Hey hey hey friends and viewers and everyone else in between. It’s been quite a while since my last upload - two months as a matter of fact! I had a few plans to upload for Christmas, but I really embraced the relaxed extended vacation lifestyle instead, going on hikes and getting some good family time instead. But all breaks must end, as there is work left to do - when it comes to whiskey thoughts, that work is never done. And so I present to you all, the first Whiskey Wednesday of the Decade!
Bird Dog Small Batch Kentucky Whiskey
Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
~21.99
43% / 86 Proof
Nose - Banana bread and charred oak, with notes of mixed maple & cane sugar, vanilla and toffee, subtle hints of orange citrus.
Palette - Punchy and sharp up front that mellows quickly to a spiced blend of golden raisins, pears, brown sugar and cinnamon on the fade.
Finish - A sticky warmth that tickles and bites, lingers surprisingly long. Warm to the core and deeper still, with cinnamon and gingerbread.
Thoughts - The Bird Dog was something I’ve slapped with a “For Sale” sign for quite a long time at the liquor store, and I finally decided to pull the trigger on the bottle the month of its discontinuation in Utah. It seems to have been replaced by Angels Envy (something I’m quite happy with, to be honest) but I’d hate for that to come as something that’s required. For the very modest price I paid for the Bird Dog Small Batch, I think it’s quite fair, especially for a distillery that seems to be most well known for producing what I consider the trashiest of whiskeys: those of the “flavored” variety.
Now I know, I’m coming off a bit condescending with my whiskey snob nose high up in the air with a statement like that, but I just want you to know that if YOU like your flavored whiskeys, more power to ya. I probably would partake more often if they weren't strictly forbidden for my dietary requirements! But let’s get back to the bottle in the spotlight here. The Small Batch, affectionately called the Coonhound based on the ol’ pupper on the label, delivers a modest flavor profile for a very modest price. If I were to be honest, I could see the distribution charging around $35 for a bottle like this, which wouldn’t be quite worth it in my opinion, but where it is now, I think you get quite the bang for your buck. It’s not going to shatter any expectations or change your mind on anything, but it is a cheeky drink that’s enjoyable and sweet. I would say, if you can find a bottle for $20-30, go ahead and pick it up if you’re just looking to expand your whiskey collection, adding a unique bottle to your collection instead of yet another bottle of Turkey 101.
(That’s a joke on my cabinet, folks)
A bit about the backdrop choice - Obviously fitting for a hunting dog’s bourbon, this actually my first ever set of camouflage, as I prepare to make 2020 my first year of hunting. It’s something I have been learning and training for almost 5 years now, starting with becoming more physically active and working up to learning about my local species, finally finishing my Hunters Education program, and making the big save to invest in proper equipment. I put in for limited entry Turkey tags - of course, not picking one up as it’s my first year of points - and even though I didn’t draw for the limited entry, I’m excited to get started in the general season. In the meantime, I’ll be looking to collect sheds, learn more, and go out on small game hunts. This whole journey is quite truly the beginning of a new chapter of my life, and it’s been extremely challenging since I have nobody in my family to mentor me into the lifestyle; But I am determined to find success in the field, and create a closer bond not just to nature, but to myself, my food, and my humanity.
I hope to be quite a successful hunter and photographer in 10 years, both of those things I would have cringed to hear just 10 years ago. Who knows what will pan out in that time frame, but I hope you all join me along the way, and to those who are very close to me, my best of friends and family, I’m eager to share my bounty as I return off the mountain. Cheers to the new decade, and truly, to a “new” Me.