Tastes

I stopped over Coppersea on my way for a family getaway to Lake George. Fortunately I was the only customer in their tasting room…they were literally just opening up for the day. I had a small pour of this as part of a tasting flight. Very different style of rye…fresh, herbal, but rich. My favorite out of the few I tasted ( closely followed by a distillery only Sauternes finish, and a distillery only Amontillado finish ) The green malt was pricey as a bottle , but so worth it as part of the tasting flight

I had a small taste while pouring out samples for our tasting with @Richard-ModernDrinking @ctbeck11 and @pkingmartin This is incredibly rare, early 80s Balvenie 10 yr old. I don’t have the slightest clue on why they have this in a cognac bottle shape, but I’m guessing it was because back in the early 80s, cognac was all the rage. Did Balvenie think so little of the consumer that he/she would pick this up accidentally thinking it’s cognac? Anyway—-I don’t think this can be found anymore, except in auctions. My bottle was purchased over 15 years ago, but decided to dig it out for our tasting. Now, I don’t think any shops have this, but it’ll show up probably in secondary ( not sure of todays price, and I can’t remember what I paid 15 yrs ago ). I need to preface this that I’m not really a fan of Balvenie , as I am of say Lagavulin, Springbank or those whiskeys that are more in-your-face. This is delicate. It’s light, with aromas of apple juice, soft oak and ginger. Nose is amazing, and for me that took this from mediocre to pretty good score. Very elegant in the aroma. Taste is a step down—vanilla, white grapes. It’s good—-but for me, I’m just not a Balvenie fan ( only one of theirs I really liked was the Tun series ). So, my score may not really be reflective of how good, or not, this is. But I’m really appreciative of trying something so rare.

This is the 2022 Feis Ile non-peated version. I always thought Bunna was at its best when it’s peated, but wanted to give this a try. The price seemed right, and I’m a sucker for PX finishes. Without water: harsher on the nose and palette, with a strong taste of balsamic vinegar strawberries. With a touch of water: much more chocolate, the balsamic vinegar strawberries are more chocolate covered strawberries. Overall—-not a bad Bunna, but leaves me guessing if it’s any better than the much cheaper 12yr old

You know that saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” ? I think every one of us here, or at least those reading this post, is an exception to that saying. Growing up, I remember my parents, who were immigrants carrying 2 blue collar working class jobs ( secretary and an electrician), would ask a millions questions before making purchases, and then, where applicable, bargain like hell just to save a dime. Here’s a typical scene—-them going to our local Hoboken produce market to buy veggies: “ when did these potatoes come in? Do you have any fresher ones in the back? If I buy a bunch of other vegetables, what’s the discount? “ etc. Now here we are…looking at a bottle of whiskey that’s only 3 yr old, finished in something called “sloe gin”. I don’t even know what the hell that is. All I did was a quick Google search and that’s it…forked down $100 and made a purchase. See…if I was of the previous generation, and of a blue collar working class immigrant community, I’d have asked “ $100 for this 3 yr old? I can get a 10yr old Russel’s Reserve for 1/2 as much. You should giving a major discount for a no-name distillery finished in some weird gin. Tell you what…I’ll buy this for $50. That’s fair” But, no…unfortunately , we’re of a different generation. And I think our kids will be even that much farther from the tree. They’ll be dancing while holding this bottle and making TikTok videos. So… this..this is weird. It’s a 2 year rye, finished in sloe gin ( which a quick Google search informed me that’s it’s just gin sweetened with some sort of berries). I love the nose…fruity but not sweet. Like junipers and berries…no surprise. Nose is spectacular. The taste is a bit weird…a slight bitter tinge to it, and intense heat making you feel every percent of that ABV. I added water, which tamed the heat, but also tamed the flavor where it became a bit high rye bourbon-y. It’s an interesting experiment, but not interesting enough to buy a bottle. Lost Lantern products are expensive—-and I think the lesson learned here is to ask the right questions to see if it’s a fit…some of their products are amazing for everyone ( Balcones #3), and some just not amazing for everyone ( this one ).

Two years can be really long or not long enough. It depends on the context, right? For example, in business school I dated this one woman, for close to 2 years ( more like 1 3/4 year ) who was a stripper unbeknownst to me. Those two years weren’t long enough. I wish that lasted at least a decade. But some two years are too long. Case and point—- my first job out of college was at a large pharmaceutical, where my job for 8 hours a day was to hold rhesus monkeys and force them to urinate into a test tube. Sterilize the test tubes, dry them, and then do all sorts of perverted things to these simians for the sake of greater science. Eight hours a day. Every day. For two whole fucking years. That’s an example of where two years can be too long. This whiskey here, graciously sent by @ctbeck11, seems to be a case where the two years are perfect. Waves of caramel and oak. A punch of vanilla. Sure …lacks the complexity of an ECBP or a Garrison Cowboy, but it makes up for it in youthful exuberance. One of the two best Balcones I’ve had ( the other one being a tequila cask matured Balcones). My vote for top dog in the American whiskey scene had always been Balcones, and this is an example of their creme de la creme.

I love blind samples. It’s the one true way to appreciate something without bias. This generous pour here was sent courtesy of @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington. Okay—-let’s dive in… Clearly getting bourbon-y aromas. Real oak-y too. So, either it’s well aged (> 15yr), or it’s been sitting in an intense heat somewhere ( TX, NV?). Some caramel. The only information on the label is 135.2 proof, but I’m not sensing that on the nose. It’s muted. With that high proof, I need to add some water. Wow. Now it’s not so muted. Comes on strong like a frat boy hitting on a drunk sorority girl. No qualms there on what this bourbon’s intentions are ( if it is a bourbon…but I bet my Karuizawa bottle it’s a bourbon). Vanilla , caramel, dark fruits. Oak. A lot of oak. Okay…I’m guessing either first choice Garrison Cowboy or second choice Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Distant third ( highly unlikely) Barrel Bourbon. Peel back the label to reveal it…YES!! Elijah Craig BP it is! Batch A119. This is an incredible bourbon. For me to think this was the Cowboy simply shows how good it is. Thanks @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington for the pour!

C’mon, We’re smarter than this!! I don’t want to sound condescending ( with those words preceding what I’m about to write, yeah…it’ll be condescending), but how can any adult past his or her frat and sorority days have this!?? How can any one of us here, after having the lines of really good American bourbon and whiskey, Scottish whiskey , and others regions, actually voluntarily pay for this? I’ll tell you how. It’s called Universal Studios Harry Potter’s World of Wizardry. While my kids had their butter beer ( avoid it …it’s just a cream soda float), I thought I’d have their Whiskey Fire. Yes. That’s the Wizards’ whiskey here in Potterland…Whiskey Fire. I paid close to $10 for a shot of this, when an entire bottle is probably a fraction of that. It’s horrible. Just cheap whiskey and a bunch of cinnamon liqueur. Avoid it. Chalk it up to better marketing than Diageo…Universal Studio took a cheap bottle, and relabeled it adding Harry Potter wordings, and tripled the price. But on the bright side, after a week here in Disney and Universal Studios, maybe a smack across the face with cheap whiskey was just what I needed. It’s the Happiest Place on Earth, but also the most Exhausting…I now need another vacation after this endeavor.

I’m a huge fan of trying samples blind. You really rate things without a predefined bias. The last blind sample I had turned out to be an amazing Brora which was probably my pour of the year. This blind sample was courtesy of @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington , who sent over a generous pour. All that was mentioned on the vial was 133%, so knowing that, I had to dilute it a teaspoon of water. The color is mahogany, getting whiffs of oak and vanilla. Clearly a bourbon…and with some heft. Palette is classic bourbon…vanilla, oak, spice. Orange slices. This is as classic as you can get. It doesn’t have the weight of a Cowboy, Balcones or Booker’s, I’m guessing ECBP or a good quality MGP with some bravissimo craft label like “Young Guns” or “45mm”…something machismo. There’s a strong elegance to it too. Which makes me think 8 years at least. So…rules out Booker’s, Cowboy, or Balcones. I’m guessing ECBP. Really liking this——Okay…peeling back the label to see the sample… Down Home 12. Never heard of it…but it’s damn good quality if you like classic flavors. Thanks for the pour @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington !!