Bourbonr Blind Tasting 003
Here’s the format. Each episode there are 4-5 tasters with 5-10 whiskeys. Each taster is sent samples and submits their reviews and ratings before the live reveal. Every bottle in the blind tastings has been purchased by me. No outside bottles or media samples will be selected. I try to purchase every bottle at retail but, with today’s bourbon market, have to rely on fellow Bourbonr’s to source certain bottles.
This month I was joined by Kerry Bossak from Subourbia, Brett Atlas from Bourbon and Banter, Ryan Lintz from The Bourbon Buddy and Four Roses Enthusiast Travis Hill.
0-60 – Terrible. Bottles should be destroyed
61-70 – Bad. Flavor is off as a whole but shows a few redeeming notes
71-80 – Decent. Could drink in a pinch but probably more of a mixer
81-85 – Good. I want a bottle on my shelf as a daily drinker
86-90 – Really Good. Everyone should buy a bottle
91-95 – Great. This is phenomenal I would be willing to spend whatever it takes to get a bottle
96-100 – Perfect. This is everything you want in a whiskey and it has no flaws
If you’re only interested in the results check out the summary video below. You miss out on the banter and information. But, you may not have time to watch an hour of bourbon discussion.
This month’s blind tasting answered several questions for me. First, do bottles begin to deteriorate after being open? There are two bottles of Four Roses 125th in the tasting. The first was opened in 2017 and the second was opened for this tasting. Second, can blends outshine the originals? I used three of my own blends in this tasting. To say that outshined would be an overstep. However, they did do quite well. If you’re a distillery looking for a master taster, hit me up 🙂
Here are the results:
Results by sample:
Blend Recipes:
Summary Video:
9 comments
How to I become apart of these tastings
How can I be apart of these tastings
I too have noticed a slight decline in bourbon that has sat in half emptied bottles for over a year. This was a Todd “heads up” in your video review. Any suggested methods to better preserve a bourbon you are savouring over a long period of time?
Good question, reminded me of an article I read on that subject awhile ago. Found it here: http://chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/2015/09/can-whiskey-go-bad.html?m=1
Buy a roll of ‘Parafilm’. It is a paraffin sheet that is stretchable. We use it to seal things in the lab. I use it for my bourbon now. I use the 4 inch wide roll. Cut about an inch off and then stretch it around the top of the bottle where the cork top sits. You can usually wrap 3 or 4 times around to make a good seal.
Forgive the typo. I meant “good” heads up.
Damn spell check!
Kind of annoying that most of the bottles in the list are not only extremely rare bottles (store picks of specific FR recipes), but blends of several such bottles! Yeesh.
That’s the point. You can find private picks of the same mash bill and do your own tinkering