The Minty’s Whiskey Week: Buffalo Trace, Elmer T. Lee, EH Taylor Four Grain, Blanton’s, Stagg Jr.

 

It’s going to be Whiskey Week on The Minty next week. Here’s a sneak peek into my whiskey-flavored life!

I was excited to check out the Buffalo Trace tasting with the Southern California Whiskey Club. The tasting was held in the private room at Yardbird, the Southern restaurant at the Beverly Center.

The Pour List:

• Buffalo Trace
• Elmer T Lee
• EH Taylor Four Grain “2018 Release”
• Blanton’s
• Stagg Jr.

 

 

I’ve loved Blanton’s since I first started drinking bourbon. I collect the horsie tops and am very close to completing a complete set spelling out B-L-A-N-T-O-N apostrophe S! I’m missing the N cap with the apostrophe and the S.

I could not really recall a time I’ve tried Stagg Jr. before. I know I’ve had EH Taylor but perhaps in a drink It was cool and fun to try these along with the Elmer T. Lee. I’ve been missing out by sticking only with Blanton’s and Buffalo Trace.

You may know bourbon is called bourbon when it is at least 51% corn– plus a few other rules that make it bourbon. It’s the same with rye. But have you ever wondered what the other 49% could be? They are other grains. The common ones are corn and wheat. So what’s the fourth grain in EH Taylor? Malted barley!

After learning it’s a very limited edition, now I wonder about the drink I had with EH Taylor. I’m drinking this neat (or with ice perhaps) in the future.

 

 

The club meeting started with a welcome cocktail that you got at the bar. This was a good way to get acquainted with the Yardbird space so you’re not just stuck in the private room. It’s a beautiful back bar with a couple of big screens ideal for watching games.

 

I’m also quite familiar with Buffalo Trace, my go-to every day mixing whiskey.

I am glad to have tried the white dog, aka the white whiskey before it goes into the barrel. White dog, white lightning and other names for new make, unaged whiskey have recently made a name for itself as we wait for the precious liquid to age. Some find this legal moonshine quite good. Others, will wait or pay a premium for older whiskey.

Personally I liked the Buffalo Trace one. True, I would not drink it all the time but I could see it working in a cocktail. How about a mint julep?

 

We tried a few small bites from Yardbird including deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes topped with pork belly.

 

 

As a special treat, we also tried the Buffalo Trace bourbon cream. Fans of Bailey’s will like a a nip of this in their coffee.

 

I had a great time and I’ll be on the look out for Elmer T. Lee, Stagg Jr and of course, the EH Taylor. And I hope someone does a genealogy chart of all the old bourbon families soon so these names are more than just names on pretty bourbon bottles.

 

Southern California Whiskey Club – join the club!

Buffalo Trace

Yardbird at the Beverly Center

 

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