January Whiskey Tasting at The Bourbon Affair
Join The Bourbon Affair this January for our monthly whiskey tasting. This month features Basil Hayden, Makers Mark 46, Jim Beam Black, and Bookers. Each $40 ticket includes a tasting pour of each whiskey, 4 cocktails, heavy appetizers, and either a cigar or Dietsches chocolate at the end.
Only 38 tickets will be sold, so call 567-250-9162 or stop in The Bourbon Affair to reserve your ticket today!
Tasting Notes:
Basil Hayden-
EYE
Polished brass
NOSE
The aroma is light and fruity with notes of spice, citrus, dark sweets and vanilla. Some weak notes of wood, blackberry licorice, new leather and root beer popsicles add a bit of dimension and it makes me wonder what this would smell like at a higher proof. Yes I know OGD 114 is technically a higher proof version, but I mean a higher proof of what this is supposed to be: a “small batch” of “cherry barrels” blended together.
PALATE
Oak, caramel, vanilla and baking spices dominate the palate, but don’t achieve the richness they should. A bit of minerality, leather and pepper pop up towards the end and leave me wanting more substance. It’s nice, but like the nose, it’s light.
FINISH
Short and oaky with light notes of leather, pepper and dark sweets.
Makers Mark 46-
EYE
Deep amber with red accents
NOSE
Wow the wheat comes up here. Sitting side by side with the wheat are cherries, caramel, vanilla, oak and a complex nose of a pastry shop and s candy store. Very sweet nose.
TASTE
Caramel and toasted wood moving along with vanilla ice cream, under ripe citrus, sweet grains, roasted corn, cinnamon and a host of sweet dessert notes. Much more depth of flavor than the traditional Maker’s Mark.
FEEL
Oilier than traditional Maker’s Mark it has a very easy and mild texture that warms going down.
FINISH
Not as dry as Maker’s and with lots of caramel and dessert notes mixed with wood that slowly fades with a long finish.
Jim Beam Black-
EYE
Brownish gold
NOSE
Traditional bourbon nose of caramel, vanilla and spice. Some wood arrives, more than in the white, and it comes across less medicinal and more earthy. Hints of bruleed pastry and a bit of corn and yeast.
TASTE
Caramel and oak followed by vanilla and a robust Jim Beam spice. Citrus, dark fruit preserves and a bit more of that corn and yeast from the nose round out the palate.
FEEL
Smooth and drinkable, it’s very approachable.
FINISH
Watery caramel slowly fades to oak and vanilla.
Bookers-
EYE
Deep amber with orange accents
NOSE
This is a great classic bourbon nose. Caramel, vanilla, oak and that wonderful bourbon spice. The rye comes through in a big way along with notes of pepper, cinnamon, mint and cloves. Adding water enhances the vanilla and caramel while bringing out some great dark fruit notes.
TASTE
Caramel and vanilla with the oak coming in quite muted on the palate. Salty butterscotch, bruleed pastry, rye , pepper, leather, a cooling mint and dark fruit leather round out this complex and amazing flavor profile. A splash of water here tames the alcohol and some fantastic buttery notes emerge along with a bit more of the oak.
FEEL
Very hot with a lot of burn from the high proof but it still manages to be rounded and balanced making it able to be drank neat.
FINISH
Caramel, oak and corn that slowly fades to a dusty oak in a very long finish.