Bourbon

[TheBigCasino]

Back in the early '70s, Granddad (86 and 100) was my whiskey of choice.

ivan, I didn't know you could still get 86-proof OGD; I thought it had gone to 80 like a lot of the other old-time "names"?

Btw, here's a pic of the bourbon "top shelf" in a Swedish bar. Not too shabby, eh?

good stuff, save the Brown Foreman products. Not sure if Elmer T Lee is atop shelf though, mid - yes, top? hmmm, dunno.

[Mayhem]

Back in the early '70s, Granddad (86 and 100) was my whiskey of choice.

ivan, I didn't know you could still get 86-proof OGD; I thought it had gone to 80 like a lot of the other old-time "names"?

Btw, here's a pic of the bourbon "top shelf" in a Swedish bar. Not too shabby, eh?

good stuff, save the Brown Foreman products. Not sure if Elmer T Lee is atop shelf though, mid - yes, top? hmmm, dunno.

Costs enough here to be considered top.
OGD 114 is still one of my favorites.

[ivan]

Ten High

Price: $
Proof: 80

I am sorry to bring bad news, but I am fortunate to be doing this tasting with actual Ten High straight sour mash Bourbon Whiskey. The Sazerac company has recently purchased Barton brands, and they have decided to remake Ten High as a blended Bourbon, which means it will contain not more than 49% grain neutral spirits. Soon, the Ten High available in stores will read "Bourbon- a blend". It will still be 80 proof, but expect a much thinner taste. Unfortunately, since Ten High is a budget label, I doubt there will be a massive groundswell demanding a return to the original formula.

On first pour, the color leans towards gold, and the initial aroma has a strong vanilla, with almost fruity notes in the background. I am picking up notes of banana. There is a nice spicyness. The first sip has a strong caramel and honey taste, with a sweeter aftertaste than I'd expect. Again the banana notes present themselves. This Bourbon has a pronounced sharpness to it, along with a nice, but not overpowering, burn. Follow-on tastes are very consistent with the initial.

A splash of water sharpens this Bourbon, and brings the caramel and honey to the forefront without completely muting the vanilla. The spices seem more pronounced.

I can do nothing but recommend this Bourbon. It is decidedly not as complex as its more expensive brethren, but it's far better than the price tag would suggest. If you're a fan, stock up soon. The blended version will be a pale (in more ways than one) imitation of the original.

[WastelessPointOfTime]

Wait, what? My Ten High has always said it's "A Blend"... or has it? I don't pay much attention sometimes. As this is my house Bourbon, is there more I should know? Or should I just look at Evan as I look at the new taxes on my smokes...?

[Slim]

Pappy van Winkle 20 year
Price: $$$$

This was a gift my friend received from his mother-in-law (don't get it twisted, she's a manipulative bitch).

I arrived at my friends house a few weeks after Christmas when he unsheathed this miracle in a bottle from its velvet encasing.
I've dabbled in many a bourbon and scotch in my short time on this plane of existence but this one shook me to my core.
When I think of bourbon in the most profound sense this experience is what I draw upon. An odd paradox of burning and soothing sensations, keeping your palate off balance and in constant flux. A beautiful aroma of malt, caramel, leather, subtle spice and a sting of alcohol. The initial taste belies the oncoming parade of flavors that run roughshod over your entire mouth, nasal passages, and by god, you'd swear you could taste it in your stomach! If there is a drinking equivalent for a perfectly cooked rib-eye steak, this is it. Perfectly balanced. Every flavorful aspect of bourbon transitioning with Russian ballet precison into one another.

If you can get your hands on a bottle of this, by all and any means, pleas do.

This particular strain of liquor is hereby exempt from any and all drinking/roommate/friend rules. For sharing only.

[Orleck]

i once mixed christian bro's gutter sludge with pink lemonade! mmmmmmm. I wish there was another present at the time to strike me.

[ivan]

Pappy van Winkle 20 year

It's been a while since I had my one and only taste, but I recall it to be absolute Ambrosia.

And fear not, fellow Drunkards. More reviews are coming. A little from the higher shelf, a little from the lower. I just had to take a quick break. Not from drinking, mind you. Only from posting.

[cloud8]

Ten High

Price: $
Proof: 80

I am sorry to bring bad news, but I am fortunate to be doing this tasting with actual Ten High straight sour mash Bourbon Whiskey. The Sazerac company has recently purchased Barton brands, and they have decided to remake Ten High as a blended Bourbon, which means it will contain not more than 49% grain neutral spirits. Soon, the Ten High available in stores will read "Bourbon- a blend". It will still be 80 proof, but expect a much thinner taste. Unfortunately, since Ten High is a budget label, I doubt there will be a massive groundswell demanding a return to the original formula.

On first pour, the color leans towards gold, and the initial aroma has a strong vanilla, with almost fruity notes in the background. I am picking up notes of banana. There is a nice spicyness. The first sip has a strong caramel and honey taste, with a sweeter aftertaste than I'd expect. Again the banana notes present themselves. This Bourbon has a pronounced sharpness to it, along with a nice, but not overpowering, burn. Follow-on tastes are very consistent with the initial.

A splash of water sharpens this Bourbon, and brings the caramel and honey to the forefront without completely muting the vanilla. The spices seem more pronounced.

I can do nothing but recommend this Bourbon. It is decidedly not as complex as its more expensive brethren, but it's far better than the price tag would suggest. If you're a fan, stock up soon. The blended version will be a pale (in more ways than one) imitation of the original.

It is bad news. All my Massachusetts packy carries now is Ten High "A Blend." It's decent Bourbon, but distinctively different, and it imparts a sort of clammy sharpness on first sip. The good news is that the NH Candy Store shelves are still full of Ten High Straight Sour Mash. I picked up a couple of handles today and plan to stock up with more on my return.

[ivan]

Old Weller Antique

Price: $$$
Proof: 107

"Aged 7 Summers". "We Make Fine Bourbon, Its Quality Unchanged Since 1849." "The Original 107 Brand." W.L. Weller and Sons in Frankfort bring us this Bourbon. Its price is typical for Bourbons of its age- my 750 ml bottle was $25.99.

The initial aroma is very dark and robust- a hint of tobacco lingers. The initial taste confirms the darkness, and the caramel is quite pronounced. Very creamy, pleasantly sweet, and my lips and tongue tingle a bit from the high proof. There's a hint of the tobacco flavor in the aftertaste, and a nice burn. Follow-on tastes have a pleasant nuttiness to them, and I find myself almost picking flavors at will- when I'm trying to taste vanilla, it's prominent. When I seek the caramel, it jumps to the forefront. This is a very well-balanced Bourbon.

A splash of water... there's no other way I can say this... it ruins this Bourbon. My first sip surprised me, my second filled me with regret. It does not open up any new flavors, and it removes the ones that are already there. I killed the Bourbon.

My recommendation becomes very simple- I recommend this Bourbon to those who either drink their cocktails neat or with, at most, two ice cubes. I absolutely loved this Bourbon neat, and I still feel a touch of remorse over splashing water in it.

To add a personal note- I truly enjoyed this Bourbon. Unlike many of the Bourbons I've reviewed so far, this is my first time drinking this. I can guarantee it will be added to the rotation in the home bar. It is reminiscent of Russel's Reserve and Ridgemont 1792 in its creamy sweetness, but it is more balanced than either of those two, and goes for a comparable price. I think this would be an ideal Bourbon to pair with a medium-rare steak.

[ivan]

J.T.S. Brown

Price: $
Proof: 80

Every now and then, a cultural icon comes with a very low price. This bottle was sitting firmly on the bottom shelf at my local, and I racked my brain until I could remember where I'd heard of it before- then I remembered. Paul Newman. "Fast Eddie" Felson. The Hustler. This was the Bourbon he ordered. The bottle proclaims "Kentucky's Finest". We shall see, although for ten bucks a liter, I have my doubts.

This is a very light colored Bourbon- closer to yellow than the typical reddish-brown of most Bourbons. The initial aroma is light, with vanilla and banana being the two most pronounced aromas. The initial sip is quite pronounced corn and rye notes- you definitely taste the grains. The aftertaste matches the smell. Vanilla and banana all the way. There is a pleasant sharpness, and very little burn. Follow on sips don't change much.

A splash of water serves to sharpen the Bourbon, and brings a few light caramel notes into play. Other than that, not a substantial change.

It's tough to make a recommendation on this Bourbon. It's a different taste. It's almost as though it didn't pick up much from the barrel. It's not a thinned-out flavor, like some bottom-shelf Bourbon, and it's not a bad taste. Just... different. And I guess that's my recommendation. If you're a seasoned Bourbon drinker who'd like to taste a different kind of Bourbon, give it a shot. If you're just starting out with Bourbon, stay away from this one for a while. While the price may be inviting, it's a very sharp departure from average Bourbons. I can see why a unique character like Fast Eddie would order this- if you really like this, other Bourbons aren't going to work for you, and if you're just a Bourbon fan, this is so far outside "normal" that it could easily turn you off.

[Rip Rufus]

Old Weller Antique

Price: $$$
Proof: 107

"Aged 7 Summers". "We Make Fine Bourbon, Its Quality Unchanged Since 1849." "The Original 107 Brand." W.L. Weller and Sons in Frankfort bring us this Bourbon. Its price is typical for Bourbons of its age- my 750 ml bottle was $25.99.

The initial aroma is very dark and robust- a hint of tobacco lingers. The initial taste confirms the darkness, and the caramel is quite pronounced. Very creamy, pleasantly sweet, and my lips and tongue tingle a bit from the high proof. There's a hint of the tobacco flavor in the aftertaste, and a nice burn. Follow-on tastes have a pleasant nuttiness to them, and I find myself almost picking flavors at will- when I'm trying to taste vanilla, it's prominent. When I seek the caramel, it jumps to the forefront. This is a very well-balanced Bourbon.

A splash of water... there's no other way I can say this... it ruins this Bourbon. My first sip surprised me, my second filled me with regret. It does not open up any new flavors, and it removes the ones that are already there. I killed the Bourbon.

My recommendation becomes very simple- I recommend this Bourbon to those who either drink their cocktails neat or with, at most, two ice cubes. I absolutely loved this Bourbon neat, and I still feel a touch of remorse over splashing water in it.

To add a personal note- I truly enjoyed this Bourbon. Unlike many of the Bourbons I've reviewed so far, this is my first time drinking this. I can guarantee it will be added to the rotation in the home bar. It is reminiscent of Russel's Reserve and Ridgemont 1792 in its creamy sweetness, but it is more balanced than either of those two, and goes for a comparable price. I think this would be an ideal Bourbon to pair with a medium-rare steak.

You are a word-smith, sir. All I was willing to say is that I like the OW 107, and you go and get all serious about it. You're loquacious.

I may have have misspelled or made up that last word.

[peetie44]

J.T.S. Brown

It's tough to make a recommendation on this Bourbon. It's a different taste. It's almost as though it didn't pick up much from the barrel. It's not a thinned-out flavor, like some bottom-shelf Bourbon, and it's not a bad taste. Just... different. And I guess that's my recommendation. If you're a seasoned Bourbon drinker who'd like to taste a different kind of Bourbon, give it a shot. If you're just starting out with Bourbon, stay away from this one for a while. While the price may be inviting, it's a very sharp departure from average Bourbons. I can see why a unique character like Fast Eddie would order this- if you really like this, other Bourbons aren't going to work for you, and if you're just a Bourbon fan, this is so far outside "normal" that it could easily turn you off.

If it's good enough for Fast Eddie...

[ivan]

You are a word-smith, sir. All I was willing to say is that I like the OW 107, and you go and get all serious about it.

It's pretty simple, really. I pour the Bourbon, sit down at my computer, and type what I taste. This thread continues to be a fun learning experience for me- I thought I knew Bourbon, but I've learned just how much I didn't know. I think it will serve me well in the future, because I'll be able to properly explain what I'm looking for in a drink.

If it's good enough for Fast Eddie...

Since you're normally a Scotch guy, I could see you enjoying the J.T.S. Brown. Unfortunately, I can't see many European bars importing it.

[ivan]

W.L. Weller Special Reserve

Price: $$$
Proof: 90

Another offering from the Weller distillery in Frankfort, the Special Reserve is also aged 7 years. I wanted to wait a day between Weller tastings, because I didn't want to bias my palate towards either. However, as I prepare for this tasting, memories of both my sheer enjoyment of the neat Weller 107 and my despair at ruining it with water are at the forefront of my mind, so, in a way, some bias still exists. I am both excited and apprehensive.

The first sniff is sharp, with the vanilla and corn jumping forward. The first taste has a strong caramel flavor and notes of cherries and vanilla. There is a nice aftertaste, and I find the vanilla coming out there. A nice burn, and a little tingle on my lips. Follow-on tastes are similar, although there are notes similar to cognac that begin to appear on the very fringe. The thing I find interesting is that my lips continue to tingle- I have not had that occur with any other Bourbon, including Booker's.

After the debacle with this Bourbon's more expensive brother yesterday, I'm hesitant to add a splash of water, but I did anyway. Fortunately, it did not kill this fine Bourbon at all. It sharpened the flavors, brought many more caramel notes forward, and actually added a bit more bite to the aftertaste.

This is a tough recommendation to make. This is a very serious Bourbon, and would hold up in most Bourbon cocktails. But the Old Weller 107 is only a few dollars more, and is far better neat. If you're a fan of Bourbon cocktails, I'd recommend this over OW107, but if you prefer to drink it neat or over a few ice cubes, go with the big brother. As a side note, the back of the bottle states "Old line whiskies of this order are enjoyed more when mixed only with pure water", so if you choose to make a Manhattan with this Bourbon- where I think it would shine- don't tell Weller and Sons.

[ThirstyDrunk]

This thread is priceless