Ok so maybe the picture doesn't say it all. At least this year was pleasant weather and nobody was pouring out Caol Ila in the garbage cans. Todd and I tasted food and whiskies and enjoyed ourselves once again. We were sad that Dick and Marti from Palm Ridge Reserve were not there in person. In spirit (get it?) they were and sampling of the Rye was done. 
     We also tasted some other things:

     *Michter's Toasted Barrel  45.7% ABV
     -smelled BOURBON! oak and vanilla
     -tasted sweet oak (almost mint)
     -quickly fades to charred oak bitter
     -with water smelled oak
     -tasted like a cross between oak and wet paper
     -finished bitter oak
     Water did not make much of a difference. Definitely for mixing.

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*Koval Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey  47% ABV
     -smelled very light oak
     -tasted cereal grain pepper
     -with water smelled like Corn Pops
     -tasted sweeter oak
     -finished sour oak bitter
     Wouldn't say that water ruins this. 

* Breuckelen 77 Local Rye and Corn Whiskey   45% ABV
     -smelled like licorice and cherry candy
     -tasted sweet cereal grain
     -with water smelled oak and rye
     -tasted rye, bitter wood
     -finished oak
​     The taste definitely did not match up to the smell. 
    

*Balnton's Single Barrel Bourbon 46.5% ABV
     -smelled rye and corn
     -tasted peppery oak
     -with water smelled sweet oak
     -tasted sour oak, not bitter
     -trailed sweet
     Pretty easy drinking whiskey.
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*Jura Diurach's Own 16yr.  40% ABV
     -smelled sweet sherry Oloroso
     -hints of salty and cinnamon bun
     -with water tasted peppery oak
     -trailed oak
     This one was definitely better without water. 

*Tullamore Dew Phoenix  55% ABV
     -smelled cinnamon sweet desert
     -tasted extremely bitter oak, pepper
     -with water got even more bitter
     -tasted oak with a faint sweetness at the end
     Not good with water. Not very smooth without. 

*Wathen's Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon 47% ABV
     -smelled sweet oak bourbon
     -tasted peppery oak
     -with water smelled floral
     -tasted oaky floral
     -trailed sweet oak
​     Finished unexpectedly for me. I would not go out of my way to find this though. 

Ready for the next one!

     The theme for the evening was whisky aged in only bourbon barrels. Todd had to do some searching apparently. It is getting harder to find something that is not also put into a sherry or wine or rum or a different type of wood. 

*Lord Lieutenant Kinahan's Single Malt Irsish Whiskey 10 yr.46% ABV
     -smelled light and floral with vanilla
     -tasted oak
     -with water smelled light floral (a little soapy)
     -tasted slight oak, bitter
     -trailed bitter oak that lingered
     Not bad for Irish. Not as light as I would have guessed.


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*Auchentoshan American Oak    40% ABV   No Age Statement   Triple Distilled
     -smelled sweet oaky floral
     -tasted thick raisin bread
      -trailed bitter oak
     -with water smelled of polished wood
     -tasted oak bitter
     -trailed quickly!
     Water ruined this!

*The Ben Riach Heart of Speyside Single Malt  40% ABV   No Age Statement
     -smelled very sweet floral, almost grapes
     -similar to a corn whiskey smell at first
     -tasted sweet cereal and grape juice
     -trailed sweet oak
     -with water smelled very sweet cereal grain
     -trailed quickly
     Needed just a little water to open this up.

*Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14yr  43% ABV
     -smelled sweet cake with vanilla
     -tasted sweet oak with a touch of cinnamon
     -trailed quickly oak
     -with water smelled light wood, very floral
     -tasted very light oak with pepper
     -trailed very slowly sweet
     Definitely designed for ice. Sweet at first. Touch of oak. Trailed very slowly sweet vanilla.