What bourbon are you drinking? Summer 14

[OscarV]

Shoot I'm in Georgia and I agree with both of you. No way this can be same barrel. Have they done something to it in the last year to change it or is it just that my taste have changed?

Either way another bottle or two will be making there way home with me soon.

[belvedere86]

Eating/drinking this:

[Paddy]

Shoot I'm in Georgia and I agree with both of you. No way this can be same barrel. Have they done something to it in the last year to change it or is it just that my taste have changed?

Either way another bottle or two will be making there way home with me soon.

I think its just that good! While everyone else may have been robbing Peter to pay Paul to rush distillate to bottling and the profiles have been suffering, we may have simply become accustomed to a little less than what once was.

Thankfully, these guys have maintained the age and profile, while also giving us a high proof expression SB at a reasonable cost. IMO, we in the motherland have had some excellent Kroger selections in the past year or so and I have yet to find a bottle that doesn't deliver. It's a home run derby winner in every way! :toast:

On topic.... 4R OBSV, SB Blend and some SAOS 7. Cheers!

[OscarV]

Eating/drinking this:

Thanx 4 the idea! I had to try it.

[belvedere86]

Thanx 4 the idea! I had to try it.

BT with vanilla icecream was a great combo!

[GaryT]

No ice cream here (unfortunately - that looks freaking delicious!) After thoroughly loving some GBS FRSB last night, decided to start from the beginning with a nice pour of GBS EC14.

[kcgumbohead]

Popped the OBSK. Finish on this is fantastic. I only see this one getting better as the bottle empties.

Agreed, just finished a quick SBS myself and then grabbed the 2013LE and a GS OESO to see how they all stacked up.

The OESO is the older of the 2 barrels selected and I get that in the wood notes but its still very much in balance, nicely balanced in fact, cherry sweet to spice ( WTF this is an E recipe how does this happen?") For me the OESO recipe reads cherry/spice/butter now my GS OESO bottle currently has more butter on the finish but the GBS bottle, our pick,

is telling me there is more to the story and good things are in store as the bottle level decreases. On tasting day I got the butter from barrels 2&3 (#3 was one of the picks) so its in there and the age of the GBS vs the GS is within 5 mos, they share a warehouse location as well. Given the similarity of their DNA in the SBS tasting GS OESO vs. GBS OESO that I just did I am VERY happy with the pick.

Onto OBSK. The only OBSK I have had to this point outside of the 4 we tasted on selection day is the 2013LE. That bottle has shifted personalities to this mans palate as the level has dropped from full to 1/2. I am now getting a beautiful cocoa note that was hinted at when opened but I now find in full bloom at mid full bottle. The LE age is 10yrs vs. the 9yr 5mos of the barrel#7 GBS pick. My GBS bottle is offering up its chocolatyness at the outset with a softer presentation of spice though make no mistake it is there as well as is a hit of barrel on the finish resulting in another beautifully balanced dram to be considered and enjoyed for a long time to come.

I will forever be indebted to the GBS gang for the opportunity to participate in a fun and memorable and now damn delicious experience. No doubt my impressions will expand as I get to know these 2 fine barrel selections. These are my initial impressions and should be taken as such. BTW Gary great idea on the vatting, did a touch of that and will revisit!!

Should you be a fan of either OESO or OBSK and spy a PS in your vicinity, they track close enough to JRs gift-shop selections that a PS selection should be a no brainer.

These two fine bourbons were selected in the presence of the the master himself JR and with a tremendous group of fine men and women on a day I will not soon forget and now with enough delicious OESO ansd OBSK to satisfy me for a good long time. life is good!! Slainte!

[gooneygoogoo]

I will forever be indebted to the GBS gang for the opportunity to participate in a fun and memorable and now damn delicious experience. No doubt my impressions will expand as I get to know these 2 fine barrel selections. These are my initial impressions and should be taken as such. BTW Gary great idea on the vatting, did a touch of that and will revisit!!

Should you be a fan of either OESO or OBSK and spy a PS in your vicinity, they track close enough to JRs gift-shop selections that a PS selection should be a no brainer.

These two fine bourbons were selected in the presence of the the master himself JR and with a tremendous group of fine men and women on a day I will not soon forget and now with enough delicious OESO ansd OBSK to satisfy me for a good long time. life is good!! Slainte!

Well said, I echo these sentiments exactly. A great experience and now I get to enjoy the great bourbon picks. Picked up my bottles today. Thanks to everyone who helped facilitate this! Cheers

[Mr. Bourbon]

Right now I have a Captain Morgan glass with 1.5oz of Makers Mark in it. Still haven't purchased the proper glass yet but this one is narrow and the Bourbon smells decent with a little water! I find if you don't add a drop of water you get quite the whiff of Alcohol. Water seems to open up the flavours and smells.

[GaryT]

Agreed, just finished a quick SBS myself and then grabbed the 2013LE and a GS OESO to see how they all stacked up.

The OESO is the older of the 2 barrels selected and I get that in the wood notes but its still very much in balance, nicely balanced in fact, cherry sweet to spice ( WTF this is an E recipe how does this happen?") For me the OESO recipe reads cherry/spice/butter now my GS OESO bottle currently has more butter on the finish but the GBS bottle, our pick,

is telling me there is more to the story and good things are in store as the bottle level decreases. On tasting day I got the butter from barrels 2&3 (#3 was one of the picks) so its in there and the age of the GBS vs the GS is within 5 mos, they share a warehouse location as well. Given the similarity of their DNA in the SBS tasting GS OESO vs. GBS OESO that I just did I am VERY happy with the pick.

Onto OBSK. The only OBSK I have had to this point outside of the 4 we tasted on selection day is the 2013LE. That bottle has shifted personalities to this mans palate as the level has dropped from full to 1/2. I am now getting a beautiful cocoa note that was hinted at when opened but I now find in full bloom at mid full bottle. The LE age is 10yrs vs. the 9yr 5mos of the barrel#7 GBS pick. My GBS bottle is offering up its chocolatyness at the outset with a softer presentation of spice though make no mistake it is there as well as is a hit of barrel on the finish resulting in another beautifully balanced dram to be considered and enjoyed for a long time to come.

I will forever be indebted to the GBS gang for the opportunity to participate in a fun and memorable and now damn delicious experience. No doubt my impressions will expand as I get to know these 2 fine barrel selections. These are my initial impressions and should be taken as such. BTW Gary great idea on the vatting, did a touch of that and will revisit!!

Should you be a fan of either OESO or OBSK and spy a PS in your vicinity, they track close enough to JRs gift-shop selections that a PS selection should be a no brainer.

These two fine bourbons were selected in the presence of the the master himself JR and with a tremendous group of fine men and women on a day I will not soon forget and now with enough delicious OESO ansd OBSK to satisfy me for a good long time. life is good!! Slainte!

Great notes Kevin! And in our case, you're right (JR picked the same OBSK as us, and I believe had our OESO as the top one of the 4 we tasted as well). I've made up three mingles of the two (1:1, and 2:1 both ways) that I'm looking forward to trying.

As much as I wanted to dive back into our FRSBs, I decided to continue my GBS barrel pick journey and moved to the GBS ETL. This one will always hold a special place in my heart as the first barrel I got to help in the picking with. Not to mention such a delicious, laid-back pour.

[ewj]

since I'm on the verge of being ill I'm hot toddy'in. went from scotch to bourbon. apple-cinnamon tea, johnny drum private stock, maple syrup, lemon juice, black walnut bitters

[TunnelTiger]

Ok I have to admit the ice pic perked my interest, soooo I'm having some Blue Bell homemade vanilla with a hefty pour of AE Rye on the back porch.

Yowsa!

[flahute]

I have caved to the peer pressure and am enjoying some KCSB 9yr. I bought this bottle late last year and had yet to open it but the recent chatter sent me right downstairs to the bunker to fetch it and here I sit enjoying all 120 proofs of it. Have to agree with the others that it drinks incredibly smooth for that proof. Still, it takes a little water well.

[Paddy]

I have caved to the peer pressure and am enjoying some KCSB 9yr. I bought this bottle late last year and had yet to open it but the recent chatter sent me right downstairs to the bunker to fetch it and here I sit enjoying all 120 proofs of it. Have to agree with the others that it drinks incredibly smooth for that proof. Still, it takes a little water well.

Peer pressure is a great thing like that isn't it? :grin:

I've moved on to some Taylor SmB, which seems to be working pretty well for me at the moment.

[Red One]

Peer pressure is a great thing like that isn't it? :grin:

I've moved on to some Taylor SmB, which seems to be working pretty well for me at the moment.

Also enjoying some CEHT Small Batch. This bottle is getting low so might need to replace soon!

[El Vino]

Store bottling of ER10. On ice, which is not my normal, but after an enjoyable afternoon of golf with my son, it really hit the spot. Darker than the standard bottling with a strong note of coffee. Stood up to the ice.

[flahute]

Peer pressure is a great thing like that isn't it? :grin:

I've moved on to some Taylor SmB, which seems to be working pretty well for me at the moment.

The peer pressure here is the best kind, am I right?

The EHT SmB is one of my favorites. Haven't had this one in a while......hmmmm......

[HD 335]

It was $5 per oz, is it still? A very good price.

Their ER17 and 4RSmBLE '12 were both like $12-15 which were pretty good pricing too. Others were quite expensive like their GTS.

Yep, still $5/oz which is why I went back. I've been there three times and it's a great spot for American whiskey. The 4R 2012 LE SmB went up to $19 mow. I agree that their BTAC pricing is a bit high, but they do have a nice selection of WFE from 4-24 years.

[Paddy]

The peer pressure here is the best kind, am I right?

The EHT SmB is one of my favorites. Haven't had this one in a while......hmmmm......

It was the perfect prelude to a little dabble in rye and the night is still young in the PCN, is it not?

[Cards fan]

I tried a bunch of great pours this week in D.C. 2 year Willett rye, 3 different Willett 9 year bourbons, eagle rare 10 year 101 proof, sazerac 18 from 2000, Elijah Craig 2012 12 year barrel strength, 2014 four roses SB LE, mid 80s Jim beam 12 year, something called cream of Kentucky (4 year old bourbon). It was a hard to pick a favorite from the week but it may have been the Elijah Craig barrel strength from 2012.

[jonhalter]

Trying to create some shelf space. Finished a 4Rsmb. Such a solid pour.

[tigerlam92]

I tried a bunch of great pours this week in D.C. 2 year Willett rye, 3 different Willett 9 year bourbons, eagle rare 10 year 101 proof, sazerac 18 from 2000, Elijah Craig 2012 12 year barrel strength, 2014 four roses SB LE, mid 80s Jim beam 12 year, something called cream of Kentucky (4 year old bourbon). It was a hard to pick a favorite from the week but it may have been the Elijah Craig barrel strength from 2012.

[jonhalter]

I need to get in this habit more often. Still clearing out bottles. Today I finished an OWA. Goodness it was tasty. I tend to prefer the blend or W12 so I havent had OWA in over a year. Better than I remember. Less heat and more vanilla sweetness. Now to decide if Im going to replace it sooner or later. To buy it would defeat the purpose of finishing the bottle. Im assuming Ill have another before the week ends.

[TunnelTiger]

Just finished off a bottle of Bakers. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad, just meh. Doubt I'll buy another anytime soon.

[kcgumbohead]

Dipped back into the GBS OESO which I cut to my preferred 100 proof when I first tasted out of the bottle and revisited again today at both 100 and barrel proof, well whaddayaknow I guess I am in certain instances a barrel proof drinker after all. The "buttery" characteristic I associate with OESO and remembered from selection day was absent in the at home 100p pour. Now its returned in spades just like my GS OESO drinks at 100p ( don't know why that is). Going forward this bottle will be enjoyed sans water at its native proof which is quite drinkable. In fact all the flavors are quite harmonious and I am lovin this pour at barrel strength, always something to learn and enjoy.