Who Likes White Dog?

[cowdery]

Seen at the supermarket this evening, Sheen quote on the cover of People. "If I'm insane, I'm okay with it."

As once was said about a friend of mine, "he's in his own world but it's okay, because they know him there."

By the way, to get sort of back on topic, Max Watman's Chasing the White Dog is out in paperback. I highly recommend it.

[jmpyle]

Chuck this is a great topic. As much as I love Whiskey, that's how on the fence I am about white dog. Much of the white dogs on the market are just not very good. In fact the best white dog i've ever had is right off the still at Four Roses. They are missing the boat by not bottling theirs. It's fantastic stuff. The OBSK and OBSQ in particular are stellar. Koval makes a couple good ones too.

Otherwise, white dog and white whiskey isn't something I get all that excited about.

[CADMixes]

There's a lot to unpack within Chuck's line of questioning. I consider myself a bourbon enthusiast, but also a serious hobbyist when it comes to mixology, so I feel like I can appreciate the different perspectives at work.

First, I'm not sure it's reasonable to expect a bunch of bourbon people to feel enthusiastic about white dog, and it shouldn't be taken as instructive when a bunch of bourbon people aren't into white dog. Despite their, um, shared heritage, the aesthetic experience of drinking white dog on its own has almost nothing in common with the experience of drinking bourbon. White dog is aggressively sweet and floral. Even cheap bourbon is richer and has a more varied flavor profile.

Second, like white rum and blanco tequila, white dog is an intriguing and valuable cocktail base (though in fairness it has less of a heritage than either of those). Neyeh White's white dog manhattan, when made carefully, is really good. And like a lot of spirits white dog works well in an old-fashioned template. It's certainly not imperative to every bar, but I'll probably replace my bottle when it's empty.

Third, as bourbon enthusiasts, we have to admit that white dog has a cache that white rum or blanco tequila lack. It's compelling to think that BT white dog turns into BT bourbon, or that Trybox Rye becomes Rittenhouse. We're attracted to these products because we understand their potential. It can be hard to match that to the experience of actually drinking them.

For the moment, I'm splitting the difference. I took a portion of my bottle of Death's Door white whisky and consigned it to the freezer (which I never, ever do with other spirits). Following some advice I got elsewhere online, I've been sipping it out of the freezer with a chaser of American pale ale. And you know what? It's really good that way. The pale ale's hops are a perfect complement. And importantly (from my perspective), it's an approach that uses white dog on its own terms rather than fitting it into a preexisting notion of how to drink--be that as a base of a stirred cocktail or as a bourbon-type contemplative sipping experience.

[sku]

There's a lot to unpack within Chuck's line of questioning. I consider myself a bourbon enthusiast, but also a serious hobbyist when it comes to mixology, so I feel like I can appreciate the different perspectives at work.

First, I'm not sure it's reasonable to expect a bunch of bourbon people to feel enthusiastic about white dog, and it shouldn't be taken as instructive when a bunch of bourbon people aren't into white dog. Despite their, um, shared heritage, the aesthetic experience of drinking white dog on its own has almost nothing in common with the experience of drinking bourbon. White dog is aggressively sweet and floral. Even cheap bourbon is richer and has a more varied flavor profile.

Second, like white rum and blanco tequila, white dog is an intriguing and valuable cocktail base (though in fairness it has less of a heritage than either of those). Neyeh White's white dog manhattan, when made carefully, is really good. And like a lot of spirits white dog works well in an old-fashioned template. It's certainly not imperative to every bar, but I'll probably replace my bottle when it's empty.

Third, as bourbon enthusiasts, we have to admit that white dog has a cache that white rum or blanco tequila lack. It's compelling to think that BT white dog turns into BT bourbon, or that Trybox Rye becomes Rittenhouse. We're attracted to these products because we understand their potential. It can be hard to match that to the experience of actually drinking them.

For the moment, I'm splitting the difference. I took a portion of my bottle of Death's Door white whisky and consigned it to the freezer (which I never, ever do with other spirits). Following some advice I got elsewhere online, I've been sipping it out of the freezer with a chaser of American pale ale. And you know what? It's really good that way. The pale ale's hops are a perfect complement. And importantly (from my perspective), it's an approach that uses white dog on its own terms rather than fitting it into a preexisting notion of how to drink--be that as a base of a stirred cocktail or as a bourbon-type contemplative sipping experience.

Great post and a brave and spirited defense of white dog. I think you're right that mixology is probably the right place for white dog to be appreciated, and I too like the white manhattan. The problem comes with those distilleries that market it as "whiskey", give tasting notes suggesting it should be taken neat, etc. I haven't yet had a white dog that I go to regularly for sipping. It is, in some ways, a different spirit than aged whiskey, and I wonder if the US shouldn't have a law like Scotland that requires a certain amount of ageing before you can call your spirit whiskey, and let white dog be "spirit" or "moonshine" or just white dog.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I have half a bottle of GA moon. I bought a few to do my own aging, and ended up with almost a full bottle left. I keep it to let friends sample for comparison purposes, and also to test when I've had enough in an evening.

I do like the idea of using it to replace vodka in mixed drinks. My best friend's wife's drink of choice is a vodka-cranberry. I think I'll serve her a white dog - cranberry and see how well it goes over.

[Josh]

I have half a bottle of GA moon. I bought a few to do my own aging, and ended up with almost a full bottle left. I keep it to let friends sample for comparison purposes, and also to test when I've had enough in an evening.

I do like the idea of using it to replace vodka in mixed drinks. My best friend's wife's drink of choice is a vodka-cranberry. I think I'll serve her a white dog - cranberry and see how well it goes over.

I have a bottle of Georgia Moon I use as weed killer. I feel bad using it on the weeds, though. Even they deserve better than that.

I might have posted this upthread, but I think a distinction needs to be made between White Dog and Corn Whiskey. White Dog is a spirit that is orginally destined for a barrel. The BT White dog would go on to become BT or ERSB or Old Charter or Stagg if it had not been bottled. It is a raw spirit that was not created to be consumed without some time in the barrel.

Corn whiskey is its own little niche in the regulations. It has to be 80% or more corn and is either unaged or aged in used cooperage. Corn whiskey is pungent, but it is created to be consumed as-is, unlike true white dog.

Anyway, as far as unaged (i.e. white) Corn Whiskey goes, my favorites are Virginia Lightning (no longer made) and Glen Thunder (Finger Lakes). For the aged versions, I like Mellow Corn BiB the best. Platte Valley is OK, but a little weak at 80 proof. Same with Tuthilltown's Old Grist Mill or whatever its called. All of the Balcones corn whiskeys I've had are good too, I just don't remember which ones I liked the best. I also like the Koval spirits I;ve had. The rye, oats and millet were all pretty tasty.

[T Comp]

I have a bottle of Georgia Moon I use as weed killer. I feel bad using it on the weeds, though. Even they deserve better than that.

I might have posted this upthread, but I think a distinction needs to be made between White Dog and Corn Whiskey. White Dog is a spirit that is orginally destined for a barrel. The BT White dog would go on to become BT or ERSB or Old Charter or Stagg if it had not been bottled. It is a raw spirit that was not created to be consumed without some time in the barrel.

Corn whiskey is its own little niche in the regulations. It has to be 80% or more corn and is either unaged or aged in used cooperage. Corn whiskey is pungent, but it is created to be consumed as-is, unlike true white dog.

Anyway, as far as unaged (i.e. white) Corn Whiskey goes, my favorites are Virginia Lightning (no longer made) and Glen Thunder (Finger Lakes). For the aged versions, I like Mellow Corn BiB the best. Platte Valley is OK, but a little weak at 80 proof. Same with Tuthilltown's Old Grist Mill or whatever its called. All of the Balcones corn whiskeys I've had are good too, I just don't remember which ones I liked the best. I also like the Koval spirits I;ve had. The rye, oats and millet were all pretty tasty.

I'm not saying I'd make a steady diet of it but Stu's bottle of Uncle Ed's Arkansas Moonshine Old Fashioned Corn Whiskey had its place as a tasty accompaniment to Gary's Steeler and Molson Canadian beer, while sitting out in the early afternoon sun near the empty pool at the Nelson.

[mosugoji64]

I tried BT white dog at the distillery and found it surprisingly drinkable. Don't know that I will purchase any for regular consumption, however. I tend to agree with those who said it's more of a novelty considering bourbon is much more complex and enjoyable.
I also have a jar of Ole Smoky unaged corn whiskey that I sip once in a while. I emphasize "sip" because it's pretty strong, but has a great corn flavor that I enjoy.

[fishnbowljoe]

I haven't met him yet, but he seems like a pretty decent guy to me.
Cheers Dog! Joe

[Stu]

I'm not saying I'd make a steady diet of it but Stu's bottle of Uncle Ed's Arkansas Moonshine Old Fashioned Corn Whiskey had its place as a tasty accompaniment to Gary's Steeler and Molson Canadian beer, while sitting out in the early afternoon sun near the empty pool at the Nelson.

Thanks Thad,

It went so well I've already picked up another bottle to take to KBF. I don't know if he'll ever have enough production to distribute nationwide. I think I told you, he makes his beer ot of feed corn, granulated sugar, and Fleishmans yeast. That's the same way my Uncle Ben used to make it "on the banks of the Wabash" when I was a kid in Indiana. What sets it apart from white dog or Georgia Moon is the smell of corn and the taste of corn on your pallet. I've had one distiller tell me that it's white rum that has been corn infused. Whatever, it is totally different than white dog and IMO far superior to Georgia Moon. I'm trying to find a one gallon barrel and have a medium char put in it and see what it is like aged in wood.