What whiskey are you drinking?

[Northeast Stinger]

There’s the other half of us that won’t be happy either way.

There’s always an atheist in every group

 

[forensicbuzz]

There’s always an atheist in every group

You think politicians are deities? Interesting.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

You think politicians are deities? Interesting.

Never !

But most voters seem to think God approves of their vote.

Anyway, the smiley face I posted meant it was a joke.

 

[Peacone36]

You’ve got me thinking….

Do you drink to celebrate?

Do you drink to forget?

Or do you drink to get more creative in explaining why your candidate lost?

Yes. Which is why i put it in the past.

today was 111 days

 

[forensicbuzz]

Never !

But most voters seem to think God approves of their vote.

Anyway, the smiley face I posted meant it was a joke.

I wasn’t being serious either. I didn’t think you were meaning it that way.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Yes. Which is why i put it in the past.

today was 111 days

I have set new rules for myself.

No more drinking alone. I’m good at that because I’ll sit in front of the computer and sip on bourbon. By the time I crawl in bed, I can have had way too much and not realize it.

No more bourbon 2 days in a row or more than 5 2-finger pours a week. This way, I give my liver a break and don’t overindulge.

If I’m drinking high proof, I limit myself to 1. High proof is anything over 110.

I have come to the realization that, while I haven’t developed a dependency on alcohol yet, sipping had become a habit. It was time to break the habit before it became something more.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

It’s fun to talk about whiskey, and it certainly fits the fight song, but you all have reminded me that moderation, and even abstinence, are healthy adult choices.

 

[CEB]

Good heavens we have even managed to pervert a thread about whiskey!

Since we’re out there, a smattering of responses to this thread:
1. I noted that no one spelled it “whisky” …just an observation. I don’t favor scotch or Canadian versions either.
Honestly, I spell it “b-o-u-r-b-o-n”
2. I certainly drink in celebration and in excitement /anticipation but try to avoid frustration / anger / etc. That said, I’m a generally light hearted guy and I can find good reasons to celebrate removing a splinter or doing some dishes. I suspect I would be well served by some moderation.
3. Tuesday night will be dry for me. One result will be very unsettling / troubling for me and the other will be only a relief. Neither the process nor the results pair well with drinking (not that I expect to see a result Tuesday night anyway).

 

[CEB]

Back to whiskey related discussions…
We seem to have our fair share of connoisseurs, but do any of you have a background or knowledge of mash bills and distilling?

My question (and admittedly this will be really tough to ask in this forum):
I have now had two whiskeys that have the same very distinct flavor that I do NOT care for at all. It is a pronounced artificial, almost plastic taste with a hint of smoke. Years ago my father brought me a bottle of bourbon from a small Tennessee distillery I had never heard of and that was my first experience with the flavor. I chalked it up to a bourbon I didn’t like and moved on. This weekend my brother in law passed on a bottle from a small distillery I have never heard of in SC… same exact taste!
I suspect since both are new / small operations, they are using the same thing to try to replicate a charred barrel aging process for a young bourbon. That said, I’ve had other young whiskeys that don’t have this taste… so maybe it’s unique to a young distiller instead? Even a young bourbon still gets a barrel age (I think), so maybe these guys are trying to skirt the barrel age altogether?
Actual knowledge is appreciated, but conjecture, hypotheses and even outright lies will be taken into consideration.

 

[MWBATL]

You’ve got me thinking….

Do you drink to celebrate?

Do you drink to forget?

Or do you drink to get more creative in explaining why your candidate lost?

ALL of the above!

 

[forensicbuzz]

Back to whiskey related discussions…
We seem to have our fair share of connoisseurs, but do any of you have a background or knowledge of mash bills and distilling?

My question (and admittedly this will be really tough to ask in this forum):
I have now had two whiskeys that have the same very distinct flavor that I do NOT care for at all. It is a pronounced artificial, almost plastic taste with a hint of smoke. Years ago my father brought me a bottle of bourbon from a small Tennessee distillery I had never heard of and that was my first experience with the flavor. I chalked it up to a bourbon I didn’t like and moved on. This weekend my brother in law passed on a bottle from a small distillery I have never heard of in SC… same exact taste!
I suspect since both are new / small operations, they are using the same thing to try to replicate a charred barrel aging process for a young bourbon. That said, I’ve had other young whiskeys that don’t have this taste… so maybe it’s unique to a young distiller instead? Even a young bourbon still gets a barrel age (I think), so maybe these guys are trying to skirt the barrel age altogether?
Actual knowledge is appreciated, but conjecture, hypotheses and even outright lies will be taken into consideration.

What you're tasting is called heliotropin or piperonal. It's an aromatic aldehyde similar to vanillin. It is something that is extracted from the wood, not anything to do with the mashbill. It smells and tastes like brand new 3-ring binders in the store. If you don't like it, stay clear of craft distillery single barrels. That's the place you'll most likely encounter it. Younger whiskeys tend to be more grain-forward, so a little rougher on the backside.

As to the age of bourbon, most of the really young stuff is 6 months to 2 years. At 2 years it can be a straight bourbon, but between 2 and 4 years it has to tell you how old it is if it's a straight bourbon.

Most of what people during are 4-6 years old.

 

[CEB]

What you're tasting is called heliotropin or piperonal. It's an aromatic aldehyde similar to vanillin. It is something that is extracted from the wood, not anything to do with the mashbill. It smells and tastes like brand new 3-ring binders in the store. If you don't like it, stay clear of craft distillery single barrels. That's the place you'll most likely encounter it. Younger whiskeys tend to be more grain-forward, so a little rougher on the backside.

Yeah… that’s pretty much it! Thanks for the answer.
When you say “extracted from the wood” I assume you mean it’s been physically extracted and added to the bourbon? I’ve enjoyed plenty of barrel aged bourbons and whiskeys that don’t have the same flavor. For me, it’s impossible to miss.. at least in the two bottles I mentioned.
Id opt for rough on the backside 100/100 times as opposed to that.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Yeah… that’s pretty much it! Thanks for the answer.
When you say “extracted from the wood” I assume you mean it’s been physically extracted and added to the bourbon? I’ve enjoyed plenty of barrel aged bourbons and whiskeys that don’t have the same flavor. For me, it’s impossible to miss.. at least in the two bottles I mentioned.
Id opt for rough on the backside 100/100 times as opposed to that.

Not all white oak has it, most don't have it in high concentrations. Just like you get more vanilla flavor with some barrels, the same with this. There are actually people who like it. Me, not such a fan of it either.

Jackie Zykan, the former Master Taster for Old Forester, taught me about heliotropin when she did a rye tasting in Chicago.

 

[reckrider]

Not all white oak has it, most don't have it in high concentrations. Just like you get more vanilla flavor with some barrels, the same with this. There are actually people who like it. Me, not such a fan of it either.

Jackie Zykan, the former Master Taster for Old Forester, taught me about heliotropin when she did a rye tasting in Chicago.

I’ve been drinking Old Forester 100 Rye this week. It’s light but I taste more mint than anything I’ve tried lately. Worth a try for +/-$28.

 

[reckrider]

I have set new rules for myself.

No more drinking alone. I’m good at that because I’ll sit in front of the computer and sip on bourbon. By the time I crawl in bed, I can have had way too much and not realize it.

No more bourbon 2 days in a row or more than 5 2-finger pours a week. This way, I give my liver a break and don’t overindulge.

If I’m drinking high proof, I limit myself to 1. High proof is anything over 110.

I have come to the realization that, while I haven’t developed a dependency on alcohol yet, sipping had become a habit. It was time to break the habit before it became something more.

I’m more of a “live hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse“ kind of guy. But, hey, I’m only 65. Maybe I’ll think differently as I get older.