Unicorn Smorgasbord

[GeeTen]

Had a very special tasting of "Unicorns" last night at the Loch & K(e)y Society's "Go Whiskey Week" - finally in-person (observing Covid protocols):

 

 

 

Willett Family Estate 13yr bourbon,  L&K pick Barrel #395

Four Roses SmB LE Barrel Strength "50th Anniversary Al Young" bourbon

Booker's 30th Anniversary LE straight bourbon

Heaven Hill 27yr Barrel Proof SmB bourbon

Booker's Rye 13yr "Big Time" batch LE 

Van Winkle Family Reserve 13yr Rye  

 

 

 

L&K workers "hard at work" at the tasting.  You remember us from the infamous "Wall of Weller Full Proof" pic, yes?

 

 

 

Went to have Szechuan Chinese food after - paying the price this very snowy morning.  

 

TTFN,

F.

8-)

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by GeeTen

[Bob_Loblaw]

What a great lineup!

 

Any tasting notes or ranking of pours? I’m particularly curious about your thoughts on the Booker’s 30th and HH27.

[PhantomLamb]

Good on you GeeTen, looks like it was a great time!

[GeeTen]

22 hours ago, Bob_Loblaw said:

Any tasting notes or ranking of pours? I’m particularly curious about your thoughts on the Booker’s 30th and HH27.

 

Ranked (IMHO, of course):

 

#1 - Four Roses SmB LE Barrel Strength "50th Anniversary Al Young" bourbon

 

Everything I could wish for in a delicious, well balanced and "nuanced" bourbon.  Super.

 

#2 - Van Winkle Family Reserve 13yr Rye

 

One of (if not my favorite) ryes.  Subtle rye spice that hits you mid-palate and warms all the way down your gullet.  Long finish keeps the flavors going and going and going . . . . .

 

#3 -  Willett Family Estate 13yr bourbon,  L&K pick Barrel #395

 

Started my "Unicorn" journey with this one!  Have always forked over some serious "cheese" for other WFE bourbons ever since.  Enhanced the journey with tastings of 20+ year "Wheated Warrior" and "Wheated Patriot" (Willett "red" series) along the way and have never looked back since!

 

#4 - Booker's Rye 13yr "Big Time" batch LE 

 

Surprisingly good, flavorful rye w/o overpowering spice or heat.  Long finish and enjoyable pour among other heavy hitters.

 

#5 - Booker's 30th Anniversary LE straight bourbon

 

I'll admit that I'm not a big Booker's bourbon fan (especially at $100+ for a "regular" bottle and certainly not at $1300+ for this puppy).  High octane heat always seems to overpower every other flavor in the glass (for me) and even the addition of water ("the solution to polution is dilution") didn't seem to help much in getting more flavors to come through the heat.  Oak comes to the fore in the finish, but some faint caramel is trying to get out, too.  Still hurts to think about it again (ok, I'm a wimp, ok?) 

 

#6 - Heaven Hill 27yr Barrel Proof SmB bourbon

 

I really, really, really wanted to LOVE this bourbon - HONEST!  Maybe it was tired, or I was tired (even though it was in the middle of the line-up tasting order) or maybe I didn't reset my palate after tasting the Booker's 30th - I just don't know.  Beautiful deep amber color.  On the nose, "wood spice."  On the palate, "wood spice."  On the finish, "wood spice."  Someone once told me that an over-oaked whisk(e)y tasted like licking a wodden church pew.  Now I know what they meant!  Guess I really need to try a dram of Evan Williams 23 before continuing my quest in Bardstown at the distillery.

 

JMHO, as requested.   YMMV . . . . . .   

 

HTH,

F.

8-) 

[Clueby]

There was a bit of a unicorn night at a friend's on Saturday night. EW23 did make an appearance as well. It's one of my favorite ALL TIME pours. Sadly, the Al Young was oxidized. The PHC Wheat is awesome, as is PHC POH. KoK is always a huge standout. I don't know if I could rank these.

[Bob_Loblaw]

On 3/1/2022 at 6:21 AM, GeeTen said:

 

#5 - Booker's 30th Anniversary LE straight bourbon

 

I'll admit that I'm not a big Booker's bourbon fan 

 

#6 - Heaven Hill 27yr Barrel Proof SmB bourbon

 

I really, really, really wanted to LOVE this bourbon - HONEST! 

Thanks Frank!  That's kind of what I have heard about both the Bookers 30th and the HH27.  I also am not a fan of Bookers at all even before the price hike.  Harsh, rough and full of peanut butter. . . 

[GeeTen]

13 hours ago, Clueby said:

There was a bit of a unicorn night at a friend's on Saturday night. EW23 did make an appearance as well. It's one of my favorite ALL TIME pours. Sadly, the Al Young was oxidized. The PHC Wheat is awesome, as is PHC POH. KoK is always a huge standout. I don't know if I could rank these.

 

Left overs in 12 days???  I found an unopened Elijah Craig bottle with a big red "12" on the front in The Bunker that I might bring.  And the Bardstown Discovery Batch #6 is already in Missouri via Knoxville.  Hmmm, you guys had a Kavalan Vinho Barrique yet? 

 

Edited March 2, 2022 by GeeTen

[Clueby]

8 hours ago, GeeTen said:

 

Left overs in 12 days???  I found an unopened Elijah Craig bottle with a big red "12" on the front in The Bunker that I might bring.  And the Bardstown Discovery Batch #6 is already in Missouri via Knoxville.  Hmmm, you guys had a Kavalan Vinho Barrique yet? 

 

Unfortunately none of the leftovers were mine!! Those big red 12's were awesome. I recently opened a "12 year on the back label" bottle that is outstanding.  I'm hearing good things about Disco 6. I've never heard of KVB.