Before I started in on my winter drink, I decided to taste a number of different kinds of bourbon and scotch blends to see which would make a good base. I just have the basic idea of what I want to do right now; I need to get a base down, and then I can experiment.
Last night I tasted the Dewar’s 12 year old, Dewar’s White Label, and Knob Creek.
Knob Creek is WAY out. Yikes. I knew I didn’t like it but I’d forgotten how much I didn’t like it.
The Dewar’s wasn’t bad, but I decided if I went with a scotch blend, it’d probably be the Dimple.
So I think the winner will be Maker’s Mark. That’ll provide a darn good base, and also a good starting point for people to try different bourbons in the drink.
I’ll have to pick up a bottle, but then it’ll be figuring out what else needs to go in the drink, and what form the vanilla aspect will take.
It’s hard to go wrong with Makers. It’s just the best quality at the price, and never fails to deliver. Of the “regular” (i.e., can drink for a reasonable fee) bourbous, it is by far my favorite.