Saturday, March 31, 2007

5 Vegas Gran Reserva Double Corona

6 X 48, Natural


I don't really feel like writing a full review of this cigar today, but it really did need mentioned. This very firmly packed stogie was another one of the revelations in my recent run of revisiting Natural Wrappered Cigars. It burned beautifully, and the draw was just right. The volumes of smoke revealed flavors of tangyness and rich sweetness, natural one, like honey and raw cane sugar. There was also just enough spice to keep it from being cloying. I really have to keep a more open mind selecting cigars to try, because there definately still are light wrappered stogies out there worth my time.

TomC

Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage \'90

(yes I realize this is a 1993 vintage bottle, but dammit the 1990 bottle looks the same!)


Name (full): Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1990

Barreled Date: September 18, 1990

Barrel #: 343

Proof: 86.6

Price: $23.10 @ Marion County State Store, Marion, OH.

Bottle: A Sleek , Curvaceous, black wax sealed bottle with a minimalist label. The front says “Kentucky’s Firsts Distiller: Put in Oak in the Autumn of 1990”. The Back label explains the Integrity of a Single Barrel Bourbon & then there is the hand written barrel date and #. It says “Distilled & Bottled by Old Evan Williams Distillery, Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky 40004.”.

Color: A very pretty red toned amber. Quite Inviting.

Mash Bill: From what I can gather all Heaven Hill Bourbons are Corn 75% Rye 13% Malted Barley 12%.

Nose: Maple, Mint, Damp Wood, Wispy Smoke, Pine Knotholes, Burnt Sap. . . At the same time fresh & grassy-like.

Taste: Subtle. Some of the smoke and Pine carry over. As well as Baked Apples and sap. I hate to use the work cause I think it is silly, but this bourbon is SPRIGHTLY , in a good way. The tastes are hard to describe, but refreshing.

Finish: Medium, but coating and pleasant. Quite yummy. (maybe just a little too short for me).
Mouth feel: Medium but not very viscous smooth and pleasant, refreshing.

Conclusions:.
First I gotta say I had one helluva time with this tasting and that I am still not satisfied with it but will have to be, because after 6 different tasting samples, the bottle is now empty !!!!! That said, I really enjoyed this bourbon because it is a decided break from almost all the other bourbons that I have bought so far. This Is a good example of how there are bourbons for just about every mood. There are some days when you just don’t want Huge and Creamy like Woodford Reserve or something with a bunch of big flavors, like Elijah Craig 12, and on those days this bourbon is the thing for me. It is really a good refreshing bourbon to have on warm summer days, who says whiskey can’t adapt to the heat.


So I Hope I didn't blow it totally,



TomC