Just got an email from Campari about WT rye time to start bitching, I will post the the email in the rye forum.
[Liberty Valance lays shot in the street]
(Dr) "Quick whiskey!"
[ Dr drinks from whiskey bottle, kicks over Liberty Valance]
(Dr) "He's Dead"
Normally I'd say take a wait-and-see approach. A lot of labels get approved for products that don't ever get used.
But you know, I've never been burned by underestimating people.
It looks like to me that this is a way for them to keep the Russell's Reserve Brand interesting while removing the age statement. Because they've probably figured out by now that we (as in, bourbon enthusiasts) will bitch to high heaven if they drop the 10 year age statement. Lord knows we're still bitching about the old RR 10/101. So maybe they think that we'll forgive them the age statement if they raise the proof to 110 and don't chill filter it.
I guess the next question is, what about Kentucky Spirit? I can't see how having two NAS single barrel expressions serves them. It would be nice if they could put out one single barrel with an age statement... or at least older juice than the current KS.
I guess "give 'em the bird" isn't just a marketing slogan, it's a brand management strategy, too.
I saw put the WTKS out of its misery.