Favorite Bourbon

[pmsummer]

Grainger, do yourself (and your wallet) a favor, and buy some of the Weller 12.

W.L. Weller Special Reserve 12 year old
90 proof, “wheated” Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Tasting Notes
Colour:-The deep bronze colour beautifully reflects the light --

Noseerfect purity; the initial nosing pass finds fully nature aromas of lanolin, almond oil, and creamed corn -- in the middle stage sniffings, following several minutes of air contact, a toasty oaky/vanilla perfume takes the aromatic helm -- the fourth and last whiff highlights the oily grainy quality that’s firm and pungent -- a high-spirited, lusciously toasty, and animated bouquet that has top-notch Bourbon written all over it;

Taste:-the dry, complex, and toasty palate entry is reminiscent of the Centennial 10 Year Old’s grand entry -- the mid-palate flavour profile is heavily wheated (like Wheat Thins crackers), oily, layer, moderately sweet, and sap-like;

Finish:- the finish is long, sweet, oaky, and intensely grainy.

Comment:- follows in the footprints of the legendary Centennial and delivers the goods, all for an unbelievable price.

Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal

 

[Grainger49]

PM,

I will try that next. It will take a while to kill the 750ml, I'm a slow sipper. I will keep this filed away.

Thanks,

 

[SRRP135]

I like Old Grand-Dad Bonded 100 Proof Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon in company put in glass alone just tip the bottle up

 

[Oerets]

Pissed .... last three times I've been by my supplier of Old RIP Van Winkle they were out .

Glad I still have one bottle hidden .:yes:

Getting use to W.L. Weller Special Reserve that been on sale here. Get 1/2 gal for less then what a 5th of rip goes for .

Tried some of the Four Roses Single Barrel 100° and liked it alot but saving it for special times now because I got the last bottle they had .



Barney

 

[djv8ga]

Wild Turkey 101.:beer:

 

[pmsummer]

Old Weller Antique Original 107 Brand

Older bottling... found a stash at my local emporium of spirits.

 

[Oerets]

Old Weller Antique Original 107 Brand

Older bottling... found a stash at my local emporium of spirits.

Is it the bottle that looked like the Old Rip Van Winkle bottle ?


BTW did any one catch the reference to Pappy Van Winkle on Justified last night .



Barney

 

[pmsummer]

Is it the bottle that looked like the Old Rip Van Winkle bottle ?


BTW did any one catch the reference to Pappy Van Winkle on Justified last night .



Barney

Yep. Which looked like old W.L. Weller and Rebel Yell (before it was adulterated) bottle.

Stands up well to an ice cube, as well as great neat. Really an under-appreciated pour.

 

[finnbow]

I just spent the last 3 days in Bourbon country on business. I went to Heaven Hill for a tour and tried the Evan Williams 10 year old single barrel vintage 2001 and their 18 year old Elijah Craig single barrel. Both my wife and I preferred the Evan Williams single barrel vintage as we found it more balanced and a bit less hot with alcohol - it's a very nice dram.

I also tried Maker's Mark 46 at my hotel bar and bought a Four Roses Single Barrel and a Eagle Rare 10 year old. I cracked open the Four Roses tonight. It is indeed very nice. It's a bit more refined and less full/sweet than the Evan Williams 10, but a little hotter with alcohol. Both are very fine though. I'll be doing a taste test of the Four Roses Single Barrel and the 10 year old Eagle Rare later this week and will report back.

I've been a Single Malt guy for nearly 30 years and these are the first higher end Bourbons I've tried (unless one considers standard Maker's Mark or Wild Turkey higher end). I think I may end up varying my repertoire a bit after this experience with good Bourbon.

 

[Oerets]

The Single Barrel is 100* that might be why it seems hotter . The MM 46 seems to be pretty popular around here , never tasted it though.


Hope the weather was nice when you were in KY . Very pretty country especially the 2 lane road (hwy 27 IIRC) from Paris to Lexington .




Barney

 

[finnbow]

The Single Barrel is 100* that might be why it seems hotter . The MM 46 seems to be pretty popular around here , never tasted it though.

Hope the weather was nice when you were in KY . Very pretty country especially the 2 lane road (hwy 27 IIRC) from Paris to Lexington .

I'm having a little more of the Four Roses Single Barrel now. It's certainly the most refined bourbon I've had to date, but the 10 year old Evan Williams Single Barrel is pretty damn special too, if slightly richer with less finesse. Both have changed my view of Bourbon. FWIW, I don't think the Four Roses Single Barrel is available in DC/MD/VA and has fairly limited distribution as most of it goes to Japan (it's owned by Kirin).

The weather wasn't great, but good enough to have a great time in some beautiful country. We went to Mammoth Cave, the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Lincoln's birthplace, Heaven Hill distillery, Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge, and an afternoon of racing at Keeneland. My wife and son also spent a day in Berea while I was busy. Lexington is indeed a very nice place and a recommended 3-4 day stop, particularly if Keeneland is open (only 6 weeks per year).

 

[Oerets]

Sounds like you worked in a lot of driving around the state . Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge did a lot of backpacking in there . BTW did you drive through the one lane tunnel in the gorge ?
Mammoth Cave is one place everyone should experience at least once .


You need to look up some Van Winkle and give it a try . My favorite is the Old RIP 107* 10 year old .





Barney

 

[finnbow]

Sounds like you worked in a lot of driving around the state . Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge did a lot of backpacking in there . BTW did you drive through the one lane tunnel in the gorge ?
Mammoth Cave is one place everyone should experience at least once .

You need to look up some Van Winkle and give it a try . My favorite is the Old RIP 107* 10 year old .

Barney

Actually, we just raced out to Natural Bridge, took the tram up to the top, spent 30-40 minutes up there, took the tram down, and raced back to Keeneland in time for the first race.

I definitely need to scope out some Van Winkel. I've heard nothing but good things about it, especially the Pappy version thereof. It's carried in DC stores, so it may be next on my list.

 

[Grainger49]

I was in WVA last week and picked up a small bottle of Early Times 354 Bourbon. It was weak and not very tasty. On the whole it wasn't as good as Early Times Kentucky Whiskey which is darker and more flavorful.

Kind of a disappointment as I remember back in the 60s Early Times was a smooth Bourbon.

 

[RT Fan]

Finnbow, with the way prices are escalating on single malts, high end bourbons are real bargains.

 

[Rygen]

I like Old Grand-Dad Bonded 100 Proof Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon in company put in glass alone just tip the bottle up

Big OGD fan myself. Tonight...some Evan Williams Single Barrel again...

While spinning some Buddy Guy.

 

[finnbow]

Big OGD fan myself. Tonight...some Evan Williams Single Barrel again...

While spinning some Buddy Guy.

I just picked up a bottle of that at the MoCo liquor store for ~$22. A very fine whiskey indeed. Is yours the 2000 or 2001 version? I had both in Kentucky and preferred the 2000. It's a little more mellow, smooth and balanced. The 2001 may be a bit more forward, sweet and fuller flavored.

I think this may be about the best deal in a quality whiskey that there is (although MoCo also has Eagle Rare 10 on sale for $22). Both are excellent.

 

[Rygen]

I just picked up a bottle of that at the MoCo liquor store for ~$22. A very fine whiskey indeed. Is yours the 2000 or 2001 version? I had both in Kentucky and preferred the 2000. It's a little more mellow, smooth and balanced. The 2001 may be a bit more forward, sweet and fuller flavored.

I think this may be about the best deal in a quality whiskey that there is (although MoCo also has Eagle Rare 10 on sale for $22). Both are excellent.

Yea its the 01, I had the 00 back on the wifes bday..March 25th down in NC...

But its been so long since the two, hard to tell. But it is an awesome deal, agree 100%. Eagle Rare eh? Will keep an eye out.

 

[Oerets]

Well got some sad news the other day ....

Talking to the guy at the store where I get my Bourbon . He informs me that when Van Winkle is releasing there next shipment they don't know ahead of time . But can always tell a shipment is due that day due to a crowd of people waiting for them to open . Ask how they knew and he said the drivers were telling them . Guess I need to get to know the drivers !


Said ever since the Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Bourbon Named “Spirit of the Year” they have had this happen .


This store used to pretty much always have it in stock but now it seems to be hit or miss for the last year . He was also saying that the distributors will come in and pull stock for other stores .


But I was able to get one of the last bottles of Old Rip 107* , didn't need it but will soon .... Derby is next week !



Barney

 

[Russellc]

Well got some sad news the other day ....

Talking to the guy at the store where I get my Bourbon . He informs me that when Van Winkle is releasing there next shipment they don't know ahead of time . But can always tell a shipment is due that day due to a crowd of people waiting for them to open . Ask how they knew and he said the drivers were telling them . Guess I need to get to know the drivers !


Said ever since the Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Bourbon Named “Spirit of the Year” they have had this happen .


This store used to pretty much always have it in stock but now it seems to be hit or miss for the last year . He was also saying that the distributors will come in and pull stock for other stores .


But I was able to get one of the last bottles of Old Rip 107* , didn't need it but will soon .... Derby is next week !



Barney

Go to Straightbourbon.com From there you can visit the distillery via web cams, and watch which barrels are being rolled out. When the Stizel-weller rolls, get ready. Most places seem to get it around June and again in late October. Some places, even large cities seem to get very little, and it goes very quick. I have a store or two across the midwest where I consistently find it everytime I go. Just came back, only brought one 20 year family reserve and a Lot B. 89.99 and 44.99. I went to 3 different small liquor stores in one town that ALL had 20 yr, 15 yr, and Lot B. This town likely doesnt have 40,000 population. Why so much ends up there is beyond me.

In my favorite store, they I have never been in when they didnt have it all.....23 yr, 23 yr presentation case, 20 yr, 15 yr, Lot B. The 10 year is everywhere. Unbelieveable, but true! I found 20 yr Family reserve for 87.99 in one of them. I should have lit up the card and bought them out, but my bunker is pretty full. They also had 17 year eagle rare and the barrel proof William Larue Weller in ALL of these stores as well. How they get so much in this particular area of the country is baffling.

If you dont know a lot about Pappy Van Winkle, the best of it is the 20 yr Family reserve and the 23 yr stuff. They are what is left of the best bourbon in the world, which was produced at the Stizel-Weller distillery. That distillery closed down for ever in 1992. The 20 and 23 year stuff is made from that, and there may be enough, according to Julian Van Winkle for a couple more years, then it will be gone forever!

Stizel-Weller made all the fine bourbons in the day. Rebel Yell once was, now is some 80 proof slop made by Heaven Hill. Old Fitzgerald used to be as well, no longer. Get it while you can!

I have never gotten a clear answer on whether or not the Lot B contains some S-W, but if it did, you would think they would be shouting it out. That said, the Lot B is in my opinion one of the best, and one of the best Values in the Pappy Van Winkle lineup, S-W or not. It is indeed sad to see the day come when the last of the S-W is poured.

I often have wondered whether or not the old distillery could be resurrected. For all I know now it may be leveled. When I last checked, I was told that there was a major asbestos problem there, making resurection impossible. For now, the last of the S-W barrels sit in barrel houses at Buffalo Trace....



Russellc