Tasting VIII

I was actually sick for this tasting. I didn't tell anyone, though. But that's why the posting is so late. We had had a brick oven potluck the day before, and I probably over did it.

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

• Abraham Bowman Double Barrel Bourbon (R)
• High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Rye - Act 2.3 (J)
• High West Rendezvous Rye (R)
• I.W. Harper Bourbon (J)
• Pikesville Straight Rye (J)
• Redemption Barrel Proof Rye - 7 Year (J)
• Smooth Ambler Old Scount Single Barrel Rye - 8 Year (R)
• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Bourbon (R)

Round One

Ryan Redemption Rye Rendezvous Rye Smooth Ambler Ten I.W. Harper

Marya Smooth Ambler Ten Redemption Rye Rendezvous Rye I.W. Harper

John Redemption Rye Rendezvous Rye Smooth Ambler Ten I.W. Harper

Redemption Rye and Rendezvous Rye and Smooth Ambler Ten moved on.

We felt the top three we're all close, so we let them all in the final round.

Round Two

Ryan Abraham Bowman Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year Pikesville Rye Midwinter Nights Dram

Marya Midwinter Nights Dram Pikesville Rye Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year Abraham Bowman

John Abraham Bowman Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year Midwinter Nights Dram Pikesville Rye

Abraham Bowman and Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year moved on.

Marya's palate rebelled!

Winner's Round

Ryan Abraham Bowman Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year Redemption Rye Rendezvous Rye Smooth Ambler Ten

Marya Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year Rendezvous Rye Smooth Ambler Ten Redemption Rye Abraham Bowman

John Redemption Rye Rendezvous Rye Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year Abraham Bowman Smooth Ambler Ten

We were all over the place!

The Winner

I guess by points, the winner was Old Scout Rye. But we were all over the place. Part of the problem was that we had a lot of good stuff this time. Lots of "no, you can't have ties". A good problem to have!

Summary

A few tasting a goes, I was "shut out" of the final round: 0 of 4. That woke up my competitive nature. This time...4 out of 5 in the final round were mine!

But in summary, avoid I.W. Harper. Pikesville, although decent, is not worth the money. Same for Midwinters Nights Dram. The Redemption was tasty, but not worth the money, either. Smooth Ambler "Ten" is average. The rest of the stuff is worth buying/drinking.