Dave_in_Canada
05-03-2004, 11:58
"A long time ago i sampled XYZ and today's version just doesn't compare" or "LMN bourbon sure isn't what it used to be" or "I tried PQR many years ago and recall the flavor was .....".
These and similar statements are common on SB.com. I find them interesting.
Most often, claims are made that the bourbon changed. While this is probably often the case, within certain bounds, I'd like you to consider that the TASTER has also changed., for the following reasons:
1. With aging, the body's abililty to taste and smell also changes, most likely for the worse (ie. a dulling of the senses). While we can train and to some degree improve our senses throughout life, most of this training occurs at very young ages, or is a god-given gift that some folks downright lack.
2. Memory has a tendency to play tricks on the present. For example: a bourbon sampled with the best of experiences of time and place will generally improve with age! Ahhh, first love.
3. A person's general disposition may subliminally affect their present perseption of the past, and future. If you're an eternal optomist, your perception of past flavours and a current tasting will likely be different that if you're a pessimist.
Just a few thoughts that have been on my mind lately.
[edit: for future reference, while the above may seem obvious, if you don't take these points into consideration when doing a serious tasting, you're guilty of breaking the "I remember when..." rule]
http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif
These and similar statements are common on SB.com. I find them interesting.
Most often, claims are made that the bourbon changed. While this is probably often the case, within certain bounds, I'd like you to consider that the TASTER has also changed., for the following reasons:
1. With aging, the body's abililty to taste and smell also changes, most likely for the worse (ie. a dulling of the senses). While we can train and to some degree improve our senses throughout life, most of this training occurs at very young ages, or is a god-given gift that some folks downright lack.
2. Memory has a tendency to play tricks on the present. For example: a bourbon sampled with the best of experiences of time and place will generally improve with age! Ahhh, first love.
3. A person's general disposition may subliminally affect their present perseption of the past, and future. If you're an eternal optomist, your perception of past flavours and a current tasting will likely be different that if you're a pessimist.
Just a few thoughts that have been on my mind lately.
[edit: for future reference, while the above may seem obvious, if you don't take these points into consideration when doing a serious tasting, you're guilty of breaking the "I remember when..." rule]
http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif