An unusual line up for a bourbon tasing contest

[Jono]

http://www.thefiftybest.com/spirits/best_bourbon/

Fifty Best Bourbon

"The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 19 premium bourbons"....ok, not 50...but 19.

All received either a double gold, gold or silver....which seems a little odd because if any were

disliked the lowest mark is a silver (normally a fair medal).

Anyway, the 19 include quite a range of commonly encountered plus quite a few local / regional micro distillery product.

I have not tasted 12/19 nor heard of several of them. Angels Envy and Neversweat were the only two double gold winners.

Never heard of Neversweat.

Edited May 2, 2013 by Jono

[HighInTheMtns]

http://www.thefiftybest.com/spirits/best_bourbon/

Fifty Best Bourbon

"The Fifty Best held a “blind†tasting of 19 premium bourbons"....ok, not 50...but 19.

All received either a double gold, gold or silver....which seems a little odd because of any were

disliked the lowest mark is a silver (normally a fair medal).

Anyway, the 19 include quite a range of commonly encountered plus quite a few local / regional micro distillery product.

I have not tasted 12/19 nor heard of several of them. Angels Envy and Neversweat were the only two double gold winners.

Never heard of Neversweat.

[Jono]

Just speculating, but I wonder if a group like this solicits spirits and says, at worst, we will give a silver medal. Then, the micro can claim, Silver Medal winner!

[Balcones Winston]

Just speculating, but I wonder if a group like this solicits spirits and says, at worst, we will give a silver medal. Then, the micro can claim, Silver Medal winner!

Rofl. I've seen some guys who cherish their silver medals a little too much

[GaryT]

Who picked the 19 "premium" bourbons from 9 different states?? That means no more than 11 could have come from Kentucky . . . what were they thinking (nothing against bourbons from other states - just saying that if someone picked their top 20 favorite bourbons, I think well more than half would be from Kentucky just due to so many coming from Kentucky to start with!!)

And Hudson Baby Bourbon????? Different strokes for different folks, but is that anyone's stroke??

[sailor22]

If Angels Envy is a double gold the judges clearly don't share much with my palate. Brings the results into clearer focus for me.

[p_elliott]

Everybody gets a medal at those things it don't mean squat.

[Meruck]

I am soliciting from each of you a bottle of your best bourbon for a taste comparison and contest, prizes are as follows.

First bottle to arrive "Double Gold"

Next 10 to arrive "Gold"

Next 5 to arrive "Silver"

Last to arrive "Bronze"

But if any were to send 2 bottles they would receive a "Super Extra Double Gold"

GO..................!!!

Applications for Judges now being accepted.

[Jono]

I am soliciting from each of you a bottle of your best bourbon for a taste comparison and contest, prizes are as follows.

First bottle to arrive "Double Gold"

Next 10 to arrive "Gold"

Next 5 to arrive "Silver"

Last to arrive "Bronze"

But if any were to send 2 bottles they would receive a "Super Extra Double Gold"

GO..................!!!

Applications for Judges now being accepted.

I think you are correct, it seems to be a ploy.

[Jono]

Who picked the 19 "premium" bourbons from 9 different states?? That means no more than 11 could have come from Kentucky . . . what were they thinking (nothing against bourbons from other states - just saying that if someone picked their top 20 favorite bourbons, I think well more than half would be from Kentucky just due to so many coming from Kentucky to start with!!)

And Hudson Baby Bourbon????? Different strokes for different folks, but is that anyone's stroke??

The trouble is, many of these are not widely distributed so it is almost impossible for most readers to even compare notes.

Most of these are apple/orange comparisons as you have young microdistiller bourbons mixed in with a few older.

[GaryT]

The trouble is, many of these are not widely distributed so it is almost impossible for most readers to even compare notes.

Most of these are apple/orange comparisons as you have young microdistiller bourbons mixed in with a few older.

Agree. To me if they want to do some comparisons, I would love to see a "Fifty Best Microdistiller Bourbons Under 4 Yrs Old" or something. That would be instructive . . . although to earlier points, perhaps only instructive of who provided their spirits first and in the greatest quantity

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Every local winery that comes into the store has a giant awards sheet featuring golds and silvers from various competitions. If you send your product to enough county fairs, eventually you will win. Barefoot wine boasts that it is a gold medal winner on each bottle.