Taste Test: Coppercraft Rye Whiskey

Selection:  Coppercraft Rye Whiskey

Price:  ~$40

Proof:   90 Proof (45% ABV)

Thoughts:   I'm going in blind on this drink, basing it off a recommendation from the Bourbon Junkies.  This was one of their suggestions for people who like Blanton's Bourbon.  Blanton's is exceptionally difficult to find, especially in Ohio.  In a perfect world, I'd compare Coppercraft to Blanton's- but I don't have any to compare it to.

Onto the tasting:  It's definitely a Rye Whiskey, and it has an earthy taste.  There's a bit of a vanilla or caramel taste to the drink.  It doesn't have a long or sharp bite (90 is on the lower end for alcohol content).

Conclusion:   Not bad, not one of my favorites.  It's a decent placeholder if you're looking for a Rye drink

NBA Draft 2021 predictions

My Crazy Dream Booking:  Detroit drafts Cade Cunningham; Houston drafts Jalen Green; Cleveland Grab Evan Mobley.  Cleveland keeps Sexton and trades for a late round 1^st to grab Jaden Springer as their third guard

 

What Should Happen: Detroit drafts Cunningham; Houston drafts Green; Cleveland Grab Mobley.  Cleveland keeps Sexton and trades for a late round 1^st to grab Jaden Springer as their third guard

 

What Will Happen: Detroit drafts Cunningham; Houston drafts Green; Cleveland Grab Mobley and makes no other moves.

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Detroit drafts Cunningham; Houston drafts Mobley;  Cleveland drafts Green and the next four months are nothing but talk about how to fit Green, Sexton and Garland together

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Detroit drafts Cunningham; Houston drafts Green;  Cleveland trades #3 to Orlando for #5, #8 and a future (lottery protected) 1^st from Orlando, then draft Kuminga (5^th) and Moses Moody (8^th)   Not that I don’t like either prospect, but nowhere on the level as Mobley 

Lottery predictions:

1)  Detroit Pistons- Cade Cunnginham

2)  Houston Rockets- Jalen Green

3)  Cleveland Cavaliers- Evan Mobley

4)  Toronto Raptors- Jalen Suggs

5)  Oklahoma CIty Thunder (trade with Orlando Magic)- Scottie Barnes

6)  Orlando Magic (trade with Oklahoma City Thunder)- Jonathon Kuminga

7)  Golden State Warriors- James Bouknight

8)  Orlando Magic- Alperen Sengun

9)  Sacramento Kings- Franz Wgner

10)  Memphis Grizzlies- Josh Giddey

11)  Charlotte Hornets- Kai Jones

12)  San Antonio Spurs- Ziaire Williams

13)  Indianapolis Pacers- Davion Mitchell

14)  Golden State Warriors- Chris Duarte

Taste Test: Angel's Envy

Another Bourbon:

Selection:  Angel's Envy

Price:  ~$50, which makes it very affordable.  But it's hard to get.  My usual hangout seems to only have a few bottles a month

Proof:   86.6 Proof (43.3% ABV)

Thoughts:   It's finished in Port Wine Barrels, and there is a taste of fruit and vanilla to the bourbon.  You can feel the alcohol, even though it's lower proof than many other bourbons.  

Conclusion:   Very good- especially if you like red wine

Taste Test: Old Grand-dad

 A couple of days later, another bourbon... one that I'm about halfway through.

Selection:  Old Grand-dad

Price:  ~$30, which makes it very affordable.  But it's hard to get.  My usual hangout seems to only have a few bottles a month

Proof:   114 Proof (57% ABV)

Thoughts:   There's a honey-like taste to this bourbon.  The taste is sugary, and it lingers for a while.  A proof of 114 is on the higher end for bourbon, and it is noticeable.  But it's not nearly as abrasive as the Forester.  

Conclusion:   I like it.  The price point is very good for the quality.  It's not a favorite but I'll add it to the rotation when I can find it.

Taste Test: Old Forester, Signature Brand

I'm not a beer person.  Alcohol-wise, I prefer scotches and bourbons.  I've picked up a couple of new bottles to try.  And what good is having a blog if not to offer your opinion on subjects no one asked you about?

So here's my thoughts on trying a new bourbon.

Selection:  Old Forester, Signature Brand

Price:  $20.99, which makes it very affordable

Proof:   100 Proof (50% ABV)

Thoughts:   The initial taste is caramel.  Not the smoothest bourbon I've ever had.  There is a bit of a burn from drinking it that lingers.  It's not unpleasant (I've had much worse), but if you're not used to drinking whisky I wouldn't start with this one.  Adding some water thinned out the kick a bit.

Conclusion:   For the price, it's good.  If you like having a bit of a kick, it's worth checking out.  This isn't going to make my regular rotation of drinks but I can see why people like it.

NBA Playoff Predictions

The play-in games are completed, and the NBA Playoffs are set:

My initial thoughts:

- The East is down to three teams- 76ers, Nets and Bucks

- The West will be a brawl- I can make good arguments for five of the teams, and could even make a decent case for the other three.  Whoever emerges from there will be battered and bruised

- As much rest as LeBron and Davis had during the season from injuries, I still think they are recovering from the shortened offseason of last year.  

- The Smart move is the 76ers.  But I also think the Bucks NEED a run more than any other team.  Every other team either has players who have already won (Lakers, Nets with Durant and Kyrie) are young enough to believe they'll be back (76ers, Mavericks, Suns), or have an injury that could explain why they faltered (Nuggets, Jazz).  If the Bucks don't have a deep playoff run... where do they go?  More than any other franchise, they should be feeling the pressure.

And I think they'll succeed.

1st Round:

Eastern Conference:

76ers (1) over Wizards (8), 4-1

Nets (2) over Celtics (7) , 4-1

Bucks (3) over Heat (6) , 4-2

Knicks (4) over Hawks (5) , 4-3

Western Conference: 

Jazz (1) over Grizzlies (8) , 4-1

Lakers (7) over Suns (2), 4-3

Nuggets (3) over Trail Blazers (6) , 4-0

Mavericks (5) over Clippers (4) , 4-3

2nd Round:

Eastern Conference:

76ers (1) over Knicks (4), 4-2

Bucks (3) over Nets (2), 4-3

Western Conference: 

Jazz (1) over Mavericks (5) , 4-2

Nuggets (3) over Lakers (7) , 4-3  

Conference Finals:

Eastern Conference:

Bucks (3) over 76ers (1) , 4-3

Western Conference: 

Nuggets (3)  over Jazz (1), 4-2

NBA Finals:

Bucks (3) over Nuggets (3), 4-2

Your 2021 NBA champions...  

MLB 2021 Thoughts

Yeah, I know... season's already started.  But some late predictions and comments- trying a different format:

It's like rooting for Amazon or Apple...

If I had to bet money on the World Series, I'd go: Dodgers over Yankees, 4 games to 2.  Dodgers clearly have the most talent in the league- which doesn't mean they are a lock to win.  But if I had to bet, they are the team to go with.

The American League is far more wide open.  I could see seven teams getting hot and winning (Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, Twins, White Sox, Astros).  But the Yankees have had horrible luck the pasy few years in terms of injuries.  If they stay healthy (big If), they are the most likely to come out of the AL

Team I'm rooting for to win it all this year:  I'm a Cubs and Indians fan, and don't think either will make the playoffs (in fact, I think the Indians might be one of the worst teams in the AL).  I like teams that never won the World Series in my lifetime, which gives me two candidates- the San Diego Padres and the Tampa Rays.  Tampa has had a ton of sports riches, but I'm still bitter about 1984, so let's go Rays.

Most interesting team in baseball in 2021:  The Dodgers, on paper, might be one of the greatest teams ever- but I don't think that necessarily makes them interesting.  The Pirates might be one of the worst teams ever- but again, that doesn't make them interesting.

For interesting- how about the Blue Jays?  A young team with a ton of young, second generation players.  Their hitting looks great- their pitching is either really good (Hyun Jin Ryu, Taijuan Walker) or awful- and pitching is highly variable.  

One final thought:  The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires at the end of the year.  Financially, baseball has a lot of problems.  The Dodgers are spending $226 million on their payroll this year, and a quarter of the league isn't spending 1/3 of that amount.  I don't see how this system can continue- but the CBA isn't between the owners; it's between the owners and the players.  There is a good possibility of a strike after this season, and it might be a long one.  I'm not making any predictions- I'm just going to enjoy baseball this year.