Bourbon...

[2saddleslab]

Was it a lottery or would you actually have won them? Calumet 16 has beat Pappy 15 in a couple of blinds I've watched. If you have not picked up a bottle, give it a try. Dark chocolate, cherry, oak, vanilla and more, and a great mouth feel all for $140.00.

It was a lottery for a benefit w/ a one in 150 chance, so my hopes were optimistic.

All bourbons are good, some just a little better than others. But Pappy 15yo has been my high water mark. My wife surprised me w/ Pappy 3 years in a row and they were certainly enjoyable.

There are an amazing variety of great bourbons at every price level and I enjoy many of them.

 

[Hot Rats]

Off track a little but if anyone wants to give Irish Whisky a try, give Redbreast a go. The 12 cask strength is a banana nut muffin extravaganza.

 

[Hot Rats]

It was a lottery for a benefit w/ a one in 150 chance, so my hopes were optimistic.

All bourbons are good, some just a little better than others. But Pappy 15yo has been my high water mark. My wife surprised me w/ Pappy 3 years in a row and they were certainly enjoyable.
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There are an amazing variety of great bourbons at every price level and I enjoy many of them.
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My friend and I are going to the local whiskey bar soon to blow a sizable sum on tasters and the Pappy 15 will be one of them. Yes, all bourbons are good. Since I've been really diving into it the last couple of years it occurred to me to go back and taste Old No.7 with an open nose. I was surprised as it had a nice banana/fruit smell, and I didn't gag on it. The memories of high school/puking are no longer an issue with No. 7.
Have you tried the JD 12 or Coy Hill releases? I'm really loving the things Jack Daniels has been doing. Their single barrel barrel select is delicious.

 

[2saddleslab]

My friend and I are going to the local whiskey bar soon to blow a sizable sum on tasters and the Pappy 15 will be one of them. Yes, all bourbons are good. Since I've been really diving into it the last couple of years it occurred to me to go back and taste Old No.7 with an open nose. I was surprised as it had a nice banana/fruit smell, and I didn't gag on it. The memories of high school/puking are no longer an issue with No. 7.
Have you tried the JD 12 or Coy Hill releases? I'm really loving the things Jack Daniels has been doing. Their single barrel barrel select is delicious.

As a self respecting Kentucky Colonel I don't spend too much time with whiskey.

Just kidding, I do enjoy a Jack Daniels on occasion but half to plead guilty of not knowing much about their releases.

 

[Hot Rats]

As a self respecting Kentucky Colonel I don't spend too much time with whiskey.

Just kidding, I do enjoy a Jack Daniels on occasion but half to plead guilty of not knowing much about their releases.

I understand. I've only recently started exploring their offerings myself.

Also, I just realized I went off on "tennessee whiskey" in the bourbon thread. (although, they do qualify as a bourbon) but I don't want to ruffle any feathers....

 

[BklynKen]

It's amazing how often I have to point out to people that Jack Daniel's is not bourbon.

 

[Hot Rats]

Goodnight gentlemen.

 

[Hot Rats]

It's amazing how often I have to point out to people that Jack Daniel's is not bourbon.

Chris Fletcher, the master distiller at Jack Daniels, would disagree and has called JD a bourbon that they chose to label and market as Tennessee Whiskey, capitalizing on the Lincoln County Process as the distinction. Nothing in JD's process disqualifies it as a bourbon. Which is fine, they can identify as anything they want.

 

[Chuck King]

Many fine bourbons out there that beat out Pappy over and over again. By now it's just a bunch of hype created by folks with more money than sense.

The Van Winkle legend was created back when the bottles still contained Stitzel-Weller bourbon. S-W closed in 1992 so even the 23-year-old has been from elsewhere for going on a decade now. But the buzz around Pappy got so strong that what was inside the bottle hardly matters. I'm not surprised that it gets beaten in tastings by less trendy bourbons---I'm sure it's fine whiskey but S-W really was, IMO, something special. I kind of hate saying that because it's almost a bad joke that the best whiskey is the stuff you can't get anymore, but I came to that conclusion based on a blind tasting in which a S-W Van Winkle 12yo was clearly a head and shoulders above everything else even when I had no idea what it was.

 

[MJ5150]

Chris Fletcher, the master distiller at Jack Daniels, would disagree and has called JD a bourbon that they chose to label and market as Tennessee Whiskey, capitalizing on the Lincoln County Process as the distinction. Nothing in JD's process disqualifies it as a bourbon. Which is fine, they can identify as anything they want.

Some time back @Pilgrim turned me on to the green label Jim Beam, which is a charcoal filtered bourbon, similar to the Lincoln County Process. You can grab it for less than $20 a bottle, at least you could at one point. I think I was paying about $15. It's quite good for what it is.

-Mike

 

[BklynKen]

Chris Fletcher, the master distiller at Jack Daniels, would disagree and has called JD a bourbon that they chose to label and market as Tennessee Whiskey, capitalizing on the Lincoln County Process as the distinction. Nothing in JD's process disqualifies it as a bourbon. Which is fine, they can identify as anything they want.

I stand corrected!

Is Jack Daniel's Bourbon? Yes, Find Out Why | The Whiskey Shelf

 

[Hot Rats]

The Van Winkle legend was created back when the bottles still contained Stitzel-Weller bourbon. S-W closed in 1992 so even the 23-year-old has been from elsewhere for going on a decade now. But the buzz around Pappy got so strong that what was inside the bottle hardly matters. I'm not surprised that it gets beaten in tastings by less trendy bourbons---I'm sure it's fine whiskey but S-W really was, IMO, something special. I kind of hate saying that because it's almost a bad joke that the best whiskey is the stuff you can't get anymore, but I came to that conclusion based on a blind tasting in which a S-W Van Winkle 12yo was clearly a head and shoulders above everything else even when I had no idea what it was.

I just watched a blind taste of 5 old S-W bottles a guy found and they beat the current offerings of those same named bourbon 5 to 0, so there is something to the old bottles being better I think. His point being, the special releases of today were just your everyday offerings years ago.

 

[SJLee]

I'm not a big bourbon drinker (read expensive) and my brother-in-law is coming to visit this weekend. He has expensive taste and is into Wellers, Blanton and Pappy. He's is bringing a $100 bottle of small batch Four Roses.

I could use some recommendations in the $50+ area as I just don't have the margin. We've shared Elijah Craig, Blade and Bow, Buffalo Trace, Angels Envy, Eagle Rare with him, and I'm about out of ideas unless I go more expensive. I'm not opposed to going with a $100 recommendation, but with our expenses this month, and the fact that we're going to be going out for a few meals this weekend as well, I'm trying to stretch my dollars. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Killing Floor]

Garrison Brothers FTW

 

[SJLee]

Garrison Brothers FTW

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[ArtechnikA]

I could use some recommendations in the $50+ area...

I've been liking Maker's 101 lately. Not available year around but it seems to be now.
Made with a different wheat than their other offerings.

 

[SJLee]

I've been liking Maker's 101 lately. Not available year around but it seems to be now.
Made with a different wheat than their other offerings.

Thank you. He does not like Maker's Mark, unfortunately.

 

[friskinator]

How does one train or develop a "palate" for detecting the differences between mediocre spirits and the good stuff? I mainly use it for cocktailing, so I don't keep nice stuff on hand unless it's gifted to me. I've done taste tests at home where I compare mid to low-grade next to pretty nice, and I can never pick out any differences. Is it all perception, or is there a real technique to it?

 

[Gervais Cote]

I know people usually don’t like to mix up some threads but I’m taking a chance…………….

If ever one of you has a wooden whisky, bourbon or scotch crate they want to get rid of, please let me know cause I build basses with it and always looking to get some more.

See below and my avatar picture on the left :

 

[BklynKen]

How does one train or develop a "palate" for detecting the differences between mediocre spirits and the good stuff? I mainly use it for cocktailing, so I don't keep nice stuff on hand unless it's gifted to me. I've done taste tests at home where I compare mid to low-grade next to pretty nice, and I can never pick out any differences. Is it all perception, or is there a real technique to it?

I'd say just through experience. Keep trying stuff.