2002 Kentucky Bourbon Festival

[Gillman]

Thanks for the correction, I realised my error just after I posted, I tried to use the edit to fix it but didn't do it right I guess.

It is interesting though to compare what might be termed the "old" superpremiums to current luxury bourbons even amongst different producers.

The old bondeds, and some are still around, seem different generally than the small batch products. The latter

generally are smooth and rich; the bondeds I've tried tend more to be big bruisers, and I'd say the HH bonded

is one of those. This drink surely was made to be diluted or mixed, but many of the new batch/single barrel brands go down like liquid silk, no matter how strong.

They are all good, just different of course.

[cowdery]

One issue that needs to be considered is what might be called the I.W. Harper effect. When Harper took off in Japan as a premium-priced product, it was still widely available (and much lower priced) in the U.S. So what happened? Some industrious souls managed to buy the product at wholesale in the U.S. and ship it themselves to Japan, thereby taking that profit away from the manufacturer. This is quasi-legal (or quasi-illegal, depending on your point of view) and is therefore called "gray market." The solution was to discontinue I.W. Harper sales in the U.S., where it was a small brand. It's certainly possible to sell in both countries and avoid that problem, primarily by offering different expressions at different price points, but the folks at Four Roses will do so very carefully. Right now the standard Four Roses yellow label is pretty cheap, overseas and in the U.S. Do they really want to expand distribution of that? Or will they go with some of their higher priced expressions, like the single barrel, which are not available in the U.S. at all. It will be interesting to see.

[pepcycle]

Todd,

I guess up until this time, I've been registered but just lurking and with encouragement from Linn, I will now post as regularly as I see fit. I thought we might get to drop by the gazebo on Saturday but the Gala took its toll. Did anyone else get to taste Four Roses Single Barrel? An interesting entry into premium ranks. I wish I hadn't tasted so many others first. I'll have to give it a try in a more controlled environment. You're right about the beauty of the festival being sharing with others that you've met virtually but not in real life. Met Bob Kaufman from Wisconsin and we've exchanged e-mails. I will attend as long as I'm able. Anybody have a great meal while there. I was disappointed in Xavier's. Would love to find a diamond in the rough.

Ed and Patty Phalen

[brendaj]

Ed, the diamond you're looking for is close. The folks @ Xavier's have wonderful food but the prices put me off. It's their lunch menu that's the treat. A different quiche daily, several salads and a soup. Absolutely wonderful food. No advertising and short hours. Definately the best bang for the buck.

Beej

[kitzg]

Chris, first -- I'm sure you've read Chuck's great and correct response about gray markets. They are real and a real threat to producers.

Second -- couldn't they sell the single barrel products, as you suggest, at a higher price in the U.S.? Yes. But my point about pissing off the Japanese is that there is often a limited supply of this stuff. I don't have the inside information from Four Roses today but I am guessing they can sell about all they produce in Japan.

Is there money to be lost by having a higher priced (and therefore lower volume) bourbon in the US? Maybe -- If they open up the U.S. market, even at a higher price, they'll need a way to increase supply or else they'll run low somewhere. If they run low (underestimate demand as happened with Rock Hill, for example) then Japanese customers will buy some other bourbon. Current customers (in Japan) are always more valuable than new customers (in the U.S). It is easier and less expensive to keep customers (in Japan) than to get customers (in the U.S.)

Even if they do not have a supply problem it has been hinted by some that the Japanese LIKE having exclusive products which keeps the price high in Japan.

I do not think it is the paperwork that is the problem.

I almost hated to write this response because I really don't want to talk the industry into NOT releasing these products in the U.S. Like you, I'd like to have them here. But from my background these are likely the reasons they have kept them exclusive to Japan. And I'm not telling any secrets that the marketing folks don't already know.

[pepcycle]

I'll make sure I stop there for lunch next time I'm passing through.

Thanks for the lead.

[bourbonmed]

Cypress,

I notice you are from Toronto. I visited there in August, wonderful city. Many of your LCBO stores have the green label 80 proof Blantons. I didn't see the regular 93 proof we get here. The 98 proof silver and 103 proof gold label are exports, as is the soon to be released Barrel Proof Blanton. (Japan only)

Best,

Omar

[MurphyDawg]

Man Why Does all the kewl new stuff go overseas!?!?!?!?

Tom (Wondering If His Money's No Good) C

[Gillman]

Well, not yet, but we're getting there.

Thanks for comments about the home turf, actually, both the 80 and 93 proof Blanton's have been available at LCBO stores, sometimes at the same time but not usually in the same particular outlet.

I do like 80 proof as a rule in whiskey because I like to drink it straight generally, but I find

80 proof Blanton's is not as good as the higher proof, so different barrels must be used

as was suggested earlier.

On the other hand, the lower proof Blanton's is, here, some twenty dollars cheaper than the higher, I believe the lower has gone for around $40 (Can), not bad. It is well worth that price.

[kgiammarco]

I guess i can understand why they wouldn't want to mess with a good thing (but I don't like it)...

I guess we need to make some friends in Japan and pay UPS a lot of shipping charges then...

-Chris

[boone]

Where are the pictures? This is the section for the bourbon festival but the only place I can find pictures is in Brenda's section.....there are a few that Jim posted.....I did not get to participate in a lot of events.... So please post some of your pictures so I can see all of ya!

Me and Jim in the Heaven Hill booth on the grounds of Spalding Hall

Bettye Jo

[MurphyDawg]

Cool Pic! We finally found the film from the trip, and are going to get it developed today, so there will be more pics soon!

TomC

[boone]

This is a picture taken last year during the bourbon festival.....It was taken in front of the Beam display inside the Getz....Heaven Hill did not participate but I dropped in to see all the SB folks.....Chuck had written a story about my family in the Malt Adovcate.....I brought the magazine with me and in the picture Chuck Cowdery (right) is signing it for me.....

The lady on my left is really special to me.....a lot of ya know her....she works at the Getz......She is my Aunt Jo....my mom's twin sister....We have been through a lot in the last several months.....and this is probably the first time I have accepted what is going to happen to her....she has lung cancer....they cannot operate......it's not good ..I ask all my friends this favor... when ya look at her is this picture...... say a special prayer for her....she has been through a lot.....but ya know what I am accepting it..... but I still pray for a miracle.....

Bettye Jo

[cowdery]

I've posted a couple. Here's another one.

It was great to see Aunt Jo. She has such a terrific attitude, if anyone can beat this thing it's her. She's an inspiration.

Oh yeah, the picture (left to right) is Jim Butler, Linn Spencer and Bettye Jo Boone.

[boone]

Thanks Chuck, that pic was probably taken right after I told Linn that I was still ticked at him......and that is puttin it nicely.....He then (Linn) looks me straight into the eye----Blows me a kiss----and tells me that I will always love him....Hey Linn, ya know that sayin I always say.... about the sun?...... Ohhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Back to the subject.........Here is one of me and Craig Beam.....for those of you who don't know him...........He is Parker Beam's (Heaven Hill's Master Distiller) son......when Parker retires Craig will take his place..........This was taken at the booth on Saturday Night during the festival.......

By the way-----while I am thinkin about it-----------JIM BUTLER YA OWE ME $125.00-----I WORE YOUR STRAIGHTBOURBON TEE SHIRT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT------AT THE BOOTH-----GREAT ADVERTISING---I should know----------lots of folks asked questions about STRAIGHTBOURBON---You can thank Chuck for such a high price..... I was only gonna charge ya $50 but do ya remember Chuck doing his auctioneer chant gettin it that high? -------Ohhhhhhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhhh We had a great time!!!!!

Bettye Jo

[cowdery]

A bargain at twice the price. The StraightBourbon logo has never looked better.

[brendaj]

Betty Jo,

I am sooooooo sorry. I still haven't put the Buffalo Trace photos up yet. I've been working so hard (making up for past sins... ) and now I have this killer head cold (whine).

Did you try to drop that jacket and any photos off? I had to spend a couple of days in Louisville and I hope I didn't miss you. I wanna see everyone's photos too.

Bj

[brendaj]

Whoohoo...BettyE Jo (I'm sorry I forgot the 'e' last post)...I felt so guilty about the photos, I drug my old, sick ass off the couch and posted them. No copy, no header, just the photos. I've misplaced a disk full from the tasting in the large room. They'll turn up eventually...

I'm snarfling around in big, fluffy bunny slippers, with a box of Kleenex in one hand and a bottle of Woodford Reserve in the other. Another Hot Toddy and my blankie an' I'll be all better...

Later,

Beej

[MurphyDawg]

Chris,

Were you telling mr that you got a snort of the four roses single barrel at last years festival Gala? I was wondering what your impressions of it were (as I am sure many others on here are curious about the SB) I would figure that it is quite a bit different than the standard bottling. . . .they talked so much @ their booth and in their literature they were handing out about how they distill so many different bourbons and then mingle them together at the end (seems a shame to all that work for such a slight whiskey, eh?) Well I would think they couldnt do that with the SB. Any opinions, my good pal??

Tom (an inquiring Mind) C

[bluesbassdad]

Beej,

FYI, with your most recent post your personal pic has suddenly taken on a fun-house mirror quality.

I had the same thing happen when I first put up the pic of my Cindy girl. I found that I had to include some white space on each side of the content to keep it from getting stretched sideways.

BTW, while I [may] have your attention, is that a barrel you're standing in? Or are you standing behind a pair of saloon doors?

And one more thing, if that Woodford Reserve produces a recovery, you be sure to share that fact with us, OK?

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[brendaj]

Whoohoo Dave,

Ya know, I noticed that I had gained aliddle weight the last time I was here. But somehow, given the way I felt, it seemed appropriate... Thanks for the tip, I'll have to poke around and see what I screwed up...

Although it's not totally impossible that I might be standing in a barrel, or far more likely, a saloon... I am infact, standing in the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

And yes sir, I do believe there is a valuable, medicinal property in Bourbon. Curing what ails you from the inside out...

Beej

[Gillman]

Just picking up on this post of some months back from Chuck Cowdery to stimulate some discussion (not that I've had much luck lately!) on blended American whiskey.

Recently in bars I tried Corby's American Whiskey and Barton's Whiskey, both being blends from the deepest part of the well.

I thought it might be interesting to try them straight up as opposed to going with Maker's, Jack Daniel's or Jim Beam White which seem to be the straight whiskey generally carried by bars not specialising in bourbon.

The Barton's, would, I thought, be the best of the two and it was. I thought it would taste like a diluted bourbon from Barton's. Actually it has its own flavor profile.

It is spicy, fairly rich, with a young whiskey taste more than a vodka taste. Yet there are older caramel/rum notes in there too. Not bad at all to drink straight when a milder taste is wanted. I could see this being excellent to drink with beer, or of course in a cocktail or with mixers.

Corby's was less successful, having mostly a clean neutral alcohol finish but with some flavour from the small amount (I assume) of straight whiskey in there.

I have never tried Kessler's or most other American blends but I think Barton's is probably amongst the best.

I believe this style of blended whiskey (quite different from our oaky Canadian style) may be a survivor of the kind of whisky that was widely sold immediately after Prohibition, ie. "cut" whiskey as it was called.

Whiskey was cut to stretch the very limited stocks of straight whiskey available in late 1933. My understanding is the average blend of the time was made from some (not much) aged and older whiskey (made before Prohibition, or during Prohibition under special licence), neutral grain spirits, and flavourings of some kind (rum, sherry, etc.), just as Chuck says it is made today.

American blended is I guess a less respectable off-shoot of the straight whiskey family but it is a well-made product and some, certainly Barton's, are well worth trying.

One blend I can't find but which is still made I think is Mount Vernon. This was originally a renowned straight rye. Some time after the war (Second War) it became a blend.

Michael Jackson in his landmark 1988 World Guide To Whisky calls the current Mount Vernon a rye-leaning blend, and it would be nice to think (if still made) it has echos of the great whiskey Mount Vernon once was.

Cy

[boone]

I lost my Aunt Jo, Sunday.

This picture, was taken during our 2003 Gazebo party, during the bourbon festival. For those of you who don't know her. She is the fine looking lady, on the left. The other's are Evelyn Franz, Marvin Franz, and Mary Hite.

Bettye Jo

[boone]

About her...

[pepcycle]

Bettye Jo,

The Patty was devastated to hear about Aunt Jo. She and Patty talked the whole night at the Gazebo and then some at the gala. Jo was so thrilled to be at the Gala, thanks to the generosity, I believe, of one of our own SB.COM members. My deepest sympathy to you and your family. God Bless Her Soul.