Official thread of Bourbon Dominance

[Dan]

Blanton's is the best. True story.

I have collected all 8 horse tops (one for each letter). Like someone already mention, they act out a horse race.

Now, all I need is a display for them.

Blanton's makes a horse display from a stave off one of their whiskey barrels. They have pre-drilled holes to put the corks in. I bought one when i went to the distillery but you might be able to call their gift shop and order one.

[MoValley John]

This would be another debate, but if I am using whiskey for a cocktail like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, I am using rye whiskey.

I find rye helps balance out the out the sweet components of the other ingredients better than the sweeter bourbon. (I kind of compare the two like I would rye bread and corn bread. Both great bread, but both serve different purposes.

Sazerac and Templeton are two pretty good Ryes.

Traditionally, I think that rye is used in Manhattan's, but I like it sweeter. Don't short me on the cherries, either. The best part of the Manhattan is finishing it and eating the cherries.

[Shock Top]

Funny bourbon story:
I was over at a neighbor's one night with the family, there were a few families all hanging out in the back yard and having a good time. A couple of our wives were drinking bourbon and coke when we ran out of the bourbon that I brought. The neighbor says, "go on inside and get another bottle, I've got some in the house". The wives, who know nothing about bourbon come out and right in front of us are getting ready to pour Pappy Van Winkle into their Coke. In unison, 3 of us guys all jump up and yell, NOOOOOOOOO!

I would cry if this happened

[Shock Top]

Traditionally, I think that rye is used in Manhattan's, but I like it sweeter. Don't short me on the cherries, either. The best part of the Manhattan is finishing it and eating the cherries.

You would be correct. Most people make it with bourbon now though, but I am a sucker for tradition.

[Shoxthemonkey]

I agree with you that rye makes for a good Old Fashioned or Manhattan. I am split 50/50 when I make them at home. I like Old Overholt Rye, don't let it's price fool you, it tastes great. I'm not a fan of rye for sipping.

I have found that there is a wide variety of Old Fashioned recipes when you are ordering at a bar. I spent an afternoon at the Pool Bar at The Golden Nugget watching a Fitness America pageant. Sat through three different bartender shifts and each one made a different version of an Old Fashioned. I did it for science. Two of them muddled an orange slice to start and the other didn't. One used water, the others used club soda. They all used different bitters. There was a wide range in taste but I drank them all. All were good, some were better.

[Dan]

If I'm ordering a bourbon cocktail, I always ask the bartender how they make it in advance. Some know what they're doing and some don't.

[Shoxthemonkey]

Thought I would post a couple pictures of Friday afternoons past.

The Smooth Ambler was very good. I haven't opened the Taylor yet but I had a pour at a bar in KC. A little hotter than I prefer but an extra splash of water smooths it out.


Pappy 15 clone. I made 60/40 and 4/60, 12 to Antique. I preferred the 60/40 but both were delicious.


The juice is from Indiana and it's bottled in Texas. I always get a bottle when I visit my daughter in Austin. It is the sweetest bourbon I have had and it's great for cocktails.

[MoValley John]

I'm smoking two pork butts today. Using my 40" electric smoker. I know, using the electric smoker is cheating, but it's Tuesday, not Saturday. Anyway, a good manhattan pairs quite nicely with pulled pork.

[Kel Varnsen]

Last night I polished off a pint of Jim Beam and a burrito, chips, and salsa from Chipotle. Great pairing.

Wait, wrong idea?

[Shoxthemonkey]

Chipotle is much more dangerous than Bourbon.

[pogo]

Blanton's is the best. True story.

I have collected all 8 horse tops (one for each letter). Like someone already mention, they act out a horse race.

Now, all I need is a display for them.

So which letter represents the horse taking a crap before the race?

[wu_shizzle]

Chipotle is much more dangerous than Bourbon.

Hopefully the alcohol kills most of the bad stuff.