Bourbon Review: Maple Black

Gold in color, with a heady bourbon nose and hints of sweetness that open up with time. This bourbon features a prominent clean feel with plenty of softness and vanilla for those seeking something above average. A medium finish completes the effect of this slow sipping bourbon.

$36 at Cask and a good addition to any introductory bourbon drinker’s collection.

This week’s list of things I’ve tried

Nothing spectacular so far this week but I have had a few interesting morsels of goodness come my way in the form of wine, hard liquor and cigars!

Elmer T Lee bourbon – This offering from Ancient Ange Distilling Co. in Kentucky has a nice caramel with a smooth taste. It’s high rye blend with some mild vanilla sweetness in the mouth. Had a long finish that paired well with my cigar. Golden color with a reddish tint. Inexpensive bourbon (about $24 for 750ml from )

Kim Crawford 2008 Marlborough Pinot Noir – A very light bodied australian pinot noir with bright cherry and soft mouthfeel that delivers plenty of acidity and a light to medium finish. Bright red with purple color in the glass. Tasted at Occidental Cigar Bar in San Francisco. $12 a glass there, $16.00 a bottle at The Wine Outlet

Arturo Fuente Rosado R54 – 6 1/4 X 54 smoke that I enjoyed over two hours at Grants. I had to pick up two more to lay down as the box disappeared almost as soon as Thomas opened it. For a little more than $11 a stick in the B/M shop, this is a cigar with medium flavors of sweetness due to the 10 year old aged Ecuadorian wrapper and blended with a Domiinican filler that is allowed to age for another year. Creamy, pleasant, with an easy draw and perfect construction.

That’s been what I’ve had for the week that held my interest. Look out for a wine review of the 2004 Legends Merlot from Larry Bird and legendary napa valley producer Mitch Cosetino, the ’04 Cabernet Sauvignon from the same, and a review of an impressive spirit called Dimmi Liquor Di Milano!

Bourbon Review: Four Roses

Four Roses Website

This bourbon was a gift from the girlfriend on Thanksgiving. While I’m normally  a scotch drinker, I began drinking bourbon some seven or eight years ago as my sister is a Maker’s Mark girl.  She likes it neat

When I discovered cigars, I found some paired really well with bourbon and not so well with the particular scotches I could afford so when I told my girlfriend I’d smoked the La Riqueza by Tatuaje and that Thomas at Grants had suggested enjoying bourbon with it, I guess she got a hint

The bourbon is very smooth and contains that little hint of sweetness on the back of the palate while displaying fruit and floral notes in the front of the mouth.  It has the characteristic smoothness one would enjoy from a good bourbon all while being light bodied.  I’m thinking it’ll pair well with my la riqueze or the Torano signature I just had and will leave notes for that when I can.

This is definitely a sipper to be enjoyed over time.

From the website:

In 1884, Paul Jones Jr., moved his thriving business to Louisville, Kentucky, where he opened an office in a section of historic Main Street called, “Whiskey Row.” Four years later, he trademarked the name Four Roses, claiming production and sales back to the 1860s. In 1922, the Paul Jones Company purchased the Frankfort Distilling Company, one of only six distilleries granted permission to operate through prohibition to produce Bourbon for medicinal purposes. Owing to Paul’s passionate direction and astute business sense, sales of the Bourbon flourished and Four Roses grew to be a preeminent brand.

In 1943, Seagram purchased the Frankfort Distilling Co. primarily to acquire the most noted and recognized name in the business at that time – Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Even though Four Roses was the top selling Bourbon in the U.S. in the 30s, 40s and 50s, Seagram made the decision to discontinue the sale of Kentucky Straight Bourbon here, and Four Roses was moved to the rapidly growing European and Asian markets where it quickly became the top selling Bourbon.

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The website describes the bourbon as mellow and I’d definitely agree.  I had my flask filled with Wild Turkey earlier this week and that has more aggressiveness to it,  possibly due to the slightly higher alcohol content.  Also, Four Roses is not as aggressive and lacks the  oaky characteristics that Makers has, but agan, all bourbons are different.  Four Roses uses new white oak barrels to distill with so you’re not going to get a lot of oakyness in this bourbon IMHO.

But this is definitely an upgrade if you’re used to drinking Jim Beam or Jim Beam Black.