Kentucky Bourbon

ashmanra’s monthly sipdown challenge
March 2023- International Irish Whiskey Day
Not whiskey but bourbon. Not my favorite bourbon tea but not bad. I do not like it straight black. It tastes so much better with black walnut bourbon sugar and creamer. The flavor is strong so the creamer makes it better. I don’t like this tea as well hot. It tastes better cooled off. My favorite bourbon teas are Low Country from August Uncommon and Father’s Day from Harney and Sons. I have had two sample bags of this tea over two years though so I need to sip it down.

I don’t know why I keep doing this. I am not a fan of smoky teas, or smoky anything really. But I keep trying out flavored teas with it because the idea sounds so appealing.

The dry leaf smells kinda like . . . unsweetened powered Kool-aid mix (the kind where you had to add your own sugar) that had spent a number of days beside a fire. That made me a bit nervous.

The steeped tea smells like smoke. It tastes of whiskey so much that I had to double check there was no alcohol in the ingredients list. It even has that similar bite I would get from alcohol, though in a much more mild fashion. Oh, and it tastes like smoke.

I think there is some astringency though its difficult for me to tell if this is the whiskey flavoring or the tea base. This makes it seem harsher of a drink than I would normally desire.

On second steep its pretty much just the same, maybe a tad weaker.

Overall, I’m not a fan. The smoke is too much as is the whiskey. But honestly I just didn’t have high expectations given my preferences.

Advent Tea: Day 7 from Michelle
I could definitely taste the bourbon in this one. This one actually reminded me of another bourbon tea. The one from Harney & Sons. There are only a few bourbon teas I’ve tried though. That’s probably why my brain is comparing them. That one has a unique woody flavor that isn’t present in this one. I like this one and would drink it again. I like lapsang teas a lot. Thank You Michelle

Without naming this one after a liquor I don’t know that I would have sought those flavors out. The wet aroma has a fairly strong presence of wood-barrel-aged smoked bourbon. Along with maple notes. The liquor is woodsy and a bit smokey, not like Lapsang. A nice strong brew I can see the Vikings drinking.

good, distinctive taste. another dessert tea for my collection.
editing my review to just okay. the bourbon flavor is a little heavy for my taste. don’t think i will repurchase. it does have a unique taste but doesn’t give me the sense of something I look forward to drinking. WNRP

Nothing wrong with it, but the Lapsang Souchong is too strong for my taste.

Shae Advent Day 22

Another tea from my wish list – thank you!! The base of this tea is quite bold. It works really well. There’s also some smoke and a bit of a tang from the bourbon. This is a really well thought out blend. It’s not something I’d want all the time, but it’s really fun and accurate.

Michelle, this one is fun! My menfolk deigned to sniff and sample my first steep of your Kentucky Bourbon sample. My son’s evaluation was the most creative: “It’s like cowboy hot chocolate cooked over an open fire.” (I get that!) As for me, I am getting oak, smoke, burnt sugar and the cocoa as well. Really creative and judicious use of lapsang without over-smoking it. The weather has taken an untimely warm swing, but this would be a prime selection for a cloudy, frosty afternoon.

Sipdown! (38 | 242)

Swap sample! I’m hoping to power through most of these samples over the next few days, as there are over 30 of them, and adding them all to my cupboard stressed me out a little.

Picked this one at random. I’m not really a whiskey fan, but my husband is, so I’m quite familiar with it. He generally drinks scotch, but also enjoys old fashioneds (which use bourbon). Anyway, this does taste like bourbon to me. It’s woody, boozy, slightly smoky, and has a dark caramel presence. I do get a hint of the apple I think, which is pleasant.

I would say this is a good choice for someone looking for a whiskey tea. But I am not that someone, so while I can appreciate that it seems well-done, it’s not for me. :)

Part of an epic tea mail box from Michelle.

I think we may both have a fondness for smoky teas (and boozy ones). Not sure if this was an appropriate choice for breakfast, but here I am drinking it with a chocolate banana muffin (also probably not appropriate for breakfast). I don’t drink alcohol very often and when I do I don’t typically reach for bourbon so I can’t say how authentic the flavor is. It definitely smells boozy though. Also fruity, but not the candy apple flavor in the ingredient list. I should have checked Michelle’s directions first because I’m pretty sure I overleafed and oversteeped this one. I went with my normal two teaspoons to 8 ounces of water at 195° for five minutes. I see now that three minutes at boiling is recommended. I’ll withhold my rating for now and will try again when I learn to follow instructions.