Any bourbon aficionados here?

[/pine]

FWIW...
A splash of good spring or branch water does a lot more than just dilute the alcohol...
Many of the aromas and flavors are oil based...good water separates the oils and opens up the bourbon...it allows all the flavors and aromas come through...

Can't remember what distillery it was or the name of the bourbon but a bottle of their bourbon came with a bottle of water because they didn't want folks lousing up their bourbon with crappy water...!

Ice made with general tap water can ruin a good bourbon...

 

[Citydude]

The MB Rowland uncut, unfiltered bourbon I like is remarkable with ice after the ice melts a tad. Not so much without ice.

 

[Citydude]

My favorite is cask strength, no ice, no water… just from the barrel to my lips

I tried an highly recommended Elijah Craig barrel proof cask strength that was 128 proof. Once past my lips, it burned all the way down with a hint of smoke. Lol

 

[NoTrespassing]

I'm pleased to hear you like your Whisky but from Scotland it is without an 'E' I am in the UK and am spoiled for choice. You really must try Glenkinchie or Aberlour medium priced but very good. It must also be Single Malt not blended. Enjoy!!!!

Yes, I got it completely backwards, and I haven't even been drinking either Whiskey or Whisky right now.

 

[DelBoy22]

I'm pleased to hear you like your Whisky but from Scotland it is without an 'E' I am in the UK and am spoiled for choice. You really must try Glenkinchie or Aberlour medium priced but very good. It must also be Single Malt not blended. Enjoy!!!!

 

[yubh8tn]

I prefer it Neat. Woodford Reserve, Baker's Single Barrel and JD are my favs

 

[gstrom99]

A bit of pure spring branch water actually enhances the flavor of many whiskeys...

Wild Turkey here.

1. What's the difference between Spring and Pure Spring Branch water?
2. How do us "at home" types make good - clear ice cubes?

 

[/pine]

Wild Turkey here.

1. What's the difference between Spring and Pure Spring Branch water?
2. How do us "at home" types make good - clear ice cubes?

You can buy bottled "branch" water...but just like the bottled spring water you never know exactly where it's from or what processes it's been through...when I said pure I meant authentic...

to make ice...just use a quality bottled "spring" water...and ice trays...

We're lucky...we have authentic branch/spring water coming out of our taps...(gravity fed straight from where it comes out of the mountain...)

 

[Racenut]

I like bourbon. I like rye. I have whiskey snob friends. I watch whiskey reviews. I've tried a lot and drink more than my wife thinks I should. What I've learned is.... It's all subjective. Even my own tastes have changed over the years. Everyone has their preferences. I really dislike Jim Beam, others hold it as the standard of what a "real bourbon" should be. And I'm sure some think my favorites are undrinkable swill as well.

Bulleit is my goto. It's affordable and easy to find, $35 at Costco for a 1.75L
Larceny - more affordable, harder to find. Sweet with vanilla.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked - I got this as a gift at Christmas. I've tried regular WR and it was OK but nothing that turned my crank. This double oaked stuff does though. I really like it.
Blantons - used to be a great pour for $50. Now it's crazy hard to find and gets marked up to $areyoukiddingme
Eagle Rare - Another good one that got popular and now getting expensive and harder to find.
Bookers - 125 proof and surprisingly smooth for a hot one. Mostly keep it around for an "Oh yeah, but have you tried..."
Clyde May's Cask Strength - really enjoyed this one, but we were also on vacation with friends so that might have helped. Good times

 

[bigtiller]

I like Angel's Envy, aged in Port? barrels, which adds a Port note. Woodford Reserve, Makers when mixed.
I hate getting an Old Fashioned with cube ice. Diluted way too quickly. I bought a large cube maker, round actually, the size of a tennis ball. Very slow melting.
Price isn't a good indicater of quality.
I like to go to distillery tastings, cheap investment before buying. And I usually learn something along the way...

I tried Angel's Envy last Christmas. 3 of us compared it to Jim Beam in a sampling test with crackers and water to clean the pallet.

It was a close race but Angel's Envy won out because it is a little smoother.

I don't know what either bottle cost, they were both gifts.

 

[airbiscuit]

From the Buffalo Trace website:
“Named after Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee, this whiskey is hand selected and bottled to the taste and standards of Elmer T. Lee himself. Perfectly balanced and rich, as declared by the man who knows how great bourbon should taste.”
Company Website

Elmer T Lee overview

Elmer T Lee (often called ETL for short) is a Buffalo Trace Single Barrel bourbon made from the slightly higher-rye mash #2, also used for Rock Hill Farms, Blanton’s, Hancock’s Reserve, and Ancient Age. All of those except Ancient Age are single barrel.

If you didn’t know before, Mash #2 is owned by Ancient Age International (a Japanese company) not Buffalo Trace. My guess is that Ancient Age has a lot of say in the production of those bourbons, which could explain why all of them except Ancient Age are especially difficult to find in the US, but less so in Japan where Blanton’s is fairly common.

Elmer T Lee Bourbon one of the company’s master distillers, and is supposed to emulate what he would have picked himself. For better or worse, this bourbon is highly sought-after, so getting a bottle, let alone a pour of this can be very difficult.


Now if you’re wondering how Buffalo Trace decides what barrels become Elmer T Lee, Blanton’s, Rock Hill Farms, or Hancock’s Reserve, I couldn’t tell you. I only know that they have different alcohol content. Uncertainty aside, let’s find out more about this bourbon in this Elmer T Lee review.

You used to be able to buy it for $40 - then he died and it got discovered ...

 

[NoTrespassing]

The first time I tried Johnnie Walker Blue Label it was a shot purchased for me at a golf course bar by an old guy I had never met. Strange, I know, but he knew my neighbor who was golfing with me that day. He overheard our table discussing Whisky and told me I had to try it. The waitress gave me a little envelope with a blue poker chip in it. The guy had already left the bar and the waitress says, this is a $25 chip for Johnnie Walker Blue. I kept that chip in my billfold for weeks until I saw the guy again and tried to buy him a shot. He refused so I ended up drinking it alone. It's about the smoothest Whisky I've had.

 

[jyoutz]

The first time I tried Johnnie Walker Blue Label it was a shot purchased for me at a golf course bar by an old guy I had never met. Strange, I know, but he knew my neighbor who was golfing with me that day. He overheard our table discussing Whisky and told me I had to try it. The waitress gave me a little envelope with a blue poker chip in it. The guy had already left the bar and the waitress says, this is a $25 chip for Johnnie Walker Blue. I kept that chip in my billfold for weeks until I saw the guy again and tried to buy him a shot. He refused so I ended up drinking it alone. It's about the smoothest Whisky I've had.

It’s not Bourbon, but some of the smoothest whiskey I’ve tried are Irish whiskeys. There are many brands, but my favorite is Tullamore Dew.

 

[BigBlue1]

Bulleit Rye is my go-to. Maker's Mark is great also.

 

[crashz]

I cut my teeth on Johnny Walker Red. Always neat, but I get what /pine said about the water helping to bring flavor. Once I developed a taste for whiskey, I have tried and liked quite a few, hated a couple and keep a few as my go to sippin whiskeys:

In the liquor cabinet: Lead Slingers (a nice light bourbon, owned and operated by veterans), Jameson, Quiet Man (a great irish whiskey) and Aberlour 15yr scotch.

It funny that some "cheap" whiskeys are really tasty. J&B is one that I thought of a bottom shelf, but I like it. Gotta give Wild Turkey 101 a shot now that I see the reviews.

Avoid any whisky bottled with "maple" flavor (that was a local mistake) and I think I bought a blended bourbon from Cleveland distillery that was pretty bad too.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Not on topic I guess, but what was up with the "moonshine" craze a few years ago? Do any of you drink that stuff? A friend of mine went all in on a distillery and it lasted about 2 years. I cannot stand the stuff and have tried several.

 

[Citydude]

I cut my teeth on Johnny Walker Red. Always neat, but I get what /pine said about the water helping to bring flavor. Once I developed a taste for whiskey, I have tried and liked quite a few, hated a couple and keep a few as my go to sippin whiskeys:

In the liquor cabinet: Lead Slingers (a nice light bourbon, owned and operated by veterans), Jameson, Quiet Man (a great irish whiskey) and Aberlour 15yr scotch.

It funny that some "cheap" whiskeys are really tasty. J&B is one that I thought of a bottom shelf, but I like it. Gotta give Wild Turkey 101 a shot now that I see the reviews.

Avoid any whisky bottled with "maple" flavor (that was a local mistake) and I think I bought a blended bourbon from Cleveland distillery that was pretty bad too.

Old Grandad bottled and bond is great for $23.00

 

[Sigarms]

Blantons - used to be a great pour for $50. Now it's crazy hard to find and gets marked up to $areyoukiddingme

What does the following mean if I may ask...

Dumped on 5-13-22
Our Rick No. 31

I actually bought a bottle of Blanton's for a guy who had a specific request as a Christmas present. If it tells you anything, I went to the liquor store looking for a bottle LMAO

I don't really drink, but for that that bottle ran me, I had to take a picture of it as first time I saw handwriting on a bottle per "information" (perhaps a nice trick to raise the price LOL).

For the price, I also asked if he would pour me a small glass because I HAD to try it.

Alc/Vol % was 65.9 and it was 131.8 proof. I will have to admit, it was pretty darn smooth, but no way would I normally spend that kind of money for one bottle. It also took 3 weeks for it to come in, WAY after Dec. 25th.

When I use to drink, I was always a bottom shelf kind of guy because after more than a couple, who really cares? LOL

 

[Citydude]

Not on topic I guess, but what was up with the "moonshine" craze a few years ago? Do any of you drink that stuff? A friend of mine went all in on a distillery and it lasted about 2 years. I cannot stand the stuff and have tried several.

The "craft" distillers seem to pump the shine out. No, the shines I've tasted were not worth the money.

I was in Jackson Hole last year and a local distiller was giving samples of his whisky. It was like drinking fingernail polish. Politely said no thanks.

 

[Citydude]

What does the following mean if I may ask...

Dumped on 5-13-22
Our Rick No. 31

I actually bought a bottle of Blanton's for a guy who had a specific request as a Christmas present. If it tells you anything, I went to the liquor store looking for a bottle LMAO

I don't really drink, but for that that bottle ran me, I had to take a picture of it as first time I saw handwriting on a bottle per "information" (perhaps a nice trick to raise the price LOL).

For the price, I also asked if he would pour me a small glass because I HAD to try it.

Alc/Vol % was 65.9 and it was 131.8 proof. I will have to admit, it was pretty darn smooth, but no way would I normally spend that kind of money for one bottle. It also took 3 weeks for it to come in, WAY after Dec. 25th.

When I use to drink, I was always a bottom shelf kind of guy because after more than a couple, who really cares? LOL

Dump date is when the bourbon left the barrel. A rick is the building the barrels are stored.