Tasting IX

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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

Pre-Taster

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

Round One

Ryan
  1. BETC French Oak
  2. HW Double Rye - BB
  3. Old Medley
  4. Jim Beam High Rye
Marya
  1. BETC French Oak
  2. Old Medley
  3. HW Double Rye - BB
  4. Jim Beam High Rye
John
  1. HW Double Rye - BB
  2. BETC French Oak
  3. Old Medley
  4. 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
  1. Four Roses - OESF
  2. Michter's 10 Year
  3. Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon
  4. James E. Pepper
Marya
  1. Four Roses - OESF
  2. Michter's 10 Year
  3. Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon
  4. James E. Pepper
John
  1. Michter's 10 Year
  2. Four Roses - OESF
  3. Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon
  4. 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
  1. Four Roses - OESF
  2. Michter's 10 Year
  3. HW Double Rye - BB
  4. Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon
  5. BETC French Oak
Marya
  1. Michter's 10 Year
  2. Four Roses - OESF
  3. Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon
  4. HW Double Rye - BB
  5. BETC French Oak
John
  1. Smooth Ambler SB Bourbon
  2. Michter's 10 Year
  3. HW Double Rye - BB
  4. Four Roses - OESF
  5. 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.