Cigar Weekly

jazznut · 05-28-2017, 06:18 AM

A bit of a 'mini tasting' with good friends and really delicious food as well...

We started off with Teeling Small Batch Irish (46%ABV). I really like this one for its combination of crisp, spicy freshness and relatively high malt content. It starts off rather sharply, but quickly smooths out before gently tailing off on the finish. A nice beginning.

Next up was Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask (43%ABV). I've never been a big fan of this version, as I find the Rum cask finishing somewhat detracts from those typically honeyed and spicy attributes (not to mention the complexity) I look for in any really good bottling of Balvenie. Nothing different on this occasion, alas. However, we did return to the bottle much later in the proceedings to pair it with dessert. It seemed quite a bit tastier then.

Onto Arran Port Cask Finish (50%ABV). No doubt about it. Arran, despite being in operation little more than two decades, is a great distillery. This whisky was all about sweet fruit (berries and, perhaps, apricots as well) bound to oak derived spiciness and just a tinge of the seashore. Very well done.

At this point, we transitioned over to Bourbon by sampling Woodford Reserve Double Oak (43.2%ABV). A mixed bag here. The flavour profile was nice enough... caramelized apples and some perky spiciness lurking in the background. But overall, the whiskey seemed a little flat and uninspiring. A decent session pour for all that.

Last, but definitely not least, we went for Booker's (this version aged 6 years and 4 months+ and bottled at over 64%ABV). The Booker's literally blew all of the others away in short order. A massive, yet surprisingly drinkable at full strength, monster. Tremendous complexity, too, and a finish that went on and on. Winner!

A good time was had by all.

beevod · 05-29-2017, 07:52 AM

Booker's small batch with a Bolivar. Makes one indifferent our trade imbalance with China.

ronin · 05-29-2017, 05:05 PM

Buffalo Trace neat with a 2001 Boli CG.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

grtrx · 05-30-2017, 01:35 PM

I had a couple drams of the Caribbean cask Friday night after an exceptional dinner and excellent wine (Stony Hill gewurtz, chard and cab sauv). I liked it more then than I have as a stand alone drink.

jazznut · 05-31-2017, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grtrx

I had a couple drams of the Caribbean cask Friday night after an exceptional dinner...

It definitely seems to 'work' better following a meal.

grtrx · 05-31-2017, 08:46 AM

I really want to like it more, but if I want that profile I am more likely to go for an old brugal

BigO · 05-31-2017, 12:35 PM

Did a side-by-side of Baker's and Booker's a few years ago. Booker's blew the doors off of the Baker's.

jazznut · 06-01-2017, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigO

Booker's blew the doors off of the Baker's.

No small feat given that Baker's is a pretty decent Bourbon in its own right.

05-28-2017, 06:18 AM	#1
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	Last night's lineup A bit of a 'mini tasting' with good friends and really delicious food as well... We started off with Teeling Small Batch Irish (46%ABV). I really like this one for its combination of crisp, spicy freshness and relatively high malt content. It starts off rather sharply, but quickly smooths out before gently tailing off on the finish. A nice beginning. Next up was Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask (43%ABV). I've never been a big fan of this version, as I find the Rum cask finishing somewhat detracts from those typically honeyed and spicy attributes (not to mention the complexity) I look for in any really good bottling of Balvenie. Nothing different on this occasion, alas. However, we did return to the bottle much later in the proceedings to pair it with dessert. It seemed quite a bit tastier then. Onto Arran Port Cask Finish (50%ABV). No doubt about it. Arran, despite being in operation little more than two decades, is a great distillery. This whisky was all about sweet fruit (berries and, perhaps, apricots as well) bound to oak derived spiciness and just a tinge of the seashore. Very well done. At this point, we transitioned over to Bourbon by sampling Woodford Reserve Double Oak (43.2%ABV). A mixed bag here. The flavour profile was nice enough... caramelized apples and some perky spiciness lurking in the background. But overall, the whiskey seemed a little flat and uninspiring. A decent session pour for all that. Last, but definitely not least, we went for Booker's (this version aged 6 years and 4 months+ and bottled at over 64%ABV). The Booker's literally blew all of the others away in short order. A massive, yet surprisingly drinkable at full strength, monster. Tremendous complexity, too, and a finish that went on and on. Winner! A good time was had by all. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!

05-29-2017, 07:52 AM	#2
beevod Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 20,927	Booker's small batch with a Bolivar. Makes one indifferent our trade imbalance with China. __________________ "Moderation in all things. Excess in everything else."

05-29-2017, 05:05 PM	#3
ronin The Duke Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 20,302	Buffalo Trace neat with a 2001 Boli CG. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________ Words are what men live by. A man's word even if it means his destruction must be honored

05-30-2017, 01:35 PM	#4
grtrx Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Naperville IL Posts: 44,579	I had a couple drams of the Caribbean cask Friday night after an exceptional dinner and excellent wine (Stony Hill gewurtz, chard and cab sauv). I liked it more then than I have as a stand alone drink. __________________ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill "A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

05-31-2017, 08:46 AM	#6
grtrx Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Naperville IL Posts: 44,579	I really want to like it more, but if I want that profile I am more likely to go for an old brugal __________________ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill "A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

05-31-2017, 12:35 PM	#7
BigO Publisher/Owner El Chefé BBQ Guru Herf God Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta. Posts: 55,756	Did a side-by-side of Baker's and Booker's a few years ago. Booker's blew the doors off of the Baker's. __________________ Every time you think you've become too cynical, the world finds a way to teach you that the real problem is that you haven't become cynical enough Free speech is free speech is free speech. There is no qualifier. If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention. Never attribute malice to that what can be explained as stupidity. Unborn lives matter too.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Today's lineup.......	fvfanmc	Cigar Talk	21	09-16-2005 11:51 PM
Vacation Lineup	JohnP	Cigar Talk	4	02-27-2004 06:32 AM
Friday night lineup.......	scott1966	Cigar Talk	24	06-28-2002 10:23 PM