What bourbon are you drinking right now?

[Paradox]

Ok guys, a new post for a new forum... So what's in your glass as you sit here viewing the "new and improved" look of StraightBourbon.com?

It's a little early here now but nonetheless I'm having a pour of AH Hirsch 20. I think the anticipation of getting my orders of the 16 year in pulled me towards this one. I really like the 20 year, but for the price difference I'll take the 16 year any day. There may be a little, and I mean little, more bouquet or subtle tasting differences between the 2 but on a whole to me they are very similiar products. Either way, they are both great and will eventually be sadly missed.

[Gillman]

I happen to be tasting the same, Hirsch 20 years old. This is an outstanding whiskey. It is superior to the Hirsch 16 year old, good as that one is: smoother, deeper, richer. Whether it is worth the extra money is arguable, but this is about as fine a straight whiskey as can be found today (or likely anytime). It reminds me of other older whiskeys such as the current Rowan's Creek or ORVW Family Reserve 13 year old Straight Rye Whiskey, but it has a depth, balance and and fruity complexity those others don't attain.

I would be curious what the Hirsch 19 year old (which would seem genuine based on Jim Murray's reference) tastes like in comparison.

The Hirsch 20 year old (indeed any of the Hirsch/Michter's) is a true rarity because even when Michter's was sold in the marketplace under its own name unqualified (until the early 1980's) that Michter's - Michter's Original Sour Mash Whiskey - was never this aged. This is a super-luxury version of that Michter's. Still, the sweetness and balance of the original come through in the aged versions no less; the Hirsch 20 and 16 year olds would not be what they are had the Michter's 1974 distillate been anything less than very prime straight whiskey in all respects.

Gary

[jeff]

Heaven Hill 10yo BIB. Found this on the shelf today at Shopper's Village and thought I would give it a spin. The first thing that gets you is the heat. This is a slap you in the face type of bourbon for sure. But after a couple sips and you go numb, err get used to it, the flavors open up nicely. Lots of vanilla and nuts in here. Cinnamon and cloves are also in abundance. Finish is hot, real hot, but in a nice "I am bourbon, hear me roar" kind of way." I'll need to explore this one a bit more, but for only $10.99 a bottle it is a nice change of pace.

[OneCubeOnly]

Cool bottle Jeff! I don't think I've ever seen that one!

[Bob]

I'm not drinking this right now, after all it is not even 9 AM yet, but last PM I had a drink of Jim Beam Black. Not exactly my favorite, but not bad either. Having this with a few ice cubes makes it more enjoyable to me. I'm working on finishing off this bottle to open up some shelf space for some new stuff, which I got quite a bit of while in KY, and now more coming from Chicago!

[Paradox]

Not like it matters Bob, but was it the new 8 year or the old 7 year Beam Black? I prefer the old 7 year which I think was 90 proof... I totally agree with you about some pous being beter with a bit o' ice. Elijah Craig 12yo, to me, is 100% better with one cube in it. Well, here's to making room for all we both have coming!

[Bob]

Mark,

I've got the 8 YO, 86 Proof. I've read that the 7 YO was the preferred bottling to get if you could find it, but I don't think I've ever seen it.

[Paradox]

It's becoming scarce now. Older shops still have it lying around but you have to look is small towns and such...

[ratcheer]

Woodford Reserve, straight. Still one of my favorites. Still candy!

Tim

[bluesbassdad]

ORVW 18 y/o Park Avenue Liquor Bottling.

I poured this one so I'd have something to brag about in the chat room tonight. When I checked in and found it empty, I was enjoying myself too much to be disappointed.

Oh, if only I had the tasting/vocabulary skills to do this one justice...

It's burley, walnuts and black raspberries to my humble palate. Surprisingly, it reminds me more of the 10/107 expression than the 15/107, which I find to be woodier. The finish may be drier than the 10 year-old, though.

If I were wealthy enough to buy this stuff by the case, I would definitely have a drinking problem. I suppose I'm better off having a money problem.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[TheRoff]

The Roff, in his first post on these pages acknowledges that he is sipping 15 year old Rip VanWinkle. Being an extreme novice, I am having trouble picking out the various tastes – some caramel, some savory spice, and not much fruit. Is the high proof hiding taste, or is it my uneducated pallet? I actually got more fruit and caramel with Maker Mark which I see is some what panned on these pages.

[CL]

ORVW 15 yo is one of my favorites. Despite this bourbon being a wheater, I also find the spice a dominant (though very enjoyable) sensation.

If you try the VW Special Reserve Lot B, 12 yo, I think you will find it has more of the fruit and silkiness of a wheater. The 12 yo is also a big favorite of mine, too.

[jeff]

Old Charter 12yo, "The Classic". This is one hell of a bourbon for only $15. While I still prefer the added body and depth or the 13yo Proprietor's Reserve, this is one fine pour. All kinds of vanilla, caramel and wood in here and an amazing nose.

[Paradox]

Stacy and I are spending the weekend down at Chris and Kristins house. While the girls are intent on doing some baking stuff and making chocolates, me and Chris are poised for some serious drinking! Tonight we decided to open a bottle I promised to open after my surgery and everything went well; A bottle of Very Very Old Fitzgerald 12 year made by Stitzel Weller, distilled Fall 1965 and bottled Fall 1977. All we can both say is WOW! Chris had the chance to try this during the 2002 festival but I missed out on it. My first impressions were that this was a truly amazing bourbon, while he said it was a bit sharper than his previous taste. But after letting it sit in the glass just a few minutes this baby really opened up and did a complete 360. It really bacame more 'sweet' tasting and went down remarkably smooth. Life just doesn't get any better than drinking some of the finest bourbon I have had with my best friend!

[bluesbassdad]

Mark,

Please refresh my memory; what glasses are pictured?

BTW, that's a heckofa backdrop you have there.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Paradox]

Those glasses are the Riedel Bourbon Glasses from the Small Batch Colection. They are actually my preferred drinking glass, even made sure to bring my own to the festival with me haha. Tomorrow we plan on doing a Barrel Proof shootout between various BP offerings including opening that Wild Turkey KY Legend Single Barrel Barrel Proof in the background.

I've had so many good bourbons tonight but on the list of first pours has been Eagle Rare 10 year 101 proof which I can say was worth the price from the Sams Warehouse Sale.

[kgiammarco]

Mark and me started our barrel proof tasting marathon with single barrel barrel proof wild turkey kentucky legend... We wanted to compare it to rare breed and also to kentucky spirit... We both agree that hands down it kills the 2 bottles of ky spirit that i have open and is also better than rare breed... We didn't have the time to do a good comparison with stagg (due to going back to the VVOF from yesterday ) but it definitely can hold it's own with the premium bourbon heavyweights...

[bobbyc]

There's enough there to slake a thirst. I'm feeling pretty dry myself after looking at that!

<font color="blue">Good God Give John Bonham Some </font>

[OneCubeOnly]

What's the bottle between the Hirsch 16yo and the Very Very Old Fitz?

[Paradox]

Woodside Partners Reserve. It was a private bottling done for the Village Pub in Woodside, CA by Julian. It is one of his best private bottlings if you ask me.

[bluesbassdad]

Wild Turkey 12 year-old.

This bottling dethroned Kentucky Spirit as my personal King of the Bourbon Hill a few months back. Some day I really need to do a side-by-side comparison with Hirsch 16. In my admittedly flawed taste-memory, the Hirsch tastes better, but the WT12 is truer to what bourbon ought to taste like. I guess it doesn't really matter; I already own all of both bottlings that I will ever have (two and a fraction bottles of WT12, and four and a fraction bottles of the Hirsch).

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[CL]

Yep, it's good stuff.

[jeff]

Booker's straight up

After a long day on the trails I needed something to take the edge off the little aches and pains that follow Comming across a little hot and spicy tonight, but still full of flavor.

[Paradox]

You're not kidding Chuck! They really picked out on hell of a honey barrel for that bottling.

[ph0rk]

At the moment, Knob Creek.

Yum!

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