Try the expensive stuff and find you like cheap stuff?

[LBTRS]

Whoa, there. Don't leave me to fend alone with the neglect and insults here! There's much to learn, and you appear to be well on your way to developing an appreciation for bourbon--it is, our course, an acquired taste. Keep in mind there are seasoned bourbon consumers here, some industry experts, and professionals (lawyers, nurse practitioners, computer programmers, etc.). I think Dawn, without malice, was just ribbing you a bit. Hell, she's told me, in uncertain terms, in a chat room that I'm a smart-(|). Take a deep breath and and drink.

Well, I could understand the ribbing if I were acting like I had all the answers, but getting the ribbing for asking a newbie question confused me. Or maybe that was the bourbon that confused me. Regardless, I'll continue my journey and hope that Dawn becomes an acquired taste.

And to address your previous post...I have not tried any Rye Bourbons and will have to put that on my list of the next to try. Thanks for the advice and support.

[luv2hunt]

OK....so because I'm bright enough to give advice based upon your history I'm the bad girl of bourbon?

There's nothing wrong with liking WT101 and BT as a regular pour. Obviously your taste buds haven't developed to the point of being able to appreciate a top shelf selection. And yes, I still think that you're trying too hard. You've tried 15+ bourbons in 2 months. Have you read any of the posts here where the guys discuss going back to a bottle months later and discovering that they really like it? Patience is a virtue. Being able to identify the unique qualities of each bourbon is learned.

Acquired taste?? Forget it. I won't be replying anymore.

Dawn

[gothbat]

Acquired taste?? Forget it.

You said it! I was pretty much hooked after my first shot from the 375ml of MM I bought on a whim because of the packaging. But then again, as I've seen several say on here, YMMV.

Anyway, to stay on topic, the more expensive stuff usually tastes better to me. I have been disappointed by more of the cheaper brands than the higher priced ones. I will admit that I generally buy the more expensive bottles so statistically my experiences make sense and that I know there is much to explore on the lower shelves before writing them off but when I buy it’s usually on a Friday after a week of work and my attitude is something along the lines of “Go ahead buddy, you earned it!”. In terms of the money I’ve spent on disappointing high end stuff and great low end stuff I’d say that in the end it all comes out in the wash.

[LBTRS]

OK....so because I'm bright enough to give advice based upon your history I'm the bad girl of bourbon?

There's nothing wrong with liking WT101 and BT as a regular pour. Obviously your taste buds haven't developed to the point of being able to appreciate a top shelf selection. And yes, I still think that you're trying too hard. You've tried 15+ bourbons in 2 months. Have you read any of the posts here where the guys discuss going back to a bottle months later and discovering that they really like it? Patience is a virtue. Being able to identify the unique qualities of each bourbon is learned.

Acquired taste?? Forget it. I won't be replying anymore.

Dawn

I wasn't aware that you had to wait for months to go back to a bottle before posting about it on SB.com. I still have all those bottles, plus a few more I've acquired since, that I'll have the opportunity to go back to months later. So when I get a "whopping" few more months under my belt I'll be ready to participate on sb.com. Hopefully my judgment won't be "clouded" then.

[LBTRS]

You said it! I was pretty much hooked after my first shot from the 375ml of MM I bought on a whim because of the packaging. But then again, as I've seen several say on here, YMMV.

Anyway, to stay on topic, the more expensive stuff usually tastes better to me. I have been disappointed by more of the cheaper brands than the higher priced ones. I will admit that I generally buy the more expensive bottles so statistically my experiences make sense and that I know there is much to explore on the lower shelves before writing them off but when I buy it’s usually on a Friday after a week of work and my attitude is something along the lines of “Go ahead buddy, you earned it!”. In terms of the money I’ve spent on disappointing high end stuff and great low end stuff I’d say that in the end it all comes out in the wash.

Thanks for the input...I'll continue to pour what I have and see what grows on me.

[HighTower]

LBTRS: I think you may be taking Dawn the wrong way. I don't think she is trying to attack you, but merely trying to say that as a relative newcomer to bourbon, you will find your tastes will change over time, and maybe that some of the bourbons you have tried that you may not find are your "favourites", may actually turn out to be just that.

The characteristics of a bourbon can also change in the bottle once it has been open, which also may change some aspects that you didn't appreciate in the beginning. Your palette is something that will also change given time, and I believe this is more of what Dawn was getting at about revisiting a bottle months later, not criticizing you.

Anyways, enjoy the bourbon journey, and if I haven't said it already, welcome to SB.com!!

Scott

[LBTRS]

LBTRS: I think you may be taking Dawn the wrong way. I don't think she is trying to attack you, but merely trying to say that as a relative newcomer to bourbon, you will find your tastes will change over time, and maybe that some of the bourbons you have tried that you may not find are your "favourites", may actually turn out to be just that.

The characteristics of a bourbon can also change in the bottle once it has been open, which also may change some aspects that you didn't appreciate in the beginning. Your palette is something that will also change given time, and I believe this is more of what Dawn was getting at about revisiting a bottle months later, not criticizing you.

Anyways, enjoy the bourbon journey, and if I haven't said it already, welcome to SB.com!!

Scott

Scott,

Thanks for the welcome.

I think you missed Dawn's first post to me where she quoted every post I've made on sb.com and commented on my "whopping" two month of drinking bourbon and how my past experience is "clouding" my ability to see bourbon for what it is and that I'm trying to hard. Who the heck is she to say I'm trying to hard? It's drinking bourbon not climbing Everest.

I simply asked a question about others experiences and how they relate to my limited experience. Please reread my original question and her response...I don't think her response had anything of value to add to this thread other than to let me know she doesn't approve of my newbie questions.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to post and the welcome. I really do appreciate all the people that answered the question and offered advice.

[ILLfarmboy]

Scott,

Thanks for the welcome.

I think you missed Dawn's first post to me where she quoted every post I've made on sb.com and commented on my "whopping" two month of drinking bourbon and how my past experience is "clouding" my ability to see bourbon for what it is and that I'm trying to hard. Who the heck is she to say I'm trying to hard? It's drinking bourbon not climbing Everest.

I simply asked a question about others experiences and how they relate to my limited experience. Please reread my original question and her response...I don't think her response had anything of value to add to this thread other than to let me know she doesn't approve of my newbie questions.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to post and the welcome. I really do appreciate all the people that answered the question and offered advice.

I can't speak for her but I can speak for my interpretation of her post. I think by quoting your previous posts she was showing your progression from being new to drinking in general, drinking Crown Royal mixed with Coke to having "trouble acclimating to the higher proofs", and now one of your favorites is WT 101. that is quite a journey in a compressed time frame. Imagine what you will think/ be drinking in six months or six years.

By "trying to hard" I think see meant you were trying to make up for lost time by overly compressing your taste experiences, ultimately missing out on a lot. I don't think she was disapproving of your newbie status. If anything you seem a little touchy about it. No need to be. As a girl several years my senior told me many moons ago, "everybody has to learn sometime" I took her constructive criticism and put it to good use

[full_proof]

...as a relative newcomer to bourbon, you will find your tastes will change over time, and maybe that some of the bourbons you have tried that you may not find are your "favourites", may actually turn out to be just that.

The characteristics of a bourbon can also change in the bottle once it has been open, which also may change some aspects that you didn't appreciate in the beginning. Your palette is something that will also change given time...

Scott

What Scott describes is part of the progression of what "acquiring" a taste is. I have friends that still shoot bourbon in a shot glass, and look at me in dismay as I nose, sip and savor a dram. I acquired that technique by reading and interacting with bourbonites here and other web sites, and have acquired a better appreciation of bourbon through sampling different brands. I can't say I was hooked with my first try at any liquor, but I really enjoy bourbon more now than I did when I joined SB.com.

OK....so because I'm bright enough to give advice based upon your history I'm the bad girl of bourbon?

Being able to identify the unique qualities of each bourbon is learned.

Acquired taste?? Forget it. I won't be replying anymore.

Dawn

Are we having fun yet? I thought learning to appreciate the unique qualities of bourbons was part of "acquiring a taste". Jeez, don't get mad. This blog is a great way to unwind from the stress at the office, develop a (surprisingly) intriuguing hobby and learn from folks like Dawn. Let's not get so serious with each other. Like I tell my Sunday School Class...Bourbon is fun.

[smokinjoe]

Welcome, LBTRS. Soon after I became addicted to SB.com in the Fall of '04, a gentleman by the name of Marvin put together an awesome, 8 part series, entitled "How to evaluate the different taste in bourbon" on this site. It ran from Oct 13 2004 through Nov 17 2004. I'd post a link if I knew how, but I'm basically a dolt when it comes to these newfangled computer dohickies. But, you can get to it through the search function. Anyway, his series helped me greatly in enjoying the tasting of our favorite spirit. I refer to it constantly. It is a treasure.

Cheers!

JOE