by Mike » Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:16 pm
I have far too many bourbons to list. Do not take this as a brag, it is not. It is a measure of my curiosity and love of bourbon.
And, there are other BE folks who probably have more bourbon in their cabinet than I do. Among the 100 or so bourbons I have, NONE are unopened. I had some laid back at one time, but I do no longer. My opinion is that if you buy a bourbon that is new to you it should be tasted the same day you bought it. If you think that any bourbon is for a special occasion, it will always be a disappointment to you.
Greatness in bourbon is not measured in leaps, but in small degrees. If you have a bottle of bourbon that you hold back for the right moment, in my opinion, there is no right moment. There is no best bourbon. There are bourbons that suit your palate better than others.......... how do you find them? Not by hording expensive and well known bourbons and expecting a unique experience.
If you want a unique experience (my opinion), you can find it in every distiller's stable: Four Roses, Brown Foreman, Heaven Hill, Barton, Wild Turkey, etc. etc.
Was there a golden age of distilling and bourbon production?............. not according to my palate. I have had some of the old bourbons where barrel entry proof was low (barrel flavors were given prominence) and they are indeed great bourbons. But, I have also had bourbons from this current era of experimentation that (in my opinion) were every bit these older bourbon's equal.
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