As you’ve likely come to expect month to month now, here is the anticipated notes from the tasting event hosted by Ian of PDX Whisky fame.

This month was a bit unusual for us, as it was a bourbon, not scotch whisky, centric tasting. Additionally different was that Ted of Big Bottom Whiskey fame was also on hand to lead us through a tasting of his line of bourbons. As always, neither Ian nor Ted disappointed at the event. This go around we tasted five different expressions, with an added 6th ‘from the barrel’ brought by Ted. Following are my notes on each:

Big Bottom American Straight Bourbon, Batch #5 (3yr)

• Nose: Some mild Rye and surprising hint of iodine/bactine followed by honey.
• Flavour: Heavy honey into bubble gum on the front, followed by rye spice and into light toast
• Finish: Nice balance of spice and toast, then followed by a rich honey sweetness at the end.
• Viscosity: 3
• Boldness: 4
• Length of Story: 2
• Personal Taste: A

Big Bottom Port Cask Finish Straight Bourbon, Batch #2b (3yr)

• Nose: Hot and heavy on the port followed by a hint of honey.
• Flavour: Tannins hit immediately, then into the deep port from the nose, followed by mild but balanced rye spice.
• Finish: The spice moves back into the port, which fades into oak tannins again, an hour glass effect of flavour.
• Viscosity: 4
• Boldness: 4
• Length of Story: 3
• Personal Taste: A

Elmer T. Lee, Macadam Bourbon Bunch, Single Barrel (NAS)

• Nose: Strawberry and bubble gum followed by mild rye.
• Flavour: Oak and light toast, none of the sweetness implied by the nose.
• Finish: Light and watery with heavy tannins.
• Viscosity: 2
• Boldness: 2
• Length of Story: 2
• Personal Taste: C-

Van Winkle Special Reserve, Lot B (12yr)

• Nose: Char and honey sweetness, again the rye spice at the back.
• Flavour: Wet hay and char, fades in to a rich chocolate
• Finish: Heat, then nothingness. It slowly vanishes then returns a bit later with a surprise bitterness to the end.
• Viscosity: 4
• Boldness: 3
• Length of Story: 4
• Personal Taste: B+

Jefferson’s Presidential Select (18yr)

• Nose: Vegetation, a slightly ‘green’ odor, followed by toast.
• Flavour: Sweetness of light honey, followed by tannins as expected from an 18 year
• Finish: A bitter back to the finish (akin to an underaged white dog bourbon like I tasted from my home aging kit at the 2 week mark.)
• Viscosity: 4
• Boldness: 4
• Length of Story: 2
• Personal Taste: C-

“Barrel tasting”of Big Bottom Port Cask Finish Straight Bourbon, Batch #3 (3yr, cask strength at 115 proof)

• Nose: Sweetness of port and richness of fig.
• Flavour: Hot and rich caramel, big flavour and a huge mouthfeel.
• Finish: Char followed by chocolate into fudge.
• Viscosity: 5
• Boldness: 5
• Length of Story: 4
• Personal Taste: A+

Clearly from above (and not so clearly from my lack of description of the rest of the group’s feelings) the big winner of the night was Big Bottom Whiskey. You may think I expected this to be the case, given how much I enjoy Ted’s product, but given it was tasted along side of two twelve year olds and an 18 year old bourbon, this was clearly an upset in the making! The group as a whole, and the majority of individuals all agreed that Big Bottom Whiskey was clearly the dram we’d all buy and stock on our shelves, while the other bourbons ran the gamut from “I might buy it” to “Nope never paying money for that one”.

As always, a fun and enlightening night was had. Anyone within the Portland area should really “Like” the PDX Whisky Facebook page and join us in January when the next event is scheduled and posted! Y’all are missing a great time!