Cigar Weekly

Pill Man · 06-24-2002, 07:02 PM

Tonight after dinner, a friend and I shared a couple of glasses of Old Rip Van Winkle, 15 years old, 107 proof Bourbon (his Bourbon, my Bolivar Lonsdales).

My.. oh.. my! What a taste treat!

In my limited experiences, this has got to be the very deepest and darkest bourbon that I have ever seen - deep mahogany in color.

It's a very complex tasting Bourbon, demonstrating hints of barrel char, vanilla, caramel, and oak. It has a very rich "mouthfeel." Flavors of orange peel, nutmeg and clove developed as I drank on.

It was not as "spirity" as I had anticipated given its 107 proof - a good balance between flavor and alcohol. Complimented the Bolivars quite nicely.

There's not doubt that the older the Bourbon, the better. This 15 year old is not easily found, but if you're a Bourbon lover, it's well worth the search.

Doug

--
"Oh. I had religion Lord, to this very day, but the women and whiskey, well, they would not let me pray."
- Son House

jefslat · 06-24-2002, 07:04 PM

Man, something else to go hunting for... :P

Sigmund Freud would be annoyed. - Kinky Friedman

I am a member of the Cuban Albino Midget Rapper Possee - MC Notorious Big Fat JpS

madal · 06-25-2002, 08:10 AM

I've been wondering about the Old Rip, Just opened a bottle of Ezra B, 15 yr old. Tried it alongside Makers Mark, what a difference. My favorite at this point is Elijah Craig. Have you tried either?

snibbetsj · 06-25-2002, 09:08 AM

Elijah's one of my favorites. The Old Rip sounds pretty good, guess I'll try looking for it.

"What if the hokey pokey really IS what it's all about" - Unknown

madal · 06-25-2002, 09:28 AM

Any reviews/comparisons to Woodford?

Pill Man · 06-25-2002, 09:35 AM

Quote:

I've been wondering about the Old Rip, Just opened a bottle of Ezra B, 15 yr old. Tried it alongside Makers Mark, what a difference. My favorite at this point is Elijah Craig. Have you tried either?

Maker's Mark has just been replaced as my "house Bourbon" by Knob Creek - smoother and more complex.

The Ezra B 15 is certainly more complex than the Maker's. Locally it's $22 - a bargain for a 15 yr. old Bourbon. However, some find the "wood" that the Ezra exhibits to be a bit overshadowing - it does have complexity, though.

I've sampled the Elijah Craig 12 years. A bit too much of a bite on the finish for me. I like my Bourbon as smooth as a baby's bottom (don't ask!). I've not yet tried the 18 yrs. old.

madal · 06-25-2002, 10:01 AM

Had a friend tell me that the Craig 12year old was smoother than the 18yr old. Normally, I completely trust his judgement. Got me herfin' 8-9 years ago!

Oregone · 06-25-2002, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Tonight after dinner, a friend and I shared a couple of glasses of Old Rip Van Winkle, 15 years old, 107 proof Bourbon (his Bourbon, my Bolivar Lonsdales).

My.. oh.. my! What a taste treat!

This bourbon is, IMO, superior to their even older expressions -- and considerably more affordable. It was the first bourbon I tasted that I (in my arrogance) proclaimed "perfect." The only problem with it is that there always seems to be a hole in the bottle; stuff leaks out or evaporates or *something*

Next thing I know, the dang thing is empty!

madal · 06-25-2002, 12:20 PM

Maybe you need a bigger bottle.

Oregone · 06-25-2002, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Maybe you need a bigger bottle.

It would just have bigger hole!

06-24-2002, 07:02 PM	#1
Pill Man Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: 22 Arlington Pk., Canandaigua, NY USA Posts: 877	Tonight after dinner, a friend and I shared a couple of glasses of Old Rip Van Winkle, 15 years old, 107 proof Bourbon (his Bourbon, my Bolivar Lonsdales). My.. oh.. my! What a taste treat! In my limited experiences, this has got to be the very deepest and darkest bourbon that I have ever seen - deep mahogany in color. It's a very complex tasting Bourbon, demonstrating hints of barrel char, vanilla, caramel, and oak. It has a very rich "mouthfeel." Flavors of orange peel, nutmeg and clove developed as I drank on. It was not as "spirity" as I had anticipated given its 107 proof - a good balance between flavor and alcohol. Complimented the Bolivars quite nicely. There's not doubt that the older the Bourbon, the better. This 15 year old is not easily found, but if you're a Bourbon lover, it's well worth the search. Doug -- "Oh. I had religion Lord, to this very day, but the women and whiskey, well, they would not let me pray." - Son House __________________ Doug http://home.rochester.rr.com/dougscorner/ "Oh. I had religion Lord, to this very day, but the women and whiskey, well, they would not let me pray." - Son House

06-24-2002, 07:04 PM	#2
jefslat CW WarCraft God CW Special Correspondent Editor at Large Predominant CW Ambassador Herf God Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Antonio de Bexar Posts: 38,921	Man, something else to go hunting for... :P Sigmund Freud would be annoyed. - Kinky Friedman I am a member of the Cuban Albino Midget Rapper Possee - MC Notorious Big Fat JpS __________________ El Gringo permanence... El perro, el perro, es mi corazon. El gato, el gato, el gato no es bueno. El Jefe es cantante, El Jefe es muy famoso El Jefe es el hombre con el queso del diablo. El perro, el perro, nunca sin raison El gato, el gato, el gato es obseno El Jefe es caliente, El Jefe es carinoso El Jefe le da besos mejor que su esposo What Would TOJE Do? Þ £

06-25-2002, 08:10 AM	#3
madal Herf Meister Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Infront of the Monitor, behind Posts: 7,624	I've been wondering about the Old Rip, Just opened a bottle of Ezra B, 15 yr old. Tried it alongside Makers Mark, what a difference. My favorite at this point is Elijah Craig. Have you tried either? __________________ Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others.

06-25-2002, 09:08 AM	#4
snibbetsj Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Panama City Beach, FL USA Posts: 145	Elijah's one of my favorites. The Old Rip sounds pretty good, guess I'll try looking for it. "What if the hokey pokey really IS what it's all about" - Unknown __________________ "If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." - Carl Sagan

06-25-2002, 09:28 AM	#5
madal Herf Meister Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Infront of the Monitor, behind Posts: 7,624	Any reviews/comparisons to Woodford? __________________ Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others.

06-25-2002, 10:01 AM	#7
madal Herf Meister Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Infront of the Monitor, behind Posts: 7,624	Had a friend tell me that the Craig 12year old was smoother than the 18yr old. Normally, I completely trust his judgement. Got me herfin' 8-9 years ago! __________________ Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others.

06-25-2002, 12:20 PM	#9
madal Herf Meister Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Infront of the Monitor, behind Posts: 7,624	Maybe you need a bigger bottle. __________________ Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others.