Bourbon Tasting (Feb 19th, 2021)
This is our 2nd Bourbon Tasting. The bottles in question are;
| TT Label | Description | Proof | Rating | Price (CAD$) |
| E | Wild Turkey, Rare Breed, Barrel Proof | 116.8 | 7.1 | $65 |
| C | Bulleit, 10 year | 91.2 | 6.5 | $51 |
| D | Knob Creek, Small Batch | 100 | 8.0 | $48 |
| B | Michter’s, Small Batch | 91.4 | 6.7 | $86 |
| F | Old Forester, 1920 | 115 | 7.5 | $85 |
| A | Maker’s 46 | 94 | 7.4 | $52 |
| G | Brown Jug (Bourbon Cream) | 34 | 7.8 | $35 |
We had 20 people at this tasting, a new record! It was our 2nd Bourbon tasting, the 1st Bourbon tasting was in July, 2020. I’m surprised that the Bulleit 10 yr (C in this tasting) didn’t fare better, since it had won the 1st tasting, this tasting it came dead last?? We had some high proofs in this tasting, I put them at the end, since I figured we should ‘wake up’ our palettes first, before challenging them. Some participants definitely liked the high proofs the best, particularly Maria, Marcia, and Stacie. While others not so much, ie Tristan.
I supplied the reviews for the 6 Bourbons from Distiller.com, to see if people can identify them by the described tasting notes, and comparing them to what they were tasting. I did that last Bourbon tasting as well, and last tasting the best anyone matched was a 2 on 6. This tasting I’m happy to report we have a new champion, a new record, Tristan was able to identify 4 on 6, only mixing up Wild Turkey Rare Breed and Knob Creek, 9 yr, 100 proof.
The winning bottle of the blind tasting was actually the cheapest bourbon in the line-up! Impressive of Knob Creek! So congrats to Knob Creek, 9 year, 100 proof for winning the tasting, with the highest score, it was ‘D’ in the line-up. I’m wondering now about the Knob Creek 120 proof, I was originally going to put it in, but decided on the 100 instead, just due to the group, and the overall high proof already included.
The Winner!
The winner with 160 out of a possible 200 (80%) was Knob Creek, 9 year, 100 proof, which is Knob Creek’s entry level Bourbon. In 2nd was Old Forester 1920, 115 proof, with 149 out of a possible 200, so 75%, and 3rd place was Maker’s 46! Congrats to all.
1st Place! (8.0)
2nd Place (7.5)
3rd Place (7.4)
I’ve gone a little crazy on my bourbon collection, I’ll be posting it to our website picture gallery soon.
The Survey Results
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |
| Charles | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Frank M | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Kelly J | 7 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| Maria | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Marcia | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Cathy | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 9 |
| Neil | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| Kevin | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Jen | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 2 |
| Gord Z | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| Mike K | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Robert C | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
| Jerry Z | 6 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| Brad W | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Chris B | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| Jenn | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 7 |
| Tara | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 9 |
| Tristan | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Stacie | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 4 |
| Dane | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
| Total | 147 | 133 | 130 | 160 | 141 | 149 | 155 |
| Average | 7.4 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.8 |
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