View Full Version : Entertaining Friends/Family with Primo Bourbon
JamesH007
02-17-2006, 21:09
Just curious how any of you share your Bourbon with your non-bourbonian close friends/family ? esp the good stuff.
I recently had some family visit from out of state and thought it would be a nice after dinner treat to break out some Stagg (130.9) and Sazerac 18 and give them a little tasting. To my suprise I dont think they liked the Stagg very much, and the Sazerac did not go over much better. They appreciated the flights of Bourbon but my there were some 1/2 full ones left (Lucky me http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif
Talking ) and I dont the Bourbon was fully appreciated. Would I have been better off letting them try some Lot B or Buffalo Trace? They do enjoy a good drink but I do not think they were Bourbon drinkers
My question is do you share your good bottles with non-bourbon drinking friends/family, and if so what and how. I thought the Stagg and Sazerac would be a good choice b/c they are so different from traditional Bourbons, looks like I was wrong. Maybe I will treat them next time with some 4-grain and Coke ???? (I need to find some way to get rid of the stuff_
ProofPositive
02-17-2006, 23:15
Just curious how any of you share your Bourbon with your non-bourbonian close friends/family ? esp the good stuff.
I dont the Bourbon was fully appreciated. Would I have been better off letting them try some Lot B or Buffalo Trace? They do enjoy a good drink but I do not think they were Bourbon drinkers
My question is do you share your good bottles with non-bourbon drinking friends/family, and if so what and how.
Glad someone asked the question.....I've thought about this myself as well. I have decided that these folks will get the mid-shelf or second shelf bourbon from my inventory. BT is a good choice as well as EC12, Weller Spl Rsv, OC, JB Black, etc. These are also going to be the bottles that I have almost emptied but just can't seem to knock them out (due to a variety of reasons). I would also add EWSB to that group as I have not been impressed with it at all so far. That way, I can get them out of the way for new openings once the company is gone.
Nothing against the above-mentioned (except the Weller SR), just less expensive to waste. I know this may all sound a bit unhospitable....but, I see no reason to look around the room after everyone has left to find half-filled glasses of GTS, VWSW, WTKS, WTRR, Pappy 15 or better. That is enough to make a grown man cry!
Now, if one or more folks in the crowd drink bourbon are appreciative of the finer pours, that changes things. Normally though, my company is going to be just like yours and I refuse to open the best stuff.
If you really want to throw them a curve and don't mind giving it up, pour everyone a good dose of WT101. That will convert them faster than anything else! And, everyone will leave warm & fuzzy!
Fortunately, most of my friends like bourbon. Therefore, I open the doors to my stash and allow them to pick whatever they want. For those that are not bourbon drinkers but want a pour, I provide Evan Williams 1783 or Elmer T Lee. Subsequently, if they show interest, I will provide Van Winkle 12 year old. After dinner at family gatherings, my family generally prefers Vintage Port; therefore, they get an old (60, 63, or 75) Vintage Port.
Doug
DrinkyBanjo
02-18-2006, 04:59
I'm the same as you. I open up all of my bottles to whoever would like a taste. I try to cater to what I think they'll like and try to get them more interested.
NO WAY would I let most of my friends have a drink from some of my expensive bottles. Even though most of them drink bourbon(and like it), they can't tell the difference between a $11 bottle and a $50 bottle. So just give them some regular AA or Jim Beam white and their happy. Out of the people I know that drink bourbon, I only think one or two of them may have the ability to appreciate the finer bourbons.
BSS,
Have you ever given those that like bourbon an opportunity to comapre a lower-shelf bourbon to an upper-shelf bourbon?
Doug
I've only been drinking Bourbon for about 1 and half years. We were at my in-laws and he offered me a drink of Makers, and I was hooked. I found the Makers to be smooth and full of flavor. That's the only Bourbon I drank for the first year, and then I found this site.
Most of my neighbors are beer drinkers, but when we had a party, they wanted to try it, so I picked what I thought was my "smoothest most flavor filled" bottle at the time, Basil Hayden. While they enjoyed it, I don't think I converted anyone like the MM did for me.
Personally I love food and drink, I love the preparation the flavors the whole experience around it. I don't have any "real expensive" bottles, but some that were "difficult" to find, and I was able to get a few of those. The fun for me is being able to share them with people who enjoy it or want to try it.
Doug,
Most of them have tried better bourbons, and they say they can tell a small difference in taste, but they don't care for one over the other. They say it might taste a little different, but they can’t say it taste any better.
Basically I feel that they can use their own money to test their bourbon tastes and until they express a liking of higher end bourbon over lower end ones, they can keep saving money by buying the cheap stuff.
My personal opinion is that about 90% of bourbon drinkers could not tell you which bourbon is the better one between a $15 bottle and a $75 bottle in a blind test. That’s just my opinion, which probably greatly differs than that of many people on this board. I'm one of those people that can't.
BourbonJoe
02-18-2006, 14:16
Doug,
My personal opinion is that about 90% of bourbon drinkers could not tell you which bourbon is the better one between a $15 bottle and a $75 bottle in a blind test. That’s just my opinion, which probably greatly differs than that of many people on this board. I'm one of those people that can't.
We taste blind all the time. I bet I can pick the $75 bourbon EVERY time.
Joe :usflag:
Thus, my 90% statement.
Now the question is:
Can you pick the more expensive one because you know what either of the brands taste like, thus you know which one is the more expensive?
Or
Do you know how good a $75 bourbon should taste like? So when you taste one blind, you know that it is the more expesive one because it tastes better.
Maybe you all should try that at one of the Bourbon Fest events you all do? See what % of you all can guess the cheaper bourbon.
tsangster
02-18-2006, 16:12
Cracked open a bottle of WLW last week and had my standard sized pour. Out of curiosity I followed with the same sized pour of EW BIB (a new-found lower shelf favorite). I'm still quite a newbie and this was not a blind test. However, if given the opportunity for a blind test and I failed to identify the more expensive bourbon, I hope that someone would have the stones to encourage me to give up bourbon and begin drinking ???? - was going to mention the name of a certain light beer but don't want to offend the Colorado bourbonians.
brian12069
02-19-2006, 06:09
Doug,
My personal opinion is that about 90% of bourbon drinkers could not tell you which bourbon is the better one between a $15 bottle and a $75 bottle in a blind test. That’s just my opinion, which probably greatly differs than that of many people on this board. I'm one of those people that can't.
I have over 20 different bourbons in my bar. Sometimes I have my wife pour me a glass when I am out of the room to do a blind taste test. I almost always tell her which one she poured...she is amazed that I can taste that much difference.
I offer whatever is in my bar to any interested whisky drinker that stops by. I have also started poeple that have never tasted bourbon with Maker's, Knob Creek and Woodford just to let them taste. Some say thanks and go on,but many others now consider themselves "converted" and stop by from time to time with a Thank You botle to share and most times leave as thanks.
As far as not being able to tell one drink from another I admit that when my wife does blind tasting for me I struggle, I am however getting much better. I see it as all part of my learning curve, accellerated by the information and the sharing on this board.
RedVette
02-20-2006, 16:05
All bottles are fair game for any visitors except the Distillers Masterpiece, and the Van Blankles. I bought all of the others, so anybody who wishes can help themselves but the aforementioned ones were all gifts, so that makes them off limits. It may be weird but that is way my mind works. If I have a friend that is turning into a real Bourbon fan, I may someday offer up a taste, but probably not.
The key words in this thread is family and friends.
They are welcome to anything in my "BUNKER" :grin: I really don't care, that's why I have it. The key factor in my situation is that I don't drink "alot" of bourbon. If I did...I'd probably be a alcoholic. Too easy access to the product will get you in trouble. Sometimes, I feel like I have been swimming in bourbon...Gets old real quick when you have to wear soggy bourbon soaked shoes all night long :rolleyes:
During my party, I try to make rounds with my "special gift"...Most, grin really big when they see me walking the grounds looking for empty glasses...Newbies always ask "what's in there"...I just tell 'em...it'll knock your socks off...(and it usually does :grin: ) Old Friends and Family know what it is and just shove their glass toward me and grin :grin:
I have more...and will bring it to the Sampler :grin: :grin:
I love doing' that kind of stuff :grin: I give all of it away :grin: The best gift I can give :grin:
Bettye Jo
gr8erdane
02-20-2006, 19:05
Good question based by the myriad of answers I've read so far. My bunker is very accessable and laid out so that everything is visible. The first thing I do is offer and allow my friends or family to either try or not. I've found that if they don't want to try it and you force it on them you are wasting good whiskey because they have already made up their minds. My next question to them is if they have tried anything on the shelf before. If so, and the reply is not followed by a negative statement, that's where they start. A known point of reference. I then ask them what they like or dislike about that bourbon and work from there. If they like a sweeter bourbon, I try to steer them in that direction, if they like tangy, I might even bash em with a rye. Like any tour, there are so many different roads to travel, and it's easier on the passenger if you start out on the gravel road and work up to the interstate.
TNbourbon
02-20-2006, 20:21
I'm sad to say that I really don't have anyone locally with which to share, which is why I relish those opportunities to visit, or be visited by, others here. I hope others will vouch that, in those cases, anything I have is free for sharing.
There are a couple of customers at the liquor store where I work that have benefited from all the knowledge here, through me, and are on the way to becoming regular whiskey/bourbon aficianados.
JamesH007
02-20-2006, 20:38
Friends and Family.......
I too would share just about any of my Bourbon with them(along with a lot of other things)......and do !! But I wonder if I went the wrong way with the Stagg and Sazerac 18; and if they may not have enjoyed somthing else more. I think next time I may offer up some Blantons or VW lot B and go from there if they take a liking to it. I dont think the take your pick from the bunker would be a good way to go because the Rock Hill Farms would be everyones first choice (nothing against RH) its just such a damn pretty bottle !! Plus most of the time I am not at my house and the bunker is not very portable..
Its not about willingness to share, but rather the best way to do so.
gr8erdane
02-20-2006, 21:38
James, I think your offerings were a great testiment to your desire to give your family and friends a top quality tasting experience but these same choices are very challenging to even moderately experienced bourbon drinkers. Recently I tried the HH tasting barrel approach with a couple of friends who are not bourbon drinkers. I even used their examples, EWSB and EC18. I had them taste the EWSB straight and then again with just a dollop of water added. Then followed up with the EC18 the same way. The results were very favorable with my friends as they were able to taste the differences yet see the resemblances of the two offerings. I followed with some wheaters in the same way, ORVW 10/107 and Pappy 20. I then allowed them to peruse the rest of the selection and sample a couple more of their choosing. The experience was not overwhelming to them and they walked away with what seemed to be a greater appreciation for our favorite beverage.
Brennan77
02-21-2006, 15:37
I really don't mind sharing a pour or two with anyone who is genuinely interested. But I do mind sharing with mindless drunks. It's Mardi Gras over here. I live on the parade route and my front door stays open to family and friends, and their friends. My bourbon is hiding in my closet. No one is going to shoot a Pappy 20 year old, or even my Elmer T Lee. That's what the cheap vodka is for.
If you're interested in taste though, or even if I think you might be, you are more than welcome to share something nice with me, with the exception of the new bottle of Pappy 23, or maybe the Hirsch 16. That said, I do think I will start using a bit more discretion before offering my top shelf to non-bourbon drinkers. The problem is that in my experience, I really don't think they appreciate expensive pours. For instance, I think I would have done just as well to pour Eagle Rare or ETL in place of Pappy 20 the other night. I think I'll start with the bang for the buck value bottles next time.
robbyvirus
02-22-2006, 22:57
My two cents: If you're going to share with friends who are not really familiar with bourbon, and you're pouring the bourbon neat, do not pour a high proof bourbon like Stagg. Stay with something 90 proof. Most folks who aren't used to drinking whiskey neat will notice high alcohol content more than any flavor, and the burn will turn them off. I'd stick with top-notch 90 proofs, like Blanton's or Van Winkle Lot B.
jburlowski
02-23-2006, 16:55
I usually keep a bottle of Basil Hayden for neophytes to try. The lower proof and milder taste profile make it a good "introduction" bourbon.
Some here would consider it sacriledge but I also enjoy it myself when I want a gentle, summertime pour.
Some here would consider it sacriledge but I also enjoy it myself when I want a gentle, summertime pour.
The only issue I have seen concerning Basil Haydens is the price for an 80 proofer. On it's own it is fine and I urge all who attend the sampler to have a good drink of this at Beam Global Spirits and Wine expense.
wrbriggs
02-23-2006, 18:37
Well you've already received quite a few responses, but you'll end up getting my $0.02 anyway...
Any guest is welcome to anything in my bunker, but 99% of the folks I have over have never tried whiskey before, so I usually try to steer them to something mild like MM, BH or possibly one of the Weller expressions (Weller SR or even Antique diluted to ~90 proof). One bourbon that seems to go over well with first-timers is Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve
If they try one and like it, I'll try to steer them to another bourbon that is similar but maybe a bit more challenging. If they don't like it, I usually ask why and see if I can come up with a different pour that they will enjoy. When all is said and done, some people just won't like bourbon, and I feel no compulsion to force them. For the ones that do enjoy bourbon, they are welcome to whatever I've got, but I will definitely warn them if they pick a challenging one.
Edward_call_me_Ed
02-25-2006, 04:05
I have had my wife do the blind pour twice. Somehow, out of all the bottles I have, probably over one hundred, both times she poured me a straight corn. Once it was Platte Valley and the other time it was Mellow corn. I identified them both times. But out of a couple of dozen bottles of scotch, maybe as many bottles of Japanese whisky and around fifty bourbons and ryes, plus a few brandies and rums and three straight corn whiskies, one of which is Georgia Moon in a jar, so she wouldn't have noticed it, she pours me Straight Corn both times.
Of course, I do do the odd "blind" pour myself. Sip, ah... "What the hell did I pour?" Usually, I can figure it out. Once I when that happened, I was drinking and could not for the life of me remember what it was. I wasn't really enjoying it. I kept saying to myself, "I hope this isn't one of my favorites... It really isn't that good." Finally, I walked back into my room to see if that would jar my memory. It did and I remember being relieved, but I can't remember what it was now. I don't have Alzheimer's, more like Halvesheimer's....
Ed
I don't think most folks can tell the difference between a good bourbon and a truly great bourbon without some tasting experience, so I don't like to waste my top stuff on casual drinkers or first-time bourbon tasters. That said, my stash of opened bottles is generally open to whatever people want to drink if they really express a preference. But they usually just ask me to recommend something.
I often offer Old Fitz 1849, which is one of my favorite everyday bourbons & it usually pleases, especially if they say they like Maker's, as it's fairly sweet and fairly smooth. (I used to keep around a bottle of Maker's to keep people out of my good stuff, but Old Fitz 1849 is cheaper and better, so I haven't restocked since my Maker's ran out.) But I'll also sometimes go with something basic but good like EC12 or JB Black or AAA 10 yr or maybe WT101. If they enjoy that or if I want to impress, I'll usually offer something like an ORVW 10/90, ER 10 SB, or maybe Lot B. I think I went through a whole bottle of ORVW 10/90 last year just pouring it for guests, and it was almost universally a big hit.
If they come back for seconds, I try to give them a rye bourbon if they started off on a wheater, or vice-versa. For the rye-heavy bourbons, I'll start them off on Old Grand-Dad BIB or Old Forester 100. If they like that, I send them down a rye/spice path towards things like Knob Creek, OFBB, Rock Hill Farms, OGD 114, etc. And I'll generally offer them a rye whiskey at some point too.
If they're not so keen on the rye-heavy bourbon, I'll have them try another Van Winkle bottling, often an up-market BT or WT bottling, maybe Woodford Reserve, r just something random from the cabinet that's not rye-heavy, 'til they can pinpoint what they like, and then I offer related bourbons.
I will also use repeat guests as an opportunity to get rid of presumably good bourbons that don't particularly impress me, like EWSB. I've even been known to give away such bottles if the guest enjoyed it after a tasting. I had a tasting last fall with a few friends where I gathered 5-7 bottles that I felt were "suspect" in one way or another based on previous tastings, and gave away the ones I didn't like to whomever in the group seemed to like them the most. Ended up giving away about half and keeping about half, I think.
I will also occasionally do side-by-side taste tests to demonstrate a point, such as putting Jack Daniels up against George Dickel No. 12, or Beam White up against Beam Black (or something else good). Or sometimes a wheated bourbon vs. a rye bourbon, just for contrast. The Dickel taste test, in particular, has won over several converts.
elkdoggydog
03-01-2006, 11:12
I usually keep a bottle of EW 7yo around when I have guests coming who I know will want to mix it with something or just have it on the rocks. It's a good bourbon that I'll pour for myself every once in a while, but not something I consider special. I'm happy to share my "nicer" bottles though. In general I don't buy whiskey that costs so much that I'll worry about sharing it- I'm a very pragmatic drinker in that respect, I guess.
If they ask about a particular bourbon in my cabinet, I'll tell them about it and pour it if they want it. I buy it for drinking.
I also keep a bottle of rye around, and gladly introduce people to that type of whiskey, or to an "authentic" Manhattan or Sazerac.
My whiskey is only as good as the company in which I drink it.
Sijan- your tastings that you put together sound great. Your friends are lucky.
rlovingjr
03-01-2006, 12:13
Bourbon is for sharing and I will gladly share any bottle I have as long as the particpant does not ask for ginger or coke with it. If they do something foolish like that I offer them the Jim Beam.
gr8erdane
03-03-2006, 06:09
Anybody ever tell you you bear an amazing resemblance to Richard Nixon?
Rancastle
03-03-2006, 09:32
My friends and family are welcome to anything I have, any damn way they want it!
gr8erdane
03-06-2006, 02:28
Woo Hoo! :woohoo:
This weekend's travelling SB.com party is at Randy's place!
My friends and family are welcome to anything I have, any damn way they want it!
Can I get mine to go?:slappin:
Rancastle
03-06-2006, 13:31
Dane...As long as you bring the rest of that green glass 23 your welcome anytime! :grin:
Jeff...Sorry I don't have the drive thru in yet!:slappin:
When the occasion presents itself, I will often start a friend with a wheater like Maker's Mark. As non whiskey drinkers, if they are going to like anything it will be the sweeter, milder stuff. Some stop there, some go back to beer/wine, and some look forward to trying something with some rye in it.
A week or so ago I treated a friend to the full range, from Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, through MM, WT Kentucky Spirit, Bulleit, and finally Sazerac 18 yr Rye. Lots of fun - he preferred the WT...
I think I've spoiled some of my guests. A regular was over last night and started looking through my cabinet - he first asked about the RR101, of which I have only about a third of a bottle left. I asked him to hold off on that until I could secure some more since it's been discontinued. He ended up "settling" for ORVW 10/107. When I asked him how he liked it, "It's alright I guess." And here I was thinking that ORVW 10/107 was one of the best bourbons I've got. But he was also drinking it straight and prefers to have it iced a bit, so maybe that affected his impression - also the 107 proof may have just been too strong for him. But I was amused that his attitude towards the Van Winkle was that it was just sort of an ok, mid-range bourbon that one sort of settles for if nothing else looks appealing. I think this is because one of the first pours I gave him was the ORVW 10/90.
JamesH007
03-15-2006, 18:15
My friends and family are welcome to anything I have, any damn way they want it!
Oh No!!!! Pappy20 and Coke??? please tell me your kidding
luv2hunt
03-15-2006, 20:19
Oh No!!!! Pappy20 and Coke??? please tell me your kidding
Rumor has it that Randy's Pappy 23 has been consumed with Coke! He's a wonderful HOST!
Dawn
Rancastle
03-16-2006, 08:59
Okay... Long story short. It wasn't my friend or family that committed this HEINOUS crime! Over the summer my oldest daughter had all of her collage friends over for a three day drunkfest. I blindly gave them access to my liquor cabinet, showing them one entire shelf that was off limits. Four kegs of beer and half the cabinet later, I had to lay down the KYBOSH!!! I discovered a nearly empty Pappy 23, and went ballistic. It did go into Coke but, I can laugh about it now. And the above statement still stands true with MY FRIENDS & FAMILY! :slappin:
bluesbassdad
03-16-2006, 09:07
:grin: Ah, ha! One might infer from your account that the secret may be to pare one's list of friends (and family?) based on their drinking habits. In this group I think that approach would be widely accepted. :grin:
Yours truly,
Dave Morefield
We taste blind all the time. I bet I can pick the $75 bourbon EVERY time.
Joe :usflag:
I also blind test often, and can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.
I like to use Russell's Reserve and Weller's 12 for this type of crowd. If they can appreciate these slight step up brands, then I bring out the rest.
I also blind test often, and can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.
You need to enter the tasting competition during the Festival!
ProofPositive
04-20-2006, 23:45
I like to use Russell's Reserve and Weller's 12 for this type of crowd. If they can appreciate these slight step up brands, then I bring out the rest.
Do you mean RR90? If so, I can understand your use of the words "slight step up brands". If you are referring to RR101, then I would beg to differ.....and, same for Weller 12. Of course just IMHO, but I strongly consider both of these labels well above "slight step up".....but, maybe I am just misunderstanding your use of words.
I also blind test often, and can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.
Do you have more than 2 on your shelf? :lol:
Thus, my 90% statement.
Now the question is:
Can you pick the more expensive one because you know what either of the brands taste like, thus you know which one is the more expensive?
Or
Do you know how good a $75 bourbon should taste like? So when you taste one blind, you know that it is the more expesive one because it tastes better.
Maybe you all should try that at one of the Bourbon Fest events you all do? See what % of you all can guess the cheaper bourbon.
--
BSS,
As worded, your 90% is clearly upside down. To tell the difference between $10-20 compared to $70-80 Whiskies (Scotch, Bourbon, Canadian or Irish) is not difficult at all. To prove this, you really need to taste a half ounce of Ten High directly followed (after a cracker or such) by a half ounce of Pappy Van-Winkle any vintage, or better still an Evan Williams Single Barrel. You won't pick the Ten High for your third shot.
If we change your wording to try to distinguish between a $40 dollar bottle or a $70 bottle, then I completely agree. Not many would be able to make this distinction and probably would be faking if they did.
Also note that money is not necessarily the indicator that you would seek here. Taste is everything. I have an $85 dollar bottle of Woodford Four Grain at home that is clearly the worst whiskey I have ever had. In contrast, the Evan Williams SB mentioned above, is outstanding by anybody's standards at only $26 every day off the shelf.
Try the test above. Send me a bill for the whiskey if I'm wrong.
I ... can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.
Do you have more than 2 on your shelf? :lol:
Ten High and Kentucky Gentlemen. MMM-MMM!
Do you mean RR90? If so, I can understand your use of the words "slight step up brands". If you are referring to RR101, then I would beg to differ.....and, same for Weller 12. Of course just IMHO, but I strongly consider both of these labels well above "slight step up".....but, maybe I am just misunderstanding your use of words.
I guess the slight step up refers to the slight price difference, as compared to a Pappy 15 or an Antique that you have to practically kill for, regardless of price. The RR is in the plain stubby bottle with no Turkey on the lasbel. I believe it is still 101 proof. I did not know 90 was available. Is that the older looking bottle with the Turkey on the label?
I keep both of these every day as good wheat and rye recipe examples at not a great cost. If friends don't like them or, more likely, start swilling them down in shots, I can still maintain polite conversation without cringing.
BrbnBorderline
04-21-2006, 16:09
I think for family/friends that aren't regular bourbon drinkers, proof is the big key in getting them to like bourbon. Start them off with a nice, mellow 80 proof bourbon like Ancient Age or Basil Hayden's. If you start them off with ODG 114, it's too much too fast, and they won't want to try any again.
It's analogous to taking someone out shooting for the first time and you hand them a .44 Magnum with 310 gr. bear loads for their first shot instead of working your way up to it starting with a .22 LR.
CrispyCritter
04-21-2006, 18:06
The RR is in the plain stubby bottle with no Turkey on the lasbel. I believe it is still 101 proof. I did not know 90 was available. Is that the older looking bottle with the Turkey on the label?
The bottle with the turkey on the label is the 101 proof - and if you see any, snag it, since it isn't made anymore. Much has been said here about WT dropping the proof to 90. :deadhorse:
I usually ask guests what they have already tried as far as brands. All my friends know I have a vast selection of bourbon but most aren't real familiar beyond a few popular brands. I usually give them small samples and work up the list. Sometimes they bring bottles over that others have recommended and we try them. I have my favorites but I let others decide for themselves. I usually open up my entire bar on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is generally my immediate family and it isn't generally party central, just a nice casual get together. I let them pick wharever they want!
Thomas
Dahlrod
My 90% statement should be kept in context with the content of the my original post in which it was contained.
I think your greatly over estimating the abilities of most people whom drink bourbon. Clearly most people whom post on this board make up a part of that 10% that can taste some difference. I didn't say that only 10% of people on here could taste the difference.
However, I would be interested to see some tasting event results just too see how well our SB population can really do.
bluesbassdad
04-23-2006, 12:55
Here (http://www.straightbourbon.com/ubbthreads/showthread.php?p=44693#poststop) is a thread about just such an event. It's a long one, with lots of talk about getting organized, but there's a payoff at the end.
Yours truly,
Dave Morefield
Maybe I went through that thread too fast, but how did Chuck end up doing with his winning effort. Was he like 95%, 80%, 65%, 50%, 30%.......right? How good was the winner in this event?
Hi Dave,
I noticed you brought up the thread proclaiming, Chuck Cowdery as the very first "Bourbonian Taster of the Year" :grin: :grin: :grin:
The very first name plate has been engraved with;
Charles K. Cowdery
Chicago Ill
2005
It's really cool :grin: :grin: I will bring the "traveling trophy" to the Sampler. It will be on display for all to dream, with high hopes of having their name engraved in the next brass plate :grin: :grin: :grin:
As you know, We are planning another party during the KBF this year :grin: :grin: :grin: Same place, same sceneraio...I invited Dominic Roskrow (Whiskey Magazine) to come to our party...He has accepted :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
I am proud to have him visit with us again :grin: :grin:
Bettye Jo
The bottle with the turkey on the label is the 101 proof - and if you see any, snag it, since it isn't made anymore. Much has been said here about WT dropping the proof to 90. :deadhorse:
Crispy,
Thanks for the advice, I did notice my error already, have compared the two with a positive favor for the 101, and am heading over to the store tonight to pick up the two dusty bottles I left behind. :)
RedVette
06-06-2006, 16:24
I had an interesting twist on the original question happen last night. I had several business associates over for pre dinner drinks. Two guys were interested in sampling some of the collection, one of them a reasonably well rounded Bourbonian, and the other a Bourbon newbie. After taking them through the collection I offered them their choice of anything. Neither guy could or would make a selection, so I decided for them. Pappy 23.
One guy had a near orgasmic experience and the other guy thought it was merely "interesting". Had I dumbed down the selection for the newbie to a Jefferson Reserve or Kentucky Spirit, his experience probably would have been the same and I would have a lot more Pappy 23 left in my bottle. On the other hand the other guy would have never had the great experience he had with something off the middle shelves. Overall, I think it was worth it.
Kudos to Rob for sharing his good stuff...
As a newbie to bourbon tasting, i would always be appreciative of someone sharing the good stuff so I could expand my tasting experiences. Likewise, I would offer anything I had to someone willing to give it an honest try.
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