Bourbon Blowout

Man can not live on beer alone, but if you throw in some bourbon, he could probably live on that combined.  This post exists for no other reason than to show off the fact that I have tried pretty much all of the greatest bourbons in the world recently–all of which score in the A range–and so that I could offer some brief capsule reviews.  You should be so lucky to ever even sit in the same room as someone trying any of these.

Michter’s US-1 Single Barrel Straight Rye

This 41.7% ABV rye has a great smell and is incredibly smooth, no harshness at all.  Quite a buttery mouthfeel, the charred barrel flavors are pronounced too.  Quite nice.

A-

Michter’s Single Barrel Bourbon (10 Yr Old)

This single barrel offering is quite drinkable at merely 92.8 proof and is packed with a smooth taste of oak, cherries, and sweet malts.  Complex and quite good.  Would be a nice place for a bourbon virgin to start sippin’.

A

Black Maple Hill

A solid 95 proof sipper, this small batch offering is woody and sweet, with pronounced tastes of green apple.

A-

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15 and 20 Year

I blind tasted these two against each other and ultimately preferred the younger, hotter 107 proof 15 Year over the smoother 90.4 proof 20 Year.  But, don’t get me wrong, both are world class.  In fact, according to the World’s Spirits Championships–whatever the hell those are–these are THE two best bourbons in the world.  Both these bourbons use wheat, as opposed to rye, which make them sweeter than your typical bourbons, adding nicely to the oaked vanilla flavors in these incredibly complex sippers.

A+ and A+

A.H. Hirsch Reserve

This 16 Year old comes in at a relatively easy 91.6 proof, making it deliciously drinkable even for your friends that need to add ice and a frosty mug to every libation.  This exceedingly rare, and soon-to-be-non-existent, whiskey from the now-shut-down Michter’s Distillery in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, is packed with a pleasant assault of vanilla with underlying hints of maple and oak.  Probably the second-best bourbon I’ve ever had.

A+

William Larue Weller

One of five from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, this uncut and unfiltered bourbon came in a little hot for my palate at 121.9 proof, but it’s still very good.  An incredibly smokey bourbon, I found little of my prefered vanilla sweetness.  It’s more just an assault of old man pipe, pepper, and perhaps some dried fruit.

A-

George T. Stagg

This uncut and unfiltered bourbon is so scorching–coming in at 140.6 proof–that it is not allowed on airplanes due to flammability issues.  Oh, but despite being “no-fly,” George T. Stagg is no terrorist.  In fact, Stagg is the best bourbon I’ve ever had.  It burns your nose hairs as you sniff it, it makes you feel like Al Swearengen as you sip it, but my God is it shockingly complex and flavorful.  Another from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, this 15 Year old is packed with syrupy caramel and butterscotch and an oaky, tobacco smoked finish.  I cannot recommend it more.  Well worth whatever you have to pay to get even an ounce of it.

A+