Calling all connoisseurs of spirits

[Van]

  I often have a new favorite when it comes to what Bourbon to buy when spending $50 or so for sipping.  Lately I like Michter's Small Batch, Woodford Reserve Double Oak is sometimes around $50 and Russell's Reserve 10 year.  Buffalo Trace is a favorite too but hard to find unless you get to the store when the shipment comes in.

[splitbeing]

In New Orleans. Nuff said? [chuckling]

[Ronno6]

Woodford Reserve and Woodford Double Oaked are both
fine sippers......
A bit pricier than BT and EC........

[Blowpipe Sam]

I’ve got quite a collection of bourbon.  Probably because I don’t drink it.  I keep it for quests.  I mainly drink rum, gin, or vodka.  When I do drink whiskey it’s the Irish kind.

Proper Twelve, Bushmills, Busker, or Tullamore Dew.  That’s my idea of “sippen whiskey”.

[splitbeing]

"Bottled in Bond" is the sippin' standard here.

[2A Georgia]

Been a minute since I sipped some Bushnell Black ...hmmm
Tonight with movie was Peanut Butter Porter from Georgia Brewing

[Ronno6]

Bourbon reviews

I have read many reviews about the subtle notes that professionals get from bourbons.
These come in 3 distinctive phases of tasting: nose, palate, and finish.
I have seen notes such as: oak, cedar, coffee, dark chocolate, leather, dark cherry, freshly cut grass, green grapes,
and  host of other flavors or aromas........

Here's what i get from various bourbons:
Angel's Envy:
Nose... bourbon
Palate...bourbon
Finish...bourbon

Woodenville Bourbon:
Nose....bourbon
Palate...bourbon
Finish...bourbon

Horse Soldier Premium:
see above

Buffalo Trace:
Nose....bourbon
Palate..bourbon, but tastier than above
Finish...bourbon

Elija Craig Small Batch:
Same as BT

BT and EC are both fuller flavored than the others....

I do notice differences among the above in the burn when swallowing....not sure if that is palate or finish...

About the ONLY notes I have experienced in any whisky is a buttery flavor of Texas Ranger blended whisky...

I guess I don't possess the sensory sophistication to taste or smell any of the published reviews.
However, NO 2 published reviews of the same bourbon share virtually ANY of the notes from other reviews..

All I know is...... I LIKE BOURBON !!!

[2A Georgia]

All I know is...... I LIKE BOURBON !!!
+1

[Blowpipe Sam]

I know I have no pallet.  Bourbon smells just like bourbon to me.  The flavor is not offensive if the whisky is well aged otherwise it’s too raw.  These are the only distinctions I can identify.  What I hate about bourbon is burps.  Yeah I really hate day old bourbon burps.  And that is where the quality of a smooth mellow bourbon stands out.  On day two.

Now Irish Whiskey does have subtle distinctions in both aroma and flavor to me.  Bushmills and Sexton both have an earthy, peaty aroma and finish.  Proper twelve and Busker are sweeter.  Rum smells of molasses and spices.  Vodka and gin smell oily to me though I do like the sharp Juniper smell of Bombay Saphire.  The oily smell of cheap scotch nauseates me so much that I can’t abide even the smell of good scotch anymore.

[Airspace]

I no longer drink whiskey or any other alcohol  based drink. It's always amazed me how people describe the smell and taste of whiskey in general. Very few people taste any item be it drink or food the same, that accounts for the great variety available. However, to show me someone is a true connoisseur I'd like to see a person who can taste a whiskey without knowing it's brand or place of origin and name it correctly. I believe 20 people would give you 20 different brands. ITS ALL JUST WHISKEY!

[Hoosier Daddy]

I no longer drink whiskey or any other alcohol  based drink. It's always amazed me how people describe the smell and taste of whiskey in general. Very few people taste any item be it drink or food the same, that accounts for the great variety available. However, to show me someone is a true connoisseur I'd like to see a person who can taste a whiskey without knowing it's brand or place of origin and name it correctly. I believe 20 people would give you 20 different brands. ITS ALL JUST WHISKEY!

So what brings you here?

I can tell you several corn distills by their taste without looking at the bottle.. not all mind you.. but many.
Hence "connoisseur"

[Ronno6]

SWMBO and I stopped by a Cigar Bar last evening.
We don't smoke, but the aroma reminds my wife of her father.

I wanted to try something I had not tasted before, so I had a shot of 1792 Small Batch.
That brand had always caught my eye as I lived many years about 1 block off highway 17-92
in Central Florida.......
Anyway, the bourbon was different.
Its mash consists of something like 75% corn, 18% rye and 7% barley IIRC.
Tastier, spicier I suppose, than other bourbons with lower rye content.
I could swear that I tasted green apples and a very distinct toasted coconut on the finish,
but I do not read of those notes being mentioned in any of the expert reviews.
I will sample again in a couple weeks at the Tobacco Haus in Fredericksburg,Texas before I consider buying.

[Ronno6]

Not sure if this fits the category.......

I am dabbling with home-brewing..well, sort of.......
I purchased a gizmo called The Pinter...... a keg of sorts
in which you "brew" beer by adding a syrupy mix and yeast in the water-filled keg.
Let it sit and brew for a while, then separate the brewing dock with the remnants of the syrup and yeast,
then "condition" the brew in the fridge.
My first attempt was the Prostmeister Oktoberfest Bier mix.
On advice from members of a FB group I let it brew 6 days longer than the instructions
recommended...... After conditioning for the recommended time, I sampled it....YUCK !!
Very bitter........
But, every day it got a little better..
Today marked 14 days in the fridge, and........NOT BAD !!!
Good carbonation and don't taste half bad!

We'll see how or if it progresses from here.
But, if it gets no better, I can drink it!

My second attempt will be the same bier, but I will follow the directions......

[splitbeing]

I no longer drink whiskey or any other alcohol  based drink. It's always amazed me how people describe the smell and taste of whiskey in general. Very few people taste any item be it drink or food the same, that accounts for the great variety available. However, to show me someone is a true connoisseur I'd like to see a person who can taste a whiskey without knowing it's brand or place of origin and name it correctly. I believe 20 people would give you 20 different brands. ITS ALL JUST WHISKEY!

So what brings you here?

I can tell you several corn distills by their taste without looking at the bottle.. not all mind you.. but many.
Hence "connoisseur"

Can you also do it with mixers involved, making you a "connoissour"?  [chuckling]. A good sour mix goes a long way.  When I lived in DC while bartending I worked at an El Salvadorian place where we made sour mix from scratch.  That was more for rum and tequila than whiskey though.

[Ronno6]

I tried Blade and Bow at the Tobak Haus in Fredericksburg, Texas on
the recommendation of the owner
I like it!

[Blowpipe Sam]

I picked up a pint of Cognac on the way home from town for my brandy and cigar ritual.

[splitbeing]

Which Cognac?  Cigars and brandy are a standard here.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Courvoisier.  That cognac is sho nuff some Nobel booze!

[splitbeing]

On a budget presently so it's Paul Masson VSOP here.  However, Courvoisier is the house Cognac for mixing with a bit of bubbly water when not on the present budget.  The bubbles really bring out the floral notes, which is that Cognac's strength. They were out of small bottles of the stuff, which I had hoped to get to add a titch to the Paul Masson VSOP to give it a bouquet boost.

[splitbeing]

Although these are not the ancient days of the Western world, some of us still mix wine with water in bowls reserved for the task. [smile]