Tastes

Early Times bottled in bond has garnered a following, and is somewhat of a bottom shelf hero. After tasting it several times, I'm not overly impressed. I did a blind tasting with Early Times bib, Evan Williams bib, Old tub, and old Grand-dad bib, and Early Times didn't fare too well. It was last place with myself and my friend. Don't get me wrong, it's a bargain, but in the bottled in bond category Evan Williams and Old Grand-dad are a better buy. As far as tasting notes go, there's not a lot there. Not very complex, and only mildly sweet. I get a bit of roasted corn, some nuttiness, and just a little oak and leather. The finish is short, but on the positive side it's not too bitter. This is a decent bourbon, but it's a little over hyped in my opinion.

The nose you get with any Elijah Craig bourbon, but particularly Elijah Craig Barrel Proof may be the sweetest, most pleasant in the bourbon world. The taste on the tongue doesn't quite live up to the nose, but it's very good. I get vanilla and brown sugar, with oak and char showing up in a big way. It finishes with leather and bitter sweetness. It's a long, warm finish too, but I wouldn't expect anything less from a barrel proof. This is an excellent bourbon, but it's not my favorite flavor profile. There are a few other barrel proofs that are more to my tastes.

I'm enjoying my first pour of Weller antique 107 tonight, and I have to say it's very good. My bottle happens to be an ABC store pick. It's not a barrel proof, but at 107 proof it has the robust taste and viscosity of one. There's sweetness aplenty, and spicy cinnamon on the tongue. There's a hint of citrus, and the classic wheater taste. The finish is just a tad bit leather, and not much bitterness. I'm not sure Antique 107 is worth what it goes for on the secondary market, but it's a delicious pour.

A great present from my wife, and perfect for a cold Christmas Eve. My first taste of Whistle Pig 12 year, and I'm pleased to say it's quite good. The nose doesn't show much, but it's earthy and sweet on the palate. The rye is evident, but not in anyway overpowering. It's just nice spicy kiss of rye. Smooth and easy drinking, this Rye has a hint of cinnamon and taste of fresh baked goods. The wine cask finish comes though with a slightly dry fruity taste. No bitterness at all on finish. This is definitely a new favorite, just wish it was a little more affordable.

My first taste of 1792 bib may be off a bit as I'm a bit stuffy. I can't pick up much of anything on the nose, and I'll definitely chalk that up to my sniffer not being up to snuff. It's very mild and very smooth for a 100 proof. Nice little kick of sweetness, with just a hint of spice on what is a very short finish. This is really quite easy to sip, maybe on the borderline of bland. 1792 small batch is a bourbon that I've enjoyed the more I've tasted, so I'm not counting out the bib version on the first pour. Some of the lack of taste bud tantalization may well be due to my current olfactory deficiency. I'll give this bottle another shot when I'm breathing a little easier.