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Question. I have a bourbon that seems to be a chameleon... it changes ever so slightly with time when drinking.

Over the time it takes to consume the bourbon over ice, the bourbon hits 3 phases that I can tell. 1st - vanillas and caramel when initially poured over ice. 2nd - vanillas and caramel notes diminish, the nose seems to be more like well-aged white-dog. 3rd - vanillas, caramels and corn all come back more than before. It's a great way to finish the drink, but why does it phase like this?

Grainbill -

66% Corn
25% Red Wheat
9% Oats

Cuts were pretty tight - mostly stayed in the hearts. Distilled in a pot-still with a tall column.

Put 4 gallons for 9 months in a used Blanton's 5 gallon barrel with some white oak, toasted & charred to a #2 for oak augmentation. Barreled at 128 proof. Bottled at 94 proof. Got a little more than 3 gallons out.

Thanks.

The ice. It melts and slowly changes the proof, opening up the smell and taste. Nest time you proof from barrel strength to drinking proof try doing it 5% at a time and taste each time and itll become obvious. You may also decide you like the taste at a different proof along the way. Such is our journey...
Jbt

jb-texshine wrote:The ice. It melts and slowly changes the proof, opening up the smell and taste. Nest time you proof from barrel strength to drinking proof try doing it 5% at a time and taste each time and itll become obvious. You may also decide you like the taste at a different proof along the way. Such is our journey...
Jbt

Good advice , that .

Amazing what a little water will do.

Truely.

That's a great idea, that 5% incremental tasting!

Learn to drink it neat, maybe a drop or so water. Ditch the ice.

BG

boda getta wrote: Ditch the ice.

I know it is an american habit, but ice really kills all the smell and taste!

IMHO either sip it neat, enjoying its smell profile and complexity of flavor, or mix it, and in that case use as much ice as you like

Or, get some of those "ice balls" you freeze and put into your glass. I got some for christmas...works great. Chills the spirit without diluting. Just wash them off and put back into the freezer and they'll refreeze.

The coctail set I got comes with a pair of flint glass glasses and an 8-pack of the freezer balls. Ho-Ho-Ho!
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