ADDED TWO NEW BOURBONS TO MY COLLECTION TODAY

[chief38]

While I was not planning on visiting the Liquor Store today I wound up not too far away when I went the Shutter Store for my new House Shutters. I am currently having a new roof, shutters and gutters installed.

I have been wanting to try Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Strength for some time now but was too worried that the 130.5 proof would be more than I would care for and at $60 bucks for the bottle, I did not want to wind up with something I hated. That said, I purchased a bottle today anyway. While I was in there I also bought a bottle of Willett 94 proof.

Just prior to dinner about an hour ago, I just had to crack opened the Jack and taste it. While it does have a little more heat than the regular Jack 94 proof Single Barrel it was more flavorful, richer, more full bodied and had a longer finish. Surprisingly enough I do like it! It is my first Cask Strength Bourbon (yes I know Jack Daniels is not technically a Bourbon - but that is sort of how I group it) and was surprisingly smooth as well! Sipping it slowly and savoring it neat is the way to enjoy it .

I'll leave the Willetts for another day and post a report if it is worth reporting.

 

[oink]

I'd like to try it. However I've never been a hug Jack fan. I don't recall trying the Willetts. For when you're feeling cheap the Jim Beam Black isn't bad. Another more modestly priced one that's worth a look is J.W. Dant.

Edit: I guess I have tried Willetts. I just looked and I have an opened but lightly touched bottle of that in the bar closet.

 

[typetwelve]

My wife and I were down in bourbon country a few months back, I tried many offerings including Willett, which I wasnt a fan of.

Let us know what you think of it.

 

[oink]

My wife and I were down in bourbon country a few months back, I tried many offerings including Willett, which I wasnt a fan of.

Let us know what you think of it.

I'll have to try it again tonight. There could be a reason mine is lightly touched. I don't remember. Oh heck, hang on......Hmmm, dusty bottle! Smooth, a mild sweet nose of Breakfree, followed by notes of cocobolo and faint hints of burnt alox lube and beeswax and finishes with a hint of the throat feel of airborne burnt powder and lead.

OK, seriously: Not bad, pretty smooth, light, lacking the sweetness of most bourbons. Also lacking the heavy smokiness of many bourbons. Conclusion: It is extra smooth for 94 proof but if you are drawn to bourbon for it's sweet smokiness you may find it too light in that department.

It's hard to find anything I don't like about it but it's short on the things I do like in bourbon. A person that leans toward very light Canadians might find it especially appealing.

 

[sheepdawg]

Longtime Dickel Barrel Select fan till my local liquor store jacked the price up about 20%. Tried Four Roses Single Barrel as it was priced where the Dickel used to be and I'm shocked, this stuff is great. 100 proof so it has some zing but surprisingly little of the higher proof fire. Smooth as silk, no chaser needed. Right now it's my new favorite. Will make a good cold football game flask filler.

 

[targetchief]

The Willet is just ok but way over priced. I have a bottle of Elijah Craig barrel strength. It is very good but a little pricey at $50 for a fifth. I agree that for the price J W Dant is a decent bourbon. I believe it is a Heaven Hill product as is Elijah Craig.

 

[oink]

Pretty sure I've had Elijah Craig, probably at my brothers. I don't have it. Just checked. I do have a pretty fair bourbon collection. I'll try the Four Roses although I always thought that brand was far from top shelf. I think we drank that stuff when I was in High School along with Miller beer . Always Miller with the bourbon for some reason I no longer remember. There was no accounting for our tastes considering another favoirte was Wyler's powdered lemonade mix and Everclear.

Last year I had a store clerk talk me into buying a bottle of Hill Billy Bourbon. He claimed it was nectar of the gods at bargain prices. Do not let a store clerk talk you into buying a bottle of Hill Billy bourbon.

 

[muddocktor]

In the last few years, I've become a fan of the Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve. I find it pretty darn smooth for a relatively high proof whisky (120 proof).

 

[chief38]

I bought a bottle of Elijah Craig last month and it is very good - but IMHO not as good as Eagle Rare, Basil Hayden, Blanton's & Jack Single Barrel - but that is all subject to personal taste of course.

I love trying new Bourbons and in the near future I'm going to do a Cigar & Bourbon night at my home and do a blind taste testing and rating just for fun. I'll get my Wife to pick the labels so even I don't know what I am drinking. Will see how it comes out.

 

[oink]

I'll be awaiting the invitation.

 

[typetwelve]

Tried Four Roses Single Barrel as it was priced where the Dickel used to be and I'm shocked, this stuff is great. 100 proof so it has some zing but surprisingly little of the higher proof fire. Smooth as silk, no chaser needed. Right now it's my new favorite. Will make a good cold football game flask filler.

I wow many people with the Four Roses single barrel...I know tastes vary, but it really is that good.

I'll try the Four Roses although I always thought that brand was far from top shelf. I think we drank that stuff when I was in High School along with Miller beer . Always Miller with the bourbon for some reason I no longer remember. There was no accounting for our tastes considering another favoirte was Wyler's powdered lemonade mix and Everclear.

Four Roses was a top line bourbon but fell into rot-gut decades ago. The brand was purchased (by a Japanese company, I believe) and completely reinvented. Their offerings are really amazing anymore, especially the single barrel. Some places want to overcharge for it, but you can routinely find it in the high $30 range and it is absolutely worth it.

What's odd is the yellow is a simple mixer to me, the small batch is simply ok...but that single barrel...wow.

 

[chief38]

I've got a bottle of Four Roses that was a gift from a friend. It's not bad but not on my top 10 list. Again....... personal taste is what I go by.

 

[chief38]

As Pawngal so correctly stated, the Jack Daniels 100 proof Bottled in Bond which is only sold at Airports and on Cruise Ships (no idea why they did that) should be coming my way soon. I've got friends that are presently away and will be flying home at the end of his week (hopefully with two bottles for me)

I'll let you fellas know how it is.

 

[sheepdawg]

Through years of conducting extensive research I've always thought of the two big Tennessee whiskey makers Dickel was the better.

To me Jack Daniels is for the tourists.

 

[chief38]

Through years of conducting extensive research I've always thought of the two big Tennessee whiskey makers Dickel was the better.

To me Jack Daniels is for the tourists.

I have two different variations of Dickel and while I do think its good, it is a little too sweet for me to drink on any regular basis. It is tasty and smooth though! I can definitely see why others really like it - it's just that when I married Mrs. Chief38 39 years ago I got use to NO SUGAR in anything. We are NOT diabetics and have no sugar problems at all - she just never liked the taste of it and so I got use to not using any either. That is why the Dickel tastes too sweet to me. BTW I don't eat many sweets and treats either because of the same reasons. I do eat ice cream but go for the brands that have less sugar in them. Can't eat Hagendaz since I married my wife - but Turkey Hill fits the bill for me. Yea it has sugar, but less than Hazendaz.

It took me a while to learn how to drink Coffee without sugar - but now can't drink it with sugar!