .32 cup Absinthe Ordinaire
● Red Robin corn dog (w/ half the corn)

Cutty Sark -- 190 lbs (-39) [2X]

I was so dreading yesterday.

I've lived my whole life with powerful memories (accurate or not) of the men on my mother's side of the family drinking Cutty Sark. For the most part, they were all Bostonian, Jewish, and executive shoe salesmen, so I'm not sure what combination of those things had an affinity with Cutty Sark, but I got the impression that that scotch ran deep in that part of the family. I have fond memories (accurate or not) of my grandfather, Poppy, drinking Cutty Sark every evening when I stayed with my grandparents during the summer when I was like 5 and 6. Poppy tragically died a few years later, but my grandmother continued to keep the Cutty Sark, Johnnie Walker, Drambui, and other Scottish liquors proudly displayed in her dining/living room, and I always thought of Poppy when I saw them.

So including Cutty Sark, which is probably the coolest sounding brand name in the world, in my diet was an obligatory rite of passage, but when I tried Cutty Sark earlier this week, it tasted so horribly bitter that I couldn't even finish half of the .08 cup and I almost threw up. But with all the personal baggage of this scotch, I had to find a way to power through it yesterday. Amazingly, my first dram in the morning tasted fine. Good, even. My earlier experience was Grant's followed by Cutty Sark, which was clearly a very bad sequence (for me). I went on to drink nothing but Cutty Sark all day, not watered down or anything, and I believe that part of my family's honor and tradition has been preserved.

Thanks, Poppy et al, for the deep-rooted emotional attachment.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 2.5 cups Cutty Sark
● 4 baby carrots
● 2 bites frosted sugar cookie
● Red Robin Ensenada chicken platter (1 breast)
● .3 Red Robin bbq bacon cheeseburger
● 15 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels w/ Jif peanut butter

Tastes Like Gasoline -- 191 lbs (-38) [5X]

It's obvious that I love whisky and whiskey, but it is perhaps less obvious that I have slowly developed that love over the last 10 years, most of that in the last 5, and it has only become an obsession since I started this diet. Most of my life, whisky/whiskey tasted like gasoline, and if I drank it, it was heavily on the rocks or mixed, and to get drunk. I had the great fortune to join a rock band about 6 years ago, and for about 2 years was immersed in a bourbon and scotch culture. In this context, whisky/whiskey was more of a fuel for energy-demanding performance as well as a creativity stimulus. I started to appreciate, to a limited extent, the differences between different brands, and genuinely liked some of them (especially Evan Williams and Bushmills). After the band split up, I settled into Evan Williams because it was the best long-term value, and I kept mostly to it until a few months ago. This diet has unexpectedly led me to expand beyond my base of Evan Williams to keep things interesting, and I have found whisky/whiskey to be a wonderfully complex yet subtle world capable of sustaining a lifetime of exploration. I've come a long way since "tastes like gasoline". Thanks, Trick Mode, for breaking me in.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ .24 cup whiskey
● 2 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● .32 cup Teachers Highland
● 1.5 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● Bowl of lettuce w/ Newman's Own lite Italian dressing
● 2 slices Boboli pizza w/ lots of Red Robin-seasoned ground beef
● .32 cup Canadian Club Reserve 10 Yr
● 12 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels

190 lbs (-39)

My Ironman weight scale is now telling me that my metabolic age is 45. Oh, Ironman, you flatterer, you!

What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 2 12 oz Bud Light Lime
● .32 cup Teachers Highland
● 1.5 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● Cup salad w/ whatever dressing they use in teriyaki restaurants
● Himitsu Teriyaki vegi stir fry w/ chicken
● .32 cup Absinthe Ordinaire
● 10 Rold Gold pretzels

Teacher Me More -- 191 lbs (-38) [4X]

Apparently, Teacher's was the first popular bottled alcohol to use stopper corks (http://www.scottishfield.co.uk/article/145-Whisky_in_The_Garioch.html). The inventor, William Manera, was Adam Teacher's nephew. Their ad slogan was "Bury the Corkscrew", which played to the high-risk dangers of using cork screws. This rings true even in these modern times, as portrayed in this video:



Oddly enough, someone has written a book about the history of corkscrews:



What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ 2 tsp fiber
● 24 oz Bud Light & Clamato
● .32 cup Teachers Highland
● 1 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● Small flour tortilla w/ Red Robin-seasoned ground beef & grated cheddar
● Red Robin-seasoned ground beef w/ lettuce, grated cheddar, and salsa
● .5 cup Absinthe Ordinaire

Why Is It Green? -- 191 lbs (-38) [3X]

I've included absinthe (aka "the green fairy") in my diet because it symbolized a deliberate denial of normal life and its obligations around the turn of the 20th century, and that speaks to what I am trying to accomplish with this diet (and I need a break from whisky now and then).

Absinthe was an inspiration for the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain. It somehow became associated with the ills of society and was banned in the early 1910's--it was not allowed back into the United States until 2007! That some of society's worst atrocities have occurred during the ban, I make no comment.

The big question amongst the family today was "why is it green?". Absinthe Ordinaire claims to be closest to the original recipe (minus the controversial thujone) and is distilled from Wormwood, Star Anise, Sweet Balm, Mugwort, and Peppermint. It is turned green by soaking some of these herbs in the product of the distillation (it is clear if this step is omitted).

What I consumed yesterday (vacation day):
● .08 cup Grant's Scotch
● .04 cup Cutty Sark (egad, too bitter for me!)
● .49 cup Teachers Highland
● .25 cup Canadian Club Reserve 10 Yr
● .50 cup Teachers Highland
● 17 Cheez-Its
● 12 big beef/sausage stuffed ravioli w/ grated parmesan & spaghetti sauce (I almost stopped here)
● .75 cup Absinthe Ordinaire (the last .25 mixed with water, which adds a bit of fun for you to discover)
● 12 oz Archer Farms frozen asparagus stir fry w/ parmesan & 2 turkey meatballs

Distilled Earth -- 192 lbs (-37) [4X]

I've found that Grant's makes an excellent whisky for base comparisons. I discovered that a couple days ago when dipping into the Teachers Highland. Compared to Grant's lack of character (or my inability to detect it), Teachers tasted complex, deep, semi-sweet and earthy. Yesterday, when I went straight to the Teachers, I did not have as dramatic an experience. This morning, I confirmed that a small starter of Grant's enhanced the flavor of Teachers for me. They make a good couple, and I do believe I shall make it my quest to find more.

What I consumed yesterday:
● 5.5 oz V8 juice
● .65 cup Roederer Estate brut champagne
● .32 cup Teachers Highland
● 1.5 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● 12 big beef/sausage stuffed ravioli w/ grated parmesan & spaghetti sauce (should have stopped here)
● Small portion of spaghetti w/ 2 small slices garlic bread & 2 turkey meatballs
● 9 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels

Grant's -- 191 lbs (-38) [2X]

According to proof66.com anyway, Grant's Family Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky ranks in the top 10%. That is a bit surprising, not because it is inexpensive (Grant's was the next step up from Lauder's at Safeway), but because the taste walks a fine line between smooth and weak. Grant's website claims that an equal part water releases the flavor, but adding water just made it taste like Lauder's to me. I would say, in my unprofessional opinion, that it is to scotch what Evan Williams is to bourbon, but relatively more expensive. In other words, I would drink it like water (without the water) if it was cheaper.

I will duly note, however, that the shape of the bottle is pretty darn cool. It reminds me of the Flatiron Building in New York City, so it deserves points for presentation.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Coffee w/ 3 tbsp absinthe & 2 tsp fiber (seemed like a clever idea, but this was not good)
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● .96 cup Grant's Scotch
● 1 cup shredded home-grown carrots
● .32 cup Teachers Highland (I've got some kind words for this!)
● 6 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels & 6 pretzel M&M's
● .25 cup Grant's Scotch w/ equal part water (meh)
● .75 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● McDonald's grilled chicken CBO sandwich
● 25 McDonald's french fries
● 2 Taco Time mexi-fries
● 6 pieces chicken from Taco Time fit-hit bowl
● .25 cup Absinthe Ordinaire (it's a fine way to end the day)

191 lbs (-38)

Good alcohol surfing yesterday. I shot the tube and bodaciously carved around some gnarly shopping & home temptations. And no wipeouts!

What I consumed yesterday:
● 1 cup Evan Williams whiskey
● 2 bites McDonalds plain cheeseburger
● Chocolate coin
● .5 cup Grant's Scotch
● 1.5 cup Wine Cube pinot noir
● Jade Dragon garlic chicken wings w/ grilled onions
● Cabbage & grated cheddar cheese
● Cheddar cheese cubes & 5 mini pretzels
● .25 cup Absinthe Ordinaire

The Edge Of Control -- 192 lbs (-37) [3X]

"So what is the role of alcohol in this diet?", a colleague asked yesterday. A mighty fine question for which I've done a mighty poor job of answering thus far.

A few diets, such as the Banting Diet and Drinking Man's Diet prominently feature alcohol, as well as diets that have been practiced by contemporaries such as Lady Gaga and Christian Bale, but mine is decidedly different. These other diets include food restrictions, carb and/or calorie counting, and/or exercise--none of which would work for me. Instead, I use alcohol as a tool to avoid all of these things.

As mentioned previously, I practice a form of "intermittent fasting". Usually, intermittent fasting involves consuming no calories for at least 16 hours, and while I do this sometimes, it can get uncomfortable. I find that alcohol in moderate doses does a fabulous job of turning the discomfort of hunger into an enhanced pleasure, and that whisky has a mental simulation effect beyond that. This is no secret--whisky drinkers have known this for hundreds of years. It is also no secret that alcohol in excess leads to all sorts of bad effects, the least of which is over-eating, so you can see where drinking to lose weight takes a certain amount of discipline, and is not even an option for many people's situations.

So anyone who thinks this diet is about getting drunk is mistaken. It is about riding the edge of control for maximum gain, like a tow-in surfer, formula racer, base jumper, or anyone that wants to push the limits of what is possible. But I'm not remotely as crazy or skilled as these extreme sport folks. It is rare that I pull off the perfect whisky diet day--if you go over my consumption logs you can see that I've over-eaten on many occasions--and yet, I have achieved impressive weight gains in spite of my follies. While I am certain someone more disciplined could do much better, a more rapid weight loss may be too much strain on the body, so perhaps I am striking the right balance here. Perhaps the key to a successful whisky diet is riding the crest of hunger, alcohol, and feasting--let's call it "alcohol surfing".

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey & 2 tsp fiber
● 3 cups syrah (I forgot to note the brand)
● 5 buffalo chicken drumettes w/ small cuts of assorted cheese
● .6 cup Lauder's scotch whisky
● 4 slices Boboli pizza w/ 3 slices bacon
● Apple slice dipped in Jif peanut butter

Grocery List -- 192 lbs (-37) [2X]

I'm a bit excited to place my Total Wine order of (mostly) blended scotch today for pick-up tomorrow. Here's what's on the menu (in order of sampling):

● Grant's Scotch
● Teachers Highland
● Cutty Sark
● Johnnie Walker Red
● Chivas Regal
● Canadian Club Reserve 10 Yr
● Monarch of the Glen 12yr
● Absinthe Ordinaire (actually, this will be spread throughout)

Should make for a fun 4+ weeks!

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey & 2 tsp fiber
● .96 cup Lauder's scotch whisky
● 12 oz Archer Farms frozen Mediterranean blend w/ parmesan, swiss cheese, & turkey meatball
● Small plate spaghetti w/ sauce, 2 turkey meatballs, & shaved parmesan
● .32 cup Evan Williams whiskey
● Slice Boboli pizza

The Drinking Man's Diet -- 193 lbs (-36) [3X]

At one point, I was going to rename this blog to “The Drinking Man's Diet”, but then I stumbled upon a book with the same title. Apparently, "The Drinking Man's Diet" was a diet fad in the mid-sixties (claiming to be the first low-carb diet, but really the Banting diet was). It was a scrawny little book that sold well over 2 million copies in 13 languages in 3 years until a Harvard nutritionist called the diet “mass murder” in the press. Although the diet is highly criticized, the fellow who wrote the book, Robert Cameron, lived it for 98 years—outliving Robert Atkins, who practiced the no-alcohol version, by over 25 years (he died of a heart attack at 73)!

So you see, those of you who think I’m killing myself should think again. Combining the weight loss effects of a low-carb diet with the reduction in heart disease associated with alcohol consumption makes some sense. It worked for Robert Cameron, anyway.



What I consumed yesterday:
● 48 oz Bud Light
● 10 tortilla chips w/ bean dip & salsa
● 12 oz Budweiser Select
● .5 cup Lauder's scotch whisky
● .65 cup Wine Cube cabernet/shiraz
● Bowl of lettuce w/ Newman's Own lite Italian dressing
● 4 slices Boboli pizza w/ taco-seasoned ground beef

3-Month Anniversary -- 193 lbs (-36) [2X]

Three months down, nine to go! I see myself hitting my goal around the end of November (if Halloween & Thanksgiving don't throw me off), then shifting into more of a maintenance mode. Not sure exactly what that will look like yet, but I expect it to be something like a day of feasting followed by a few days of whisky dieting. So-o looking forward to that!

What I consumed yesterday:
● 5.5 oz V8 juice
● 2 mini Mr. Goodbar's
● .33 cup Lauder's scotch whisky
● 1.25 cup Wine Cube cabernet/shiraz
● Himitsu Teriyaki vegi stir fry w/ chicken
● 15 Goldfish crackers
● 15 Rold Gold tiny twist pretzels

Lauder's -- 194 lbs (-35) [3X]

Halloween candy sweetness
T'is very very bad
tooth decay
me want to die now

--Haiku about Lauder's by Jason Debly

My unexpected new-found love of scotch has me wanting to never go another day without a dram, so I went to Safeway to find something cheap until I can get to Total Wine to stock up on a better variety. In fact, I'm planning to do something of a tour of blended scotch whiskies, so what better place to start than at the bottom, with Lauder's, which is exactly where the scotch-savvy place it. Pathetically, Lauder's doesn't taste that bad to me at this stage in my palette development--just a bit watery.

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey
● 12 oz Budweiser Select
● .56 cup Lauder's scotch whisky
● .75 cup Wine Cube cabernet/shiraz
● Taco-seasoned ground beef w/ lettuce, grated cheddar, and salsa
● Coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey

As Prong Was -- 195 lbs (-34) [4X]

I try to write down anything with calories that I consume on a sticky note, because, well, my memory stinks. Unfortunately, so does my handwriting. Case in point, I wrote down something that is completely illegible and I had no idea what it was when I woke up today. I later remembered 2 other things I ate:

● 3 baby carrots dipped in Jif chocolate silk peanut butter
● A lot of asparagus

My powers of deduction lead me to believe that "As prong was" translates to "asparagus".

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 pretzel M&M's
● 1 cup Evan Williams whiskey
● 5.5 oz V-Fusion Light Pomegranate & Blueberry juice
● 4 small bites cookie
● .5 cup Lauders scotch whisky
● 1.5 cup Wine Cube cabernet/shiraz
● 10.5 oz Market Pantry healthy cream of mushroom soup (straight out of the can)
● 3 slices bacon
● 3-egg omelet w/ cheddar cheese & bacon
● As prong was
● 30 Goldfish crackers
● Bite of Fosters Farm corn dog

Sunday Sermon -- 195 lbs (-34) [3X]

Last week I was involved in a discussion about dieting with work mates when an unfamiliar fellow proudly chimed in that he had lost 16 lbs in 2 months on the green coffee diet. Somebody mentioned that I was on the whisky diet, and after a short laugh, the conversation turned to the more serious, plausible, and exciting green coffee diet. At every turn, the concept of a whisky diet is dismissed as a joke, and yet its roots are firmly entrenched in history and science. It is only at odds with present day society, with its incongruent, displaced obsession of striving to be healthy while being woefully unhealthy.

We live in strange times, when weathermen are still no better at predicting the weather than a Ouija board, when new scientific findings seem to invalidate what was held to be true just yesterday, only to be contradicted again tomorrow, when everyone is offended by anything, and when people are too insecure about their livelihoods to be genuine.

The whisky diet is not a joke. It is a backlash against the falsehoods that modern life holds dear, and it puts the green coffee diet, and its ilk, to shame. There is a deep reason why alcohol has been with us since the beginning, and whisky in particular has fueled countless philosophers, artists, and leaders. Alcohol, like nature in general, is a substance to be controlled and tamed in a civilized manner, in order to reap its benefits, rather than avoided because we can't handle it and don't want others to succeed where we fail.

Diets of the world, go fuck yourselves!

Note: It is a general facet of dieting that anyone successful in a diet will become cocky and condescending--I am no exception in this matter.

What I consumed yesterday:
● 2 coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey
● .5 cup Wine Cube cabernet/shiraz
● 50 ml Jack Daniels whiskey
● 3 Nabisco Handi-Snacks cracker & cheese w/ slice of swiss cheese
● .5 cup Monarch of the Glen whisky
● McDonald's chipolte bbq chicken snack wrap
● 12 McDonald's french fries
● 4 oz Swiss Miss Triple Chocolate Dream pudding
● 50 ml Early Times whiskey
● .72 cup Evan Williams whiskey
● 6 Fosters Farm turkey meatballs w/ shaved parmesan & cheddar cheese cubes
● 1 cup Wine Cube cabernet/shiraz
● 14 mini pretzels
● Coffee w/ 3 tbsp whiskey
● 8 pretzel M&M's
● Big slice garlic bread

Closet Scot -- 194 lbs (-35) [2X]

Okay, I don't know jack about Scotch ale*, other than it is my favorite beer by a long shot. I can't help wonder if there is a connection between my love of Scotch whisky and Scotch ale. Am I a closet Scot? Or have I just developed a strong preference for barley over many, many years of drinking? I am thinking the latter.

*My simplistic understanding of Scotch ale that it has a higher barley-to-hop ratio and longer boiling of wort, making it sweeter and higher in alcohol--how could that not be great?

What I consumed yesterday:
● 40 oz Second Sight scotch ale
● 2 slices Flying Saucer Spud'Nik pizza
● 50 ml Jim Beam whiskey
● 50 ml Jim Beam Devils's Cut whiskey
● Spaghetti w/ sauce, 2 meatballs, shaved parmesan, & 2 slices of garlic bread
● .7 cup Wine Cube cabernet/shiraz

Humphrey Bogart -- 193 lbs (-36)

"I should never have switched from Scotch to Martini's"
--Humphrey Bogart

Supposedly these were his last words, but a reputable source claims Bogart said this during a career slump. Not as dramatic, but more believable.

What I consumed yesterday:
● Trader Joes No Iron Multivitamin
● 8 oz Darigold 1% fat chocolate milk
● 40 oz Bud Light
● 11 tortilla chips w/ bean dip & salsa
● Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich w/ half of bun
● .75 small Wendy's french fries
● .32 cup Evan Williams whiskey
● .7 cup Wine Cube malbec
● .56 cup Monarch of the Glen whisky
● The rest of the Himitsu Teriyaki chicken (no rice)