I have some friends over

[MacDeffe]

I will be opening all my american bottlings so have a few friends for this agenda today :

The Agenda is :

1. Charbay III LAWS Edition I, Distilled Feb 1999, Bottled October 2011, Barrel no. 1 69.1%

2. Evan Wiliams 7yo 4/5 Quart 90 proof
3. Evan Williams 7yo 750ml 90 proof
4. Evan Williams 2000 Single Barrel 43.3%, Barrel 117, Barreled on 11/08 2000, Bottled 30/10 2009
5. Elijah Craig 12yo 47%
6. I. W Harper 40% 15yo (Old Bernheim)
7. A. H. Hirsch 1974 16yo 45.8% (Pensylvania)

8. Johhny Drum Private Stock 50.5% (HH?)
9. Willet 13yo Barrel 3718 62% (HH?)
10. Kirkland 7yo 51.5% Batch B-5183 (Jim Beam?)


11. WL Weller 12yo 45%
12. Jefferson's Presedential Select 18yo 47%
13. Pappy van Winkle 15yo 53.5%
14. Pappy van Winkle 20yo 45.2%
15. William Larue Weller 66.75%
16. George T. Stagg 71.5%

Dinner Break

17. WhistlePig 10yo 50% 100% Rye
18. High West Double Rye 46% (2yo 95%Rye, 5%Barley LDI, 16yo 53%Rye, 37%Corn, 10% Barley Barton)
19. High West Rendezvous 46% (6yo 95%Rye, 5%Barley LDI, 16yo 53%Rye, 37%Corn, 10% Barley Barton)
20. Rittenhouse 100 proof Bottled in Bond TWE Single Barrel

21. High West 12yo (12yo 95%Rye, 5%Barley LDI)
22. High West 21yo (21yo 53%Rye, 37%Corn, 10% Barley Barton, reused cooperage)

23. Sazerac 18yo 45%
24. Rittenhouse 25yo Barrel 6 50%
25. Bitter Truth 24yo 69.2%

Steffen
__________________
Self-Styled Whisky Connoisseur

[cato]

Wow! impressive spread. I am American and haven't had half of those expressions. Lucky friends of yours. Sounds like fun.

[Pudge72]

...awesome spread there, Steffen!! Let us know the general impressions that you and your guests have. I'm particularly curious on how you all will find the expressions that are older than 15 - 18 years old.

My general impression is that 18 seeems to be around the time that the presence of wood can start to become dominant to the point of overbearing. I'm very curious to know if my general impression is correct or not as the oldest American bottle that I have tried is my bottle of Jefferson's Presidential Select 18 that is on your list (as you will know from the label, it is basically PVW 18 from some of the last of the Stitzel-Weller barrel stock).

[Lawrence]

Impressive list!

#17 is Canadian...

[MacDeffe]

Aye, I know the WhistlePig is Canadian, its bottled by a Vermont company, and the fact it's not a US bottle was not enough to have me skip it from the agenda

Biggest surprise was the quality of the older of the old Evan Williams. It was a very delicious bourbon and made me wonder if the quality of bourbons was just higher in the 70's or if some kind of mellowing had occured in the bottle during the years. SOmewhat similat to the AH Hirsch where the whiskey also spend some rest outside the cask, not in a bottle, but in a stainless steel tank. It's not like maturing in a cask, but a distillery like MArco from Charbay claims that some effects will take place from having a whiskey resting in a stainless steel tank

My other favourites of the night were the Willet nad the expected Pappy, Stagg and Weller with the Sazerac being a delightful finish

The young ryes came out in a bad light the way the drams were lined up. I thought they werent good. Tasting them by itself here a week later I think they are good. The agenda and perspective of drams can have a huge impact

Apart from the young high% ryes I enjoyed everything, noting the Johhny Drum to be sulphured, which is quite uncommon for a bourbon for me

Steffen

[Willie JJ]

I love the way that the Bitter Truth comes at the end

[Malt-Teaser]

Hi Steffen and many thanks for your wonderful input here ......

http://www.whisky-emporium.com/Blogs/2012-03-Mar/Blog.htm#NoMore

[MacDeffe]

Con grats on the 1000th review, Keith. It's a lot harder work to write about whiskies than just drink them

That's why I usually just do the latter

Steffen

[MacDeffe]

My apartment is rather small (but filled with whisky)

For some of those that couldn't make it the first time (there wasn't room neither) we are going through this again. Me, for the 2nd time. Life is hard

Steffen

[joshZie]

So Steffan, how do you normally structure your tastings? I'm having some friends over tomorrow for a tasting (some are already whisky drinkers) and want to organize a fun and mildly educational tasting (emphasis on fun). Also, what snacks do you prefer during tastings, if any?

Edit: Question is open to everybody!

[Jolly Toper]

Steffen, a typically modest Danish tasting methinks, we tried some Willets recently - on the bottle it said 'pot still', I'm guessing this is from Woodford but not sure...