AAA 10-year strange taste?

[Jackinbox]

I finally cracked open the AAA 10-year last night and I'm trying to decipher if I just got a bad bottle or if it's just not to my liking. I know it's high-rye but I love things like OGD and FR1B OBSV, so I don't think it's the amount of rye. It had a really strange aftertaste, unlike any bourbon I've ever had before (I've never had Blanton's which I know is similar). It almost tasted like something had gone wrong. But before I jump to that conclusion I wanted to ask you guys if AAA has a profile that's pretty different from other bourbons?

Tonight I'm going to open up a new bottle of AAA 10-star just to see if I detect a similar taste.

[MauiSon]

Sometimes there's a off-taste on a freshly opened bottle. Give it some time and few more pours, it'll prolly fade.

[Gillman]

I've bought a number of bottles in the last year and don't find this. It has a rich, heavy flavour, in which the grains show their stuff despite the 10 years - at least the ones I've had.

Gary

[TunnelTiger]

Just opened a new bottle and it is yum,yum

[sutton]

I'll echo MauiSon here and suggest giving it more time/air. Gary is right; a bourbon with a full mid-palate w/ oak well in balance for a 10yr. While it isn't particularly complex I think it more than makes that up in pure density/weight. I really hope this one doesn't go away ...

[393foureyedfox]

i love OGD 114, but if i open a brand new bottle and take a pour right away, i dont care for it. give it some time.

when i buy a new 114, i take the cork out and leave it out for a day before partaking.

[suntour]

Do you generally like Buffalo Trace products?

I find there to be a distinct "burnt grass" thing going on in many of their products which generally hits in the later part of tasting. It must be a naturally occurring "thing" because oftentimes when walking around I will smell a similar 'musty wood' aroma. To me I get this particularly in the the high-rye BT stuff.

[TheNovaMan]

I'm also not a fan of the characteristic BT off-taste, and I'm sad to hear it's even more pronounced in their high rye mashbill.

[Young Blacksmith]

I find there to be a distinct "burnt grass" thing going on in many of their products which generally hits in the later part of tasting.

Burnt grass, pine, sapy oak, lysol, musty dirt.... I get it on almost all of the BT products. Shame really, they make some well liked products, but I just can't do it anymore.

[Josh]

Since I'm the bourbon tree guy, I'm going to get pedantic. The AA mashbill is higher rye than the other one, but neither are high rye compared to any bourbon made at any other distillery. I would call them both high corn recipe bourbons. As others have said, a lot of people get grassy or earthy notes out of BT products. Some are more sensitive to it than others. It never bothered me, really, but it seems to be bothering you!

[Old Dusty]

Since I'm the bourbon tree guy, I'm going to get pedantic. The AA mashbill is higher rye than the other one, but neither are high rye compared to any bourbon made at any other distillery. I would call them both high corn recipe bourbons. As others have said, a lot of people get grassy or earthy notes out of BT products. Some are more sensitive to it than others. It never bothered me, really, but it seems to be bothering you!

I just had BT (#1 mashbill) and ETL (#2)side by side last night. I get the corny grassy flavors in BT but not in the ETL. And thanks again for the Tree. One of the best resources out there.

[mbroo5880i]

I just had BT (#1 mashbill) and ETL (#2)side by side last night. I get the corny grassy flavors in BT but not in the ETL. And thanks again for the Tree. One of the best resources out there.

I have noticed the same thing with BT/ER/OC having a more corny grassy flavor than AA/Blanton's. Looking at the Tree, I know that the BT/ER/OC group has more corn but I am not sure how much more. I was always under the impression that OC was one of the higher corn bourbons. While I find the mashbill #1 bourbons to have a decent taste, I prefer mashbill #2 bourbons.

[Old Dusty]

I have noticed the same thing with BT/ER/OC having a more corny grassy flavor than AA/Blanton's. While I find the mashbill #1 bourbons to have a decent taste, I prefer mashbill #2 bourbons.

Agree w the large exception of GTS.

[kickert]

Sounds like you are getting the (in)famous BT "mustiness." I have gotten that flavor profile before in AAA 10yr, but honestly, I love it. Different strokes.

[Jackinbox]

Do you generally like Buffalo Trace products?

For the most part, yes. I'm a big fan of EHT, ER, OWA, W12 and also enjoy BT. WSR and OC10 are not bad either. The only BT pour that I haven't liked was ETL, but I never noticed any kind of strange taste like I do with the AAA10yr.

I find there to be a distinct "burnt grass" thing going on in many of their products which generally hits in the later part of tasting. It must be a naturally occurring "thing" because oftentimes when walking around I will smell a similar 'musty wood' aroma. To me I get this particularly in the the high-rye BT stuff.

Burnt grass is a perfect way of putting it. That's exactly what I'm tasting. I'm going to leave it open for a few days and revisit it later in the week.

[Josh]

I just had BT (#1 mashbill) and ETL (#2)side by side last night. I get the corny grassy flavors in BT but not in the ETL. And thanks again for the Tree. One of the best resources out there.

You're welcome, I'm glad you find it useful! It's a labor of love or OCD or something.

[bllygthrd]

Since I'm the bourbon tree guy, I'm going to get pedantic.

OK, you made me look up pedantic ... damn, I may qualify as a pendant! BTW, to stay on-topic ... I've never had a AAA 10YR with an off taste.

[TunnelTiger]

All I can find in my area is AAA10Star. Does if taste drastically different than the AAA10yr? I really enjoy the 10Star,

[TheNovaMan]

Since I'm the bourbon tree guy, I'm going to get pedantic. The AA mashbill is higher rye than the other one, but neither are high rye compared to any bourbon made at any other distillery. I would call them both high corn recipe bourbons. As others have said, a lot of people get grassy or earthy notes out of BT products. Some are more sensitive to it than others. It never bothered me, really, but it seems to be bothering you!

Very true, but I don't get any of the flavor in question from Mellow Corn BIB, so I don't think it can be attributed to the corn content of BT products.

[tmckenzie]

All I can find in my area is AAA10Star. Does if taste drastically different than the AAA10yr? I really enjoy the 10Star,

ten star is ten shades better. The rye is really bold in it, the ten year has gotten tired tasting. Bourbon can be aged to long.

[Josh]

OK, you made me look up pedantic ... damn, I may qualify as a pendant! BTW, to stay on-topic ... I've never had a AAA 10YR with an off taste.

Ha! It's a great word. And also describes me to a T.

Very true, but I don't get any of the flavor in question from Mellow Corn BIB, so I don't think it can be attributed to the corn content of BT products.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to link the corn and the grassiness. I think it's attributable to the environment in which BT products are aged.

ten star is ten shades better. The rye is really bold in it, the ten year has gotten tired tasting. Bourbon can be aged to long.

I agree with the second part but I can't say I agree the ten star is better. YMMV

[squire]

I've also noticed a 'musty' trait in some BT products but not in every brand or every bottle for that matter, just occasionally. Try decanting it into another bottle, just the pouring will air it out some.

[sutton]

I've noticed it but don't mind it. I find some similarity with the finish in VOB BiB.

[WAINWRIGHT]

I would the describe the "off" note as citric sweet oak very reminiscent of freshly cut or split oak,which is entirely different from the grassy notes that are so commonly found in other BT products.I am actually quite a fan of the 10yr. and found it quite a bit superior and different than the 10 Star which left me flat,just my two cents.

[squire]

It really does come down to taste and there's certainly nothing wrong with liking young whisky.