SapperDawg
12-31-2014, 03:34 PM
Greetings fellow bourbon lovers, Happy New Year, and Go Dawgs in the Orange Bowl!
This week's tasting coming live from my office in HSV, AL is part of my coveted collection. Let me take a sidebar for a moment. I classify my bourbon stash into three categories:
1. Everyday drinkers: For me, these are the mid-to-lower shelf bottles that I rotate. Examples are Old Charter, Four Roses Yellow Label, WL Weller and the like.
2. Half gone means get gone: These are the next step up on the shelf, but don?t necessitate me keeping them around to enjoy over long periods of time, as they are always readily available. Examples are Woodford Reserve, Makers 46, Eagle Rare, and Elijah Craig 12. My rule is once the bottle is half gone, time to drink that one up and get it out of the stash.
3. Covet Collection: These are the rare bottles that you can?t find readily. Currently in my stash: Those Woodford Master's below and two pints of Old Charter 10. These bottles make an appearance once or twice a year for special occasions, NYE being one of those.
The Maple edition is the oldest, as you can tell from the level in the bottle, followed by the Four Wood and then this year's release is the Sonama-Cutrer. We are going to kick off tasting in about 30 minutes, so tasting notes to follow.
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo192/scumglove/Mobile%20Uploads/18514935-FDD0-4A4F-8B8C-3C48C10344A2_zpswis5x9vu.jpg (http://s375.photobucket.com/user/scumglove/media/Mobile%20Uploads/18514935-FDD0-4A4F-8B8C-3C48C10344A2_zpswis5x9vu.jpg.html)
ETA tasting notes:
We started with the maple, and it was very smooth with just the hint of a maple taste. It is mature Woodford Reserve that is then aged in a maple barrel. This is just a damn good bourbon expression.
We moved to the Four Wood (mature Woodford then aged in maple, oloroso sherry and port barrels) and it had a bit more bite, despite being the same proof as the maple, but was clearly the most flavorful and the favorite of our group.
We moved then to the Sonoma, and found it to be much sweeter than the others, but again, very smooth.
We finished with the Wild Turkey Diamond, and I have to tell you what a pleasant suprise this was:
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo192/scumglove/Mobile%20Uploads/04FAB809-9E9F-4A9B-A8BA-921347B744CD_zpscqvtb33s.jpg (http://s375.photobucket.com/user/scumglove/media/Mobile%20Uploads/04FAB809-9E9F-4A9B-A8BA-921347B744CD_zpscqvtb33s.jpg.html)
This was a smooth, flavorful bourbon that was not at all what I expected. I have historically not been a fan of the Turkey, save the 101 Rye, but this was really good. You could serve this one to anyone, bourbon snob or not and feel comfortable.
I want to finish with a cocktail I have been making for my wife and her sisters the last few years - the Woodford Ruby:
6 oz red wine (I like a good red blend)
3 oz Woodford
2 oz simple suyrp (or agave nectar)
2 tsp lemon juice
Add all to a shaker with ice and mix vigerously, serve in a martini glass. This is a cocktail you and your lady can be satisfied with.
All the best in this upcoming new year. May we all find our Pappy 23 this year.
Sapper
This week's tasting coming live from my office in HSV, AL is part of my coveted collection. Let me take a sidebar for a moment. I classify my bourbon stash into three categories:
1. Everyday drinkers: For me, these are the mid-to-lower shelf bottles that I rotate. Examples are Old Charter, Four Roses Yellow Label, WL Weller and the like.
2. Half gone means get gone: These are the next step up on the shelf, but don?t necessitate me keeping them around to enjoy over long periods of time, as they are always readily available. Examples are Woodford Reserve, Makers 46, Eagle Rare, and Elijah Craig 12. My rule is once the bottle is half gone, time to drink that one up and get it out of the stash.
3. Covet Collection: These are the rare bottles that you can?t find readily. Currently in my stash: Those Woodford Master's below and two pints of Old Charter 10. These bottles make an appearance once or twice a year for special occasions, NYE being one of those.
The Maple edition is the oldest, as you can tell from the level in the bottle, followed by the Four Wood and then this year's release is the Sonama-Cutrer. We are going to kick off tasting in about 30 minutes, so tasting notes to follow.
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo192/scumglove/Mobile%20Uploads/18514935-FDD0-4A4F-8B8C-3C48C10344A2_zpswis5x9vu.jpg (http://s375.photobucket.com/user/scumglove/media/Mobile%20Uploads/18514935-FDD0-4A4F-8B8C-3C48C10344A2_zpswis5x9vu.jpg.html)
ETA tasting notes:
We started with the maple, and it was very smooth with just the hint of a maple taste. It is mature Woodford Reserve that is then aged in a maple barrel. This is just a damn good bourbon expression.
We moved to the Four Wood (mature Woodford then aged in maple, oloroso sherry and port barrels) and it had a bit more bite, despite being the same proof as the maple, but was clearly the most flavorful and the favorite of our group.
We moved then to the Sonoma, and found it to be much sweeter than the others, but again, very smooth.
We finished with the Wild Turkey Diamond, and I have to tell you what a pleasant suprise this was:
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo192/scumglove/Mobile%20Uploads/04FAB809-9E9F-4A9B-A8BA-921347B744CD_zpscqvtb33s.jpg (http://s375.photobucket.com/user/scumglove/media/Mobile%20Uploads/04FAB809-9E9F-4A9B-A8BA-921347B744CD_zpscqvtb33s.jpg.html)
This was a smooth, flavorful bourbon that was not at all what I expected. I have historically not been a fan of the Turkey, save the 101 Rye, but this was really good. You could serve this one to anyone, bourbon snob or not and feel comfortable.
I want to finish with a cocktail I have been making for my wife and her sisters the last few years - the Woodford Ruby:
6 oz red wine (I like a good red blend)
3 oz Woodford
2 oz simple suyrp (or agave nectar)
2 tsp lemon juice
Add all to a shaker with ice and mix vigerously, serve in a martini glass. This is a cocktail you and your lady can be satisfied with.
All the best in this upcoming new year. May we all find our Pappy 23 this year.
Sapper