Here is a link to some of the history videos I mentioned. Using the tags, and the other links below will give you month’s worth of Bourbon history to watch. There’s so much, and it is all so good!
Bourbon in Kentucky: Buffalo Trace Oral History Project · SPOKEdb (kentuckyoralhistory.org)
It gets brought up on a Buffalo Trace tour as well, they say something like “the best way to enjoy bourbon is however you like it.” That’s a great tour, the tasting at the end is fun because you get to try a nice bourbon, some white dog, and (at least on the tour I went on) some of their bourbon cream which is a really nice treat, especially when added to coffee.
You can still find the Real Sugar Pepsi, it just isn’t in the “Throwback” branded containers anymore. It looks more like the regular Pepsi cans and bottles.
It didn’t taste the same to me, but that could easily be the packaging’s placebo effect.
Hard to say! It’s been so long since I’ve had the Throwback stuff. I just know I can stand it much better than the regular corn syrup Pepsi.
Not a huge drinker but I am in Louisville, KY lol. My stepdad is a big collector.
Pepsi is as controversial as flat bearings.
Flat pepsi. Warm, too.
Truth be known, I prefer a good, smooth brandy over most anything else.
I’m not ashamed to admit that when I forget to fill the ice tray, I’ve had warm soda mixed with warm whiskey.
IT’S NOT THAT BAD
I’m a plus one on the Old Grandad Bonded, especially for cocktails.
My other general go to is Four Roses. Cask strength if I have a store pick bottle around, regular small batch otherwise.
Same idea and advice as a speaker salesman told us when we were looking. ‘Don’t pay for what you can’t hear’. Then we listened to Martin Logan’s set up with that tiny little sweet spot they offer. The spacial imagining made our hair stand up. That’s what you’re looking for. Something that transports you to places you have yet to experience.
A favorite distributor story was a meeting in Asia. Penthouse boardroom overlooking the city. Bottle service with skimpy clad and decked out ladies. Out came a bottle of 23 year old Pappy’s in a crystal bottle. Poured in individual glasses for all at the massive conference room table. Then another set of ladies came around topping each glass up with Coke Cola (sure as heck wasn’t Pepsi, sheesh). Some at the table who knew bourbon, wept. Openly wept. But the deal was done anyway.
I’d have quickly took a sip of the straight Pappy, but I’m not lying, I’d have smiled the whole way through that Pappy and Coke. Once finished, I’d wink at the waitress and say, may I have triple please on this next go around?
I’ve always drank neat with a splash of water. The splash seems to bring out the flavor just a bit more. But that’s just me.
I will sometimes add water if it’s a higher proof. Like a barrel strength or something.
Speaking of higher proofs and adding water, I’m hunting the below new release, Jack Daniels Single Barrell Coy Hill. 148 proof is insane, and some have noted it drinks like it is 100 proof.
That’s the beauty of cask strength proof. You can add a bit of water or ice to bring the flavor profile to exactly where you love it most. Custom tuning your drink is a simple pleasure to enjoy.
Unless you are a nerd or overly curious, or both. Then you have to get water from around the world and different mineral contents, etc. to make sure you’re getting the best water for that dilution.
I had last years version mid 130’s proof iirc. It was a nice pour!
That’s another thing I liked when the Antique Collection was readily available. The data sheets! Mo data to read and try to gain some understanding from as you drank them. Mash bill, barrel char temp and time, etc. etc.
Thanks to this thread, I picked up:
Very Old Barton
Evan Williams 100
Old Grand Dad 100
Will be comparing to Turkey 101. Last night I compared Redwood Empire to the 101 and could barely taste the difference. Looking forward to checking all these out.
Wow, you did great picking those three up, can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
And I will say, Wild Turkey is fantastic bourbon. Many just think of it as what we got trashed on back in the day, and while that definitely happened for me, lol, when drank responsibly it is amazing.
I read every post in this thread carefully and from what you said in your posts I figured your taste would be similar to mine. Plus the consensus on a couple of them was supporting evidence. Then when I checked the local “good stuff” liquor store vs the local chain, I found that the VOB and the OGD 100 were only available at the former so considered that more evidence of quality. While I was picking it up some collector was in there griping about how hard it was to find some particular Weller. I started talking to him about that with my picks in hand and he commented about OGD being really good. So I have it on my top shelf with the Whistle Pig and Willet. Looking forward to trying.
