Opinions on a Heaven Hill vatting for some special folks

[suntour]

Well, sad to say but the bar I manage is closing on Saturday. We've actually been blessed, we were supposed to be out by January but we kept things rolling until the end of this month. Anyway my two bartending comrades have been amazing to work and interact with over the last two years, so I want to give them a specially labeled blended whiskey of my own vatting.

I love HH products, and thought a funny take on our situation would be to have instead of "Heaven Hill" on my fake logo "Heaven & Hell" representative of restaurant and bar work and our situation specifically. Here's what I have on hand:

Evan Williams Single Barrel 2003

Evan Williams White Label

EC12

ECBP

The only other possibly HH product I have is Old Ezra 101 7 year. I have to place a liquor order today so I will be in the store, if there's an addition like Fighting Cock or Green Label that cannot be missed in the blend.

There's no right answer here. I just want your ideas, wildest as well as most practical.

[ChainWhip]

I vat the ECBP:EC12 in a 1:1 ratio - very good but may try a 1:2 ratio next.

[GaryT]

Just my two cents - if you're looking to use what's left in this endeavor (and assuming you might have some empty bottles?), I'd give them each half of what's left and let them mingle as they desire. Me personally - I'd rather have the ECBP unaltered (it being so damn hard to come by). Or maybe split that one up, and mingle the others (with perhaps a bit of ECBP thrown into the mingles for good measure, depending how much of that you got). They say it is the thought that counts, and that is a very cool gesture - as many places close without much more than a "Thanks, and - hopefully your last check won't bounce".

[squire]

Vat the BIBs, should work and you don't hear that one talked about much.

[suntour]

Good suggestion on the barrel proof. My thought is that a little would add a lot to the blend, but I see wanting to be able to experience the barrel proof unadulterated. I have added the kickin' chicken in the potential mingling lot.

[HighHorse]

Only thing I can add to the conversation is that I tried vatting EC18 & EC12 thinking I could make it go twice as far and what I ended up doing was making a great 18 year old taste more ordinary. I second Gary's vote ... don't dilute the BP!

[ChainWhip]

I second Gary's vote ... don't dilute the BP!

[ChainWhip]

Suntour-

I hope you land on your feet somewhere. Good luck to you.

[Bourbon Boiler]

Good suggestion on the barrel proof. My thought is that a little would add a lot to the blend, but I see wanting to be able to experience the barrel proof unadulterated. I have added the kickin' chicken in the potential mingling lot.

[suntour]

I can see the FC adding a lot. It's got a nice higher proof and a good powerful flavor, just with a few rough edges that a good mix could take care of. Really awesome of you to think of the others like this, and I second the sentiment that I hope you land on your feet.

Thanks guys. You know, this blend turned out really special. I had a bourbon loving bartender friend taste it blindly, and without any backstory he guessed Elijah Craig 20! He kept getting fig notes out of it.

I agree. I think the FC was the magic ingredient here. Maybe I've just been underestimating it all along, but the bottle I have right now is mighty delicious and about to head out to the recycle bin ahead of like 5 or 6 other delicious things I've opened recently.