make my presence known tonight, you shall learn my thoughts on two more bourbons, my leanings on another and get to see the unveiling of yet another and latest edition of the Top 25.
Ahhhhh yes, Ye Olde Summerthyme Sloedown, when the livin' is anything but easy. Well, I guess instead of the $150-175 I won't make, I'll have to look at it as the $50 I won't spend. Ugh!!!
And what a summer!!! Where is it? It's either a perfectly pleasant and dry 85 or a damp 70. No problem, I can do without the hot, humid and polluted 98's. And the nights here in Lower Dutchess County are dipping down into the 50's, low 50's sometimes.
So, since bourbon and rye season have been extended indefinitely, here's the new Top 25
1. A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 year old
2. Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 year old
3. The Classic Cask Single Batch 20 year old bourbon
4. Booker's True Barrel Bourbon
5. W.L. Weller Wheated 19 year old
6. Distiller's Masterpiece I - Cognac Finish
7. Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 year old
8. George T. Stagg 2002
9. Baker's
10. George T. Stagg 2003
11. Knob Creek
12. Pure Kentucky
13. Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve
14. Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old 107 proof
15. Basil Hayden’s
16. Henry McKenna 10 year old 100 proof bonded
17. Jefferson’s Reserve 15 year old
18. Wild Turkey Rare Breed
19. Blanton’s
20. W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 year old 90 proof
21. Old Commonwealth
22. Elijah Craig 12 year old
23. Eagle Rare 10 year old 101 proof
24. Eagle Rare 17 year old
25. Corner Creek Reserve
As can be seen, the new entries are Nos. 14 and 20. Comments follow below.
Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old 107 proof - A straightforward strong blast of sweet vanilla followed by oak and honeysuckle. Not too complex, always the same, but unique and bold in its flavor. This was the first bourbon in a long time that made me sit up and really take notice, providing me with a different and thought provoking experience. Because of its lack of complexity, I couldn't really get it above No. 14. The first 13 are champions, withstanding many tests of time. This made enough of an impression to have dislodged Basil Hayden's, only the second bourbon after many to place ahead of it. You have to knock the champ out, or at least leave him battered, bloody and staggering. This one came close, but not quite.
W.L. Weller Reserve 7 year old 90 proof - A nice, bold tasting bourbon, with a flavor profile that has certain characteristics interestingly like the abovementioned Old Rip Van Winkle 15. Also lacking in complexity, at times even its boldness is questionable. When it comes to price, it's one of those bang for the buck specials. It did extremely well to crack this elite list, coming in at No. 20, knocking yet another worthy competitor right off the list.
A final word on the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year old bourbon - I am now enjoying (am I really enjoying it?) my fourth and probably last tasting of this $211.82 bottle, before it is passed along to one or two other members of "the club." Although the third tasting impressed me more than the first two, it still tasted like root beer. Now a distiller has to be commended for providing a 95.6 proof bourbon that tastes like root beer, but how much? And in light of the 20 year old being so much better in every respect than this offering, exactly how much respect can I give to it?
Stay tuned.
Ahhhhh yes, Ye Olde Summerthyme Sloedown, when the livin' is anything but easy. Well, I guess instead of the $150-175 I won't make, I'll have to look at it as the $50 I won't spend. Ugh!!!
And what a summer!!! Where is it? It's either a perfectly pleasant and dry 85 or a damp 70. No problem, I can do without the hot, humid and polluted 98's. And the nights here in Lower Dutchess County are dipping down into the 50's, low 50's sometimes.
So, since bourbon and rye season have been extended indefinitely, here's the new Top 25
1. A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 year old
2. Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 year old
3. The Classic Cask Single Batch 20 year old bourbon
4. Booker's True Barrel Bourbon
5. W.L. Weller Wheated 19 year old
6. Distiller's Masterpiece I - Cognac Finish
7. Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 year old
8. George T. Stagg 2002
9. Baker's
10. George T. Stagg 2003
11. Knob Creek
12. Pure Kentucky
13. Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve
14. Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old 107 proof
15. Basil Hayden’s
16. Henry McKenna 10 year old 100 proof bonded
17. Jefferson’s Reserve 15 year old
18. Wild Turkey Rare Breed
19. Blanton’s
20. W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 year old 90 proof
21. Old Commonwealth
22. Elijah Craig 12 year old
23. Eagle Rare 10 year old 101 proof
24. Eagle Rare 17 year old
25. Corner Creek Reserve
As can be seen, the new entries are Nos. 14 and 20. Comments follow below.
Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old 107 proof - A straightforward strong blast of sweet vanilla followed by oak and honeysuckle. Not too complex, always the same, but unique and bold in its flavor. This was the first bourbon in a long time that made me sit up and really take notice, providing me with a different and thought provoking experience. Because of its lack of complexity, I couldn't really get it above No. 14. The first 13 are champions, withstanding many tests of time. This made enough of an impression to have dislodged Basil Hayden's, only the second bourbon after many to place ahead of it. You have to knock the champ out, or at least leave him battered, bloody and staggering. This one came close, but not quite.
W.L. Weller Reserve 7 year old 90 proof - A nice, bold tasting bourbon, with a flavor profile that has certain characteristics interestingly like the abovementioned Old Rip Van Winkle 15. Also lacking in complexity, at times even its boldness is questionable. When it comes to price, it's one of those bang for the buck specials. It did extremely well to crack this elite list, coming in at No. 20, knocking yet another worthy competitor right off the list.
A final word on the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year old bourbon - I am now enjoying (am I really enjoying it?) my fourth and probably last tasting of this $211.82 bottle, before it is passed along to one or two other members of "the club." Although the third tasting impressed me more than the first two, it still tasted like root beer. Now a distiller has to be commended for providing a 95.6 proof bourbon that tastes like root beer, but how much? And in light of the 20 year old being so much better in every respect than this offering, exactly how much respect can I give to it?
Stay tuned.