What are you drinking tonight? (Spring '07)

[Gillman]

Thanks, Frodo, the blend was all-whiskey (no sugars or other flavorings) but was composed to a good measure of sweetish, rich BMH 18 rye, which is what you were tasting mainly, and it was accented by other rich whiskeys even if not as old (OF 100, WR and FRSB were the premiums and the others were Rittenhouse, Pikesville and Dant). Good notes on the VOB 90, that one was from about 1990 but it is similar today.

Gary

[Gillman]

Speaking of vattings, here's a new one finished last night and very good: Weller 107 filled to top of label but let down to about 95 proof with Ethos spring water; then fill bottle to lower neck with EWSB '97; then top with JDSB.

Here is my thinking: the Weller is good but was a little thin due to the moderate age, perhaps the wheat recipe, perhaps the lowered proof. The EWSB '97 has a good body but is not overly assertive so it was a good combination, plus some rye was introduced. Also, Weller 107 is quite barrely (smoky) and EWSB '97 is not, so that balanced out the two a bit. The JDSB kind of wrapped or married everything, adding its richness and maple notes and the nutty quality it has at its best.

The result is a very flavorful 4 grain, not rye-heavy, with a good but not dominant smoky quality. The flavor is very uniform-tasting and no one would ever guess it is a vatting.

Gary

[pepcycle]

This afternoon and evening its Elmer T. Lee, Barrel of the Year.

Celebrating with family a few very special events.

1. I just returned from the OB/GYN with my daughter and watched the live sonogram of my first grandchild, who is now 15 weeks old. :cool: :cool:

2. Both my parents are celebrating 75th birthdays this week, so its cocktails and off to the West End Yacht Club in Freeport, NY for dinner with the entire Phalen clan. :cool: :cool:

3. I finally got a job offer and summarily turned it down!!! ( I may regret this in a few weeks, but today it feels great):bigeyes: :skep: :skep:

To Tommorrow!!!

[Bob O.]

This afternoon and evening its Elmer T. Lee, Barrel of the Year.

Celebrating with family a few very special events.

1. I just returned from the OB/GYN with my daughter and watched the live sonogram of my first grandchild, who is now 15 weeks old. :cool: :cool:

2. Both my parents are celebrating 75th birthdays this week, so its cocktails and off to the West End Yacht Club in Freeport, NY for dinner with the entire Phalen clan. :cool: :cool:

3. I finally got a job offer and summarily turned it down!!! ( I may regret this in a few weeks, but today it feels great):bigeyes: :skep: :skep:

To Tommorrow!!!

Congratulations! You indeed have very good reasons to celebrate!

[HighTower]

Last night it was some Canadian Club Classic, tonight there will be what I expect to be a rather large mixed bag.

Scott

[ggilbertva]

Pulled out my Lot B from the back shelf. Haven't hit this one in a while. :grin:

[Virus_Of_Life]

Mid 80s, faux tax trip, Old Forester BiB. This stuff is knock your socks off good! We make so much of the SW we find on dusty shelves that things like this go practically unoticed.

[mgilbertva]

Well said! I've become a huge fan of the older OFs, both BIB and 86 proof.

Just as SW products are noted for their toffee-nut character, and HH its mint/menthol taste profile, I consistently notice in the OF brews from the 70s and 80s, honey as a one of the defining flavor elements on my palate. What do you think, Christian?

I am definitely keeping an eye open for these bourbons in my dusty hunting trips.

[HighTower]

Cameron (camduncan) and his wife came over for dinner...here's how it went...

Started with a Mint Julep, made with Maker's mark.

Then things got interesting.

Rittenhouse 80

VWFRR 13

Canadian Club Classic w/Vanilla Coke

Canadian Club 20yo

Pappy 20

Rock Hill Farms

A vatting I made last year of about 8 different bourbons (let's just say it was a nice mixer)

Wild Turkey Honey Liquer

Good bourbon and good company!

Goodnight!

Scott

We also had some food, but you guys don't wanna know about that......

[camduncan]

What Scott said, followed by several glasses of water and some extra strength nurofen when I got home :skep:

[HighTower]

What Scott said, followed by several glasses of water and some extra strength nurofen when I got home :skep:

hahah

did I miss anything??

Thanks for bringing the Ryes, they were great!

I'm sure you will sleep well tonight!! - Did you sing on the way home??

Scott

[camduncan]

I refrained from singing.....but probably added several sayings to my book.... That pretty much covered everything we tasted - it was a fantastic night. A very huge thanks to Brenda and yourself for such great hospitality and company!!

[bigtoys]

Was having a Half & Half while my son warmed up for his baseball game and then a thunderstorm hit; got soaked running back to the car. We went back to a friend's house (also with a son on the team) and cracked open a fresh bottle of Eagle Rare 10 yr old. The night was salvaged.

[Frodo]

From Gary, a sample of Benronach 25yr OB.

Nose: Fresh fruit salad (apples/pears).

Taste: Nose follows through with a few oaky notes slipping through.

Aftertaste: A touch of hotness, then a bit of smoke comes in from the sides of the picture frame. Progressivly more dry and oaky at the end.

Impressions: A nice malt that has a bit of everything and very approachable. Some interesting interplay between the fruit salad middle and when the oaky/dry takes over to start the end.

[tango-papa]

Pulled out my Lot B from the back shelf. Haven't hit this one in a while. :grin:

Well... I'd hit it!:slappin: :slappin: :slappin: :slappin: :slappin:

[Gillman]

Amrut Whisky, an all barley malt whisky made by Amrut, India's oldest distiller, established in 1948.

The barley (per label) is grown on the foot of the Himalayas. The product is aged above Bangalore (in the south of India) 3000 feet above sea level. The website indicates the product is approximately 3 years old, but also states half the barrel has evaporated before bottling. In other words, the maturation in the very warm climate of the area is accelerated.

Before reading that the whisky was aged 3 years, I tasted it and found it extremely good. It is rich, sweetish, kind of like Balvenie or Glenlivet or a non-sherried Speysider of 10-12 years of age.

At the end of the palate is the faintest hint of something exotic, I can't place it yet.

This cost $50 (CAN) and is now available in Ontario. It is a fine whisky, I would challenge anyone, even many experts, in a blind tasting to state it is not a Scotch whisky. Sure, some people might say, why add another Scots-type whisky to the market, but first, just the trial is worthwhile (to show a Scots-type palate is not exclusive to Scotland, although the Japanese and Canada too (the Cape Breton whisky) have shown this already). But in time, perhaps this product will establish its own characteristics, e.g., it would be interesting to taste it at 5-7 years of age, possibly more "local" characteristics would come through.

But it is very good as it is. If Amrut turns its attention to a bourbon-style whiskey, Kentucky should watch out. These guys know exactly what they are doing and make a fine product.

Gary

[cowdery]

I've been drinking some Old Fitzgerald from a milk glass Monticello decanter (late 60s). It's taken some damage but I'm still enjoying it. Such complexity.

[mred]

Fightin Cock

[wadewood]

81 degrees and sunshine at 7PM here in Seattle. Picked some fresh mint, made some simple syrup, squeezed some limes and mixed a mojito.

[ILLfarmboy]

The wife and I split a bottle of frei Brothers reserve 2003 Cab. at supper.

I'm on my third (smalish) pour of '06 WLW. I'm feeling mischievous.

[TBoner]

A large pour of homebrewed strong English bitter with a plate of ancho seasoned bison sausages. Delicious.

[mgilbertva]

Old Charter 7yo from around 1980. Yummy.

[mred]

fightin cock once more, but now its all gone.. lasted 2 days:drink:

[Frodo]

Tried another of Gary's samples tonight - EWSB (not sure of the vintage, 94?)

Nose: Refined/restrained oak. A bit of sweetness, but balanced with oak.

Taste: Lighter than most bourbons I've tried. A few tannins balance the delicate sweetness. The pour wants to be both (dry and sweet) at the same time, but the interplay does not reach fireworks proportions.

Aftertaste: I get cloves at the end. Medium length finish. Drier at the end.

Impressions: Elegent whiskey! Very approachable. Not delicate but elegent! A more introspective pour.

[Gillman]

That was the '97 (the one distilled at Jim Beam under supervision of Heaven Hill).

Gary