DD
"Rambo"
My foray into bourbon began shortly after I turned 21. I went through a few different phases when it came to booze, then settled on Grey Goose vodka and wouldn't drink anything else.
I went to a bar and they didn't have Grey Goose, so my buddy ordered a Beam and Coke, and I decided to try it. From that point forward, Bourbon and Coke was my drink.
It wasn't until several years later that I began liking fine bourbons served neat. I wasn't as into it as most enthusiasts are, but I did enjoy a good bourbon. The only time I really drank was when I traveled for work and entertained clients. When at home, I didn't really drink very much, perhaps once a month if that. That is until I got into craft beer.
A few years ago, I began getting into craft beer, and started really loving the bourbon barrel aged beers. That got me right back into liking bourbon.
Last year was the first year I began buying bottles of bourbon that I liked, but specifically liked the stuff you don't normally see on shelves.
I started with a bottle of Booker's, then a store pick Blanton's, and it all went downhill from there. I really like Buffalo Trace as an every day sipper.
I've managed to score an Old Rip Van Winkle, a Van Winkle 12 year "lot b", and a George T Stagg. I also purchased a store pick of Eagle Rare, High West Prairie bourbon, Weller special reserve, two more bottles of blanton's, and a store pick of Elijah Craig.
What's interesting about them all is that each one has it's own unique flavor. I'm definitely not advanced enough to tell you that one has hints of grasshopper bungholes lol, but I can taste the difference between them all. I think I could pick Eagle Rare and blanton's out of a blind taste test for sure though.
Not too long ago I did a flight of the whole Pappy Van Winkle collection and I honestly wasn't overly impressed by them. For all of the hype, there's really nothing all that special about them. I'd rank them like this: 20 year, 15 year, Family Reserve Rye, Old Rip, 12 year lot b, and then the 23 year. The 23 year was my least favorite out of the bunch, so much so that if I managed to get a bottle at retail, I'd turn around and sell it. But comparing them to regular bourbons you can find every day on the shelves, I don't get the hype. I remember when those bottles would just sit on shelves and not sell for retail. It seems that at one point, some hipster decided to hype it up, and then the market exploded.
With all that being said, trying different bourbons is fun, especially when you're able to appreciate the unique flavors of each. I haven't gotten into the ryes yet, but will probably venture that way next year. I have far too many open bottles right now, so I need to drink them first lol.
I went to a bar and they didn't have Grey Goose, so my buddy ordered a Beam and Coke, and I decided to try it. From that point forward, Bourbon and Coke was my drink.
It wasn't until several years later that I began liking fine bourbons served neat. I wasn't as into it as most enthusiasts are, but I did enjoy a good bourbon. The only time I really drank was when I traveled for work and entertained clients. When at home, I didn't really drink very much, perhaps once a month if that. That is until I got into craft beer.
A few years ago, I began getting into craft beer, and started really loving the bourbon barrel aged beers. That got me right back into liking bourbon.
Last year was the first year I began buying bottles of bourbon that I liked, but specifically liked the stuff you don't normally see on shelves.
I started with a bottle of Booker's, then a store pick Blanton's, and it all went downhill from there. I really like Buffalo Trace as an every day sipper.
I've managed to score an Old Rip Van Winkle, a Van Winkle 12 year "lot b", and a George T Stagg. I also purchased a store pick of Eagle Rare, High West Prairie bourbon, Weller special reserve, two more bottles of blanton's, and a store pick of Elijah Craig.
What's interesting about them all is that each one has it's own unique flavor. I'm definitely not advanced enough to tell you that one has hints of grasshopper bungholes lol, but I can taste the difference between them all. I think I could pick Eagle Rare and blanton's out of a blind taste test for sure though.
Not too long ago I did a flight of the whole Pappy Van Winkle collection and I honestly wasn't overly impressed by them. For all of the hype, there's really nothing all that special about them. I'd rank them like this: 20 year, 15 year, Family Reserve Rye, Old Rip, 12 year lot b, and then the 23 year. The 23 year was my least favorite out of the bunch, so much so that if I managed to get a bottle at retail, I'd turn around and sell it. But comparing them to regular bourbons you can find every day on the shelves, I don't get the hype. I remember when those bottles would just sit on shelves and not sell for retail. It seems that at one point, some hipster decided to hype it up, and then the market exploded.
With all that being said, trying different bourbons is fun, especially when you're able to appreciate the unique flavors of each. I haven't gotten into the ryes yet, but will probably venture that way next year. I have far too many open bottles right now, so I need to drink them first lol.
