Does anyone else mix bourbon regularly?...

[BFerguson]

I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with mixing. For me a lot of the preference to mix can be weather dependent. Like today, nearing 85 and humid in southern MN, a well chilled old fashioned, or a heavy splash in some ginger in a tall glass with lots of ice, would really hit the spot.

But even that would be more for the daytime or late afternoon hours. The evening is still the realm of a great bottle neat.

Like somebody said previously, there is a bourbon for every situation.

Dang it's too hot too soon.

B

[camduncan]

On average, I probably drink 1 or 2 bourbon and cokes in every 10 drinks I pour, so I suppose I should elaborate.... I mainly drink bourbon and coke when it's hot, or when it's convenient (like visiting someone elses place or attending a party where I'm likely to be the only bourbon drinker.)

If I'm not buying a pre-mix bourbon and cola RTD, my bourbon of choice to mix with coke is Jim Beam White, but I will sometimes Evan Williams Black Label, Elijah Craig 12yo or Nelson County.

I would never normally mix a Pappy 15 or Bookers with coke (unless I'm not enjoying it and just want to finish the pour), but I occasionally sample a new bourbon that I've never tried before with Coke once only.

[flintlock]

I just can't mix bourbon - it tastes too delicious neat. I know a teaspoon of water can open up flavors, and I do that, but I don't use ice. I never liked "Jack and Coke", always thought it tasted awful, and the weird tastes of most mixed drinks largely turned me into a serious beer drinker.

Rum, on the other hand...:grin: if you can find a bar that has a good, dark, sweet rum (not Baccardi furniture cleaner) that makes a great Coke drink. But, in my experience so far, good luck with that...

[moose]

It really depends on my mood, and what the bourbon in question is as to whether or not I'd mix it. I try to take most of them neat, as I get a much better appreciation for the bourbon itself, and it gives me a better overall drink. However if I am drinking in a social situation, and none of my choice bourbon's are to be had, then I have no issue mixing it with some Coke, Sprite, or sometimes ginger ale. I haven't had many manhattan's or old fashioned's, but I'd be likely to try each. I gotta say though, on a hot day, a strong pour of some bourbon over ice in a tall glass with a bit of sprite really hits the spot, usually I'd use Beam White label or Ezra Brooks for that duty. Anything that I have to spend $20+ on a bottle is a little senseless to mix, but if I don't care for it neat, then some soda maybe needed to coax down the pour.

[TNbourbon]

Jeez, you just never know what kind of thread is going to 'take off'!:bigeyes:

This was kind of a late-night, feeling-sorry-for-myself plaint just because I didn't want to go to the liquor store and buy cheap bourbon, and only had some single-barrel Ridgemont, Taylor Old Fashioned, or KC Single Barrel to drown in diet ginger ale (it wound up being the 1792).

It's interesting that most of you guys don't mix anything above sub-basement shelf with cola or ginger ale, et al. No wonder none of you thinks much of soda-pop whiskey!:grin:

Seriously, you do yourself no favors by buying at the bottom, even for mixers, unless you like the bourbon any way you try it. I don't buy Jim Beam 4yo White even to mix or for cooking, because I don't particularly care for its simplistic flavor, including neat (too much raw corn, even with the bit of cinnamon). And, yes, I've mixed Pappy 23, though as much as anything just to be able to say I had -- and it made a top-flight bourbon-and-cola!

And, while I certainly don't recommend dousing your best bottle regularly in soft drink, I'd advise steering clear of simple price shopping for that purpose. There are plenty of decently tasty, inexpensive bourbons -- my current fave, Old Crow Reserve (4yo/86-proof black label), and VOB BIB come to mind -- so it's just silly to say "I won't mix 'decent' bourbon!".

As for rum being the better mixer with cola, well -- I'm less likely to mix a rum I really like than bourbon. And, yet, I still do that, too. But a really good, 'neat' rum is a lot rarer than a really good bourbon, in my opinion. El Dorado 12yo. Check it out!

Anyway, thanks for the interesting -- as always here -- feedback, and quit being such bourbon snobs (Ay-ed and Cam excepted, it seems) :slappin: !

[LikeItWasSodaPop]

I think this thread is a bit convoluted, in the sense that "mixing" is used with respect to: (A) cocktails and ( simple "mixer"-style drinks like bourbon & coke, bourbon & ginger, etc.

I think this obscures an important part of the debate. IMHO, bourbon (or rye) can be an amazing ingredient in a well-crafted cocktail. So to answer the question: Of course I "mix" (or have brilliant bartenders like Paul at Chicago's Whistler mix for me) bourbon all the time.

To me, the travesty is mixing bourbon with some sort of industrial corn syrup bomb like Coke or, worse, some kind of carcinogen bomb like Diet Coke or whatever. I'm not saying it's not (potentially to some) enjoyable or "tasty" or "refreshing." It probably is, especially when it's hot outside. It just seems that while with cocktails, bourbon (or, usually, better, rye) can compliment its fellow ingredients, when mixed with the sugar bomb (or nutrasweet or whatever w/r/t Diet) that is most sodas, the nuances that bourbon brings are just subsumed entirely. I mean, can you tell the difference between the "kerosine mixed with butt-sweat" flavor of JB White with the pristine glory of PVW 15 when they're mixed with Diet Coke? I mean, can ya, bub? I'm not saying that the resulting drink might not be refreshing or satisfying on a hot night or won't get cute young girls to sleep with you with relatively no effort (IT REALLY WILL), I'm just saying that it does not reflect at all the nuances of the bourbon. And such defilement feels a bit wrong to me because it seems to neglect the qualities of the spirit. American whiskeys go well with certain things, like, say, vermouth + bitters, or a touch of absinthe + bitters. These calculations make sense to me, knowing the spirit. TOTAL CLOYING SUGAR BOMB + bourbon = blech to me.

I guess I'm saying that those who mix soda pop with bourbon are either college age girls or trying to sleep with college age girls or have the taste preference of college age girls.

No, that's probably wrong. No, I don't mean that. Sorry. Really, I'm sorry.

For those with no irony filters: I AM JOKING.

OK, you're right, I'm not.

[T Comp]

IFor those with no irony filters: I AM JOKING.

OK, you're right, I'm not.

[TNbourbon]

...I mean, can you tell the difference between the "kerosine mixed with butt-sweat" flavor of JB White with the pristine glory of PVW 15 when they're mixed with Diet Coke? I mean, can ya, bub?..

Yeah, I can. And anyone who's tried it can, too. Which is not to encourage you to try it if you don't want to. But, not trying it leaves you in lousy position to make empirical judgments about it.

And, though I don't do it all that often because I'm too lazy after working all day and coming home to a 'cold one', I certainly meant "mixing" to include cocktails.

The ultimate irony is that the the original poster is a legend who has probably tasted and owned some of the most valuable and sought after bourbons there are...at least I've heard.

(Shhhhh! Just don't tell 'em, Thad, if was me who told you, okay?:blush: )

[Joeluka]

I think Tim is right about the quality of what your mixing with. IMHO the better the ingredients the better the drink.

[camduncan]

I think Tim is right about the quality of what your mixing with. IMHO the better the ingredients the better the drink.

[barturtle]

If you mean "mix" as in "make a classic cocktail such as a Manhattan or Sazerac" then yes.

If you mean "mix" as in "to adulterate an otherwise perfectly fine whiskey by the addition of some sort of soda (coke, pop, soft drink)" then no. And I think those who do should have their account restricted to the newbie forum.

:slappin:

[TNbourbon]

...And I think those who do should have their account restricted to the newbie forum...

[camduncan]

Even if you've been present when I've done it?:skep: (It's usually how I end a 'session', with 'remainders'.)

[Virus_Of_Life]

If you mean "mix" as in "to adulterate an otherwise perfectly fine whiskey by the addition of some sort of soda (coke, pop, soft drink)" then no.

[Brisko]

If I'm actually thirsty (as opposed to just "thirsty") I will occasionally do a bourbon/cola or rye and cola-- Beam rye and Coke has a nice cinnamon flavor to it. But generally, it's more that I'm in the mood for a soda, and why not make it worthwhile. Ginger ale, too, sometimes.

I used to do cocktails but most of the time now I find I prefer just spirits. the flavors are complex enough and I don't really want to dumb them down. That said, I agree with Joeluka-- better ingredients make better cocktails. And yes, you can tell the difference. Nowadays if I do a cocktail it's a bourbon with bitters, shaken with crushed ice and garnished with a cherry. But even that's a lot of work :grin:

[gblick]

Sometimes after I mow the lawn on a hot day, I'll cool off with an Old Fashioned made using WT Rye and orange bitters. Other than that I usually drink my bourbon/rye neat.

[PappyVW23]

I usually drink one bourbon, one scotch and one beer. i mix them in my stomach. :grin:

can't believe i beat everybody to that!

seriously, crown and ginger has been my drink for over 30 years. about 9 months ago i started drinking bourbon neat. I hated getting all filled up on beer and/or soda to get my buzz on. figured i'd pare things down a little. that developed into actually caring what the bourbon tasted like. after over doing that (as usual) i'm on the trajectory back down and will probably start mixing more often. Just picked up my first bottle of bitters ever. never had a manhatten or an old fashioned. any tips appreciated.

[TNbourbon]

...Just picked up my first bottle of bitters ever. never had a manhatten or an old fashioned. any tips appreciated.

[Parkersback]

I like it, anyway. But what do I know -- I mix bourbon with 'pop'?:bigeyes: :grin:

[lrochau]

Had a bunch of mint julips last weekend for the race. Kind of laughed because it was the first time I've mixed bourbon with anything besides ice since the Breeders Cup in the fall.

Hard to believe I was a big Jack/Coke or BV/Coke guy two years ago.

[jfw]

Tim,

I drink bourbon straight, with a little ice or with some variety of diet pepsi. I almost always try ALL bourbons each way. Can I tell the difference between JBW/Makers/WT/Bookers, etc. in diet Pepsi? Damn right I can. So, if it's been produced in the last decade, I've probably mixed it with Pepsi on at least one occasion. Why would I want to drink a bourbon I don't like just because I'm mixing it with something?

I do get some weird looks from bartenders when I order a Woodford and diet pepsi. But, I've gotten over worrying about what other people think. If you have never had an ET Lee and diet wild cherry Pepsi, you just don't know what you are missing.

Hey, if I feel like drinking a glass of riesling with steak, I do that too.

Joe

[StraightNoChaser]

Bourbon cocktails are my favorite cocktails (second only to gin cocktails)! However, I'm not a fan of soda so it's the more "hand crafted" side of things that I'm into. Manhattans, Mint Juleps, Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs... I could go on forever! And luckily with this new mixology crazy people are coming up with some excellent combinations. Here's one of my new favorites, made for me by the bar manager at Victor Tango's in Dallas:

1oz bourbon (I use OWA107)

1oz Noilly Prat

1oz Cointreau

Dash of Angostura and Peychaud's

Splash of simple syrup or pinch of sugar (optional)

Stir all ingredients together with ice, strain into a chilled martini glass or similar, garnish with a flamed orange peel

Might sound a bit fruity but if you're daring and like trying new things I highly recommend it!