Gary

During this holiday season, many will scramble to find the perfect gift for family, friends and loved ones – contemplating their likes and dislikes. Likes and dislikes can be funny things. They aren’t always absolute. Some stick with us our entire lives while others change. Within the whisk(e)y community, there has (and will continue to be) endless debate on this topic – how much a whisk(e)y changes over time versus our tastes or enjoyment of it.

A reader from my home state of Michigan, Scott Mac, shared a story with me after reading my review of Old Tub Bottled-in-Bond Unfiltered. His first taste from his bottle left him ‘underwhelmed’, reminding him of bottom shelf Beam with a peanut taste he didn’t care for. He left the bottle alone for a month or two, and upon revisiting it found he really enjoyed it. His son-in-law, who tried it when he opened the new bottle, concurred – and he recommended I let my bottle sit for a bit and to revisit later.

Scott’s experience reminded me of my first bottle of Booker’s, which I had bought in 2010. I didn’t care for it at all. It was painfully hot, and I couldn’t get past the burn. As it was the most expensive bottle of anything I’d ever bought at the time ($45 or $50), I wasn’t about to pour it out – so I pushed it to the back of my meager cabinet and forgot about it for a year, or maybe two. During that time, my cabinet grew from 5 or 6 bottles to probably two dozen, and my tastes had changed considerably. I had gotten past the high-proof wall, discovering such gems as George T Stagg and William Larue Weller. In rearranging my bottles, I noticed the Booker’s and pulled it out. It was a completely different bourbon from the one I spat out upon first trying. Suddenly the notes of rich caramel and chocolate I had read about were there – and it no longer reminded me of some gasoline cocktail.

I have no doubt in that case the change was with my palate – not the whisk(e)y. But at the end of the day – what difference does the ‘why’ make? The facts are that I had a bottle I didn’t care for, set it aside for some period of time, and upon revisiting – liked it much better! What more could you ask for (other than liking it that much out of the gate of course)?

Returning to Scott’s experience with Old Tub – do I expect that if I put that bottle away for a few months, I’ll like it a lot more than I did initially? Honestly – I have no idea. But I might – and that anticipation is a gift. For the next few months, when my eyes pass over that bottle, I’ll be reminded of the surprise and delight that Scott and his son-in-law experienced after giving it some time – and that will bring a smile to my face. And you know what – even if my palate or the bourbon doesn’t change one iota – the fact that I’m anticipating it might be better stands a good chance to leading to my enjoying it more!

And if I enjoy it more simply because of the anticipation – what difference does the ‘why’ make? After all – enjoying it is the name of the game.

If you have an open bottle that you didn’t care much for, do yourself a favor. Set it aside for a bit, and revisit it. Maybe you won’t like it anymore, and you won’t be out anything. Or maybe just the mere anticipation that you might like it better will make a difference. Either way, it’s a gift you can give yourself that doesn’t cost you a dime.

Cheers!

Gary