Now That I've Been Exposed As a Pathetic Liar, . . .

I guess it IS time to come clean.

It's true. Bourbon/Rye Season has been prolonged due to the cool, extremely windy spring we've had. I shouldn't have said that the other review was my last. I should know better. I've only been living up here for five years, but it's way different than the city. Oh sure, we've had the mid-April heat waves with temperatures in the mid-90's, but we've had, and we do get everything up here.

So, I confess, I CONFESS, I THROW MYSELF ON THE MERCY OF THE COURT OF THE PEOPLE'S OPINION. :cry: :cry: :cry:

:help: :help: :help: :giveup: :giveup:

:boohoo:

IT'S TRUE, IT'S ALL TRUE, IT'S TRUE ABOUT THE TRIP TO BEEKMAN'S!!!

I confess, it's all true. I've even considered buying a bottle of regular Jim Beam lately, just to give it a try, or heaven forbid, . . .

mg: mg: mg:

OLD CROW!!!!!

Would you believe Kentucky Gentleman???

:dunno: :flush:

So, here I am with another carefully thought out review, contemplated over many tastings and a long time.

Noah's Mill. Once again, we have an offering from that mysterious "other small batch bourbon" group, distillery, whatever, the one that makes Old Commonwealth, Pure Kentucky, Kentucky Vintage, etc. Noah's Mill is 15 years old and 114.3 proof. It has a most interesting dark brown color, and I do mean brown, although technically speaking, some people might refer to it as very dark amber. It's perhaps the darkest bourbon I've ever seen outside of Booker's. The color is surprisingly entrancing to look at and the flavor profile is crisp, extremely complex, somewhat weird, and one of the boldest flavored, most intriguing bourbons I've ever run across. It's also just plain very, very fine stuff.

BUT, my reviews are based on objectivity AND subjectivity. It means I'm reviewing it based on my opinion of it's texture, finish, flavor profile, complexity or lack thereof, and last, but certainly not least, whether or not I just plain like it. Just because I think something is really fine whiskey, doesn't mean I'm going to like it all that much.

And that's why this review, like so many recently, was so difficult, because this bourbon is wonderful, but not quite, . . .

right, . . .

for me. The flavor profile is distinct, very, very, extremely woody, with a heavy overlay of canned plums in syrup, and a cranberry juice flavor occasionally popping out, with a very long, and rather dry finish of tree sap, or gum made from tree sap. This last flavor sometimes manifests itself as something I tasted a long time ago, perhaps something like a spice or a root used in Puerto Rican cooking. It's somewhere in my memory banks, but I just can't place it.

At any rate, because I prefer the straightforward, primarily sweet, candy like bourbons, with long finishes, but not dry ones, I had to stifle the temptation to rate this among my highest bourbons. And it went head up with some old favorites for it's placement. I paid a "walk-out price" of $56.48 for my first bottle, but have since found a place that has it for a walk-out price of $38.01. Most people will wind up paying a total of $50-55, but it's worth it. It is definitely that good.

And it winds up at No. 18, for some strange reason not able to knock Basil Hayden's out of it's spot. Basil Hayden's is pretty much Johnny One Note and weak at 80 proof, but it's extremely pleasant, very consistent and unique, and right up my alley. I just couldn't put Noah's Mill ahead of it, but it's definitely a "better" bourbon when it comes to certain rating categories.

Here's the new Bloofingtonian Top 25 of Bourbon, as Pappy's 23 drops out. Good, it really didn't belong there in the first place. And although I think it's finally going to get too hot to drink bourbon around here really soon, the nights can get pretty cool around here in Dutchess County during the summer. I have been known to go for some weak bourbon in the basement after a 95-100 degree afternoon turned into a 60 degree late night period.

Old Pogue, anyone??? :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

Top 25 Bourbon List

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
4. Booker's True Barrel
5. W.L. Weller Wheated 19 year old
6. Distiller's Masterpiece I - Cognac Finish
7. Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 year old
8. The Classic Cask Single Batch 18 year old
9. George T. Stagg 2002
10. Baker's
11. George T. Stagg 2003
12. Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 year old
13. Knob Creek
14. Pure Kentucky
15. Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve
16. Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old
17. Basil Hayden’s
18. Noah’s Mill
19. Henry McKenna 10 year old bonded
20. Rowan’s Creek
21. Jefferson’s Reserve 15 year old
22. Wild Turkey Rare Breed
23. Blanton’s
24. Kentucky Vintage
25. Fighting Cock 6 year old

I know, I know, I'm trying to move the post, but can't remember how to do it. It belongs in Spiritus Fermenti. :duh: :duh: :flush:

Yup, first saw a bottle of that about three months ago at Astor Wines. LeNell's is also listing that item, as is Binny's.

They're breakin' up that ol' gang o' mine.

:cry: :cry: :dunno: :flush: :grumble: :cry: :grumble: :argh: :fineprint: :cry:

mg: :bigpuke: mg: :bigpuke: mg: :bigpuke:

That is one of the ugliest bottle design/repackagings I've ever seen.

Those kicks just keep gettin' harder to find. :dunno:

Jimmy Russell should fire the guy who came up with that crap. That new design might force me to rerate that bourbon. :cryinlaugh: :cryinlaugh: :cryinlaugh:

Money, money, money, money. :dunno: :flush:

I'm not sure, but I might have told you that everyone has already raised their price on Russell's Reserve, starting about a month ago. Of course, everyone is still selling the beautiful bottle, with the old design. That's how you prep the masses, first you raise the price, . . .

BAM!!! THEN you hit them with the change.

:dunno:

And I feel you're right, Russell's Reserve is probably destined to get whacked, like so many of our other favorites. Since all the distilleries are now owned by multinational giants, it's no wonder. They keep the good ol' boyahs around to MAKE the stuff, but as far as how it's going to come out, what proof, packaging and price, that's all in the hands of the guys with the power suits, and the laptop carrying assistants. So, pretty soon, we'll be a nation of six year old, 80 proof generic bourbons that you can hardly tell apart.

Up until about two months ago, the standard price on all my favorite web sites was $22.99. And so now you're telling me it's 90 proof, huh? Well, I ain't reservin' any more Russell's Reserve, and it looks like another one of my favorites has gone by the wayside. Guess I'll have to start putting asterisks on my Top 25 to warn some people that the ones I rated are no longer available. :dunno:

Yes boatswain, excellent observation. And believe me, I've tried. A few years ago, at about the time that the last of many good whiskies were slowly dying while corporate mergers continued to gobble up independent distilleries, and before the insidious "drop the proof" mania that's going on hit the whiskey business, I tried.

I tried more than one bottle of Woodford's Reserve. As a matter of fact, there's a post on here somewhere with me basically coming right out and admitting that there's something wrong with me, because that many people can't be wrong. But it's true, I hate the stuff. Don't know why, but I've tried enough to know I don't like it. Sorry, because I understand where you're coming from, so I admit there's something wrong with me. It's me, not the rest of the world. I'm the crazy one. :sm_angel: