A Period Of Contraction. Whenever . . .

I've become interested in something like cigars, or when I rediscovered my fascination with railroading, both the real thing and toy trains, I develop a voracious appetite to go out there and find out as much as possible in as short a period of time as I can and become as proficient and knowledgeable as I can be.

Without going into details about how I've read diesel locomotive rosters and manuals, or how as the cigar boom was progressing through its final stages into the post boom seriousness that now exists in the culture, I was running all over the place buying any and every cigar, old and new releases, reading everything I could, talking to as many people with experience as I could get to answer certain questions, just to . . .

well, just to "get educated," and find out where I stand with the subject of my interest and where certain aspects of my subject of interest stand with me.

And so it is with bourbon. About two years ago, two or three years after first tasting bourbon, I stepped up my quest to taste as many as possible, educating my palate and increasing my knowledge, I embarked on a course that has led to my having had experiences with no less than about 35-40 and perhaps even more different offerings from many distilleries.

Once I realized that I had "found my spirit" in bourbon, and later rye, I had to find out of all the ones out there which ones I would like the best and therefore like to have around. I thought developing a Top Ten would be a worthwhile goal. About that time I also made the acquaintance of . . .

The Man Who Would Become . . .

My Whiskey Sensei . . .

our own Hollow Point, . . .

who never made a hollow point in his life, . . .

not even in the crib. He was already a thinking man, well on his way to becoming . . .

Scotchland Yard's Finest, . . .

The Whiskey Dogg Detective!!!

Yes, a 13th Dan Whiskey Man, the highest rank, one of only twelve men in the world to ever hold a 13th Dan Red Amber Belt, higher than all the other belts within the 13th Dan, with only five of those men still alive.

But now I'm sated. Not to say I'll never try another bourbon, but I think with a Top 25, it's time to sit back and enjoy a vast array of bourbons that I know I like and not pursue strangers as I have done until recently. I have expanded to the point where it is now time to contract, the old "go for what you know" philosophy. But I couldn't have gotten there without the experiences that led me to the list below. Aside from the Colonel's constant reminder to try Fighting Rooster 103 proof bourbon, one I've always been curious about, and with all the famous names either near the bottom of or not even on my list, it's just time to sit back, . . .

and enjoy.

One mo' time, the latest list, the definitive Top 25 Bloofy Bourbon List.

And the band played on.

Bloofingtonian Top 25 of Bourbon

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. Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 year old
21. W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 year old 90 proof
22. Old Commonwealth
23. Elijah Craig 12 year old
24. Eagle Rare 10 year old 101 proof
25. Eagle Rare 17 year old

Welcome En4cer71, yes, I like my bourbon straight up and sipped slowly over time. I also stir my bourbon with a chopstick and wait 25 minutes after pouring to take my first sip, because I feel I like how it tastes better at that point and proceeding from there.

As for what you should try, I really believe that people should just sort of take their own shots and see what "hits" they get, because your taste buds are what's important to you, not mine. My taste buds are no good to you, but one suggestion I might make is the following: try my No. 7. It's what I not only refer to as "classic bourbon" as far as its flavor profile, but in my opinion it is also "perfect bourbon." Not my favorite, but still "perfect bourbon" to me.

Yes indeed, Colonel. Knob Creek has proven to be a stalwart bourbon, also distilled to be "classic bourbon" in my book. Just for the record, when I say "classic bourbon" I mean that certain flavors seem to prevail, like oak, candy apple, caramel, even cinnamon and vanilla.

Other flavors like honeysuckle, straw, and nutty, grainy flavors seem to prevail among what I refer to as "summertime" bourbons, a concept actually introduced to me by BigTom47 and again by Hollow Point. What was so interesting to me recently was that my new No. 14 bourbon, Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old 107 proof has an entry which is an astounding blast of vanilla extract followed by a lot of honeysuckle and perhaps another flavor or two on the finish. Very confusing, since it's hard to pinpoint as a "classic" or "summertime" bourbon. The confusion is compounded by the fact that there's too much vanilla and not enough spice in the oak to categorize it as a classic bourbon, but it's such a fullness and boldness of flavor, particularly in the vanilla, that it's simply too heavy to be called a summertime bourbon.

Being 107 proof doesn't help make it a summertime bourbon either.

Greetings, My Goode Sensei, and yes, I agree . . .

because as you can see, I finally concluded and stopped short of calling Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old 107 proof bourbon a summertime bourbon. The strong honeysuckle after the initial blast of vanilla did throw me during my first two or three tastings. And I assure you I would never take it any style except straight up, . . .


or perhaps on my breakfast cereal.

Yes, I forgot to mention that I know about those 98 and 99 ratings you mentioned. And if the Pappy's 20 is anything like the two bottles I had, is it any wonder that it's still my No. 2, and I sometimes wonder why it's not No. 1? Two other friends of mine liked it better than the Hirsch 16 hands down, after multiple tastings, and they're not even bourbon drinkers!

mg:

All gone!?!!??! Already?!?!!?!!????!!???

:banghead:

Whooping somebody's ACID?!?!?!!???? Boy, you West Coast folks sure talk funny.

Oh, I don't have anything against Tennessee whiskey, not at all. I have some friends who are big fans of it. It's got a nice taste. I've had regular Jack, Single Barrel Jack and Gentleman Jack. All nice. That's pretty funny about how you got Jack Green. I'll have to check the liquor stores.

Why, what do you mean,
You don't have Jack Green,
I'll send my friend The Dinosaur,
And he'll put you on the floor,
As with Jack Green,
I walk out the door.

"four times removed (by the police at least twice no doubt)"



Very nice to have Cigar Man in the house. Brick by brick this site sure is looking good these days. And some of these discussions could use a break from my weird sense of humor and digressions. :wink: :shock: