The Garrison Bros whiskey I’ve had I enjoyed, so it’s not all Texas whiskeys. The Balcones had a weird mouth feel (waxy?) and flat candy sweetness. Maybe like candy corn? Less of the oak/caramel/vanilla I like in my bourbon.
Now that I’m looking into it more I think maybe I’ve only had the pot still bourbon. I thought I had another one with a black label, but the bottles on their website aren’t ringing a bell. Could be I just don’t like that one expression. I’ll be on the look out next time I’m shopping.
To be completely accurate, I could stand a few. But mostly I thought what is the fucking point? Tanquerey (of gin fame) made a particularly good one for the price. Luksusowa is also good for the price. But in my drinking days, I wanted something with flavor.
Ha. I can top that. Back in school I got blitzed one night on Jack Daniel’s mixed with Welch’s Grape Soda. Only time I ever tossed my cookies or had a hangover.
Shortly thereafter, I decided that I didn’t in fact like alcohol, and have only sparingly drunk the occasional beer or Mike’s Hard Lemonade since.
Not specifically… in Manhattans and other mixed drinks/cocktails (I like Sazeracs too), I don’t notice the differences so much with all the other ingredients mixed in- (vermouth, bitters, cherries, a bit of maraschino, absinthe, lemon twists, etc.) go a long way toward evening out the flavors.
That said, I’ve enjoyed the following and thought they all made fine drinks:
Old Forester Rye
Bulleit Rye
Dickel Rye
Old Potrero
Sazerac
Jim Beam Rye
Rittenhouse BiB rye
I have a question about receiving booze as a gift. My preference is whiskey. Bourbon, rye, single malt, Irish, Scotch (non peated) and Japanese whiskeys. A couple years ago my daughter gifted me a bottle of lime flavored tequila. Never been much of a tequila drinker. Made a few margaritas. Bottle hasn’t been touched since. A grand daughter gifted me a bottle of orange flavored Jameson. Love regular Jameson, orange flavored is rude. Tried some once, bottle is now buried on my bottom shelf. A few weeks later my daughter gave me a bottle of butterscotch whiskey. Tried some with the SIL, hasn’t been touched since. Last week daughter thought she did good. A pricy bottle of Scotch. It’s called Smokehead. Made with the smokiest barley available. I do not like peaty Scotches. This bottle will never be opened by me.
I have a list of all the whiskeys I have tried and an even longer list of the stuff I want to try. Is there a way to let the family know that I do appreciate the bottles, I would much prefer something I will actually drink? My wife learned early and generally for my birthday it’s gift cards to Total Wine. I don’t want to appear ungrateful but I really hate seeing good money being spent on bad whiskey.
You could always go the somewhat passive-aggressive route and opine out loud about what whiskey you really enjoy, and what you’re thinking about getting yourself if you’re all together at Thanksgiving.
Let your wife break it to your daughter. That way you don’t seem rude or unappreciative. But really, anyone who gifts “flavored” booze should know better.
I accept oddball liquor gifts with gracious thanks (bubblegum vodka, I’m looking at you) then trade with my friends who are gifted stuff I like but they don’t.
At work, one year a client heard I liked scotch. He went to the scotch aisle and saw a comically huge bottle, which he gave to me for xmas. It was utter shite, but I made it disappear over time. I’d offer it to friends as a laugh and we’d sit sipping it.
At some point my client became interested in scotch and did some reading. He realized what he’d done.
The next xmas he gave me a regular sized bottle of a very, very good scotch. And he thanked me for not giving him hell the previous year.
It’s probably stuff they enjoy or it seems more special since it’s whiskey + X. Last year my sister bought me a bottle of bourbon “from a local distillery in wisconsin!” I’d have to look it up, but I believe the label said “aged up to 6 months.” Tasted like a college kid made it in his closet. But I appreciate it and reverted to whiskey + cola to finish the bottle.
Visited the liquor store today and grabbed a bottle of the Balcones Baby Blue. Yeah, not a fan.
My friends all know better. Aquaintances, OTOH…let’s just say that bottle of Crown Royal Apple got regifted within 48 hours.
The bottle of Dickel Tabasco Barrel Finished is all on me. I bought it for use in a recipe and just never got around to using it. Can’t even remember the recipe now.
ETA: I just finished a bottle of Balcones Texas Pot Still bourbon a couple of weeks ago. I like it. Haven’t tried the Baby Blue yet.
My BiL, too! I do love bourbons, and I’ve tried a lot of them. There are excellent ones in the $30-70 range. I’ve tasted some of my friends’ $150 bottles, and they’re great, but are they really TWICE as good?
No.
My favorite “Splurge but save your money for books and LPs” bourbons:
Woodford Reserve (love the Double-Oaked)
Knob Creek (esp. the 12 Year)
Maker’s Mark 46
and three Not-KY-but-excellent distilleries:
J. Henry
Driftless Glen
Woodinville
All good enough for sippin’, and cheaper than anything my BiL buys
Go find a bottle of Evan Williams White Label, the BiB stuff. Pour that for your BiL but don’t let him see the label. If he likes high-rye bourbons, do the same with Old Grand Dad BiB. Or the 114 if you can find it.
Personally, my standard pour lately has been Tin Cup. Just manipulated MGP, but I really like the tastes he gets out of it.
I’m separated from it now, but mostly similar complaints to the pot still. Thin mouth feel and the sweetness is odd. Like simple syrup that’s gone off rather than with vanilla and caramel notes I expect in a bourbon.
2 cents: I like Bushmills, and Jameson Caskmates, triple distilled. Like Johnnie Walker earlier. But I don’t drink much. If I’m feeling achy or lethargic the next day, it isn’t worth it anymore. Absolute vodka is easier on me. On the rocks usually.
Hmm, the only disagreement I have is the idea of it having a thin mouth feel. I think it’s pretty coating and oily. It does tend toward the sweet side of whiskeys, which is something I like about speyside scotches. To me it’s both sweeter and has more caramel and less vanilla than a good bourbon would. I think Texas whiskeys tend to develop the caramel part of their aged flavor quickly, sometimes completely covering up everything else. In drier whiskeys, it can tend to a pretty harsh, woody flavor.
I would like to think the blue corn has a lot of effect on how it tastes, but the only meaningful difference I can track down between it and yellow corn is a higher anthocyanin and protein content. I think most of those aspects wouldn’t be transferred in the distilling process, but they may have an effect during the brewing stage.
One of my favorites too. Plus I live close enough to the distillery (30 minute drive) that I can stop in and get some of their distillery only offerings. I last stopped in a few weeks ago, they had 2 bottles of a 7 year old single cask. Those that bought them at their bottling event back in August paid $109 a bottle, I paid $60 for mine. Haven’t opened it yet but at 128 proof, it will have a pleasant kick when consumed.
Bevmo finally restocked after the holidays and I picked up a bottle of Carpano Antica. Not bad at all. Different than Dolin. That much is evident. Currently enjoying it mixed with Russell’s Reserve Rye and Peychaud’s bitters. I’m going to have to do a side-by-side tasting someday soon. Tomorrow, maybe…
I heartily endorse your Monopolowa suggestion. Delicious vodka at extremely reasonable price point.
If you’re savoring the Balcones product (which is quite tasty) then I’m guessing you’re in Central TX where it’s most widely available. I would recommend to you the bourbons from Still Austin and 9 Banded; fantastic stuff! Still Austin makes a very good gin as well.
For myself, just picked up a fifth of the latest release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. This double rocks glass and it’s 124 proof contents are calling my name - sweet dreams!
