What are you drinking tonight? (Fall '07)

[ph0rk]

Of all things, JB black. Been trying to thin out the bunker - next on deck will be either Jefferson's reserve or Old Granddad 114.

2-3 more bottles to go before I let myself start buying more again

Whoa, I don't think I've posted in a couple years. Funny how life does that.

[polyamnesia]

i gotta head to that thread on comparing WT Rare Breed and the RR 101...because i have both now...

and began with a small pour of the RR 101...

and then the RB......

i gotta admit, either there is a complexity here and/or my tongue isn't eloquent enough...but i am STILL favoring the RR 101......

the RB isn't a much higher proof...but i am still scratching my head (and enjoying the challenge) over the RBreed.

i am NOT catching that trademark spicy burn of WT with the RB....even though it's a hair above 108 proof.

my last sip of the RR 101 surprised me with a butteriness i didn't catch before. but it is still, to me, a barely refined version of the WT 101 regular.

i still think that is the finest all-around pour. for the price. for the experience.

[Gillman]

A cocktail (seeing the etymology discussion) in progress:

I started with EC 12 and bitters, tasted, added as much Pappy 15, tasted, then a half teaspoon brown sugar, tasted, so now it's an Old-Fashioned, and we're getting there. Still, the flavors needed melding, a dash of good vodka fixed that - I tasted needless to say - now it's rockin'. Still, a final flourish seemed appropriate: a few drops of Portuguese absinthe. Now we've got it - a Sazerac for the ages.

Just to make sure this really is good, I poured most of it in a disused Forester 86 mini bottle - will report anon whether my assessment, made finally under somewhat euphoric conditions, was valid.

Gary

[barturtle]

Decided to follow Gary's theme and have a cocktail myself. I decided on a Sazerac, made with Willett #1 and a cocktail of bitters (Fees Orange, Regans and Peychauds) splash of Herbsaint. Got to be one of the best Saz I've ever had, usually there is a bit too much of the anise no matter how little I use, this one had enough other stuff going on that the anise was subdued, but still present.

[CrispyCritter]

WT101 neat for now, and I might make a cocktail of one sort or another as a nightcap. There's still a bit left in my bottle of Old Fitz 1849, and I'm thinking of using it with some dry vermouth and St.-Germain - sort of like my "Coeur de France" except for using bourbon instead of Armagnac.

Just as I finished writing, I finished the WT101 pour... time to head for the liquor cabinet.

EDIT: Here's how I made it:

• 2 oz. Old Fitz 1849
  
• 3/4 oz. St.-Germain
  
• 1/2 oz. Noilly Prat dry vermouth
  
• 3 generous dashes Peychaud's
  
• 1 generous dash Pontarlier-Anis pastis

This worked beautifully - better than other times when I tried straight rye or rye-based bourbons using this general plan.

Once my pastis-filled bitters bottle is empty, I'll have to refill it with Lucid absinthe.

[Whiskey Willie]

WT Rye and The Hockey News...a fine evening.

[snakster]

Last night was Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit and the move Rounders.

[HighTower]

Last night was Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit and the move Rounders.

Rounders is one of my favorite movies!

[polyamnesia]

Last night was Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit and the move Rounders.

LOVE that A. Bierce quote...i have that collection of the Devil's Dictionary! great, misanthropic wisdom!

anyways, am enjoying the lighter side of bourbon tonight with Eagle Rare SB 10 year...i sometimes catch a great nose on this.

very impressive as the bottle slowly dwindles...

i will soon take another stab at the WT Rare Breed. this one still confounds me. i've had three widely divergent experiences with it...all great, but...how is the WT KS? compared to other WT top-top shelf pours?

[snakster]

i will soon take another stab at the WT Rare Breed. this one still confounds me. i've had three widely divergent experiences with it...all great, but...how is the WT KS? compared to other WT top-top shelf pours?

Although I have not had the two together, and I am certainly no expert (I feel the need to accentuate that often), I believe I prefer the Rare Breed over the Kentucky Spirit. I just recall noticably enjoying the RB more when I've had it. That it is less expensive is a bonus. This is not to say I don't like the KS, I do. I have developed an appreciation for all WT whiskies (though admitedy, I have not tried the RR). As an aside, the WT Rye may be my favorite of the bunch; but it's a close call.

[Everman75]

Started with Very Old Barton 100. Then went to Old Fitzgerald 1849 (much smoother to my tastes), then went to Wild Turkey Rye (Mmmmmmm...good.)

[snakster]

Tonight I started with a glass of the Beaujolais Nouveau. Then a handful of cheddar goldfish to cleanse the palate . Then I treated myself to a pour of Hirsch 16 (gold foil). I have not had the purported good fortune of ever trying the blue or gold wax version, but I still contend that this is as good as it gets. I absolutely love the stuff. (disclaimer: my samplings are not as broad as a lot of people, so factor that into the equation).

I still have about 2/3 of this bottle left. But I am buoyed by the knowledge that I have two full bottles bunkered behind it.

edit: I'm now following it up with the last pour of my Kentucky Spirit. It's no Hirsch.

[SBOmarc]

RR 90, and all the while wishing it were the original RR at the higher proof.

[fairbrook]

rogue chipotle ale, a small pour of glenlivet nadurra and i am watching "play it again sam"...

[FlashPuppy]

I am so happy tonight. I went out to a bar with a couple buddies. I ordered a "wild turkey, neat". They served it to me in a snifter!!!! Yay! First time I have never had to specifically request one.

[polyamnesia]

I am so happy tonight. I went out to a bar with a couple buddies. I ordered a "wild turkey, neat". They served it to me in a snifter!!!! Yay! First time I have never had to specifically request one.

very cool! maybe they are reading the literature...that bourbon drinkers are inadvertently finicky...

i've been using my so-called red wine "stemless" glasses for pours. nice fat squatty globule-shaped vessels.

tonight, further tackling and taking notes on this confounded rare breed. it isn't easy. yes, it's smooth for barrel proof. but my tastebuds and reference points are all crosswired.

tonight, it's walnuts and real old leather (but still oiled..?!)...:crazy:

...and lovingly, rotting oak leaves...

[TBoner]

Nice call on the leather. My favorite element of Turkey, and even more present in the older bottlings (particularly RR101 and 12yo).

Last night, I drank nothing. Today, though, I'll be opening a 200mL of JBB 101-month bottled in 1986. Very good, with probably the best nose of any whiskey I've ever had. Getting excited about cocktail hour. I love days off.

[Old Lamplighter]

In keeping with my 27-year tradition of reserving 'Thanksgiving Eve' for all things WT.....I'll be enjoying 12yo, RB and some 8yo from a somewhat aged bottle of the grand old bird.....all a bit later in the evening after I do some pie baking with my daughter.

[bigtoys]

Having a few friends over later to watch the Duke v Marquette final game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. We have a local kid on the Duke team.

Focusing on WT, since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, but it's also important to try the new Stagg and compare it to the old one (one-third full 2006 bottle, but don't worry, I have 2 more 2006's bunkered). If the "after" picture is impressive, I'll post it later or tomorrow, but I don't know how thirsty everyone will be.

[fairbrook]

that is a damned handsome picture!

tonight i had an oaked arrogant bastard on tap, a dram of ardbeg 10 and a pour of corner creek......

[scratchline]

Quick. Add a 2/12/01 Barrel 1, Warehouse G bottle of Kentucky Spirit to that Turkey lineup. This is my first sip of KS (kind of amazing considering the amount of Turkey I've put away in my lifetime) and it is TERRIFIC. Supposedly Jimmy Russell himself favors the Warehouse G bottles and as you might expect, Jimmy knows his bourbon. This will see me through Thanksgiving and into the weekend. It's pretty refined for WT but loaded with flavor nevertheless. It's been a while since I had any Rare Breed, but if memory serves, I prefer this particular bottle of Spirit.

-Mike

[ACDetroit]

Well since it's almost Thanksgiving and I went hunting this afternoon. I found a few WT 101 8 yr. olds from 1995.

This stuff is great sweet and tangy with some pepper and leather on the end. Really great pour for Turkey day.

Tony

[polyamnesia]

...I found a few WT 101 8 yr. olds from 1995...

tony, how do you know (from the label) what year it is? is it simply on the label? is the label different?

since inventory seems to be so controlled here in PA (a good thing, too), i can't imagine "dusties" like that being found here.

have seen really "dusty" bottles in DE !

[ACDetroit]

These do say 8yr old on the lable and box but WT from th 80's and 90's that I have found have had an ink like digital code-date on the side/bottom or neck. check it out and let me know.

My last pour of the eight year was big and I fell asleep. When I woke up I put it in the fridge and just pulled it out. I can fell the spice upen up as it warm going down, you don't get the spice in you mouth dew to being chilled. I may never put this in the fridge again.

Tony

[Solomon2]

Pinot Grigio tonight, it goes really well with turkey!