(no subject)
Continuing my quest to become a more refined imbiber I am sampling Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 year old tonight. Extra sticker on the bottle - Barrel # 34 hand selected by the staff of Holiday Wine Cellar - Holiday Wine Cellar is a fine local retailer carrying plenty of quality liquid vices from high end Whiskies and Wines to Fine Ales. This bottle cost $22 and change.
I don't have a proper nosing glass. Usually I use a simple lowball glass, but tonight I am using my Old Stock Ale snifter. I dribbled in a touch of water to help release the aromas.
Taking too big a whiff gives you a snoot full of alcohol burn as I would imagine most 90 proof drinks would. Swirling the contents of the glass and taking it in from near the rim of the glass I get a soft sweetness that somewhat resembles a mix of honey & believe or not cotton-candy? There is also some vanilla, plenty of oak, plus a bit of grain. Taking a sip the oak shows up quickly as if it were toasted and oiled. My whiskey palate needs refining but I also sense charred corn, and a touch of bitterness almost like nut skins give. The finish lingers with the oils and carries a bit of a spearmint-like spicy tingle.
Smoother than most bourbons of this age range that I have sampled and this is a small range so what do I know, but I consider it a nice sipper. It also does well in a Manhattan.
A solid G rating based on my inexperience, maybe higher down the road.