Thread #21951780
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Whiskey general
The old standards edition
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>try basic bourbon
>yup tastes like bourbon
>try a hyped popular bourbon
>mkay, tastes like bourbon
>no, you need to get this uber expensive enthusiast bourbon
>just tastes like fucking bourbon
Aside from a cask strength makers mark I am solely scotch from here on out. For a fraction of the price of hyped bourbon I have a much wider array of flavor profiles. Bourbon is cringe over-hyped and largely too expensive, and if I am being perfectly honest, gay
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>>21951780
eheheheh
knob
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>>21952452
New Riff is really hitting their stride. I tried the 8 and 10 and they were great. I drank this last week, pretty good stuff for a lower proof wheated.
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>>21952351
This. Posts like >>21952327 are like the equivalent of /v/ console wars.
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I was in my regular store today and overheard some other customer asking about allocations and the wagie rambled off a pretty long list of stuff they have in the back. I never bothered to ask before so was pretty surprised to hear. I ended up getting a bottle of OF 1924 for $120 (msrp). I had been debating if I'd ever buy this bottle given the opportunity since $120 is pretty steep for a 100 proof bourbon, but decided to take the gamble.
Also today I picked up a Middle West Ported Pumpernickel Rye and a single barrel from a fairly obscure local distiller (I'm most excited to try this one but my expectations are low).
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>>21953295
If you want a potentially interesting rye, walleye run fisherman's batch was just released the other day on their website. It's $130 shipped though so a gamble with no reviews. They also periodically release regular single barrels on their website, so worth keeping an eye on if you can stomach the shipping. Though the shipping is worth it if they don't distribute to your area.
https://shopping.newhollandbrew.com/products/walleye-run-whiskey-very- small-batch-2026-1-fishermans-batch
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>>21953295
Rye is certainly my favorite type of whiskey but I also enjoy higher rye bourbons as well. Scotch is not my preference.
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the 'scotch is more varied' argument is actually a tell of someone being a beginner. scotch has clear categorical differences. it's daunting as a novice. american whiskey has more independent variables affecting flavor
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Having some old fashioned cocktails tonight
I used to wonder why there's so many barely legal ryes, but I think I get it now. It's just enough spice to elevate an old fashioned without being a dill bomb. We love having whiskey neat here on the internet where we practice seriousness and purism, but in the real world it's all about cocktails
>>21951884
>>21951909
based
The key to the highball is preserving the carbonation. It's why the pros barely stir it at the end. Just enough to distribute the whisk(e)y without sacrificing the precious bubbles
I love an elevated Jack and coke. Old No. 7, craft ice, Mexican coke, citrus, put together with intention, enjoyed responsibly. That's smooth sippin'
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>>21955158
I've never been into them (barely legal ryes) myself. I tried Rittenhouse when I was just beginning getting into all of it, and it was fine but I never thought to buy another bottle. I've had a bottle of Sazerac open for about 6 years now and a Wild Turkey 101 Rye that I always forget that's on my shelf. But tonight, making some old fashioneds, the wt101 rye and Sazerac are the best ones yet. I'm convinced that this is why they exist.
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>>21955114
>We love having whiskey neat here on the internet where we practice seriousness and purism, but in the real world it's all about cocktails
I drink cocktails regularly. The "drinking whiskey neat makes me hard" shit is one of the gayest things about the whiskey "fandom" (I use that term here because that's what it behaves like).
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:)
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>YOU NEED LE HECKIN QUIRKY CHUNGUS ORANGE ZEST TWIST AND $30 CHERRIES IN YOUR OLD FASHIONED THAT YOU'RE DRINKING ALONE AT YOUR DESK IN YOUR UNDERWEAR TO GET LE EBIN REDDIT UPDOOTS EVEN THOUGH THEY ADD NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO THE DRINK
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>>21955114
>why there's so many barely legal ryes
the real reason is because rye mash is hard to deal with because of its high gum content clogging lautering
additionally the bourbon market is huge and full of stubborn retards so they make “rye” whiskies that aren’t too scary for bourbonites
but finally yes it’s also a good cocktail middle ground since a lot of recipes
will say “use rye or bourbon” interchangeably
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friend let me try this at Christmas. got a 1.75L
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>>21956571
>Not to mention I can simply pour it out of a bottle instead of having to constantly juice citrus fruits
That's a fair complaint. I'd drink whiskey sours more often if I didn't have so much to clean up afterwards. But an old fashioned only needs some orange peel and you can just build it in the glass.
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>>21957021
I can see the appeal of an old fashioned and drink them from time to time but usually they detract from the overall experience of drinking whiskey. I usually only get them when I’m out with mixed company so I don’t look like a complete alchie eating at nice restaurant.
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today i bought jack daniels bonded ($25) and knob creek 12 year ($70)
the JD is already half gone. probably won't open the knob creek for a while but i'm hyped for it. was eyeing it at my local store but it was marked up. ended up finding it at a walgreens
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getting to the bottom of this one and it's been great. definitely a coffee drink vibe, especially with the old fashioned i just made with it
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>>21956574
While I think luxardo cherries are delicious, in nearly every cocktail I've tried them with (especially manhattans) their sweetness kinda blows out the cocktail they're served with. On the other hand, even if you don't give a shit about aesthetics citrus oils and stuff like that are absolutely a requirement for a lot of cocktails. Instead of using fresh citrus every time though, what I do is I have spray bottles of essential oils diluted in a solution of everclear and glycerin. Way more convenient and consistent, and I'm decently confident there's no difference in the final product.
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Question for the distillation nerds; My understanding of the distillation process goes something like this
Take wash > Distill however many times until you get to more or less the highest proof you can with your distillation method > Dilute a bit > age (which also decreases proof due to evaporation) > dilute the rest of the way down to your desired bottling proof
What's the purpose of the pre-aging dilution step? Is that actually as universal as I think it is? Also, where does blending fit into these steps?
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>>21958115
>(especially manhattans) their sweetness kinda blows out the cocktail
the sweet vermouth already does that
>>21958122
>highest proof you can
no you stop before it becomes vodka. pot stills usually 1-3x. there are limits to how high a proof it can come off the still and be classified as bourbon, armagnac, wtc
>age (which also decreases proof due to evaporation)
depends on relative humidity. water evaporates slower in humid environments so proof goes down but in dry climates it can outpace the ethanol and increase proof
>purpose of the pre-aging dilution step?
water and ethanol have different affinities for solvation of various compounds so if you lean too much into one or the other you get excess / deficit of tannins or other flavors extracted from the wood
>Is that actually as universal as I think it is?
yes, again often a legal requirement as is the case with bourbon (can enter cask no higher than 125 proof)
>where does blending fit into these steps
most always post-aging and before dilution for bottling
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Wow just was out on the hunt for some crushable juice from everyone’s favorite distillery and was able to score these bad boys after waiting in line for a couple hours. Was well worth it though can’t wait to sip on this fine nectar of the gods.
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>>21958532
EH is shelf turding in my area now. It's crazy, all these former allocate bourbons are just laying around. Cases of Eagle Rare, Stag and Stag Jr...tons of the Weller lineup. It's rough out there right now for the bourbon industry.
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>>21952327
drink rye, gayboi, that's where all the cool stuff is happening in american whiskey
but yeah most bourbon is in saccharine cherries and caramel territory with few exceptions
the only radically different ones are that way from being in oak too long or from removing rye
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>>21959303
For a single malt yes, otherwise a distillery can make a single grain and use whatever they want- bruichladdich makes a 55/45 rye/barley and johnny walker also has a blended rye. Of course single pot irish uses a portion of unmalted barley but I’m not aware of any scotches that do so (I’m sure it exists in a single grain somewhere)
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>>21957749
I like Spice King, personally. Alternatively Ardbeg because it used to be owned by Laphroiag
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>>21955069
I agree. Obviously peated islay will taste different than a typical speyside with sherry cask maturation. Pretending there isn’t nuance within individual categories is a beginner move. Laphroaig is distinct from Ardbeg. Even among more similar categories the basic basic mass produced single malts are different. Glenlivet tastes different than Glenfiddich. Jim Beam distillate tastes different than Wild Turkey, BT, makers mark, the brown foreman group of distilleries, MGP. Etc.
Hell, I don’t actually think it’s much of an argument to say wild turkey and Buffalo trace taste more distinct than the previously mentioned glenlivet and glenfiddich. But you’re splitting hairs at this point the general point is pretending distillery characteristic within an individual whiskey category doesn’t exist is just wrong. It’s beyond just mashbill.
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>>21955069
>scotch has clear categorical differences.
Accurate.
>american whiskey has more independent variables affecting flavor
Accurate, but absolutely moving the goalposts if you're discussing the "Scotch is more varied than bourbon" argument.
>scotch is more varied than bourbon
Accurate.
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>>21952331
NTA but for awhile Scotch on average was cheaper than Bourbon. To my surprise when I visted Costco the other day Bourbons were in a affordable 20 to 40 range for actually good stuff. I still prefer scotch and Irish Whisky and Bourbon is my least favorite as it tends to always be mainly sweet and burn.
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>>21960081
Yeah I'd love to get into Scotch to see what I'm apparently missing, but if it's between Wild Turkey 101 and Dewar's White Label at the same price point, it's pretty much a no-brainer that I'm going to go with the bourbon. Irish at ~30 USD is enjoyable already, but when you can't get "decent" Scotch for less than 45, I can't convince myself that it wouldn't be a waste of money.
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>>21960435
Just wait for something nice to go on sale
I got a bottle of balvine 14 for $39 recently and yeah scotch isn’t my favorite but it’s nice to change things up and have it sometimes
Bourbon is better flavor for cheaper
>>21960469
Why not both? If not I would have to say WT
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>>21960435
Wt101 is too insane of a value. I’m mostly a rye guy but I always have a handle wt101 at home. It’s impossible to beat with handles going for less than 40. It’s not very complex or anything but when you want to have a few drinks after work it’s great.
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Good deal here if you don't mind ordering. They only have 2 in stock atm.
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>>21960714
I guess I could link it. Their shipping is $20. I've ordered from them before and it was all good.
https://www.hiproof.com/products/redbreast-irish-whiskey-px-edition-92 proof
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Anyone have pics of themselves they'd like to share? This is me
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For any anons who live in Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, or Washington D.C., Old Forester has 1924 and 117 Series available for shipping online. Could be worth the additional shipping cost (probably not).
https://shop.oldforester.com/shop-all/spirits/
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>>21951780
gonna crack this tonight with the bois
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>>21960788
let's see that pour
>>21960974
yes
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>>21960439
which is most always scotch or irish. anyone here tried american single malts? so far i’ve had defiant out of blue ridge distilling, I think woodford’s?, stranahan’s, bulleit, jim beam’s, and some local distilleries. I didn’t think any of them were worth writing home about especially at the markup for being “niche” releases compared to their respective bourbons but I remember liking beam’s the most
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>>21961219
>>21961196
I regularly find it for $55. not much better but still. Chicago Area btw
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I finally tried to new riff balboa. It’s great wish I bought two bottles when I saw it. Any rye bros out there you should put this on your list of things to look for. New Riff has impressed me with everything I’ve tried. The next on my list to find is the malted rye.
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Interesting drop just now from hi proof. Only 3 bottles available
https://www.hiproof.com/products/larceny-barrel-proof-batch-c924-750ml
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>>21961980
Actually nevermind lots of places have this particular batch, I thought it was more of a rarity by now. Please ignore.
>>21961919
Good to hear the you finally tried the balboa anon. I'm looking forward to cracking mine open soon. The malted rye is great, and same with the sherry finish malted rye.
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>>21951780
Got a 200 mL of Seagrams VO (I know, it was cheap which is what I desired though I would've preferred Evan Williams) and getting crossed tonight, hit the world's slowest edibles an hour or so ago. Would've drank more earlier but there's still a touch of klonopin (I've fucked up bad with this and likka) and tons of stimulants in my system from today's Tweak N Clean
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I tried rum for the first time today it was a Myers single barrel that was finished in a sazerac rye cask. It was not what I was expecting, it wasn’t very sweet in fact it was less sweet than a lot of bourbons. It had a tropical fruit flavor with a scotch like sour finish. It was ok but if that’s what rum is all about I will stick to rye.
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>>21960081
I feel like the online discourse on prices is very US-centric. Here in EU blended scotch is usually cheaper than bourbon. You can definitely buy Grant's or whatever for cheaper than Jim Beam. Same goes for Irish, Tullamore Dew and Bushmills are very cheap here, probably better value than the cheapest bourbons.
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>>21963981
>I feel like the online discourse on prices is very US-centric.
That makes sense, I think. With the popularity of bourbon here you get a lot of discussion about price especially given how much it can vary with higher-end bottles. And you have the same issue with scotch because the prices are higher due to overseas shipping and bottles are often price-gouged on top of that. I don't think American whiskies are as popular in Europe, are they? So that wouldn't generate as much discussion, and your scotch/Irish prices are where they would normally be. And of course most of this discussion is taking place on American websites to begin with.
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>>21963997
>I don't think American whiskies are as popular in Europe, are they?
the big names like Jack and Jim are very popular with normies, but aside from that scotch is more popular here for sure. lots of people drinking scotch single malts and not that many expensive bourbons.
we also have an alcohol tax here, which makes the higher proof bourbons like WT101 more expensive comparedto what it costs in US. you can get good blended scotch for that price or cheaper, like Johnnie Walker Black Label or Monkey Shoulder and even some decent single malts
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>>21960435
Coming from bourbon into scotch I always recommend classic laddie from bruichladdich, should be 55-65 around that area. Unlike a lot of its comparable competitors it’s 100 proof instead of 80 or 92. It did use to be 45 and I always stocked it, but alas. That’s the problem with scotch in the states, it does tend to not quite be price efficient
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>>21964654
I'd really argue a classic laddie is great for getting someone into scotch if they already like whisky. Otherwise your best shot is a Macallan 12 its arguably the least offensive and easy to find scotch to introduce a non whisky drinker too.
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Lent is over and I can allow myself to drink again so after starting off with a small pour of Haystack Needle bourbon to recalibrate my palate, I decided to open up a Dickel 15 single barrel that I got from HiProof. This one is actually 18 years 7 months and I heard they do good picks so for $50 it was a fun gamble. Also this one is ~100 proof, though I've seen them as low as 80 proof.
It's an oak bomb for first and foremost, with a hint of vanilla and a crazy long finish with lingering cherries and chocolate. The flintstones vitamin flavor is there and I like it, it adds an interesting complement to the bitterness of the oak. I get some sharpie on the nose unfortunately. The mouthfeel is pretty good with some creaminess I think? It's fairly sweet with a hint of rye spice that almost completely blends in with the oak and vitamin notes. So while the oak initially hits you with a blast of bitterness, it settles into something that is fairly complex and enjoyable. 6/10
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Have any of you ever just randomly become more sensitive to alcohol? In the last week or so, I've sit down for a pour only to find the burn to be a little overwhelming. I've never had this issue before. And it's not with anything high or overproof. Just your typical 90-100 range.
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>>21965102
After lingering on it some more this morning, I think my rating for the Dickel was high. It's more like a 4/10, as most would probably consider it over-oaked. So for $50 there are far better values. But I like it and maybe it's worth $50 for the novelty of old oaky whiskey. Also because I'm financially irresponsible lately I have the Seelbachs 17 year on the way so it will be interesting to compare with.
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>>21965785
I drink a shit ton of water, daily. (kidney stone issues) and I feel totally fine. It's so strange.
>>21966069
Not relevant to my comment, but I'm sorry to hear that.
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>>21966261
That Blue Note looked similar to a cigar blend, which I tend to enjoy but don't see too often on the shelf.
Also recently got a Russels Reserve barrel pick from Camp Nelson. Local store started doing a lot more picks, so if this one is good I'll have to check out some of the others they have.
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The lottery opens up in a few days
Pool 1 of 2
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>>21968555
Pool 2 of 2
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And not that anyone cares, but here is the lottery pool for local restaurants/bars to participate in.
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>>21968633
It's a pretty expensive area, so i'm sure they'll do fine.
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>>21968646
More than that
here are some land prices, 0.8-0.9 acre lots
Still needs ~$100k in site prep before you can build on it. Though it does have access to public sewer and water.
But needless to say, no one who has bought a house here in the last 20 years is particularly poor.
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>>21951780
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I can't stop drinking
I made it 3 days and drinking again rn
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Well, it happened. I've been into whiskey for about 2 years. My friends and I talk all the time online, but only meet up once in a blue moon because we all live states away. Finally got together and I brought some bottles to share. It was a disaster. Some didn't even want to try anything. Others thought it was all gross, or just needed to be a shot. Others asked for coke. I tried to give them tasting notes and they pretty much just told me "It burns and tastes like wood."
I tried, I guess. I'll just keep this little hobby to myself.
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>>21974776
pearls before swine. I've been in the same situation a few times(family and friends as well). they're probably the types who cant sip properly and need to chase away the icky alcohol flavor with soda. on the opposite end of the spectrum, your contribution would still be no good because it's all disingenuous faggots and shills. only pain here.
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>>21974786
Yeah, I guess I was hoping they'd be different. Oh, well. I'm not that broken up about it.
>>21974793
Nothing crazy. I brought a few different things. Basic Buffalo Trace, OF1920, a JD Single Barrel, Barrel Proof, Penelope Toasted, and a Michter's Rye. I had a master play to start with the BT and move through the others, but it fell through very quickly. Not much wasting, they barely touched the bottles.
>>21974805
k
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>>21974776
I don't bother trying to introduce my whiskey interest to my friends. First, because yeah they'd end up doing shots of it. And second, with whiskey my limit is like 2 drinks because I'm sensitive to the congeners. So at least with beer I can drink more before I start feeling like shit.
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Remedy just listed this, posting in case any anons are interested. It's a 15 year "buffturkey" finished in tokaji casks that has received great reviews. I've been tempted to buy every time I see this but I have too much whiskey already. But $150 total seems like a good price for it.
https://www.remedyliquor.com/products/ampersand-bourbon-opimus-finishe d-in-tokaji-casks-kentucky-15yr-750 ml
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>>21976173
You're a tough guy saying things like that on the internet, but this is me. You might want to think twice about who you trash talk bud.
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For me it's Palmolive rum.
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>>21976541
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>>21974831
Not saying this would have made a difference, but your little tasting party would have been far more fun if it involved more than five different slight variations on the flavor of corn and charred oak plus a single rye.
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>>21977375
I would suggest broadening your horizons as a whisk(e)y drinker. Try a wide variety of Scotches, including peated, bourbon cask-aged Scotch, non-peated, bourbon cask-aged Scotch, peated, sherry cask-aged Scotch, unpeated, sherry cask-aged Scotch, as well as Scotches which use a combination of bourbon and sherry casks.
Try a wide variety of Irish whiskeys, including single malts and single pot stills.
Try a wider variety of American whiskeys, including American single malts and some of the weirder, more unusual varieties which defy categorization beyond simply being "whiskey."
You're greatly limiting your own exposure to a much wider world of flavors by sticking with just bourbon and rye.
I would also suggest broadening your horizons beyond whiskey to other wood-aged spirits. For example, I find Armagnac and Calvados to both be rather lovely.
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>>21951780
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