When does your bottle reach it's peak?

[Mr. Bourbon]

I decided to post here after tasting my very first & second bottle of Buffalo Trace. The first bottle was just fantastic, I could smell the caramel and vanilla a few feet away. Much better than the regular Jim Beam stuff I can get around here. The first bottle from top to bottom was pretty dang good, drank it within a month and didn't notice any major changes. Also, The cork had a pretty tight fit on the bottle.

My second bottle though, Didn't seem as good. The cork doesn't seem to have as tight of a fit as the first bottle. I am not sure how consistent they are with this. Upon my first taste it didn't taste nearly as good as my first bottle. I am not sure if it's just me or not, But it tasted flat from the start. I am at half a bottle now and it seems to taste a bit better with some more heat.

I have no idea how consistent these bottles are or it's just me. Even a dirty glass though can mask the taste and smell.

Whats your take on it guys? I can get it for $37.00 here and I think it's worth the price.

[squire]

Hard to say man, it's true our sense of tastes vary depending on a variety of external factors from how well we slept to what we've recently had to eat. Just keep working on it until a pattern emerges then get another bottle to make sure.

[Flyfish]

I've never had a bad experience with BT. As a general rule, though, every bottle of bourbon peaks during the last pour. That's why it is necessary to go out to get another.

[B.B. Babington]

I can't speak much about Buffalo Trace bottles, but other BT products historically were pretty consistent one bottle to another, but not sure how well they're keeping consistency these days. Blends are easier to keep consistent than single barrels.

[flahute]

As a general rule, though, every bottle of bourbon peaks during the last pour. That's why it is necessary to go out to get another.

This is more true then you can know.

[squire]

Or buy a spare in the first place.

[flahute]

Or buy a spare in the first place.

This is what I usually do.

[Vadertime]

Check the dates on the bottom of the bottles. I know in the mid aughts folks complained about the consistency of BT. Apparently there was some sort of mud twang to some bottles (or something to that effect).

[fusion210]

I've had three bottles of BT and didn't really care for a single one. I kept trying them at different times to see why people raved about them, I just think meh at any price. The only true thing I read was notes of green apple and green grass.

When I try something new, I pour a glass and smell it and take a little sip right away just to judge. Most everything I will let sit for 10-15 minutes in a glass before enjoying, it's just better that way. Oddly enough, it's the cheap stuff that you can enjoy right away and others need some time exposed to the air. It also seems like the higher the proof, the more time it needs.

I think my routine is related to enjoying something after it's been opened for a while. Maybe the volatile stuff evaporates, maybe it's some kind of oxidization that helps it, but I don't think you can do any wrong by letting it sit in a glass for a little while.

[Mr. Bourbon]

Check the dates on the bottom of the bottles. I know in the mid aughts folks complained about the consistency of BT. Apparently there was some sort of mud twang to some bottles (or something to that effect).

The first bottle had an 04 on the bottom, The bottle I am drinking from now has a 12. Must be a month for this year? I am not sure.

[Mr. Bourbon]

This is what I usually do.

And I bought 3 =)

[TunnelTiger]

The first bottle had an 04 on the bottom, The bottle I am drinking from now has a 12. Must be a month for this year? I am not sure.

I've emptied three bottles of BT in the last 18 months . They were all consistent to me. I didn't enjoy a single pour

[Mr. Bourbon]

I've emptied three bottles of BT in the last 18 months . They were all consistent to me. I didn't enjoy a single pour

How unfortunate!

[jvd99]

I've had three bottles of BT and didn't really care for a single one.

Move on, sometimes there are bourbons that you just don't like. For me, it's Woodford Reserve.

[ccleve23]

Move on, sometimes there are bourbons that you just don't like. For me, it's Woodford Reserve.

It is woodford for me too. That was my first "premium" bourbon back in the day. Now I just don't like it.

[Mardbrown]

In my opinion, the bottle hits it peak when its about 3/4 of the way full and has had a couple of weeks worth of air in it. That's also when I start noticing that I no longer need to add drops of water in most cases.

[Mr. Bourbon]

In my opinion, the bottle hits it peak when its about 3/4 of the way full and has had a couple of weeks worth of air in it. That's also when I start noticing that I no longer need to add drops of water in most cases.

I have experienced the exact same thing!

Right now I have about 1/4 left in my BT bottle. I think I just needed this bottle open for awhile because it has a better taste now with a nice burn. The more I drink Bourbon the more I begin to understand what affects it.

My first bottle of BT was fantastic. I think I would choose this over Knob Creek for sure, Which is a bottle I have tried recently.

[TunnelTiger]

It is woodford for me too. That was my first "premium" bourbon back in the day. Now I just don't like it.

Woodford is another that I tried more than once and it just never hit my sweet spot. The best thing about bourbon is there are just so many different bottles available and the ones I enjoy/love far out number those I don't.

[NickSmithIsDead]

I feel like most bottles peak right around the third pour of the night.

[Vadertime]

The first bottle had an 04 on the bottom, The bottle I am drinking from now has a 12. Must be a month for this year? I am not sure.

[Mr. Bourbon]

That may be 2004 and 2012 which could explain some of the difference you are perceiving.

You could be right.

I actually just emailed them to see if those numbers mean years. I will post on this thread once I find out!

[black mamba]

In my opinion, the bottle hits it peak when its about 3/4 of the way full and has had a couple of weeks worth of air in it. That's also when I start noticing that I no longer need to add drops of water in most cases.

[jvd99]

When it becomes discontinued or receives a double gold medal

[The Black Tot]

When it becomes discontinued or receives a double gold medal

Haha, best answer so far!

[ebo]

My bottle usually peaks at the last pour. It sucks, but I have to go get another one to see if the cycle continues. It always does!