tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post3158152399838887104..comments2024-03-16T11:28:41.525-04:00Comments on Diving for Pearls: NOT Single Malt Report: Taste Off! Maker's Mark vs. Four Roses Single Barrel Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02288790197865570681noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-41056980174005792402013-12-13T13:12:06.544-05:002013-12-13T13:12:06.544-05:00That man has a great job.That man has a great job.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-48560589504271328242013-12-12T19:15:04.201-05:002013-12-12T19:15:04.201-05:00Definitely the private barrel. The Davids actuall...Definitely the private barrel. The Davids actually asked Jim Rutledge for some good barrel samples which he picked himself (Jim probably does this every day when he's not on the road).Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-30244485546511312462013-12-12T12:46:38.157-05:002013-12-12T12:46:38.157-05:00That's cool. I've been eyeing those privat...That's cool. I've been eyeing those private barrels too. When I do finally go with one, it'll be the high-rye, now I just have to pick out which yeast strain to go with.<br /><br />Which do you prefer at this point? The 50% Single Barrel bottle or the private barrel bottle?Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-18310108191020211112013-12-11T20:55:25.990-05:002013-12-11T20:55:25.990-05:00Just realized I recently picked up a private barre...Just realized I recently picked up a private barrel selection from K&L that's also the OBSV recipe but barrel proof (61.6%). It never occurred to me that the standard 50% Single Barrel was the same recipe even though I've had the Single Barrel before. I'm getting a bit more cinnamon on the nose and a very creamy (vanilla?) texture on the palate but overall it's similar to the Single Barrel. I'm willing to bet this is perfectly drinkable neat but I had to put a little water in the glass (which brought it closer to the standard Single Barrel profile). Cinnamon seems to be a lot more common in barrel proof Four Roses and it might be my favorite note in the bourbon.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-86080301744727461502012-10-30T19:41:27.779-04:002012-10-30T19:41:27.779-04:00Yeah, Bulleit Bourbon must be one of the OB mash b...Yeah, Bulleit Bourbon must be one of the OB mash bills since it's high rye. Four Roses Small Barrel is OBSV as per their site.<br /><br />Bulleit's big sales must keep that distillery running!Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-20689943687834830282012-10-28T18:26:53.847-04:002012-10-28T18:26:53.847-04:00Did you mention tasting Bulleit Bourbon in an earl...Did you mention tasting Bulleit Bourbon in an earlier post? If so, then you've had Four Roses before. Tom Bulleit doesn't actually distill his own bourbon so it's made under contract at Four Roses (sorry to burst some bubbles but contract distilling is an open secret these days). The Four Roses Small Batch may come closest in flavor to the Bulleit since both are small batch bourbons (and share some of the same recipes).Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-84587111020647370442012-08-16T15:14:12.015-04:002012-08-16T15:14:12.015-04:00Looking forward to it all! It's good homework....Looking forward to it all! It's good homework.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-79640836097315156302012-08-16T09:46:22.517-04:002012-08-16T09:46:22.517-04:00The thing that you need to know if you're gett...The thing that you need to know if you're getting to know Four Roses is that they make ten different recipes. Their yellow label is a vatting of all ten; their "small batch" comes from vatting of four recipes at a time, and the single barrel is available at different times and different places in any one of the ten. You still have a lot of work to do!KHP38120https://www.blogger.com/profile/16971320079810289400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-78782550855320721272012-08-15T01:14:36.827-04:002012-08-15T01:14:36.827-04:00Well, in this case I think it's Maker's 46...Well, in this case I think it's Maker's 46 on offer, which would at least be a little bit different than their main product. But I feel like it'd be a wee bit tricky to a 100% unbiased review.<br /><br />Re: McClelland's Islay, I feel like you might as well spend the extra couple of dollars for Bowmore Legend. Probably not much older, but at least it's single malt instead of a blend. Or if you really have to get a blend, maybe Black Bottle?Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-12188778299034565092012-08-14T22:31:17.922-04:002012-08-14T22:31:17.922-04:00I think it's OK to take a sample for something...I think it's OK to take a sample for something you don't know and then give a negative review when you discover the product using that sample. The sample is freely given to experience the product and as a reviewer you must honestly report what you think. <br /><br />However, It's not good to accept a sample if you already know you don't like it. Then it feels like false pretenses to say you'll give the product a fair shake when you have already made up your mind. I would suggest that you still might ethically do it if you intent to put it into a blind sampling. Then, perhaps, the product might change your mind.<br /><br />The issue is complicated by factors such as batch variation. Maybe you don't like the product because of a batch you had and a different sample might taste better to you?<br /><br />However, in the case of Maker's Mark - I agree. I don't like it either. It's too simple and shy for me. If I want that kind of bourbon experience I'd rather have Jim Beam White or Evan Williams Black for half the money.Josh Feldmanhttp://cooperedtot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-10477858151364701762012-08-14T21:25:02.939-04:002012-08-14T21:25:02.939-04:00Yeah, I heard that one was good too. But he got t...Yeah, I heard that one was good too. But he got the Highlands, young Glen Garioch (shouldn't be that bad in theory).Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-18966814276955670732012-08-14T21:08:16.695-04:002012-08-14T21:08:16.695-04:00Which McClelland's was it? The McClelland'...Which McClelland's was it? The McClelland's Islay is actually quite decent for a really young Bowmore.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-47783484882637860962012-08-14T20:34:56.362-04:002012-08-14T20:34:56.362-04:00Also, now I'm totally looking forward to your ...Also, now I'm totally looking forward to your MM review when it hits.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-34753684099250409802012-08-14T20:31:58.344-04:002012-08-14T20:31:58.344-04:00Does he rep anything else with promise? Bakers, B...Does he rep anything else with promise? Bakers, Bookers, and even Old Grand-Dad are Beam products. Or will he spite you and hand over some Old Crow and Red Stag?<br /><br />I don't mean to make fun. That is a dilemma. But I guess if a rep expects you to be a PR echo chamber in return for a few bucks worth of brown fluid then he may want to rethink his strategy.<br /><br />Congrats on the opportunity, though! It's sort of like what one would want, but also nothing like what one would want. Like when my brother's friend told him that he'd bought him a bottle of Macallan for his birthday, then handed over a bottle of McClelland's. :(Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-24992320284782834052012-08-14T18:28:05.684-04:002012-08-14T18:28:05.684-04:00I've actually got my own MM review in the work...I've actually got my own MM review in the works. It's... not good... I found myself with a bit of an ethical dilemma because one of their reps offered me samples a few days ago. I'm not sure how I feel about taking stuff from them when I'm about to crap all over their main product.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-44666973864971540552012-08-14T17:30:23.940-04:002012-08-14T17:30:23.940-04:00Vat fail! I'm 0-for-2 in vat attempts. I won...Vat fail! I'm 0-for-2 in vat attempts. I won't even go into detail about the Ardbeg/Balbair mess I made in March. Just think: peated ham varnish.<br /><br />This time, I should have just kept them in their separate rooms. They didn't play well together. But that won't stop me from trying again!Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-67381340898408719132012-08-14T16:49:38.114-04:002012-08-14T16:49:38.114-04:00Brilliant tasting. But, you madman! How could yo...Brilliant tasting. But, you madman! How could you vat them? Here's what I tweeted: <br /><br />Diving For Pearls blog tastes @4RosesBourbon & @MakersMark head2head blind. But then vats them disastrously together! http://thekrav.blogspot.com/2012/08/not-single-malt-report-taste-off-makers.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FsjomU+%28Diving+for+Pearls%29<br /><br />You're utterly nuts! ..but in a good way.Josh Feldmanhttp://cooperedtot.comnoreply@blogger.com