A local group I’m part of is doing a Christmas Calendar of blind samples 2025 holidays. There are 13 samples with 13 guesses and 13 blind reviews. This is organized by friend Chris, thus the title. The bottles are supposed to be $80+. I’m usually fairly wrong on my guesses but it’s fun to try. I’ll be updating this as I go! Previous year’s events are here:
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry241206-234357
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry231203-180411
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry221204-210258
Name — Brief Notes — Guess: — Like/Dislike — Reveal:
- KK — Nutty, not very high proof. Rich in vanilla and oak tannins. Low proof helps here. Higher would be dangerously bitter. — Guess: Jack. Heritage Barrel of some sorts — Score: Yay — Reveal: Knob Creek 15 (2001), Batch 1, 50%
- V1 — Proofy… Sharp roasted nuts note, doesn’t overwhelm. Lots of wood. Lots of vanilla too. Quite sweet. Coats the palate and sticks around for a while. — Guess: Heaven Hill. Larceny BP or Wheated Grain-to-Glass — Score: Yay — Reveal: Russell’s Reserve QBB/NDA “Parabola” 2021, 55%
- JLazz — Full proof something. Lots of chili, cinnamon that linger around. Good dollop of wood as usual here. A bourbon I’m fairly sure. While still sweet, there’s a touch of a sour note in this for me, though it makes it more mouth-watering. — Guess: Old Forester SBBP — Score: — Reveal: Yay-
- IT — It’s Ian! This tastes… Rye-forward, though still I think it’s a bourbon… Or a very soft rye. Pine, eucalyptus, dill. Sweet notes stick around for quite a bit. Lots of wood, leaning bitter on repeated sips rather than sweet. Probably decent amount of time in cask or some sort of double-dip. — Guess: Heaven Hill ~15, the 8.5% malted barley mash. — Score: — Reveal: Yay-
- YN — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- JL — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- ML — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- KJF — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- KM — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- MBA — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- V2 — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- CB — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
- MH — — Guess: — Score: — Reveal:
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