Bourbon (and Rye) Tasting VII

Finally, we're outdoors again! Yeah, summer! I now fully embrace high-proof ryes for tastings because we have a tendancy to pick them. Although, personally, I'm still not convinced I like rye.

Finally, we're outdoors again! Yeah, summer! I now fully embrace high-proof ryes for tastings because we have a tendancy to pick them. Although, personally, I'm still not convinced I like rye.

Attending: John, Ryan, Marya and Fuggles!

As usual, we did this as blind as possible. John and I brought four unknowns. Marya poured. Then I mixed them up. We didn't know what anything was until it was all over.

The Lineup

• Alberta Dark Rye
• Black Saddle Bourbon
• Collingwood 21 Year Canadian Rye
• Michter's Barrel Strength Rye
• Smooth Ambler Contradiction
• Stagg Jr. 132.1
• Temperance Trader Chinato Barrel Aged Bourbon
• Willett 8 Year Rye

Round One

Ryan 1. Smooth Ambler Contradiction 2. Collingwood 21 Year Canadian Rye 3. Black Saddle Bourbon 4. Michter's Barrel Strength Rye

John 1. Collingwood 21 Year Canadian Rye 2. Smooth Ambler Contradiction 3. Black Saddle Bourbon 4. Michter's Barrel Strength Rye

Marya 1. Collingwood 21 Year Canadian Rye 2. Smooth Ambler Contradiction 3. Michter's Barrel Strength Rye 4. Black Saddle Bourbon

Collingwood and Contradiction moved on.

Round Two

Ryan 1. Willett 8 Year Rye 2. Stagg Jr. 132.1 3. Temperance Trader Chinato Barrel Aged Bourbon 4. Alberta Dark Rye

John 1. Willett 8 Year Rye 2. Stagg Jr. 132.1 3. Alberta Dark Rye 4. Temperance Trader Chinato Barrel Aged Bourbon

Marya 1. Willett 8 Year Rye 2. Stagg Jr. 132.1 3. Alberta Dark Rye 4. Temperance Trader Chinato Barrel Aged Bourbon

Willett & Stagg Jr. moved on.

Winners' Round

Ryan 1. Smooth Ambler Contradiction 2. Collingwood 21 Year Canadian Rye 3. Willett 8 Year Rye 4. Stagg Jr. 132.1

John 1. Collingwood 21 Year Canadian Rye 2. Willett 8 Year Rye 3. Smooth Ambler Contradiction 4. Stagg Jr. 132.1

Marya 1. Collingwood 21 Year Canadian Rye 2. Smooth Ambler Contradiction 3. Willett 8 Year Rye 4. Stagg Jr. 132.1

The Winner

Surprisingly, an 80 proof Canadian Rye won. It has an amazingly floral nose. Very distinct. Personally, I may have picked the Contradiction over it because I thought it was the Stagg, Jr. (which I had brought). Also, stay away from Michter's.

Summary