Evan Williams Single Barrel - best vintage?

[HighTower]

I bought a EWSB 96 today and the barrel date was 10-13-96, only about 3 weeks before the fire. My daughter was born in 1996 so I tought maybe I would save this one and open it when she gets married!

Thomas

That's a nice thought, Thomas, another things the dated bottles are good for! From my calculations she's only 11 this year, she's not getting married yet is she??

Scott

[tango-papa]

My favorite.....uh.....that would be the 1997 "chunky bottle"......uh......tasted at a recent event.

The earlier bottles are a bit too "earthy" for me.

Dawn

Chunky bottle?
Ok, I'm officially curious...
Does this mean you got to sample "unfiltered" product?
I really hope, that it wasn't a bottle that had gone bad...

~tp

[ThomasH]

My daughter turns 11 on July 31st. I also have a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne that is a 1996 vintage that is also going to get opened when she gets married. Next up, getting the same 2 bottles from the year 2000 for my son. The Dom champagne is up to the 1999 vintage right now. Hopefully they declare a vintage for 2000!

Thomas

[jburlowski]

Put my vote in the '94 column.

All are good but the 1996 and 1997 were ( modestly and only in comparison) slightly less so.

[wku88]

I've had the '95 and '96, and prefer the '95. Interestingly, VROHH has continued to taste more like the '95 than the '96. Since they don't put the bottling date on VROHH, I guess I could say it is Beam stuff, but the taste is the same. Or did the Bonded warehouses survive the fire?

[cowdery]

For all intents and purposes, all warehouses are "bonded." That's not a meaningful distinction anymore.

When a day's production is put away into the warehouses, it is spread around, usually in lots of about 50 barrels each.

[Virus_Of_Life]

My favorite.....uh.....that would be the 1997 "chunky bottle"......uh......tasted at a recent event.

Dawn

I'll second that!!! Damn that stuff was good!

[cowdery]

When I have compared the 1997 to my beloved 1994 side-by-side, the 94 always wins, but when, as I did last night, I just drink the 1997, I think, "damn, this is awfully good."

So I guess what I'm saying is, don't turn your nose up at the '97.

[tango-papa]

Found and purchased several bottles of 1994 over the past few weeks - thanks to all for the opinions about this one being the "bestest" vintage.
Have only paid between $22-$26 each which is not bad, in my opinion, for such a good bottle.

Also picked up a 1989 today and know where a 1990 bottle is located if anyone needs these for their collection(s).

~tp

[jburlowski]

When I have compared the 1997 to my beloved 1994 side-by-side, the 94 always wins, but when, as I did last night, I just drink the 1997, I think, "damn, this is awfully good."

So I guess what I'm saying is, don't turn your nose up at the '97.

The '97 is awfully good, certainly better than the '96 or '95. I concur that the '94 is the (current) champ of the series, but all are mighty fine pours.