Success!

[wrbriggs]

Well, it happened - tonight, out of the blue, my wife asked me to pour her "some of that whiskey you had the other night"... this happened to be EWSB '94, which she had a sip of, and said it was "bearable" at the time.

Tonight, she drank a decent 2 oz. pour, and claimed that she was "starting to like the stuff".

Oddly enough, I offered her a sip of my EC12, which she didn't like at all. I'm wondering if it was the higher proof, along with the additional flavor complexity when compared to the EWSB? I've always found the two to have some similar tastes, although I will concede that the EC12 is a bit "bigger".

Any suggestions on other "lighter" bourbons that I could give her? She tried Maker's Mark when I bought my first bottle of it, and didn't really care for the taste... but that was before she was interested in whiskey at all.

At any rate - I'm just really excited that she's finally starting to see what I make such a big deal about. Even if she never catches the bourbon bug like I have, it's good to know that I might be able to coax her down the path.

[clayton]

I can sympathize with your wife's tastes. Like her, I like the EWSB'94 but don't care much for the EC12.

You might try letting her taste a good wheater, which tend to be softer and sweeter. She and I might line up on this issue, as well, since I don't care for Maker's Mark but the Van Winkles are among my favorites. The VW 12-year Lot B or the 10/90 (something lower proof so as to not knock her socks off) would be my suggestion.

Good luck! I wish my significant other would start down the bourbon path. Maybe someday...

[LeNell]

Great news! Thanks for sharing your success. I've been able to turn some non bourbon drinkin' folks on to VOB lately, but I do agree with Clayton that the VW 10/90 is an excellent choice.

[wadewood]

Failure! Failure! I repeat Failure!

There is no need for your wife to start liking bourbon. My wife likes bourbon, but only my Stagg reserve

[TNbourbon]

Great for you (and her)! So far, I'm still a solo sipper -- although I still enjoy the stuff.

EC12 is, I think (both from personal experience and chatter here), a love-it-or-hate-it bourbon. I gave the remains of my bottle away at the Gazebo during the Festival. I won't buy it again. And, I love every one of the EWSBs I've tried, as well as many other favorites here. Everybody's tastes differ.

However, if your wife appreciated the EWSB, I suggest you try the Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10yo (only slightly pricier -- still under $30). Or, for something different, but still approachable, (wheated) W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7yo. For something bolder, but with a fruitiness that might appeal to a newbie, there's JB Black. The latter two are under $20, maybe under $15 in some places.

[wrbriggs]

For something bolder, but with a fruitiness that might appeal to a newbie, there's JB Black.

I've got a bottle of JB Black on the shelf, so maybe I'll pour her some of that. I've also got some Knob Creek, maybe I'll try that as well.

I guess I might as well go ahead and submit an order through the state for a bottle of Eagle Rare SB, since I've had more than one person recommend it.

[wrbriggs]

I have no Stagg, nor am I likely to be able to find it in this area any time soon.

She did down a bunch of my Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve the other night, but that's a different story... it wasn't exactly for the taste...

[wrbriggs]

I do agree with Clayton that the VW 10/90 is an excellent choice.

Alas, no Van Winkle bottlings are available in my state. Some day perhaps... in the meantime, I will have to keep my eyes open during the rare occasions that I travel.

[clayton]

For what you can't get in your state, let's not forget Binny's (among other internet vendors). They ship to Vermont, I believe.

[wrbriggs]

They ship to Vermont, I believe.

Oooh. I was told it was illegal to ship into VT, but I will check out Binny's. Thanks for the tip!!

[empire]

My wife doesn't like any of my bourbons, and thats the way I like it!

[jeff]

Well, now you've gone and done it! Your stash will never be the same. Leslie doesn't drink much bourbon straight, but likes to drink it in Manhattans and Old Fashoneds. A few years ago Jim Beam white would have sufficed, but now she has a taste for finer bourbons and I find her reaching for the Eagle Rare 17 to make a bourbon sour I can't complain, as she lets me keep on buying nice bourbon, but now I have to share the good stuff You are in a desperate situation! Introduce her to rum while you still have a chance

[Bamber]

Failure! Failure! I repeat Failure!

There is no need for your wife to start liking bourbon. My wife likes bourbon, but only my Stagg reserve

I have 1 bottle of Stagg 2003 - nearly half gone. Its the first bourbon that my girlfriend really really liked (straight I might add !)

I eyed her suspiciously as I pushed it to the back of my drinks cabinet, behind an old bottle of JB white.

[clayton]

My girl tried the newly opened Stagg last night. She's hated every other bourbon she's tried, but to my surprise, she actually liked this one!

I guess "liked" is appropriate only in context and compared to the other tastings she's done -- meaning the ones she's spit out in the sink. Even though she says she liked it, she couldn't do more than a single mouthful. The high alcohol content was too much for her.

It seems that the Stagg makes friends more easily than any other bourbon, even other top shelf bottlings.

[wrbriggs]

However, if your wife appreciated the EWSB, I suggest you try the Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10yo (only slightly pricier -- still under $30).

Actually, the Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10yo is cheaper than the EWSB up here - $19.90 for ERSB, $22 (or thereabouts) for the EWSB.

I found a store that had ERSB in stock, even though it's usually a special-order item in my state. Apparently it used to be someone's drink of choice, and the store ordered it in for him. Then he switched to Maker's Mark... don't ask me why.

Amelia and I will be giving the bottle a try this evening, I'll let you all know how it works out.

[TNbourbon]

Actually, the Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10yo is cheaper than the EWSB up here - $19.90 for ERSB...

Wow. I hope you find you like it -- then go back and buy every bottle at that price (even if just to ship it to me). I just saw it on the shelf locally a half-hour ago for $29.98 -- and I think it's a good value at that, comparatively. Larger area stores may have it a buck or two cheaper.

[wrbriggs]

Wow. I hope you find you like it -- then go back and buy every bottle at that price (even if just to ship it to me). I just saw it on the shelf locally a half-hour ago for $29.98 -- and I think it's a good value at that, comparatively. Larger area stores may have it a buck or two cheaper.

Well, I have just had the first 1/2 of my first pour of ERSB. I have to say that this is probably the sweetest bourbon I have tasted to date, and I am surprised at the lack of alcohol burn. I'm not certain I could drink more than one or two pours of this due to the sweetness, but it is a quite nice after-dinner drink.

Amelia tried a sip and liked it, but she was already heavily into the Remy-Martin VSOP (yeah, she's a snob), and didn't want to mix the grain and the grape.

[wrbriggs]

Just as a follow-up, and a general comment - something that came to mind right after I submitted my other post...

I am constantly amazed at the variety that bourbon has to offer. It seems like there is a bourbon for all occasions and situations (before dinner, with dinner, after dinner, sipping on the porch, etc). I have always lived under the misapprehension that most classes of alcohol are very similar, and should always be used in specific situations (i.e., bourbon before dinner or with cigars, cognac or port after a meal, wine with a meal, vodka for getting drunk, cocktails for relaxing, etc).

It's both humbling and exhilirating to have your assumptions destroyed. It makes me proud to live in a country with such a tasty and versatile national spirit.

Looking at all the bourbons I've not yet tried, I am quite excited for the journey ahead. Hope you folks are always there to guide me, because thus far, this board has made all the difference in my bourbon adventure!

[TNbourbon]

Yeah -- though it's probably heresy to some here -- I think this bourbon has many of the good attributes that good Scotch has (and I have had SOME good Scotch, though much more good bourbon), especially its lightness and easy entry. Its bigness (what there is of it -- it's NOT Stagg!) seems to hit me about mid-palate, by which time my tastebuds are ready for it.

I'm glad you like it.

[wrbriggs]

I think this bourbon has many of the good attributes that good Scotch has...

I'm not a big Scotch fan (almost every Scotch tastes medicinal to me - must be the peat flavor), but I always keep bottles of Macallan 12 and Johnny Walker Black around (mostly for guests), but I've been known to take a nip or two from them on occasion. Since discovering good bourbon, I've been concentrating on tasting every bourbon I can find, to the exclusion of most other spirits.

[ratcheer]

Now, you've got the gist of what we are all doing and why we are all here. Excellent!

Tim