Tasting IX

Since we don't know what each other is bringing, it's always interesting to see what is revealed at the end. In this case, we tacked heavily back to bourbon...

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

• Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection - French Oak (J)
• Four Roses Single Barrel Private Selection - Blackwell's - OESF (R)
• High West Double Rye - Bourbon Barrel (R)
• James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon - 15 Year (J)
• Jim Beam Signature Craft High Rye (R)
• Old Medley 12 Year (J)
• Michter's Single Barrel Bourbon - 10 Year (J)
• Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel Bourbon - 9 Year (R)

Pre-Taster

We always have a known "starter" whiskey to open up the palate. John usually brings it.

• Corti Brothers Exquisite Whiskey

This was quite tasty. A little short on the finish, but probably could have been a contender in a tasting.

Round One

Ryan BETC French Oak HW Double Rye - BB Old Medley Jim Beam High Rye

Marya BETC French Oak Old Medley HW Double Rye - BB Jim Beam High Rye

John HW Double Rye - BB BETC French Oak Old Medley Jim Beam High Rye

BETC French Oak and HW Double Rye - BB moved on.

This round was fairly underwelming. Everything sort of blended together.

Round Two

Ryan Four Roses - OESF Michter's 10 Year Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon James E. Pepper

Marya Four Roses - OESF Michter's 10 Year Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon James E. Pepper

John Michter's 10 Year Four Roses - OESF Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon James E. Pepper

Four Roses - OESF and Michter's 10 Year and Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon moved on.

This round was tough. The ones that made it were all very closely liked. With every sip, it felt like the top three changed. So they all went to the final round.

Winner's Round

Ryan Four Roses - OESF Michter's 10 Year HW Double Rye - BB Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon BETC French Oak

Marya Michter's 10 Year Four Roses - OESF Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon HW Double Rye - BB BETC French Oak

John Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon Michter's 10 Year HW Double Rye - BB Four Roses - OESF BETC French Oak

The Winner

By points, Michter's Ten Year won. But it was hard. Michters, Four Roses OESF and Old Scout 9 Year were all close in profiles. John and I arbitrarily bumped up the HW Double Rye because it was really good, but obviously different, being a rye and all.

Summary

You've got to love Smooth Ambler and Four Roses Single Barrel's: reasonably priced and available. Suck it Pappy. Suck it BTAC. Suck it collectors and flippers. Also, much respect to High West.

A confession...when I got in to bourbon, I thought sourcing was evil. Now...besides Four Roses SB, Smooth Ambler and High West are doing the things I'm most excited about: very good, reasonably priced, available bourbons and ryes.