gotbourbon.com

May 22nd, 2009 - Happy Hour at Bourbons Bistro.   5:00pm.  The GotBourbon.com team and a few friends met for a Bourbon tasting at Bourbons Bistro, to kick off the long holiday weekend with a few samplings of some fine Bourbon.   Kyle, our gracious bartender, suggested a few and he was right on.  I had Old Pogue Master Select on ice first.  A delicious 9-year old, small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was my first choice.  An excellent rye recipe Bourbon, it’s nose was caramel, and the palate had hints of oaky brown sugar.   I will be buying a bottle of this Bourbon very soon.  My next venture was actually not even a Bourbon, but it was a Rye Whiskey – Russell’s Reserve Rye.  Since I was in the rye mood, I figured I would branch out and try something that I never have.  Rye Whiskeys are making a comeback and have been gaining more and more popularity lately.   This one, from Wild Turkey, really hit the spot!  Kyle highly recommends it, and he was right on.    Obviously the big difference between Rye Whiskey is just that instead of Bourbon being made from 51% corn, Rye Whiskey has to contain 51% rye.  On ice, it has a golden amber color.  This chewy, robust, 6 year old Whiskey had a clean, fruity aroma, with hints of oak underlies it. The palate was strong with fruity taste, along with a slight burn and strong almond.   After cleaning my palate with some water, my last sampling, was an old one but a good one.   Back to Bourbon, I picked this one because this distillery has a special place in my heart, and because I had never had this variety of Bourbon from this label.  It was a unanimous choice between all of us, and the whole group each had one on the rocks!  Old Grand Dad 114 proof.    Bottled in Bond, and Barrel proof, two of my favorite qualities of good Bourbon.  This one packed a bunch both in strength and flavor.   With a very grainy aroma, the smoky palate really sticks with you.   Old Grand-Dad 114 has one of the most unique flavors in the bourbon, which is made from a unique recipe that uses more of the costly small grains, which create a distinctive flavor and body.  This fine bourbon is bottled at 114 proof, to preserve every drop of that unique character.  After some more water, and some more conversations on Bourbon, we wrapped out our “Memorial Day” Bourbon Happy Hour, and made plans to do it again soon.