Yesterday I went to a bourbon cookout and tasting party hosted by Gayle Hack and his girlfriend Martha (A very talanted potter with her own pottery barn in the garage). JD (JDknaebel) and his wife Kirsten, Chuck (Chuckmick) and his wife Jean were also there. We had many bourbons that people brought along as well as food, corn hole (a bean bag toss game) and a little abnjo picking (Martha has many talents) with mandolin and guitar picking. A very good time was had by all.
I brought along for tasting purposes: Old Fitzgerald B-in-B 1964-1970, Weller Antique from the early 90's, Ezra Brooks made by Charles Medley in the 1980's, Jacobs Well, Jack Daniel's Black 90 proof, Four Roses Black Label, Woodford Reserve Batch 1 VIP, Bushmills single malt, single barrel unfiltered barrel proof Irish, and Cardhu Single malt Scotch.
Chuck brought along the three experimental bourbons from Buffalo Trace. JD brought an Old Fitzgerald Monticello decanter, Black Maple Hill 16 YO, Blanton's silver and Rebel Yell 90 proof.
JD and Chuck really wanted me to write down tasting notes for some of the products that I have not done notes for here and post them. You will find the notes already posted. The experimental bourbons were very interesting. We may have had a bad bottle, but we radically disagreed with the majority people and found the French Oak the least desirable, well actually undesirable. This was because of the terrible finish which could be called very medicinal and funky. The Black Maple Hill was very good with a long woody finish. A little more wood than I like personally but very good otherwise. The Blantons was very suprising for me. A higher proof than most Blantons but it did not have the extra flavor I expected with the higher proof. It was still a very good bourbon, but I expected more.
On the whole it was a very good day that ended with a speaker phones convsation with BrendaJ (who was invited but just returned from Colorado) and Gayle's brother Michael Hack in California joining us in spirit, if not in body. We are already planning the next get together in November since Gayle, Chuck, Michael Hack and myself all have birthdays in November. Stay tuned for a report on Scorpiofest.
Mike Veach