Vatting Success Stories

[kickert]

There is some talk on this board about "vatting" or mixing together various bourbons. It seems most of the time it is to make a bad bourbon tolerable.

So... where have you all found the greatest success. What vat mixture is worth giving a shot.

Here is my experience.

I tried AA10yo and EW Black Label. I was not impressed with either (yeah, I know, not liking AAA10yo is blasphemy on this board). After trying them both on ice to no avail, I gave in and mixed them together.

The result?? Excellent. A true case of synergy. They balanced each other and actually produced a very pleasant bourbon. I found flavors when mixed that neither displayed individually (pepper?) I can say this... I would rather have the two together than have either by themselves.

So what has worked for you?

[Gillman]

Well, I've had a lot of success, and if I don't, I keep going until I do. The secret to me is balance. If you have a "funky yeast" bourbon, balance that against a fruity one, or a bland one, or a high-proof one, or all of these. The continual balancing of tastes will result in a complex flavour which appeals.

Gary

[ACDetroit]

I to have had success to some extent! I had a bottle of Weller 12 that was a bit flat to me (spare me the banter) and as I have said many times "WTRB" is not my favorite bird. I was about half way through both bottles when I vatted a glass. The result was awesome, and I say that because I enjoyed it so much I vatted the 2 to make a full 750ml bottle.

To save face here I have not run across a Weller 12 that was not great since so I have not done the vatting again, but it will happen.

ratio was 50/50!

Tony

[spun_cookie]

So far Bourbon with the air in my glass has worked best... but I did mix WTRR 90 proof with Bulliet. It gave the RR some balls and knocked down funk in the Bulliet. Ratio 3:1

[Dramiel McHinson]

Here are a few that I was pleased with..

WLWeller Special Reserve and Maker's Mark

Old Weller Antique and Booker's

Baker's and Wild Turkey 101

Four Roses Small Batch and Old Overholt

George Dickel Barrel Select #2 and Conecuh Ridge (this one was really fun. The palate was all on Flintstone vitamens and buttery maple syrup. I declared it my breakfast blend)

Crown Royal Limited Edition, Seagrams VO Gold 8yo, Old Overholt

Each one of these resulted in a total shift in nose, palate and finish from the originals. All were good, some better than others. My favorite was the the Old Weller Antique and Bookers. That was a big taste, complex with good balance but very sweet. Just right for the holidays.

I think blending your own is a way of combining flavors to suit your own individual taste and can bring surprising rewards.

[kickert]

Here are a few that I was pleased with..

WLWeller Special Reserve and Maker's Mark

Old Weller Antique and Booker's

Baker's and Wild Turkey 101

Four Roses Small Batch and Old Overholt

[Dramiel McHinson]

My best sucess has come from taking thin bourbons and mixing them with something that is much more agressive.

Just writing this makes me think about other things I could try with what I have on hand. Maybe Benchmark and VOB 101.... or OC10 with any a Wild Turkey. hmm....

You are making me very very thirsty:drinking: I am going to try the Thin-Agressive menu next. That sounds like it would be very good. I report back....

[sailor22]

I'm looking for a more complex and surprising flavor set.

The most successful attempt by far is a combination of Evan Willams 1783, Corner Creek and Powers Irish Whiskey.

[polyamnesia]

well, i'd still like to see a vatting subforum... :grin:

ANYWAYS, i am really enjoying various mixings of Elia Craig 12 (big ole bottle is only 1/4 down and this current WT101.

i think the extremes MELD well...EC's lovely mustiness is matched perfectly with this rather oaky WT...what results is a spicey sweetness that i am sure i've mentioned earlier (last night?) as being reminiscent of OGD114.

[Gillman]

I have made (different drink, but same principles apply) an excellent malt whisky vatting. The base is Glenfiddich 12, Macallan 12 and Oak Cross (three Speysides combined by the experts at Compass Box Whiskies). On top of that is a measure of a complex combination of various malts and some blends. There are some Islays in there amongst the malts - Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Laphroig, notably. The result is seamless, creamy, very drinkable neat. You can get amazing complexity and sophistication in this process.

Gary

[polyamnesia]

yes, gary, i am further intrigued from my rather limited vattings (and your insightful comments)...but the effect is clear.

many times, a few lackluster pours become greater than the parts...and add a higher end product or something more variable, and you get even more variable (positively!) results.

i would like to see a suggestive 'mapping' of possible vattings (creative speculation!) that might be worth the whirl

[gothbat]

I'm not big on vatting, I think I have a ways to go with appreciating each individual whiskey to be thinking about mixing them up but it's not something I haven't done. The only memorable one that comes to mind is a mix of Michters US1 Single Barrel Rye, '07 Saz18, and Weller 12. I did this to make a glass of just the Michters US1 better because I didn't think it was so great and it definitely did the trick although I'm not certain it was better than just the Saz18 on it's own...

[polyamnesia]

I'm not big on vatting, I think I have a ways to go with appreciating each individual whiskey to be thinking about mixing them up but it's not something I haven't done. The only memorable one that comes to mind is a mix of Michters US1 Single Barrel Rye, '07 Saz18, and Weller 12. I did this to make a glass of just the Michters US1 better because I didn't think it was so great and it definitely did the trick although I'm not certain it was better than just the Saz18 on it's own...

in a sense, that's the fun...and experimental education of it all!

and i think vatting is an art of sorts....not just a way to make something 'bad' "better" ! but that works, too.

a single bourbon is obviously a vatting of another sort...time, grains, char, oak......but now we're getting metaphysical:grin:

vatting is just another fractal component of the micro-holistic...i knew what that meant when i wrote it...i forgot as soon as i did!:Clever: :frown: :falling:

that's what DRINKING a good vatting does! huh?

[fishnbowljoe]

I tried something for the heck of it tonight. I carry a flask in my bowling bag to take to the bowling alley. It was about 1/3 full of Weller 12. I didn't have another bottle of Weller 12 open, so I added another 1/3 of Weller Antique, and capped off the last 1/3 with Weller SR. For my first real try at vatting, it was pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Joe

[ggilbertva]

Handy and Baby Saz

50/50

[kickert]

I tried something for the heck of it tonight. I carry a flask in my bowling bag to take to the bowling alley. It was about 1/3 full of Weller 12. I didn't have another bottle of Weller 12 open, so I added another 1/3 of Weller Antique, and capped off the last 1/3 with Weller SR. For my first real try at vatting, it was pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Joe

[kickert]

Here is another vatting success story:

I was finishing off a bottle of Benchmark and only had about 3/4 of a pour. So I added some VOB BIB to top it off. (3:1 ratio). I was very impressed. Normally I am surprised at the burn Benchmark has for 80 proof, and I prefer the 86 or 90 VOB to the BIB. The result however was not what I expected. I found the vatting actually had significantly less burn than I normally associate with either and the spash of VOB really brought out of the smooth sweetness of the Benchmark. If you bought a 1.75 of Benchmark and a fifth of VOB BIB, I think you could mix up something real nice for super cheap.

This is the first vatting I have done where I would be willing to tell me people, "ya gotta go try this!"

[Josh]

I'm planning to try mixing one 750 ml bottle of Stagg with one 1.75 l bottle of Beam 10 star and a shot of Old Whiskey River . I'll keep you posted on the results.:yum:

[Gillman]

Half CC 20. Half Century Reserve 15 Plus (it contains whiskies from 15-25 years old). Then, a dash of Hirsch 16 and ND OT 86 proof. A potent, tasty whisky vatting but it ended being a cocktail through addition of red vermouth and Angostura and some orange bitters.

Cheers to the board and best holiday wishes to the new crowd and old.

Gary

[TBoner]

1 part each Canadian Club 12, Jim Beam black, Old Forester 86, and OHHBIB. Good, rounded flavor and a one-two punch of minty licorice and cherry-vanilla.

Regards,

Tim

[polyamnesia]

Here is another vatting success story:

I was finishing off a bottle of Benchmark and only had about 3/4 of a pour. So I added some VOB BIB to top it off. (3:1 ratio). I was very impressed. Normally I am surprised at the burn Benchmark has for 80 proof, and I prefer the 86 or 90 VOB to the BIB. The result however was not what I expected. I found the vatting actually had significantly less burn than I normally associate with either and the spash of VOB really brought out of the smooth sweetness of the Benchmark. If you bought a 1.75 of Benchmark and a fifth of VOB BIB, I think you could mix up something real nice for super cheap.

This is the first vatting I have done where I would be willing to tell me people, "ya gotta go try this!"

[kickert]

is this the quite inexpensive Benchmark (McAfee's)? about $10 a bottle? if 80 proof burns, i am interested!

[polyamnesia]

It is in fact. Personally I find this the best of the bottom shelf.

ok. that does it. i'll be rolling the $9.99 dice on this ... it's available across the state line in Delaware...at least NO TAX!:grin:

and i wonder if it wil blend well with OGD114 or BIB?

[kickert]

ok. that does it. i'll be rolling the $9.99 dice on this ... it's available across the state line in Delaware...at least NO TAX!:grin:

and i wonder if it wil blend well with OGD114 or BIB?

Keep in mind, this is a $10 bourbon. I am not promising the moon. But if I have a choice between an average bottle of wine for $10 or this, I usually buy this. It mixes great and vatted with that VOB BIB, it was excellent,

[shoshani]

Keep in mind, this is a $10 bourbon.