What bourbon are you enjoying? Winter 2015/16!

[b1gcountry]

Opened my first bottle of SAOS7 rye. It was a rough day. The two little ones caught what the big one had and I had an infant attached to my arm all day.

 

[Heashfus]

Moved on to Stagg jr batch #4 while watching Mad Max.

[Special Reserve]

Some WLW 125.3 on a cold winter morning to keep me warm while waiting for my coffee to brew.

[The Black Tot]

On 1/17/2016, 7:34:57, flahute said:

Drinking some ETL. I'm about half way through the bottle and it's not really hitting the spot for me. ETL was one of my earliest bourbon purchases when I became an enthusiast and starting branching out. At that time, I loved it. Shortly thereafter, it became the bees knees nationally and you could no longer find it. It's a couple years later now and I'm scratching my head. Did it change? Did I change? I don't know. Could also be single barrel variation I guess. Either way, my unmitigated enthusiasm for this one is now waning. 

I realize this is from ages ago but I had to quote it and say my experience is identical to yours with ETL. My gut feeling is it's getting rushed out the door since the blitz. The last bottle I opened definitely tasted like it needed more rick time. I also will allow for single barrel variation, but I'm also just leaving it alone for a while. I'll give it another go in a few years when they catch up. I have at least a few years' drinking to do anyway.

[mbroo5880i]

3 hours ago, The Black Tot said:

I realize this is from ages ago but I had to quote it and say my experience is identical to yours with ETL. My gut feeling is it's getting rushed out the door since the blitz. The last bottle I opened definitely tasted like it needed more rick time. I also will allow for single barrel variation, but I'm also just leaving it alone for a while. I'll give it another go in a few years when they catch up. I have at least a few years' drinking to do anyway.

Interesting that you and Steve should say this.  I just finished off a bottle that I purchased in early December.  There was a period of time when I thought ETL was a relatively good (and less expensive) alternative to Blanton's.  I only bought ETL occasionally before it dried up and find the more recent bottles to be lacking something that the brand had before.  I think rick time is probably the culprit.   I noticed the same thing when Blanton's returned after drying up.  However, I now find some of the more recent Blanton's to be pretty solid.  Of course, it may be more of a relative thing.  Recent Blanton's is very good but it difficult to judge whether it is equal to older Blanton's since I don't have any left.  However, based on my recollection, it seems to be moving toward that level.  My hope is that as stocks build up, ETL quality and flavor will also improve.

 

[BigRich]

A little afternoon Old Forester Signature today.

[LCWoody]

Having some OC 10y to sip on while I'm working out side. 

[GaryT]

After knocking out some "honey do" projects on St. V's day, I kicked off the Wings game with some ECBP.

[JvW]

OGD114...

[Paddy]

I was looking for a easy, neat sipper, so I'm currently working my way toward the end of a bottle of 4RSmB.

[mbroo5880i]

Read Paddy and Harry discussing FR OBSQ a few days ago, so I thought I would pop one open.   Mine is a Crown Selection, 11 years, 1 month, green label, 121.4 proof.  I haven't opened an OBSQ since last winter (probably same time period).  I tried this one neat and it drinks very smooth and light with a nice floral hint.  Of course, being practical like I am and not wanting to drink 121.4 proof bourbon neat, I added water to take it down to around 105 proof.  It is excellent but drinks a little too light for a "B" recipe.  I will proof it up a little more on the next pour so I get floral with spice.  It is very interesting.  Very light nose, moderately light entry followed by an increasingly spicy mid-palate to finish.  The spicy finish lasts for a minute or two.  I don't recall when I bought this one.  Someone smarter than me once told me the difference between the label colors. 

[mbroo5880i]

I forgot to mention earlier that another brand I find lacking recently is FRSB.  I suspect this is due to age.  The FR OBSQ reminds me how much I really like the FR brand.  However, at the same time, it reminds me that the standard SB offering (OBSV, 100 proof), even considering barrel variability, is not what it once was.

Edited February 15, 2016 by mbroo5880i

[LCWoody]

Having a great pour of WTRB '99. 

[ken_mays]

Visited a friend, started out with a little 4RPS to set the mood, then finished up with some Old Ezra 101.

[smokinjoe]

I think this GBS OESO will be my last one for the evening, but since tomorrow is an off-day, maybe not...

[Paddy]

1 hour ago, mbroo5880i said:

I forgot to mention earlier that another brand I find lacking recently is FRSB.  I suspect this is due to age.  The FR OBSQ reminds me how much I really like the FR brand.  However, at the same time, it reminds me that the standard SB offering (OBSV, 100 proof), even considering barrel variability, is not what it once was.

I've found my personal sweet spot with the OBSQ at 5-10 proof points below bottle weight.  This excludes the lower proof bottles, as we all know that some of them come in at 110 proof or less (and don't need to be brought down more than a few drops). 

Speaking of the standard, I'd noticed a shift as well.  I purchased several Holiday gift sets for friends and noticed a lighter color and taste profile in a few of those I've managed to get into the party on.  I'd been hoping that it was limited to some the holiday gift set batches only (and therefore didn't bring it up), but your post now adds some weight to my concern. 

Fortunately, I've not really been forced to purchase any standard SB of late.  Thank God for good home inventory control!   

Anyway, you just inspired me to have a pour of 'the Q'! 

[elmossle]

Last night I had a good pour of EC22 that I had not visited in some time. Tonight I kicked things off with a pout of '14 OFBB which was quickly followed up with some Batch 5 Stagg Jr.

[flahute]

48 minutes ago, Paddy said:

I've found my personal sweet spot with the OBSQ at 5-10 proof points below bottle weight.  This excludes the lower proof bottles, as we all know that some of them come in at 110 proof or less (and don't need to be brought down more than a few drops). 

Speaking of the standard, I'd noticed a shift as well.  I purchased several Holiday gift sets for friends and noticed a lighter color and taste profile in a few of those I've managed to get into the party on.  I'd been hoping that it was limited to some the holiday gift set batches only (and therefore didn't bring it up), but your post now adds some weight to my concern. 

Fortunately, I've not really been forced to purchase any standard SB of late.  Thank God for good home inventory control!   

Anyway, you just inspired me to have a pour of 'the Q'! 

Hmmmm........reading about a shift in standard single barrel does not me happy. I had a bottle last year that was like you describe - a little light in color, and the taste off. It's been good since then. I counted that one as single barrel variation. If it's a trend than it's a sign that even the vaunted red flower is in trouble.

[DonutsNBourbon]

OWA is hitting the spot tonight.  FRSB on the other hand hasn't tasted right to me lately, but this was a bottle that was awesome at first, but hasn't seemed right towards the end of it to me.  I was actually thinking of opening up one I have in the bunker to do a sbs to see if something was off.

[b1gcountry]

The bottle of 4rsb I have open right now drinks like a straight rye. The ones I had before now gave off a molasses, dark cherry, floral, and baking spices flavor. This one is all rye pepper and baking spice. Maybe a little brown sugar. Still good. Probably better for some. It definitely drinks heavier than my last two bottles. 

[Fort Knox]

Coincidentally, I started the evening with a couple of pours of standard 4RSB, leftover from a bottle I bought yesterday to take to a dinner party last night.  I've since moved to OGD114, but to go back to the ETL discussion, I've got a bottle open right now and it's definitely thinner and lighter in color than past bottles I've had.  There's also something just missing from the depth on it.  I was hoping it was just what others have mentioned, single barrel variation, but since others are noticing it, I'm starting to think maybe that's not the case and that doesn't make he happy.  Now, back to 4RSB, I don't really notice a difference in the current bottle I have open, but maybe I just got lucky.

[meadeweber]

ETL last night.  So creamy.

[GeeTen]

16 minutes ago, meadeweber said:

ETL last night.  So creamy.

Me too!  After dinner w/SWMBO @ Capital Grille, came home and had some to help get to sleep quickly - now @ airport heading to Mizzou for the week!

[MeAndMyWhiskey]

Yesterday i followed through on a wild-hair to smoke infuse the bottom quarter of a bottle of Mellow Corn to see if i could get a  roasted corn flavor. The experiment was inspired by drinking and grilling back this summer one night when I had already enjoyed a drink or two of better stuff and figured I didn't need to waste good juice on my tired palate. I proofed down the Mellow Corn a bit and as I sipped it while grilling, I got a distinct roasted corn sensation I really liked. Yesterday's efforts at smoke infusion failed to duplicate that experience, but I haven't quite given up yet. 

[The Black Tot]

14 hours ago, flahute said:

 If it's a trend than it's a sign that even the vaunted red flower is in trouble.

I think it certainly is. They were among the last to expand, and a lot of their expansion is still in the construction phase. I think they've set themselves up for years behind the 8 ball.