Taste Buds Totally Gone

[FacePlant]

My taste buds for whiskey are slowing returning. About 3 years ago I decided to take a month off from drinking. The chosen month was March, and I didn’t drink any type of alcoholic beverage. Didn’t really do me any good or harm but at least I knew I could. This year I moved my “off month” to February. Forgot about the Super Bowl party, forgot about another social, and found myself sipping ice water at a couple of other events that just weren’t right without my cherished bourbon.

Good news was once again I made it through the month totally dry. Bad news was this time (and only this time) I completely lost my taste for whiskey. March 1st I went for a SBS with OF. 1920 vs Signature. WOW, I like to have spit out the first taste. Tasted like piss water with flames. Next I backed down to ER which I knew NEVER let me down. Same results. The following night more of the same with a couple of other sure winners. On Friday night the 3rd I poured a W12 and that even had a burn on the finish but was the best of the previous 3 nights.

The next couple of days I stayed very light, Hancock, Blantons, and more W12. Finally after a week I slowly got my taste buds back and now things are returning to normal. Don’t know why I haven’t experienced this in the previous few years, but I’m thinking about not staying away so long if I go dry again in the future. Anyone else had this happen when they total lost the taste for good whiskey?

Oh by the way I did another SBS. Sig was the winner last night.

 

Edited March 10, 2017 by FacePlant

[Richnimrod]

Hmmmm.     Sounds rather strange, and certainly a disappointment, and maybe even disheartening.     I've never experienced such. 

I have had a drastic diminution of satisfaction with the occasional head cold, and definitely had that with a few sinus infections; but on all those occasions (that I can recall) I never really found any of the pours outright off-putting, just somewhat tasteless, or at least rather low on flavor and/or aroma, thus the diminution of satisfaction.     And, sometimes the taste buddies took quite a long time in returning to normal after such experiences which is a bummer, too. 

Just my personal experience, of course.     Everybody's different, for sure.

[mbroo5880i]

I don't know if I have taken an entire month off from tasting bourbon for several years.  However, there have been some two week periods due to training, just not interested, or a lingering cold.  My experience is similar to Rich's.  I would add I found that the alcohol seemed to hit me quicker and harder after a prolonged period of abstinence.

 

My suggestion would have been to work back into it slowly to allow you taste buds to adjust which it sounds like you did.  I don't believe I would let this experience dissuade you from scheduling a "dry month" in the future.  It is quite possible other factors played into your experience this time that were not present in periods following past dry months.  I think the concept and practice is good idea.

Edited March 11, 2017 by mbroo5880i

[El Vino]

I am two months into a three month "diet" which really frowns on alcohol of any kind.  I broke the discipline for the Super Bowl with a killer Four Roses OBSQ, and have had small sips of various whiskeys when I just had an overpowering urge or a particularly tough day.  I have lost 25-30 lbs so far, and feel great.  I think the occasional small sip has kept my taste buds in line during the long break.

[BDanner]

I was thinking the other week that I may be experiencing "palate fatigue". Everything was tasting the same, and pours that I know I love just weren't separating themselves from the crowd. I'm chalking it up to allergy season, but thankfully, as of now all is back to normal.

 

[b1gcountry]

I was thinking the other week that I may be experiencing "palate fatigue". Everything was tasting the same, and pours that I know I love just weren't separating themselves from the crowd. I'm chalking it up to allergy season, but thankfully, as of now all is back to normal.
 

Allergies make a huge difference to me

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[flahute]

25 minutes ago, BDanner said:

I was thinking the other week that I may be experiencing "palate fatigue". Everything was tasting the same, and pours that I know I love just weren't separating themselves from the crowd. I'm chalking it up to allergy season, but thankfully, as of now all is back to normal.

 

I experience palate fatigue from time to time. It usually occurs after I've attended a tasting where there were too many bottles present I wanted to try so I went too fast (i.e. not even time between tastes which overdoes it on the taste buds), or, when I've gone a little overboard with consecutive barrel proofers over a couple days and the taste buds get fried.

[BDanner]

16 hours ago, flahute said:

I experience palate fatigue from time to time. It usually occurs after I've attended a tasting where there were too many bottles present I wanted to try so I went too fast (i.e. not even time between tastes which overdoes it on the taste buds), or, when I've gone a little overboard with consecutive barrel proofers over a couple days and the taste buds get fried.

I was on a higher proof kick for a couple weeks. OWA, OGD 114, WTRB. That could be it.