What bourbon are you enjoying? Fall 2011

[Gillman]

Angels' Envy, really good, that touch of sweetness from the wine complements the whiskey but you can't taste the port (or I can't). Very well done. I'd guess it's Louisville make from B-F, carefully selected for this treatment.

Gary

[T Comp]

Had a Heaven Hill White Label BiB on the rocks while cooking supper tonight. Polish Sausage, sauerkraut and pierogies. I'm not Polish, but after living in Metro Detroit for 10 yrs I'm learning.

Well I am and occasionally am allowed :grin: to partake in the same meal and I can't think of a better whiskey either before, during and after as the perfect accompaniment to said meal. The white label BIB (6 year) imo is really really a whole lot better than the gold label BIB (4 year) too but I'm stuck with the gold label until next trip south.

[mosugoji64]

Celebrating the beginning of Thanksgiving break with a generous pour of ORVW 10/107. Looking forward to spending the next week with my wife and family!

[jcg9779]

Had the last pour of PVW 15 tonight...it's always a sad day when this bottle is emptied!

[G.H.Adams]

Had a pour of Old Ezra 101 which wasn't bad. Now I am having some Heaven Hill white label BIB. I like this one a lot.

[Josh]

Well I am and occasionally am allowed :grin: to partake in the same meal and I can't think of a better whiskey either before, during and after as the perfect accompaniment to said meal. The white label BIB (6 year) imo is really really a whole lot better than the gold label BIB (4 year) too but I'm stuck with the gold label until next trip south.

It's a great meal and a great whiskey. In Michigan we only get the 80 proof Heaven Hill gold label which is not great to say the least. I haven't ever tried the gold label BiB just because the white label always meets my needs.

I bought some of the green label last spring, and it was really good, but it's not the BiB.

Had a pour of Old Ezra 101 which wasn't bad. Now I am having some Heaven Hill white label BIB. I like this one a lot.

Two of my favorites under $25. Can't go wrong!

[Gillman]

The Polish spirits of course would go very well with this, and foremost IMO Starka, the one vodka I've never seen in North America, duty free or the U.K. Which is not to say you can't find it, but I've never seen it.

Starka is distilled in a manner similar to straight rye, i.e., it's not rectified to neutrality, and is made from a rye-based mash. It is long aged in oak and is sometimes lightly flavoured, either with tree leaves or the residues of wine barrels especially ex-sherry. This site gives information on the main producer in Poland today:

http://www.polmos.szczecin.pl/

Wikipedia's entry on starka gives good information in English on the history of the drink.

One of my goals is to taste this drink and see if it is similar to straight rye, I believe it may be. If so, this may give a clue as to the origins of straight American whiskey, since many European (non-U.K. or Irish) immigrants would have distilled from rye when they arrived here. The Dutch also used rye to make genever, and still do for the most authentic type. There may have been a belt (so to speak) of European distilling based on rye from Holland through some of the German lands to Poland and Lithuania, and it arrived here via their immigration. Indeed now that I think of it, Pennsylvania, home of rye whiskey, was a notable destination of Polish emigration although I am not sure if it dates from pre-1800 (when rye whiskey was already well-established).

And so from bigos and similar dishes to Kentucky bourbon that goes well with it, to the original Polish and other European rye-based accompaniments, and back to American whiskey again... Or in other words explicating why your choice worked so well, Josh... (considering too the HH brand you mentioned has a good rye kick).

Gary

[T Comp]

And so from bigos and similar dishes to Kentucky bourbon that goes well with it, to the original Polish and other European rye-based accompaniments, and back to American whiskey again... Or in other words explicating why your choice worked so well, Josh... (considering too the HH brand you mentioned has a good rye kick).

Gary

Yes Gary that's why I so heartily endorsed the HH 6yr BIB Josh mentioned because of that good rye kick but still enough sweet to accompany the fat, spices and acidity in that kind of meal. And I'm still not aware of Starka being available at retail here but I will be looking.

[Gillman]

Please let us know if you locate it, Thad, that would be a great find.

Gary

[OscarV]

4R LE1B Jim Rutledge Selection for Shoppers Vineyard, 10yo and barrel strength @ 105.6prf, neat.

Pure flavor, a classic.

[OscarV]

4R LE1B Jim Rutledge Selection for Shoppers Vineyard, 10yo and barrel strength @ 105.6prf, neat.

Pure flavor, a classic.

OK, I corked that baby up for later, whilst I was sipping it I mixed up four parts 2011 G T Stagg and one part water to bring down the proof to 114.

I let it mingle for 30 minutes or so and it came out great.

Very tasty.

[clingman71]

CnB BT #39 & CnB Weller 12 #3 tonight.

[G.H.Adams]

Having several more pours of Heaven Hill White Label BIB. I believe I will be ordering more of this. For the price it can't be beat.

[hectic1]

I had some of my living project bottle and some Old Fitz Prime from 1988 last night. For a vatting of about 7 or 8 different bourbons the Living Bottle was really really good! :cool:

[T Comp]

45 ml of 2011 WLW with 11 ml of filtered water to bring it to 107 proof. So superb and satisfying...no other pour was going to compare or desired, at least for this one night :grin: .

[stiffchainey]

Opened up a bottle of Evan Williams 7 year old for tonight's big match! Share it with my friends, i guess...

[RonJ]

I love Knob Creek, and I like my bourbons sipped neat or on the rocks. I have finished one bottle of Knob Creek small batch, and just picked up another last week. This bourbon is just incredible, powerful, complex, and lingering. They don't make it 100 proof for nothing! Definately one of my favorites.

[jcg9779]

Having several more pours of Heaven Hill White Label BIB. I believe I will be ordering more of this. For the price it can't be beat.

I agree, Greg. I bought some in Kentucky on smokinjoe's recommendation and think it's a great value pour.

[smokinjoe]

I agree, Greg. I bought some in Kentucky on smokinjoe's recommendation and think it's a great value pour.

GBS Always takes care of it's own...

I have a massive Ribeye marinating. A big fire in the outdoor fireplace going. Weber's heating up. Football on the radio. Mrssomokinjoe and daughter out at the mall 'til later. And in my glass, one of the best pours of any Wild Turkey I've ever had. Just plain 'ol Rare Breed. Man, this is really good. I mean really, really good. :yum:

[stiffchainey]

GBS Always takes care of it's own...

I have a massive Ribeye marinating. A big fire in the outdoor fireplace going. Weber's heating up. Football on the radio. Mrssomokinjoe and daughter out at the mall 'til later. And in my glass, one of the best pours of any Wild Turkey I've ever had. Just plain 'ol Rare Breed. Man, this is really good. I mean really, really good. :yum:

Sounds like heaven!

[smokinjoe]

Sounds like heaven!

You're close....I'm still waiting on Claudia Schiffer to knock at the door...

[ebo]

Sipping on the last of a bottle of WTRB. Time to get another.... can't be without this one. :grin:

[HRay]

After a lot of celebratory champagne (long story), finishing the night off with some Bulleit rye.

[smokinjoe]

After a lot of celebratory champagne (long story), finishing the night off with some Bulleit rye.

[awachatz]

I was finally able to pick up the entire 2011 BTAC. I have opened all 5 offerings. This is my first exposure to this series and found it to be interesting. I like them best neat and barrel strength versions such as the WLW and Stagg are my favorites of the bunch.