Bourbon in Eureka's Old Town

A week ago, at the beginning of this visit to Humboldt, my stepmother notified me of a bourbon-tasting dinner in Eureka's Old Town district. Tonight was the big night, and I'm still reeling from it all. Considering the food and the booze served, this would have made for a damn good Saturday, if it weren't Monday. These two gentlemen were running the show and pouring the shots:


They made sure to mention at the beginning of the night that bourbon is officially classified as being made from at least fifty per cent corn (besides other grains such as rye or barley.) It was good info for the uninitiated such as myself. But the real education came in the eight-bottle taste test that followed. It's a good thing they served dinner:

Onion soup with a Parmesan crouton

Barbecued chicken and beans

Beef fajita with tomato, onion, and guacamole (well-seasoned with salt and lime, but the tortilla could use a little grilling)

Finishing with a flavorful peach pie and vanilla ice cream. You might have noticed that at each course there is a shot of rich, golden bourbon. Despite the photos, I don't want to under emphasize that as the main attraction at this dinner. We were allowed to sample each of the eight bottles in turn, giving due time and attention to their unique attributes. I'd especially like to point out a few outstanding examples:

• The Eagle Rare single barrel - spicy and aggressive, heavy on the rye and barley
• The Four Roses Small Batch - seventy per cent corn with a delightful sweetness, it had a rich and lasting fruity flavor, one of the night's best - I could have it on pancakes
• The Elmer T Lee - nice and smooth, creamy, it's gentle but not weak, sweet but not syrupy
• Blanton's -The first single-barrel made in the US, it starts with a mellow sweetness, and slowly builds into a surprisingly spicy finishing punch. They rye comes out well, and it lingers nicely on the tongue.

My father and I enjoyed it all quite well...