Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

So Ben (stearns) has a box dropped on my porch today, with samples of my second vice....Bourbon!

But the rub? I don't know what they are, get to try them blind, which is super cool ...maybe I'll find a new fave!

https://i.imgur.com/A8oPWHn.jpg

Of course, Ben had to send a couple tasty palate cleansing smokes! :ss

Thank you so much, Ben, looking forward to trying these! And of course, you know what I will do with the empty little bottles, right? -(P

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

I bought one can of Bud Light and one can of Coors Light, shook them up until they lost all carbonation, then filled 3 of the jars with Bud Light and one with Coors Light. Your mission is to tell me which is the Coors

:D

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Awesome!

So does it go Kristen, Bourbon, Cigars? Would have thought cigars were second, but I apparently don;t know you as well as I thought.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Nice hit and great idea!!!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Oh sure, get me in trouble. Nice. :lr

Of course, if you continue to misspell Kristin's name, you could be in the doghouse with me. ;)

I am allergic to Anheuser Busch beers, so this should be a cinch, Ben! I'll give you the answer as soon as I recover. :D

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Oh man, this is a great idea! Can't wait to see some reviews.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

What a great idea!!! I will be following this thread closely.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

:po

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Great Hit & Great Idea, Ben!:noon:sl:tu

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

I can see interest for a Blind Bourbon Pass forming......

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Nice! Keep us posted on the sampling, Tom.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Planning on sampling at least one tonight. :al

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Pour #1

Very subtle nose, hints of dried fruit is the most I’m picking up.

Amber color, lighter mouthfeel. First sip brings on a surprising sweetness, not like a “finished” bourbon, but certainly could be wheated. Very balanced and smooth, but doesn’t give the impression of being a higher proof. The finish is short and doesn’t pack a lot of heat.

My guess: Jefferson’s Ocean.

And it was:

https://i.imgur.com/uMgnMbv.jpg

Thank you, Ben, happy to have tried it, and don’t feel like I was too far off.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

So, if I'm reading this right your favorites, are cigars, bourbon then bush (phrasing)???....Cool idea Ben!!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

:banger:banger

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Not particularly in that order though. :D

Sample #2 on deck for tonight. :al

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Oh, I love this idea! I'm a big bourbon fan, but no way I could even fathom a guess at what brand something was out of thin air like that! Maybe something about mashbill and proof, but this is impressive.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Albeit an incorrect guess, Flynn! :D But I felt fairly good about getting in the right ballpark. Watch me trash my confidence tonight with #2. :r

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

:po

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Looking forward to the rest of the reviews!

:po

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Pour #2:

Dark amber in color with a much stronger nose than the 1792. Strongest of the aromas for me was tobacco.

Heat precedes flavor on this one. Definitely a higher proof than the 1792. The flavors that come through the heat included oak and tart berries.

Finish was longer and lots of heat on the tongue. More heat than spice though.

My guess for this one is Larceny Barrel Proof. This is mostly based on the heat, as I’ve never sampled any Larceny product

And I am 0 for 2. :lr

https://i.imgur.com/6gc3ycy.jpg

Thanks Ben, another interesting pour that I enjoyed more than the 1st. :tu

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Love this concept, maybe rate them 1-10 blind as well!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Great reviews!!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Pour #3

Light amber in color with a subtle nose, a touch of sweetness but very light.

The taste has the same subtle sweetness, a touch of caramel and candied apple. The finish is short with slight white pepper spice. Overall a bit light for my palate.

This one has me completely stumped. No guess because I don’t feel any confidence this round.

Ben told me this was the one he least expected me to get. ;)

https://i.imgur.com/78Q0k3S.jpg

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Well, that was fun to watch!

Enjoyed it!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

I don't really expect you to get any of them, but if you were even close on that one I woulda sent you the bottle :)

This has been fun, there's too much out there in the world to be able to really guess any without making it multiple choice but I like hearing the blind thoughts. For anybody watching along, I'm not sending him the picture of what each are until after he said he's tried it

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Taint over yet! #4 coming this evening. :al -(P

Ben, I never would have got #3. I had always heard Japanese Whisky drank more like Scotch. I can see some small similarities there, but no peat (which is good for my palate, I hate peat). :r

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

While sending something peated would have been fun, I figured I'd stick with an oddball that you'd at least enjoy enough to drink the whole pour

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

And I did. :D

Yeah, if it was heavily peated, I may not have even made it past the nose to try a sip. I might have thought you snuck me in some Johnny Walker. :r

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Standing by for the final tasting....:po

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Pour #4

https://i.imgur.com/nDHXdlo.jpg

Copper colored juice with a sweeter nose, exhibiting scents of dates and citrus fruit. Stronger nose than the 1792 and Nikka.

The palate had sweetness too, molasses and fruit at the forefront. Not a lot of heat initially. The heat comes through on the finish, which is relatively long. Baking spices dominate that finish.

This was my favorite of the 4, and something I would seek out depending on price. I’m going to guess Larceny BP again, while repeating that it’s a guess as I’ve never had any Larceny product.

And I was incorrect again...in fact, this was the first of the 4 that I have previously had and even have an open bottle.

https://i.imgur.com/hpTCFV2.jpg

Ben, this was so interesting and so much fun! Thank you again. I'll be putting together your tasters this weekend, and look forward to being on this side of the fun next week. :D

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Fun stuff. This last shows that evening knowing something, do we truly know it? I often say that sometimes flavors change according to what I am eating/smoking/experiencing/drinking besides the thing I am trying to "taste" that may effect and colour the flavors of that thing.

Sometimes, as I get older, it is just flat out - a failing memory.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Lot of truth to the variables and how much of an effect they have, Todd. I have made sure to try and cleanse my palate after eating and always having Ben's samples be my initial pour, but I am smoking and who knows what else to affect the experience. I was truly pleased, being a relative bourbon rook, how I was in the ballpark for 3 of the 4.

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

So I ordered a mini-funnel for filling the sample bottles, turns out my funnels are too wide and I am going to spill too much. It arrives Sunday from Amazon, so the samples will go out Sunday or Monday.

Sorry for the delay, Ben, but I didn't want to spill all that Pappy and Stagg.... :eek:

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

A lot of fun to follow. Thanks Tom and Ben!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

New challenge idea. You send me Pappy 12, 15, 20 and 23 and I try to guess which is which

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

:noon:noon

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

I can do this as soon as a get a Pappy 23. :tu






And a 20. -(P




And a 15. :llp





And a 12. ;s

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Mini-funnels have arrived, putting together Ben's sampler tonight. :al

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

:dr

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Samples are in, looking forward to drinking Hog's booze :D

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

The real order:

Tom, Kristin, cigars and bourbon. When we are not fighting!! LOL:noon

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Like suckling at the icehog's teat. A treat not many will enjoy in this bourbon journey.

Or all of you can if you just stop by. :noon

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Ahhhh, ain't love grand! :D:D

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Bonanza
 

Yeah, my last one was about 65 grand. :hn :r

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

#1 went down last night. The nose was fantastic, green apple peel and apple juice. The pallet was all cinnamon and baking spices, on it's own hardly any apple but when I took a big sniff just before tasting I got a combo that can best be described as a refined apple pie shine like Mac used to make (although the cinnamon in his stuck to your tongue, not the case here). The finish was relatively short and full of more baking spices.

I think this is a 100 proof rye on the younger side, guessing New Riff Rye

Actual bottle:

https://i.postimg.cc/rwdSgz5D/IMG-8904.jpg

Willet Family Estate 4 Year Rye - 108.2 Proof

We don't get a lot of Willett around here, I have never actually seen a bottle of the Family Estate on the shelves but if I do I'll certainly be buying. Drinking this was an experience for sure, thanks Tom!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Great job on #1, Ben, and really in the ballpark with your review and your "guess". Hope you enjoy the next one, I have a sneaking suspicion you may actually call #2 correctly. :tu

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

No hints!

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

Nope, that was the closest you will get to one. -(P :al

Re: Ben's Blind Bourbon Reviews
 

#2 last night. Light wood on the nose, a familiar profile but I can't put my finger on it. Pallet was smooth, a little sweet but an earthy overtone. I was able to move it around my mouth without too much burn, which I assumed meant low proof, but the finish was great and lasted longer than something 90 proof would have provided so I think it's a little higher. My guess is Henry McKenna 10 Year BiB

Actual:
https://i.postimg.cc/vByy6fY5/IMG-8905.jpg

This one tricked me good, I was thinking something around 90 proof when I first poured it but the finish got me to change my mind to something closer to 100. Very cool, this one has already been on my "buy if you see it" list (after passing on one a couple months ago at the end of a particularly expensive buying streak) and this confirmed it will stay there. Not as unique as #1, but a solid drinker