The Vatting Thread 2014

[GaryT]

I'm reminded that I shouldn't post before 6am Upon further review, my recent acquisition brings me to 9 of the 10 (but complete's my DAD'S 10 recipe journey).

Oh well - hopefully Kentucky will be kind to me and luck will help me complete the package!

[KyleCBreese]

Reportedly, Yellow Label is a blend of all 10 and Bulliet a blend of the five high rye recipes. So could make barrel proof versions of those. Or maybe try to replicate some of the limited edition small batches.

[jaycamm]

Wouldn't Bulleit have had their own recipe and Four Roses just made it for them? I didn't think they used actual Four Roses recipes.

I don't know. Maybe. Who knows. Not me.

[tanstaafl2]

I don't know. Maybe. Who knows. Not me.

The interesting thing about Four Roses is that there are 10 different bourbon recipes to play with. I highly doubt they had a specific unique whiskey distilled for them. But they certainly could have had a unique blend of the FR recipes blended for them. Or they could be bottling standard Yellow label (or were since many seem to think FR isn't supplying Bulleit anymore although no way to know how many FR barrels are lounging about in the old S-W rickhouses next to those scarce Orphan barrels...) and dumping it in a Bulleit bottle.

Who knows? Not me! And Bulleit/Diageo isn't likely to tell us either.

[dcbt]

Ron's Four Grain gained popularity a few years ago, equal parts MM, GTS, and EW1783. I only discovered this great vat in the last year or so and haven't used GTS in it, instead substituting Stagg Jr, which worked well, though I never made the original to compare it to. Stagg Jr was definitely the backbone of the vat, and 1783 was the glue. I also messed around with MMCS, BT, and 1783 with nice results, a little lower proof but I'm ok with that. (I've used 1783 in several vats and it always does seem to be the glue.)

A few days ago I got to thinking about making Ron's Four Grain Ghetto vat, taking the same mash bills but using the "base" bottles instead: equal parts MM, BT, and EC12 (upgrading here over 1783). It's obviously much lower proof but still right in my 90-100 wheelhouse. I tried a tiny taste last night and really enjoyed it. The EC12 is now the backbone with its oak, and the BT adds some cinnamon spice, and then MM mellows it. (It's got a great nose.) I'm going to let this one marinate awhile longer but I have high hopes for this four grainer. The added bonuses with this one are that I always have those 3 bottles on hand, all are easy to find, and all are reasonably priced.

[dSculptor]

That sounds interesting, tried me some EWSB 2001 with some EW BiB, not bad. Now that I have become accustomed to the SB blend, we could get the OWA around here,and not the W12, now it's reversed, finding the W12 but no OWA, called all of my holes only to come up empty....dammit..

[mbroo5880i]

That sounds interesting, tried me some EWSB 2001 with some EW BiB, not bad. Now that I have become accustomed to the SB blend, we could get the OWA around here,and not the W12, now it's reversed, finding the W12 but no OWA, called all of my holes only to come up empty....dammit..

The availability of one but not the other and then it switch is why I have taken to mixing in the glass instead of vatting. Actually, I have started going back to straight pours of each because I can't get enough to blend. The most recent bottles of OWA have improved over those from a year or two ago.

[CorvallisCracker]

A few days ago I got to thinking about making Ron's Four Grain Ghetto vat, taking the same mash bills but using the "base" bottles instead: equal parts MM, BT, and EC12 (upgrading here over 1783).

I tried that once, using MM, BT and HH 6/90. It was okay, but not so compelling as to be worth repeating.

I also tried the combination with some Crow Light (1 MM/1 BT/1 HH/2 CL) to create a 100% whiskey "American Whiskey - A Blend" which wasn't really all that different.

The Crow Light? Sent to me by an archaeologist friend in Arizona. He was excavating the ruins of an old pharmacy/liquor store and found an entire case embedded in a large block of amber.

Edited February 17, 2015 by CorvallisCracker

[dSculptor]

Been awhile since I visited this thread, so...tried me some of this last night which was extremely satisfying.. equal parts of EC12,OWA,then about half a part of KC SB ... mmmmmm.

[dcbt]

Here are my two latest regular vats. I've been basing my experiments off Ron's Four Grain model (in previous posts to this thread). The decanter on the left houses equal parts MM, EC12, and BT. I've settled in on this vat as a regular, it's just a nice solid everyday pour.

The Four Roses bottle (an empty OESK) takes it to the top shelf with equal parts MMCS, ECBP, and Stagg Jr. (I've actually added another equal part bottled water to this one to get the proof to 94.2, but I realize many others may prefer the full oomph.) This one has a great mouthfeel with more flavor country going on. I don't know if the picture does it justice, but it's got an almost deep reddish hue in color.

[Gillman]

Here's one I just did, Lot 40 (current issue, post-2012 label) and Barterhouse. I find this current Lot 40 not as good as the 2012-labeled one, thinner and harsher but still "Lot 40" to be sure.

My bottle of Barterhouse is a disaster as far as I am concerned, way too woody and dull. (Another bottle, clearly from a different barrel, was much better).

Lot 40 is not aged in new charred wood or not all of it certainly. I like the rye character you get with a spirit mashed from rye and distilled out a low proof, which the Lot 40 has, but the absence of new charred barrel aging means it will never have the complexity of a U.S. straight rye. So I added some Barterhouse to it to supply the "missing" charred oak element. Given the Barterhouse had 20 years to develop this quality, you need add relatively little to the other to achieve a balance which neither has on its own. I added about 5:1 Lot 40 to Barterhouse. The result tastes like a first rate U.S. straight rye.

Gary

[El Vino]

Gary: I am intrigued by the combination. I have a 2012 Lot 40 open, but in place of Barterhouse I substituted Forged Oak. In that FO has less age, I tried a 5:2 ratio. I certainly like it better than FO and now have a path to increase my enjoyment of that bottle = thanks!. I may try Ritt DSP 354 in place of the Lot 40. Will report back on that. EL Vino

[Gillman]

Gary: I am intrigued by the combination. I have a 2012 Lot 40 open, but in place of Barterhouse I substituted Forged Oak. In that FO has less age, I tried a 5:2 ratio. I certainly like it better than FO and now have a path to increase my enjoyment of that bottle = thanks!. I may try Ritt DSP 354 in place of the Lot 40. Will report back on that. EL Vino

Thanks very much for this. It may be 5:1 might even work with Forged Oak. Or tinker with it to get the right combination. The Ritt DSP 354 of course is straight rye in new charred barrels, but adding just a little Barterhouse may may it much better.

What amazed me with the vat I made is you can't taste the strong bitter wood taste that puts me off when I have the Barterhouse on its own - the blend avoids that yet much improves the Lot 40 (IMO).

Gary

[johnnyflake45]

In an attempt to make Rebel Yell more drinkable, I put together a mix of 60% Rebel Yell and 40% Makers Mark 46. I put that together five days ago, a 20oz mix. Working on a healthy pour tonight and I must say, I really got lucky, in my humble opinion. For me, it is really tasty and an easy drinker at about 86 proof.

[fozzy71]

Really glad this thread came back up. I prefer to drink neat and haven't been enjoying my New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon @ 80 proof neat and don't really care for mixed drinks so decided to try a Vat with it. 2oz ea of NHBB OGD114 and EC12 for a 96 proof mingle. Hopefully the 2 I like will overpower the NHBBB and make something unique that I can drink neat. I also decided to try a 50/50 mix of OGD114 and Rittenhouse that I saw mentioned in here. Did 4 ounces each of this and will let both vattings sit in their respective pint bottles til the next time I am thirsty.

[Gillman]

In an attempt to make Rebel Yell more drinkable, I put together a mix of 60% Rebel Yell and 40% Makers Mark 46. I put that together five days ago, a 20oz mix. Working on a healthy pour tonight and I must say, I really got lucky, in my humble opinion. For me, it is really tasty and an easy drinker at about 86 proof.

This sounds very good, good thinking.

Gary

[El Vino]

I'm a big fan of the Lot 40 and not a fan of Forged Oak. I am hesitant to commit my Lot 40 to the vat because of its cost and because I enjoy it so much on its own merits. The Ritt is far more economic. I bought several of the 2012 Lot 40 but have not had the later bottling. I'm doubtful that the vat improves the 2012 Lot 40 but it does improve the FO. [Aside: the Black Bull is a great recommendation. Thanks!]

[GaryT]

I'm also a big fan of Lot 40, and have a Rhetoric that I'm less than impressed with. Thinking of trying a micro-vat of of 5:1 (thinking 50 ml of Lot 40 to 8 ml of Rhetoric) to see what I think. I don't know that I'd made a big vat, as I do like my Lot 40 (this is pre-2012), but if it hits me right, might experiment with more Rhetoric and less Lot 40 to see what I can do!

[Gillman]

I'm also a big fan of Lot 40, and have a Rhetoric that I'm less than impressed with. Thinking of trying a micro-vat of of 5:1 (thinking 50 ml of Lot 40 to 8 ml of Rhetoric) to see what I think. I don't know that I'd made a big vat, as I do like my Lot 40 (this is pre-2012), but if it hits me right, might experiment with more Rhetoric and less Lot 40 to see what I can do!

Sounds like it would be great!

Gary

[Gillman]

I'm a big fan of the Lot 40 and not a fan of Forged Oak. I am hesitant to commit my Lot 40 to the vat because of its cost and because I enjoy it so much on its own merits. The Ritt is far more economic. I bought several of the 2012 Lot 40 but have not had the later bottling. I'm doubtful that the vat improves the 2012 Lot 40 but it does improve the FO. [Aside: the Black Bull is a great recommendation. Thanks!]

Just do a micro-vat like Gary mentioned above. And I've got to give the credit to fellow Hogtowner Frodo for the Black Bull recommendation. I later read it is 50% malt.

Gary

[fozzy71]

Really glad this thread came back up. I prefer to drink neat and haven't been enjoying my New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon @ 80 proof neat and don't really care for mixed drinks so decided to try a Vat with it. 2oz ea of NHBB OGD114 and EC12 for a 96 proof mingle. Hopefully the 2 I like will overpower the NHBBB and make something unique that I can drink neat. .......

Not bad. It is much better than the NHBBB neat by itself. I could drink it neat by itself but usually only one drink per night then it was on to something else unless I drank it mixed weak with Vernors. I still will likely only get rid of a 2 ounce pour per drinking night but it will be split over 3 vatted drinks that I enjoy more at least.

I mixed up another small combination today in an empty fifth: OGD114 + EC12 + BT that I hope turns out well since it should be a fairly affordable combination with them all under $30 each and a combined proof of 99.33.

....... I also decided to try a 50/50 mix of OGD114 and Rittenhouse that I saw mentioned in here. Did 4 ounces each of this and will let both vattings sit in their respective pint bottles til the next time I am thirsty.

Now this is a nice mix. And 107 proof. Props to darylld911 as I think he was the one that mentioned this. I haven't even tried the Ritt by itself yet but that might have to be my next pour.

[Paddy]

I keep a wheater and rye blend on the bar at all times. A couple of weeks ago I messed up and added WP and Ritt to my SB blend bottle, instead of topping off the Rittlepig blend bottle (as intended). :crazy:

So......tonight I'm drinking an approx. 35% OWA, 35% W12, 15% Ritt and 15% WP blend. :skep:

It's not what I intended to do, but I guess I'll just have to suffer through 750 ml of this mistake.

It's actually starting to grow on me a little...

[flahute]

I keep a wheater and rye blend on the bar at all times. A couple of weeks ago I messed up and added WP and Ritt to my SB blend bottle, instead of topping off the Rittlepig blend bottle (as intended). :crazy:

So......tonight I'm drinking an approx. 35% OWA, 35% W12, 15% Ritt and 15% WP blend. :skep:

It's not what I intended to do, but I guess I'll just have to suffer through 750 ml of this mistake.

It's actually starting to grow on me a little...

Whoa.........I'm not going to follow your lead on this one.

I am still quite happy with the Rittlepig though.

Edited April 28, 2015 by flahute
grammar

[fozzy71]

....

I mixed up another small combination today in an empty fifth: OGD114 + EC12 + BT that I hope turns out well since it should be a fairly affordable combination with them all under $30 each and a combined proof of 99.33......

Not bad considering it was mixed earlier today.......

[emr454]

I'm having a pour of OGD BIB and OF Sig 1:1 with a small ice cube. I do think it is better than its individual parts. Ogd with a couple drops of water is good but a bit young tasting. OF Sig is so well balanced that I have a hard time picking out the nuances. This combination is pretty tasty to my palate.