Critical listening and altered states

Mike Lavigne, thanks for your thoughtful response. This is what makes audio so much fun.  Music lovers like us, and lucky enough to have a decent playback  system, seek out this knowledge from those who have been there, done that.  Great topic.  Personally, I don’t “enjoy “ critical listening. It’s just one of those things, skills,  we need for evaluation. Some folks have the golden ears and some don’t, it seems.  So all your suggestions are indeed, helpful!
 I love my system, room…and I really enjoy having my Audiofoo friends over for a long evening of good tunes, refreshments and whatever enhances the experience. FYI, last night I played The Pusher, by Steppenwolf, as a warning to all my crazy friends.  

Cannabis and music have gone together for me since I was a teenager, and I just turned 70. That's for either listening at home or going to a gig.... Used to enjoy music with acid and 'shrooms, but it's been 3 or 4 decades since I indulged in those! 

It's interesting how different people take the question in opposite directions. It's an interesting question, not because it questions the use of mind altering substances, but because it opens the door to questioning the mind itself. What's the difference between the music and your mind? Can they be separated? I hope these are not debatable questions.

My condolences to anyone who would use the term "pothead" in a thread like this. 

@millercarbon Lagavulin is close to the tops for me; 16 years and ready for love. I'm also a big Talisker fan. Laphroig is too smoky/peaty but those others march me up as close as I need.

Thanks for the tips. Whiskey flavors are so distinctive it is great in the sense you can find "the one" that is pure magic which I always imagined but never experienced until Angel's Envy. Delicious! Found myself holding it in my hand allowing the warmth to release more aroma, which made it like slow-motion sipping enjoying the smell as much as the taste, then holding it in my mouth putting off swallowing as long as possible because then that wonderful flavor goes down the gullet. But then comes the warmth and the finish, the lingering never-ending finish. Have I mentioned I like this stuff???!😍 

Just found Metropolitan Market has a bottle and not far from home! Will keep those others in mind for my next visit to Mikelavigne's tasting, er I mean listening room.😁