What are you drinking tonight? (Spring '07)

[stoopsie]

Mark; What is funny is that I usually gravitate toward the higher proof whiskeys, but in the DC Metro tastings I rated the two 86 proof OF higher that any else. The current one highest and the '83 version 2nd.

In the warmer weather or after strenuous activity (read cutting the grass) (or in French mowing de lawn) I usually reach for a glass of ginger ale topped with Old Fitz BiB.

Howie

[ggilbertva]

Howie,

For me on that same type of day.....Ginger and Rittenhouse BIB. Yum. :yum:

[mgilbertva]

Howie, that's an example of one of the great mysteries surrounding the love of bourbon, IMO. I usually lean towards the high proof/old bourbons, but right now I find the opposite is hitting just right: OF 86pf, Pikesville Rye(!) and Dickel #12.

I don't understand how one day you can drink a whiskey, and it's one of the most amazing things you've ever consumed. Maybe the next night too. Then, perhaps the following day, it's fine, but no longer transport-to-alternate-reality-good. So you try something else, and maybe that's it, maybe not. Until you find what hits you right that day. Something that was only good, but not great the last time you tried it.

This is one of the main reasons why we keep a large selection of bourbons on hand, of course. And one of life's best mysteries, I think.

The German sociologist Max Weber complained about the "disenchantment" of modern life. His problem was he didn't drink bourbon.

*finishes glass of 1983 OF 86pf*

Glorious...

[bigtoys]

Knob Creek w/ a grilled skirt steak and grilled corn on the cob.

Mmmmmmmmmm!

[ggilbertva]

Ok Howie...I'm not drinking Old Fitz. Tonight I changed it up just for you...WLW with a small spash of water.

[heatmiser]

Went to the Padres game tonight and brought my own Old Forester BIB from the 80's. Much better than the $10 Coors Lights they were offering...

[Ambernecter]

I have Sister Rosetta Tharpe blaring out while I enjoy a WT 8YO.

This is a chaser to a lovely pour of BT - that bottle REALLY had it all going on!

[TBoner]

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine 2007 to celebrate today being the last day of school. I've set back the rest of the one sixer I procured this year (too much money going to whiskey these days) for future tastings. I've now got a good stockpile going back to 2003, so a vertical tasting may be in order in the near future.

This year's is quite good: copper bordering on crimson color, depending on the lighting. Thick, off-white head, though it's not very persistent (not surprising, given the ABV). Unbelievably rich aroma: demerara, grapefruit, spruce, and chocolate all abound. Nutty notes around the edges. The flavor is of course very bitter, with less sweetness than I remember in last year's edition. Loads of citrus flavor, but there's toffee and a brown sugar/toasted marshmallow note, too. Out of balance, as a young barleywine should be. Long, piney finish with almond and citrus rounding it out. As it warms, the sweetness becomes much greater, and there's a rumlike character on the mid-palate. This is very good already, but I think in a couple of years, it's going to be mindblowing.

I'll move on to bourbon eventually. Probably Knob Creek.

[OscarV]

Still have some Four Roses Single Barrel left.

Slow neat sippin',.... and already dreaming of the 3 day weekend.

[nor02lei]

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine 2007 to celebrate today being the last day of school. I've set back the rest of the one sixer I procured this year (too much money going to whiskey these days) for future tastings. I've now got a good stockpile going back to 2003, so a vertical tasting may be in order in the near future.

This year's is quite good: copper bordering on crimson color, depending on the lighting. Thick, off-white head, though it's not very persistent (not surprising, given the ABV). Unbelievably rich aroma: demerara, grapefruit, spruce, and chocolate all abound. Nutty notes around the edges. The flavor is of course very bitter, with less sweetness than I remember in last year's edition. Loads of citrus flavor, but there's toffee and a brown sugar/toasted marshmallow note, too. Out of balance, as a young barleywine should be. Long, piney finish with almond and citrus rounding it out. As it warms, the sweetness becomes much greater, and there's a rumlike character on the mid-palate. This is very good already, but I think in a couple of years, it's going to be mindblowing.

I'll move on to bourbon eventually. Probably Knob Creek.

Thank you very much! This beer will be released 1/6 in our government store here in Sweden. As usual when it comes to American quality beer it is high price and small amounts so a qualified opinion like yours is very welcome.

Leif

[jwrussell]

Slow neat sippin' some Baker's with a nice stogie to start with.

[HighTower]

Last night I indulged with a few Lynchburg Lemonades, made with 86 proof Jack:yum: I now realize why I was pissed when the proof reduction happened:hot: It seems to have lost some depth.

Scott

[SBOmarc]

WTKS, I was in the mood for a WT product, picked this over rare breed.

[ggilbertva]

A little George Dickel #12. Little bit of charcol on the nose, some alcohol burn on the back of the palate, medium finish. This is my first try of GD.......

oops....I just spilled George on my keyboard....crap.

[CrispyCritter]

Last night, I began with a Red Hook using Michter's US1 Rye, then moved on to a pour of FR Single Barrel, and capped it off with a VWFRR. Glorious.

Tonight? I don't know yet... it's way too early to decide.

[BourbonJoe]

Tonight was a small pour of Split Label WT 12 y/o and a Gurkha cigar. Sublime.

Joe :usflag:

[ThomasH]

Last night it was Bulliet, WT liquer and some Early Times mint Julep. Tonight it is Old Protero rye(125 proof) and Saz jr. rye!

Thomas

[Gillman]

Jack Daniels Single Barrel, dumped in January of this year. Next to it on the shelf was a bottle filled a few weeks earlier, in December '06. The colour of the '07 whiskey was slightly darker but the December '06 seemed nice too, kind of calm-looking. Peering at the bottles at odd angles and showing no doubt discomfiture over the decision I had to make, I am sure people in the store thought I was a little nuts (and maybe I am). Anyway as I say I went with the '07. It was a good choice, the liquor is full-tasting and only half tastes of typical Jack to me, the other half tastes like a good rich bourbon. But it is not a perfect dram, the balance seems a bit off and the finish a little short. Drat, maybe I should have bought the '06! Maybe it was colder when the '06 was dumped and more goodness and richness got into that whiskey than the '07 (precisely my calculation in buying the darker '07, but you can't always tell a book by its cover, right?). Only one answer, I've got to get the '06 tomorrow and maybe it will be the best JDSB I ever had, and maybe not. If not, there's a vatting on the horizon sure as shootin' (is that a mixed metaphor, gol darn that Jack!).

Gary

[ggilbertva]

Tonight was a small pour of Split Label WT 12 y/o and a Gurkha cigar. Sublime.

Joe :usflag:

Gurkha's are awsome....I love the Louis infusion.

[HighTower]

Tonight it's Makers Mark. At this rate I will have none left to put into a barrel . Also had a couple of Canadian Clubs mixed with Vanilla coke. If you like vanilla coke, try this, it is especially good with CC 12yo.

Scott

[NorCalBoozer]

I was happily surprised to find I had an opened ORVW 10/107 left over from my brother's wedding. caramel oak and a smooth cherry finish.

I have to give much credit to the Van Winkle's.They've really done one hell of a job with keeping up the quailty and taste profile of the line w/o any more SW bourbon. Well done.

Hightower, good luck with the barrel, I think MM is a great bourbon to rebarrel and I look forward to reading your result.

[heatmiser]

Tonight was a mix of many things. I had some friends over for dinner and wine. After dinner (and finishing off a few bottles of wine), we broke into my open bottle of Glemmorangie scotch. After my buddies viewed some of my recent findings of older bourbon, we moved into the vintage bourbon realm. We had a few drams of Old Overholt from 1980's (this is really good stuff - very crisp and clean!). Next up was Cream of Kentucky from the 1970's. We finished with night with Old Taylor BIB from the 1980's. This is a really interesting bourbon. It is unlike anything I have tasted before. I have a novice palate but it has a sweetness I have not tasted in any recent bourbons. Not all of my friends over tonight are bourbon drinkers (mainly scotch and vino) but everyone really liked what was served.

My dad is coming over tomorrow and is really excited to try the Old Grand Dad BIB from the 1970's. This is what he used to drink when I was just a toddler. Now both of us can enjoy it together!

[barturtle]

This evening a Manhattan made 70/30 ERSB/OGDBIB with a 5:1 mix of some Portuguese sweet vermouth-like stuff(too lazy to go look up the name) with a dash of Underbergs bitters.

The Underbergs is not my first choice for bitters, but it seems I left all my others in Louisiana. It adds a bit more of something I don't really care for, but is kind of a nice change from drinking the same old, same old everytime I make a Manhattan(I'm usually a splash of Ang, 2-3 of Orange bitters and 50/50 of sweet/dry vermouth)

[Hyperspace]

I'm drinking KC100.

[HighTower]

I just made a Mint Julep with Maker's Mark. You know what they say....practice makes perfect! I'm getting there...

Scott