Hi, just signed up for the forum after searching the internet for some bourbon/whiskey information/reviews.
About 2-3 weeks back, I had a shot of Rare Breed with my brother, and really loved it... I have very little whiskey experience outside of the usual mixers and maybe a shot here or there..
anyways; i had a bottle of Jack Daniels Single barrel I had gotten as a gift, as well as a bottle of gentleman jack I had gotten as a gift..
so heres what I've added recently; or found that I had and had never even touched from my large liquor collection (In the summer I have alot of friends/family over at an outside bar and its stocked very well.)
-Johnnie Walker Black
-Johnnie Walker Green
-Seagram's 7
-Jack Daniels Single Barrel
-Gentleman Jack
-Wild Turkey Rare Breed (Just picked this up)
-Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit (bought today!)
oh, as well as a few bottles of Early Times Mint Juleps that were a huge pain to track down in Illinois, but a bit of it did end up getting shipped around the derby time..
anyways, so i've collected all the whiskeys I've got, and definately find that I prefer the american stuff, mostly the bourbons I have, over anything else.. I understand Johnnie Walker green is somewhat expensive, but I just didnt find the taste of either JW to be up my alley..
The Gentleman Jack is pleasant but somewhat boring, the single barrel is really nice.
The Wild Turkey's really have my fancy; not sure what it is.. but I love everything from their logo/bottle to their smell, to their taste and strength..
so; i am just getting into sipping instead of doing shots, as it seems a better way to enjoy them and really capture everything they have to offer..
any particular recommendations for these whiskeys in particular? right now i am sipping on a bit of rare breed, warm, with no ice or water.. i know that jimmy says he keeps it frozen but i dont have the option right now of throwing any bottles in the freezer..
i imagine it would be easier as a novice as well as a 24yr old without experienced taste buds here, but i dont want to get into any bad habits of cutting or icing up good bourbons, so I am just sipping on it without any cut.. if i need to, sipping on water or coke long after the fact.
again; i am rather new to all this, and shouldnt have spent so much money on the wild turkeys so quickly ($32.99 for rare breed, $39.99 for kentucky spirit, which was near impossible to find and the bottle is from 2001!!!).. I've seen russel's reserve, and actually tried that at a local bar, but would need more time with it to give any thoughts.
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rare breed i am actually preferring over kentucky spirit so far; but i enjoy both.. i think kentucky spirit almost has too much going on for me to appreciate so far. rare breed smells like america to me.. and i am enjoying its strenght, bite and beautiful sweet "american" smell.
so, like i said.. and pardon the huge rant..
if you were 24, just getting into whiskey, particular bourbons, what would you be going with? how would you recommend drinking it and really getting and understanding the flavors better?
any ideas on how to go about finding some fo the rarer wild turkeys, such sa tribute? heritage? or freedom?
thanks for reading this and any responses, have been reading all your old threads, lots of great info and fun reviews/thoughts.
happy new year