2017 Old Reliable

Haaaaaaaaay.

My reviews on this site are generally supposed to be mindful reflections of my tea sessions, or what I remember of them weeks later. I would not consider myself particularly discerning of tasting notes and the like. When I feel like it, I’ll try to jot down the specifics. Other times, I’ll simply write hay and call it a day.

Edit: Oh, well, actually, darn, I do have something else to say: I enjoyed the Simpsons reference on the wrapper.

Dry leaf – dusty, old barn, dry stall… ( I grew up on a farm, boom exact smell) dirt. Earthy.

Aroma – mellow classic shou, clean.

1 steep- very light, and mellow , hay, and dust accent. I feel like the tea is still opening.

2nd steep- much darker, leaves are opening.
Hay, and dustiness…
Unfortunately, I’m getting a flavor I’m not enjoying, and it’s really only because thats what it is reminding me off.

Raid. Like the bug killer…

Signature smell… that im tasting. Trying to get past it.

Smokey cherry wood and medicinal flavors. Cherry. Almost a cherry cordial.

3rd steep- old dusty barn. Thankfully, I don’t get much raid anymore. Wet, old hay. Smooth, soft mouthfeel.

4th steep- lots of hay. Some malt coming through. Flattening out here…

5th steep- it has mellowed smooth and round.

All in all… an interesting shou for me, as it was absent of the typical. A one trick pony if you will…
Other than the brief raid flavor, it was a pleasant drinking experience. Sending me down memory lane. Nostalgia at its finest. Smell is quite powerful. However, I’m not sure I’d order this one again. It was a good session, but nothing I want to seek out again. I do like the old feeling of the whole process. The unexpected flavors were welcomed.

5g in 500mL tea thermos, grandpa style. Feel conflicted about this one. Has much more thickness and sweetness than ‘16 Brown Sugar, but the energy is incredibly jittery. Flavors are more in line with my tastes, with lots of fall leaf litter, paper, and toasted brown sugars. It does start out a fair bit astringent, as though some portion of the blend has been lightly fermented. The body buzz is almost hard to contain, as it’s made me very jittery. The astringency on the forefront is a little off-putting, but there’s definitely some good stuff here.

On the first few steps, it has notes of what I would expect leaf litter to taste like. Very earthy. Little bit of astringency that builds on consecutive steeps.

Not particularly exciting; I could see it coming back to it after some time to see how it’s character has developed.

I’m less excited about this shou than many of the white2tea’s other offerings. It has strong notes of wood and hay and reminds me of an old barn. I can almost get a scent of horse in there, but I guess that’s just my associations messing with me.

Probably a nice tea if you’re looking for the above, I however look for other things in a shou.

Has a dank wet-leaf smell, a bit of astringency and could benefit from airing out and/or aging for 6 months to a few years. When purchased in 2017, it isn’t one I’d buy again unless it was left to age and air out longer.

Very funky barnyard smell. Taste of wood and camphor. A sour wine and caramel like taste after a few steeps.

2017 Old Reliable

Over-brewed tastes of caramelized sugar and mulch/wet wood. Even flash steeps on the 6th infusion have a complex flavor.
Tasting notes
Batch Year:
Eyes Dry Leaf
Score: 8 of 10
Dark brown with lighter yellow leaves. A mix of colors. Pretty light compressions.
Nose Dry Leaf
Score: 8 of 10
Quite strong smell with a stewed fruit and woody earthy smell
Eyes Liquor
Score: 8 of 10
Rinse is a clear amber, first steep is much darker and less clear but not cloudy or murky. More of a brown whiskey. Over-brewing leads to a near opaque black. Later infusions go back to amber.
Nose Wet Leaf
Score: 8 of 10
Chocolate cake, mulch, and vanilla extract
Mouth Texture
Score: 7 of 10
Thinner than the color would predict. A smooth dryness that coats the entire mouth. More infusions are more lubricating with a medium body. Over-brewing gives some exciting bite.
Mouth Taste *
Score: 8 of 10
Over-brewed tastes of caramelized sugar and mulch/wet wood. Even flash steeps on the 6th infusion have a complex flavor.
Nose Empty Cup
Score: 9 of 10
Bourbon glaze put on a wood fire salmon or steak. This is the smell of a high priced meal I wish I were eating. Some fruit wood smoke to it (apple wood or sweet hickory).
Mouth Finish
Score: 8 of 10
Unexpectedly coats the mouth in a mild lubricating sweetness contrasting the earthiness of the tea, especially that of the first infusions.
Eyes Wet Leaf
Score: 8 of 10
A variety of dark colors. 10 infusions in and the 6 g’s are still very folded/rolled and not yet expanding.
Body Sensation
Score: 8 of 10
The body weightlessness and tingling of a high with a cool calming sensation. Caffeine attentiveness
Brewing Notes

6g:100 mL. 95 C. Flash steeps until 15. 12s + _s after that.
Infusion Notes

From 1st to 10th, tea moved from a tasty thin drink to a heavy hitting tank with a depth and complexity. Built up to a complex tea and eases back down. Great experience tea.
Overall Impression
A delicious tea that I wish I had more of. Considering a tong (but not until a few purchases from YS).