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Out of both curiosity and a sense of ancestry, I have recently begun experimenting with other spirits. For reasons I'm not quite clear on, I started this adventure with bourbon whiskey. Bourbon is a whiskey produced in a very specific area in Kentucky, benefiting from the limestone aquifers who's high purity waters contain NO residual iron, an element that is very detrimental to producing quality spirits (but I'm not sure why) all bourbons are whiskeys but not all whiskeys are bourbons (reminiscent of the "all tequilas are mezcals..." statement). A bourbon must contain at least 51% corn (or indian corn, as it was originally mandated) and at least 2 other grains in various ratio's, can only be called "straight" bourbon if aged in freshly charred oak barrels for a minimum of 2 yrs, any other length of stay in barrels must be added to the label, and most importantly, must contain all natural ingredients (ie, no colorings, flavorings or anything other than water). Typically bourbons are bottled at proofs higher than standard spirits and surprisingly, are very smooth for being so high in alcohol.
Bourbons are truly an American spirit having been produced from corn rather than wheat and/or rye which gave this new spirit a specific flavor and was a hit with the new immigrants to the American frontier. In a way I'd assume Mexicans must feel when drinking tequila, I felt a sense of personal connection while tasting these bourbon whiskeys. Whiskey was the original way farmers "stored" their excess produce and was very much a form of currency to the early inhabitants of Americas. And what's more, whiskey and tobacco seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, thus all the tastings below were preformed with a high quality cigar in hand.
So with this in mind, I began a small tasting. Much to my surprise, I found bourbon whiskey to be very sippable with wood flavors that reminded a bit of extra aged tequilas. Below is my tasting notes. Of them all I found the Woodford reserve to be the absolutely delicious and something I will definitely return to! Two of these whiskeys I tasted are not bourbons but I found them interesting enough to include in this list.
Knob Creek (9yr) 50% abv
Dark amber color, complex nose with some fruit scents. Strong alcohol attack on front end, slightly sweet middle, full body in middle, alcohol remains thru to end, no bitterness at end. Left tongue tingly/numb. Flavors seem overpowered by strong alcohol attack.
Kentucky Vintage (small batch) 45% abv
Medium to dark amber color, very fruity nose, nose seemingly less complex than previous bourbons. Slight attack on front end, noticeably woody flavors with little complexity. Taste not nearly as sweet as nose would have predicted. Slight bitterness at end
Makers Mark 40% abv
Rich amber color, light fruity nose, some wood and alcohol in scent, clear caramel in nose .Gentle attack, little to no significant alcohol feel on either front nor finish, nice complexity and with a smooth gentle finish. No bitterness on end.
Basil Hayden’s 8 yr straight Kentucky bourbon (40% abv)
Rich amber color, deep sweet fruity nose, moderate legs, slight wood scent. Very smooth attack, warm, not hot on the front, sweet flavors on the frontend with long straw finish and slightly bitter at end. despite being the least alcoholic of all bourbons being tasted, this one had the most alcohol feel to it.
Labrot and Graham “Woodford Reserve” 45.2% abv.
Dark amber color, peppery nose, some carmel flavors with a dark deep chocolate overtones, some fruit scents but very faint, some toasted wood in nose, too. Very easy attack, almost nonexistent, with a wonderfully full and complex flavors, no noticeable sweetness, a dry lovely finish, no bitterness, just a fine trailing off finish. Tastes as though there is little alcohol although it’s nearly 100 proof! Very nice juice.
Austin Nichols “Wild Turkey”, 101 proof.
Dark amber color, nose is unusually slight, some sweetness but mostly muted in complexity. Attack is solid but not overwhelming. Warm to hot on the middle with a very pleasing finish. Nice dry middle to finish, no noticeable sweetness.
Austin Nichols “Wild Turkey” Rye whiskey (101 proof)
Nice dark amber color, nose very different from earlier tasted bourbons, somewhat complex nose. Attack is noticeable but not overwhelming, clean middle to finish, no bitterness nor obvious fruitiness and/or sweetness. Clean aftertaste. Nice.
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey (47% abv)
Nice amber color, rich complex nose with hints of caramel and fruit. Very gentle attack, pleasant frontal sweetness with rich complexity in middle and finish. Finish is clean and not too long. Very nice
Bourbons are truly an American spirit having been produced from corn rather than wheat and/or rye which gave this new spirit a specific flavor and was a hit with the new immigrants to the American frontier. In a way I'd assume Mexicans must feel when drinking tequila, I felt a sense of personal connection while tasting these bourbon whiskeys. Whiskey was the original way farmers "stored" their excess produce and was very much a form of currency to the early inhabitants of Americas. And what's more, whiskey and tobacco seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, thus all the tastings below were preformed with a high quality cigar in hand.
So with this in mind, I began a small tasting. Much to my surprise, I found bourbon whiskey to be very sippable with wood flavors that reminded a bit of extra aged tequilas. Below is my tasting notes. Of them all I found the Woodford reserve to be the absolutely delicious and something I will definitely return to! Two of these whiskeys I tasted are not bourbons but I found them interesting enough to include in this list.
Knob Creek (9yr) 50% abv
Dark amber color, complex nose with some fruit scents. Strong alcohol attack on front end, slightly sweet middle, full body in middle, alcohol remains thru to end, no bitterness at end. Left tongue tingly/numb. Flavors seem overpowered by strong alcohol attack.
Kentucky Vintage (small batch) 45% abv
Medium to dark amber color, very fruity nose, nose seemingly less complex than previous bourbons. Slight attack on front end, noticeably woody flavors with little complexity. Taste not nearly as sweet as nose would have predicted. Slight bitterness at end
Makers Mark 40% abv
Rich amber color, light fruity nose, some wood and alcohol in scent, clear caramel in nose .Gentle attack, little to no significant alcohol feel on either front nor finish, nice complexity and with a smooth gentle finish. No bitterness on end.
Basil Hayden’s 8 yr straight Kentucky bourbon (40% abv)
Rich amber color, deep sweet fruity nose, moderate legs, slight wood scent. Very smooth attack, warm, not hot on the front, sweet flavors on the frontend with long straw finish and slightly bitter at end. despite being the least alcoholic of all bourbons being tasted, this one had the most alcohol feel to it.
Labrot and Graham “Woodford Reserve” 45.2% abv.
Dark amber color, peppery nose, some carmel flavors with a dark deep chocolate overtones, some fruit scents but very faint, some toasted wood in nose, too. Very easy attack, almost nonexistent, with a wonderfully full and complex flavors, no noticeable sweetness, a dry lovely finish, no bitterness, just a fine trailing off finish. Tastes as though there is little alcohol although it’s nearly 100 proof! Very nice juice.
Austin Nichols “Wild Turkey”, 101 proof.
Dark amber color, nose is unusually slight, some sweetness but mostly muted in complexity. Attack is solid but not overwhelming. Warm to hot on the middle with a very pleasing finish. Nice dry middle to finish, no noticeable sweetness.
Austin Nichols “Wild Turkey” Rye whiskey (101 proof)
Nice dark amber color, nose very different from earlier tasted bourbons, somewhat complex nose. Attack is noticeable but not overwhelming, clean middle to finish, no bitterness nor obvious fruitiness and/or sweetness. Clean aftertaste. Nice.
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey (47% abv)
Nice amber color, rich complex nose with hints of caramel and fruit. Very gentle attack, pleasant frontal sweetness with rich complexity in middle and finish. Finish is clean and not too long. Very nice
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ianadmin
10 January 2009 - 03:35 PM
While I too am not a drinker of many spirits aside from tequila, I used to enjoy Scotch whisky - peaty single malts in particular - maybe 30 years ago. I stopped drinking anything stronger than wine or sake for many years. Then I discovered tequila. But by then I had learned control and discipline in my imbibing.
I also like some grappas, although I find them inconsistent. Mostly I stick to wine, sake and beer for my alcoholic indulgences. But a friend brought over several brands of Scotch for my edification after dinner a few months back and it reminded me that there is life outside the tequila universe. I'm not sure if I'd invest a lot in anything, but I might treat myself to a bottle of good Scotch one of these days.
But nothing beats a good tequila, in my books.
I also like some grappas, although I find them inconsistent. Mostly I stick to wine, sake and beer for my alcoholic indulgences. But a friend brought over several brands of Scotch for my edification after dinner a few months back and it reminded me that there is life outside the tequila universe. I'm not sure if I'd invest a lot in anything, but I might treat myself to a bottle of good Scotch one of these days.
But nothing beats a good tequila, in my books.
Don Azulito
12 January 2009 - 12:51 PM
Despite loving the taste and flavor of wine, it tends to give me a monster headache within the second glass. Hard liquor, surprisingly, doesn't give me much of a headache until the next day!
And yes, nothing beats a good tequila, however, when I sip bourbon and other whiskeys, I feel a connection not unlike that which native Mexicans must feel when sipping tequila.... or at least what I suppose they would feel when sipping tequila!
And yes, nothing beats a good tequila, however, when I sip bourbon and other whiskeys, I feel a connection not unlike that which native Mexicans must feel when sipping tequila.... or at least what I suppose they would feel when sipping tequila!
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Adventures with bourbon whiskey
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