AN INEXPENSIVE ENTRY INTO BOURBON
The best way to learn about bourbon is to drink it. But if you’re just starting out, that’s intimidating AF. Bourbon is complicated, expensive, and for some reason people line up to tell you you’re doing it wrong.
Some folks have friends that bring them into bourbon. They start their bourbon journey with dusties and BTAC and all the fanciest of the fancy bourbon from the very beginning. It’s amazing and magical and I love that for them. But you don’t need that. You can start simpler. Start smaller. F*** it. Start with minis.
Bourbon minis
The beauty with minis is easily - and cheaply - tasting different bourbons side by side. Drinking a single bourbon is great, drinking a tasting progression is great, but to really understand what you do and don’t like, the side by side comparison can’t be beat.
Elijah Craig Bourbon and Wild Turkey Bourbon
First up: Wild Turkey 101 and Elijah Craig
I can’t believe I’m admitting this… I’ve never had the 101. The flagship bourbon from Wild Turkey? Not once. The hard core favorite of so many, the inspiration for Rare Bird 101 and his long standing Wild Turkey website (and book), and well, it is a classic.
Elijah Craig is one of my all time favorites. From the small batch to the (long gone) 23 year old single barrel, I just love this stuff.
Unless there’s a reason, such as pairing bourbon and food or making a specific cocktail pop, I don’t analyze bourbon when I taste it. Instead, I ask myself a few questions.
What is the first thing that pops into my mind when I smell it? This could be memory, a place, person, something I’ve eaten, a flavor, another bourbon, anything really. For one Irish whisky my first thought was “spring,” just go with your first instinct and don’t over think things.
When I take the second sip (the first sip almost always burns, your tastebuds need a minute to get used to it) what is the predominant flavor? Is it sweet? What kind of sweet? A funnel cake? My mom’s pecan pie? Are there spices? Cinnamon red hots or cinnamon rolls? Again, I just go with the first thing that pops into my mind.
Do I think it would make a good Old Fashioned? An Old Fashioned is going to bring in sugar, citrus, and a little bitters. Can this bourbon stand up to those flavors?
Do I want more? The most important question of all. If I could have one more pour, would it be this bourbon or would I choose something else?
After this tasting, the Elijah Craig is still my favorite. I can’t help it, I love nutmeg and brown sugar and that’s what Elijah Craig is all about. But it turns out I’m also a fan of the 101 and I’d happily drink a pour if offered.
Let me know what you think!