Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve Question?

[photogjunkie]

A couple of weeks ago, I found a bottle of Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve 13yo Heritage Collection reduced for 24 bucks. I had not tried this before, so I bought it. It was in the (I think) original English (UK) gin bottle with a Frankfort bottling 88004 zip. I found it satisfying and tasty, as all the Heritage Collection has been for me. Today, I came upon another bottle...a Louisville Version with a zip of 88076 dated 1998 in a slightly taller bottle, but still a Heritage Collection version. I couldn't pass it up. Man....what a difference. This bourbon is gold...so much better than the Frankfort bottling. There was a hanging tag around the bottle which was a promo for the Heritage Collection bourbons and United Distillers was mentioned in the print. My question...which came first? Not that I care...but the '96-97 Louisville Monde Selection (Gold Medal Winners) bottling is the bomb. If you find it...buy it. Great rye recipe.

[TNbourbon]

The slope-shouldered Louisville bottle was the original/first version of OCPR.

[jeff]

A couple of weeks ago, I found a bottle of Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve 13yo Heritage Collection reduced for 24 bucks. I had not tried this before, so I bought it. It was in the (I think) original English (UK) gin bottle with a Frankfort bottling 88004 zip. I found it satisfying and tasty, as all the Heritage Collection has been for me. Today, I came upon another bottle...a Louisville Version with a zip of 88076 dated 1998 in a slightly taller bottle, but still a Heritage Collection version. I couldn't pass it up. Man....what a difference. This bourbon is gold...so much better than the Frankfort bottling. There was a hanging tag around the bottle which was a promo for the Heritage Collection bourbons and United Distillers was mentioned in the print. My question...which came first? Not that I care...but the '96-97 Louisville Monde Selection (Gold Medal Winners) bottling is the bomb. If you find it...buy it. Great rye recipe.

Double check that zipcode, as I believe all Frankfort zips begin with 406

[photogjunkie]

I'm looking at the Frankfort bottle now...the zip is 88004. Another note: the Louisville bottle has a screw-off cap...the Frankfort bottle has a cork. Is the Louisville SW for sure, and the Frankfort version a maybe?

[jeff]

Interesting. A search of 88004 comes up Las Cruces New Mexico.

[TNbourbon]

I believe he means "UPC", not "ZIP" -- 88004 IS the first five digits of one of Buffalo Trace's UPCs. And 88076 is the UPC precedent to United Distillers bottlings.

[TNbourbon]

...Is the Louisville SW for sure, and the Frankfort version a maybe?

Old Charter never was Stitzel-Weller -- it's a rye-recipe bourbon. The Louisville version was made at DSP-KY-2, which was part of the original Bernheim Distillery, since replaced by the current one.

[Virus_Of_Life]

Old Charter never was Stitzel-Weller -- it's a rye-recipe bourbon. The Louisville version was made at DSP-KY-2, which was part of the original Bernheim Distillery, since replaced by the current one.

That original stuff is pretty tasty, I was lucky enough to find a couple of bottles of that along with some others from the original issue of the HC.

Haven't tried the new stuff.

[photogjunkie]

TNbourbon is right...me bad. Old Charter not SW...Old Fitzgerald was. Old brain got confused with United Distillers products. I love the OC's wherever they are made...though the older UD Louisville product seems superior to the BT Frankfort bottlings. Or is it the "don't make 'em like they used to" bias setting in?

[Ken Weber]

Interesting thing I learned about Charter production. I was speaking with our retired Master Distiller - Gary Gayheart - and he said that he was making Old Charter 25 years ago when it was part of the Schenley family. It seems he would distill at one plant, then head to another one to make a different product. So, even though the early bourbon was made at Bernhiem, Gary also made it at Buffalo Trace. The 1998 labels could have been bottled at BTD from Bernhiem whiskey since the BATF allowed us to use the old labels (Louisville address) rather than throw them away. We used up all of the old labels sometime in 1999.

I believe Charter Prop. Reserve is perhaps the hidden gem of bourbons. The price is very reasonable and the taste is awesome. Finally, I have noticed some differences in taste of particular brands over time. Even though we try to maintain a consistent flavor profile, changes do seem to creep in from time to time. Usually, I find that it is my own taste buds that are playing tricks on me. I had a BT Old Fashioned in London and thought someone was messing with me by changing bourbons. I re-visited the same place and ordered the same drink from the same bartender (this time watching him as he poured) and enjoyed the best old-fashioned I have ever had. Did he make it differently, maybe; was it my taste buds? I don't know.

Ken