by Mike » Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:03 pm
At 'my' liquor store there is a very good supply. Sad thing is, it is $289. While this is a truly exceptional whiskey, it is a 'mature' whiskey which is quite dry and oaky. I once considered it a 'must try' whiskey, I cannot say that with good conscience anymore. But..........if you can first experience a 'dry' mature whiskey (try Noah's Mill or Rowan's Creek), you might find it very disappointing. Pretty much anything above 12 Years Old will owe at lot to the oak............maybe a good thing, maybe not.
My suggestion is that you make sure your palate (pardon me if I am assuming too much here) prefers the older drier bourbons to the rich deep bourbons (6 to 10 Years Old). A good introduction to rich sweet (and potent) bourbons is to try Weller Antique. If you can get Maker's Mark 46 you will find an excellent bourbon that is both somewhat dry and somewhat sweet. There is nothing to be gained by trying A H Hirsch if your budget is not pretty much unlimited.
If you can afford it, and your passion is intense, by all means, get some A H Hirsch 16..........and some Pappy 20 YO. But as I recently noted in a post, consider these specialty bourbons, not ones to cut your bourbon teeth on. Old bourbons, as many experienced bourbon drinkers have often pointed out, are not always good bourbons and seem destined for a limited audience.
Again, pardon me if I have assummed that you are not an experienced bourbon drinker who knows what he wants.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas