New Bourbon Drinker

[brendaj]

Greg,

These southern gals (like both BJs)certainly are experts.

I thank you kind sir. But I am soooo far from an expert...

Honestly, all I knew before I came to StraightBourbon.com was what to swallow, and what to spit out...

Most of us in Kentucky got our first taste of Bourbon when we were babies. It used to be common practice here, to rub a little Bourbon on a baby's gums when they were teething...

In today's world, I guess that would cause Social Services to come in and grab the kid, and put the parents in jail...

Glad I'm an old fart...

Bj

[Paradox]

If you liked the Weller 7 yr. old, you've got to try the 12 yr. old. I am a Weller (love the 19 yr. old) fan, and the 12 year is a great Bourbon value.

Ain't that the truth. I love the Weller 19 as well and after finally trying the Weller 12 year at the festival this year I'l also confirm it is a great bourbon for the price. Still not what the 19 is but for $20 a bottle it'll do!

[jimbo]

Jimbo,

If you liked the Weller 7 yr. old, you've got to try the 12 yr. old. I am a Weller (love the 19 yr. old) fan, and the 12 year is a great Bourbon value.

If you get a chance to get your hands on a bottle of Ancient Ancient Age 10 year old (not 10 star), grab it. I'm working on a bottle now, and it's very good. Elmer T. himself convinced me to try it, what a guy he is!

You should also try and get your hands on a bottle of EWSB 94 if you can. I was really impressed. It didn't strike me like anything they've bottled up to now, but it was very, very good.

So many Bourbons...so little time...

Bj

I am going to Seattle tomorrow and Weller 12 yr is on my shopping list. I have never seen the 19 yr advertised, so I don't expect to find any in Seattle.

I bought a bottle of Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star, wondering why they changed the name from 10 yr to 10 Star. I hope it is not "spitting out" stuff.

I have a bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel 1993 that I bought a few weeks ago at the local liquor store. I think they have several more bottles in stock. Is it something I should stock up on?

Regards, jimbo

[CL]

10 star and 10 yo are both bottlings of AAA. Most here really like the 10 yo better than the 10 star. That doesn't mean the 10 star is bad, it just means that the 10 yo is a great bargain.

[CL]

Most of us in Kentucky got our first taste of Bourbon when we were babies. It used to be common practice here, to rub a little Bourbon on a baby's gums when they were teething...

As Bettye Jo would say, OHHHHH YEAHHHHHH!

I know that was my first experience with bourbon. I am the oldest of six kids, so I remember my parents dabbing a drop of the good stuff on the gums of my younger brothers and sisters. I also remember, when they were older kids, they were given a hot toddy - hot water, a little sugar, and a drop or two of bourbon - when they had trouble sleeping. Of course, that cure wasn't common at all - just used very rarely in the worst of circumstances.

[brendaj]

Jimbo,

I have a bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel 1993 that I bought a few weeks ago at the local liquor store. I think they have several more bottles in stock. Is it something I should stock up on?

I had the good fortune to taste them side by side at the Bourbon Society event in Louisville recently. IMHO, I would save my money and stock up on the 94 when it hits your shelves. I think it's a better pour than the 93.

And if you can't get the Weller 19 in Seattle, maybe you can make it to next year's Bourbon Festival. I'm sure we can arrange a taste or two...

Bj

[jimbo]

Well, I just opened and sampled a bottle of Ezra B. Single Barrel, 99 proof, 15 yr that I bought on a whim in Seattle. It is full of flavor, a very long, pleasant finish and there is no alcohol bite. I don't remember the price, but I think it was less than $20. I am going to get another bottle or two next time I am in Seattle.

Regards, jimbo

[cowdery]

Buy it up. I recently heard from another source that a 12-year-old Ezra B has been spotted in New Hampshire. Maybe they couldn't get more 15-year-old.

[CL]

At that price, buy a lot of it! I think my bottle cost about $25 in KY this past summer. I plan to always have a bottle of it on hand. Great stuff.

[Paradox]

I bought my first bottle of the 15 year Ezra B SB for $15 as well and liked it alot. When I was in KY this year I grabbed some more for $20 which is still a great price for such a 'robust' pour.

[CL]

Where did you get yours in KY? I got mine at Liquor Barn on Hurstbourne Lane.

[Paradox]

Oh man Chuck, I don't remember now, I went to so many places! I want to say Fern Valley LB but I am not 100%. I wish I could find this bourbon more readily here up north, but that just isn't the case... It's not even found on all the internet sites.

[MurphyDawg]

12 year?? I will have to send my spies out there to check. . .

TomC

[jimbo]

Well, the quest continues. I have sampled Old Rip Van Winkle 10 yr, 90 proof. It is full of flavor and medium to full body. Pretty good whiskey. Worth a repeat.

But, my favorite bourbon so far in my quest is the Ezra B. Single Barrel, 15 yr. It is the most full bodied, full flavored, longest finish of any I have tried. Truly great stuff.

Others on my repeat list include Elijah Craig 12 yr, Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve, Van Winkle 12 yr, 90.4 proof and Old Rip Van Winkle 10 yr, 90 proof.

On my do not repeat list are Maker's Mark 90 proof, Blanton's SB 93 proof, Basil Hayden's 8 yr, 80 proof, Booker's 7 yr, 126.6 proof, George Dickel Superior No. 12, and Elmer T. Lee SB.

Other probable repeats include Wild Turkey Rare breed, Knob Creek 9 yr, Wild Turkey 101, and W. L. Weller Antique 7 yr, 107 proof.

Regards, jimbo

[OneCubeOnly]

On my do not repeat list are...Blanton's SB 93 proof

You should try Blanton's again. You'll be missing out on a tremendously smooth delight.

[Paradox]

You should try Blanton's again. You'll be missing out on a tremendously smooth delight.

On my do not repeat list are...Blanton's SB 93 proof

I was going to say the same thing earlier but since he didn't like ETLSB either I figured maybe it was a bt thing... But I have to agree, Blanton's is a gem.

[bluesbassdad]

By coincidence I am about to follow the suggestion regarding Blanton's.

I tried my best to see what all the excitement is about, as I slowly and thoughtfully consumed my first bottle over a period of a few months. I just didn't get it. If Blanton's is a "gem", to me it's a cubic zirconia.

However, because single-barrel bottlings are inherently unique, I decided to give it another try. I included a bottle in my Autumn Sale order from Sam's. I haven't opened it yet, and I confess to a slight apprehension. If I enjoy it no more than my first bottle, I'll kick myself for not buying an additional bottle of the Hirsch 16, instead.

BTW, I don't see much, if any, family resemblance between Blanton's and Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel. When I recently finished my second bottle of ETL SB, I found its spicey character more appealing than before. I'll probably have to try it again someday. I find it to be quite different than the almost-bland-by-comparison Blanton's.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Paradox]

If you don't like the 2nd bottle, try a 3rd. Unless you inherently have bad luck...

[jimbo]

Well, let me explain what good whiskey is to me. Remember, this is just one man's opinion, not something handed down from a higher power. First, it must have a full body. To me, full body means that a sip of the whiskey has a viscous, thick feel on the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. I think part of the "thick viscous" mouth feel is due to a long, lingering taste on the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. The "thick viscous" mouth feel is the opposite of "thin and watery"

Second, it must be full of flavor. To me, full of flavor means that the flavors explode and engulf the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. And not just one dominating flavor, but a mingling of many intense flavors into a complex flavor experience. And not too much alcohol that numbs the taste buds and burns the throat. The upper alcohol limit is somewhere around 100 proof. Much above that and all you get is a mouth numbing agent.

There are many smooth and mellow and bourbons out there. But most of them are bland as well. Not much flavor and not much mouth feel. They are just not my "cup of tea". There may be a time and place for such whiskey, but just not now and not in my liquor cabinet.

Now, for me, Elmer T. Lee SB and Blanyon's are both rather thin in taste and mouth feel. And Blanton's has a strange cedar/pepermint taste that just turns me off.

Anyway, I guess it is good that not everyone has the same likes and dislikes because then there would be only one whiskey.

[bobbyc]

Jimbo, That Booker's is on the do not repeat list causes me more concern than Blanton's or ET Lee. That said, I think from your post I can gather that you are a credible taster. If a new XYZ labeled Bourbon came out next week, and you suggest trying it , I would feel comfortable doing that.

<font color="red"> Good God Give Stanley Clark Some </font>

[MurphyDawg]

Blanton's are both rather thin in taste and mouth feel

It is interesting that you should say that, because I have always thought the fact that Blanton's was rather big and round in the mouth kept it from being to Blah. I checked to see if I was just making this up so I looked up my old Blanton's Tasting notes here, from March '02 and this is what I said about mouthfeel:

Mouth feel: Big, Smooth, Like melted butter or Maple Syrup.

It is in no way that I disbelieve what you think about the bourbon, I just find it interesting how different two peoples impressions of the same thing can be sometimes.

TomC

[OneCubeOnly]

Jimbo--from your description of "good whiskey" it looks like you're really not interested in soliciting other people's opinions or advice, yet that's kinda what this whole thread is about.

So take this for whatever you feel it's worth: you're dismissing some really fine bourbons which actually fit your criteria. Blanton's may be slightly more on the esoteric side, but it's no pansy. And you admitted yourself you based your quick dismissal on a 50ml mini alone. I did a side-by-side with Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit here.

Again, take it for whatever you feel it's worth.

[kitzg]

I guess it is good that not everyone has the same likes and dislikes because then there would be only one whiskey.

Amen to that.

[jimbo]

Jimbo--from your description of "good whiskey" it looks like you're really not interested in soliciting other people's opinions or advice, yet that's kinda what this whole thread is about.

I value other people's opinions and advice. But I don't need or want someone else to tell me what I should like or dislike. I know what I like and I respect other people's likes, but they don't have to be the same. Even experts such as Michael Jackson have ranked some stuff very highly, stuff that I found horrible.

So as I said, it is a good thing that not everyone has the same taste in whiskey.

Regards, jimbo

[jimbo]

Jimbo, That Booker's is on the do not repeat list causes me more concern than Blanton's or ET Lee. That said, I think from your post I can gather that you are a credible taster. If a new XYZ labeled Bourbon came out next week, and you suggest trying it , I would feel comfortable doing that.

Well, I may have to give Booker's another try. The thing that I didn't like was the high alcohol content. I thought it overpowered the flavors and dominated the experience. But, so many here rate it so highly, that I might have to give it another try.

Regards, jimbo