Entertaining Friends/Family with Primo Bourbon

[Sijan]

I don't think most folks can tell the difference between a good bourbon and a truly great bourbon without some tasting experience, so I don't like to waste my top stuff on casual drinkers or first-time bourbon tasters. That said, my stash of opened bottles is generally open to whatever people want to drink if they really express a preference. But they usually just ask me to recommend something.

I often offer Old Fitz 1849, which is one of my favorite everyday bourbons & it usually pleases, especially if they say they like Maker's, as it's fairly sweet and fairly smooth. (I used to keep around a bottle of Maker's to keep people out of my good stuff, but Old Fitz 1849 is cheaper and better, so I haven't restocked since my Maker's ran out.) But I'll also sometimes go with something basic but good like EC12 or JB Black or AAA 10 yr or maybe WT101. If they enjoy that or if I want to impress, I'll usually offer something like an ORVW 10/90, ER 10 SB, or maybe Lot B. I think I went through a whole bottle of ORVW 10/90 last year just pouring it for guests, and it was almost universally a big hit.

If they come back for seconds, I try to give them a rye bourbon if they started off on a wheater, or vice-versa. For the rye-heavy bourbons, I'll start them off on Old Grand-Dad BIB or Old Forester 100. If they like that, I send them down a rye/spice path towards things like Knob Creek, OFBB, Rock Hill Farms, OGD 114, etc. And I'll generally offer them a rye whiskey at some point too.

If they're not so keen on the rye-heavy bourbon, I'll have them try another Van Winkle bottling, often an up-market BT or WT bottling, maybe Woodford Reserve, r just something random from the cabinet that's not rye-heavy, 'til they can pinpoint what they like, and then I offer related bourbons.

I will also use repeat guests as an opportunity to get rid of presumably good bourbons that don't particularly impress me, like EWSB. I've even been known to give away such bottles if the guest enjoyed it after a tasting. I had a tasting last fall with a few friends where I gathered 5-7 bottles that I felt were "suspect" in one way or another based on previous tastings, and gave away the ones I didn't like to whomever in the group seemed to like them the most. Ended up giving away about half and keeping about half, I think.

I will also occasionally do side-by-side taste tests to demonstrate a point, such as putting Jack Daniels up against George Dickel No. 12, or Beam White up against Beam Black (or something else good). Or sometimes a wheated bourbon vs. a rye bourbon, just for contrast. The Dickel taste test, in particular, has won over several converts.

[elkdoggydog]

I usually keep a bottle of EW 7yo around when I have guests coming who I know will want to mix it with something or just have it on the rocks. It's a good bourbon that I'll pour for myself every once in a while, but not something I consider special. I'm happy to share my "nicer" bottles though. In general I don't buy whiskey that costs so much that I'll worry about sharing it- I'm a very pragmatic drinker in that respect, I guess.

If they ask about a particular bourbon in my cabinet, I'll tell them about it and pour it if they want it. I buy it for drinking.

I also keep a bottle of rye around, and gladly introduce people to that type of whiskey, or to an "authentic" Manhattan or Sazerac.

My whiskey is only as good as the company in which I drink it.

Sijan- your tastings that you put together sound great. Your friends are lucky.

[rlovingjr]

Bourbon is for sharing and I will gladly share any bottle I have as long as the particpant does not ask for ginger or coke with it. If they do something foolish like that I offer them the Jim Beam.

[gr8erdane]

Anybody ever tell you you bear an amazing resemblance to Richard Nixon?

[Rancastle]

My friends and family are welcome to anything I have, any damn way they want it!

[gr8erdane]

Woo Hoo! :woohoo:

This weekend's travelling SB.com party is at Randy's place!

[jeff]

My friends and family are welcome to anything I have, any damn way they want it!

Can I get mine to go?:slappin:

[Rancastle]

Dane...As long as you bring the rest of that green glass 23 your welcome anytime! :grin:

Jeff...Sorry I don't have the drive thru in yet!:slappin:

[Mad Mac]

When the occasion presents itself, I will often start a friend with a wheater like Maker's Mark. As non whiskey drinkers, if they are going to like anything it will be the sweeter, milder stuff. Some stop there, some go back to beer/wine, and some look forward to trying something with some rye in it.

A week or so ago I treated a friend to the full range, from Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, through MM, WT Kentucky Spirit, Bulleit, and finally Sazerac 18 yr Rye. Lots of fun - he preferred the WT...

[Sijan]

I think I've spoiled some of my guests. A regular was over last night and started looking through my cabinet - he first asked about the RR101, of which I have only about a third of a bottle left. I asked him to hold off on that until I could secure some more since it's been discontinued. He ended up "settling" for ORVW 10/107. When I asked him how he liked it, "It's alright I guess." And here I was thinking that ORVW 10/107 was one of the best bourbons I've got. But he was also drinking it straight and prefers to have it iced a bit, so maybe that affected his impression - also the 107 proof may have just been too strong for him. But I was amused that his attitude towards the Van Winkle was that it was just sort of an ok, mid-range bourbon that one sort of settles for if nothing else looks appealing. I think this is because one of the first pours I gave him was the ORVW 10/90.

[JamesH007]

My friends and family are welcome to anything I have, any damn way they want it!

Oh No!!!! Pappy20 and Coke??? please tell me your kidding

[luv2hunt]

Oh No!!!! Pappy20 and Coke??? please tell me your kidding

Rumor has it that Randy's Pappy 23 has been consumed with Coke! He's a wonderful HOST!

Dawn

[Rancastle]

Okay... Long story short. It wasn't my friend or family that committed this HEINOUS crime! Over the summer my oldest daughter had all of her collage friends over for a three day drunkfest. I blindly gave them access to my liquor cabinet, showing them one entire shelf that was off limits. Four kegs of beer and half the cabinet later, I had to lay down the KYBOSH!!! I discovered a nearly empty Pappy 23, and went ballistic. It did go into Coke but, I can laugh about it now. And the above statement still stands true with MY FRIENDS & FAMILY! :slappin:

[bluesbassdad]

:grin: Ah, ha! One might infer from your account that the secret may be to pare one's list of friends (and family?) based on their drinking habits. In this group I think that approach would be widely accepted. :grin:

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Dahlrod]

We taste blind all the time. I bet I can pick the $75 bourbon EVERY time.

Joe :usflag:

I also blind test often, and can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.

[Dahlrod]

I like to use Russell's Reserve and Weller's 12 for this type of crowd. If they can appreciate these slight step up brands, then I bring out the rest.

[bobbyc]

I also blind test often, and can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.

You need to enter the tasting competition during the Festival!

[ProofPositive]

I like to use Russell's Reserve and Weller's 12 for this type of crowd. If they can appreciate these slight step up brands, then I bring out the rest.

Do you mean RR90? If so, I can understand your use of the words "slight step up brands". If you are referring to RR101, then I would beg to differ.....and, same for Weller 12. Of course just IMHO, but I strongly consider both of these labels well above "slight step up".....but, maybe I am just misunderstanding your use of words.

[jeff]

I also blind test often, and can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.

Do you have more than 2 on your shelf?

[Dahlrod]

Thus, my 90% statement.

Now the question is:

Can you pick the more expensive one because you know what either of the brands taste like, thus you know which one is the more expensive?

Or

Do you know how good a $75 bourbon should taste like? So when you taste one blind, you know that it is the more expesive one because it tastes better.

Maybe you all should try that at one of the Bourbon Fest events you all do? See what % of you all can guess the cheaper bourbon.

--

BSS,

As worded, your 90% is clearly upside down. To tell the difference between Whiskies (Scotch, Bourbon, Canadian or Irish) is not difficult at all. To prove this, you really need to taste a half ounce of Ten High directly followed (after a cracker or such) by a half ounce of Pappy Van-Winkle any vintage, or better still an Evan Williams Single Barrel. You won't pick the Ten High for your third shot.

If we change your wording to try to distinguish between a $40 dollar bottle or a $70 bottle, then I completely agree. Not many would be able to make this distinction and probably would be faking if they did.

Also note that money is not necessarily the indicator that you would seek here. Taste is everything. I have an $85 dollar bottle of Woodford Four Grain at home that is clearly the worst whiskey I have ever had. In contrast, the Evan Williams SB mentioned above, is outstanding by anybody's standards at only $26 every day off the shelf.

Try the test above. Send me a bill for the whiskey if I'm wrong.

[Dahlrod]

Thus, my 90% statement.

Now the question is:

Can you pick the more expensive one because you know what either of the brands taste like, thus you know which one is the more expensive?

Or

Do you know how good a $75 bourbon should taste like? So when you taste one blind, you know that it is the more expesive one because it tastes better.

Maybe you all should try that at one of the Bourbon Fest events you all do? See what % of you all can guess the cheaper bourbon.

--

BSS,

As worded, your 90% is clearly upside down. To tell the difference between $10-20 compared to $70-80 Whiskies (Scotch, Bourbon, Canadian or Irish) is not difficult at all. To prove this, you really need to taste a half ounce of Ten High directly followed (after a cracker or such) by a half ounce of Pappy Van-Winkle any vintage, or better still an Evan Williams Single Barrel. You won't pick the Ten High for your third shot.

If we change your wording to try to distinguish between a $40 dollar bottle or a $70 bottle, then I completely agree. Not many would be able to make this distinction and probably would be faking if they did.

Also note that money is not necessarily the indicator that you would seek here. Taste is everything. I have an $85 dollar bottle of Woodford Four Grain at home that is clearly the worst whiskey I have ever had. In contrast, the Evan Williams SB mentioned above, is outstanding by anybody's standards at only $26 every day off the shelf.

Try the test above. Send me a bill for the whiskey if I'm wrong.

[Dahlrod]

I ... can generally identify any Whiskey on my shelf within one or two attempts.

Do you have more than 2 on your shelf?

Ten High and Kentucky Gentlemen. MMM-MMM!

[Dahlrod]

Do you mean RR90? If so, I can understand your use of the words "slight step up brands". If you are referring to RR101, then I would beg to differ.....and, same for Weller 12. Of course just IMHO, but I strongly consider both of these labels well above "slight step up".....but, maybe I am just misunderstanding your use of words.

I guess the slight step up refers to the slight price difference, as compared to a Pappy 15 or an Antique that you have to practically kill for, regardless of price. The RR is in the plain stubby bottle with no Turkey on the lasbel. I believe it is still 101 proof. I did not know 90 was available. Is that the older looking bottle with the Turkey on the label?

I keep both of these every day as good wheat and rye recipe examples at not a great cost. If friends don't like them or, more likely, start swilling them down in shots, I can still maintain polite conversation without cringing.

[BrbnBorderline]

I think for family/friends that aren't regular bourbon drinkers, proof is the big key in getting them to like bourbon. Start them off with a nice, mellow 80 proof bourbon like Ancient Age or Basil Hayden's. If you start them off with ODG 114, it's too much too fast, and they won't want to try any again.

It's analogous to taking someone out shooting for the first time and you hand them a .44 Magnum with 310 gr. bear loads for their first shot instead of working your way up to it starting with a .22 LR.

[CrispyCritter]

The RR is in the plain stubby bottle with no Turkey on the lasbel. I believe it is still 101 proof. I did not know 90 was available. Is that the older looking bottle with the Turkey on the label?

The bottle with the turkey on the label is the 101 proof - and if you see any, snag it, since it isn't made anymore. Much has been said here about WT dropping the proof to 90. :deadhorse: