What are you drinking tonight, Summer '08

[OscarV]

Four Roses Yellow Label over cracked ice.

[Gillman]

Wild Turkey rye with a dash of ORVW 13 year old rye and two kinds of bitters. Plus ice, plus water.

Gary

[tsangster]

Old Weller Antique. $4 more but worth every penny and still a bargain.

[cigarnv]

A short splash of RR Rye before dinner....

[JamesW]

Pappy 15 to start. Maybe 20 later?

[PhilsFan]

Over vacation I got to meet with some of the VA members of sb.com at cigarnv's place...we had a great time with delicious food, cigars (of course) bourbon and wonderful company including cigarnv's friend Dave and the brothers, mgilbertva and ggilbertva.

Not only did Mark & Greg bring SW Old Fitz (1982) for me to try, but these generous guys gave me the bottle... Thanks again, guys, and here's to the VA contingent with a raised glass of this classic bourbon!

-Joe

[mgilbertva]

Cheers! We truly enjoyed meeting you, Joe, and I'm glad you enjoy the OFitz.

Tonight I knocked down some EWSB from '95 - probably my favorite vintage so far.

[fishnbowljoe]

ER 10/90 Smooth sailing. Joe

[cigarnv]

Over vacation I got to meet with some of the VA members of sb.com at cigarnv's place...we had a great time with delicious food, cigars (of course) bourbon and wonderful company including cigarnv's friend Dave and the brothers, mgilbertva and ggilbertva.

Not only did Mark & Greg bring SW Old Fitz (1982) for me to try, but these generous guys gave me the bottle... Thanks again, guys, and here's to the VA contingent with a raised glass of this classic bourbon!

-Joe

Joe, the pleasure was all ours. The door is always open should you find yourself in our part of the world in the future.

[OscarV]

Wild Turkey Rare Breed, neat.

[chilidawg7]

just got down mowing the lawn here in Florida. had to do it in the heat of the day between the damp morning and pending afternoon thunderstorms.

a nice 93 degree day with 60% humidity requires some Pappy 15 over ice. I think I've earned it.

[fishnbowljoe]

I hear ya Chris. I work in a huge warehouse that isn't air conditioned. It got up to about 90 degrees here today, so I'm having a nice pour of FRSB with a splash of Sierra Mist. It's surprising how a little mixer brings out the flavors in some bourbons.:yum: Joe

[Gillman]

Thomas Tew Rum, double distilled at Newport, RI in a microdistillery and aged to a nice amber but NAS. It is drawn from "barrel No. 4" thus presumably single barrel. 42% ABV. They use the European conjoined still and I understand the first boil rises through the column to get a polishing and rise in proof. Whatever the final proof (distilling out), there are tons of authentic flavor in this spirit.

The nose is amazing: notes of molasses, cream, raspberries and lemon rind with a faint smokiness.

The color is medium amber, not as dark as the one I had at Trinity Brewhouse in Providence, and that one was from another barrel (can't recall which now, maybe no. 3).

The taste is elegant, rich yet light, with a molasses top-note but the other flavors mentioned underpin and inform. A slight bourbon character is evident, which is probably from use of ex-bourbon barrels.

The mouthfeel is soft as a gentle rain, I couldn't improve on it.

This is a lovely drink that is hand made and is a welcome revival of the old New England rum tradition. Medford would be proud.

Gary

[Gillman]

Thought it might be interesting to compare and contrast. I have now a El Dorado 5 years old, so probably similar in age or overall character to the Thomas Tew.

The nose is nice, it has light spice, refined molasses, some wood and maybe bourbon barrel smoke.

The nose of the Tew is more complex, more flamboyant. Your with-it, together city aunt vs. her staid but attractive sister in the 'burbs.

In taste, the El Dorado simply has less of it than the Tew. The taste is still good but it is more restrained again, subtle, but still appealing.

In finish, I find both rums quite similar, notes of wood emerge in both.

Both have an excellent mouth feel.

I like them both but the Tew stands out IMO.

Gary

[ACDetroit]

Went to Stoney Creek Mt. Biking tonight. Great time with some buddies from work. Got home put the girls to bed and now a nice pour of some Weller Centennial (Julio's), this one only has one more glass in it.

I may take Oscar's thought on this, once the wheaters are empty I may wait till fall to jumo back into them.

I may close the evening with a little Rittenhouse Rye 21 yr old.

Cheers all!

Tony

[OldJack]

Tonight it is WTRye and Club Soda on the rocks w/ a heavy dash of Fee's Orange bitters.

[callmeox]

After consecutive days of 11, 12 and 14 hours at work, I'm enjoying a bit of OGD BIB before heading to bed. I guess that these hours are easier to handle now that I'm on a 4x10 schedule, but it's still an ass kicker.

[CorvallisCracker]

Upon getting home, EW BL with Coke and ice.

With dinner (spaghetti with Italian sausage) 2006 Veramonte Merlot.

After dinner, the 2008 release of McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt. Bottled July 15, 2008 (yes, that was yesterday), distributed today (not exactly sure how they managed to bypass the OLCC warehouse). Within days all will probably be gone from store shelves.

Batch #: W08-02

42.5% ABV (stronger than previous releases)

$49.95

These may well be the first published tasting notes:

Color: Very pale, Chardonnay yellow (it is, after all, only 3 years old).

Nose: Intense but sweet peat. A bit of spicy grain that seems almost more like rye than barley malt.

Taste: Peat, of course, but sweet and smooth, with smoke and soft oak. Just a little burn.

Finish: Very long; sweet transitioning to dry; flavors persist for several minutes.

Overall: A beautifully crafted whiskey, surprisingly smooth considering its youth. It's peaty, but I still like it, and that's saying a lot.

[HighTower]

Maker's Mark with Lemonade

Scott

[cigarnv]

A bit of Old Fitz 1849.... not a bad bourbon but probably one I would not go out of my way to find. For 90PF I found it a bit hot on the finish without the depth of flavor or complexity you find in other wheaters in the same price range....

[JamesW]

Started with Julio's Weller last night, moved onto VSOF, and then finished with ORVW 10/107.

[hjminard]

As a new enthusiast, I've been slowly branching out from my original regulars (MM, WT 101) to my new favorites (mostly HH products incl. EC12&18; EWSB). There are very limited options in my immediate area, but yesterday I picked up a bottle of Basil Hayden's. Tried it last night and wasn't particularly impressed. Not bad, mind you (not going to dump it down the drain ), but just lacking depth. Anyway ... that's what I had last night.

[OscarV]

Bulleit over cracked ice.

This bourbon has some heart, it has a musty damp woodiness that is enjoyable. I would recommend this to a scotch drinker.

I know it is made by Four Roses and I think it is better than Four Roses Small Batch, by far.

[OscarV]

After a couple of the above, see above post, I am now having an Evan Williams Single Barrel 1998, neat.

After my 2 Bulleits I have now cooled down from the 92 dgree and high humidity day and can now relax and enjoy a tasty one.

[smokinjoe]

A couple of beers before poker night. Sweetwater Brewery IPA and Spaten Optimator. Gonna take a nice pour of 4RSB 120 with me to the game.

Wish me luck!! Gonna need it, 'cause I play like a dog, and the others are pretty good...Come on! Gimme some cards!!!!! :searching:

JOE