Vat The Jack

[Gillman]

Yes, you don't need that other, it just gives the general idea.

Gary

[Gillman]

Another plan but following Jono's general approach: substitute a smoky, woody bourbon for the peated malt. EC 18 or 20, say, or one of the very aged Van Winkle line.

Do both, the Campfire-inspired and then the all-American one: which is better?

Gary

[Jono]

I am not great at identifying multiple taste elements but here goes my rough attempt...

1st attempt...4RSB 60%, Talisker 10% and Old Overholt 30%....eyeballed the proportions. I let it sit a bit to let the Talisker play nice with the bourbon and rye.
The nose, after sitting, retains some initial peat but less than upon first pour. The sweet elements - corn and honey rise up with just a trace of spice.
Taste...peat is present that wraps around the sweeter bourbon and very light spice. Finish is peaty with some leather and wood.

I have to get the Highwest Campfire to compare. I suspect the Talisker may be too much, a lighter peat touch may be the way to go. Also, a spicier rye may help.

2nd attempt - I added some Rittenhouse to the original vat...so the rough ratios are 4rsb 45%, Talisker 5% and rye..Old O / Ritt 100 45%

Nose, hint of peat, more spice and retains the corn and honey sweetness.
Taste...actualy, very nice, smooth, initially a unique blend of sweet and spicy peat and then peat is present on the finish with leather and wood notes.

I would say, don't go strong on the peated scotch, maybe use an eye dropper and titrate the bourbon and rye vatting carefully.

[HighInTheMtns]

I've tried before; I can't remember the bourbon or rye, but the scotch was HP12. I didn't consider the vatting a success and my biggest problem was that it wasn't peated enough for my taste. I could do with Campfire being more peated as well.

I'll try again, and I'm thinking that I might go high end - a barrel strength FR, THH, and Ardbeg Corryvreckan - it's only a splash of each, after all. There seems to be a bit of romance in blending whiskeys at cask strength.

[Jono]

Since the peat can quickly overwhelm the vatting, and it sounds like the Campfire has just a hint, so creating a mimick will take quite a few side by side comparisons.

[Gillman]

Good experiments, No. 2 sounds great.

What I've found is, when a proportion isn't right, sometimes reducing it helps, but also sometimes too, adding more.

Gary

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Today I had an idea for the 2 JDSB I sampled head to head in another thread. One delicate and nice, the other bold, flavourful, and in your face. I decided to make a mingling of the two. My 1st attempt was 2 parts #12-6714 (delicate) with 1 part 12-6500 (bold). The bold JDSB flavour was too dominant. Then I tried 4 parts delicate and 1 part bold. They seemed to come together rather well at this ratio.

[Gillman]

This sounds very good, different proportions can make a big difference in the result.

Gary