Vatting Success Stories

[polyamnesia]

hey ben

well, i think you've been sampling rather fine fare...and when you dipped down to 80 proof....and OO....i can see the disappointment....but i admit, i enjoyed my bottle (was the earlier labeling, but i think still quite current), esp. when after i had some dark chocolate....a sort of vatting in the mouth...that's how i befriended (another beam...), OGD BIB...

i actually plan to buy a bottle next week. across the line in DE, it's still only $10.99 a bottle...

p.s.

wonder how OO would mix with WT honey....?

[OldJack]

My vatting experiments have involved using up bourbons I didn't like. For a long time, I kept a 375ml flask around in which I mixed a handle of rebel yell into several blends.

As a general rule, RY+anything else is better than RY all by itself, save for the the time I mixed RY with HMBIB.

IIRC, the tastiest of the bunch went as follows:

2 parts RY

2 parts VOF-BIB

1 part Weller Antique.

The end result reminded me a little of MM.

[polyamnesia]

latest vatting...as the vatman hath mentioned, 3 is a better ratio algorithm...

WT Rye

Weller Antique

Fighting Cock

this is richer than just the WT and Weller...

oddly the lower proof, WT @ 101 is what bursts through most dominantly. maybe it's the true RYE not the proof doing this.

the mouthfeel of this is simply wonderful: rich, thick getting cayenne caramel...wondering what the stealthy higher proof (107) wheater is doing here in the shadows? must be adding something to the game.

i think the dry, oakiness of Fighting Cock is most prevalent in the finish.

a vatting success for sure:grin:

[fishnbowljoe]

Tried a 50/50 vatting of ER 10/90 and ER 101. The result was, well.........:yum: Joe

[Buffalo Bill]

It's not something i do on a regular basis, but i have had some interesting results, especially mixing Maker's with JDSB. The last time I did this we printed up a label and titled the Bourbon "Barking Pitbull" and now I have an on-going joke around the house, along with a few friends who ARE a joke! Well, last night during SuperBowl out came the Barking Pitbull - shortly after the WTKS. The stuff was good! BB

[theDon]

2 easy vattings that worked well:

Weller 12 year (old label) and Weller Centennial = 95 proof maple syrup goodness. Thick and rich with the perfect bite.

UD Old Fitz Prime and Current Old Fitz BIB = the current Old Fitz is not stellar and a little rough. The Old Prime gave it that old S-W Fitz profile in a wonderful 90 proof.

[Buffalo Bill]

I had some Maker's Mark (it doesn't hold my interest anymore) so I threw some JDSB into it at about a 3:1 ratio and it was excellent. Totally by happenstance... reminded me of the old buttery Michter's of yesteryear. I was delighted. BB

[Squash]

Of the 31 different Bourbons that I've tasted so far, the two I like least are EC12 and WTRB, so I mixed them together 1:1 to see if I liked the combo more than the parts.

I did not. It was even worse.

I would be interested to hear what those of you who like EC12 and WTRB have to say about this particular vatting.

[Buffalo Bill]

Of the 31 different Bourbons that I've tasted so far, the two I like least are EC12 and WTRB, so I mixed them together 1:1 to see if I liked the combo more than the parts.

I did not. It was even worse.

I would be interested to hear what those of you who like EC12 and WTRB have to say about this particular vatting.

That would tend to make sense... not a good pairing. BB

[Squash]

What would be a good vatting pair for WTRB or EC12?

[Buffalo Bill]

What would be a good vatting pair for WTRB or EC12?

If I were going to pair-up WTRB I'd start with another choice in the 107-8 proof range. Like Baker's or some Pappy 15, Rip Van Winkle—*possibly some Weller Antique. Granted, most are Wheaters.

Sometimes a simple 1:3 ratio can do the trick... but I'd stay in a relative proof range. BB

[funknik]

What would be a good vatting pair for WTRB or EC12?

I love EC12 and one of the things I love about it is how smooth and balanced it is...I have found that it vats very nicely with other whiskies...Bill maybe right on about the ratio....EC12 is a nice filler, so maybe a 3:1 with the 1 being EC12 and the 3 being something with a stronger flavor profile in or around 90-100 proof. By the way, what about EC12 doesn't appeal to you out of curiousity?

I encourage you to post it in this thread:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5091&highlight=elijah+craig

Good Luck!

[kickert]

I encourage you to post it in this thread:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5091&highlight=elijah+craig

Good Luck!

INSTIGATOR!!!!!!!

And I did not even need to follow the link

[funknik]

INSTIGATOR!!!!!!!

And I did not even need to follow the link

Just trying to keep everything consolidated, I'm not trying to feed him to the lions or anything...geez.

I do like to hear about this one, though...it's my little bundle of bourbon joy. :kiss:

[kickert]

Just trying to keep everything consolidated, I'm not trying to feed him to the lions or anything...geez.

I do like to hear about this one, though...it's my little bundle of bourbon joy. :kiss:

Oh I know.... I just also know how some feel about "the thread that won't die"

-bk

[Squash]

I will try this in small amounts, but what I worry about is wasting really good Bourbon, such as the ones you mention, while trying to rescue one that I don't like.

I don't want to throw good Bourbon after bad.

[Buffalo Bill]

I will try this in small amounts, but what I worry about is wasting really good Bourbon, such as the ones you mention, while trying to rescue one that I don't like.

I don't want to throw good Bourbon after bad.

...get a good measuring glass, with small variations. BB

[funknik]

Oh I know.... I just also know how some feel about "the thread that won't die"

That's just a bonus! :grin:

I don't want to throw good Bourbon after bad.

After bad? On second thought, I may feed him to the lions, Ben. :grin:

Just kidding Squash :grin: ....but watch your back. :hot:

[kickert]

After bad? On second thought, I may feed him to the lions, Ben. :grin:

Just kidding Squash :grin: ....but watch your back. :hot:

Now Andy, I know you have had your fair share of EC12s that were not up to par... lets give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he got an off bottle.

If that is not the case, I have found many people like EC12 and it is good to offer guests. I wouldn't mind having a bottle around the house right now.

[funknik]

Now Andy, I know you have had your fair share of EC12s that were not up to par... lets give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he got an off bottle.quote]

I was hoping he would post something that would tip us off like: too woody or musty...then we could judge if it was a bad bottle...

Just joshin', Squash.

[Buffalo Bill]

I tried some Knob Creek with Sam Houston last night and it worked. About 3:1 KC with 1 part SH.

It was good...

BB

[2highcal]

Last night I tried a 4:1 ratio of Sazerac with Fighting Cock it was actually quite interesting vastly improving the Cock while not particularly having a negative impact on the Saz

[Waiahi]

Inspired by this thread, I tried to "RYE" up a Wheater last night.

3 shots MM

1 shot WT101

1 shot Bulleit

1 shot Jim Beam Rye

1 shot KC

I drank this concoction neat, than w/ a splash of water, than finally on the rocks.

It ended up tasting like a mildly sweeter WT101. Not bad at all.

I'm thinking there must be a general rule when it comes to vatting.

If it's all bourbon, it's all good... :slappin:

[funknik]

Tossed a little JTS Brown BIB in my Sazerac Rye this evening and was delighted. Not necessarily a match made in heaven, but the Brown did add some sweetness and body to the Saz Jr.

On my first pour, I used more Saz than Brown, but for the second pour I reversed the ratio and it is lovely -- The Saz really takes the edge away from the Brown and makes it pretty smooth and delicious.

[squire]

Gillman and I had some long conversations about vatting a few years back and he convinced me his sum of the parts methodology was sound. I should say the few times I've tried were promising.