I Want A New Adjective(s)

[Gillman]

Here's a good story on Buffalo Trace (the distillery):

http://forbesindia.com/article/recliner/the-making-of-$5000-bourbon/38633/1

My only quibble: that "old reliable", citrus as a taste adjective, makes its predictable appearance.

American Pale Ale is citrusy, Chardonnay is citrus-accented but you know so is a lot of sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio! So often gin is just plain "citrus", tequila is, well, citrus, and rum dark or white has, you know, an inevitable hint of citrus. It really does. Yes. I know it through reading a thousand and one descriptions of alcohol taste. Shucks, I'm sure I've used it myself a few times. Needless to add, not just Buffalo Trace, but almost all whiskey I read about is citrus too.

Huey Lewis sang, "I want a new drug". Well, I want a new adjective(s). For liquor taste. Please. Any suggestions? (But if you dare say "smooth" I'll go into the next whiskey warehouse I see and let out a rebel yell).

Gary

Edited September 18, 2014 by Gillman

[zillah]

From someone who relishes fancy adjectives, I usually try to break down just exactly what adjective I smell. So, instead of just citrus, I find pineapple in Wild Turkey 101, Citrus fruit salad in Elmer T. Lee, Orange peel in W.L. Weller 12, Bergamot in Evan Williams White Label and Lemon juice in EH Taylor SmB. Requires a little bit more thought, analysis and patience when smelling them but I think it really pays off when you find those notes. Of course it is all personal, so you may never even find them yourself personally!

[Gillman]

Well, that's a more thoughtful approach to be sure, although bergamot is pretty fancy, no?

But how do we get out the citrus-and-its-subsets box? Surely the world of drinks especially whiskey contains multitudes, to paraphrase old Walt.

Gary

[zillah]

I associate Bergamot with that earl grey flavor, so not too fancy. :cool:

Do you mean the other flavors like vanilla, baking spices, wood, fruit, etc...?

I found this whiskey wheel to be of great help for writing notes when I started.

http://www.whiskymag.com/media/nosing_course/Whiskywheel-Big.jpg

[clindt]

How about beets?

Edited September 18, 2014 by clindt

[Gillman]

Sure, if the shoe fits.. And that flavor wheel has some great terms. If only the journalists would take notice ... but time to retire the old faithful, citrus.

Gary

[sutton]

To replace in a single word? that's tough ... tartaric? (too sharp/rough) malic? (too puckering)

I like Zillah's suggestion, just modify it or eliminate it by replacing what it reminds you of: lemony citrus or lemon, orange, green apple, etc. If you don't actually nose or taste the fruit, then just go with the acid, since it is an indication of strength/sharpness on the palate: tartaric > malic > citric ... something like that?

[Daisy Bukes]

What about trying a different, visual way of communicating taste? http://www.belleslettresandbourbon.com/#!Jefferson’s-Ocean-2-Electric-Boogaloo/c1bmq/061D40BF-61DE-4F9D-A0FC-E7AE6AE26186

-Daisy

[Gillman]

Well, interesting approach.

Gary

[Harry in WashDC]

Thanks, Daisy. Hadn't thought of that. On the "tastes like citrus" angle, my wife uses citric acid when canning sometimes. I was the one who had to search stores to find it. It has a generic citrus taste. Hence, when I see a tasting note for bourbon saying "citrus" I think citric acid OR Cascade hops (although some think those also taste piney). The use of sounds to communicate a taste, like using a color to communicate it, raises many new possibilities. How many times, for example, have you read that a bourbon "knocked my socks off". That's certainly not a taste but does convey a lot about the bourbon. Why, I could spend days thinking about this.:cool:

[393foureyedfox]

pull a random bottle from your trunk and tell us what fruit it tastes like, harry!

[Harry in WashDC]

This OGD BIB tastes like oranges. No, wait, that's the cap. The cap is orange. I got distracted. Let's see - an adjective. The cap is an attractive orange.

This could get silly real quick. Nevertheless, I think the OP should be treated seriously, sort of, and I agree with Zillah that one way to do this would be to always try to decide WHICH citrus fruit the citrus taste reminds the taster of. Either that or resort to the metaphysical - "tastes like breaking glass".

[flahute]

Either that or resort to the metaphysical - "tastes like breaking glass".

[OutlawSW]

I like when emotions r used to describe flavor, like "shame" or "envy".

[squire]

Don't have a word but can conjure up a vision of nubile maidens in moonlight dancing around a BBQ pit.

[Harry in WashDC]

Don't have a word but can conjure up a vision of nubile maidens in moonlight dancing around a BBQ pit.

It was Canadian Club, and it was a bonfire at a beach in Delaware in 1963 following HS graduations (more than one school was represented). As Tommy Lee Jones playing Woodrow F. Call in Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove" says - "Helluva vision."

[12stones]

Don't have a word but can conjure up a vision of nubile maidens in moonlight dancing around a BBQ pit.

Lustful delight ...

[Gillman]

That Old Gran-dad the Squire likes so much always reminded me of Tang, a great stand-by in the 60's and 70's. (Does it still exist)? Tang for adults spiked with vodka, drunk in June along a broad muddy river with a gal that looks like, I dunno, the brunette from Gilligan's Island, and a can of dark beer to chase it.

Beats citrus any old day.

[squire]

Tang was created for the Space Program and the astronauts mixed theirs with recycled water.

[Harry in WashDC]

That Old Gran-dad the Squire likes so much always reminded me of Tang, a great stand-by in the 60's and 70's. (Does it still exist)? Tang for adults spiked with vodka, drunk in June along a broad muddy river with a gal that looks like, I dunno, the brunette from Gilligan's Island, and a can of dark beer to chase it.

Beats citrus any old day.

[12stones]

My nomination for a new adjective is Rick House H. Ok it may be because I'm deep into my third generous pour of Eagle Rare. Of course all bourbon comes from a rick house, but the nose on this ER smells just like BT rick house H, more than any other I've experienced. The scent of all rick houses are similar but they are all different. I will never forget that first time I stepped into H at BT, it was wonderful!

b

[Gillman]

Well (Harry), I don't think Marianne needed any help. Or Ginger.

[squire]

But oh, oh, there's Genie.

[Gillman]

Never knew that (re origins of Tang in NASA). Can you still buy it I wonder..?

Gary

[Gillman]

But oh, oh, there's Genie.