Another Blind Tasting (Part 2) - Smooth Ambler Low Ryes & Buffalo Trace Experimental Wheated

RecapI enjoy doing blind tastings, as you can see HERE, HERE and HERE.  The first link and most recent blind tasting relates to a spontaneous blind tasting of low rye private selection Smooth Ambler Old Scout samples and two of the Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection 12 year wheated trio.  Again, thanks Steve (aka @jesteva62755).As you can see from the picture above, I knew ahead of time that the five bourbons were, in no particular order:

• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 11 Year Old – Astor’s Single Barrel #812 (112.6 proof);
• Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection – 12 Year Old Wheated Bourbon from Floor #9 (90.0 proof);
• Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection – 12 Year Old Wheated Bourbon from Floor #1 (90.0 proof);
• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old – Dry85 Single Barrel #1829 (97.4 proof); and
• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old – Binny’s Single Barrel #1688 (108.0 proof).

In Part 1, I gave my background and methodology for this tasting as well as my notes and guesses for each of the five samples.  In this Part 2, I will reveal the results and briefly discuss the second part of the blind tasting where I tried to guess the same samples based on memory after my wife randomized the samples from Samples A-E into Samples 1-5.  I will close with a few thoughts and lessons learned.Part 1 RevealSample AGuess:  Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old – Binny’s Single Barrel #1688 (108.0 proof)Result:  Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old – Binny’s Single Barrel #1688 (108.0 proof)Sample BGuess:  Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection – 12 Year Old Wheated Bourbon from Floor #1 (90.0 proof)Result:  Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection – 12 Year Old Wheated Bourbon from Floor #9 (90.0 proof)Sample CGuess:  Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old – Dry85 Single Barrel #1829 (97.4 proof)Result:  Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old – Dry85 Single Barrel #1829 (97.4 proof)Sample DGuess:  Smooth Ambler Old Scout 11 Year Old – Astor’s Single Barrel #812 (112.6 proof)Result:  Smooth Ambler Old Scout 11 Year Old – Astor’s Single Barrel #812 (112.6 proof)Sample EGuess:  Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection – 12 Year Old Wheated Bourbon from Floor #9 (90.0 proof)Result:  Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection – 12 Year Old Wheated Bourbon from Floor #1 (90.0 proof)Obviously, I did not get 100% right.  But, I do note that I was able in Part 1 to correctly identify the low rye pours versus the wheated pours.  I was also able to discern the proof between Samples A and D against Sample C.  My guesses on Samples A and D were simply a coin-toss.  After Part 1, I would have ranked the pours something like A > D >> C >> E > B.  I would buy a case of the Binny's #1688 if I found it in the wild.  ISO!Part 2 RevealIn Part 2, my wife took Samples A-E and poured the last half of each sample into five new glencairns labeled Samples 1-5.  She randomized the samples so that Sample A was not necessarily Sample 1 during Part 2.  Part 2 took place about 24 hours after Part 1.  I decided that the easiest thing would be to pick out the wheated samples from smell alone and to concentrate on those two to decide which might be Floor 1 or Floor 9.  After that, I looked primarily to the color and nose to pinpoint Sample A, and I was left with Samples C and D.  Sample C during Part 1 had a peculiar taste that I did not get in Part 2.  Both Samples C and D improved over the course of the day so my guesses on Samples C and D were almost a coin-toss like with Samples A and D in Part 1, but I was more confident this time around between Samples C and D than I was with Samples A and D in Part 1.Sample 1Guess:  Sample A ("definitely Sample A")Reveal:  Sample ASample 2Guess:  Sample CReveal:  Sample CSample 3Guess:  Sample B ("definitely BTEC")Reveal:  Sample ESample 4Guess:  Sample DReveal:  Sample DSample 5Guess:  Sample E ("definitely BTEC")Reveal:  Sample BTherefore, as I did in Part 1, I correctly guessed 3 of the 5, with the two incorrect guesses related to the wheated bourbons.Takeaways from this Blind Challenge

1. Steve is a great, generous bourbon brother.  This tasting was not the first time that he hit me with a bourbon bomb.  He has store credit with me.  Bourbon friends are good friends.
2. I need a bottle of Binny's #1688.  This bottle could easily best any of the four batches of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof that I have tried.  This one has a lot in common with great Willett Family Estate bottles in the 10-14 year range or with 2013 or 2015 George T. Stagg cut with water (this may be better than I remember 2014 George T. Stagg).  I think this bottle goes to show that MGP can put out a bourbon that would be worthy of many Top 10 lists out there.  I stick by my 8.5 to 9.0 range on this bottle--it is at least 8.5, likely 8.75 with a theoretical vacuum limit of 9.25.  This one pushed all the right buttons, and I will definitely keep its profile in mind should the Crusaders ever venture to West Virginia.
3. I prefer at least 100 proof and some rye in bourbon.  I am biased toward big, bold, spicy, rich, dessert-like bourbons at the moment.
4. In line with #3, I think it might be easier than one thinks to differentiate no-rye vs. low-rye.  Of no-rye, low-rye, high-rye, rye, wheat, or scotch whiskies, I think the hardest distinction is between low-rye vs. high-rye.
5. I was shocked to find more oak and wood spice notes in Floor 1 over Floor 9 both days when 7 months ago I correctly found more oak and wood spice in Floor 9 over Floor 5 and then over Floor 1--twice!
6. If I tried this challenge again in a week, I think I would correctly find the Binny's #1688 (even without looking at the color) and know which two are the wheated bourbons.  I think it would be a coin-toss on the Astor's #812 and Dry85 #1829.  Ultimately, averaging both days, I would rank these as Binny's >> Astor's > Dry85 >> Floor 1 > Floor 9.

Till next time, I will just finish this glass of VOB100 6YO and Ginger Beer.