Meeting Results – Battle of the Bourbons (Land vs. Sea) - July 1, 2023
The results of our tasting of two opposite kinds of Scotch whiskies.
The July meeting of the Proof & Bond Society featured two bourbon selections that boasted very different lifecycles. One, a standard barrel aged bourbon; the other, a bourbon sent on a sea voyage during aging. Below we have a summary of the results of those tastings and the cumulative average scores of all of our members.
Redemption Bourbon
Proof:
88 Proof | 44% ABV
Age:
>2 Years
Distillery:
MGP (Bottled in Bardstown)
presenter:
Brian J. Roan
Reception:
Our first drink for the evening was a land-based bourbon that presenter Brian J. Roan chose for its history with him. This was a go-to for him before he became a distiller, and the reaction to it bore out why that might be. There was a general agreement that this was an incredibly baseline bourbon. It was, according to a few of our members, a completely platonic idea of a bourbon. This made it not disagreeable, but also meant it didn’t make too much of a splash. Two drops of water diluted it enough to make it unpalatable, which means the present cut is pretty much perfect. With a soft spice and notes of corn and a pleasant bite but no lingering impression, this was deemed to be a perfect go-to for Coke or ginger ale.
Final Rating: 3.2
Proof:
90 Proof | 45% ABV
Age:
>2 years
Reception:
The quirk of being aged at sea is pretty much just that—a quirk. It’s a little anecdotal note that doesn’t really lead to too much of a difference in taste but does add a bit of value just in terms of storytelling. Our society enjoyed the toffee and caramel behind the corn and the longer linger on the flavor, but what we kept coming back to was the story. When we sit down with a drink with friends, we are looking to make a connection and share something meaningful. Being able to hold up a glass of bourbon and say “This traveled from Australia to Japan to…” has a value to it. This was an above-average rated bourbon that justifies it’s superior-level cost through its value as an artifact to gather around.
Final rating: 3.9
Next Meeting: August 5, 2023
Rum
Meeting Results – Local Favorites (Pennsylvania vs. New York) – June 3, 2023
The results of our tasting of two opposite kinds of Scotch whiskies.
The June meeting of the Proof & Bond Society focused on two disparate local favorites; one from Pennsylvania and one from New York. Below we have a summary of the results of those tastings and the cumulative average scores of all of our members.
3799 Bourbon
Proof:
90 Proof | 45% ABV
Age:
XX Years
Distillery:
presenter:
Gian Villamil
Reception:
First up was a Pennsylvania distillery sought out by one of our members. This bourbon whiskey was received warmly by our group, Most everyone mentioned the presence of the wood on the spirit, with a running theme among reactions being that the bourbon was dark and heavy. From the motor oil-like color (not a bad thing) to the overwhelming flavor of the oak, which sometimes manifested as burnt cookies and dark chocolate, the whiskey left quite an impression. One member mentioned that the bourbon would be better in a cocktail than alone, and for some price was a sticking point. This bourbon hit and lingered in a not-unpleasant way, but even with the addition of water the spirit never rose above just good in our Society’s estimation.
Final Rating: 3.375 / 3.5*
Proof:
92 Proof | 46% ABV
Age:
>3 years
This straight rye from New York sent the congregation into a bit of a tailspin. Finished in maple syrup barrels, Short Stack led to some unprecedented rapturous reviews. Described as fruity, nutty, and sweet with a grassy, pineapple scent, Short Stack left people just as speechless ebullient. “Wow,” “crazy,” and “absolutely insane” were just some of the exclamations people used while trying to wrap their minds around the rich, sweet flavor. That and “schizophrenic.” There was just something about the interplay between rye and maple syrup that sent people’s thoughts spinning. One attempt to describe the not-unpleasant flavor was “jazz/riot.” This was one of the most eagerly embraced and repeatedly-sampled spirits we’ve ever had, and since the tasting anyone who has just joined or missed this session has been eagerly impressed upon to try this spirit to catch up. On stray low grade, however, from someone not on its vibe, kept this one just short of 4 ponits.
Final rating: 3.875
Next Meeting: July 1, 2023
Land vs. Sea
Meeting Results – Scotch (Highland v. Islay) – May 6, 2023
The results of our tasting of two opposite kinds of Scotch whiskies.
The May meeting of the Proof & Bond Society focused on Scotch whisky two ways; the Highland variety from the north, and the Islay variety to the south. Below we have a summary of the results of those tastings and the cumulative average scores of all of our members.
Old Pulteney 15 Years Old Single Malt Scotch
Proof:
92 Proof | 46% ABV
Age:
15 Years
Distillery:
presenter:
Stephen Robie
Reception:
We begin our tour of Scotch whiskies up north, where Old Pulteney claims the sea air imbues their light, drinkable whisky with a pleasant salinity. Some of the Society noted this saltiness, though it wasn’t clear if it was influenced by the marketing copy or not. The general consensus was that this Scotch was a honey-colored breeze to drink. Whatever peat and smoke was present was light and manageable, though the spirit opened with an unexpected pop of intense flavor. Everyone identified notes of pepper, and some noted clove and earth. Everyone also noted the punch up front; this disappeared with a few drops of water, though was almost uniformly missed. The finish of the spirit got very little spotlight, as it seemed to taper quickly. Old Pulteney was pegged, not dismissively, as a good beginner’s Scotch, and kind introduction to the qualities that make a Scotch a Scotch without being loud enough to scare people off.
Final Rating: 3.7
Proof:
43 Proof | 86% ABV
Age:
10 years
Distillery:
Presenter:
Patrick Burke
Reception:
To the south—way, way to the south—we find Laphroaig. Distilled on the island of Islay, this spirit was a whole different kind of monster. If you were in the room, you could tell this one was going to be divisive just from the sounds of groaning and the light mutterings of “oh, God…” and “oh crap” coming from people before they even tasted it. These noises only increased as Society members took their first sips. This spirit brought with it some vivid imagery from the group, including all manner of decaying cabins with dim root cellars, childhood memories of horse stables, bourbon and benedictine, and the flavor one gets in one’s mouth when they’re administered a drug via IV. It was unpredictable which of these metaphors would be deployed favorably or not. People identified notes of peat, smoke, pepper, and cherry. Also wood cleaner, ashtrays, and dirt. When tried with water, the spirit became more drinkable, but there was no consensus on whether it became better. No one could deny that the spirit made an impression, and this bottle garnered the lowest individual score in Society history (1.5) with all scores split from 2.5 down and 4 up—no moderate reactions here. Laphroaig was hated by some and loved by others, but it also created one of the most impassioned and energized roundtables we’ve had.
Final Rating: 2.9
Both scores increased for one participant with the addition of a few drops of water, but not enough to impact the rounded score.
Next Meeting: June 3, 2023
Pennsylvania vs. new York
Meeting Results – Personal Favorites – April 1, 2023
The results of our tasting of Garrison Brothers Small Batch Straight Texas Bourbon and Sagamore Spirits Manhattan Finished Rye.
The April meeting of the Proof & Bond Society focused on the hard-to-find favorites of two of our members. Below we have a summary of the results of those tastings and the cumulative average scores of all of our members.
Garrison Brothers Small Bath Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof:
94 Proof | 47% ABV
Age:
3 Years
Distillery:
presenter:
Seth Pearson
Reception:
This white corn whiskey is sweet and strong, coming on strong on the tongue and continuing down into the belly, which it warms ably. The sweetness and the strength drew comparisons to sour gummy candies and caramel. Some people tried to add a few drops of water, but those that did found that the flavor was no aided by the dilution. Indeed most people said that they wouldn’t even want this spirit in a cocktail. The general agreement was that the cut on this spirit was immaculate and that the flavor was complex enough to stand up to neat drinking.
Final Rating: 4
Proof:
103 Proof | 51.5% ABV
Age:
4 years
Distillery:
Presenter:
Stephan Robinson
Reception:
This spirit was the exact opposite of the Garrison Brothers above. Whereas that bottle was a simple straight bourbon from a single barrel, this bad boy uses four barrels. The whiskey is aged first in a charred oak barrel, then finished in vermouth, bitters, and cherry brandy barrels so that the final product has the flavor, or at the least the essence, of a manhattan cocktail. What surprised us was how well the experiment worked. There were some mild comparisons to cough syrup and the taste of cherry was sometimes slightly overwhelming, but with a few drops of water these complaints disappeared. The overall flavor was much more nuanced and subtle that anticipated, and this bottle actually made an excellent compliment to the night’s other offering.
Final Rating: 3.8/4*
*Two members’ ratings went up with the addition of two drops of water.
Meeting Results – Irish Whiskies – March 4, 2023
The results of our tasting of Green Spot and Glendalough.
The inaugural meeting of the Proof & Bond Society focused on the founders’ go-to irish whiskies. Below we have a summary of the results of those tastings and the cumulative average scores of all of our members.
Green Spot
Proof:
40 Proof | 80% ABV
Age:
7–10 Years
Distillery:
presenter:
Arthur Shmidt
Reception:
Green Spot is a go-to, solid and dependable. Drinkable. The low marks from our members who scored it below a 4 came from its overall pleasantness—they found themselves wanting a bit more body and heat. This shouldn’t be an issue for longtime lovers of Irish whiskey who are comfortable with a character that is less bold than American whiskies. The lack of a tail on the spirit was spoken of both in positive and negative tones. While it wouldn’t be right to call the reception ‘divisive,’ it could be characterized as amiable but lacking enthusiasm. For lovers of Irish whiskey or someone looking for a good benchmark against which to weight others, Green Spot is well-worth checking out.
Final Rating: 3.7
Proof:
86 Proof | 43% ABV
Age:
3 years
Distillery:
Presenter:
Brian J. Roan
Reception:
The general consensus on this pot still Irish whiskey was that it brought more heat than anyone expected. Perhaps this is because of the use of freshly coopered and charred Irish oak barrels, which add to the maturation first achieved with the use of American ex-bourbon barrels. We found that this spirit hit harder and stuck around longer, bolder and more complex than the Green Spot. One member of the Society said that while “Green Spot was a party, Glendalough was a conversation.” Adding one or two drops of water to the glass of neat whiskey universally brought out more flavor and tempered the heat enough to bump up three of seven scores when it came time for review. This excellent whiskey was further buoyed by the excellent story and mythology behind the distillery, its surrounding area, and its mission. Many of our members said they would be seeking out this bottle for their liquor shelf and we would encourage you to do the same.
Final Rating: 4.2/4.4*
*Three members’ ratings went up with the addition of two drops of water.
[As a bonus, click below to read the Seamus Heaney poem, referenced by one member as we discussed the story of St. Kevin, whose image is featured on the label of Glendalough.]