What bourbon are you enjoying? Summer 2015!

[Swoboda]

BT Single Barrel Select last night, followed by Virgin 101 . . . both tasty.

[NOLEimit]

Starting off the evening with a 50:50 blend of WSR and OWA. And have a small pour of Rock Hill Farms waiting in the wings, this will be the first time I've tried this bourbon. May finish the evening with plenty of water and a pour of ECBP 128 proof.

On the 50:50 WSR/OWA blend. Couldnt you just add water to OWA? My understanding is they are exactly the same juice, just that OWA is over proofed at 107? Curious if my thoughts are incorrect. I'll sit back and listen now.

[smokinjoe]

On the 50:50 WSR/OWA blend. Couldnt you just add water to OWA? My understanding is they are exactly the same juice, just that OWA is over proofed at 107? Curious if my thoughts are incorrect. I'll sit back and listen now.

I thought the same thing, Nole. But, maybe there's a difference. All ears here, too. Edgamacate us, Jazzy!

[jeffrey r]

I believe you guys are right on the OWA vs WSR. AFAIK, there is really no need to vat them, but there's certainly no harm in doing so if you want an instant and easy 98.5 proof Weller wheater of this age range. Now, the real SB blend with W12 is something altogether different...

Last evening, I started with a very nice OBSO on the rocks--still quintessential OBSO, but the extra age and proof on this OBSO makes it much better than an earlier OBSO I had around.

Followed that up with EW White Label BIB, which provides mucho bango for el bucko.

[Jazz Nut]

I thought the same thing, Nole. But, maybe there's a difference. All ears here, too. Edgamacate us, Jazzy!

Hey all, the reason I did the 50:50 vat is because I find the WSR to be under proofed, and need to use it up somehow! And I found that the 50:50 blend is pretty tasty, and it uses up the WSR at a pretty good clip. Sorry for the mystery! It wasn't a vatting on purpose. But now I want to try WSR and OWA vatted together at 98.5 proof versus OWA proofed down to 98.5. I am sure there is no taste difference, but it would be interesting! I wish I could find W12 in the Minneapolis area...but alas none to be found. I think there should be a shipment in the fall but we shall see.

[Paddy]

I've been off the grid since Saturday up beyond the edge of civilization salmon fishing at Milbanke Sound in northern British Columbia. I was smart enough to bring bourbon with me and have been enjoying WTRB, KCSB, JEP 1776 rye from a flask out on the boat, and 4R SiB. 4R SiB was the star of the show. I drank nearly 2/3 of it in 5 days it was such a good bottle. One of may Canadian friends on the trip trying it for the first time liked it so much that I gave him the rest of the bottle. Back home now trying to decide what to do with 110 lbs. of salmon and 10 lbs. of halibut.

That sounds like a terrible problem to have... Being the swell guy that I am, I'll just PM you my address! All you need is to vacuum seal it and box it up in a little dry ice Steve! :grin:

[flahute]

That sounds like a terrible problem to have... Being the swell guy that I am, I'll just PM you my address! All you need is to vacuum seal it and box it up in a little dry ice Steve! :grin:

Already vacuum sealed! Fresh and wild caught. Time to determine which bourbon goes best with salmon! Four Roses Single Barrel is in the early lead.

[OldDrinker1978]

Having some Blanton's Gold right now. Awesome, tight, composed Bourbon. What a finish! Before I had a pour of the good olde W12/OWA Blend. Lovely stuff.

[beasled]

Long weekend lined up. Having some FRSiB. Cheers all!

[Hop]

Just sitting in the office where my "bar" is located and decided to do small tastings of Bourbons I haven't poured in a while -

1st - WSR - just as good as it was last time, hard to beat for under $20

2nd - EC 23 - I wanted to like this one just like I did the last time I tasted it but no luck - wish I'd spent my coin on 8 bottles of EC12 instead

3rd - MMCS - for a wheater I get a lot of corn on the nose of this one - the tannins in the EC23 must still be overpowering my buds cause at 113 proof this one doesn't seem as hot as the EC23... - I'll have to make sure to pour this one more often

4th - JBB - haven't had this since the initial pour when it first came out - the "funk" came through on the nose but not so much on the tongue - rather unremarkable in comparison to the others I tasted thus far - don't see myself replacing this bottle. I'll stick to Booker's and KC from Beam.

5th - Russel's Reserve 10 yr. I had told myself I didn't care for WT juice until I tried the RR SB and was blown away powering through the first bottle and buying several more to bunker - I thought I'd see what the small batch version at a lower proof was like so bought this one, wasn't blown away on the first pour so let's see about now... much like the MMCS a lot of corn on the nose as well as the alcohol but none of that on the tongue, might have under - estimated this one the first time around but still believe for me I'd prefer the single barrel

6th - Belle Meade - I saw a guy in a store loading up on this one day and that's the only reason I bought it - after the first taste I decided that guy was an idiot, after my second taste, maybe he wasn't an idiot but I was for buying this one on impulse... luckily a friend's son is getting married in a couple of months and I promised to stock the bar with bourbon so I know where this one is going... BTW either my typing is getting bad or my fine motor skills are showing the effects of this tasting as more and more of my typing is showing up with errors that I still have the cognitive ability to correct.

7th - Barterhouse - Tannins on the nose - big time, getting them on the buds as well - not bad although I won't be replacing this bottle or planning to buy any others from Diageo, but... I do have a bottle of Rhetoric 21 I haven't opened yet...

8th - Old Heaven Hill BIB Gold Label - bought this in SC a couple of years ago and drank most of a bottle the first night while I was on the road - thought it was good then for $10.75 per liter and I still agree with that assessment. Although there is much more corn on the nose than I remembered at that time.

9th - Larceny - If I didn't have a pretty good stash of Old Fitz BIB in the bunker I would buy more of this but since I do... why bother... I'll stick with the original in of the Johnny come lately...

10th - HH6BIB - don't know why I haven't poured this one in a while because I've always loved it since I saw the recommendation from "FishandbowlJoe" here on SB - but I haven't so this is as good a place to stop as any (besides I'm tired of correcting my spelling mistakes) for $10.49 per 750 how do you beat this??? The nose is great, the taste and mouth feel is fantastic (spelled that one right on the first try) and it's BIB how can you go wrong?

This is 10 drinks in under 45 minutes and I DO NOT recommend this process to anyone else - but then again it's not all that bad I had no intention of doing 10 tastings when I started...

For those of you in my age bracket (early fifties) you may remember WKRP in Cincinnati, the TV show - when the DJ did the test about alcohol on the reaction times - I can say with confidence that I am not as good as the actor on the show was after this many drinks.... but then again this isn't television....

Edited July 30, 2015 by Hop

[fozzy71]

^I am going to hope/assume you have a DD, are sleeping in your office or are working from home

Already vacuum sealed! Fresh and wild caught. Time to determine which bourbon goes best with salmon! ...

Not a bourbon but if you can find it there: Two James Johnny Smoking Gun I really enjoyed with baked salmon and even tuna sandwiches.

[MOwhisky4me]

Enjoying a blend of EC12 & Larceny... Definitely my pour of choice as of late

[GAbiker]

Trying my first taste of Batch 2015-3 Booker's "Center Cut". Need to proof it down a bit with some branch water before I render an opinion.

[fozzy71]

Enjoying a blend of EC12 & Larceny... Definitely my pour of choice as of late

This makes me wish I had some room on my shelf to open another bottle and try this. I enjoyed the OGD114:Larceny mix.

I am sipping on some Bulleit Rye out of the fridge I just opened which only served to remind me how much I prefer bourbons (and wheaters in particular). Next is going to be something else out of the fridge on this warm evening, leaning toward a pint of OGDBIB that is begging to be opened.

[Mr. Bourbon]

Enjoying a good bottle of BT!

[KyleCBreese]

ECBP 139.8 proof, whatever batch that is. I've begun to worry less about finishing my ECBP as I know of two stores that have it sitting on the shelf.

[fozzy71]

Enjoying a good bottle of BT!

There is no such thing as a bad bottle of BT.

ECBP 139.8 proof, whatever batch that is. I've begun to worry less about finishing my ECBP as I know of two stores that have it sitting on the shelf.

That is batch 8 iirc. Tell em to ship some over here. None to be had here of batch 7 or 8. Batch 7 is long gone here and batch 8 hasnt arrived.

[mibourbonguy]

I found RR Rye to be more enjoyable than Bulleit Rye. Earlier I made bourbon burgers with WT101, now trying KC single barrel. This is turning out to be a good week.

[fozzy71]

Switched up the from chilled OGDBIB to chilled WT101.

[Jazz Nut]

Switched up the from chilled OGDBIB to chilled WT101.

I need to try chilled OGDBIB or OGD114. I NEVER tire of WT101. I know a lot of people consider it a trash bourbon, or suitable for frat parties, etc. But I always find WT101 to be consistent, flavorful, at a great proof, and easily available.

[fozzy71]

I need to try chilled OGDBIB or OGD114. I NEVER tire of WT101. I know a lot of people consider it a trash bourbon, or suitable for frat parties, etc. But I always find WT101 to be consistent, flavorful, at a great proof, and easily available.

I never tire of any of the three. They are likely 3 of my favorite 4 with EWBIB being number 4 in the mix and likely leading the pack given the price.

Edit: Don't think I have tried the 114 chilled, might have to throw the open one I have on the shelf into the fridge for a test.

Edit 2: threw it in the fridge and working on the open, nearly empty, bottles of EWBIB and FC103 in the door now to make extra room.

Edited July 31, 2015 by fozzy71

[rcs86]

Just had a Bookers at dinner with three great friends for birthday celebrations.

[Jazz Nut]

So last night, I was at a restaurant, and I splurged and got a pour of Pappy 20 year, it was good enough, but I was a bit underwhelmed. I followed it by Booker's 25th, and George T. Stagg (unsure of proof), and would have to put Booker's 25th at the top of the pack. Tonight, I have had pours of OWA, a dusty WT101 (early 2000's), Russell's Reserve Store Selection, and to cap the night off Parker's Heritage POH. I've got to say, POH is one fine bourbon. I wish I could find more, so I ration it out. I am also thankful that WT101 is easily available, as I very much enjoy it. I find the recent bottlings of WT101 to be very tasty. Have a good evening all!

[fozzy71]

..... I am also thankful that WT101 is easily available, as I very much enjoy it. I find the recent bottlings of WT101 to be very tasty. Have a good evening all!

[Jazz Nut]

Ok, ok, I am finishing the night with Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond. Barrel 1781, barreled on 9/30/04. I put a slight bit of water in the bourbon (reverse osmosis), and find it to be very good, but not quite as good as Parker's Heritage POH, oh well, it's pretty close, a bit hotter, and a shorter finish. At least it's fairly available.