by wormraper » Sat Dec 23, 2017 7:48 pm
after a year I just wanted to update the thread. I've expanded my horizons considerably (at least by my standards) and have really really enjoyed the journey.
right now my "mixer" bourbon has moved from Bulleit to Wild Turkey 101 (I find it a bit more complex and wilder than the old frontier stuff). I don't sip it anymore as I've turned just a little bit snobbish for my sipping.
I took the advice form here and got a good handful of bourbons to try and got a new one every month for the last year (I'm not rich, so I try to not have a daily sipper, but something I use as a treat)
each number below marks a month (sometimes I skipped one cuz my wife lost her job during the year and we had to cut back)
1. Elijah Craig Small batch. Honestly, really nice pour compared to bulleit. I was excepting something smoother, but it's much spicier and more vibrant, which I took as a negative at first, but then appreciated more as my flavor palate expanded
2. Black Ridge Bourbon - Recommendation from the guy at total wine. Complete dissapointment. Such a weak pour for $30... seems like the only info on it online is that the total wine employees push it on people . Probably a house brand or something they get a kick back from
3. Four Rose small batch - LOVED this one
4. Four Roses Single barrel. Probably my favorite out of the batch.
5. Jefferson Reserve Groth (I got this as a gift, as I normally don't splurge on $70 bottles), REALLY smooth, REALLY nice, kind of like the effect the aging in wine barrels had on it.
6. Jefferson Reserve regular ... Excellent pour, up there with the Four Roses SiB
7 skipped
8. skipped
9. skipped
10. Henry McKenna 10 year BIB.... REALLY good, kind of half way between the Four roses SMB adn SiB
11. Evan Williams SiB, really damn good, from what I GATHER it's much more like the Elijah Craig 12 year, before Elijah Craig morphed into the SmB
12. Four Roses again, I adore this stuff.
now. I DO have a question. I keep seeing online forums saying that "the single greatest hidden secret is OGD 100 bonded... it tastes like a $40-$50 bottle!".... now I'm naturally suspicious of claims like that, but since I really love the Four Roses SmB and SiB, and OGD is supposed to be a high rye bourbon too, would I be pleased with it? or is it just another "$20 bottle, just like most of the others". I have no problem now drinking less and spending $40 a bottle (which is what McKenna, Four Roses SiB, and Jefferson's Reserve cost around here), but if I can get a great pour for a steal I'm always open to not being a price snob... just didn't want to "downgrade" from what I've become accustomed to if you know what I mean.