Spirits Blind Tasting - A Spirits People Podcast

1.10 - FEW Cask Strength Bourbon (BBS Pick) & Jack Daniel's Barrel Strength

August 14, 2019 Johnny Michaelsen Season 1
Spirits Blind Tasting - A Spirits People Podcast
1.10 - FEW Cask Strength Bourbon (BBS Pick) & Jack Daniel's Barrel Strength
Show Notes Chapter Markers

In this episode of the Spirits Blind Tasting podcast I'm doing a blind tasting of the FEW Cask Strength Bourbon picked by the British Bourbon Society and Jack Daniels Barrel Strength. Feel free to follow along with a dram of any of these or any other spirit you enjoy as I try to uncover the aromas and flavors of these 2 spirits.

If you're interested in behind the scenes video recordings from this episode, please join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/spiritspeople

My tasting notes from this episode can also be found below:

Spirit A - FEW Cask Strength Bourbon (BBS Pick) (64.38% ABV)

Appearance

  • Clarity: Clear
  • Intensity: Medium
  • Color: Amber
  • Suggested texture: Medium oily

Nose

  • Condition: Clean
  • Intensity: Medium
  • Aroma characteristics: Caramel, cinnamon, all spice, vanilla, rye bread, floral notes, dried orange peel, ripe banana, some oak, and nail varnish. Minty/menthol undertones.
  • Other notes: ABV comes out of the glass quite sharp. There’s oak but not a lot of char would suggest a younger maturation. Smells like a classic bourbon.
  • ABV: ~50%

Palate

  • Sweetness: Dry
  • Texture: Warming, silky, medium viscosity
  • Intensity: Medium > pronounced
  • Flavor characteristics: Caramel, oak, burnt toast, ripe bananas, dried orange peel, black peppercorn
  • Other notes: Quite bitter on the palate at first, some caramel sweetness follows
  • Finish: Long with some complexity (caramel, burnt toast)
  • ABV: 50-55%

Conclusion

  • Quality level: Very good
  • Blind guess: Larger producer Bourbon 6-8 years, not cask finished


Spirit B - Jack Daniel's Barrel Strength (64.5% ABV)

Appearance

  • Clarity: Clear
  • Intensity: Medium
  • Color: Amber
  • Suggested texture: Light > medium oily

Nose

  • Condition: Clean
  • Intensity: Medium
  • Aroma characteristics: Quiet nose, dry leather, all spice, peppercorn, nutmeg, dried hazelnuts, burnt sugar, dried orange peel
  • Other notes: Subdued aromas are all wrapped in an earthy sensation. Bourbon nose, but something else. Perhaps a vintage bottle.
  • ABV: <50%

Palate

  • Sweetness: Dry
  • Texture: Dry, mouth filling, light viscosity
  • Intensity: Pronounced
  • Flavor characteristics: burnt toast, burnt sugar, black peppercorn, leather, cigar box, dried orange peel
  • Other notes: Very mouth filling and yet feels much lighter in texture
  • Finish: Long with some complexity (char, black peppercorn, leather)
  • ABV: ~50%

Conclusion

  • Quality level: Very good
  • Blind guess: Large producer (perhaps vintage) Bourbon 6-8 years, not cask finished


If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me at any time on Instagram @spiritspeople

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