530 replies to this topic

[weave]

For you rye fans.....  Last month I nabbed a bottle of Sazerac Rye.  Sazerac has two bottlings, one is ultra premium and about $80/750mL, the other is about $30/750mL.  I bought the lattter.  2nd time I've picked up a bottle of "Baby Saz".  Really fantastic middle-of-the-road rye.  Enjoying a glass this afternoon.  A touch grassy, spicy, solid barrel notes of vanilla and caramel, but always the spicy rye is in the forefront.  Thick, viscous mouthfeel.  Smooth as silk.  I don't know why I don't purchase this more often.  It is great stuff.

Premier Liquors on Transit Road had it last month.

[SwampD]

weave, on 09 June 2013 - 06:13 PM, said:

For you rye fans.....  Last month I nabbed a bottle of Sazerac Rye.  Sazerac has two bottlings, one is ultra premium and about $80/750mL, the other is about $30/750mL.  I bought the lattter.  2nd time I've picked up a bottle of "Baby Saz".  Really fantastic middle-of-the-road rye.  Enjoying a glass this afternoon.  A touch grassy, spicy, solid barrel notes of vanilla and caramel, but always the spicy rye is in the forefront.  Thick, viscous mouthfeel.  Smooth as silk.  I don't know why I don't purchase this more often.  It is great stuff.

Premier Liquors on Transit Road had it last month.

I find that there are few pleasures in life greater than settling down to a rye Manhattan.

I can't tell if that is sad or not.

[X. Benedict]

SwampD, on 10 June 2013 - 07:47 AM, said:

I find that there are few pleasures in life greater than settling down to a rye Manhattan.

I can't tell if that is sad or not.

It would only be sad if you ruined it by making it sweet.

[weave]

biodork, on 28 April 2013 - 08:18 PM, said:

Had two new ones this week:

Friday evening we stopped in to Bacchus before the game, and I had their Manhattan with Bulleit Rye.  Very good, and even cooler because it came in a short glass with one giant square ice cube.  (What can I say; I'm a sucker for presentation.)  I'd definitely have that one again.

Tonight it's Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt Scotch Whisky (http://www.thewhisky...com/P-5016.aspx).  Not overly complicated, but easy-drinking, nice sweet aroma, and for the price ($33) I'd say it's well-worth it.

Had the Monkey Shoulder tonight.  Interesting stuff.  I'm a bourbon guy. I keep trying Scotch.  And there are a few I enjoy.  But none as much as I enjoy bourbon.  But Monkey Shoulder was tasty.  Low on peat-y phenols.  And nice and smooth.  I could compare this to , say, Maker's Mark, a good gateway into the genre.  A bit sweet.  I could really pick
up the flavor of the malted barley.  A subtle peat smoke mostly on the finish.  Overall I enjoyed it as much as any Scotch I've had.  Nice stuff

Thanks for the heads up, Bio..

[biodork]

Glad you liked it!  Tonight I'm sipping Eagle Rare in honor of National Bourbon Day.    I also ordered a bottle of EH Taylor Jr small batch bourbon, so I'm looking forward to trying that when it arrives.

[weave]

biodork, on 14 June 2013 - 10:08 PM, said:

Glad you liked it!  Tonight I'm sipping Eagle Rare in honor of National Bourbon Day.    I also ordered a bottle of EH Taylor Jr small batch bourbon, so I'm looking forward to trying that when it arrives.

Taylor is good stuff.  Lots of strong rye character to it.  Big and bold.

[weave]

I am in love.  I mean totally smitten.  Head over heels.

Upthread I mentioned that I stumbled upon one of Buffalo Trace's Antique series of whiskeys.  Tough to find and rather spendy, mst places have waiting lists for these.  I've had the Van Winkle version in the past but usually I don't stumble into a bottle for sale.  Last month I was in Premiere and they had several bottles of Thomas H Handy rye for sale.  It is one of the legendary Antique series that is released in very limited quantities.  After much begging and pleading I was able to convince my wife to buy a bottle for my Father's Day gift.  As it turns out, we are going to my in-laws for Father's Day.  No way I am traveling with a bottle that expensive (or sharing it with the unappreciating masses).  So..........  it is a gorgeous afternoon, and I have been patient.  I opened it today to accompany a cigar. It is 136 proof and 7 yrs in the barrel.

Poured straight up it is powerful on the nose.  Very sweet with lots of caramel and vanilla.  Surprisingly the alcohol doesn't show on the nose.  How the hell they managed that I'll never know.  First sip is at barrel proof.  WOW.  Powerful stuff.  Tons of caramel and vanilla and spice.  Lots of spice.  And it's boozy. No way around that at 136 proof.  Easily overwhelmed my palate.  I added a good hit of water, aiming for 90ish proof.  The nose completely changed.  Grass and spice, with caramel still present in large doses.  On the palate I started to get some grassy and grainy notes.  And some fresh sawn red oak.  Cinnamon and anise shows up.  And the vanilla really starts to shine.  Even diluted this is one powerful, complex pour.  Raisins and prunes, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and anise.  Oh my.  Someone make me a pie with these ingredients.

I'm smoking a Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 and the leather and spice is really working with this rye. They are a match made in heaven.

I don't know how the hell I am going to be able to avoid drinking this on a regular basis.  Special occasion prices but damned if I'll be able to avoid hitting on this bottle regularly while it lasts.

[biodork]

Oh how I wish I could discern all the flavors you do when I consume this stuff!  Until then, reading your reviews is the next-best thing.  Sounds like a good afternoon in WNY, so enjoy your Father's Day weekend.

[weave]

biodork, on 15 June 2013 - 03:59 PM, said:

Oh how I wish I could discern all the flavors you do when I consume this stuff!  Until then, reading your reviews is the next-best thing.  Sounds like a good afternoon in WNY, so enjoy your Father's Day weekend.

Time and experience. The more you drink it and compare different products, the more you will be able to pick up the differences

and thanks for the wishes.  .

Edited by weave, 15 June 2013 - 04:05 PM.

[biodork]

weave, on 15 June 2013 - 04:05 PM, said:

Time and experience. The more you drink it and compare different products, the more you will be able to pick up the differences

and thanks for the wishes.  .

I hope so!  Right now I'm just reading the descriptions and trying to "find" those flavors when I taste something, and the sweeter notes are easy enough but the more subtle flavors mostly elude me.  Well, practice makes perfect, right?  

[weave]

biodork, on 15 June 2013 - 04:08 PM, said:

I hope so!  Right now I'm just reading the descriptions and trying to "find" those flavors when I taste something, and the sweeter notes are easy enough but the more subtle flavors mostly elude me.  Well, practice makes perfect, right?  

Lots of practice!