Preparing for Pappy

Friend of mine…we’ll call him “Kevin Bittner” sent me this email:

Educate me on bourbon quality…

I’ve heard you talk of Pappy and assume it’s as good as it gets.

At what point does beggars bourbon start, is this makers or more of a jim beam.

Does one hit pappy early in the evening in the right company and switch to a lesser bourbon later in the evening or must one ride out the pappy out of respect once begun.  Or are there pappy nights and makers nights.  Surely one must hit makers enough to make pappys a special occasion.

This was my response:

Pappy is as good as it gets.  One must sip pappy, and experience pappy.  I would not have more than one well-poured pappy in a given evening, and rarely outside the company of great men.

I’ve found pappy is best appreciated sober, and can be quite an extraordinary way to kick off a big evening, or to simply cap off a day of win.

I call anything that isn’t “single barrel” begger’s bourbon….just to piss people off and be a bourbon snob.

If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, get yourself a bottle of bookers (in the wood crate).  It’s hard hitting (126 proof), but super smooth and tasty.  Fill a rocks glass with ice, pour it 1/4 full with bookers….let it sit 5 minutes + and enjoy your introduction to fine bourbon enjoyment.

One or two per night….By halfway through the bottle, most men are newly minted bourbon snobs.

Then, you send an email to Andy Swan and say “I’m ready for the pappy”.  I want to be the one to introduce you to your 2nd true love.

Celebrate your victories lavishly, but do not attempt to experience world-class excellence until you are sure you can appreciate it.

Win.