Do you drink your Bourbon frozen? Jimmy Russel does!

[EagleRiver]

I found this quote on the Wild Turkey Website and it really made me head spin.

Jimmy Russell, Wild Turkey Master Distiller, keeps his Rare Breed in the freezer so he doesn't have to add ice, which would melt and dilute the flavour.

I can't imagine having a master distiller who drinks whiskey at the freezing point where so much of the flavor is hidden by the cold. Maybe its why I haven't had a WT product that was made this century that was worth a shit.

[MyOldKyDram]

#nevertamedonlyfrozen

[Brisko]

Meh, he can drink it however he wants. Elmer T. Lee preferred his with Sprite, didn't he?

[EagleRiver]

#nevertamedonlyfrozen

Nice!

Next time I'm at 4 Roses I'm going to ask Rutledge if he has some 2013 Small Batch LE in his freezer, then duck when he takes a swing at me.

[p_elliott]

I don't like my bourbon cold but I guess Jimmy does. It won't freeze in your freezer more power to Jimmy drink it how ever you like as long as it's not with grape kool-aid.

[MyOldKyDram]

Actually a bourbon and grape kook aid slushie sounds pretty good.

[Flyfish]

In the summer, I keep OGD BIB in the freezer. Makes a great bourbon slushy. Bourbon won't freeze unless, maybe, you dipped it in some liquid nitrogen. But that would ruin the nose.

[EagleRiver]

In the summer, I keep OGD BIB in the freezer. Makes a great bourbon slushy. Bourbon won't freeze unless, maybe, you dipped it in some liquid nitrogen. But that would ruin the nose.

I have actually seen a bottle of Evan Williams froze solid, a customer brought it to me that way. Makes you wonder what was actually in it? I sent it back through my distributor, but never heard back on what the problem was.

And yes I know bourbon shouldn't actually freeze. Just seemed like a very strange quote coming from a head distiller. Usually people are only getting things like good bourbon or Scotch super cold because they don't actually like the flavor, using the cold to mask all the imperfections and hide the alcohol making it "smoother". I'm not talking in the summer just to cool off because its hot, that's obviously a different story, and barrel strength whiskey isn't really what you are going to go with it to get that done anyway.

[smokinjoe]

My guess is that it is one of the ways that he drinks his whiskey...or maybe, RB specifically. I posted the following thread and question in 2012:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?18463-What-do-these-guys-have-in-common&highlight=regan%27s

[amg]

I have actually seen a bottle of Evan Williams froze solid, a customer brought it to me that way. Makes you wonder what was actually in it? I sent it back through my distributor, but never heard back on what the problem was.

Maybe his freezer runs at -60F.

[flahute]

I found this quote on the Wild Turkey Website and it really made me head spin.

Jimmy Russell, Wild Turkey Master Distiller, keeps his Rare Breed in the freezer so he doesn't have to add ice, which would melt and dilute the flavour.

I can't imagine having a master distiller who drinks whiskey at the freezing point where so much of the flavor is hidden by the cold. Maybe its why I haven't had a WT product that was made this century that was worth a shit.

Though I don't see myself ever putting any of my whiskey in the freezer, I do disagree with your last sentence. I find WT101 and WTRB quite enjoyable.

[TunnelTiger]

Going to put a bottle of something that I have at least two of in the freezer tonight and do a side by side tasting this weekend.

For scientific reasons only.

[EagleRiver]

Maybe his freezer runs at -60F.

No he had switched from Weller SR to Evan Williams to save a couple bucks, he went right back to Weller.

[EagleRiver]

Though I don't see myself ever putting any of my whiskey in the freezer, I do disagree with your last sentence. I find WT101 and WTRB quite enjoyable.

I'm not saying that WT is all crap, but there is something about there stuff that has never suited me that well, and Diamond and Unforgiven where both terrible especially considering the obscene price points on both. But at the Sampler I was lucky enough to try several old bottles including the Cheesy gold, and some of those old bottles are fantastic! So what happened? How come nothing they make is knock your socks of great anymore? Some of the others still get it done, I personally have a very poor and contemptuous work relationship with Heaven Hill yet I wouldn't hesitate to admit that some of the Parkers and Elijah Craig stuff can still be that good. Four Roses and Buffalo Trace are both consistently making some excellent stuff. But I just don't feel that way with WT. Maybe its just me.

[squire]

It won't freeze but it will get very thick. A friend of mine used to drink his that way, mixed with Perrier.

[WAINWRIGHT]

There is only one bourbon I put in the freezer and that is HH6 BIB and it helps round out the edges.WT could definitely use some help in that area as well,so it might not be so crazy but nothing I'd brag about either.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[EagleRiver]

There is only one bourbon I put in the freezer and that is HH6 BIB and it helps round out the edges.WT could definitely use some help in that area as well,so it might not be so crazy but nothing I'd brag about either.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Proving my point. Putting something mediocre in the feeezer to make it slightly more drinkable. I wonder if WT throws a bunch of barrels in a giant freezer so JR can sample them.

[MyOldKyDram]

Didn't you take the tour? They had all the rickhouses converted into meat freezers. Jimmy doesn't taste them, he just punches the barrels like Rocky.

[smokinjoe]

I usually keep a bottle of HH BIB 6 yr in the beer fridge. It really shines when chilled. Not because it's "mediocre", but because it's just dang good that way. FWIW, Old Forester 100 does well chilled too, IMO. ER, I'm not sure if you looked at the thread I posted earlier, but the point of conversation of it was that every single Master Distiller listed there, including Jim Rutledge by the way, preferred to drink their bourbon on ice...kinda the same thing, don't ya think? Hey, you don't like WT? Fine, you'll have some company on that. But, trying to make a correlation between your opinions on his whiskey, and how Russell may prefer to drink one of his brands, is silly.

[MyOldKyDram]

FWIW HH BIB 6 is bourbon magic out of the fridge.

[Tony]

I like to have a bottle in the freezer in the summer months. Great for making mixed summertime drinks that stay cool.

Best regards, Tony

[smokinjoe]

FWIW HH BIB 6 is bourbon magic out of the fridge.

101% agreed!

:toast:

[GaryT]

I keep my WT American Honey in the fridge - slows down that syrupy mouthfeel even more. Lovely on a hot summer day! As for what JR does with his WTRB, I figure to each his own. I personally wouldn't care for it. And I'm not sure if JR really drinks it that way. I wouldn't be surprised to find that is marketing spin because that makes it easier to sip for someone who isn't accustomed to something at that proof. If it sells more of the product, they would say damn near anything

[Pudsky]

I have actually seen a bottle of Evan Williams froze solid, a customer brought it to me that way. Makes you wonder what was actually in it? I sent it back through my distributor, but never heard back on what the problem was.

And yes I know bourbon shouldn't actually freeze. Just seemed like a very strange quote coming from a head distiller. Usually people are only getting things like good bourbon or Scotch super cold because they don't actually like the flavor, using the cold to mask all the imperfections and hide the alcohol making it "smoother". I'm not talking in the summer just to cool off because its hot, that's obviously a different story, and barrel strength whiskey isn't really what you are going to go with it to get that done anyway.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Pudsky

[sutton]

I usually keep a bottle of HH BIB 6 yr in the beer fridge. It really shines when chilled. Not because it's "mediocre", but because it's just dang good that way. FWIW, Old Forester 100 does well chilled too, IMO.