WarlKicken Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Good Afternoon from a grim looking London. It hasn't stopped raining on and off all day, and the Heavens have just decided that we need some more, harder, wetter rain......luckily, t'was this miserable, dark, moody day, in a cold, biting London back alley I found a bar. The Don. Specialising in Porteguese fortified wines and foods, I popped in at lunch with a pal for a little drink at the bar. Low and behold I finally found a bar that sells 'Hudson'. Intrigued by the smaller, 35cl bottles priced the same as my Ron Zacapa23 rum, I've not had the heart to pull the trigger just for a taster. After a delicious RonZacapa old fashioned, crafted with compelling dedication and artistry, attention to detail and finesse, I got chatting to the incredibly cocktail passionate barman about the Hudson. A big bourbon man himself he confessed he also has never tried it and nobody has asked for it for them to warrant breaking the wax seal. I soon put an end to that.Wow, the Four Grain version was the one on offer and it is utterly sensational. Full, bold and punchy yet completely hugging on the throat as it goes down. This bourbon is amazing. It's pricey, granted but I think I might be.....in love?! I'm not sure I was ever a believer in Love at first taste until now....Anyone else managed to get their filthy paws on a tumbler of this...the first bourbon to be produced post-prohibition in NY? Prohibition....what on Earth were you over the pond thinking?!...haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Well, it's not quite the gem they would have you chaps believe. I find the bottle design and overall packaging more attractive than the contents. The use of four grains is a gimmick rather than an advancement and is nothing new in distilling history for Bourbon or Malt. Our ancestors used the grain at hand but standardized their recipes as soon as practicable and we're the better for it.I'm not saying we have reached the pinnacle of grain recipe development for Bourbon, far from it, there is ample room for experimentation and the Micros are set up for that very thing, but sell that product as an experiment and don't pretend it's a discovery no one else has thought of to be dispensed in small bottles at big prices as if it were some precious perfume. I don't believe different necessarily means better, certainly not worth a higher price than the excellent front rank Bourbons we have on the market today, and see no reason why I should subsidize their learning curve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwacky Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I've only had the Hudson Baby Bourbon and though I really liked it, I could never bring myself to buy a 357ml bottle for the $40 it goes for around here. 750ml for the same price, maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Reserve Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I've only had the Hudson Baby Bourbon and though I really liked it, I could never bring myself to buy a 357ml bottle for the $40 it goes for around here. 750ml for the same price, maybe.My daughter gave me a bottle for Christmas last year. For being 3 months in the barrel it is surprisingly good. Sort of a mixture between bourbon and Scotch in an odd way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryT Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I had the Hudson Bay Baby Bourbon as part of a flight at a bourbon bar . . . and was completely unimpressed. Came off as young, uninspired whiskey priced above BTAC. Pretty sure I'd prefer EWBL over it, although maybe that isn't fair based on a single tasting. Although - at the price, I may never have another tasting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhalter Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 If you like it, drink up. If Ive learned nothing else, Ive learned drink what you like, how you like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richnimrod Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I had the Hudson Bay Baby Bourbon as part of a flight at a bourbon bar . . . and was completely unimpressed. Came off as young, uninspired whiskey priced above BTAC. Pretty sure I'd prefer EWBL over it, although maybe that isn't fair based on a single tasting. Although - at the price, I may never have another tasting I was with Gary (Darylld) on this occasion. I completely agree as to the underwhelming nature of this dram. Of the total of ten Bourbons in our two flights of 5-each, this one (Hudson Baby B'bon) finished a distant last in both of our estimations. I agree as well on the price/value thinking, too. I like Squire's thought about not subsidizing their learning curve.... At least not with that big a subsidy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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