Woodford Reserve

I have to again disclose up front that I am not a great enjoyer of wheat-influenced bourbons like this one. So keep that in mind.

To me, this would be a great whiskey for those who are Maker's Mark drinkers but want to be a little different. A little. Because to me, the two are eerily similar. But then again, maybe I just tend to lump together the old-school traditional bourbons.

Just read my Maker's Mark review and it will pretty much cover my impressions of Woodford Reserve. Although Maker's might have a tad more mojo.

It's what I picture old-line Kentucky power brokers sipping as they relax by the fire at night. Very traditional, austere and comforting in a way.

But to my palate, kind of boring and unremarkable.

As I've said before, color me contrarian, but that's the way I taste it.

Rob's Rating: 6 out of 10

Maker's Mark

This is the stuff that the seersucker-wearing prep-dogs drank (and still drink) in Lexington, KY, where I grew up.

Not that there's anything wrong with that---some of my oldest friends are seersucker-wearin' prep dogs, but I choose different attire. And different whiskeys.

Maybe it is just the contrarian in me, but I just have never been crazy about Maker's.

But as a whiskey appreciater, I do recognize it's redeeming qualities. Namely, it's strong and smooth finish, casky character and classy overall mojo.

But overall, Maker's is a little too traditional for me. Give me Jim Beam or Wild Turkey anyday.

Rob's Rating: 6.5 out of town

Maker's Mark

A few years back, my company had "off-site" business meetings.  While some business was conducted, they were mostly boondoggles designed to relax and imbibe.  On one of these excursions, we took a side trip to the Maker's Mark distillery.  It gave this bourbon a special place in my heart, and I still have my own hand dipped bottle from the trip.

Pouring a dram of this bourbon into a glass and inhaling the wonderful scent brings back memories of standing in the cask room at the distillery.  There is nothing to compare.  Maker's Mark brings forth scents of sherry or port and fully maximizes the cask.

It continues that cask flavor as it rolls across the tongue.  The burn is immediate and continues long after the whiskey has gone down.  There is a little bubbling, but overall this is extremely smooth.  A slight metallic taste sneaks in for a few seconds but is quickly a memory.  This bourbon has a long finish, and you won't forget that you're drinking a classic bourbon.

If you're looking for something to warm you up, this is a  great one to have in the liquor cabinet.  In my opinion, you can never go wrong with Maker's.

LB's Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Leinenkugel's 1888 Bock

While not normally a lover of darker, Bock-style concoctions, my wife decided to try this and when I was offered a free bottle of it thought "what the heck".

Most Bocks that I have experienced have been a little heavier and sweeter and "gamier" than I like. Keep in mind my idea of the ideal beer is a cold Bud Lite, although I do also love Yuengling but that's about as amber as I like to go.

This beer at first sip imparts that slightly nutty and malty (?) taste that you would expect.

The nice thing (to me) is that this taste doesn't become overwhelming that way most boutique and craft beers of this genre do. The requisite character and boldness is there, but in just the right measure.  I'm becoming more convinced that Leinenkugel's is aiming for the beer drinker who wants a little hutzpah in their brew but wants it tailored to the American palate which I believe likes it with more smoothness and less bitterness.

Not being a Bock lover, I still give this one a thumbs-up.

Rob's Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Leinenkugel's 1888 Bock

Walking through the beer aisle at the local supermarket, this one caught my eye.  We have a friend who is a Bock lover,  and we join him for the annual bockfest in town, so I'm always anxious to try a new one.

The first thing you notice is the head.  This bock has a heavy head, that lingers and make you want to sip a little foam off the top.  It is a good indicator of the beverage that will follow.

The 1888 Bock has a deep amber color, but is much lighter than a stout or porter.  It has distinct chocolate and coffee overtones, especially on the sides of the tongue.  There are a lot of other subtle tastes that my palate isn't sensitive enough to distinguish, but I know when I like something.

If you're looking for an introduction to the bock family, this may be a good one for you to try.  I'm not sure what the alcohol content is, but it seems to be higher than your average fizzy yellow beer.  This is a limited release brew,  so you'll need to check it out soon.

LB's Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Jim Beam White Label

We're going retro with a little classic Jim Beam White Label.  I have to admit until I met my husband, I had no idea that Beam made anything other than this bourbon.  Having previously tried the green label, I was looking forward to trying the original.

As always, the smell is the first thing I check out in any beverage.  For this Jim Beam, it has a great scent that says that you don't have to ask what you're drinking; you know it's a bourbon.

This shows you from the first sip that it's a "real" bourbon.  By that I mean that it has a kick that reminds you of why this is a classic, especially for warming you up.  It is sweet on the front and quickly opens into a strong rye overtone.  That "just right" burn slides across the tongue and right down the throat. The finish is strong and doesn't diminish with the drinking, but it does mellow nicely.

It has a great character all it's own, and it's easy to see why it holds up well in mixers.  I would recommend revisiting this again or trying it for the first time.

LB's Rating: 7 out of 10

Jim Beam White Label

This is the quintessential Jim Beam in all its glory.

In my country music days (as a country music DJ) I heard Hank Williams Jr. sing over and over again about this legendary whiskey. In those days I thought of it as something you drank to get drunk, period (which was true of most of my drinking in the 80s).

But after reading good reviews of it in Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible, I decided to revisit ol' Jim Beam.

It has a nice balance. Nice and light and easy, but also possessing plenty of mojo and character.

At the outset there is a  trace of vanilla and corn on the palate, followed by a nice rye explosion as it heads into the finish.

As I finished off the dram I detected just a slight oil presence.

To my taste this is a real winner. Can't wait to try Jim Beam Black!

Rob's Rating 7.5 out of 10

Basil Hayden Bourbon

The first smell of this bourbon had my mouth watering a little.  Maybe that was because it had been a couple of days since I'd had a good shot of whiskey, but it increased my anticipation.  In addition, it's a favorite of a good friend.

Basil Hayden has a sweet, smooth taste to the front.  The burn is pleasant and not overwhelming.  I was impressed by it's overall smoothness and drinkability.

After a few more sips, I found myself making a slight revision in my opinion.  Yes, it is a nice smooth bourbon, but that starts to become a downfall.  It quickly loses any unique characteristics and becomes just another nice sipping bourbon.

This would be a good introductory bourbon and excellent for someone who likes a lighter taste in their whiskey.  It's not one I'd stock, but I wouldn't turn down a drink either.

LB's Rating: 6 out of 10

Basil Hayden Bourbon

Wasn't there a Kentucky basketball player (during the Rupp years) named Basil Hayden?

Okay, I just checked...it was before the Rupp years. I'm from Lexington, where we know about such things.

It has a nice elegant, solid presence at first, but this quickly fades, and there is barely any finish.

Unlike most mainstream bourbons, most of which have at least some measure of lingering character, this has little to none. And for me, the finish is such an important part of the overall experience.

I know that some people like this stuff, but I would have a hard time recommending it to anyone.

Rob's Rating: 3 out of 10

Seagram's 7 Crown

So I have to admit that the last time I had Seagram's 7 was many years ago served in that infamous concoction the 7-and-7.  I'm sure there are people out there who intentionally keep this in their liquor cabinets.   I will not be joining their ranks.

The first hint that this may not be the most exciting liquor is the smell.  It smells like alcohol and in this case that is not a good thing.  There is a slight sweet aroma, but it does nothing to mask the scent that I associate with rubbing alcohol.

The initial sip leads you to believe that this may be okay.  It's a little sweet on the front.  But then, the flat metallic taste comes through.  It becomes all burn, but not in that nice warm way that bourbon has.  After a few more sips, it is just bland and boring.

While it may make an acceptable drink for some when mixed, by itself it is just not worth the time.

LB's Rating: 1 out of 10

Seagram's 7 Crown

I'm a little burned out on Canadian Whiskey, so when I saw "American Whiskey" on the label of this, I was hopeful that it would offer something a little different.

But to my taste, this might as well be a Canadian Whiskey, because that is pretty much how it tastes.

It's not bad, really. There's a nice rye influence. But for the most part I find this to be pretty unremarkable. It just doesn't have much of a finish, or beginning, for that matter.

Maybe mixed with cola, but otherwise I would say go for Canadian Club or some other variant of the Canadian dram.

Rob's Rating: 3 out of 10

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

If you're wondering , I really enjoy this beer.  What's not to like about a beer that I have to drive to another state to purchase and only get four bottles in a pack?  For me, it's worth the trip.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is thus far, the best of this type of ale for me.  It doesn't have a lot of cask smell, but it definitely has it in taste.  The first sip of this beer is sweet on the front, like a really good bourbon.  The finish has nice wood cask overtones that take it out strong.

This is a great sipping beer (I know there are some that don't believe such a thing exists) as it opens up with a little time out of the bottle.  If it was a wine, it would come with a note on the label advising that you should let it breathe before drinking.  As with the Schflay, I prefer to drink my bourbon ales out of a smaller brandy type glass, which improves the flavor (and is the traditional serving manner).

It does have a little bit of a kick and with the strong flavor, one at a time is more than enough for me.  It's a great end of the work day beer, or anytime you want something a little different.  I'd highly recommend trying this if you can find it.

LB's Rating: 9 out of 10

Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Ale - Special Release

I have to state upfront that I'm not a fan of bourbon cask flavoring in beers or ales, so keep that in mind.

This concoction has a dark golden color and maintains a head for much longer than I anticipated, which may be typical for an ale.

Its taste is not disagreeable, but the bourbony undertones unfortunately become overtones quickly. Almost like drinking a very weak boilermaker. There is a slight syrupy sweetness that just doesn't figure into my definition of a good beer drinking experience.

(I know technically this is an ale, but beer and ale are in the same general category, aren't they?)

I also found it to be somewhat flat but again, that may be because it's an ale. 

One nice thing about the cask influence is that it tends to soften the bitterness commonly associated with ales.

This might be good for those who want a beer with a little more weight, but don't like heavy winter ales.

But overall, definitely not my cup of beer.

Rob's Rating: 5 out of 10

Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Ale - Special Release

Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Ale continues the bourbon trend, but moves into a different presentation format - the ale.  This combines two things I love - beer and whiskey.  Actually, I wonder how life can get much better than getting everything in one convenient package.

When this ale is first poured, it doesn't seem like there's much to get excited about.  It has a nice color in the glass, smells good and goes down smooth.  But it is like many things in life that get better the longer you experience them.  This is one of those beers that needs to be enjoyed slowly.

It really opens up after a few minutes with the bourbon taste moving in to take over the basic ale taste.  The cask also takes over and leaves a great wood finish.  I prefer it chilled but not ice-cold.  I would also recommend drinking it out of a small brandy style glass to help with aeration.

This is an excellent beer, and I'd recommend trying it if you can find it.  Because it comes in 6 packs, the price point is slightly better than some other bourbon barrel ales.

LB's Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey

Saddle up, boys!  We're heading to the frontier for this one.  Or maybe we're just staying on the bourbon trail for a while longer.

It may go without saying, but each bourbon has it's own unique characteristics.  Some are very refined and light while others want you to know that you are drinking a real whiskey.  Bulleit falls between the two but leans toward the latter.

I was expecting a little more of the wood smell on this when I first poured it.  It's there, but you really have to look for it.  Even putting it into a special bourbon tasting glass and swirling it around like a fine wine did not provide the olfactory punch I was looking for.

But then there's the taste.  This is a good bourbon from the first sip.  It doesn't have to grow on you, it just makes you want to have another sip or four.  Bulleit has that warm, harsh finish that I like in a bourbon.  Fire across the tongue without making your stomach burn at the end.  This is the kind of whiskey that you serve to your friends who really want to know they've had a man's drink.

This one is always in our liquor cabinet and has become a favorite house bourbon.  If you haven't tried it, go out and get a shot or two, then sit back and enjoy the ride.

LB's Rating: 8.5 out of 10