Message in a bottle: the story continues!

[Jimbo]

Sent.

[midwest shinner]

Damn Black Eye, good on you for moving it along so quickly. I'm sure Jim will enjoy whatever you send, although the first time we met he introduced himself to me as "the liqour critic" watch out... I can't wait to see where she goes next.I'm just trying to get back into things more heavily after a bit of a break(really I've been slacking) although the fact that i still in my unheated garage and extreme cold resulted in a cracked, frozen cooling barrel when i went to fire up this morning...among other curve balls like bad pH strips(i need a pH meter) its always something. Anyway enough rambling, keep up the good work y'all

[Odin]

Any pictures, guys? I'd love to see that precious bottle Mr. P gave to Big R, and that I shipped further down the line ...

Regards, Odin.

[ga flatwoods]

Who has the line of passage down pat without going through the whole thread?

[Black Eye]

Bottles in the mail

[Jimbo]

WooOOOoot!!!

[BoomTown]

WooOOOoot!!!

Lucky you J.B.

d

[midwest shinner]

Enjoy Jimbo, I'm glad there seems to be more and more interest in this thread. We are very lucky to be in a connected community even if we are all miles apart.

[HolyBear]

Who has the line of passage down pat without going through the whole thread?

MR P ( I gave him that name...)
Big R
Sir Odin
Me
Just a sip

Add as it goes...

[yellowdog]

This is a great idea wish the bottle would travel faster and more pics... or maybe another bottle headed out... this is grest reading though

[Black Eye]

I was excited to be included. I recall the first time I read this thread. I thought it was so interesting to see how it traveled around. I really enjoyed getting an opportunity to sample someone else's hard work. Funny thing about this was, I never critiqued my work so hard before. I had a kitchen covered in bottles sampling for things that I thought would make the cut. First time I was nervous sharing... Most people are happy drinking mediocre stuff, you guys all know what you're looking for it's kinda like cooking for chefs.

[Jimbo]

I know the feeling Black Eye, Im ALWAYS nervous sharing my hooch with folks, especially whiskey drinkers. Its nerve racking. We here on HD are well versed on the do and donts tho, so Im sure your stuff is gonna be great. I cant wait to try it. Thank you so much for selecting me. Its a real honor.

As we discussed, Ill send a box back your way too. Which brings me to next thing. Im gonna jump the gun (before receiving yours BlackEye) and announce the next in line. GA Flatwoods and I have been chattin lots back and forth, become good friends, and he has made a lot of good stuff that needs to be shared So GA will be next to get the MiB. Ive already started putting the box together for him, and will send it out as soon as I receive Black Eyes and see whats in there to forward along (as well as 'The Flask' that started all this). Yes Yellowdog, agreed and will speed this along, be great for all the actives here to get a shot at this honor and delicious treats.

So in talking to Black Eye and Flatwoods, we are doing 2 way exchanges. I encourage everyone to keep that up (BlackEye, Ill share your treats with Midwest here as well). It gets more out for the rounds and more opportunities to taste. Flatwoods wasted no time and already sent me a box full of deliciousness after we discussed MiB by PM and he accepted being next in line. I received his package a couple days ago and am savoring the contents. Ive tried 3 of the drinks in there so far, here's my quick review of them... Im keeping it short so's not to disrupt the next in line who will get the 'official' shot at Flatwoods hooch.

Muscodine Brandy, white. - Whoever doesnt like the flavor of Muscodines is half loony. Them golfball sized grapes are a really tasty treat from the south. Flatwoods white muscodine brandy (eau de vie?) carries that flavor over well. Really tasty stuff with a spritely fruity fresh finish that lingers for a few seconds. Really nice.

Jackass Juice (Sweetfeed) - Nice thing about sweetfeed is the diversity of flavors packed in one bag. You can really taste them. This is lighter and less oaked than the UJ below, and carries some fresh bready grains over and a touch of that molasses thing. Light tho. I can taste the oats in there as well, always liked oats in hooch. Smoothness and earthy. Flatwoods did a great job bringing the flavors through over the sugarhead base. Its an art and he clearly knows how to paint!

UJSSM Bourbon - Nice rich oak flavor over some grain. Even tho its richer in oak, its less dimensional that the Jackass juice. Maybe makes sense since theres more diversity in the SF recipe ingredients. There's a nice simple whiskey flavor under it all. Very enjoyable.

All 3 are delicious. The Jackass Juice is special tho (to me, IMO). I could drink that all day (and I plan to, does that mean Im a jackass? never mind dont answer that). Unique, lighter but still more flavors. The lower oaking lets more flavors jump out at ya. And there's a lot in this one. Really terrific drink. Thank you Flatwoods, you were very generous in your package to me, and Ill return the favor, and hopefully the flavor in the one coming your way shortly!

Anyway, enough yak, this MiB is about tasting not reading so I promise to get the box out quick.

Cheers,

Jimbo

[Jimbo]

i got the box today! Thanks for the careful packing Black Eye, all is well.

But dude. What the hell am I drinking? I didnt know this was supposed to be a guessing game? There are 3 flasks and 3 half pints. All are mystery hooch.

Also whats the protocol here? Am I toi guzzle it up and fill every thing back up? Or take sips and pass it along with new stuff added? Which are yours and whats the history or trail of the others if they are being passed along? Are the 3 flasks to be sipped and passed along? Do I get to know what every thing is haha or do I sample and write?

Thanks man!!! Very coolio. Gonna get 2 boxes packed up and on their way to you and Flatwoods this week!

[Jimbo]

Never mind, apparently I have a memory as short as my ..... never mind. You told me in a PM

Jar #1 - CinnaSnatch proof ????? 80's- 90
Jar #2 - Gold Spiced Rum 96 proof
Jar #3 - 1st Gen Corn whiskey that's that I dug out of the cabinet. I forgot what I oaked this on.96 proof

Wild Turkey Flask - Silver Rum 90 proof
Jim Beam Flask - Corn Whiskey on Toasted Hungarian Oak 94 proof
The Bottle - Black Spiced Rum 96 proof

I tasted the cinnasnatch. Whooo thats good. Nice cinnamon flavor. Not too hot to kick ya in the nuts but a nice zing on the tongue.

WindyCity and MidwestShiner, Ill talk to wifey and pick a day to have y'all over so we can drink up some fine New England spirits! Blackeye, you didnt rub a Bruins puck on these did ya? cant be having no bad juju in Hawks town now!

[Black Eye]

Midwest shiner sent those extra jars. Given them back to him or send them refilled to me

[Black Eye]

I'm siked they got there fast. I had to put a box in a box because you could hear the pop of the mason jar lids. I didn't want cause for alarm.

[Richard7]

It's great to see them on the move!

[Drunk-N-Smurf]

I'd love to get in on this. Partly because I'd love for a seasoned taster to give feedback on my product, and partly to have a taste of another persons homegrown product to compare to.

If anyone wants to start a rum circle, I'm in.

[Jimbo]

2 boxes shipped out today, 1 east and 1 south. Enjoy guys. You should have them by Tuesday/Wed. Hopefully in time for New Years.

in addition to a few bottles of my stuff, I put a half flask of Black Eye's Corn Whiskey and half a flask of Black Eyes Silver Rum in there too, so others can enjoy his good cookin.

Cheers,

Jimbo

[Black Eye]

I'm kinda surprised those are the ones you selected. I almost didn't even put the 1st gen corn whiskey in the package. I thought it was under oaked but I liked it enough. I think my personal favorites were the toasted Hungarian oak and the gold spice rum.

[ga flatwoods]

Well, finally getting around to responding here. Jimbo I appreciate the offer to share in the bottles being passed and consider it a privilege to have been asked to participate! I really didnt expect it and am pleased immensely with the comments you have shared on some of the mixes I sent you. I hope the next to receive the bottle will be equally pleased. Hopefully the package will arrive in time for a New Years Eve toast!
GA Flatwoods

[Jimbo]

Blackeye, I didnt choose em you did LOL. My understanding is the 2 hip flasks need to move on. So I moved half to some small jars and and stuck em in the box so others down the line can enjoy them. One of them is the hungarian oak toasted corn whiskey, the other your silver rum. Ive done a quick pass through all of them now, but not a sit down concentrate on it type of tasting yet to do a write up here. Soon. I will say they are ALL good, and it would have been tough to pick, if you didnt already for me haha. Good stuff Mike

Flatwoods, after tasting your hooches you mailed, I can say I picked well, and the next down the line is in for a real treat. You got quite an assortment you been steathily brewing up. You should be posting more on what youre up to and your recipes. Others 'd do well to make some of these! Jackass Juice and Flint Water are my 2 favorites so far.

[ga flatwoods]

Who has the line of passage down pat without going through the whole thread?

Went through the thread. Here is the lineage:
PrariePiss>BigR>Odin>Holy Bear>Just-a-Sip> Richard7> MidwestShinner> BlackEye> Jimbo> GA Flatwoods>????

[HolyBear]

Is the album still with The Bottle???

[Jimbo]

no album.

[toast860]

this is pretty cool. i never looked at the topic because of its name i thought it was like the lairs bench. I think its due time to send it back over seas so it gets some miles under its belt. good idea guys. i have at least another year before i can join in on this. but i hope one day to get a taste.

[ga flatwoods]

Who has the line of passage down pat without going through the whole thread?

Went through the thread. Here is the lineage:
PrariePiss>BigR>Odin>Holy Bear>Just-a-Sip> Richard7> MidwestShinner> BlackEye> Jimbo> GA Flatwoods>????

Drumroll please......After long considerstion and some assistance from friends with my quest, I am pleased to announce that behind me, HUSKER will be the next one to receive the bottle! It pleases me that he was willing to take the initiative for the work required, diligence to keep it moving, and was honored yet surprised as I when first asked. Hey Husker you have paid your dues and earned it. Will be in touch soon. The bottle should be in SE GA tomorrow!
I hope to not disappoint. Again, congratulations.
GA Flatwoods

[Husker]

I am grateful to have been contacted by GA. I have been somewhat absent from the boards over the recent year. Many of you know the rough spots I have been through. I am grateful to be into this little congo line of people.

Strange karma/coincidences here. I received the PM from GA, while I was actually traveling home from a first date with a very attractive, spunky, nice lady, where we hit things off pretty well. I texted her when I got home and asked if she would like to sample with me, prior to contacting GA about it, and she thought it sounded like a good time. So, along with any critique I do, there will be an independent review from a non-biased 'normy', lol. The second coincidence, was I just stumbled across a sole bottle of nice heavy smoked AG, from spring 2008 (year before Barb got sick). It was a small batch (only produced 4 100 proof bottles), and is one of my rare successes in AG whiskey. I think it would be fitting to pass this one on. I just happened to find a sole dusty bottle pushed to the back of the top shelf, when I was down in the utility room, doing a little cleaning. I am not sure why it got shoved back there, but obviously, it was meant to be found now, actually a week ago. If it would not have been for that bottle, I am not sure I would have agreed to join in since I am pretty low on stock, and really the only thing I have is some 'drinkable' rum and some decent amaretto. But I MUCH prefer showing off something of quality, like the whiskey vs something like the amaretto, which is simply an infusion into neutral. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE amaretto (blended with DrPepper it is simply the bomb), but I do not take all the much pride in it (I use knuckleheads recipe, so I really can not claim it for my own anyway). A good whiskey I take great pride in sharing.

I am going to make a contact now, and may move this care package north of the border for its next stop. But again, I have to check first, to make sure the recipient wants to join in the reindeer games.

H.

[Odin]

Hi Husker,

Great to see you becoming part of it. And great to hear about your changeing fortunes, if I may call them that. A nice lady and she likes to sample? Sounds like paradise to me!

Regards, Odin.

[Jimbo]

USPS Tracking Service says Deeeeeelivered Flatwoods. Cheers bud and Happy New Years.