Appreciating Van Winkle

[luv2hunt]

Mark,

Everyone shortens Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 yr old Lot B........to simply Lot B

Dawn

[Nebraska]

Many Thanks,


Mark

[Tricky]

Comments on 'Lot B' and an introduction.....

I opened up my first bottle of 'Lot B' this weekend and I must say that it would warrant the creation of a new human taste receptor called "deliciousness". I could almost 'feel' the vapors wafting over my face and the aroma left me with the impression that I had a micro-factory in my nose busily manufacturing those trays of dried fruits and nuts, sprinkled with spices. Then the first sip, wow, do I wish I could capture that 1st taste more than once ..... what a wonderful oily feel rolling around my mouth, transitions of sweet maple, caramel, malt and I thought I tasted (ever so slight) butterscotch ..... absolutely superb !!

I signed up to SB.com a few weeks ago and wanted to spend some time perusing the forums before starting to post. I will search before asking questions but apologies in advance if I ask something where an answer has already been posted - I have tried to get up to speed but I am sure I will miss things. As a native highlander it is kind of expected for me to have some experience with scotch (single malt and blended) and drinking such is one of my favourtie past-times. However, since moving to the US in '97 I have taken a keen interest in bourbon and American whiskey. In reviewing the various posts I probably have a majority of what seems to be the more popular/interesting/talked about products including WT Rare Breed, Eagle 10 SB, Eagle 17, GTS spring '05, Saz 18, ETL, JD SB, reg JD, WLW, Woodford Reserve, RHF, EC12, EC18, BT, WT KS, EW SB, Baker's, Booker's and a few others. Some of these I have not opened yet but they are on my 'to do' list and I'll get around to it.

The Lot B I tried was purchased in a PA LCB store and was delivered there in August 2005 - I have several questions about this : (1) would this be the Bernheim or the SW product ? (2) a search did not reveal any comparative 'tasting notes' for both variations of this product, do any of you 'taster's have such notes and/or can you share opinions even if not side-by-side ?

Beginning last July, Julian began bottling Lot B with Bernheim wheated bourbon instead of Stitzel-Weller, which had run out at that age. There is no way to tell them apart by the bottling/label itself. So, unless you know that a bottle's been on the shelf since further back than last July, you may be getting either one.
The current Lot B was available to taste at Binny's/WhiskyFest in Chicago last week. I suspect if you put an old one and a new one side-by-side, you'd be able to differentiate. However, either will be satisfy your desire for Lot B.

[BourbonJoe]

Tricky,
Whereabouts in SE PA are you located. I'm in Reading. Glad to have you here.
Joe

[tgriff]

Mark,

Everyone shortens Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 yr old Lot B........to simply Lot B

Dawn

many thanks from another novice...

[Tricky]

Tricky,
Whereabouts in SE PA are you located. I'm in Reading. Glad to have you here.
Joe

Joe - Thanks for the welcome. I am a "stone's throw" away from you in King of Prussia, right next to Valley Forge National Park. It may interest you to know that in the UK I lived about the same distance from Reading, Berkshire (southern England) as I do now from Reading, PA (small world eh ?). The town of Reading, PA was (as I am sure you know) named by William Penn's sons because the UK Reading was Penn's own county seat. Regards.....Mickey.

[pepcycle]

OK
This is an out and out hi-jacking.

I've never seen as many deer in one place as a night drive through Valley Forge Park.

Ten Thousand within 100ft of the road.

Most amazing thing I've ever seen.

[Tricky]

OK
This is an out and out hi-jacking.

I've never seen as many deer in one place as a night drive through Valley Forge Park.

Ten Thousand within 100ft of the road.

Most amazing thing I've ever seen.

aaah ... you are quite correct sir ... strict regulations about "no hunting" in VFNP. It's a bit of a controversy that rears its head every now and then - does not seem to stop folk driving like lunatics through the park at night

.... and to bring it back on topic - can anyone answer my VWSR Lot B question please ?

[smokinjoe]

As far as the deer thing goes. I've never seen so many DEAD deer as I saw on a trip up I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland Ohio last May. Just after dawn, over about a sixty mile stretch, I counted over 100 fresh road-kills from the night before. Sadly, mommas with their little ones were involved too. And that was just on the Northbound side. One of the most amazing, while depressing, things I have ever seen.

JOE

[Gillman]

I have relations in Western New Jersey who say the deer problem is becoming a real headache. There are so many animals coming into areas they avoided in the past. Seems conservation measures have increased their numbers and too many are getting killed on the road (which sometimes injures people and their property too). Good intentions gone awry...?

Gary