Sample Roulette: The I'm Still Tired from Vacation Edition

As I said earlier this week, I didn’t have the time, opportunity, or desire to do much whiskey tasting while on vacation last week. The weather was hot. I really lucked out on the timing of the trip, having it land right in the middle of a very unusual and long-lasting heat wave. The first week had temps over 105 every day. Which meant getting up before dawn to visit Utah’s lovely National Parks before the heat became dangerous.

Let me tell you, I’ve seldom loved a hotel room’s cooling system more than I did during this trip.

Of course, we got to see beautiful sunrises this way. Sunrise at Arches National Park is a sight to behold. So was the one we watched from a hot air balloon 1000 feet over Moab. We didn’t see the sunrise in Lake Powell, but we did get to drive fast in a rented speed boat and go swimming in a couple hundred feet of flooded canyon. That helped beat the heat as well. Plus sleeping in until the sun came up gave us the time in the evening to sip on a few blind surprises while we watched the sun set from our hotel room.

As before, these samples were all laid down between 2011 and 2017. The labels were covered up in September of 2020. And they have lived in a box untouched since, except for the occasional adventuresome sip now and then. They made a fun vacation sip too. I mean you’re out on an adventure, it is only fitting that your nightly tipple be an adventure as well.

Blind Whiskey Sample # 1:

Nose: Delicate nose. Hints of caramel, vanilla, and mint.

Mouth: Mint, baking spices and fruit notes.

Finish: Medium in heat and length. Lingering notes of dried grain and cinnamon.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: This is ok. Not great, not terrible, just kinda meh. I'll probably finish the pour, but probably won't be sad to see it go.

Reveal: Ezra Brooks

Post-Reveal Thoughts: Wow! Super shocked on this one. This has gotten so much better since I put this sample away!

Blind Whiskey Sample # 2:

Nose: Caramel, cherry, pipe tobacco.

Mouth: Cinnamon, caramel, smoke, and floral fruit.

Finish: Smoky and spicy. Lingering warm notes.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: This is yummy. Going to have to fight my wife for the rest of this one. Lol.

Reveal: George Dickel 9-Year-old Private Selection from Ace Spirits (2014)

Post-Reveal Thoughts: It just goes to show how much our palates change over time. When I reviewed this back in 2014, I thought it was a bit too hot for my tastes. Now, though it had some heat on it, it was certainly within acceptable levels. I didn’t even think to add water as I finished it in the hotel. Of course, there are a lot more options for Barrel Strength whiskey out there these days to help build your tolerance.

Blind Whiskey Sample # 3:

Nose: Floral vanilla, caramel, and fruit.

Mouth: Spicy. Cinnamon, vanilla, black tea, and hints of fruit.

Finish: Warm and medium length. Lingering mint, black tea, and floral fruit.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: This is quite good. I'm really enjoying it. Nice floral fruitiness and vanilla.

Reveal: Ancient Ancient Age 10 year old.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: Oh, do I miss the days when you could get a handle of 10-year-old whiskey for a decent price. Scratch that. I miss when you could get a 10-year-old whiskey from Buffalo Trace for a decent price, whether it came in a handle or not. This is a bourbon that was better than I remembered. Sadly, when this was put away we were spoiled with an abundance of aged bourbon. It was less good than other 10-year-old bourbons when it was discontinued, but is still a damn sight better than much of the bourbon on the shelf today. For that, I savored this pour after the reveal. Made me a bit nostalgic, as you can see.

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Sample Roulette: Vacation Edition

Well, I’m back.

We had an amazing trip. One that was far too full of fun to spend time doing whiskey tastings. Well, almost. I did happen to toss a few blind samples in my bag to try. I was on a fun adventure and these little bottles had the possibility of being very adventurous.

I mean, these were samples that I had poured from 2011 until 2017 during my “hoarding phase” of whiskey fandom. During that time, I kept samples of everything I bought. It didn’t matter if it was a limited edition or a $10 handle. All of them had a sample poured and stashed in a little box. Last year I realized I no longer wanted to keep them and started to drink them. I’d covered the original labels with painters tape in order to make them blind, just because it was more fun that way.

So while we sat in my room that overlooked the shores of Lake Powell, planning the next day’s adventure, we took a little time to have a little whiskey adventure as well. Let’s see what I brought with and if any of it was as good (or as bad) as I remember.

Blind Whiskey Sample # 1:

Nose: Corn, toffee, and a mineral note.

Mouth: Spicy, Cinnamon, Cardamom, and a delicate fruit note.

Finish: Hot and Spicy. Notes of cinnamon and cardamom.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: I really like the spice of this one. My wife doesn't like cardamom so she isn't as big of a fan. That means I will get the rest of this pour. Yay!

Reveal: George Dickel 14-year-old private Select

Post-Reveal Thoughts: The bottle that this sample came from was purchased at a grocery store near New Orleans back in 2014. I remember it being very good and I still found it so. This makes me very excited to crack into the bottle of the 15-year-old Dickel that I found in Colorado on this trip.

Blind Whiskey Sample # 2:

Nose: Floral mint, brown sugar, and cherry.

Mouth: Cherry, brown sugar, cocoa, and nutmeg

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of cherry, nutmeg, and mint.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: This is really good. I'm feeling like this might be a really good Canadian Whisky. It has a mouthfeel that, while not thin, is on the thinner side. Good sweetness.

Reveal: Jefferson's Presidential Select, 18-year-old

Post-Reveal Thoughts: When I first reviewed this, I wasn’t a fan. I found it too woody and stated I wasn’t a fan of bourbon with an emphasis on wood notes. I guess I have mellowed with age when it comes to that particular flavor note because it didn’t even show up in my notes seven years later when I did this tasting. Interesting.

Blind Whiskey Sample # 3:

Nose: Dried grain and spearmint

Mouth: Thin mouthfeel, dried grain, spearmint, lots of cinnamon, and sugar sweetness.

Finish: Warm, but not too warm. More dried grain and cinnamon.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: This is pretty meh. Probably won't be finishing this one. Vacation is too short to spend time on meh whiskey.

Reveal: Old Fitzgerald Prime.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: I don’t have much to add to that statement. I put this one away back in 2014 and gave it a meh then. I still think it’s pretty meh.

I always find this to be a fun exercise. You never know when you are going to put something truly terrible in your mouth and it makes every pour a little more exciting when the product is good. And this round we got two likes and a meh. Not bad for three shots in the dark.

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Chicken Cock Bourbon

Well, here we are. For years I’ve told people not to fall for a pretty bottle. Do a little research and find out what people are saying about a bourbon before dropping their hard-earned money on an expensive bourbon. To not get caught up in the hype of a “Limit 1 per person” sign.

Yep, I’ve preached that for years, yet here we are. Looking at a photo of an oh-so-pretty bottle. In my defense, I’d just found a bottle of Elijah Craig 18-year-old, for pretty close to the suggested retail price, and, I guess, I was feeling a bit lucky that day. So I figured, “why not also take a flyer on something new?”

I backed up that bit of bravado with logic. “My wife likes to decorate with pretty whiskey bottles, so at the very least, I’d get that, right? Besides, I’ve heard of Chicken Cock, and I don’t remember hearing anything bad about it. If it was really bad, I’d have heard something, right?” Yep. A guy who can’t remember how long he’s been married or what his kid’s age is trusting his memory on a $60 bottle of whiskey. Of course, there is always the old “well, at least I’ll get a blog post out of it.”

And so here we are, still looking at that pretty bottle. So we might as well get on with this. What is Chicken Cock bourbon and did I make a $60 mistake?

Chicken Cock bourbon is the anchor bourbon expression for South Carolina’s Grain and Barrel Spirits. It is a revival of a pre-Prohibition brand. The company has put out quite a few expensive bottlings since reviving the brand, which is where I’d heard of them. In 2018, they signed on to be part of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Collaborative Distilling Program. And in 2019 the expression we are looking at tonight was released. Here is what the company has to say about it:

Distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky, Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a rich, elegant mahogany hue; a nose which balances oak tones with sweet notes of dried fruit, caramel, and vanilla; and a palate that opens with soft tannins. A creamy, almost buttery mouthfeel is complemented by butterscotch notes and toasted oak, resolving with a vanilla finish. At 90 proof, there is a slight, welcome bourbon heat. The bourbon is bottled in a replica of the Prohibition-era Chicken Cock bottle.

So, what about what’s inside that “replica of the Prohibition-era Chicken Cock bottle?”

Chicken Cock Bourbon

Purchase Info: $59.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Ace Spirits, Hopkins, MN

Price per Drink (50mL): $4.00

Details: 45% ABV. Bottled by Grain and Barrel Spirits.

Nose: Wintergreen, generic fruitiness, and generic baking spice.

Mouth: Thin and pretty gentle. Notes of caramel, wintergreen, delicate fruit, and baking spice.

Finish: Warm and of medium length. Notes of spearmint and fruit.

Thoughts: Fans of soft, delicate, minty bourbon will adore this one. I am not that person. It reminds me of a lesser version of Redbreast 12. It has a similar delicate fruit note to it. It's just not as refined or tasty as Redbreast. This is not a bad bourbon just an extremely underwhelming one. I'd probably give this a pass unless you just can't live without its admittedly cool bottle. The juice on the inside however is just meh.

But hey, at least I got a blog post out of it.

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Basil Hayden's 10 Year Old Rye

It is Groundhog Day today. And though I’m not one to put much faith in the weather-related prognostications of a large rodent, I did really enjoy the Bill Murray movie of the same name as a kid. I mean, I’m sure I would still like it, but it played on our HBO subscription so often that I haven’t felt the need to dive back in for the last 25 years or so.

So, being Groundhog Day today, it is fitting that I am taking a look at a Basil Hayden’s release. Like the main character reliving the same day over and over in the movie, I feel like I’m reliving the same experience every time I purchase one of these. Every single time that I buy one, I buy it expressly to review. But every time I do, I think to myself: “well, the last few haven’t been great, but maybe this one will surprise me.”

And then I’m never surprised.

In fact, after the 10-year-old bourbon, I was hesitant to ever buy a bottle of Basil Hayden’s again. Here is what I said about that:

In the past, I have excused the price of the original Basil Hayden. I had the thought that it was less of a cash grab for underproofed bourbon and more a brilliant way to get new bourbon drinkers into the fold. Knowing, from my own experiences that people new to any liquor category, at least those that don’t live on the bottom shelf, want “something good” to try out and also knowing that for most uniformed people “something good” actually means “something with a pretty bottle that has a bit of a higher price tag,” it stands to reason that this new-to-bourbon person might grab a bottle of super gentle Basil Hayden with it’s higher price and pretty bottle. Then after trying it—and not being scared off by the “burn”—maybe find they enjoy it. And then eventually move on to real bourbon. And that probably worked when there weren’t so many crap bourbons in pretty bottles on your local shelf with a price tag over $50. These days, original Basil Hayden can be one of the less expensive of the “pretty bottle crowd.” I saw it on sale for less than $30 as I was researching its local price tonight and have seen it that low (and bought it) in the past. So I thought Beam was reacting to the changing market by correcting the price downward. With the recent brand expansions, we have seen that is not the case. Original Basil Hayden may be cheaper these days, but all the new ones that share its name are not. And the worst offender is this 10 year old version. Like I said earlier, this is a perfectly acceptable bourbon. In fact, I wish more of the Old Grand Dad line had this kind of barrel influence on it. But the flavor is comparable to Buffalo Trace or maybe Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond. Notice I said flavor, not heat or complexity. This suffers from the same issue that Original Basil Hayden’s has: it’s too gentle and low proof for the price, but this doesn’t have the excuse of being a “gateway” bourbon.

So yeah…I knew this and yet the idea of a new experience for a well-aged rye whiskey was too good to pass up. I love a good rye. I love making cocktails with it. Let’s see if I’ve finally broken out of Groundhog Day or if this is just another repeat in a long line of repeats.

Basil Hayden's 10-Year-Old Rye

Purchase Info: $65.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.40

Details: 10 years old. 40% ABV

Nose: Cinnamon, clove, and mint.

Mouth: Thin in the mouth. Cinnamon, mint, almond, and oak.

Finish: Short and kinda bitter. Cinnamon, clove, oak, and cinnamon.

Thoughts: Wow. Not much to this one. I know I talked about my theories as to why Basil Hayden's exists above, but even for Basil Hayden's this is disappointing. It isn't bad, per se. But it isn't good either. It's just sort of... there. I'd give this one a pass unless you like oak flavors that have been diluted to the point of bitterness.

I think I’m done with Basil Hayden’s releases. This one finally killed it for me. I love most of the stuff that Beam is doing these days, but this one just isn’t for me. Maybe I’m finally breaking free of Groundhog Day…either that or I’m still stuck and will get to relive yet another repeat when the next release draws me in.

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The Whiskeys of Luca Mariano

I’d like to thank the folks at Luca Mariano Distillery for providing these review samples with no strings attached.

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Last month, the folks at the Luca Mariano Distillery reached out to me to see if I would be interested in taking a look at their products. Of course, I said yes. And once it arrived, I was surprised to find five different whiskeys in the box. So since we have a lot to get through tonight, let’s cut straight to the chase.

First, though, I was looking at their website and couldn’t find the answer so I reached out to them and asked for clarification as to whether they were distilling their own juice yet. Here is what they had to say:

Our distillery is currently under construction, so Wilderness Trail Distillery is currently distilling our mashbills for us.

I absolutely love the transparency. And heck Wilderness Trail is a good choice for a production partner as well. So without further adieu, let’s see what we are looking at tonight.

Old Americana Small Batch Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample was graciously provided by the distillery for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $44.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.00

Details: 41.5% ABV. 4.5 years old. Currently available in Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina and online through Woods Wholesale Wine

Nose: Vanilla, mint, cinnamon, and toffee.

Mouth: Thin on the month with notes of cinnamon, toffee, and a hint of bitter oak.

Finish: Gentle and on the shorter end of medium. Lingering notes of cinnamon and bitter oak.

Thoughts: This is a bit meh for me. Especially for the price. As I grade on a curve, if this were a $20 whiskey it might grade higher. That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it just doesn't align with my preferences. It's thinner on the mouthfeel than I'd like and the bitter note of the oak makes it taste a bit over-diluted. Especially for a $45 bottle. What flavors are there make me interested to try the higher proof offering though based on what is shown in this one.

Luca Mariano Single Barrel Bourbon

Thoughts: Let me start out by saying that I am not giving this one tasting notes or a rating. When this arrived the cover was loosened (though the seal was unbroken) and leaking and after tasting it, I'm guessing it was contaminated by contact with the wet packing materials. I tried to take notes around the off, almost "meaty, moldy" taste but can't guarantee I did right by the product. The suggested pricing is $59.99. Let's move on to the next one.

Luca Mariano Signature Single Barrel Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample was graciously provided by the distillery for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $64.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.33

Details: 53.5% ABV. 5.5 years old. Currently available in Michigan, Kentucky, and online through Woods Wholesale Wine

Nose: Brown Sugar, mint, almond.

Mouth: The hard Bazooka Joe Bubblegum from my childhood, mint, and cinnamon.

Finish: Warm and medium length. Sweet with almond and cinnamon.

Thoughts: This one is very good. Took me right back to my childhood and stuffing my little month with two or three pieces of Bazooka Joe bubble gum. Only now it's alcoholic! Seriously though, I really like this. Drinkable at 107 proof when served neat. Water brings out more caramel on the nose and more spice in the month. I’d buy this one if I saw it on the shelf.

Old Americana Small Batch Rye (Luca Mariano Small Batch Rye prior to an April 2021 Rebrand)

Purchase Info: This sample was graciously provided by the distillery for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $44.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.00

Details: 95% Rye Mashbill. 41.5% ABV. 4.5 years old. Currently available in Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina and online through Woods Wholesale Wine

Nose: Cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mint.

Mouth: Thin mouthfeel. Cool mint transitions to cinnamon red hots.

Finish: Gentle and short. Follows the nose with mint, cedar, and cinnamon.

Thoughts: Once again, the thin mouthfeel on this one is kind of a turn off for me, but I could see this acting well as a "card playing" rye where you don't really want to contemplate what is in your glass, instead just wanting a little social lubricant. But that would only be the case if it were priced lower. Once again. Nothing wrong with it, just not to my palate.

Luca Mariano Single Barrel Rye

Purchase Info: This sample was graciously provided by the distillery for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $59.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.00

Details: 51.5% ABV. 5.5 years old. Currently available in Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina and online through Woods Wholesale Wine

Nose: Cedar, mint, honey, and nutmeg.

Mouth: Follows the nose with cedar, mint, cinnamon, and a nice spicy heat.

Finish: Warm and medium length. Notes of cinnamon, cedar, and mint.

Thoughts: Classic rye notes predominate. I like this one a lot. This tastes like the perfect proof level for this whiskey. Nice mouthfeel, heat, and flavor. I’d be happy with this purchase if I found it on the shelf.

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Heaven's Door Trilogy

I’d love to start this out by quoting the song that this whiskey is named after, but I’m of an age that I identified Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door as a Guns N Roses song instead of as a Bob Dylan song for most of my young life. I may never get that association out of my head and out of respect for other people my age who have had Axl Rose’s voice inflicted upon them, I’m not going to mention this again.

Heaven’s Door Whiskey is a brand created in collaboration with Bob Dylan, musician, native of my adopted home state of Minnesota, and (as I learned while researching the brand) Iron Gate Artist. The brand website is filled with images of Mr. Dylan creating his gates. In fact, the artwork on the front of each bottle is a representation of some of those gates.

I had no idea. I thought that was pretty cool.

These bottles came out of a multipack that I found on an end cap in my local Total Wine. I originally thought it was a gift set and I had slotted it in as part of last week’s rundown. But that post got a little too long to tack three reviews onto the end of it. And honestly, I don’t know if it was a holiday gift set or just a way for folks to try their core whiskeys.

So, here are the three core releases from Heaven’s Door. A Tennessee Bourbon, a Straight Rye finished in French Oak, and Double Barrel Whiskey (a blend of three six-year-old whiskeys that was aged in a second barrel for an additional year). Let’s see how they taste.

Heaven's Door Tennessee Bourbon

Purchase Info: $56.99 for three 200 mL bottles at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN. This whiskey at the same store is $46.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.13 (for the 750 mL)

Details: 45% ABV

Nose: Cherry, vanilla, cola.

Mouth: Sweet. Cinnamon, vanilla, cherry cola, and oak.

Finish: Medium length and warmth. Lingering notes of cherry and oak.

Thoughts: The nose on this is delicate but delicious. I'm loving the vanilla, cherry cola notes on the whiskey. I usually turn my nose up at "celebrity" whiskey brands, but this is good. I'd buy it again.

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Heaven's Door Double Barrel Whiskey

Purchase Info: $56.99 for three 200 mL bottles at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN. This whiskey at the same store is $46.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.13 (for the 750 mL)

Details: 50% ABV. Three 6-year-old whiskies combined then rebarrelled for a year.

Nose: Spearmint, Caramel, bubblegum, and raspberry

Mouth: I'm going to date myself on this one, but the first note I got was the "cardboard flavored gum" that came in a pack of Topps baseball cards in the early '80s. There are also mint, caramel, cinnamon, and oak notes.

Finish: Medium length and Warmth. Lingering cinnamon, and oak.

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Thoughts: Not really as much of a fan of this one. I definitely prefer the Tennessee Bourbon. The oak is a bit too forward and not well integrated. This one is a meh.

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Heaven's Door Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Vosges Oak Barrels

Purchase Info: $56.99 for three 200 mL bottles at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN. This whiskey at the same store is $75.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.07 (for the 750 mL)

Details: 46% ABV. Finished in toasted oak barrels from Vosges, France

Nose: Cinnamon, ginger, cedar, tall wild grasses, citrus zest

Mouth: Spicy and sweet. Bubblegum, citrus, cedar, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium. Follows the month with bubblegum, cinnamon, and oak.

Thoughts: This is good, but not $75 good. I'd happily accept a glass if you are buying though.

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Lyre's American Malt and Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative

Have you ever thought to yourself “Man, I could really enjoy a whiskey cocktail right now, but I don’t feel like drinking?”

I haven’t either, when I don’t feel like drinking but don’t want something sweet, I shake some bitters into soda water and call it good. When I feel like a cocktail, I have a cocktail. But I am apparently out of touch with trends these days because I’m hearing more and more people talk about mocktails (a name I seriously hate) and even alcohol-free bars. I’ve even started seeing bottles of “Whiskey Alternative” on the shelf of my local liquor store.

Now, I like to think I have an open mind. And when I don’t exactly understand something, I like to learn more about it. And being the curious fellow that I am, I took it upon myself to find out a little more about why I might want a “Zero-Proof Whiskey Alternative” and if there is any room for them in my life. So I bought the bottle at my local liquor store which happened to be from Ritual Zero-Proof. They make a whiskey alternative and a gin alternative. And because I like to be thorough, I ordered a bottle of Lyre’s American Malt as well. I’d been seeing mentions of Lyre’s since the end of last year and I was genuinely curious about them.

I tasted each of these neat (not how they were intended to be served) so that I could get a handle on their flavors. I also used each of these in a variety of cocktails. I made each into a Manhattan (using actual vermouth and bitters), a sour, and a highball with Q ginger ale and a squeeze of lime.

Lyre's American Malt

Purchase Info: $35.99 plus shipping for a 700 mL bottle from the company website.

Nose: Molasses, caramel, ginger

Mouth: Very thin, no body to the mouthfeel. Weak iced tea notes.

Finish: Ginger, cinnamon, molasses, weak iced tea.

Thoughts: This smells and tastes way more like a rum than a whiskey. Those molasses notes are very prominent. Obviously this wasn't meant to be a sipping drink and it isn't. It doesn't taste bad for what it is.

Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative

Purchase Info: $21.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN

Nose: Smoke, bubblegum, apple

Mouth: Smoke, hot pepper, and weak green tea.

Finish: Hot pepper spice and smoke.

Thoughts: Ever been sick after eating a spicy meal? This tastes like that with a healthy dose of smoke thrown in.

Manhattan:

Lyre's kinda gets lost among the other ingredients. Orange and vermouth with a hint of molasses.

Ritual does not get lost, but that’s a problem since it tastes so bad that I was hoping the vermouth and orange would help hide it.

Sour:

Lyre's kinda tastes like a lemonade. Not too bad, might be good sparkling.

Ritual tastes more like a cocktail but the hot pepper flavor comes through too much for me.

Ginger Ale Highball:

Lyre's actually isn't bad at all. the molasses notes pair very nicely with the ginger ale. This would be my favorite of the six cocktails we made today.

Ritual once again suffers from the notes of raw hot peppers. Of the cocktail I've tried Ritual in today, the ginger ale highball is the best, but I'd still rather just have the ginger ale.

Thoughts:

I was genuinely curious about these. The Lyre's especially since they make an entire line of spirit alternatives. And truthfully, the Lyre’s American Malt wasn't bad. I could wish for a bit more spice to it, but bitters will help with that. If you are in the market for a "whiskey" with no alcohol you could do worse.

Speaking of worse, there is the Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative. This tastes like no whiskey I've ever had except maybe the Dickel/Tabasco thing. I think they were trying to hit the burn of a whiskey by using the hot peppers but it didn't land. At all. I'll probably just dump this one. I do not even remotely like it.

So do I have a place in my life for these? Probably not. Like I said earlier, I get more enjoyment and variety out of a couple of dashes of bitters in my soda water than I did from either of these. It’s easier too. Honestly, I think that the non-aged spirit alternatives from these brands might work better. Anything that is based on an infusion in spirit form, like gin or some of the liqueurs, might actually be ok since you could follow the same process to make these. Trying to hit the flavor profile of an oak barrel with spices seems to be a dicey proposition at best.

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Empress 1908 Gin and a DIY Version

Empress 1908 gin is a Canadian Gin that has been infused with Butterfly Pea Flower to give it a blue hue. The cool thing about Butterfly Pea Flower infusions is that their color is sensitive to pH. In other words, if you increase the acidity of the liquid it will turn from dark blue to a lovely purple. And if you reduce the acidity of the liquid it will turn back to blue. It makes a lovely cup of tea. And I do mean lovely, the colors are beautiful.

And so when Empress 1908 gin, a gin infused with Butterfly Pea Flower, was brought to my attention I was very interested. A few years back, I spent an entire spring playing with infusing herbs, spices, fruit, flowers, and tea in alcohol. But I never ran across Butterfly Pea Flower in my experimentation. So, of course, the first thing I did was to look at their website. And since it is gin, I looked at the cocktail section. I found the following cocktail recipe for the Bees Knees.

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Isn’t that pretty? So of course, after I did the tasting notes, I decided to make that cocktail. I’m a sucker for pretty. Probably has something to do with my artistic streak. But speaking of tasting notes.

Empress 1908 Gin

Purchase info: $4.99 for a 50 mL bottle at the Party Source, Bellevue, KY

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.99

Details: Botanicals on Website are: tea, juniper, rose, coriander seed, grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon bark, and butterfly pea blossom. 42.5% ABV.

Nose: Juniper, ginger

Month: Delicately flavored. Think floral vodka. Not much juniper. Ginger is the dominant note.

Finish: Not much of one to speak of.

Thoughts: Kinda meh. It's a pretty mediocre gin with a great idea behind it. You don't buy this one to sip, this is purchased to make pretty drinks. So let's make that pretty drink above.

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Ummmm…I’m thinking that there might have been something going on with their website photography. the drink I made has the slightest purple tint. But it isn’t vibrant or really even purple if I’m being honest.

Ok, so the one reason you might want to buy this gin has fallen flat. I guess I won’t be spending the money on it in the future when I want to wow people with a cool science trick. But I did promise my wife pretty cocktails tonight so let's make our own, shall we?

As I mentioned above, I’ve known about Butterfly Pea Flower Tea for a while now. In fact, I’ve had some in the house for a little over a year. It’s a cool thing to bring out and wow the nieces and nephews with. And it tastes pretty good too. The one I buy is blue-tee from Wild Hibiscus. I buy it because they are individually sealed and I don’t use it very often.

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After that it is time to infuse the gin. Personally, one of my favorites is Beefeater…well, it’s my favorite that I would want to use in an experiment like this. I need about a cup and a half or so and I don’t want to use a more expensive and harder to replace craft-gin, like Castle & Key, for it. I pour the gin in a mason jar and then drop in the teabag. I’m not really worried about the flavor of the tea coming though. Gin already has a lot of botanicals and the butterfly pea flower tea is pretty delicately flavored. After about 5-10 minutes, I get the level of color I’m looking for.

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And so, for science, I went ahead and made the same cocktail as above. I think my version turned out a little better. A pretty cocktail for my pretty lady.

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Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.