Buffalo Trace White Dog

Recently, we went to one of my favorite liquor stores, Greens.  Greens is located in Greenville, SC, so at least it is easy to remember where the store is.  Well, at least what city is in.  I think there are Greens in other cities, but I can't remember.  See how helpful the Greens in Greenville is?

We stopped in, and I decided to get something unique, that I have never seen before, and review it, just for you.  Sure, I could have recycled some stuff, but I am the alphageek, and I don't recycle.  Well, I don't recycle writing.  The bottles always go in the recycling because Mrs. alphgeek says so.

This bottle caught my eye, because it lists all of the ingredients of bourbon, but is says nothing about being bourbon, or even whiskey, on the label.  It just says "Mash #1".  The label also says "corn, rye and malted barley".  I suspect this is what goes into the barrels.  I know I could look that up on google, but that would just be recycling someone else's work.  Do I recycle?

I decided this would be interesting to try, because of an experience I had while touring a distillery several years ago.  The tour guide passed around some jars, one of which had the liquor that goes into the barrels.  The liquor was clear and colorless   I decided that the alcohol would kill any germs, so I dunked my finger in and took a tasted.  What I tasted was recognizable as bourbon, but not very smooth, and no smokey taste, which seems obvious.  I wondered if Buffalo Trace White Dog would taste similarly?

I opened the bottle and beheld the aroma that is Buffalo Trace White Dog.  Much like my experience before, it has the hints of the smell of bourbon, but also (dare I say) moonshine.  At least, what I was told is moonshine.  I have never seen a still anywhere except a museum.  As I continue to smell, I notice that the aroma grows stronger toward the moonshine and less toward bourbon.

Buffalo Trace White Dog (click to enlarge)

As I take a taste, my experience is much the same as before.  I recognize it as bourbon.  Well, I recognize the the liquor will become bourbon.  It is a somewhat harsh taste, but not bad.  Certainly, one notices right away that the proof is 125!  It is much stronger than many other drinks out there.  Imagine yelling SMOOOTH, and beating ones chest sort of strong.

While interesting to try, I am not sure Buffalo Trace White Dog is for everyone.  I would recommend it for a "bourbon person" that is looking to try something new. How about someone who only drinks for medicinal purposes? Better yet, you can come have a sip of mine, and save the expense.  Have something to say?  Why not leave some feedback?

Wild Turkey 81

Well, not much has been happening over here on Alphageek's Thoughts.  The lack of activity does not mean that I don't have any thoughts, but those thoughts have been over on Alphageek Talks Food.  I decided to take a little trip over to the store and pick up some new inspiration, to share some inspiration on this proud but neglected site.  The inspiration was readily available at one of my favorite package stores, Green's.

I was going to start this article by raving about Green's, and what a cool place store it is.  However, events have occurred to intercept those thoughts, and replace them with a little rant that I hope you enjoy.  Don't worry, I will rant on about Green's at some other point.

We enter the store, and I notice there is a bottle of Wild Turkey that is somewhat different than the others.  Take a look at the picture yourself if you do not believe me.  The bottle very clearly says 81, instead of the usual 80 I expected to find.  At first, I thought the bottle might be a tribute to Interstate 81, but I then realized that thought was wishful thinking.  I decided to take a chance, and purchased the interesting bottle.

I arrived at home, and did what any good geek would do with a new bottle of bourbon: I googled it to find out what the story behind the new proof was.  I know 81 does not seem very different from the usual 80, but the geek in me knew something was different, and that difference of 1 was trying to tell me something.

The search results first allowed me to find out that this is indeed a new blend from Wild Turkey.  The new blend was designed to be more "mixable" in today's drinks.  Okay, so that was interesting.  What really gets me going in a bad sort of way is reading the press release.  Fine, the makers have a press release.  So I search around to see what others think of the new bourbon.  All I could find were people reposting the darn press release.  Real sites, where people make money!  I am supposed to trust pinheads that present press releases as "work" and get paid for it?  Talk about getting paid to do nothing.  I make only one promise here:  I write this stuff.  Good or bad, you are reading my thoughts, and not regurgitated text from some other site.

So, what are my thoughts on this bourbon?  It is a different kind of drink.  It is very flavorful, yet somehow the taste is more easily dispersed in a drink.  After I added a little ice, I definitely noticed that the bourbon was a little weak for my tastes.  Yet somehow, the bourbon was great with just a touch of ice, or even just neat in a rocks glass.  The flavors are somehow still fully there, yet more subtle.  I find it to be a very enjoyable drink, that is worth checking out, or inviting yourself over to try.

Wild Turkey 81 Proof (Click to enlarge)

Devil's Cut

Well, it is a holiday weekend.  Not just any holiday, but the 4th of July.  The celebration of American Independence.  What better way to celebrate, than by enjoying something all American, like bourbon?  After all, bourbon was invented here in the USA.

Okay, I know what you are thinking.  What, no post here for months, and you just drop on in and start in like everything is normal?  Okay, so sue me.  I am literally running out of bourbon ideas.  The ones I do have seem to be food related, and are being saved for my new venture, Alphageek Talks Food.  I just have not been trying new bourbon as often, so not much has been happening here.  Sure, I could write some old stale jokes that Mrs. Alphageek is tired of hearing, but I am starting to run out of those.  I asked for ideas, but I am not getting much for the audience.

In an attempt to get right to it, I am going to start off by saying I don't know much about this bourbon, other than several people, including the helpful person at the ABC store, told me that this bourbon is made by extraction of bourbon from the barrels.  I guess I am okay with that, but at first read it sounds like an attempt to take something that was previously thrown away, and sell it as a product.  Sometime this kind of thing works, and sometimes it does not.  Pictured below is the bottle that I took a picture of, just for you.

Jim Beam Devil's Cut (click to enlarge)

First, I poured a little to try neat.  My first impression is: wow that is a strong smelling bourbon.  Not bad, but really strong, and I guess somewhat sweet too.  I take a sip, and the impression of strong continues.  I can't say it is bad, but it is like a concentration of bourbon, without the smooth element that I personally care for.  I decide to add an ice cube or two.  I let the ice melt for a minute or two, to see if some water might cut down the strong taste, and introduce some more smooth that I am always looking for in bourbon.  I take another sip, and am pretty sure I have never had a bourbon respond as dramatically as this one to a little ice.  While it cut the harshness, I am not sure I got the smooth I was looking to find.  Instead, I got something different.  Not bad, but different.  Think of it as concentrated, without the burning harsh bourbon sometimes has.

How would I recommend using this bourbon?  Use it in something that you would like to maintain the essence of bourbon in, without using large amounts.  I am pretty certain a little goes a long way.  Personally, this won't be something I buy another bottle of.  After all, not every bourbon can be the best.

Evan Williams Cherry Reserve

Evan Williams Cherry Reserve, a photo by AlphaHokie on Flickr.

This was supposed to be a quick post. Quick did not happen.

I tried a new photo program on my droidx. I was going to take the picture and write the blog all on the phone. I wanted to know if I could, in case I ever wanted to to blog from my phone somewhere.

It is a good thing I tried it at home first. The writing went smoothly, but the upload crashed the blogger app. I had to dump all of the data and start over.

In this picture, you can see that I did something unusual: I post processed it. This effect is built right into the app, Vignette, that I downloaded. I think vignette took a decent enough picture, considering the free version only does 0.8 mega pixels. As a side note, if you have an android phone and are willing to spend five bucks, vignette gives a little more control over the picture taking process on an android phone.

At any rate, on to my impressions. I opened this and it smelled like maraschino cherry juice and bourbon. I found it entirely too sweet when enjoyed over some ice in a rocks glass. I would stick with other cherry-bourbon products that are out there right now.

What do you think of the picture? Leave some feedback below and let me know. You might see some more posts, if I can get an app for the droidx that does not crash.

Jim Beam Black

It is Presidents Day here at Alpageek's Thoughts, and in honor of great Americans I decided to talk a little about a great American tradition, bourbon.  If you have been following things around here, it has not been hard to do.  The posts have dropped off as other projects are beginning to take form, and the this web site has taken a hit.  While I can't promise we will start to pump out the all original content really quickly again, I can promise a short write up about a bourbon I tried, and enjoyed.

Why did I try this bourbon?  It was actually very simple.  The first is that I have never had Jim Beam Black, Double Aged.  I don't know what Double Aged means.  Remember, all original content?  You should just google the term, and then you will know.  I am really not that interested in a term that may or may not mean something.  The second reason is almost embarrassing:  I could not find my small flask that I have for special occasions.  Mrs. Alphageek said I should buy the bourbon and try it.  Something free is always nice too.

I decided to have a little sip while I was watching Bladerunner. Bladerunner is a great movie to have a small drink while watching.  You think "I can't possibly drink as much as Deckard" and you don't feel guilty for having a sip while you contemplate, yet again, if Deckard is a human, or a replicant.  I wonder if anyone has ever used the reason Deckard drinks like a fish to support the argument that he is a replicant?  There is another original thought today!

I did not have any expectations when I poured a small drink for myself.  I took one sip and was pleasantly surprised!  I don't know if Double Aged means that the bourbon is smooth and mellow, but that would be how I would describe this unexpected find.  I get a small hint of oak to go with the mellowness.  While it is not the most complex bourbon I have ever had, the smooth character makes for an enjoyable drink.

This is yet another bourbon that I can fully recommend.  Give it a try, and let me know what you think.  I think the free flask offer is over.