Blind Tasting Challenge

[Flyfish]

One of the reasons I don't trust numerical ratings of bourbon is that I recognize that my own palate is highly variable. On some days a given bourbon tastes better than on others. Today's 84 might be tomorrow's 92. My wife and I routinely take turns pouring two or three bourbons to be tasted blind.

So, here's my challenge: Have a spouse or friend pour you two or three. Sip them, make some notes, and rank the order of your preference 1, 2, 3. Repeat the process with the same two or three a couple days later. And do it again a couple days after that. Care to share your results?

Note: Anyone who shares his results tomorrow obviously didn't follow the instructions.

[MauiSon]

Really? I'd be surprised if I couldn't name every bottle I have open with a blind taste, thereby rendering it not blind. Granted, I only have 5 open (ETL, OWA, W12, '93 WT80, '80 M&M80). Next up - FRSmB followed by ER10.

Edited October 7, 2013 by MauiSon

[Flyfish]

The object is not to identify them but to be more aware of how subjective factors influence our reactions. Recently, for example, my wife poured me some EW Black, EW 1783, and EWSB. There was a clear family resemblance but what surprised me was that I liked the EW Black a lot more than I would have expected.

[ethangsmith]

Even without doing a blind tasting, I can see how my tastes change weekly. There are evenings I sit down and really have a want for some 1792 or Old Forester and have no interest in Old Grand Dad or Wild Turkey, and even days later I feel just the opposite. It all depends on what "mood" I'm in- complex or simple, sweet or bitter, spicy or soft, hot or tame. Maybe I'll have my wife pour off a few for me in the next week and see how much I enjoy them...

[GaryT]

I can tell you I know my palate changes. I've done repeated blind SBS on different days (usually over a longer course of time) and wound up with different results on different days. When the Ritt DSP-1 came out, I visited that one against DSP-354 a number of times the first couple of weeks, and while the majority leaned one way, there were days/times when it leaned the other.

I've also found there are days when I just don't pick up certain things very well (days where a sip of bourbon comes off as very bland, but a pour of THH just blows me away).

[squire]

My taste can vary easily, for instance I can change from Barton to Grand Dad on the same day.