A new Bloofy Top 25 of Bourbon . . .

Joined Sep 2003
9K Posts | 0+
Puerto Rico/NYC
is in the works, and should be ready for posting later this week. Look for The Classic Cask 20 year old bourbon to make the Top Five, as I desire one more tasting, which will be my fourth, before deciding on its position.

On another very pleasant note in the venue of fine American whiskey production, once again I happened into Park Avenue Liquors on (don't ask, don't tell :wink: ) Madison Avenue Monday morning, having been let out of We Can Kick Your Law Firm's Tuchas a bit early and happened upon The Classic Cask 22 year old rye!!!

Now, you will remember that about a month and a half ago I was endowed with the means to satisfy my curiosity by purchasing a bottle of their 21 year old rye, distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2003. Since 2003 minus 1981 is 22 years, I figure it's distilled in the fall and bottled in the late winter, early spring, hence pegging the aging at 21 years, not a full 22.

It turns out that premise on my part was probably correct because when I got this bottle home Monday afternoon I noted that it too was distilled in 1981, probably the same production line, but bottled in 2004.

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY, THAT'S THIS YEAR, AND THIS YEAR IS ONLY . . .

well, it's only 96 days old, so indeed The Classic Cask obviously bottles early in the year. Sorry, don't know if that's standard industry practice. So, hence we have their 22 year old rye. And nicely enough, it didn't cost a penny more than the 21.

But who cares, Bloof? I mean, outside of the fact that it's just a year older, there's obviously no difference, right? So, why buy it when there's other worlds to explore, right?

Wellllllllllll, you can always twist my arm with an age statement, especially the long ones like 21 or 22 years. And yes, folks, the 22 does have a different color and flavor profile than the 21 year old. No, I'm not saying it's huge, but that last year did make a difference. More on this to follow, but again folks, I don't know who these folks at The Classic Cask are, but . . .

Everything I've had so far is classic, . . .

classically good. :D