looking for trends

[msap]

Greetings,

I first discovered this forum about 3 weeks ago. At that time I really enjoyed bourbon but was fairly limited to what I had tried. I was drinking the Jim Beam Small Batch line (mostly Knob Creek) and Blantons. After reading lots of postings and getting some feedback to try various distilleries I have puchased about 7 additional bottles and tried all but one of them. I have bought and tried the Eagle Rare 10 yr., Kentucky Spirit, Rare Breed, Evan Williams 1990 single Barrel, Makers Mark, and Woodford Reserve. I have not yet tried the 20 yr. Hirsch which I am saving for the birth of my son in about 7 weeks. Out of all I have tried, I have really liked all except two. I don't like the Makers Mark much at all and will offer it to guests who choose to mix with Coke. The Eagle Rare is one I'm having a hard time deciding whether I like or not. I do not know the Mashbill of these bourbons but I have gathered from the postings I've been reading that I am leaning towards Rye over Wheat. If this is so it makes me wonder what I should make my next purchase (besides beginning to horde 2nd and 3rd bottles of the ones I like). My local store has Russels Reserve and 12 yr. Wild Rurkey which I intend to purchase. It also has the Heritage Collection (Weller Centennial, Old Charter Proprieters Reserve, Very Special Old Fitz.). Does my tendency appear to others to be leaning towards rye? If so should I base buying decisions on anti-wheat or am I judging wheaters to harshly based on Makers Mark. And where does the Eagle Rare fall in these categories. Any recommendations for new purchases would be great.

I must say that I have really enjoyed tasting the differences in what I've bought so far. Now I'm just looking for trends so I might focus my funds and energy towards Bourbons I am more likely to enjoy.

I appreciate any feedback,

Mike

High Desert Whiskey Fan

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Mike I did the same thing. I became biased against wheaters based on Maker's Mark alone. Here are some wheater's that I've tasted and do not like: Rebel Yell and anything Weller. Do give the Very Special Old Fitzgerald a try. So far it's the only wheater that I truely enjoy.

As far as the ryed bourbons you mentioned;

I like the 13 year old Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve quite a lot.

You can never go wrong having more Russell's Reserve. The 12 y.o. WT is a bit too wooden for my palete but many forum members love it. Henry is one.

Eagle Rare is ryed but I've not had it. Same thing with the Hirsch.

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[kitzg]

You are leaning toward rye -- and luckily for your more mashbills are rye than wheat. However, I don't care for Makers but do really like the VanWinkle products so you might want to try one sometime just to test that out. And there are VanWinkle Ryes that rye lovers rave about (you'll find more elsewhere).

Enjoy,

Greg

[cowdery]

Maker's Mark is the only wheater you've tried and you didn't like it, but don't give up on wheaters altogether until you have tried either W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald or a Van Winkle. For a place to start that won't break the budget, look for Old Weller Antique, 7 years old, 107 proof, one of my personal favorites.

I'm not crazy about Eagle Rare. I don't dislike it, but it hasn't really won me over yet either. It is rye-based, so the fact that you don't like one rye and one wheater doesn't really tell you much. Don't decide you "don't like wheat" until you have tried at least one non-Maker's wheater.

As for what you should try next, it's hard to beat the collection you already have amassed, except with variations on the theme. For example, give Old Forester (similar to Woodford Reserve) a try.

--Chuck Cowdery

[msap]

Linn I recently heeded your advice and purchased two bourbons that I knew to be wheaters in order to expand my horizons. I purchased the Very Special Old Fitzgerald and 15 Yr. Rip Van Winkle.

I tried but did not like the VSOF. I found it to be too Fruity for my palate. I may not be describing the taste in it that I didn't like accurately but I thought it was fruity. Kind of like berries and honey. I actually chose not to even finish the pour. I dumped it and quickly poured myself some Elmer T. Lee to get something I knew I would enjoy in my mouth. I will put the bottle away in the back of the cabinet for a while and try it again later.

I had to special order in the 15 Yr. Rip and I was a bit hesitant to do it after my experience with the VSOF(being a another Wheater and all). I got it last night and really enjoyed it. I'm definitely glad I ordered it. It didn't seem to have that fruity taste of the VSOF and it was incredibly easy to drink for a 107 proof Bourbon.

In the last couple months I have bought and tried a number of other bourbons. I especially like the Buffalo Trace and the Elijah Craig 12 yr. is great for the price. I also enjoy the 1991 Evan Williams Single. I agree with previous postings that it is much fuller bodied than the 1990. I find them different enough that I know I will find ample occasions to enjoy both of them.

In the last 3 months my bourbon stockpile has grown from 8 to 30 bottles. and I am definitely learning a lot about what it is I like and don't like in different bourbons. I have even begun to do some blind tatings to see if I'm l'm truly developing my palate.

Well gotta go for now, think I'll have some Woodford Reserve tonight.

Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions.

Mike

High Desert Whiskey Fan

[rwilps]

Mike,

Why don't you try some Old Granddad 100 Proof BIB? It's got a unique, high-rye mashbill and a whole different flavor palate than what you've explored so far. Some people say it's got more of the classic rye taste than many straight ryes. It's definitely drier than what you're tasting now, but smooth and clean despite the solid proof. At the price ($16 or $17 in PA) I think it's a tremendous bargain and an example of real old-style whiskey.

Ralph Wilps

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

OK High Desert Mike it sounds like JVWIII has won over yet another Old Rip customer. A bottle of the 15 year old is on my bourbon festival shopping list.

Since you've increased your bourbonic holdings by nearly 300% you are certainly giving your palete a treat along with good training. I do blind tastings whenever I want to compare two or more bourbons as to which one I like best.

Enjoy the Woodford Reserve! I wish that I had some to drink with you.

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[cowdery]

I second the Old Grand-Dad BIB recommendation.

--Chuck Cowdery

[kitzg]

I am very glad you liked the VanWinkle after I mentiioned it here. I've never had a VW product that I did not like. Julian has an exceptional opportunity and knack for choosing good barrels -- and I am glad he does.

Greg

[msap]

Ralph,

Thanks for the tip. I recently tried the Old Grand Dad BIB. It is very good and quite different from anything else I've tried. It was $19 here in NM. It is an excellent value with a great bang.

Mike

High Desert Whiskey Fan

[juliusrocco]

I'll extend the praises to the OGD BIB. I think it has a really unique quality to it that is certainly a great value (around $18 here in Connecticut). Does anyone have any comments on the 114 proof OGD?

J. Rocco

CT Shoreline, USA

[vasshopper]

The OGD 114proof is the best of the OGD line of bourbons in my opinion. What is best is the old bottlings if you can find them, especially the ones with a sixteenth inch of dust on them. actually this pertains to most good bottlings of bourbon.

Good luck-life is good-den

[vasshopper]

sorry i forgot to mention the possibility of dried out corks in various bottles of bourbon such as OGD114 proof.--Den

[jbutler]

I heartily second Ralph's suggestion of OGD BIB. I havent seen it here in the SF Bay Area for several years now. Up until then, my brother would occasionally obtain a bottle from somewhere or other. We stopped at a roadside liquor store in Maryland last month and bought four 750 ml bottles. I have yet to open mine, but wisely consumed my brother's when it was offered. Along with Elijah Craig 12 yo, an excellent value for the dollar.

Cheers,

Jim Butler

Straightbourbon.com

[cowdery]

Unless you really like a very high proof bourbon, or unless you can find a very good value on the 114 (which sometimes happens, since it's not a big seller), I would stick to the BIB. Other than being higher proof, it isn't that much different.

I wish they would come out with a OGD at 100 proof or better at 8 years or more. That would be something to try.

I find myself these days really gravitating to 100+ proof whiskies when I can find them. The last purchase I made was Old Fitz BIB, Old Forester 100 proof (interestingly, though it is 100 proof, the bottle does not say BIB), Russell's Reserve, and I still had some OGD BIB. The only lower proof bourbon I have right now is Jim Beam Black, at 90, and the bottle is still mostly full.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://cowdery.home.netcom.com>--Chuck Cowdery</A>

[rwilps]

Chuck:

As you might guess, since I'm an old rye fan, I'm obviously also an old OGD fan. And I share your thoughts about 100 proof whiskey - somewhere between 100 and 108 proof just seems to be right for bourbon. Personally, I've had one bottle of OGD 114 - I may run through another just for the sake of reliability of observation - but I found it to actually have less depth of flavor than the BIB. It's "hotter", but the notes of toasted grain or peanuts that I get with BIB are missing. I think you once said the 100 proof offering was the best balanced in the OGD line, and I think you're right. And oh my, an 8-yr.-old OGD BIB would be right up there for me - 5 pants and snug up your belt!

Ralph Wilps