Dad Likes EWSB

[cowdery]

I keep my dad's house supplied with bourbon. That usually just amounts to one or two bottles, a larger inventory would not be welcome.

It's as much for me as it is for him. Probably more for me, in terms of what that bottle is, because he'll drink anything. That's not quite true. My parents always bought the cheapest bourbon they could find. It had to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, but beyond that anything would do. For centuries the house brand was Mattingly & Moore.

He doesn't drink often, but usually will have one when I do.

When I asked him a few years ago what he would like to try, he mentioned drinking Old Fitzgerald in his college days (equal halves on either side of WWII) and also straight rye. I got him some Fitz BIB. Since he likes everything fine, I was looking for something he would spark to.

It wasn't Old Fitz.

So I started in on the ryes. He remembered rye whiskey tasting like rye bread. I tried the usual suspects but there wasn't any spark. When we got to Van Winkle Rye, he sparked. He said it didn't taste like rye bread, but it sure was good. He became a big Van Winkle Rye fan. He enjoyed telling his friends he was going home to "spend some time with Mr. Van Winkle."

I can't imagine what they thought he meant, though I'm sure he explained it to them. Dad is very generous about explaining things.

At one point, with Van Winkles thin on the ground, I tried a few other things: Weller Special Reserve, Weller 12-year-old, Old Grand-Dad BIB, Rittenhouse Rye, and I don't remember what else. No sparks.

I finally got a spark with Evan Williams Single Barrel, probably 1994 originally, but what he has now is 1997, I think. Actually, make that past tense. My sister told me the cupboard is bare, so I'm taking him a 1997 next week.

The interesting thing to me is that he wasn't really looking for nor particularly did he want to try a couple of things to see if he liked one more than another, but when over time I happened to hit on something he particularly favored, he let me know.

It makes me happy to make him happy, but I can't always get there directly. We'll see how long EWSB does the trick.

[NickAtMartinis]

Fine story, Chuck. And, hey, you've got to give back to the parents after all those years of giving to you, right? That's the way it works.

As for my Dad, Scoth is just fine for him. Any at all. He usually will buy J&B, if it's up to him.

As a side note, I was at my Brother-In-Laws today and he cracked open a bottle of Canadian Club. The tax stamp said 1968!!!! He told me he won it in a raffle at a stag. One of the old guys there must have had it sitting on his shelf for years, unopened, before donating it as a raffle prize.

[ACDetroit]

Chuck that is a great story and I found a couple 1994 EWSB today, now I know you could find some if you wanted too but if you need one or two let me know.

I to enjoy making my dad happy. He told me the other day he was drinking my Weller 12 while I'm not there. He laughed and told me that's good stuff!

He even tried pulling a Gillman, with his cold he started mixing tea, Weller, honey etc in a cup. Tastes good but did not help a but he said .

Tony

[bluesbassdad]

Chuck,

For reasons I can't quite pin down I really enjoyed your post.

Perhaps I miss my dad, who died in 1974, more than I realize.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield