What bourbon are you drinking now?

[bluesbassdad]

Tonight I'm finishing a bottle of Booker's that I've had a long time. When did someone (BobbyC?) post a photo of a birdhouse he made from the box that had held a bottle of Booker's? It was right after that when I bought this bottle.

I've had an odd relationship with this bottle. I first began not to dislike it about half way through. At the three-quarter mark I occasionally enjoyed it. The last few drinks, cut to a proof somewhere in the 100-110 range, have been very nice. I won't buy another bottle, I think, but I may put it on my Christmas list some time.

I hear about accelerated oxidation when a bottle contains mostly air. Could that be the explanation for my increasing enjoyment? Oh, one more thing. The last few months the cork has been a little lose. Increased oxidation? Lower proof due to evaporation? Hard to say.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Ghoste]

Which begs the question, should bottles be purchased in smaller sizes?

[ratcheer]

Which begs the question, should bottles be purchased in smaller sizes?

I think you missed his point. He was asking if the bottle having been open a long time could account for his increasing enjoyment, over time.

Tim

[Gillman]

This is another of those odd areas of the bourbon world. Some bottles seem to improve as the level lowers, some stay the same, some get worse. I just bought three bottles of that Rare Breed RB-03 batch we've discussed and opened each and shucks, even new they taste slightly different! There's always something.

Gary

[jeff]

Tonight I'm having a sip of RR90 over a single ice cube. I'm finding that I'm enjoying this bourbon more on the rocks than neat. I'm perceiving a very floral nose and palate that I find most pleasant. The finish is pretty short and unremarkable, like most drinks on ice I find.

[SBOmarc]

I am enjoying the RR, but 101 with the one cube... very very good indeed.

[RedVette]

Tonight I'm having a sip of RR90 over a single ice cube. I'm finding that I'm enjoying this bourbon more on the rocks than neat. I'm perceiving a very floral nose and palate that I find most pleasant. The finish is pretty short and unremarkable, like most drinks on ice I find.

I had a lot of RR90 yesterday, while I was watching the race. I know it is fashionable to bash this, but I really enjoyed it. I tasted better than I remembered RR101 tasting. It seemed fruitier, less earthy, oh well, I liked it quite a bit.

[Virus_Of_Life]

I had a lot of RR90 yesterday, while I was watching the race. I know it is fashionable to bash this, but I really enjoyed it. I tasted better than I remembered RR101 tasting. It seemed fruitier, less earthy, oh well, I liked it quite a bit.

You know Rob, I have yet to find enough better qualities in the RR 101 over regular WT 101 to warrant the extra cost. So it may in fact be that they are going to 90 for a reason and I will try it eventually.

[ProofPositive]

You know Rob, I have yet to find enough better qualities in the RR 101 over regular WT 101 to warrant the extra cost. So it may in fact be that they are going to 90 for a reason and I will try it eventually.

You'll never find me not tipping my hat to WT101....but, you ought to give the RR101 a taste test alongside the old dependable 101. I find RR101 having more depth and lacking the rough edge or burn that I tend to notice more often than not in the 101. It is definitely worth the extra $4-5 to me. But, that is just me, my opinion, and my tastebuds. Everyone is different which is what keeps this world all the more interesting.

As for reasons for going to RR90, we have worn out that horse on here already and I'm not going to revive it at this point....except to say RR90 was created in the boardroom first - and the warehouse second. If I were Jimmy Russell, I would have asked them if I could have named it "Russell's Reserve Light". As I have said before, and will say one mo' time:

WILD TURKEY = 101 PROOF -AND- 101 PROOF = WILD TURKEY.......'nuff said.

[BourbonJoe]

As for reasons for going to RR90, we have worn out that horse on here already and I'm not going to revive it at this point....except to say RR90 was created in the boardroom first - and the warehouse second. If I were Jimmy Russell, I would have asked them if I could have named it "Russell's Reserve Light". As I have said before, and will say one mo' time:

WILD TURKEY = 101 PROOF -AND- 101 PROOF = WILD TURKEY.......'nuff said.

AMEN !

Joe :pope:

[ratcheer]

Double Amen!

As for myself, I had a fairly rough day at work. So, I got home, sent the kids out to play, and I'm sitting here with a healthy pour of Henry McKenna SB BIB 10-yr old, on the rocks. It just might be the best Heaven Hill pour I have ever had.

Tim

[elkdoggydog]

How about a Sazerac, made with JB Rye? Hits the spot for me right now!

[T47]

Tim, funny how a rough day at work can make that glass taste that much better!

Tonight I started with ETL, then finished up with some WT Rye. For me one of the benefits of my new Bourbon interest, is that I am more willing to make the time to just sit and relax, enjoy a nice drink with nothing but the music on. Kind of nice to be able to slow down once in a while.

I am headed across the State to visit my son at school this weekend, the Liquor Store there has Rittenhouse Rye...so my bunker shall continue to grow. I have not seen it on my side of the State, so I hope it will still be there when I arrive! I'm trying to convince my wife that going to visit my son really is the main reason we are going...but the fact that I know what the liquor store there carries gives her doubts! I thought she would admire my efficiency!

[ProofPositive]

Started the night finishing off a bottle of RR101 - just enough for a decent pour on the rocks. Next was the enjoyable ordeal of finishing off my first bottle of ETL with enough for a very healthy pour on the rocks. I'm going to miss ETL. I'll have to get another one......but, too many others waiting in the wings to try right now.

Just the same, a BIG, BIG, BIG THUMBS UP TO ETL!! It got better with every pour. BT has a champion in ETL that is being overlooked and underestimated at present. That's OK though 'cause it keeps the price reasonable.

I'm thinking of breaking out the EWSB or BT for a nightcap.....but, as the subtitle sez, I may be far Too Gone to make the attempt. It don't take much for me anymore!

[ThomasH]

I'm not drinking anything at the moment because I am working midnights this week. However, The UPS man was kind enough to bring me a package from Binny's today. As a result, it is almost certain a tasting will be going on this weekend. With bottles of WLW, Old Potrero 125, Eagle Rare 101, Pappy Van Winkle 15/107 and Signatory Edradour 1993 sherry cask arriving, it should be quite a multi session tasting!

Thomas

[TNbourbon]

Sipping some (take your pick!) "William Larue Stagg" or "George T. Weller", 2:1 with water, taking the 4-grain vatting to about 88 proof. It's very good, if I do say so myself.

The nose is full of rich vanilla/cotton candy. Buttery sweet -- but nutty like Walnettos (I can still buy Walnettos at Cracker Barrel restaurant gift shops:cool: :yum:) -- with a trace of heat, on the front side of the palate, butter pecan in the middle, English walnuts lightly on the finish. Some tannins to wring out the sweetness. Finish is medium-long.

Tell you what -- if you're coming to the Sampler in April, and would like to try this without risking your own barrel-proof bottles, let me know, and I'll provide the fixin's. But why wait that long?

[ProofPositive]

Double Amen!

As for myself, I had a fairly rough day at work. So, I got home, sent the kids out to play, and I'm sitting here with a healthy pour of Henry McKenna SB BIB 10-yr old, on the rocks. It just might be the best Heaven Hill pour I have ever had.Tim

I have not had this particular HH pour but have heard yeas and nays about McKenna. Sounds like you enjoy it quite a bit. Do you place it above the EWSB and EC12 on a regular basis or just this particular SB of McKenna?

[Virus_Of_Life]

I tried a little of many tonite. Some nights I just do not feel like a large pour of anything in particular - or more likely I do not mean to drink much until I get that taste in my mouth and then I have a hard time not pouring more...

Anyway after a shot of tequila I had some GTS maybe half an ounce and then some William L.W. and nothing after that mattered because nothing after that compared. I am becoming more and more convinced that these two barrel proofs are so truly exceptional that I just cannot have anything else in the same day! I am not sure yet if I just love the high alcohol content, even though I do not think it is noticeable or if the flavor of these is that great??.......

Either way I need to devote some effort to securing more for the "bunker" just too bad older releases of GTS are so hard to come by!!...

[Gillman]

Tim, I would like to taste favorite vattings with you at Sampler, your Stagg and Weller vatting sounds really good.

Last night I was working with two bottles which, in different combinations, contain 4 whiskeys: Wild Turkey, 8 year old Old Charter, Buffalo Trace and Lot 40 rye whiskey. This again was inspired by the 1885 Fleischman book on blending I've mentioned many times. It is his best blend in that it is all-straight whiskey (I feel Lot 40 has enough genuine character to warrant being called that) with no flavourings or neutral spirits.

I found each vatting on its own good but the best by far is a combination of the two, so using the same elements but in a yet further combination. I did this last night in the glass only. It is surprising what happens sometimes when one does this. Mouthfeel and flavour can turn on a dime. The result I got was by using about an ounce and a half from my "Charter" bottle and adding about one-half ounce (maybe a bit more) from my "WT" bottle. The result is seamless soft but rich straight whiskey with a fine but light peppermint-like rye aftertone. In the center the heavier Trace "sits" perfectly on the other whiskeys but is informed by them, there is extra complexity from the younger and low-rye whiskeys in there. If I can create again that same taste I will bring a full bottle of this to Sampler. Imagine a straight whiskey with the softness and roundness of a good Cognac but the rich flavours of all-straight whiskey American or American-style. Those flavours stress moderate wood, corn, and a natural sweetness that seems to come from the combination of whiskeys (because each on its own doesn't really offer much sweetness). The proof would average to about 85% I think. I did not keep track of the percentages in each bottle so this may be hard to recreate but this stock will last me a while since I've got two almost full bottles between them. I may try tonight to recreate that blending made in the glass (that is much easier than recreating the two bottles themselves, it is simply combining the two in the right way) and if I can get it right I'll leave it alone for transport to Sampler upcoming.

Gary

[TNbourbon]

Tim, I would like to taste favorite vattings with you at Sampler, your Stagg and Weller vatting sounds really good...

Let's plan to do that at some point. I believe you've already assayed my Michter's:Hirsch 16 vat, but I really like the 4-grain 'recipes' I've played with recently using the Bernheim and straight ryes, and last night's Stagg/Larue Weller.

I have to admit that while I enjoy and understand your explanations of your blends, mine tend to be more instinctual (for better or worse). That's not to say they are without thought, but sometimes the idea(s) just come out of nowhere, and the only real thought is regarding proportions. And, I've stuck to just 2 or 3 whiskeys at a time -- you understand the relationships of the multiple bottlings better than me.

[Gillman]

All sounds good, thanks. I have just combined the two bottles I mentioned earlier to make a full bottle and I nailed it - this is the vatting of Buffalo Trace, Old Charter 8 year old, Wild Turkey and Lot 40. It is now earmarked for Sampler upcoming. I am not sure in the end we differ in how we approach this, or rather, your instincts are (in my view) based on sound logic. Also, 4 whiskeys vatted can taste very nice; so can 100. When I use as many as 50-100 (or even past 10, frankly), I lose count of the specific constituents and proportions; this does not however lessen the value of the final result, which trial and error can refine to a high degree of quality.

Gary

[Brennan77]

Gonna pour a little Bulleit on the rocks (the only way I enjoy this particular one) and watch the parade outside my front door. That's right, it's Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

[ratcheer]

I have not had this particular HH pour but have heard yeas and nays about McKenna. Sounds like you enjoy it quite a bit. Do you place it above the EWSB and EC12 on a regular basis or just this particular SB of McKenna?

I can't really say, as this is the only bottle I have ever had. But yes, it is at least the equal of any EC12 or EWSB I've ever had. Probably better.

However, this is misleading as the HMSB was quite a bit more expensive than EWSB or EC12. I paid $28 for it in Kentucky. I used to pay about $23 for EWSB, when the ABC carried it. And I used to pay $16.50 for EC12, but I noticed the other day that they have jacked it up to $18.50.

Tim

[CrispyCritter]

After slowly whittling away my near-empty bottles these last few weeks, I've revisited one that isn't so empty, my Elmer T. Lee. Mmmmmmmmm. :yum:

[SBOmarc]

This evening enjoying VW Lot B, neat.

More than one I may add.