What are you drinking tonight? (Winter '07)

[TNbourbon]

...PS - I think I may have to re-think my adversion to vatting although one has to know what they're doing...

Gary'll do that to ya! I have a couple of his vattings -- Scotch and rum (the bourbon is long gone) -- too. Don't tell him I said so, but he knows what he's doing.:bowdown:

[Frodo]

I agree! Moved on to another of Gary's samples - Pikesville Rye (40% abv). Funny - this is my first straight rye. The only rye I've had before this is a blended whisky called Alberta Premium which is blended, but all the whiskies are made from rye. I tried to like Alberta Premium, but I just can't.

Pikesville is really nice. Different enough from bourbon to raise eyebrows, similar enough to have a point of referance. Spicy, without much of the fruitiness that I've read that is in character for rye. That same caramel-y thing that is in bourbon is here as well. The nose is a bit more assertive than most bourbons I've had.

Really Nice!!!

Thanks Gary!!!!

I owe you a beer next time. Cheers!!!

[wskybnt]

On with the Antique Collection, following the GTS 06 with WLW 06. Two different taste, I think I might have to give the nod to the WLW. It seems to have a more complex taste, a little more going on. Wait a minute, the more I drink it the better I like it. It's starting to walk away from the GTS!!! This is good bourbon!

[CrispyCritter]

I just finished my second Red Hook tonight. I'm mixing them standard-sized rather than my usual extra-large version.

In both cases, it was:

• 2 oz. rye
  
• 3/4 oz. Punt e Mes
  
• 1/4 oz. Luxardo maraschino
  
• 2 gentle shakes of peach bitters

The first was made with single-barrel Baby Saz, and the second one with Rittenhouse BIB. Both were scrumptious, with the Sazerac version being a little sweeter, and the Rittenhouse one bringing out more of the Punt e Mes' bitter side.

I can't really decide which one I like better - I'm glad I had one of each.

I'm now sipping a pour of WTRR101, neat.

[Gillman]

Excellent notes Frodo, thanks, glad you enjoyed them.

Thanks too to Tim for your support on vatting.

I had that same JBB/VG/OO earlier tonight, I thought it was really good, Beam with a difference and it made all the difference. The combination was inspired by an 1885 blending formula from Jos. Fleischman's book I've mentioned many times before here.

Gary

[smokinjoe]

Celebrated my birthday with what else?....OFBB 2003! Then a little WT Tribute, WT 12 Gold Foil, Handy, Four Roses Small Batch, Pappy 20, Blanton's, and finally for the knockout, 2006 Stagg. Though these all were great, they weren't as good as the cake my 8 yr old daughter made for me! :yum: (With only a "little" help from momma) A happy man am I.

Cheers!

JOE

[Big Chipper]

Old Forrester Signature 100proof...not bad for a cheapie!

[TBoner]

Saz Jr., to be followed w/ OGDBIB. Then...?

[wskybnt]

Celebrated my birthday with what else?....OFBB 2003! Then a little WT Tribute, WT 12 Gold Foil, Handy, Four Roses Small Batch, Pappy 20, Blanton's, and finally for the knockout, 2006 Stagg.

Who are you Jimmy Hendrix? Its a little hard to follow that act!!!:bowdown:

[barturtle]

After emptying my Johnny Drum 12, I pulled out a '76 (or so) bottling of Old Forester 86, I opened it at the KBF this year and it has just hit the halfway point, this one I will miss, but at current rate of consumption, I won't have to miss it until around April (I drink them faster when they start getting low).

[TNbourbon]

Celebrated my birthday with what else?....OFBB 2003! Then a little WT Tribute, WT 12 Gold Foil, Handy, Four Roses Small Batch, Pappy 20, Blanton's, and finally for the knockout, 2006 Stagg...

Which '03 OFBB -- Spring or Fall? (I don't really care, I just want to see if he's still able to reply:lol: )

Happy birthday, Joe. :toast:

[barturtle]

Celebrated my birthday with what else?....OFBB 2003! Then a little WT Tribute, WT 12 Gold Foil, Handy, Four Roses Small Batch, Pappy 20, Blanton's, and finally for the knockout, 2006 Stagg. Though these all were great, they weren't as good as the cake my 8 yr old daughter made for me! :yum: (With only a "little" help from momma) A happy man am I.

Cheers!

JOE

Joe, how did I miss the little cake and candles down there (and you don't have your age listed). Happy Birthday! I'll raise a drink to you, because I'm not sure you can handle another yourself, after that list:lol:

[CrispyCritter]

Celebrated my birthday with what else?....OFBB 2003! Then a little WT Tribute, WT 12 Gold Foil, Handy, Four Roses Small Batch, Pappy 20, Blanton's, and finally for the knockout, 2006 Stagg.

:bigeyes: :slappin:

*clink!* Happy Birthday! :toast: That would put me under the table... or at least give me a very unsteady gait.

[Father&Son]

Eagle Rare 10 y/o (first taste) and Knob Creek.

[Sweetmeats]

Michters 10 YO Rye.

Niiiiiiice.

[Old Lamplighter]

OGD 114.....a very good choice for a very cold night.

[JRomain]

Midnight Sun Monk's Mistress DarK Strong Ale from Midnight Sun Brewing Co. in Anchorage, AK.

11% abv, fermented with a Belgian yeast strain, then aged in bourbon barrels for seven months. Bottle conditioned and unfiltered, the way it ought to be.

A beautiful beer. I prefer this one to the one aged in cabernet casks, as this is richer/maltier, less oxidized and more polished.

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Who are you Jimmy Hendrix? Its a little hard to follow that act!!!:bowdown:

Didn't Jimmy open for The Monkeys? That must have been some tour!

Ed

[smokinjoe]

:bigeyes: :slappin:

*clink!* Happy Birthday! :toast: That would put me under the table... or at least give me a very unsteady gait.

Thank you to you Crispy, Tim, Timothy and Wskybnt for the Birthday wishes! Yeah, kinda felt like Jimi in a Purple Haze after that one. :blush: But, what the heck, I'll only turn 45 once! And, Tim was right, pretty tough to see the Spring label on the OFBB last night. Probably just H2O for me tonight....maybe.

Cheers, fellas. :toast:

JOE

[melting]

Ardbeg 10, feel like my face is in the grass.

Chris

[FlashPuppy]

Had a little ETL to start with. Will see what follows.

[RoyalWater]

Beam Green Label (Jim Beam's Choice). Curiosity got me and I bought a 750 this afternoon. Its 5 yr/80 proof whiskey; White Label aged an extra two years if I'm not mistaken. A pleasant pour: inviting color and nose, oak and honey on the palette, smooth finish. Green Label was priced the same as White Label at the retailer. How do they sell White Label?

[Frodo]

Now trying Rittenhouse BIB - another of Gary's samples. Noses fruity - dried fruits heavy on the raisens. At 100 proof I had to water it down a bit. I'd say spices hit me first, then dried fruit. I definatly get nutmeg. A very assertive dram, much more so than the Pikesville by comparison. Not better or worse, just more assertive. Finishes with Spicy and spices, and lasts for a bit. I can see why this one won awards, although I did like the Pikesville as well.

Many thanks to Gary for the samples. I can now say I like straight rye whisky.

Cheers!

[OscarV]

Rowan's Creek and Eagle Rare 101

I stated on another thread that I had several KBD brands close together and that there was a sameness to them that I got bored with.

It has been quite a while since then and I opened up my Rowan's Creek tonight and am very glad I did.

Nothing boring here, several flavors and aromas. Medium finish.

I followed the two RC's with a ER101.

ER101 is the favorite here. The sweetness stays after it rolls off your tounge, whereas the RC turns dry. Also nice taste depthness, and a longer finish.

It is currently 2 degrees here, but I have two winter warmers.

[IronHead]

Since my New Year's resolution was to drink more Bourbon neat or with just a splash I picked up a couple of the Riedel Overature Bourbon glasses tonight. so I am test driving one with Noah's Mill.

I am pretty green, but here are my thoughts: The nose immediately reminded me of caramel with a bit of orange and oak. I started nosing the glass the way I do with wine (sticking my schnozz down in the glass) but I found that after a few minutes all I could get was alcohol. Then I started holding the rim of the glass about a half inch below my nose and it seemed to open up much more. I get a medium-full body with a fairly dry finish. Now I just wish I could identify the different characteristics of different grains in the mashbill...

I had been drinking out of a Glencarin glass so I think I will follow this with another Noah's Mill in the Glencarin just to compare.