So by now, you all know that I love booze. I’ll really drink most liquor. I’ll draw the line at the flavored shit though.
My first love is bourbon. It was introduced to me during my days of bartending at of all places TGIFridays. So yeah, I went there. I got fired from my quirky, small town bar because the owner was a freaking coke-head maniac (he ended up firing me 5 times) and I needed work. Part of my flaired fueled conditional employment was having a liquor salesmen come in before our shifts and educate us on types of liquor so we could better sell their brands. So okay, I’ll sport Flair for a 10 am Bourbon tasting.
This particular sales person was a Makers Mark guy. (Mmmm Bacon and Bourbon) Tasted it, and loved it. Bourbon is complex like a fine wine. It’s stored in aged oak barrels which give its flavor. It’s made from a mash that mainly contains corn, wheat and rye. Kentucky whiskey is controversial though. I always learned that Bourbon strictly came from Bourbon County Kentucky, just like French Champagne. Apparently now, Bourbon can now just come from anywhere in Muricca. I have mixed feelings about this and have many arguments with many bartenders about this fact. We are a compromising lot it seems. Woo Hoo Muricca!
Corner Creek comes from Kentucky and is aged for eight years. It’s mellow and holds itself up against Makers Mark.
Fun fact. Bourbon is one of the top exports to Japan.
So, this past Father’s Day my step-son, an accomplished bartender, gifted my husband with a bottle of Bourbon called Corner Creek Reserve Bourbon Whiskey. First of all, love you Step-Son BCW, second of all, this particular bottle has proven to be, pretty damn good.
To start, Corner Creek is housed in a wine bottle, which proves to be quite unusual, yet…beguiling. Sip one, caramel and vanilla. Which is what you want in yummy Bourbon. Nose is fragrant. Not overly complex, yet for the price point of $25 I found it to be really quite good. Aficionados from other sites are a bit unimpressed, but Bourbon drinkers are snobs and aren’t very open minded. The finish does have issues, it doesn’t stay with you like good Bourbon usually does, but I’m telling you, I find that the first sip is a grand slam. You do taste how it’s been stored, which adds to your experience. This one is good for your Manhattans and Old Fashioneds.
I like it. Corner Creek is mellow and simple. Is this best one out there? No. But would I buy it again. Yes. Why? It’s enough of Bourbon without the price tag. Good Bourbons are ridiculously expensive. Corner Creek is good for the pocketbook yet isn’t too much of a light weight.
Crass Product Rating: B
Picture: Flickr
