Bourbon Availability Downunder

[camduncan]

I've been meaning to start this post for a while....

I'm interested in establishing just what bourbons are available from what retailers here in Australia. Please feel free to add any others to this post if I've missed some.

Jim Beam products - Jim Beam White, Black, Rye and Beams Choice, as well as the small batch range (Knob, Bakers, Bookers & Basil Haydens) and the Small Batch with port bottle are all carried by literally every retailer in Australia.

Heaven Hill New Zealand products are stocked by Liquorland, Theos & Vintage Cellars. All carry a small range including Kentucky Gold, Evan Williams Black Label, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Elijah Craig 12 Year Old, Virgin Bourbon, Sam Sykes, Daniel Stewart, Bourbon Falls, Fighting Cock, and Bourbon Royal.

Bulleit Bourbon is available in most larger outlets.

Old Rip Van Winkle products are sold by Burwood Cellars in Victoria. Last I heard they had stock of ORVW Family Reserve Rye and ORVW 20yo Family Reserve.

Blantons is stocked by Nick's Wine Merchant's in Melbourne. They have stock of Original, Gold lablel and Family Reserve.

Jack Daniels is sold in all retailers.

[pete_d]

With Jim Beam, you've also got the Bonded Beam (Gold Label) not sure if this is an export only thing. I cannot understand why Old Grandad is not imported under Jim Beam Brands.

I'm not sure if fighting cock is still being imported. Last saw it at a Theo's about 12 months ago.

With JD, We've got JD Green Label, JD Black Label, Gentleman Jack, and JD Single Barrel. - available most places.

Wild Turkey 86, Wild Turkey 101 8yo, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, and the mixers - available most places.

Woodford Reserve is getting more common here as well. Old Forrester however is not available as of yet.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

I have been told that the mythical Indiana bourbon Sam Cougar black is a product made exclusively for the Australia/New Zealand market but maybe it has been discontinued?

[pete_d]

Never tried it, so can't comment on quality, but I believe there are two strains of Cougar available here. By brother (the cad who got me into bourbon) said both taste slightly better if cut 1/1 with ammonia.




I don't think he cared for it too much.

[Tallica]

There is the plain Cougar ( 5 yrold at a lowly 74 proof) & then there is XS Cougar(black no age statement but 86 proof)
Cougar used to be my standard mix with coke.
I would on the nose it has dominant aniseed & tobacoo overtones.
Well I just had my first Cougar since my coke drowning days, obviously not alot of kick & somewhat underwelming but finish is surprisingly long.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Thanks for the info. Well, there you go - I only knew of one Cougar bottling. You say that the 74 proof is 5yo. Is this stated on the label? I ask because I have one bottle of the 74 proof. It is called Sam Cougar black but there is no age statement. The whiskey I find to be OK, if hardly sensational. If anything, it is the very antithesis to bourbons like Knob Creek in that it is one of the most non-sweet bourbons that I have ever tasted.

Sorry Camduncan (and Jim) for partly hi-jacking this thread but there´s so few opportunities to talk about Cougar.

I also find it highly amusing that a whiskey that I´ve been hunting for several years is used a lowly mixer down under.

[Tallica]

The age is on the label. I beleive Cougar is bulk shipped to Aust & bottled here.
Jim Murray in one of his books pays Cougar quite a high compliment putting it in his top ten Bourbons.
Each to his own.

[camduncan]

Forgot to mention, I've also seen a few bottles of Sam Houston at either BWS or the Grape stores. It retails for around the same price as Bookers.

[camduncan]

Jim Murray in one of his books pays Cougar quite a high compliment putting it in his top ten Bourbons

Cougar is what most pubs, clubs and bars tend to sell as a house bourbon and a cheaper alternative to Jim Beam White (at least here in the state of Queensland)
It's never been a favourite of mine, but I've only ever drunk it at the pub with a post-mix coke added....and if they have Jim Beam White, I'll always ask for that rather than drink the house bourbon (Cougar..)

[camduncan]

I've also recently heard that Four Roses is available in limited quantities at one of the Melbourne stores...