Cedar Rapids Beer Nuts

tompb · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 16777215 Location: CR IA

It looks like Benz has some tastings coming up this month. If you haven't been to one of their booze events it's not very crowded with at least one stellar selection.

JimPotts · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:18 pm Post subject:

I plan on going. I agree with Tom, the booze tastings are usually nowhere near as crowded as the beer ones.

-Jim

tony b · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 372 Location: CR, IA

Nice turnout. Not too big, but enough for Benz to cover costs (a bit more on that in a moment).

Table 1 had a nice side-by-side tasting of a number of Bushmills - Regular, Black, 10yr, 16yr. and a blend called 1608. The blend was unique/decidedly different from the others. Not bad, just wasn't to my taste. As expected, the 16yr was the best (IMO), as it was the smoothest, with nice balance between the maltiness and the wood-imparted flavors. A bit pricey @ $85, but not totally out of reach.

Table 2 had a "snack pack" of whisky's: from a cheap one, Michael Collins ($25), up to a very pricey one, Mittleton ($165). Needless to say that they were worlds apart and lived up to the old saying "you get what you pay for." There was a single malt (Redbreast) in the mix, which was mid-priced and rather nice. Didn't have the complexity of the others, but that's what you get with singles. Pottsie/Tom, help me out with that last one, as I can't recall its name?? Obviously it didn't leave a strong impression one way or the other - clearly forgetable, especially compared to the Mittleton.

Clearheart was there pouring their yet-to-be-released Bourbon (due out this Summer). Unfortunately, there was only one bottle and it went FAST. Didn't get any.

Finishing the teaser from the top of this post; I have to say "Hats Off" to Benz for opening that second bottle of Mittleton. The first bottle went quickly before everyone even got a shot at it. So, the owners discussed it briefly and opened another bottle. Class Act in my opinion, given that it probably took 7 people through the door just to cover their cost for one bottle. Wink

JimPotts

The other whiskey at table 2 was Jameson Gold, which was a decent quality if not-super-memorable whiskey. Nice and smooth, but I think a little overpriced at $63. More like a decent $40 whiskey.

-Jim

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 1:44 PM, tony b <brew-events@crbeernuts.org (brew-events@crbeernuts.org)> wrote: