Neat Sippers

[Gillman]

I suppose all bourbon and rye should sip neat well, but it doesn't.

Some needs cocktail treatment; some is okay on the rocks; some needs blending.

Of the bourbons tried in recent months, I find the following particularly good for neat sipping:

- current KC

- Bulleit

- Old Forester 100 proof

- Old Weller 107 proof (formerly called Antique).

Which bourbon/straight rye do you like particularly for neat sampling?

Gary

[CrispyCritter]

Among recent bottles,

Weller 107 and Larue

Rittenhouse BIB

Any Sazerac rye

ETL

Eagle Rare, whether it's 10/90, 10/101, or 17/90

Stagg

VSOF

Of course, the BTAC Barrel Proof Trio requires slow sips...

[straightwhiskeyruffneck]

i like higher proof expresions, like OGD 100, booker's, stagg and weller 107. i pretty much drink all my whiskey straight, but i'll have the occasional manhatten when i'm out. usually with knob creek because everyone has it. but knob is also good straight or on the rocks

[TNbourbon]

I sip everything neat at least once or twice, Gary, to gauge it, but I'll also mix almost everything (I don't mix Pappy 20 or 23 -- though I DID Gillmanize:grin: small portions of the first two Pappy 23 issues a couple of times to good effect). In a case or two, ones I sip most often neat are because they don't mix well, I find.

All that said, among those most exclusively enjoyed straight from the bottle, are:

• Elmer T. Lee
  
• Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
  
• Four Roses Single Barrel
  

[full_proof]

The ones I enjoy neat / never mix are:

VWFRR

WTRB

Bookers

ER 101

OGD 114

The ones I may drink neat and may mix:

MM

WT 80

OF86

The one I've not enjoyed neat (three tries :eek: ) and always mix:

Fighting Cock

[Virus_Of_Life]

EVERYTHING

... Ok I'll say a little more than that, when don't I? Yeah I know I am typically long winded.

I don't like many drinks mixed and find very few that make the spirit, especially when talking about bourbon or rye, taste better. Given I have never had a manhattan nor an old fashioned or any other mixed drink with bourbon or rye. I think bourbon and coke is terrible, both the bourbon and the coke taste better alone IMHO, captain morgan is another story however. If I crave a mixed drink it is usually a margarita.

I will on occasion, especially to high proof pours, add a little water.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

I

Some needs cocktail treatment; some is okay on the rocks; some needs blending.

Gary

Not meaning to disjoint your interesting thread, Gary. I would be much more interested, though, in which bourbons people cannot stand neat.

I drink ´em all neat without problems but then again, I took to whiskey immediately at a relatively young age so maybe I am not representative.

I should also add, perhaps, that I´ve never had the pleasure (?) of trying stuff like Ten High or Colonel Lee.

[Ubertaster]

The higher proofs I usually drink with an ice cube and ponder the cube at the bottom of the glass until it melts. My favorite drinking neat is Sazarac Jr.

bj

[JeffRenner]

All that said, among those most exclusively enjoyed straight from the bottle, are...

I'm ashamed to admit that I occasionally do this too, but most of the time I use a glass. :slappin:

Jeff

[JeffRenner]

I have never had a manhattan nor an old fashioned or any other mixed drink with bourbon or rye.

Christian, you really owe it to yourself to try a manhattan. It is really an exquisite drink.

I don't care for most cocktails, preferring bourbon and rye straight (actually often with water or sometimes ice), but a well made manhattan is a big exception.

A while back I posted that I had made the best manhattan I could remember having. It may well have been that the planets were in an auspicious alighment, but maybe not. It was about one part Old Forester 100, one part Wild Turkey rye, one part Boissiere sweet vermouth, a couple-three dashes of Angostura bitters, well shaken (you need to dilute as well as chill when you're using 100/101 proof whiskey), and served up with a cherry in a well chilled crystal cocktail glass.

Hope you'll try one and report back.

Jeff

[ratcheer]

Which bourbon/straight rye do you like particularly for neat sampling?

Gary

Certainly my favorite three BT siblings, Rock Hill Farms, Blanton's, and Elmer T. Lee are perfect for straight sipping. Also my v. 2002 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. And WT Kentucky Spirit. I also enjoy Old Grand Dad 114-proof that way, very much.

Tim

[TBoner]

WT Rye

Old Charter 12 (perhaps my ideal neat-sipper)

Buffalo Trace

Knob Creek

Beam Black

[TNbourbon]

I'm ashamed to admit that I occasionally do this too, but most of the time I use a glass. :slappin:

Jeff

I don't understand -- all my bottles ARE made of glass?..:skep: :grin:

[T47]

I drink them all neat so far almost all the time. On a warm summer night, I might throw a couple ice cube's in as I sit on the deck. I do enjoy Gingerale and will probably try some mixed on day, just have not gotten around to it.

I tend to be a real hoover when I eat and drink...so when I drink Whiskey neat...it forces me to slow down and relax.

[nickynick]

Only sip neat:

OGD BIB

EWSB 95

EWSB 96

ERSB 10YO

I try everything neat at first, but some I like in a Manhattan. MM, and Old Charter 10YO are great neat sippers, but also make a great cocktail.

[Big Chipper]

Wait...you mean there are other ways to drink it than neat?:skep:

[pepcycle]

Part of this year's antique collection from BT is "The Handy".

IMHO this makes a perfect Sazerac Cocktail but does not make a good sippin' whiskey neat. It must be my delicate taste buds that are overpowered with the ryeness of this particular rendering.

Anyone else?

[EvanB]

I perfer to drink my bourbon neat, but have had a hard time with Weller 107 and Rare Breed. They kill my throat. Strange? Other 90 proof like Makers or Bulliet I am fine with. I have been putting a cube in Weller and RB, but I hate to because it waters down the rich flavor.

[ggilbertva]

I typically drink my bourbon neat or mix a lower shelf brand with DC. Of the ones I drink neat...

VW Lot B

Saz Jr.

VSOF 12 year

EWSB

PVW 15

[Gillman]

Whiskeys I don't like neat: Jim Beam White Label; the other Beams except some Booker's and Knob Creek; white label HH or AA (however, mixed properly with other whiskeys they make fine cocktails); anything over 107 proof (except Fall '05 Stagg); 1783 (cooked vegetable taste); WT 80 (too woody and dull); regular JD; some Dickel (where the "vitamins" is too strong).

Whiskey I like neat: VG (any proof); NDOT (if in good nick); current KC; ORVW 10 or 12 years old; current EC 12; some VOBs; and especially OF 100 and current Weller 107. Also, Buffalo Trace when not earthy/musty.

Gary

[ILLfarmboy]

Part of this year's antique collection from BT is "The Handy".

IMHO this makes a perfect Sazerac Cocktail but does not make a good sippin' whiskey neat. It must be my delicate taste buds that are overpowered with the ryeness of this particular rendering.

Anyone else?

I always drink this one neat. I have never tried a Sazerac Cocktail but I don't like anise candy so I don't think I would like a Sazerac.

I perfer to drink my bourbon neat, but have had a hard time with Weller 107 and Rare Breed. They kill my throat. Strange? Other 90 proof like Makers or Bulliet I am fine with. I have been putting a cube in Weller and RB, but I hate to because it waters down the rich flavor.

Two of my favorites are Weller Antique 107 and WT RB, both drunk neat or occasionally I make a Manhattan with Rare Breed. Weller Antique I find particularly easy going down. Sometimes a little too easy.:cool:

I drink most everything in my cabinet neat. Also my experience with "classic cocktails" is embarrassingly limited and to be honest I hate wasting good whiskey on failed experiments. If I buy a bottle of something I've never had before and it turns out I don't like It (neat) I usual give it away or reserve it for guests.

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Part of this year's antique collection from BT is "The Handy".

IMHO this makes a perfect Sazerac Cocktail but does not make a good sippin' whiskey neat. It must be my delicate taste buds that are overpowered with the ryeness of this particular rendering.

Anyone else?

I like the Handy neat, but usually cut it to around 100 proof or so, not to reduce the rye spice, but to bring it out. At barrel proof I just can't parse out the flavors as well. I like barrel proof for other whiskies just fine though. Maybe I need to experiment a bit more.

Ed

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Which bourbon/straight rye do you like particularly for neat sampling?

Gary

If I don't like something neat, I basically don't like it. I don't usually use whiskey I don't like in a cocktail. Nothing is off limits for mixing, at least not theoretically. I have said elsewhere that Booker's and Coke don't go together well for me. Pappy 20 and Coke was the best Bourbon and Coke I have ever had, though it is unlikely that I will repeat the experiment.

Back to the original question, "Which do you Particularly like for neat sipping?" That translates to "What are your favorite bourbons/ryes?" and that is an awfully long list.

Ed

[Gillman]

I can see that, Ed, if you don't make cocktails or drink with ice and water. I like some whiskey neat and some in cocktails. I find a whiskey that doesn't drink well neat will often do very well in a cocktail. Maybe the extra flavour, e.g., in a 1783, balances the flavourings in a cocktail better than a relatively bland, smooth whiskey. Also, I find some bourbons are better with ice, e.g., any Stagg (and a little water) (except maybe Fall '05), Rare Breed, WT 101, the big bruisers like that. Some can be consumed across the categories, e.g. WR. (But not all bottlings!). Depends how you view it. I don't exclude all overproof bourbons from neat sipping, the last Weller 107 I had was one of the best bourbons I've ever tasted in 30 years of trying.

Gary

[jspero]

I drink them all neat so far almost all the time. On a warm summer night, I might throw a couple ice cube's in as I sit on the deck. I do enjoy Gingerale and will probably try some mixed on day, just have not gotten around to it.

I tend to be a real hoover when I eat and drink...so when I drink Whiskey neat...it forces me to slow down and relax.

Ditto that. This exactly describes my eating and drinking habbits (although I have tried various bourbons and ryes mixed with gingerale ).

Jay