Creating Bourbon Converts

[RWBadley]

Last weekend I went to a cycling event in N California. After the ride was a great party with food, beer and fire. For the event I created a very nice vatting in the 80 proof range in a vintage tax stamped handle and put a fun label on the bottle. The effect on the crowd was remarkable...

It seems most folks nowdays view Bourbon as something the parents or grandparents would drink- but have not tried much of it for their own selves. They seem to be scared of it- like one sip will put them on the floor or make them go all psycho. It was really fun to pass the smallish glass with blend to one of the guests- only to have them sip it- decide it was safe to drink, then polish the rest off. Nearly everyone would comment the same way... "Wow- that's Reeally Good!"

I'd say nearly 30 folks tried the blend that day and of those nearly all now have a new and more positive perception of our favorite beverage.

Cheers,

RW

[Luna56]

In my experience the hardest people to convert have been the SMS drinkers. The ones I've encountered don't get that there's a difference between whisky and whiskey. :grin:

My wife is not interested in bourbon in the least but really enjoyed the Baby Saz I got her to try recently. There's hope for her yet.

Cheers!

[WsmataU]

Stop this nonsense......Why bring more people into this really great small club?

Screw the non believers....More for ME!:slappin:

[RWBadley]

Stop this nonsense......Why bring more people into this really great small club?

Screw the non believers....More for ME!:slappin:

Heheh, Good point.

Tho, thinking about it makes me wonder if the demand increases it could be good for producer and consumer alike

[Stu]

In my experience the hardest people to convert have been the SMS drinkers. The ones I've encountered don't get that there's a difference between whisky and whiskey. :grin:

My wife is not interested in bourbon in the least but really enjoyed the Baby Saz I got her to try recently. There's hope for her yet.

Cheers!

Being a SMS drinker of an older age (68), I'd always considered bourbon a "rummy's" drink along with white rum. Most bourbon drinkers that I knew would shoot it, then wrinkle their face in pain. You can get the same effect shooting SMS or ever clear if all you want to do is get drunk. Until I went to Kentucky for the first time, my only experience with bourbon was the cheap hooch I bought in college when I couldn't afford anything else. JBW and JD (I now know it's not bourbon) were the only thing I'd tried since then. In Kentucky I discovered that PVW 23, EC 18, FR SB, and almost any aged rye can be as complex as the finest malts. The flavor is totally different, but I began to appreciate the flavor for it's own sake and I can now say that I enjoy a good bourbon as much as a good malt. My wife took a little longer to come around but she now and then asks for a bourbon when it's her turn to select our happy hour beverage. If you want to convert a SMS drinker, try giving them EC 18 or FR SB or just about anything that's unfiltered at cask strength. Tell them not to compare it to malt, but to enjoy the complex aromas and flavors for their own sake. The first time I tried EC 12 I really enjoyed it, but had I not previously developed a taste for EC 18 I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much. This is proven by the fact that at first I didn't care a whole lot for WT products and I now love them. About the only bourbon that still leaves me cold is OF, but in a couple of years, who knows?

Sorry, Wsmatau, but I guess I'm one who is now cutting into your supply! Don't blame me, blame my teachers at the gazebo!

[Uncle Oswald]

Slowly, I feel we've been seeing the paradigm shift a bit. People are beginning to take an interest in classic cocktails, a return to form, and, with it, a desire for high quality, domestic products. Bourbon is shedding those connotations of being an old person's drink, and is becoming cool again.

Just like the resurgence in the vodka market with first premium, and then ultrapremium, the same is appearing with Bourbon as well.

With that said, I feel the best way to ease people into drinking Bourbon is first with Bourbon based cocktails. I start my friends with Manhattans with just a splash of cherry juice, for example. It's sweet and a palatable. Once they get a taste for that, lose the cherry juice. After that, on to Old Fashioneds and Mint Juleps. As for sipping Bourbons, Basil Hayden's neat always seems to go over well as an introduction.

[ggilbertva]

Slowly, I feel we've been seeing the paradigm shift a bit. People are beginning to take an interest in classic cocktails, a return to form, and, with it, a desire for high quality, domestic products. Bourbon is shedding those connotations of being an old person's drink, and is becoming cool again.

Just like the resurgence in the vodka market with first premium, and then ultrapremium, the same is appearing with Bourbon as well.

With that said, I feel the best way to ease people into drinking Bourbon is first with Bourbon based cocktails. I start my friends with Manhattans with just a splash of cherry juice, for example. It's sweet and a palatable. Once they get a taste for that, lose the cherry juice. After that, on to Old Fashioneds and Mint Juleps. As for sipping Bourbons, Basil Hayden's neat always seems to go over well as an introduction.

I think your approach is a good one introducing cocktails to new bourbon drinkers. As one who drinks bourbon neat, I usually don't do cocktails and so wouldn't have thought to go down that path.

My only criticism is the use of Basil Hayden. At only 80 proof and high dollar (around $35), that's a no starter for me. For new bourbon drinkers, I'll introduce them to Weller SR ($15) which is 90 proof and a wheater or Makers ($21). Both of these are soft on the palate. The Weller is a bargain bourbon but certainly not bargain in taste. Just my .02 worth.

[Stu]

I think your approach is a good one introducing cocktails to new bourbon drinkers. As one who drinks bourbon neat, I usually don't do cocktails and so wouldn't have thought to go down that path.

My only criticism is the use of Basil Hayden. At only 80 proof and high dollar (around $35), that's a no starter for me. For new bourbon drinkers, I'll introduce them to Weller SR ($15) which is 90 proof and a wheater or Makers ($21). Both of these are soft on the palate. The Weller is a bargain bourbon but certainly not bargain in taste. Just my .02 worth.

It depends on an individual's pallet. Basil is a high rye bourbon and to many a scotch drinker is more palatable than a wheater. My wife loves Basil, or any other high rye, but she doesn't care at all for wheaters. She'd rather have Old Granddad than PVW23 (I have to drink all the PVW myself - don't you pity me?).

[smokinjoe]

It depends on an individual's pallet. Basil is a high rye bourbon and to many a scotch drinker is more palatable than a wheater. My wife loves Basil, or any other high rye, but she doesn't care at all for wheaters. She'd rather have Old Granddad than PVW23 (I have to drink all the PVW myself - don't you pity me?).

Awwww...Poor, poor, Stu....Tough life. But, somebody's gotta drink the Pappy. Right? You just keep telling Bernadette how terrible the Pappy is. And, how much you're doing her a favor by drinking it.

[ggilbertva]

It depends on an individual's pallet. Basil is a high rye bourbon and to many a scotch drinker is more palatable than a wheater. My wife loves Basil, or any other high rye, but she doesn't care at all for wheaters. She'd rather have Old Granddad than PVW23 (I have to drink all the PVW myself - don't you pity me?).

You are correct Stu but I guess my thought had more to do with the proof and cost aspect. To me, if I wanted a high rye, OGD BIB would be a better choice and it's only around $16.

[JamesW]

STOP CONVERTING EVERYONE! Call me selfish but the popularization of bourbon has driven prices through the roof!:smiley_acbt:

Lets' keep how good this stuff is just to ourselves!

[RWBadley]

STOP CONVERTING EVERYONE! Call me selfish but the popularization of bourbon has driven prices through the roof!:smiley_acbt:

Lets' keep how good this stuff is just to ourselves!

Tell me about it. I've seen the same thing happen to Scotch, Tequila, Rum, Brandy, Cognac, Irish, and Bourbon.

The last holdout is Mezcal ;-)

oops,

Cheers

RW

[Luna56]

If you want to convert a SMS drinker, try giving them EC 18 or FR SB or just about anything that's unfiltered at cask strength. Tell them not to compare it to malt, but to enjoy the complex aromas and flavors for their own sake.

That was my approach at first, to offer something I felt was somewhat similar to SMS. No dice, at least with one of my extended family members. He is slowly warming up to it, though, and if I have no SMS on hand he'll take a bourbon. Now I'll get him to try some Baby Saz this Sunday. Maybe I can bring him fully around to bourbon through the back door. :grin:

Cheers!

[ILLfarmboy]

That is an interesting approach. I have often seen the opposite advocated. That is, to introduce bourbon to a scotch drinker by having him try something like Blanton's. But since you came to bourbon from malt whiskey, I'll take your word for it.

Now, If I just knew some scotch drinkers to convert. Mostly I know and encounter beer drinkers.

[SBOmarc]

I am amazed by the Scotch bottles I see from bar to bar.

If only the bars owners would pay that kind of attention to Bourbon.

[Luna56]

I am amazed by the Scotch bottles I see from bar to bar.

If only the bars owners would pay that kind of attention to Bourbon.

I think generally that's true, but up here in NH, Glenfiddich is bourbon.

Cheers!

[Stu]

That was my approach at first, to offer something I felt was somewhat similar to SMS. No dice, at least with one of my extended family members. He is slowly warming up to it, though, and if I have no SMS on hand he'll take a bourbon. Now I'll get him to try some Baby Saz this Sunday. Maybe I can bring him fully around to bourbon through the back door. :grin:

Cheers!

Any good straight rye is a good choice. If you have something old, unfiltered, and cask strength that would be the best.

[Luna56]

Good tip. Unfortunately the best rye we have in NH at the moment is Baby Saz (not too shabby). I'll pour him a double. If he doesn't like it I'll just finish it for him.:cool:

Cheers!