Messing with cheap bourbon

[DJSkopes]

I bought a bottle of Rebel Yell just to give it a taste. It was $20 so what's the worst that could happen? I tried it and wasn't impressed. It had and strong taste of alcohol and not much body or character to it. So I had an idea. I got some bourbon barrel chips, lit the ends on fire to char them a little, extinguished them and dropped them into the bottle just to see what would happen. Bam! The smoke and wood sitting in there for just a week gave the bourbon more color, sweetness and body. Has anyone else ever tried this?

 

[mwlabel]

Can't say I have. Would consider trying it with something uber cheap, but probably not something I'll remember.

There's plenty of good bourbons available in the 20s and 30s, so I let the experts handle my libations.

 

[javelin377]

Not me might have been known to char oak strips and put them in jars of corn liquor.

 

[sofc]

Don't drink much but pretty sure you can get decent to very good bourbon for $20 -$35.

 

[herfdog]

That looks like a dragon embryo in formaldéhyde.

 

[sofc]

There is a kickstarter that is selling wood to "age" scotch. Kinda like what you did.

 

[DJSkopes]

Don't drink much but pretty sure you can get decent to very good bourbon for $20 -$35.

You can get great bourbon for less than $40 but hey, I wanted to see what could be done with mediocre bourbon and $5 worth of wood.

 

[DJSkopes]

That looks like a dragon embryo in formaldéhyde.

And now, my experiment has a name.

 

[Ga Gator]

I find many bourbon get better after opening and being exposed to air. The level of the liquor drops below the neck and the surface area exposed to air is exponentially increased. I find many times the flavors become more rich and sharper / crisper.

If you open a decent bottle, try it, let it sit and try it the next week and see if it doesn't get better.

 

[javajunkie]

I find many bourbon get better after opening and being exposed to air. The level of the liquor drops below the neck and the surface area exposed to air is exponentially increased. I find many times the flavors become more rich and sharper / crisper.

If you open a decent bottle, try it, let it sit and try it the next week and see if it doesn't get better.

actually, in a similar vein, i have had the conversation a couple few times about using a wine aerator on bourbon pours. don't think it would change a "meh" bourbon into a "wow" bourbon, but it may add the spark of liveliness you need...

 

[DJSkopes]

actually, in a similar vein, i have had the conversation a couple few times about using a wine aerator on bourbon pours. don't think it would change a "meh" bourbon into a "wow" bourbon, but it may add the spark of liveliness you need...

Interesting. I have some other bourbons that I've noticed do change a few days after first being opened. I'm going to try it with a few!

 

[javajunkie]

dude, PLEASE do, and let us know! there has been idle chatter, but nothing in the way of actual side by side comparison yet. of course, you will be swilling good whiskey for science, so there's that...

 

[rdomfoto]

That's funny - I was thinking about doing that earlier today. Not necessarily to improve a cheap bourbon but to add a higher level of smokiness for cooking and cocktail recipes.

I infuse a lot of alcohols as part of my cooking obsessions and I am going to get a whipping siphon to do rapid infusions and smoked bourbons is one of the first I want to try.

 

[rdomfoto]

actually, in a similar vein, i have had the conversation a couple few times about using a wine aerator on bourbon pours. don't think it would change a "meh" bourbon into a "wow" bourbon, but it may add the spark of liveliness you need...

Adding air to any alcohol should open up its flavors. Of course, on a cheap or nasty bourbon, you may not like the flavors it opens up but, hell, you won't know until you try

 

[Rexinator989]

Cheap bourbon I recommend would be Benchmark if you can find. Comes in the 1.75ml size and is made by Buffalo Trace. I love it, and use it for parties and large mixed drink qties.

 

[8ball]

I have a friend that mentioned something about this. I think he bought stuff specifically marketed to do this. I'll have to check. I can't always afford to buy woodford, so I usually drink Evan Williams green for my cheapo. Honestly, I don't think it's that bad straight. Kentucky gentleman on the other yeah, yeesh!

 

[Jfire]

Cheap bourbon I recommend would be Benchmark if you can find. Comes in the 1.75ml size and is made by Buffalo Trace. I love it, and use it for parties and large mixed drink qties.

Thanks for recommendation. Love BT so I'll try it once!

 

[Sigaar]

I've never tried that. I'm more of a Scotch guy, than Bourbon, but I picked up a bottle of Elijah Craig 12 year for like $25-26. I thought that was pretty reasonable, and am enjoying it.