what bourbon are you enjoying spring 2012 ?

[bad_scientist]

Plenty of nice bourbons were sampled this weekend - I truly feel we're in a golden age - but the biggest surprise was how tasty the new EW 1783 is. I like HH a lot, but most of their stuff tastes very similar to me. The 1783 definitely has the corn and youngish wood profile, but those are complemented by a striking sweetness that, while not exactly making for a complex bourbon, definitely makes it a delicious one. I'm weaning myself off of "cheap-o" bourbons, but I think this is a real keeper.

Anyone else have the new stuff?

[smokinjoe]

SB Blend while waiting for the chicken to finish up on the grill. I don't know who of y'all invented this, but ya done good. A "sum is greater than it's parts" sorta thing. I'm sure that for each of us, the combo brings different things, depending on your preferences going in. For me, the thick richness of the OWA brings the depth and heaviness. The 12 (which I ain't crazy about by itself) adds the oak and age. For me, the 12 is almost like adding bitters, so I go light on it. 4:1 OWA to 12. Dang nice combo.

:toast:

[rutterb]

Right now it's a bottle of Kentucky Vintage 17 yr.

[jcg9779]

SB Blend while waiting for the chicken to finish up on the grill. I don't know who of y'all invented this, but ya done good. A "sum is greater than it's parts" sorta thing. I'm sure that for each of us, the combo brings different things, depending on your preferences going in. For me, the thick richness of the OWA brings the depth and heaviness. The 12 (which I ain't crazy about by itself) adds the oak and age. For me, the 12 is almost like adding bitters, so I go light on it. 4:1 OWA to 12. Dang nice combo.

:toast:

I had some of this last night also, Joe - I have it at a 1:1 ratio though. I made a bottle up a couple of weeks ago and really love how the flavors come together after spending some time together in the bottle. Much better than mixing on the fly, IMO.

[clingman71]

You're spot on about bottle vatting being better than in the glass on the fly. I vat 1:1, a 750,of each vatted 500ml in three bottles. Maybe I'm crazy, but all the talk of air helping wheaters led me to this.

I enjoyed new TPS Bowman during Madmen last night, diluted to roughly 100 proof, still warm, but flavorful.

[clingman71]

You're spot on about bottle vatting being better than in the glass on the fly. I vat 1:1, a 750,of each vatted 500ml in three bottles. Maybe I'm crazy, but all the talk of air helping wheaters led me to this.

I enjoyed new TPS Bowman during Madmen last night, diluted to roughly 100 proof, still warm, but flavorful.

[unclebunk]

Wild Turkey night on Saturday. Started out with a healthy pour of WT12 CGF, still one of my favorite bourbons of all time. Moved on to Russell's Reserve 10/101 and finally to standard WT101 in an effort to stretch the other two just a bit longer. Forgot I've still got an unopened tax-stamped bottle of WT 8 Year Old that managed to elude our attention the other night.

[Young Blacksmith]

A little pre-fire EC12, the end of the bottle. I'll be replacing this!

Next up some EWSB/EWB/EC12 I Gilmanized up. It looks like a HH night!

[ISU_grad]

Enjoying a little 4RSB Liquor Barn Private bottling 10y8m

[Tico]

Went through a few things tonight after a long Monday.

JPS 18 #14

ORVW 10/107

50/50 Weller 12 & OWA

[mosugoji64]

Polished off a bottle of FRSB earlier. Now enjoying OWA CnB #54.

[rutterb]

enjoying Kentucky Vintage 17yr tonight. Rough evening watching my Vandy Baseball team give up a lead.

[bigtoys]

my version of Gibson's Rush St. Manhattan

Woodford Double Oaked

Cherry Heering

Sweet Vermouth

Orange Bitters

[White Dog]

enjoying Kentucky Vintage 17yr tonight. Rough evening watching my Vandy Baseball team give up a lead.

You mean Vintage 17? Good stuff.

[White Dog]

Weller SR 7yr paper label Frankfort, which is showing poorly. Also some wonderful Barclay's BIB from 1972, which is showing roasted apple, pine, and spice.

[AaronWF]

SB Blend while waiting for the chicken to finish up on the grill... For me, the 12 is almost like adding bitters, so I go light on it. 4:1 OWA to 12. Dang nice combo.

:toast:

I had some of this last night also, Joe - I have it at a 1:1 ratio though. I made a bottle up a couple of weeks ago and really love how the flavors come together after spending some time together in the bottle. Much better than mixing on the fly, IMO.

You're spot on about bottle vatting being better than in the glass on the fly. I vat 1:1... Maybe I'm crazy, but all the talk of air helping wheaters led me to this.

I mixed up a bottle of this for the first time the other night, but I haven't yet sampled it; I've been too caught up in the other half of the paper label, age-stated OWA bottle. This looks to be from '08 and is unquestionably better than the last few NAS bottles of OWA I've had. I think I mixed about 4:5 of Weller12 to OWA, and I'll probably let it sit for another few days before testing it out, but you never know...

[unclebunk]

Had my first taste of Dixie Dew Corn Whiskey last night. Honestly, it far surpassed my expectations and was quite delicious, especially for $11! DD has a nice dark amber color, a full mouth-coating feel and is not as sweet as I had anticipated. There's actually a nice light spice in the finish too, so I have to give it a big thumbs up. I only wish I had purchased a second bottle, as the stuff is next to impossible to find around here.

[White Dog]

Had my first taste of Dixie Dew Corn Whiskey last night. Honestly, it far surpassed my expectations and was quite delicious, especially for $11! DD has a nice dark amber color, a full mouth-coating feel and is not as sweet as I had anticipated. There's actually a nice light spice in the finish too, so I have to give it a big thumbs up. I only wish I had purchased a second bottle, as the stuff is next to impossible to find around here.

Glad you found some. As a friend of mine said, "DD is stupid good!":cool:

[unclebunk]

Glad you found some. As a friend of mine said, "DD is stupid good!":cool:

You can say that again!:grin:

[SMOWK]

Had my first taste of Dixie Dew Corn Whiskey last night. Honestly, it far surpassed my expectations and was quite delicious, especially for $11! DD has a nice dark amber color, a full mouth-coating feel and is not as sweet as I had anticipated. There's actually a nice light spice in the finish too, so I have to give it a big thumbs up. I only wish I had purchased a second bottle, as the stuff is next to impossible to find around here.

Not that there are many, but I have really enjoyed every corn whiskey I have ever tasted. Every one of them was worthy of stocking up on since none of them are available locally

[clingman71]

ORVW 10/107, bottom third of a bottle opened for six months or so. Lots of brown sugar, which I love.

[AaronWF]

Well I started my [late] evening with FR 120th. I'm down to the last 1/5 of the bottle, and finally I'm finding something to get excited about! Of course, there's always variation among 1B, and I've read about variation specifically with this release, but the first half or more of my bottle was very unbalanced, with astringency unaided by any real sweetness. Well now, after 2.5 months, there's a nice, rich, brown sugary sweetness rising to meet the unripe heat I've mostly been tasting since I opened the bottle.

The LE1B 2012 is more instantly pleasing, but I'm finding it a little one-noted. I got mine in KY at the end of April and I still haven't seen it on the shelves here in Chicago. It's still really good compared to most bourbons, but compared to other FR I've had, it's a bit pale. It is getting a little better with air, but it's just not breaking through the roof the way I know FR is capable of doing for me.

I am very much enjoying a pour of Binny's OBSQ right now. It's not as good as the previous barrels I've had, but I still really like it, and it definitely speaks of the 'acquired taste' quotient of the Q yeast. Although it's lower in proof at 104.8pf than the other OBSQs I've had, it drinks a little hotter and does not quite fall in the astringent-to-caramel sweet spot I've found bliss with in Binny's other two OBSQs I've had.

I also had some SB blend with age-stated, paper-label OWA. I think it needs more OWA, because my taste tonight was pretty neutral.

Then again, neutral seems to be a theme tonight. Maybe my palate is tired; I know I sure as hell am!

[hectic1]

I stopped in Raleigh last night during my travels and had some drinks with Halifax and C2Walker. After a good eastern NC BBQ dinner we settled in for a night of pours, conversation and basketball. Not a real structured type tasting this time. Just a bunch of bottles on the counter, and random sampling. The following made the rounds...

- Noah's Mill 15

- ETL SB 1993

- Willett R/E V

- Willett TPS 11yr

- OHH BIB 1984

- EW BIB 1982

- Old Fitz Prime 1964?

- WT12

- WT8

- WT 86.8 70s Flask

- WTKS PT 2001

- Classis Cask 15

- Willett 18 1789b #4

Odd thing is no one was hurting this morning... Who would have thought? Anyways... Good times, good food, & good bourbon.

Rhe highlight of the night besides the NC BBQ and the Willett 18yr and Classic Cask was knowing that Josh was crying in his scotch watching that SOS Lebron "big choke" James lose again to fall behind 3-2 in the series. I hope that douche bag never wins a title...he's no Michael Jordan and will never be!

Back to the bourbon, I really forgot how stellar of a pick that Willett 18yr bourbon is. I haven't had it since ACDetroit's house a couple months ago and that is a as Rod would say "damn good bourbon" if I've ever had one. I find that I prefer it with a splash of water as I find that it really opens up at about 120pr or so. The Classic Cask 15 was also really nice...it has a WT Tribute like nose but a blended pallet...very interesting bourbon that kept me thinking the entire time I was sipping on it.

Thanks for the hospitality and forcing me sleep with more animals then anyone should ever have to!:skep:

[jcg9779]

- Noah's Mill 15

- ETL SB 1993

- Willett R/E V

- Willett TPS 11yr

- OHH BIB 1984

- EW BIB 1982

- Old Fitz Prime 1964?

- WT12

- WT8

- WT 86.8 70s Flask

- WTKS PT 2001

- Classis Cask 15

- Willett 18 1789b #4

Very nice lineup, guys!

Rhe highlight of the night...was knowing that Josh was crying in his scotch watching that SOS Lebron "big choke" James lose again... I hope that douche bag never wins a title...he's no Michael Jordan and will never be!

Spoken like a true Bulls fan!

Thanks for the hospitality and forcing me sleep with more animals then anyone should ever have to!:skep:

I'll let someone else have this one...

[SMOWK]

OGD114 with some beer whilst hanging on the back porch roasting some coffee. I think a cigar should be included in this scenario....