Bourbon - 6 March 2009 - 7pm GMT

[Ryguy]

I started off with the EC 12, a good way to start considering the ABV of the GTS!!!

Elijah Craig 12yo
Brand : - Expression : -
Nose : Big and oaky with hints of maple syrup and a bit of vanilla. Palate : Very smooth, a bit light actually, sweet with more wood evident. Finish : Smooth but sweet lasting finish, becomes a bit drying. Comment : Nice dram, especially for the money. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 47%% Bottler : -	Type : Bourbon Region : Kentucky Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

Next up was the GTS 2006 70.3%. Many thanks again to Lohssanami for this sample!

George T Stagg 2006 70.3%
Brand : - Expression : -
Nose : Sweet, honey, some vanilla, hint of tobacco, and drying oak. Palate : This one started really sweet, then became very drying, then loads of dark fruits and a hint of licorice. Very complex! Finish : Extremely long and lasting and very well balanced. Comment : Very Very nice Dram!! Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 70.3%% Bottler : -	Type : Bourbon Region : Kentucky Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

Next up, GTS 2007 72.4%, another animal! Thanks again Lohssanami!

George T Stagg 2007 72.4%
Brand : - Expression : -
Nose : Lighter on the vanilla than the previous, less oak, but sweeter with more fruits. Palate : Starts very smooth and sweet, but this one immediately explodes on the palate. Very drying towards the end with more vanilla. Finish : Really hot, and even more drying than the previous years bottling. Comment : Another very nice dram. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 72.4%% Bottler : -	Type : Bourbon Region : Kentucky Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

The last one of the evening was the GTS 2008 70.9%.

George T Stagg 2008 70.9%
Brand : - Expression : -
Nose : Dark fruits, vanilla and definite wood (oak). Palate : Very rich and sweet, quite different than the previous 2. Still loads of dry wood. Finish : Long and rich with sweet yet dark fruits, a bit hot, but overall good balance. Comment : I think I liked the 2006 the best out of this bunch. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 70.9%% Bottler : -	Type : Bourbon Region : Kentucky Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[pkt77242]

I bought a couple of minis (WT 101 and Knob Creek) for this tasting a couple weeks ago and misplaced them. My wonderful wife found them today. First up is the WT.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Wild Turkey 101
Brand : Wild Turkey Expression : -
Nose : A little simple, orange, cinnamon, and charcoal. Palate : Definite orange, and charred oak. a little spirity. Finish : short, and hot. Comment : much better than I remember it. A nice entry bourbon. I am really interested in trying the WT Rare Breed. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 50.5% Bottler : -	Type : Bourbon Region : Kentucky Water : None Ice : None Glass : Riedel SMS Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Knob Creek
Brand : Knob Creek Expression : -
Nose : Not very expressive. Vanilla, and hints of wood. Palate : Again not very expressive. Vanilla, oak, hints of spice. Finish : Medium finish. tending towards a sweet graininess (wheat?), and vanilla Comment : Not bad but in comparison to the WT a little light of flavor. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 9 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 50% Bottler : -	Type : Bourbon Region : Kentucky Water : None Ice : None Glass : Reidel SMS Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

When I finish this sampel I will have it to start the night as it was overpowered by the WT 101 going first. All in all a nice gentle bourbon that is very easy to drink.

Sean

[Ryguy]

Cheers Sean, thanks for the extra notes!!

[pkt77242]

Cheers Sean, thanks for the extra notes!!

Thanks Ry, this has probably been the best tasting for me so far. It was nice to see so many people participate, and there was a lot of readily available options.

Sean

[Willie JJ]

Nice notes Willie... need to get around to writing them up myself...

Glad you are having fun with them...

I'm really having fun Mikey, thanks very much. And you've ensured that the bourbon/rye experience will continue for a while yet.

[Willie JJ]

Wild Turkey, Rare Breed, 54.1%

Tasted a different batch last night:

Tasted: 12/03/2009
Nose: Orange oil, leathery, sweet, brown sugar
Palate:Huge hit of orange oil. Butterscotch. Much more intense than the batch tasted above.
Finish: Lots of woodspice, fizzing and sizzling, rye breaks through for a minute, then icing sugar and much watering of the mouth.
Comment: Really an excellent batch. I wish there was a way to identify them.

[Willie JJ]

Rittenhouse Rye, 100 proof

Tasted: 12/03/2009
Colour: Dark chestnut
Nose: Perfumy, crystal clear barley sugar and new leather. Orange.
Palate: Dark crunchy sugar and sweet orange water.
Finish: Long lingering sugars and boiled orange sweets.
Comment: Great stuff. It would be easy to believe this had significant corn content. Hugely drinkable, if not very complex.

[Ras Mazunga]

Starting with a few Wild Turkeys tonight.
First one is 101 8yo 50.5%. Thanks for this one C57.
n: very herbal like Becherovka, eucaluptus, camphor, wax, pine tree, varnish, fresh cut pine tree.
p: this is very weird, an eucalyptus infused Becherovka I would say.
f: spicy, eucalyptus, the little oak disappaers too soon.
c: I wouldn't recognise this as a bourbon in a blind tasting. medicinal would be my general description. definiently one of the more extreme ones.

[Ras Mazunga]

Wild Turkey 12 50.5%(101 proof)
n: vanilla and cakes right away, the herbal notes are very much covered by the sweet notes but are there. very good nose, complex, oak, kardamon, anis, eucalyptus, pine tree, resin,
p: now the herbs are back. like the herb mix you get in an indian restaurant after your meal.
f: much longer than the 8yo. like a fishermans friend
c: the higher strength makes it perfect.

[Ras Mazunga]

You are right Nick the tastes are tremendous. For a moment I thought you mixed it with a bit of jagermeister or so before sending it. It might be the most interesting of the three I am tasting tonight. If I may compare I would compare this one to a young Laphroaig, different but also extreme.


Wild Turkey Rare Breed 54.1% batch #wt-3rb(thank you Treaclesponge)
n: the smelling volume is turned down quiet a bit compared to the 8 and 12yo. vanilla, raisins, bergamot, assam tea, beeswax, oak, a little rye maybe
p: herbal like Becherovka but not as strong.
f: oak, tea, eucalyptus
c: seems older than the 12yo. Not sure what to think about this one yet. the other WT's have a very strong own identity, this one a lot less.

[Willie JJ]

Starting with a few Wild Turkeys tonight.
First one is 101 8yo 50.5%. Thanks for this one C57.
n: very herbal like Becherovka, eucalyptus, camphor, wax, pine tree, varnish, fresh cut pine tree.
p: this is very weird, an eucalyptus infused Becherovka I would say.
f: spicy, eucalyptus, the little oak disappears too soon.
c: I wouldn't recognise this as a bourbon in a blind tasting. medicinal would be my general description. definitely one of the more extreme ones.

The first time I tried tis I was horrified and thought it was vile.
Now, I really like it. Yes it's bold and uncompromising compared with many single malts, but when you get used to that the flavours are tremendous

Maybe you should keep trying the Georgia Moon Nick

[Ras Mazunga]

Just lost my notes on the Blanton.

[Willie JJ]

Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, 40% (Thanks to Mikeymad for this one)

Colour: Tawny
Nose: Bicycle oil, shortcrust pastry, sharp lemon and grapefruit, maybe a raisiny note too.
Palate: Citrus and sugar. Its a strange sensation that only seems to inhabit certain areas of the tongue. Elsewhere it just doesn't seem to do anything other than create a neutral oily coating. Bicycle oil again.
Finish: Medium length with sweet grape and grapefruit.
Comment: Very pleasant, but there's something about the oiliness of it that doesn't quite hang together with the citrus.

[Willie JJ]

Elijah Craig 18yo, 45%, Barrel 2367, into barrel 27th Oct 1989 (Thanks to Mikeymad for this one)

Colour: Auburn
Nose: Light orange, intense linseed, some vanilla and a hint of barley sugar. The wood via the linseed dominates though.
Palate: Orange at the tip of the tongue and then a wash of intense oak all over the palate.
Finish: Oaky bitterness with occasional sweet sparkles, long and drying.
Comment: This is one for lovers of woody drams. The wood is all over it without being unpleasant. I thought the EC12 had got a bit woody, but it was the heavy spice that was making me think that. There's no real weight of spice on this one. The wood is gentle and delicate, for all its dominance.

[I_SPEY]

Elijah Craig 18yo, 45%, Barrel 2367, into barrel 27th Oct 1989 (Thanks to Mikeymad for this one)

Colour: Auburn
Nose: Light orange, intense linseed, some vanilla and a hint of barley sugar. The wood via the linseed dominates though.
Palate: Orange at the tip of the tongue and then a wash of intense oak all over the palate.
Finish: Oaky bitterness with occasional sweet sparkles, long and drying.
Comment: This is one for lovers of woody drams. The wood is all over it without being unpleasant. I thought the EC12 had got a bit woody, but it was the heavy spice that was making me think that. There's no real weight of spice on this one. The wood is gentle and delicate, for all its dominance.

I fully agree with you, Willie Thanks TS

[mikeymad]

Elijah Craig 18yo, 45%, Barrel 2367, into barrel 27th Oct 1989 (Thanks to Mikeymad for this one)

Nice Willie, this one is a reasonable price as well. I would like to try some H2H with another barrel # to see if they have much cask variation.

Cheers,

[Willie JJ]

Michter's 10yo, 47.2%, Barrel 7k-3 (Thanks to Mikeymad for this one too)

Colour: Burnt umber
Nose: Orange oil, oatmeal, demerara sugar, spicy
Palate: Wow, really spicy. The oak is packing a sugar coated punch. The orange seems watered here though. Not as rich and oily as the nose suggests. There seems to be rye there too. Sugar crystals popping like space dust on the tongue.
Finish: The sugar and spice wrestle it out to the end without a clear winner.
Comment: Another example of how massive oak need not detract from a dram. Its a shame the orange thins out a bit after the nose, but apart from that this is very nice.

[Willie JJ]

Booker's bourbon, 63.4% (Thanks to Caledonia for this one)

Colour: Polished mahogany
Nose: Very strong, burnt toast, crème brulee, orange
Palate: Whoosh, the spirit sets fire to your palate, but the flames are quickly doused with buckets of sugar leaving some burnt caramel and liquorice and the after effect tingles for ages. Very little sign of wood here. The dram settles down and becomes juicy fruit sweets. Yummy.
Finish: Very mouth watering and leaves a dusting of caster sugar.
Comment: High impact stuff. If you want a bourbon that'll get your attention then look no further.

[Ganga]

Maybe this thread should have been retitled. Willie's March Bourbon Tasting comes to mind. Keep going Willie. Great notes and observations.

[Willie JJ]

The bourbon tasting shifted to a new venue last Friday as we convened at a friend's house with 5 bottles. Unfortunately the friend had only wine glasses which led to exceptionally large pours and deteriorating quality of observation. (I can't even find the note for the EC18.) Anyway here are some thoughts on the others:

Berheim Original 45%, wheat whiskey

Tasted: 20/03/2009
Nose: Soft, gentle, orangey, light sugars
Palate: Orange flavoured barley sugars. Soft again.
Finish: Very subtle with the finest of castor sugars.
Comment: Really well made, charming whiskey that I can't imagine anyone finding fault with. Quite special.

[Willie JJ]

Blanton's Gold 51.5% Cask 245

Tasted: 20/03/2009
Nose: A bit spirity, roasted corn, acetone.
Palate: More of the nail varnish remover. The oak is there but, it is struggling to get past the acetone. Water opens it up and unleashes the wood, but the spice has gone and turned to dry pencils. Castor sugar later on.
Finish: Long
Comment: Very enjoyable feisty dram.

[Willie JJ]

Evan William's 9yo single barrel #727 43.3%, 23/9/1998-13/8/2008

Tasted: 20/03/2009
Nose: Orange water, vague feints, slight vegetal quality, tannins.
Palate: Juicy oranges, some tannins, very light on the body.
Finish: Not much happening here. Some drying oak.
Comment: This one was rather a let down. The nose was interesting if not that pleasing, but it just seemed to die after that.

[Willie JJ]

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 133, 45.2%

Tasted: 20/03/2009
Nose: Perfumed, floral, oranges.
Palate: Orange rush with the flavours zooming to the corners of the palate. Sugars, honey and spice. Really very nice indeed.
Finish: Sweet, and exciting finish that endures for ages.
Comment: Really top quality stuff.

[Willie JJ]

Not many of these left now. Another night or two should do it.

[mikeymad]

The tasting that will not end... good job Willie....

hmmm I don't think that I have added any notes myself.... yet.

Cheers,

[Willie JJ]

hmmm I don't think that I have added any notes myself.... yet.

Well what are you waiting for?