Favorite Whiskey?

Moving sucks. As a hoarder of many things, it sucks even more. Then I come back to Colorado and find more liquor to move. Found these on my return to Colorado.

 

I could not resist.

 

Score one or four this stuff is so good! I wish they would make more.


I was talking with a guy from Knoxville during the Chattanooga distillery tour about this whiskey and my inability to find more of it. He said he thought he’d seen it before and that he would check when he got home. He texted me the location where he had found some. I was able to get a cousin to swing by the store on his way through to pick up what they had. It’s not a life time supply, but it’ll get me through a few years. I was almost out.

 

So has anyone ever experienced a “bad “ bottle of their favorite? For some time now I’ve been fond of Elijah Craig small batch nothing fancy. My latest bottle,however just doesn’t taste good. It starts as rubbing alcohol and finishes as turpentine. Okay maybe that’s an exaggeration but it ain’t good. I’ve even tried using as a mixer which I very rarely do and it’s still not good. Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen.

 

Absolutely. It happens. More common in single barrels from my experience.

 

A coworker went to Wendover and grabbed these for me. I’m really liking Heaven Hill’s offerings these days.

 

I actually ended up visiting the distillery on total accident. I grabbed a bottle of the Bright lights after finishing a hard af dual sport in jersey and really liked it. Then took my son camping in ny with some friends and the distillery was literally down the street. So naturally when my son went to nap in the tent and my friends were watching him I scooted off on my buddy's bike and visited.

Untitled by MJH Creations, on Flickr
Untitled by MJH Creations, on Flickr

I came back to camp with these two stuffed in my hoody pocket:

Untitled by MJH Creations, on Flickr

 

Went to a derby party.

Poured an EHT.

Somebody dropped a cheese ball in it.

But then my fortunes turned as a few of us were invited next door to have a pour of a Pappy 20. It was absolutely delicious.



He also had this crazy thing:

 

Damn, that's some good juice. I might not brush my teeth tonight if that was me.

 

Local store did two KC barrel picks. Two weeks ago they did a tasting with them both. Everyone agreed one had a strong nose and less on the pallate and the other was less on the nose and more on the pallate. I enjoyed the first but the second burned me and the pallate never developed. Like you said it had a rubbing alcohol pallate and I didn't enjoy it. I initially thought I may have needed a lower proof first taste but it was the second taste and they were both the same high proof. I only picked up the first with the nice nose.

 

Red Breast 12 is an easy drinker. Enjoying some Irish whisky while watching game 7 of Boston and Toronto.

 

Pretty disappointed today. Went to Ft. Collins to check out Old Elk's restaurant/Bar. Made reservations for late lunch. Got there, and there was some white dude "spinnin' vinyl", and some big bass drops blasting throughout the restaurant. So loud you couldn't even have a conversation. Sorry. I came for whiskey, not the teenage idiot show. We cancelled our reservations, told the maitre' d why, and went elsewhere. Since when does a notable whiskey distiller need this kind of garbage? So irritated, and disappointed. Just stupid.

 

Try to find the 12 year cask strength to compare. It's really good in my opinion.

 

happens often, sometimes bottles just don’t seal correctly. I’d write to EC and tell them your experience, I’m sure they’d make it up to you

 

Found a Blue Spot a very reasonable price compared to what I've seen even compared to costco. Any opinions on it?

 

Low rent Saturday! Wanted to compare a few below $50 recommendations I’ve had on the shelf for a while:



Coopers Craft: 100 proof. Distilled @ DSP KY-34, Brown Forman Cooperage. Louisville. I got this on sale for $27. Nose is vanilla, caramel, with some ethanol lingering. Surprisingly smooth up front, then a bit of proof, caramel, vanilla, and raisin on the back end, then some post proof and a bit of bitter oak from the char. For the $ and proof, quite surprised by this. I understand they have some better single barrel offerings. This particular bottle is interesting, but not good enough to buy another bottle.

Nelsons "Green Brier". $34.00. 91 Proof, Sour Mash, Tennessee Whiskey. Nose is lighter, dark fruit, almost comes off as MGP. Very light up front, vanilla, some orange peel, stewed prunes, cinnamon, and a very light finish, a bit of corn lingers on the pallet. This is a bottle I will be buying again, and I want to see what else they have on offer. I'd take this over Buffalo Trace.

Weller Green top "special reserve" $47. Wheated bourbon. The same bottle was up for sale at another liquor store down the road for $85....it's not even allocated! Buffalo Trace on the nose, grape, fruity, light. Smooth up front, with just a bit of a bitter note from the proof, then all dark fruit, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Finish doesn't linger much. It's a good sipper, at a reasonable price. It won't be my go to, but I also won't cry about it compared to the price of Antique 107.

 

I’m cheap. Military Club. $9.99 1.75l local Px. lol. But seriously
I recently tried Knob Creek smoked maple
Nice

 

Didn’t get to write up my alternative to the big names Friday sip off:



ASW Fiddler. This has been my #1 pick for a long time. It's a bit pricey at about $105, but let me tell ya, this stuff is special. Georgia Heartwood, 116 proof. The nose is a full on complex profile. Just when you think you nailed the nose with dark red fruits, cinnamon, apple, brown sugar, and maybe cloves, it takes you into other directions defying a clear path. Up front, you get the proof, but in a subtle way that introduces a palate that changes complexity as it moves to mid palate. Dark, rich cocoa notes, deep fruit, apple pie, a hint of citrus, changing over to the finish which shows some of the grain profiles. The taste lingers, and the finish is another shift of flavor profiles. Sorry, I go overboard when I really, really dig something complex. There have several other offerings I have not yet tried. I read a somewhat blah review on the less expensive opera.

Kings County Distillery. $75 Let me get this off my chest first...I cannot stand New York City, it's politics, etc. etc....BUT, let me say, Kings County Distillery shines a bright light on the bourbon scene. This stuff is craft on a level NYC doesn't deserve....but you do. 90 proof, it drinks like 110. The nose is heavy on brown sugar, cinnamon, dark cherry, and something akin to stewed prunes. It's the kinda nose that you instantly think of a classic members only club with dark green walls, brass lamps, and a 200 year old mahogany bar brought over from the old country. Right up front, super clean mouth feel, followed by a bit of a syrupy texture that delivers on the brown sugar on the front, mid palate brings in hints of baking spices, lingering dark fruit, and molasses. The finish is as clean and smooth as the front, with lingering brown sugar, syrupy notes, and honey. This is good, really good! A friend recommended their Peated version, and that is going to be purchased next. This is a super craft, very knowledgeable group hard at work. Wow!

Frey Ranch Farm Strength/Uncut. $75-$85 I got turned onto this one by the Brewzle crew, Mash and Drum, Matt @ ADHD, and the Bourbon Junkies. I couldn't get it anywhere in Colorado, so I ordered on line. 122.28 proof. It's AMAZING. There are folks out there that say this stuff is all corn, and too much grain...but that's what set's it apart. I've had the regular strength, which is EXCELLENT, and the Farm Strength, I almost prefer the regular strength because it's so damn clean up front and on the finish.

On the nose this is extremely interesting. You can make out the grains right off the bat. Sweet notes, a lack of in your face ethanol is surprising, heavy on the vanilla, and caramel mixed with some green apple. Up front, you get a big bold taste of unique grain flavors. It's very interesting that the grains seems to introduce themselves separately, corn up front, moving over to barley, with a bit of rye spice in the back. They use winter wheat, winter rye, and two row barely, all raised right there on their own farm which has been in the family since 1854. I'm not sure how they process their individual yeast strains, but these are so darned clear in what it delivers...WOW!

The bottle is probably the heaviest I've ever held, and even the custom cap can be used to kill Taliban at over 100 meters. This sucker is stout, I will be making lamps out of them, damn.

O.K. So, there are my top alternatives to the usual double/triple MSRP BTAC's, Sazeracs, and other needlessly marked up mess we talk ourselves into purchasing. I challenge you...pick up all three and try them out yourself. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality and complexness that doesn't smell like Buffalo trace grape kool aid, or MGP.

 

I have a couple Weller Special Reserve 1.75 liters I don't feel like lugging across the country. $100 for the pair if you want them.

 

I was not a fan of batch 2, but batch 3 JD10 is oily and delicious.