Yesterday I had a Woodford Reserve and the remainder of a Buffalo Trace bottle . Both with Rocks pour and crushed ice. The Woodford was more smooth and had a slight sweet taste, similar to Eagle Rare. The Woodford won out but both were real good. I forgot about Russells reserve. I picked it in a tasting at a Westport village Bourbon tasting one night. It was around $50 for .750 at the time so I passed on it that night.

(05-09-2016 09:44 PM)CardFan1 Wrote:  Yesterday I had a Woodford Reserve and the remainder of a Buffalo Trace bottle . Both with Rocks pour and crushed ice. The Woodford was more smooth and had a slight sweet taste, similar to Eagle Rare. The Woodford won out but both were real good. I forgot about Russells reserve. I picked it in a tasting at a Westport village Bourbon tasting one night. It was around $50 for .750 at the time so I passed on it that night.

Where I live the Russell's Reserve is $30 or $31 for 750ml. If it was $50 per 750, I'd never buy it it's not twice as good as Buffalo Trace. ER10 is also around $30 per 750ml.

(05-10-2016 06:16 AM)miko33 Wrote:  

(05-09-2016 09:44 PM)CardFan1 Wrote:  Yesterday I had a Woodford Reserve and the remainder of a Buffalo Trace bottle . Both with Rocks pour and crushed ice. The Woodford was more smooth and had a slight sweet taste, similar to Eagle Rare. The Woodford won out but both were real good. I forgot about Russells reserve. I picked it in a tasting at a Westport village Bourbon tasting one night. It was around $50 for .750 at the time so I passed on it that night.

Where I live the Russell's Reserve is $30 or $31 for 750ml. If it was $50 per 750, I'd never buy it it's not twice as good as Buffalo Trace. ER10 is also around $30 per 750ml.

My Wife said it was the Single Barrel Russell's Reserve. It had just been released when We tried it. Very good stuff. Jefferson Reserve Single barrel is good stuff too. again though pricey.

(05-12-2016 07:54 AM)CardFan1 Wrote:  

(05-10-2016 06:16 AM)miko33 Wrote:  

(05-09-2016 09:44 PM)CardFan1 Wrote:  Yesterday I had a Woodford Reserve and the remainder of a Buffalo Trace bottle . Both with Rocks pour and crushed ice. The Woodford was more smooth and had a slight sweet taste, similar to Eagle Rare. The Woodford won out but both were real good. I forgot about Russells reserve. I picked it in a tasting at a Westport village Bourbon tasting one night. It was around $50 for .750 at the time so I passed on it that night.

Where I live the Russell's Reserve is $30 or $31 for 750ml. If it was $50 per 750, I'd never buy it it's not twice as good as Buffalo Trace. ER10 is also around $30 per 750ml.

My Wife said it was the Single Barrel Russell's Reserve. It had just been released when We tried it. Very good stuff. Jefferson Reserve Single barrel is good stuff too. again though pricey.

That was the difference then. I was talking about small batch for the Russell's.

(05-12-2016 11:04 AM)SouthernBoiNOLA Wrote:  I am more of a rye whiskey drinker.....the new one I have been drinking this year.

That's some pricey stuff, isn't it?

(05-12-2016 11:04 AM)SouthernBoiNOLA Wrote:  I am more of a rye whiskey drinker.....the new one I have been drinking this year.

I had a bit of that a few weeks ago. It's got a manly kick to it. Or maybe I don't have the palate to get rye the way it should be gotten?

Can't remember if anyone's brought this up, but has anyone tried High West Campfire? It sounds really intriguing but it's also a purty penny, and I don't want to make an investment for something that'll spend its life behind the Maker's bottle in my bar.

(05-12-2016 11:54 AM)miko33 Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 11:04 AM)SouthernBoiNOLA Wrote:  I am more of a rye whiskey drinker.....the new one I have been drinking this year.

That's some pricey stuff, isn't it?

It ain't too bad. Bought a bottle at Costco for 70.

I tried a homemade Manhattan tonight. I used this recipe:

• 1 Full shot of BT bourbon
• 1/2 Shot of Martini & Rossi Vermouth
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
  

Then, poured the ingredients in a mixing glass over 3 ice cubes, stirred and then strained into a coupe glass (I don't have any official cocktail glasses).

I don't know if I need to switch to the dry vermouth, need to cut back on the bitters or if it's the BT bourbon but it seemed a little off. I think the BT bourbon has little rye, and that's the primary cause along with one too many dashes of bitters. I have some Russell's Reserve bourbon that I'll try next go around to see if that makes it better. Maybe a bourbon with more rye will do the trick. Also, one less dash of the bitters.

However, I may not care for bourbon in the Manhattan. If I think that's the case then I'll get the Dickel Rye or the WT Rye and try that out. My dad used to like a Jack Daniels Manhattan with dry vermouth. YUK! Can't stand Old No 7.

I'm going to figure out what type of Manhattan I prefer the most. It may end up that I prefer a Rob Roy or a Rory O'More.

Round 2 with the Manhattan. One less dash of the aromatic bitters plus switching to the Russell's Reserve makes a nice improvement. I'm eager to try it with WT101 and a good rye whiskey. Next month, will get some dry vermouth and see how that goes.

Maker's Mark goes really nicely with Yuengling...

(05-14-2016 05:33 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Maker's Mark goes really nicely with Yuengling...

I love both, but I've never tried them one behind the other. I'm assuming you don't actually mix them.

Elijah Craig

(05-14-2016 06:24 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(05-14-2016 05:33 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Maker's Mark goes really nicely with Yuengling...

I love both, but I've never tried them one behind the other. I'm assuming you don't actually mix them.

Can't get Yuengling yet in Kentucky but the More recent reincarnation of Falls City Beer goes great along with Bourbon. Outstanding actually

(05-14-2016 06:24 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(05-14-2016 05:33 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Maker's Mark goes really nicely with Yuengling...

I love both, but I've never tried them one behind the other. I'm assuming you don't actually mix them.

Yeah, I was talking chasers... You could do a boilermaker I guess, but I have never tried it.

Lately I've been exploring the world of the Old Fashioneds. Based on the 3 whiskeys I have on hand: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, George Dickel 12 and Russell's Reserve Small Batch Bourbon, I have to say that the RR makes the best Old Fashioned IMHO. It's also the best sipping whiskey of the 3 too. I think I like the Dickel the next best and the BT brings up the rear. To make the old fashioneds, I used roughly half a teaspoon of sugar, 2 dashes of Angostora bitters, dash of regular filtered tap water (no iron) and roughly 1.25 oz of whiskey over rocks.

I think I like the Russell's Reserve the best. Aside from it being aged for 10 years, it also has a higher rye content vs the other 2. I did not care for the BT in a manhattan at all, and it was decent in the Old Fashioned. The GD No 12 made a solid Old Fashioned but was not too hot in the manhattan either. Maybe in the end, I will keep bourbon and the Dickel 12 for drinking neat and find a rye whiskey to make Old Fashioneds and Manhattans.

(05-17-2016 05:37 PM)miko33 Wrote:  Lately I've been exploring the world of the Old Fashioneds. Based on the 3 whiskeys I have on hand: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, George Dickel 12 and Russell's Reserve Small Batch Bourbon, I have to say that the RR makes the best Old Fashioned IMHO. It's also the best sipping whiskey of the 3 too. I think I like the Dickel the next best and the BT brings up the rear. To make the old fashioneds, I used roughly half a teaspoon of sugar, 2 dashes of Angostora bitters, dash of regular filtered tap water (no iron) and roughly 1.25 oz of whiskey over rocks.

I think I like the Russell's Reserve the best. Aside from it being aged for 10 years, it also has a higher rye content vs the other 2. I did not care for the BT in a manhattan at all, and it was decent in the Old Fashioned. The GD No 12 made a solid Old Fashioned but was not too hot in the manhattan either. Maybe in the end, I will keep bourbon and the Dickel 12 for drinking neat and find a rye whiskey to make Old Fashioneds and Manhattans.

I've never tried it yet but friends that do really enjoy Bullett Rye whiskey

Bought a bottle this evening. I just did a tasting, and it's definitely more tame that I'm used to. Granted, I've been spending my time with WT101, Russell's Reserve 10 and OGDBIB so I'm not used to the taste profile of a wheated bourbon.

I think I'll end up liking it, but not sure if this will be a mainstay at the primary store i frequent or if it's an infrequent offering. I'd like to keep a bottle on hand for a change of pace, but I don't think it will do for a daily drinker. So far, WT101 would be the most regular bottle, but I'm not sure yet.

Just tried My first bottle of This. Slightly sweet but a great finish !

(06-09-2016 07:42 AM)CardFan1 Wrote:  

Just tried My first bottle of This. Slightly sweet but a great finish !

The aging must make all the difference in this one. I'd love to try it, but I have a mental block against it since it's the 80 proof version of OGD with age. It's $40 in my neck of the woods. I have the BIB version of OGD and I enjoy it - though not as much as WT101.

Are we starting to see a bourbon shortage? Last night at the local liquor store I'm seeing empty spaces among the bourbons, but the Irish and Scotch sections are jammed full. I'm expecting to see some discounts on scotch and irish whiskey soon based on what I'm seeing. Commencing vulture mode...now.

BTW, Blanton's seems to be really rare anymore. It's always sold out and orders aren't getting filled despite requests from the stores. I REALLY want a bottle to try.

(06-09-2016 07:56 AM)miko33 Wrote:  

(06-09-2016 07:42 AM)CardFan1 Wrote:  

Just tried My first bottle of This. Slightly sweet but a great finish !

The aging must make all the difference in this one. I'd love to try it, but I have a mental block against it since it's the 80 proof version of OGD with age. It's $40 in my neck of the woods. I have the BIB version of OGD and I enjoy it - though not as much as WT101.

Are we starting to see a bourbon shortage? Last night at the local liquor store I'm seeing empty spaces among the bourbons, but the Irish and Scotch sections are jammed full. I'm expecting to see some discounts on scotch and irish whiskey soon based on what I'm seeing. Commencing vulture mode...now.

BTW, Blanton's seems to be really rare anymore. It's always sold out and orders aren't getting filled despite requests from the stores. I REALLY want a bottle to try.

There is an unprecedented world wide boom in Bourbon sales the last couple of years. Many distilleries are expanding here to accommodate the future growth. It still takes years for a batch to reach the marketplace. Blanton's moves quickly. Try the large Liquor Outlet type stores, They seem to get the first choices in most market areas. Large volume sales. You might find it easier to try different Bourbons at a restaurant that has a large bar & bourbon selection before buying a bottle of it. That's what I do. Some Liquor outlets have Bourbon tasting days where They feature 4-5 different ones, unless state laws prevent it.