The Bourbon - and other spirits - Thread (was: @ Myronwemissyinz)

Widow Jane
Elijah Craig Toasted
And both Kilchomans would be my first 4 (because I haven't had them and would like to try). After that, still can't really go wrong.

 

I was on a Caribbean cruise a couple weeks ago. Oddly, I didn't buy any rum in Jamaica. I didn't see any brands I couldn't get back home.

I was also getting conflicting stories about how many bottles I could bring back to the states. Some said "2 per person." A lady in a Mexico duty free shop said 6 per person. But I erred on the side of caution and went with what the ship's duty free guy told me: 2 per person. (In hindsight, he may have only meant that was HIS store's limit). So I didn't want to buy too much too soon and screw myself in Mexico.

Our last stop was Cozumel, and I was hoping to find a certain bottle of Mezcal my daughter gave me. (El Jolgorio Tepeztate) Best Mezcal I ever tasted. Think "tropical fruit grilled over a wood smoke fire." Alas, I couldn't find it. But I did get a bottle of scotch I always wanted for a really decent price (mentioned in the World Whisky thread). Since I bought a bottle of rum in Georgetown, Grande Cayman (more on that in a bit), and my wife wanted to get one bottle for herself, I was left with one more bottle to get. So, it's Mexico. Gotta go with tequila or mezcal, right?

All of the tequilas I saw were stuff I could easily find in the states, and not that much of a bargain. (Or WAY too expensive special bottles). I admittedly don't know enough about mezcal yet to know what to look for (other than the bottle I already knew). So I didn't want to buy something I knew little about and the sales lady I was talking to at the time wasn't much help in that regard. So, which tequila to get? In short, I panicked. Paralysis by analysis. I just couldn't decide. A gentleman in the shop gave me a recommendation. He said, "Have you heard of 1921? I'm not sure how easy it is to find in the U.S. yet." Apparently, the distillery is relatively young and its distribution is still expanding. But he said he really liked it, and if a native likes it, that's good enough for me. And it was rather inexpensive (duty free and all too). So I took a chance and bought it. When I got back home, I looked it up, and it's not in PA yet. You can find it in some Total Wine stores in Delaware/Maryland and the price is similar to Don Julio, Patron, Casamigos, etc.

In Grande Cayman, I bought a bottle of one of their local rums. Tortuga Rum Company. (Not named after the island, Tortuga, but in honor of the original name of the Cayman islands which was the Tortuga islands). In most places, you buy a bottle (or 4) and carry it onto the ship. Once aboard, they'll take care of the customs paperwork, and hold it until the day before you disembark. IDK if it was the store I was at, or some local law, but they wouldn't let you walk out with the bottle. They took your name, ship, and cabin number and delivered the bottle for you to the ship. I was a little skeptical about that, but I wasn't spending much, so whatever. I bought a bottle of their 12 year old rum. The day before we disembarked, the steward brought us our bottles, and the rum was there, all packed tightly in a strong box. It wasn't until we got home and I opened the box that I found out that they didn't give me the 12 y/0. They gave me the 5 y/o! I mean, it was only a few dollars difference, but come on, man! It's not like I can hop on over to Georgetown with my receipt and make an exchange. LOL

The scotch I bought will wait until a special occasion. I have way too many whisky bottles open already.

1921 Tequila: As soon as I smelled it, I knew it was a highland. It's not too unlike Tequila Herradura (or its lesser cousin, Terramana). Not your stereotypical citrusy aromas. Richer. Earthier. Darker. Like caramel and toffee, or maybe honey. Vanilla. Agave. A hint of fruitiness and maybe some citrus if you search for it. The flavor though... forget Herradura. This blows it away. Sweet. Honey, vanilla, maybe even a hint of molasses??? Agave of course and some oakiness. The finish lets the citrus rise up with a touch of pepper and spice (cinnamon?) Not a bad sipper at all and would be absolutely wasted if used for mixing into cocktails.

Tortuga 5 year old rum: I was so disappointed they sent me this instead of the 12 y/o. I'm not anymore. This is gorgeous! My first thought is this. I often thought to myself that it would be awesome if rum could just taste like it smells. This. One. Does. Toffee, molasses, vanilla, brown sugar, with a touch of oak. Past that VERY sweet rush, there's melon, coconut, and a "tropical fruit" impression I can't really nail down. Now, I'm not too naive. It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that they doctored this rum with sweeteners and maybe even some flavoring. Rum has very lax rules on what can legally be called rum. But right now, I don't care. This is delicious. I have to be careful I don't drink it all too fast.

 

The Great Gatsby

 

Tried / bought a few new whiskies lately. Quick, knee-jerk reviews:

Widow Jane - At first, seemed kind of one-note sweet. Going back a second time, still very sweet. But candy apple / cotton candy sweet with nice spice on the finish. If it wasn't so damned expensive, I'd keep it in stock.

Jim Beam 7 year old - you're not fooling me. This is white label repackaged. God awful.

Basil Hayden Dark Rye - simply. amazing. I don't even like ryes. This rocks.

Grangestone (10 y/o single malt, rum cask, and sherry cask): Talk about punching above your weight class! This is Total Wine's store brand scotch. It has no damned right being this good and so cheap. Would I feel that way if it was the same price as other single malts? Hell no. But at less than half the price??? I might have to buy a case the next time I'm in a state with a Total Wine. No. I'm not kidding.

High West Campfire - not new to me. But it hasn't been available in my area for a few years. Still liquid crack.

 

Don't get me wrong. Jim Beam makes some amazing bourbons. It's just that none of them are called.... Jim Beam.

Basil Hayden
Knob Creek
Baker's
Booker's
Little Book
Legent

Hell, even Old Grandad is decent (for the price). All made by Jim Beam. But if the Jim Beam name is on the bottle? Hard pass. (It'll only be suitable for mixing with coke or coffee)