Which young whiskies are better than their older siblings?

[Sijan]

Thought this post (and the comments) on John Hansell's blog was pretty interesting:

http://blog.maltadvocate.com/2009/08/11/which-young-whiskies-are-better-than-their-older-siblings/#comments

Among other things, Hansell mentions:

And I’ll take just about any Evan Williams over their 23 yr. old offering for the export market (too much wood for me).

Most comments discuss scotch bottlings, but there is a clear consensus leaning toward Pappy 15 over Pappy 20 (which I also agree with)

I am a little surprised that no one mentioned Elijah Craig 12 over EC18 (so I'm about to do just that)

Your proposals or comments?

[jburlowski]

I agree with you on all points. I'd add (for some years anyway) ER 10 over ER 17... again because of too much oak.

[MJL]

Interesting comments. I have to say the more I drink Bourbon the more I think that, for my tastes, there seems to be a sweet spot of about 4-8 summers of aging. I am not turning down older corn likker but I'm not sure the extra prices equate in extra value for me.

[Stones]

I've had many EC12's and think it's a fantastic pour, every now and again i get a bad bottle. I've only ever bought one EC18 and it was like nail polish so i am yet to appreciate a good bottle. So for me the 12 is far better until the time i can compare with a good batch...

[Phantos]

I agree with you on all points. I'd add (for some years anyway) ER 10 over ER 17... again because of too much oak.

I completely agree and will raise you one...

I prefer the youth of BT to ER10/90.

same juice right?

[p_elliott]

I completely agree and will raise you one...

I prefer the youth of BT to ER10/90.

same juice right?

No if I'm not mistaken BT is a high rye and ER is a low rye.

[gothbat]

I tend to enjoy the older whiskey more however there have definitely been a few times where younger is definitely the way to go. I've had one bottle of EC12 and one bottle of EC18 and I recall enjoying the EC12 more than the 18. I thought that my first pour of the 18 was phenomenal but I'm fairly certain that this was due to environmental factors because every pour I had since then tasted nothing like the first while the 12 was good till the end. If every pour of the 18 after the first tasted even almost as good as the first I think I'd be saying the opposite of what I'm saying now. Now that I'm thinking of EC12 I think I'm going to try and pick up a bottle at lunch or on the way home! The only other one I can think of is PVW15 and Lot b. I'm not a fan of the 15 like I used to be however even back when I loved it I was hard pressed to say one was better than the other but now I think Lot b is the clear winner because it's much sweeter and doesn't have a lot of wood.

[Josh]

The only other one I can think of is PVW15 and Lot b. I'm not a fan of the 15 like I used to be however even back when I loved it I was hard pressed to say one was better than the other but now I think Lot b is the clear winner because it's much sweeter and doesn't have a lot of wood.

I would agree, and go further. I think ORVW 10/107 is the best of the VW family.

[ILLfarmboy]

I completely agree and will raise you one...

I prefer the youth of BT to ER10/90.

same juice right?

No if I'm not mistaken BT is a high rye and ER is a low rye.

Also, I think BT is roughly 8-9 years old verses ER10 at 10-10+ years.

Anyone remember just how old BT is and where on SB I may have read that. A search turned up far too many results to wade through.

[nor02lei]

I would agree, and go further. I think ORVW 10/107 is the best of the VW family.

I do agree to that Josh!

Leif

[jburlowski]

Also, I think BT is roughly 8-9 years old verses ER10 at 10-10+ years.

Anyone remember just how old BT is and where on SB I may have read that. A search turned up far too many results to wade through.

[jburlowski]

Interesting comments. I have to say the more I drink Bourbon the more I think that, for my tastes, there seems to be a sweet spot of about 4-8 summers of aging. I am not turning down older corn likker but I'm not sure the extra prices equate in extra value for me.

[DowntownD]

by a small taste margin, and certainly from a value perspective: Baby Saz vs BTAC Saz 18. and I like the 18yr...

[George]

For me, they sweet spot is 8 - 12.

[fishnbowljoe]

For me, they sweet spot is 8 - 12.

[unclebunk]

I guess I'm in the minority on this one when it comes to age, in most cases anyway. I absolutely prefer the Pappy 15 to the Lot B, which I find a tad thin and lacking that last bit of "oomph" that I like. Having said that, I greatly preferred the Pappy 15 to the Pappy 20. I simply didn't care for it much and certainly don't think it's worth the extra dough. I love EC12 as well but thoroughly enjoy the EC18 too. I just can't afford it as often, given that it's nearly double the price. And I couldn't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the Sazerac 18.

I guess I'm just an "oak head" and enjoy that burnished heavy flavor that age can occasionally impart, though many of my favorites (VOB BIB to name just one) are only six to eight years old. Go figure? At the end of the day, there's room to appreciate all of these bottles without getting too much into the "good-better-best" conundrum.

[CygnusX-1]

I guess I'm in the minority on this one when it comes to age, in most cases anyway.

I guess I'm just an "oak head" and enjoy that burnished heavy flavor that age can occasionally impart, though many of my favorites (VOB BIB to name just one) are only six to eight years old. Go figure? At the end of the day, there's room to appreciate all of these bottles without getting too much into the "good-better-best" conundrum.

well said...(and off topic, is your username a reference to the John Candy film? i love that movie!)

[unclebunk]

well said...(and off topic, is your username a reference to the John Candy film? i love that movie!)

Too many people I know get caught up in "which one's best," when my experience has been that two bottles of similar vintage or comparable mashbills can differ quite a bit but be equally good for different reasons. It all comes down to personal preference at some point, and things that I didn't like a year ago I love today simply due to more exposure to higher aged juice. And no, the "unclebunk" handle didn't come from the movie but is used in honor of my father's favorite uncle who ran a tiny corner bar in Troy, New York for fifty-plus years until some punk beat him to death for the $80 that he refused to hand over. Sad story about a great guy who loved his bourbon!