What Bourbon Are You Drinking, Fall 2009

[Gillman]

Old Taylor 86 proof, bottled (per our accepted bottle interpretation data) 1980.

I will say this: bourbon like this is not made today. I can see here development of a fairly feisty white dog into an aromatic matured bourbon of finest savour. How I know this is, I have some of that black label OT from the 70's I found in a Bay Area store which I twigged others to some years ago. That black label is, unusually for OT, 90 proof. And it isn't as good as this 86 or the other ND labels from the era (60's-80's) we usually talk about. Why? It is quite young and discloses that fuselly taste of which just a hint subsists in this 1980 OT but which is (I infer) essential to contribute to the final inimitable palate.

Maybe today the white dog isn't doggy enough. To have a great end product you need (I think) a very inapt one to start with.

Gary

[birdman1099]

Had me a three-way tonight....:grin:

Russell Reserve 101 vs. Old Fitz BIB 1992 vs. Eagle Rare 101 (frankfort)

I gotta say, the WTRR blew me away..... The ER101 was really good, and the Old Fitz brought up the rear.

[docbible]

A double pour of McScrooges weller 107 to end the evening. tim

[ErichPryde]

Sin,

I am somewhat surprised that you don't like Jim Beam Black, as it is in a lot of ways similar to Jack Daniels. Have you ever tried another Beam product? Jim Beam Whiskeys have a very distinctive flavor profile, and generally speaking, they aren't my favorite (although I do like the black label from time to time).

I have to second the recommendation of maker's mark, I think it's a great bourbon to start with.

[sailor22]

Last night was J.W. Dant BiB from the 70's - nothing complex or challenging but lots of chocolate in that bottle.

[Sin]

Sin,

I am somewhat surprised that you don't like Jim Beam Black, as it is in a lot of ways similar to Jack Daniels. Have you ever tried another Beam product? Jim Beam Whiskeys have a very distinctive flavor profile, and generally speaking, they aren't my favorite (although I do like the black label from time to time).

I have to second the recommendation of maker's mark, I think it's a great bourbon to start with.

I'm surprised, too. I never touched another bourbon after that. My friend at the time who suggested JBB, was shocked I didn't like it. He knew I would love it, and that just wasn't the case. I think it could have been a bad bottle. Maybe, my taste buds just were too finicky for it, I don't know. I should try it once more; give it one more chance.

On the MM, I'm getting a lot of suggestions of what I should try first. I'm sold. Next trip to the store, I'm buying a bottle. I'll give a review, once I do. A 'Noob Review.' (Had to).

[unclebunk]

Old Forester Repeal Bourbon last night. Got the gift pack with the Glencairn glass and scroll for $15 which is half what I paid for it nearly a year ago.:hot:

[OscarV]

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit, neat.

[OscarV]

I thought EWSB were suppose to be 10yo.

But it's only 2 months and a little more than 2 weeks short, and the important part is it did spend 10 Summers in the wood.

Ive had about 6-7 bottles from a few different barrels of the '99 and i think the were all about 2 months short of 10 years.

I have a 1995 that is 10 years and 2 months.

And a 1996 that is 4 months short of 10 years, but it spent 10 Summers in the wood like the 2000.

[SMOWK]

After all the suggestions of Makers Mark to Sin, I decided I should finish the last quarter or so of the bottle I had on the shelf.

Sin, I second the suggestion. Makers Mark is a good bourbon. It's what I started purchasing regularly as my first "premium" bourbon. That is, until I started finding these weird Van Winkle bottles and such at certain liquor stores. Once I got hooked on the Winkle wagon, Makers doesn't seem to be claiming and shelf real estate.

[fishnbowljoe]

Having a pour of WT 101 tonight. (for starters?) Cheers Paul! :grin: Joe

[funknik]

Started with some BT, then moved onto Julio's RHF and then a ER101 . . . for some reason I like the offerings from the BT #2 mashbill less and less all the time -- the RHF just has been really rubbing me the wrong way lately.

[ErichPryde]

Started with some BT, then moved onto Julio's RHF and then a ER101 . . . for some reason I like the offerings from the BT #2 mashbill less and less all the time -- the RHF just has been really rubbing me the wrong way lately.

I spent a lot of time with a bottle of ER101 last night. This whiskey is new to me, smokinjoe was nice enough to send me some several weeks ago. My first couple of drinks when I first got it were good, but let me down. This stuff is kinda the father to GTS, BT, and ERSB- I was hoping for more. Yeah, I could detect the leaping corn that GTS has, the smokiness that both buffalo trace and GTS share, the same leather notes (saddle leather, to me- I'm put back in a barn with an old girlfriend from highschool when I drink these whiskeys sometimes) that all three seem to have. But I just wasn't getting it.

last week I was sick for a couple of days, and absolutely nothing tasted right, so I laid off of the bourbon for a week. I bought some sazerac rye this weekend (best bottle of this stuff I've ever had- it is amazing!), and then last night, decided to revisit the ER101.

I understand, really understand, why some people call this baby stagg. but that's not exactly right- that charred, somewhat smoky beautiful leather leaping corn sweet but tempered (and angry!) beast is in there, but it's subdued... yet it isn't. It's a different critter. a twin (sister? brother? sexy either way) to GTS, almost more slight in stature yet, you might not catch it if you didn't know what to look for. and then, I'm so strongly reminded of ERSB. the corn first, and then rye tingle at then end that I almost always get from ERSB is there, but it's different.

All three rolled into one, yet not a single one of them. This is sunlight, the hole in the barn roof, the used, oiled, cleaned sweet saddle on a brown horse. blue smiling eyes and dimples. Yet... none of the above. It's a phantasmal bird of prey, diving relentlessly towards prey, yet shearing off at the last second, those talons inches from your face and you gasping.

I don't know why I didn't get this whiskey at first. a lot of times, it takes a drink or two, maybe a little bit of air, to help a whiskey, or perhaps me, on the way. This one was that way- Like getting to know the person you might marry and love. It's unfortunate that I encountered it now, so late in the game.

Joe, thanks. you're a standup guy for sending me this.

[ErichPryde]

I might mention that I've had some store-bought borden eggnog spiked with Four roses yellow tonight, and am consuming a sazerac cocktail whilst making chicken parmigiana. if any of you wondered, that's your answer.

[Vosgar]

Just a little Lot B tonight. With all the other goodies I've been buying and trying lately, kind of forgot about this one. My loss

[CL]

Tonight I had a toast for good health with my father in law. We opened a bottle of Pappy 15 yo that arrived yesterday. We poured it into a couple Riedel bourbon glasses I bought on sale yesterday.

Followed it up with some homemade donut holes. ;-)

[T47]

Just finished up working a memorial for 4 Officers killed last week here in WA. Toasting each of them with some Pappy 20. If your so inclined and need an excuse to open a fine one; Ronald Owens, Mark Renninger, Tina Grizwold and Gregory Richards is a good one. If not them, then to the safe return of your own Officers, I think every State may have had someone there, almost 20,000 Officers attended. Quite a tribute, quite a site.

:toast:

[Joshua]

OGD114. Im not sure why, but I always go to this bottle when I can't think of anything else to drink. Great pour for $20!

[nor02lei]

Kentucky gentleman from 1970 before dinner yesterday and Handy 2008 after.

Leif

[nor02lei]

I spent a lot of time with a bottle of ER101 last night. This whiskey is new to me, smokinjoe was nice enough to send me some several weeks ago. My first couple of drinks when I first got it were good, but let me down. This stuff is kinda the father to GTS, BT, and ERSB- I was hoping for more. Yeah, I could detect the leaping corn that GTS has, the smokiness that both buffalo trace and GTS share, the same leather notes (saddle leather, to me- I'm put back in a barn with an old girlfriend from highschool when I drink these whiskeys sometimes) that all three seem to have. But I just wasn't getting it.

last week I was sick for a couple of days, and absolutely nothing tasted right, so I laid off of the bourbon for a week. I bought some sazerac rye this weekend (best bottle of this stuff I've ever had- it is amazing!), and then last night, decided to revisit the ER101.

I understand, really understand, why some people call this baby stagg. but that's not exactly right- that charred, somewhat smoky beautiful leather leaping corn sweet but tempered (and angry!) beast is in there, but it's subdued... yet it isn't. It's a different critter. a twin (sister? brother? sexy either way) to GTS, almost more slight in stature yet, you might not catch it if you didn't know what to look for. and then, I'm so strongly reminded of ERSB. the corn first, and then rye tingle at then end that I almost always get from ERSB is there, but it's different.

All three rolled into one, yet not a single one of them. This is sunlight, the hole in the barn roof, the used, oiled, cleaned sweet saddle on a brown horse. blue smiling eyes and dimples. Yet... none of the above. It's a phantasmal bird of prey, diving relentlessly towards prey, yet shearing off at the last second, those talons inches from your face and you gasping.

I don't know why I didn't get this whiskey at first. a lot of times, it takes a drink or two, maybe a little bit of air, to help a whiskey, or perhaps me, on the way. This one was that way- Like getting to know the person you might marry and love. It's unfortunate that I encountered it now, so late in the game.

Joe, thanks. you're a standup guy for sending me this.

The only bottle of ER 101 that I have had was flavourful but a bit on the rough side to me.

Leif

[SMOWK]

OGD114. Im not sure why, but I always go to this bottle when I can't think of anything else to drink. Great pour for $20!

Maybe because it's outstanding. Oh, and it gets you drunk, quick.

[BunkerBooze]

Jefferson's Presidential 17yrs Select...yummy

[OscarV]

Jefferson's Presidential 17yrs Select...yummy

[ILLfarmboy]

Last night it was WTRB and then Handy............

[SMOWK]

Starting the night with the good stuff. '09 GTS neat. Boy I love this stuff. I'm glad there are a bunch more in the closet. To date, this holiday season has been the bourbon'est yet!