Dan and I did a little trade/blind taste recently. He took a picture of his selections and I picked three I wanted to try and he was to add to it, three more that would be blind. In turn, I would do the same for him. I have just finished the blinds, so I thought I'd post my impressions, with the hopes that Dan will tell me what they are!!!
First off, here was all 6 samples lined up, 3 I picked and 3 are blind.
10yr Redemption Rye, Barrel Bourbon, Rhetoric 23, Blind 1, Blind 2, Blind 3.
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I don't know why, but I chose to drink the blinds in reverse order (3,2,1).
So here is Blind #3 with my impressions:
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Great color and aroma. Nice deep amber with a sweetness on the nose.
Poured it over a large cube, which allows me to catch it pretty straight at the beginning and then slowly open it up as the big cube melts a tad. The sweetness was all there on the first taste. I'm not great on identifying the specifics, but I'd take a stab and say caramel, vanilla, and possibly maple.
I would guess this is a bourbon, possibly single barrel, and higher content on the corn for the mash bill. I'm probably being swayed by the sweetness to think that though.
This was a super smooth, and very flavorful pour. I really enjoyed it. I would compare it to something like Blanton's if you forced me to. I'd guess it was somewhere around 95-100 proof.
Blind #2 with impressions:
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#2 was slightly lighter in color and slightly more mild in aroma. I did not pick up a bunch on the initial nose. Nice looking pour though.
I poured this one across bullet cubes, which was not ideal, but I was out of my large ones.....poor planning. However, before I poured it, I did do a neat pour for myself so that I could give a taste without water. Nice pour it was. Sweetness was toned down as compared to the Blind 3, but flavor was all there. I'm not getting a big rye punch, and that sweetness is there....just muted a bit. I guess I still have to think this is a bourbon...meaning predominately corn for the mashbill.
Not too hot, but a tad hotter than Blind 3, I'll go somewhere around 100 proof I think. There is definite oak and spice in the profile, maybe some leather, and dare I say tobacco but minor.
Good long finish, smooth, maybe some nice caramel on the finish. I liked it, maybe not quite as much as Blind 3, but I liked it quite a bit. I'd have to think it has at least 7 years on it. I might compare it to a Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond or a 10 Year McKenna. Maybe in between those two.
Lastly, my impressions on Blind #1:
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This one was distinctly different, and unfortunately not in a good way for me. Quite honestly there was little that appealed to me. That doesn't mean it wasn't quality in its own way, but it was pretty evident immediately that this isn't something I would typically buy or enjoy. But that's part of what I like about the blinds, learning and growing.
Nice color to it, albeit light amber, it was a very pretty liquid. Nose was strange to me. Not much sweetness, maybe a lot mor earthiness or smoke.
The first taste was fairly strong to my taste buds. I'm getting a lot of raisin/plum. There seems to be some peat in here......is this a scotch? If so, that'll explain everything else I've said to this point. I've just never been able to get into scotch. I'm not certain that's what we have here though. I've had many a single malt whiskey in the past few years that will have small similarities to mild scotches. It's possible that's what's going on here. But whatever it is, it isn't something I really enjoy.
Unfortunately for me, this one was thumbs down. I certainly enjoyed the experience and had fun trying to figure it out, but overall it had too much smokey/peaty/earthy tones that I typically only like in small doses. If I had to guess I'd say this is a mild scotch (Highlands or Speyside) or it could be a Single Malt Whiskey.
Not saying this isn't a good looking glass of juice. It is, and it's not offensive. It just wasn't my bag.
Thanks again for the experience
@CgarDan it was fun. I still have the Rhetoric 23 to taste. I want to do it side-by-side with my 25. So I'm holding off. I hope you enjoy your selections and blinds as well.
Cheers.
. Highly recommend
