Message in a bottle: the story continues!

[Black Eye]

Well I came home from work today and surprise surprise I had a package with some crazy Asian newspaper in it. Very fitting because I had a smorg of Chinese take out for me and the little lady. I carefully cracked her open and sure as shit it was a care package from midwestshinner. Now I have to sort thru my email to see what's what.


I'm not going to lie, but I cracked everyone of them open and took a nice deep sniff to see what wonderful aromas I was in store for. Mmmmmmm I'm trying to be good and identify before I dive in. No to dig up that email and my swim goggles and dive into this bounty of spirits.


I'll be reporting back shortly. Forgive me if my next report isn't as coherent... There was an extra 3 jars in the package to go along with the original bottle and 2 hip flasks.... Where to start.... Where to start.

[midwest shinner]

I am very glad to hear that it arrived safe and sound. Sorry again for sitting on it for a while, life was hectic there for a bit, but I'm glad the extra drinks seem to make up for it a bit. Hope you enjoy, cheers!

[Black Eye]

OK let me just preface this by saying, These posts could be lengthy, because I feel Midwest Shinner deserves to have his hard work reviewed and shared with everyone that follows the thread. He did send me quite a bounty and I took a lot of notes right from the start of opening the box, opening each bottle, smelling each and finally what I expected before and after I tasted each.

I'll Break down what he sent me and then I'll follow up with another post(s) on what my thoughts were. I'll give them a quick rating here. Nothing was bad in this care pack... I liked it all, but like a pack of skittles I have my favorites of the rainbow that I like to eat first.

1st the bottle: This was a blend 1/2 cereal mash 1/4 AG corn mash 1/4 rye / oats mash

Wild Turkey Flash: This was a 1st generation spiced rum back sweetend with panela
Jim Beam Flask: 2x distilled Vodka. I'm not much of a vodka drinker and I never drink it straight so this one was hard for me to really review thoroughly. I give it a I'm going to need to taste it in a mixed drink

Next was three are small masons jars

#1 Jar: 1st gen Spiced Rum.

#2 jar: Odin's Rye Bread

#3 jar Faux Wheat Whiskey aged on cherry.

Unfortunately I was s tired by the time I got done doing my sampling and note taking I fell asleep on the couch and never got to come back and review.... so here goes.

[Black Eye]

This is in order I sampled the goodies.

1st Generation Spiced rum

Color: Nice gold color, slightly cloudy ( I blame the post man for not carrying this with delicate hands)

Smell: Slight spice smell, nice but not strong. Sweet notes in it as it rests in the glass

Taste: This was my first sample so I didn't know what I was getting.... was I going to get a heady bite... was I going to get slapped with tails???? This was nice and smooth, a little bite to it, but it was my first drink of the evening. Not over spiced, nice sipper. I didn't bastardize any of this with outside flavors like cola so I could get right to the source. Slight hint of some tails at the end and finished a little peppery, but not "hot". I don't drink my rum straight too often, but its definitely a sipper even without some coke or ginger. I'm catching the backsweetened panela flavor on the finish. I was happy with this one.... nice job.

#2 Odin's Rye Bread Whiskey.

Color: Light Amber.... Like a dirty blonde I remember...

Smell: Definitely rye whiskey smell to this one. Light doesn't hit you in the face or knock you over

Taste: I read a lot of Odin's stuff and I've always looked forward to trying this. I was excited that it was included in the package. I was going to wait till the end to try this but I decided not to... I wanted to alternate Rum and Whiskey so I could throw stuff at the tounge. This was a subtle drink, not a high powered whiskey but it definitely has a nice Rye taste to it. Light on the oak aging but a good flavor to it. Was noted as 84 proof and it was easy to sip on for sure. I might have to pour a couple more fingers of this one later with a cube in it. If i could change anything with this, I'd like to try it again a little higher proof... maybe 94 and a little more time on oak, but I know MWS wanted to get this out to me and it is a damn fine drink as is. Very nice and I was looking forward to more.

[BoomTown]

. I'll give them a quick rating here. Nothing was bad in this care pack... I liked it all, but like a pack of skittles I have my favorites of the rainbow that I like to eat first.
.

Great reviews! Nicely done!

[midwest shinner]

+1 Great job on the tasting notes man

[Black Eye]

Continued.....

#1 jar, Spiced Rum.

Color: Amber very much the color of Captain resting in a bottle.

Smell: this is more like a Genie in a bottle. This one packed a punch. deep spice nose to this on that hits you as soon as your pour. Very unique... far more scent than the Captain or Sailor Jerry.... and I love me some Sailor Jerry in a pinch. I'm really looking forward to the taste of this one... I detect Cloves and Cinnamon... possibly light ginger?

Taste: I can't wait to see what I'm in for on this one. The scent reminds me opening up a Reed's spiced ginger ale. not the same smell, but that powerful smell and then the punch in the mouth of a spicey ginger ale. Is that what I'm in store for here. I have high expectations of something different here... I'm already betting this is going to go great in some Canada Dry. The actual taste was not as spicey as I was anticipating... it was smooth and subtle with a nice spice finish. Surprising.... the scent to taste difference really messed with me. This will be a very nice Mixer for sure good drink. This one is better than the first rum I tried. not to say that the first was bad... bit this is the one that would win my pepsi challenge. I'm trying to keep my samples small so I don't get drunk before I'm finished.

#3 Faux Whiskey on Cherry.

Color: light amber color.... lighter than Jim beam in the white lable.

Smell: Very Fruit notes to this one. Light smell again.... nothing heady to burn the nose hairs.

Taste: I'm looking forward to what I find at the bottom of this drink. I've yet to try cherry aged drinks, but it's something I've thought about. I don't know how this was done.... Charred.... toasted.... raw??? no idea at all, but I like the nose. There is a definite fruity note on the front end of this... kind of comes over as you bring it to your lips and carry's on over the tip of the tongue. To me it tastes like a hybrid White whiskey / Wood aged whiskey. It doesn't have that rich flavor you get from a oak barrel aged whiskey, but this isn't a bad thing. There is a little bit of a citrusy bitter finish to this, very faint. I'm wondering if those comes from the wood not being charred. So far this one surprised me the more by far. I really am considering quitting the sampling and just double dip into this one. Different from my normal drink for sure but its very nice and hard to fully describe. So far my favorite of what MWS sent me. I'm happy

[Black Eye]

Now for the Bottle

This one caught me on the description 1/2 cereal mash 1/4 ag corn 1/4 rye and oats

Color: this one was a little different. hard to explain. It's very light for an wood aged whiskey and i don't want to say Greyish, but it had a tint to it.

Smell: LOTS of grain scents to this one wafting around not harsh at all.. definitely taunting me to taste what it is offering.

Taste: This one was the most complex of the bounty. Considering how light the color was and how light but grainy it smelled out of the bottle, this one has the most flavor of them all. Good grain taste to this with a nice Rye, peppery finish to it. I like the rye on the tail end, reminds me why I want to play with more rye recipes. I've been a fan of the rye type whiskeys and this is nice. Little sweet on the start with a spicey finish. Best way to describe this is, it fights to grab hold of your tongue as it goes down.... there's some left lingering around after to remind you what you just had. I like it alot.... it's going to be a fight between this and the Cherry aged as to what I go back for seconds on, with out being a pig and over indulging. Another 2 thumbs up on this.... I like her alot

This brings me down the the last.... the Vodka.

I'm not going to lie.... I saved this one till the end because Vodka just isn't my first drink... or my second. MWS hit the nail on the head knowing I like Rum and whiskey.

Color: up yup just what you'd expect it's clear.

Smell: Hard to describe. Swirl it around and I'm picking up some tailsy type scents

Taste: MWS warned me this needed another trip through the still and I haveto agree. needed to be cleaned up a bit... especially if you're going to drink it straight. I for one plan on mixing this on future sampling. It's smooth and definitely not harsh at all, but it has some flavors burried in there. I'm not quite sure how to put a finger on it... hint of tails I would say. I'm going to need to try this in a glass with some grapefruit juice or something. unfortunately they has to be a least favorite on a sampler platter. this one was my least favorite but it's not bad... but its hard to rate, cause I've never had a vodka that really won me over. It's not my taste in drink, but it's not something I will pour out and say its a lost cause. I feel bad saying anything bad.... but shit MWS 4 outta 5 isn't a bad batting average.

of them all The Blended Whiskey and the Cherry aged were my Very favorites with the Rye bread and spiced rum following in a close second... I had a good time tasting and reviewing MWS's hard work. thanks alot for sharing. I know you were stressing about how long it was taking to get it in the mail but don't worry.... I don't mind waiting for good home cooking. Thanks alot for sharing this with me. I'll be posting who's getting the bottle next once they respond to the PM. I hope I did this thread some justice here. I really tried to capture my thoughts as I sampled.

[BoomTown]

I'll be posting who's getting the bottle next once they respond to the PM. I hope I did this thread some justice here. I really tried to capture my thoughts as I sampled.

Gotta say, your tasting analysis is very full of taste and image teasers. Very nice. Thanks for restarting the thread!

Boom

[Stainless dude]

Great review blackeye...

[midwest shinner]

Fantastic job Black Eye. Way better tasting notes than i take I'm ashamed to say... As for the vodka, that was my first ever, and the size batch was too small for me to want to put down a 3rd run. The odd hidden fruit flavors i believe must come from the rice as the yeast used was quite neutral, ec-1118 iirc. I would agree with all your analysis overall.

[Black Eye]

Well thanks for sending me your stuff. I really enjoyed it and I enjoyed forcing myself to really sit down and think about what I'm drinking. Everyone should have someway to share in my experience.

With that said I'm tapping a man that I've been talking to for a while. Now I'm honored to be a recipient of the bottle but I think there are some members out there that deserve to taste a drink made by someone more expirienced than I. That being said Jimbo has put a lot of effort into sharing recipes here and passing along advice. It's about time his drinks be shared as well. I will be sending some of the recipes Jimbo and I have talked about and in return the person he chooses after me will be in line to receive something truely worthy of being shared.

[Odin]

Great reviews! Keep them coming! One remark on Odin's rye ... not sure I made that. Maybe I provided the recipe?

Odin.

[midwest shinner]

Yeah Odin, that was your recipe that i made, hence the name of the product I've only made one batch of that recipe but i aged the product on 4 different types of wood to see which one i liked best, i think first is the American white oak, then cherry wood, then french oak and apple wood bringing up the rear of the 4 types. Anyway, thanks again for the recipe Odin!

[Odin]

Funny that the taste is not so heavy. Mine is ... overwhelming

[midwest shinner]

Mine are all pretty smooth and easy going. Lots of flavor, but not in your face with it

[RandyMarshCT]

Awesome review Black Eye!

I have a question for MS:
Did you use rice as your primary fermentable in the vodka? I've never used rice before and I'm curious how easy or difficult it is to work with.

[midwest shinner]

I did use some enzymes to convert the starches in the rice to sugars, but also use sugar. It was loosely based off of Uncle Remus'rice vodka. My only recommendation is if you make that in a pot still, run it 3 times for a truer vodka. That recipe is in the tried and true section

[HolyBear]

Nice to see "The Bottle" is still on the move...

[just-a-sip]

Nice to see "The Bottle" is still on the move...

i agree who would have thought it would have gotten this far. and awesome we have added so many extras. its awesome to send a little bit of the left overs to the next guy.

[midwest shinner]

Yeah just-a-sip, your smoked corn whiskey was quite a tastey drop. I actually brought the bottles to a tasting with a few other forum members when i had them, and a few people got to enjoy some likker sent from afar(or a couple states over really...)I've enjoyed the thread for a while so I'm stoked i was able to be a part of its travels

[Jimbo]

Well thanks for sending me your stuff. I really enjoyed it and I enjoyed forcing myself to really sit down and think about what I'm drinking. Everyone should have someway to share in my experience.

With that said I'm tapping a man that I've been talking to for a while. Now I'm honored to be a recipient of the bottle but I think there are some members out there that deserve to taste a drink made by someone more expirienced than I. That being said Jimbo has put a lot of effort into sharing recipes here and passing along advice. It's about time his drinks be shared as well. I will be sending some of the recipes Jimbo and I have talked about and in return the person he chooses after me will be in line to receive something truely worthy of being shared.

I just saw this, sorry for the delayed response. Im honoroed Black Eye, thank you for the selection! Looking forward to trying some of your delicious recipes, and forwarding some of mine on. Thank you.

Now this hockey rivalry could get interesting again bud! Bruins are 1st in Eastern Conference and Blackhawks are first in Western Conference! except there are 4 teams in the western conf that have more points than Boston! Get on it slacker!

[midwest shinner]

Yeah sorry Black Eye, we can't be friends anymore til the seasons over... Congrats Jimbo! Whoever gets the bottle after you is one lucky person.

[Jimbo]

Yeah just-a-sip, your smoked corn whiskey was quite a tastey drop. I actually brought the bottles to a tasting with a few other forum members when i had them

I was one of them lucky bastards that got to try yoru hooch just-a-sip. Excellent drop, very very tasty. Delicious, unique, whiskey. My 3 favorite words strung together. Thank you!

Midwest, youre too kind. But youre settin the expectation pretty high for the next guy, I hope I dont disappoint!

[Black Eye]

Hey hey hey hawks are my western team.... Don't be hatin'

Don't matter how many points you have in the regular season as long as you make playoffs.

If the hawks and b's make it this year we should get together and sample some drinks and punches

[Jimbo]

Haha sounds good. Not hatin, just doggin your ass. Startin early Im rootin for Bruins too, for the Eastern Conf. We gotta go at it again, Chicago and Boston. That would be a a freakin riot.

So.... get that box in the mail yet?

[Black Eye]

I gotta pick up my pace drinking shinner's booze so I have something to put mine in.
I'm glad he too extra time. It gave me more time to age up some gold rum and black spiced rum.

My 4th gens been sitting around for a few months waiting to be shared. And I dug out some oaked sugar head whiskey that's been aging for a good 6 months. Fortunately mind sent quite a bit off goodies so I won't be tapping mine.

I think I'll send you a bruins care pack with some whiskey aged on a hockey puck and bear hair

[RandyMarshCT]

While this thread is taking a momentary break, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Boom Town for the sample he sent me. I'll try to keep it short and sweet since this isn't the thread topic, but this thread is the reason why I am able to sample Boom Town's spirit and why I was able to get my first official review from Odin. Also, I'd like to thank both of you for sampling my UJSM variation since I don't know anyone in "real life" who can help me with a distiller's review.


I am not a professional (or even amateur, for that matter) taster and my review method is ripped off from Odin's review of my product. Thank you for the lesson, Odin.

Bottle:
I received a nice 375 ml clear bottle filled with Boom's "AG Double Oaked Simply Whiskey". This is the same type of bottle I like to use for my spiced rum, you can get a good look at the color of oaked spirits in these bottles. Unfortunately my camera (phone) didn't do it the justice it deserved. The color was a nice light golden, like honey. Not as light as wildflower honey, but a darker golden like clover honey. The bottle was labeled 10/30/13. I'm not certain if this was the distilling date, the oaking date, or the date you took the spirit off the oak (bottling date).

Nose:
Nice sweet aroma. Not molasses sweet like a sweetfeed (obviously), but a sweet grain/corn smell. There is a dynamic in the oak smell. I love the smell of oaked spirits, which this whiskey clearly has, but I detect an additional "after-smell" (is that even a thing?) from the wood as well. It's excellent. Did you use different char levels at the same time (or different times) for the "double oak" that might give me this multi-level aroma? I like it. To be honest I probably smelled this over 50 times, taking it in and analyzing it... teasing my self before moving on to tasting. It smells great, no burn to the smell at all.

Eye Test:
No burn at all. This is a new test to me. I "calibrated" my eye by doing it on some neutral heads to be sure my eyes were sensitive enough... that burned like hell. I got no burn sensation whatsoever from this whiskey. So, no heads detected via eye test.

Taste:
Smooth, complex, and legit. I know legit is an odd word to describe whiskey, but it is something I'm striving for with my own spirits. By legit I mean it tastes like REAL whiskey, not like the sugar heads I'm used to making. Nice smooth up front flavor with a trademark "legit" whiskey burn. Not a bad "hot" burn like I get from sugar heads (and fermenting too high), but a nice complex flavored burn that makes me realize how much better Boom Town is than I am at incorporating just the right amount of heads/tails components for a complex flavor with good character. I get a malty (possibly wheat?) sweetness but it's subtle, not overpowering. Was this your 50% Corn; 30% Barley; 20% Wheat recipe? I'm curious because if it is, it's very encouraging for my next AG recipe (55% Corn; 25% 6-Row; 15% Wheat; 5% Maris Otter), which will be my first AG with corn.


I enjoyed this whiskey very much. It makes me even more excited to get away from sugar heads and into AG whiskeys. Also, it was the first home-made product I've sampled that was very good besides my own (I know that sounds arrogant, but the only other stuff I've sampled is from random people at my LHBS and most of it is pretty rough). Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to enjoy your product. It impressed me just as much as "Bubbles" did when I saw the picture. Fine quality craftsmanship on the still and the distillate. Not only is she a pretty face, but she can walk the walk and talk the talk too!

[BoomTown]

I received a nice 375 ml clear bottle filled with Boom's "AG Double Oaked Simply Whiskey". This is the same type of bottle I like to use for my spiced rum, you can get a good look at the color of oaked spirits in these bottles. Unfortunately my camera (phone) didn't do it the justice it deserved. The color was a nice light golden, like honey. Not as light as wildflower honey, but a darker golden like clover honey. The bottle was labeled 10/30/13. I'm not certain if this was the distilling date, the oaking date, or the date you took the spirit off the oak (bottling date).

I enjoyed this whiskey very much. It makes me even more excited to get away from sugar heads and into AG whiskeys. Also, it was the first home-made product I've sampled that was very good besides my own (I know that sounds arrogant, but the only other stuff I've sampled is from random people at my LHBS and most of it is pretty rough). Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to enjoy your product. It impressed me just as much as "Bubbles" did when I saw the picture. Fine quality craftsmanship on the still and the distillate. Not only is she a pretty face, but she can walk the walk and talk the talk too!

Randy, you are too kind. Thank you for taking the time to review my stuff. The date mentioned is the bottling date, the char of the 1st Cask is medium, and 2nd is charred to #3. The whiskey was held in each 3.3 Gal cask for 6 weeks. The recipe is 50% corn/30% 6-row Barley malt/ 20% red winter wheat. I'm now piggy backing batches through 3 @ 3.2 gal casks, holding each batch in each cask for about 6 weeks while I refill the 3rd barrel. It takes me about 6 weeks (if I'm plugged into doing it regularly) to distill the 3.5 gallons (there is a measure of lost product due to generous quality control taste testing along the way ) I'm aiming for a 'warming' that settles into the back of the throat, not so much a 'hot' as a warming. I'm still enjoying your UJSM, and have offered some to a couple of my Bourbon Drinking buddies who both agree, you've nailed that Sour Mash flavor and produce a very rich and full bodied whiskey. Would love to see a pic of your still, if you ever think about it.

BTW, Bubbles says thanks too, I think....

Boom

[Black Eye]

I'm putting a good dent in shinner's care pack. Just about ready to ship the bottle back out. Gotta get Jimbo's addy.