Bourbon Live Tasting - 1st Quarter 2009

[Ganga]

Seems like there is good support for a Bourbon tasting. Here is a list from Hi-Time Wine Cellars as a discussion point. I will be discussing this with the US contingent to make some decisions. Are there any particular ones that interest the Euro folk (or anywhere else in the world)? Any suggestions for a date of tasting? As we go forward, we'll want to know who wants to participate.

Ancient Age
Baker's
Basil Haydens
Black Maple Hill
Blanton's
Booker Noe's
Buffalow Trace
Bulleit
Corner Creek
Eagle Rare
Elijah Craig
Elmer T Lee
Evan Williams
Fighting Cock
Four Roses
G&W Private Stock
GT Stagg (not listed)
Hancock
Henry McKenna
Hirsch
Hudson
Jefferson
Jim Beam
Kentucky
Knob Creek
Maker's Mark
Michters
Noah's Mill
Old Crow
Old Fitzgerald
Old Forester
Old Grand Dad
Old Pogue
Old Wellers
Old Whiskey River
Old Williamsburg
Pure Kentucky
Rebel Yell
Ridgemont
Rock Hill Famrs
Rowans Creek
Russells Reserve
Sam Houston
Van Winkle
Wathers
Willett
WL Weller
Woodford Reserve
Yellowstone

[LagaDrinker]

Really must try some of the Stagg! Went everywhere looking for it when I was in NY recently - drew a blank though!

[lohssanami]

I'll work on procuring enough Stagg for those without access.

[Ryguy]

Ras has mentiond having an Elijah Craig 12 available, I would think that this one certainly provides for a good baseline, actually it's quite good, and I can find it for under $20.

Given the quality of the George T Stagg, I'd say this one is a must have as well.

The US group can talk about this more and figure out exactly what we'll be needing. In the meantime any other suggestions are welcome.

[Ganga]

I think a "mundane" Bourbon would be nice to include. You know that one that seems to be available in whatever store you enter.

What does everyone think of adding a Bourban cask matured single malt for use in identifying influence?

[Ryguy]

I say yes on the single malt bourbon cask, but lets make it a quite simple one, where the bourbon would show thru really well.

Suggestions anyone?

[Ras Mazunga]

Haven't tried it but Springbank Bourbon cask 12yo 58.5% sound like a bourbon whisky.
But, not mundaine.
Glenfiddich 10 (latest edition) has a strong bourbon influence imho.

[Ganga]

Ras, mundane Bourbon. Something along the lines of Jim Beam.

What do people think of including a Bourbon casked single malt? Good idea?

[Ganga]

I have volunteered. S'tan and I will be performing some research tonight into bourbons. After all . Will provide some thoughts afterwards.

[Willie JJ]

Imo the best bourbon casked whisky of the year is the Renaissance, but maybe folks want to avoid peat on this trip. I'll have a rake around for some non-peaty alternatives.

I do think we should avoid departing too far from our bourbon theme though. Seems like there's plenty to explore without raking around.

Cheers

[Ryguy]

Ganga - Have fun at the House of S'tan! Be sure to report back on your findings.

At the tasting itself we may want to skip the bourbon casked single malt, because I'm sure we'll be going thru quite a range of bourbons as it is. But I'd say it's definitely something we can reflect on, either while finishing off samples after the tasting, or even at a later time.

This tasting is going to be a fun one!

[Ganga]

Lots of research performed last night. Unfortunately two that I found really intriguing just aren't going to be available as they were products of the late 60s and early 70s.

I noted down three recommendations to go along with the Stagg and Elijah Craig 12. Notes are in the book back at S'tan's House of Horrors (in a good way) but I will be headed back out there tonight to pick them up.

I'd like to make two notes of interest. First, we tried a flight of the Stagg-6 separate bottlings ranging from the 2002 to the 2007. The interesting part was that the higher the percentage the more enjoyable and easier to drink the Stagg became.

Secondly, we interrupted the run of Bourbons with a SC Scapa (Bourbon). I know it has been recommended not to try this during the tasting. However, I highly recommend that at some point each of you, regardless of being Bourbon drinkers or SMS drinkers, try this just once. I found it very enlightening.

[Ryguy]

Ganga, SC = A Single Cask Scapa, or something else? Is that readily available? If so based on your experience, maybe we should add it to the lineup. I have no problem adding another sample to the lineup...

[Ganga]

It so happens it was a single cask Scapa of which I got the last bottle. I will be sending you a sample in the future.

Really, it is getting a Bourbon casked single malt. It is a really interesting experience because certain elements really come out after the Bourbon. So really, if you have a bourbon cask (preferable to be unpeated) try it along as part of the tasting.

[Ras Mazunga]

Who are interested in joining in Europe?
If it's only going to Willie, Lagadrinker and me then the EC12 is going to be no problem since there is a third left in the bottle.
I have a few more on the shelf just in case there are more enthusiasts:
EC18
Buffalo Trace
Forester
Old Overholt Rye
Virginia Gentleman
Corn whisky less than 30 days old

[Ganga]

Ras has a good point. We need to start figuring out how many participants we have. Also, once we make some selections we should investigate the Europe cost vs. US cost. May be cheaper to send out samples from US.

[Willie JJ]

I had a look in RMW this afternoon and there plenty of variety over here. If we can get the steer from Ganga on what would be a good line up I think we wont have difficulty sourcing the bottles.

It might be cheaper to send it from the US of course, but we need to know what we are looking for.

There were so many interesting things I just wanted to buy em all

[TreacleSponge]

Who are interested in joining in Europe?

I am! I'm also far too unreliable to commit, 'specially this early on. But I'd like to join in. I've a few bourbons open, and I'd welcome the excuse to get some more

[Ryguy]

Who are interested in joining in Europe?

I am! I'm also far too unreliable to commit, 'specially this early on. But I'd like to join in. I've a few bourbons open, and I'd welcome the excuse to get some more

Sounds good TreacleSponge, keep an eye on this thread. If you need samples of what's being tasted, let us know. We haven't come up with a complete lineup yet, but feel free to add notes on any and all bourbons you may have.

[TreacleSponge]

At the moment I've got open:
EC18
EC12
Stagg 2007
Four Roses Single Barrel
Woodford Reserve
Bulleit

There's not much choice round here but I'm off on me jollies soon, so I might come back with something nice

[Ganga]

I looked back at Friday's notes and realized I sampled 26 Bourbons.

GT Stagg and Elijah Craig 12 have already been recommended earlier in the thread. After Friday I would recommend the addition of Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Ridgemont Reserve 1792 and Eagle Rare 10. Why? I was looking for those that were the most different.

[Ryguy]

It looks as though I can get 4/5 of these, and at some good prices too. Ganga, please compare with your prices and availability and let me know.

Eagle Rare 10yo $19.99
Elijah Craig 12yo $17.99
George T Stagg (any) (Not avail here yet)
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 $19.99
Wild Turkey Rare Breed $31.99

All prices are shown tax inc (gotta love the state of NH). A couple of these reflect October Sales Pricing, so let me know and I can work on it.

[Willie JJ]

Ryguy's prices

Eagle Rare 10yo $19.99
Elijah Craig 12yo $17.99
George T Stagg (any) (Not avail here yet)
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 $19.99
Wild Turkey Rare Breed $31.99

RMW prices
Eagle Rare 10yo £29.99
Elijah Craig 12yo £24.95
George T Stagg £100.89
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 £36.00 (at TWE)
Wild Turkey Rare Breed £38.85

[Ryguy]

Ryguy's prices

Eagle Rare 10yo $19.99
Elijah Craig 12yo $17.99
George T Stagg (any) (Not avail here yet)
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 $19.99
Wild Turkey Rare Breed $31.99

RMW prices
Eagle Rare 10yo £29.99
Elijah Craig 12yo £24.95
George T Stagg £100.89
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 £36.00 (at TWE)
Wild Turkey Rare Breed £38.85

OMG Willie!!

That's just crazy! We'll work something out with you, I'll talk with Ganga and see what's going to work best.

[Wave]

George T Stagg (any) (Not avail here yet)

The one shop left in town that still has it is selling the Stagg 2007 for $68.99

(Sorry Willie, I couldn't help but to rub that in! )


Cheers!

[Ras Mazunga]

George T Stagg (any) (Not avail here yet)

The one shop left in town that still has it is selling the Stagg 2007 for $68.99

(Sorry Willie, I couldn't help but to rub that in! )


Cheers!

The Euro-members want to order one bottle each. Thank you.

[Ganga]

UK pricing was one of the reasons for suggesting US ship to Euro.

If no objections, let's set these five up as the standards.

[Ras Mazunga]

No objections, go for it.

Having a Bakers 7 now, realising how good bourbon can be.
Vanilla, cream, pistache, rum, maple syrup, toffee, coffee, chocolate, tea and a finish with dark red fruits with hibiscus.
I'm not kidding.

edit: now I seem to get only oranges. marmelade finish. Also good.

[Willie JJ]

I've no objections to you guys sending stuff over, but the postage may wipe out most of the advantage so we need to be sure its sensible. And of course we need to do something in return so that needs consideration too.

[Ganga]

Willie, I'm sure there will be a tasting where the Euro folk can return the favor. At around 1.8:1, you will see that even some of the others start to look attractive for shipping, especially if we only have enough takers to split a single bottle between both sides.

So who are the volunteers to sip some bourb? Yeah, I know Willie is at the top of the list.

Willie
Ryan
Ganga

Sponge?
C57?
LSD?
Ras?
Mikey?
Lohss?

If we can get a head count we can start getting things together.

[Ryguy]

I'm game for sending packages onward to the UK, I have no problem with it at all. Depending on how many people partaking, I can do it in 1 or 2 packages tops I think.

In the flat rate int'l box, and I can easily fit 14-16 50ml samples in there I'd say. I think it would be easiest for me to ship them to Willie or someone else who'd be willing to split the box up and foward samples to the rest of the group, does that sound ok?

[lohssanami]

Unfortunately I can't do any sample swapping this time around. I'll pop in for the couple of samples I have already though!

I don't think you have to worry about returning samples right now, and I'm sure we can ship enough so they can be dispersed.

Count me in for the tasting, and I should know in 2-3 weeks if I can get some 2008 Stagg. I hear the US price is going up, but I'll let you know when I see it.

[Ras Mazunga]

Of course I join.

[Secesh]

Without knowing just what you're talking about I offer this:

I have unopened bottles of Wild Turkey Rare Breed & EC 18.

For a basic bourbon, if desired, I would suggest Old Grand Dad or Rebel Yell. I've never tried the later but it is cheap around here. Jim Beam White is horrible and would be a waste I think. The Black is a bit better and also inexpensive.

[Ryguy]

Without knowing just what you're talking about I offer this:

I have unopened bottles of Wild Turkey Rare Breed & EC 18.

For a basic bourbon, if desired, I would suggest Old Grand Dad or Rebel Yell. I've never tried the later but it is cheap around here. Jim Beam White is horrible and would be a waste I think. The Black is a bit better and also inexpensive.

Secesh, remind me later to talk to you about this. Also whatever you do please don't be wearing a Rays shirt...