Once every so often a man has to do something that he doesn’t normally do, that pushes his comfort level. Cue Alex sitting in his den doing a review on a bourbon. I have never really been a bourbon fan. In my life it has been good for two things; justifying putting my university money through the roulette table and helping me to forget the fact I had just lost my university money to the roulette table.
When our illustrious leader Pete Stevens handed me a sample of Eagle Rare to review, I told him straight up I am not a bourbon drinker and would most likely not be able to handle it due to past experiences. He looked me straight in the eye and asked, “are you a gentleman or a mouse?” Of course, I couldn’t have that, so I grabbed the bottle, squared my shoulders and headed for the door.
Now bourbon is an interesting beast. From my understanding, bourbon must be made in America, from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels and must be a minimum 40% ABV. There is no minimum barrel age requirement. I also found out that it does not have to come from Kentucky, it just so happens that this is where most bourbon comes from. If I remember correctly, bourbon is one of the strictest and most legally defined spirits in production, meaning that the book of rules for making bourbon is very thick, very heavy and very arduous.
Why is this important enough to include in a review? Personally, if I know that the distiller/creator of a drink has had to jump through hundreds of hoops and submit many proposals and read through tonnes of legal jargon just to make a handcrafted drink, they must really love what they are doing and have a passion for excellence. So, knowing this, lets give bourbon a go for the first time in 5 years.
I remember bourbon having a very sickly sweet smell, almost an unnatural sweetness.
I am surprised when I take a whiff of the Eagle Rare from my tasting glass that the sweetness is mixed with some spicy citrus notes that you would find in fruit peel.
After swirling and holding the glass to slightly warm the spirit, there are some deeper leather scents that emerge. Ok, so far so good, nothing unpleasant. Dare I say that I am intrigued and slightly salivating?
First taste is quite minerally. Not horrible, but not endearing either. A five minute sit to breathe, and lets try again. I remember going to a winter festival in London, where there was mulled wine and cider everywhere, the air was heavy with spices and earthy scents. My wife and I bought some hot candied almonds to warm our hands and our bellies. The second sip of this bourbon takes me straight back there. Delicious burnt sugar and some dry cocoa with that real charred oakyness coming through. A very bold taste, but not punchy or offensive like I remember from cheap bourbon of days gone past. There is nothing subtle about the flavours. They say “you will sit back and you will enjoy,” I can’t help but submit. Could I be enjoying this bourbon? Between you and me, yes.
Enjoying this bourbon is very bitter-sweet, as I have now opened a door that I swore I would never pass through again. But I now must go to all my friends that I have scoffed at for being uncultured bourbon drinkers akin to our Neanderthal Ancestors, with my tail between my legs and admit that perhaps I wasn’t 100% correct. But I will never admit I was wrong!
I think this would go superbly with a light and buttery cigar, such as a Partagas Short or an Ashton 898.
To sum up;
Nose: sweet orange toffee and some earthy leather, very inviting and exciting
Taste: plenty of roasted candy and that charred woodiness that comes from oak.
Finish: spicy dry finish, lingers for quite a while which is why I think this would go well with a cigar
Mouth Feel: pleasant and warming, all the way down
Sound Track: very chilled Mumford & Sons, suited perfectly
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