It's not me after all

[Sipper]

More than a year ago I asked this august body of bourbon fanciers in a question I titled, "Is it me?" if anyone agreed with my opinion that Evan Williams tasted like Jack Daniels. Several took time to assure me that, no, there is no taste similiarity between the Kentucky and Tennessee products. I tucked my tail between my legs and crawled off to reconsider what I thought were my great taste buds. Now, after all these many months a retired bartender confessed to me he had in fact poured Evan Williams for customers drinking their adult beverage with soda (a sin as far as I'm concerned) when they wanted JD, and charged them for the latter. He said it was quite common in his industry to serve EW in lieu of JD, because he stated, "Most people can't tell the difference." My taste buds are vindicated. I rest my case. For the record, I don't drink EW or JD. I've tried and don't like either straihgt up or on the rocks. They both have a strange after taste.

[ILLfarmboy]

More than a year ago I asked this august body of bourbon fanciers in a question I titled, "Is it me?" if anyone agreed with my opinion that Evan Williams tasted like Jack Daniels. Several took time to assure me that, no, there is no taste similiarity between the Kentucky and Tennessee products. I tucked my tail between my legs and crawled off to reconsider what I thought were my great taste buds. Now, after all these many months a retired bartender confessed to me he had in fact poured Evan Williams for customers drinking their adult beverage with soda (a sin as far as I'm concerned) when they wanted JD, and charged them for the latter. He said it was quite common in his industry to serve EW in lieu of JD, because he stated, "Most people can't tell the difference." My taste buds are vindicated. I rest my case. For the record, I don't drink EW or JD. I've tried and don't like either straihgt up or on the rocks. They both have a strange after taste.

Never got an EW and Coke in lue of JD and Coke, but several times in a noisy, crowded busy establishment a bartender has poured a Beam and Coke when I asked for JD and Coke. One sip is all it took, and I was on my way back through the crowd to remedy the situation. The explanation has always been "sorry, I couldn't hear well and thought that's what you ordered". How could someone not no the difference?

[cigarnv]

I think most folks feel they can tell the difference between "like" products until they are lined up in a blind tasting..... at which point one's palate can easily fail them..... one of the reasons, IMO, you typically don't find so called "experts" (wine, spirits, cigars, etc..) participating in true blind tastings.

[callmeox]

Bartenders who serve their customers liquor that they didn't order because the customer doesn't know any better are fine sources of information. Everything that they tell you should be believed, top to bottom.

[kickert]

I doubt most people have the ability to identify differences in whiskies when it is mixed with coke. Brad may be the exception, but most Jack and Coke drinkers don't have very sophisticated pallets to begin with (otherwise they wouldn't be drinking Jack and Coke)

[unclebunk]

I guess lots of bourbons would be nearly indistinguishable from one another when mixed with cola but it would irritate me just the same if a bartender deliberately duped me with a substitute whiskey. Simple solution: drink your whiskey neat!:grin:

[barturtle]

It should be pointed out that no reputable bar would do such a thing, and having been a bartender in Louisville for over 10 years I've never heard of it. It's also illegal to misrepresent one thing for another.

[ILLfarmboy]

I doubt most people have the ability to identify differences in whiskies when it is mixed with coke. Brad may be the exception, but most Jack and Coke drinkers don't have very sophisticated pallets to begin with (otherwise they wouldn't be drinking Jack and Coke)

I think you are being too harsh on the average drinker.

Anyone should be able to tell the difference between disparate whiskeys when mixed with Coke; JD and Coke verses Beam and Coke verses Turkey and Coke. That said, Weller SR and Coke verses Maker's and Coke would likely be another story, even for most of us here.

As a non beer drinker in a rural area, JD and Coke is a semi-regular bar drink for me.

[birdman1099]

Id be willing to bet the reason someone would substitute EW for JD has less to do with the taste and more about how the 2 bottles are similar in appearence from a distance.:skep:

[cigarnv]

I can't tell Coke from Pepsi let alone when there is booze in it....

[Josh]

Don't know about Jack & EW, but I can tell you Pappy 15 makes a much better bourbon and coke than pewter-top WTKS.

[callmeox]

Don't know about Jack & EW, but I can tell you Pappy 15 makes a much better bourbon and coke than pewter-top WTKS.

You are incorrigible.

[DeanSheen]

I'll take my Jack and coke with a pewter top bartender.

[Waiahi]

Id be willing to bet the reason someone would substitute EW for JD has less to do with the taste and more about how the 2 bottles are similar in appearence from a distance.:skep:

Don't forget that EW is typically half the price of JD to boot...there certainly is a profit motive at work here. Bartender probably figures "what the hell, they won't know since it's mixed with coke."

Now if you were to order JD neat, and got served EW, I'd say you're more likely to have case of mistaken identity.

[p_elliott]

I'll take my Jack and coke with a pewter top bartender.

Your wife will super glue your dick to your stomach and you'll spend the the rest of your life pissing in your face.

That should get me in dutch with the moderators

[Josh]

You are incorrigible.

[tmckenzie]

Your wife will super glue your dick to your stomach and you'll spend the the rest of your life pissing in your face.

That should get me in dutch with the moderators

just might be worth it!:grin:

[CorvallisCracker]

You are incorrigible.

I've been waiting for a chance to use this.

[PaulO]

I served a friend some Old Charter 8 year old 80 proof. He thought it tasted like Jack. After that I thought, well they are both mostly all corn, so they are kind of similar. I think Jack is a bit rougher. Do you guys think many bartenders accidentally pour someone a premium brand, when a cheaper brand was ordered?

[callmeox]

I've been waiting for a chance to use this.

Sweetness!

(padpadpadpadpadpad)

[Halifax]

One would think that a bartender working for tips would serve up what a customer ordered. An owner-bartender may be a different story. Although, I noticed something once in Vegas while I was playing video poker at a bar. When the cocktail waitresses came up for table drinks I saw the bartender send out Seagram's 7 in the place of Crown Royal when being mixed. I don't remember a drink coming back.

[squire]

My late brother in law could tell the difference but JD and coke is all he ever drank so I would say he was more attuned than discriminating. He wasn't a connoisseur though because he also added a quarter of lime squeezed into the drink.