What bourbon are you drinking? Winter 2014/2015

[BigRich]

Attended the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ festival in Atlanta with some fellow GBSers, and enjoyed several pours. I think what stood out for me was the Belle Meade Bourbon Sherry Cask Finish, but enjoyed many different pours from Blantons to AE to EC12 to EWSB to FRSB to . . . More importantly, had a lot of fun with friends and made it all home safe (at least assuming Jimmy makes it home walking through the construction zone!)

Same here. I basically followed Gary around say "I'll have what he's having." After the festival I headed to dinner with my wife and friends and finished the evening with a flask of '13 GTS. I don't pull from the GTS that often but last night it was perfect.

[Tony Santana]

Went to the Distill America event last night - a lot of small pours. Let's see . . . CEHT Rye, MMCS (my first try, liked it a lot), JB Bonded (nothing special), Forgiven (liked it, but a bit thin and not enough to buy it at the prices I see), AE, Bookers, EW 1783 (prefer EWSB), Mellow Corn (liked it a lot more than I thought I would), 4R OESK, OBSK, OESQ, some hop based whiskey that was so awful I had to spit it out, Beer Barrel Bourbon (would consider a purchase), Bourye (would have to do a SBS, but my gut reaction is that the new version doesn't quite stack up to the original, which I loved), WR DO (for some reason I've never had this before, liked it more than I thought I would), Bulleit 10 year, George Dickel Barrel Select (not up to the standards of the 9/103 I have), Michter's Sour Mash, Ritt Rye (for some reason this never does it for me), and maybe one or two others I'm not remembering, perhaps for obvious reasons.

[unclebunk]

Who could argue with a stiff pour of OGD114 on a blustery winter night?

[squire]

Only someone who doesn't drink.

[R-Savage]

Well. Im debating what to Open up. Any Suggestions?

I have in the bunker. WTKS Bottled may 2010, EVSB 2003, EVSB 2004, BT, Michters US-1

[Travis D]

4RSiB BS Calandro's Store Pick - OBSV, 11 yrs 9 mo, 56.7%. Bottled in September 2014.

Wow. Picked up 2 the last time I was in Baton Rouge and should have backed up the truck! I'm very hit or miss with 4R Single Barrel picks so I normally grab singles and come back for more if necessary so at least I'll have one in the bunker. Waited too long to sample, bet they're gone by now! Perfect ratio of fruit, wood and tannin for me at it's bottled barrel proof, enjoying it neat. Crazy value at $45 + tax. Great pick, Calandro's.

[mbroo5880i]

Well. Im debating what to Open up. Any Suggestions?

I have in the bunker. WTKS Bottled may 2010, EVSB 2003, EVSB 2004, BT, Michters US-1

A little late I suspect, tell us what you opted for. I would have suggested WTKS just because.

[flahute]

Just opened an OWA from the recent release and am floored by how much I like it. Now I know why some of you guys rave about this. My first bottle of this purchased a little more than a year ago was nowhere near as smooth and creamy as this one. The first bottle was so hot and astringent that even in the SB blend, I had a hard time with it. This one is night and day different. I took a chance on it and now wish I had purchased a bunch more!

[DBM]

After an extended break from whiskey while on vacation, I decided to return with a bang. Saz18, PVW20 and ECBP batch 3.

[flahute]

After an extended break from whiskey while on vacation, I decided to return with a bang. Saz18, PVW20 and ECBP batch 3.

Now that's how you do it!!

Check your email for one from me about a month ago while you were out of the country.

[PaulO]

HH 6 year B.I.B. and Mellow Corn. The day before, I raided the collection for RHF.

[flahute]

OK, this may be sacrilege I'm about to speak......

I followed up the OWA pour mentioned above with some '14 ORVW10 to see how they compared. Dare I say that the OWA is better. I remember being so happy and feeling so lucky to find to the Rip at msrp and here I am with some basic non age stated OWA that is tasting better. Just goes to show that you never have it all figured out.

[Paddy]

OK, this may be sacrilege I'm about to speak......

I followed up the OWA pour mentioned above with some '14 ORVW10 to see how they compared. Dare I say that the OWA is better. I remember being so happy and feeling so lucky to find to the Rip at msrp and here I am with some basic non age stated OWA that is tasting better. Just goes to show that you never have it all figured out.

Ahhhh... the differences between the worst of the best, and the best of the worst can be so burdensome.:skep:

I'd probably have to pour another drink.

[smknjoe]

A good OWA is where it's at.

[DonutsNBourbon]

Just opened an OWA from the recent release and am floored by how much I like it. Now I know why some of you guys rave about this. My first bottle of this purchased a little more than a year ago was nowhere near as smooth and creamy as this one. The first bottle was so hot and astringent that even in the SB blend, I had a hard time with it. This one is night and day different. I took a chance on it and now wish I had purchased a bunch more!

you know, I actually don't like my bottle of OWA because of this, I got it last year too and I think it tastes nothing like WSR or W12, and it's quite hot. I was thinking of getting another bottle just to see if I just had a bad batch, and from what you say it seems like I might have. thanks for confirming this!

[Quintilian]

Started with regular FRSB followed by FR OESK. I really like the OESK, but I think I prefer V yeast strain. Passed up on OBSO yesterday at a fair price and might be regretting it.

[flahute]

Ahhhh... the differences between the worst of the best, and the best of the worst can be so burdensome.:skep:

I'd probably have to pour another drink.

I decided to address this conundrum with a healthy pour of HHSS#2. Keeping it wheated and all ya know. I am planning the rematch for later this week.

[The Black Tot]

I'm loving these reports of killer OWA on the scene.

The future looks bright.

[smokinjoe]

I'm loving these reports of killer OWA on the scene.

The future looks bright.

[R-Savage]

Next Bottle I open up will be the WTKS

[BigRich]

A couple of Orphan Barrels and the JBDM last night when a buddy was over.

[tanstaafl2]

I'm doing an interesting side-by-side tonight, W12 and BTEC Wheated (floor #5). The BTEC is definitely a better quality bourbon. They both have that great caramel taste, but the BTEC is much smoother and with more flavor, and no burn at the end. I know these are cherry picked barrels, but they did a good job picking them. Very good.

Not only are they selected barrels but they probably come off a different still (the small combo pot/column still they use for many BTEC bottlings) which is likely to impact the whiskey as well.

[t44tq]

Not only are they selected barrels but they probably come off a different still (the small combo pot/column still they use for many BTEC bottlings) which is likely to impact the whiskey as well.

I think you're right- the small stills they use to produce BTEC and the greater care that probably goes into the production is why it would taste better. They're not gearing up to produce tons of BTEC. The cut could also be a lot narrower during distillation.

[kcgumbohead]

4RSmb from a bottle I am not loving, its OK but that's it. The flavor was never as balanced as it was in previous bottles, there was too much of what I know as OESK, glad its is just about gone, I have a couple others and hopefully they are more like what I remember. This bottle explains the "meh" reviews I have seen of the Smb, never understood em till this bottle.

[tanstaafl2]

I think you're right- the small stills they use to produce BTEC and the greater care that probably goes into the production is why it would taste better. They're not gearing up to produce tons of BTEC. The cut could also be a lot narrower during distillation.

She is an interesting little still to be sure!