Beam releases a new Old Crow?

[cowdery]

A better answer from Beam came today:

"Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. There was a misprint on the initial labels. OCR is bottled at a higher proof, but distilled at the same proof as Old Crow."

[T Comp]

I'm going to make a prediction. That back label probably was a goof. It says “distilled to a higher proof†but probably should have just said, "bottled at a higher proof." I'll try to get them to admit the flub but it may take a while to work my way up to someone in the organization who understands the question.

Wow, done in three days! That's warp speed in the corporate world :bowdown: .

[jburlowski]

When Col. Cowdery speaks, they snap to attention. :slappin:

[cowdery]

No, when Col. Cowdery posts about it to straightbourbon.com, they snap to attention. It's not me they care about, it's all of you.

[Stu]

No, when Col. Cowdery posts about it to straightbourbon.com, they snap to attention. It's not me they care about, it's all of you.

Chuck, you've talked me into trying a bottle. I had one a couple of years ago and didn't care that much for it. With all the posts on here I'll give it another shot.

[cowdery]

I haven't tried it yet, so I can't vouch for it.

[Dramiel McHinson]

Old Crow is another bourbon from my distant past that I have fond memories of. In 1963 I was under 4 foot and weighed less than 100 pounds. I had already acquired a taste for bourbon. I didn't drink it, I only tasted it when it was left unattended. The neighbor boys across the street were several years older and much more delinquent than I. One day they produced a pint bottle of Old Crow their father kept hidden from their mother. We all met at the fort in the woods to do a junior tasting where we would remark on our impressions with dedicated if not well trained palates.

I actually liked the taste of Old Crow back then. The element of criminal mischief made it even more delightful. If not for the fear of a painful death at the hands of my mother, who seemed to be able to sniff out these brief episodes in beverage tasting, I would have stayed to sample more.

Later, when I was of age to do so, I stayed with Old Crow until the late 70's. I was unaware of the corporate changes that led Old Crow to the bottom shelf until many years later. What a shame it has seemed to me to take a bourbon of such rich taste and history and improve it to the point of anonymity.

If the corporate wise men/ladies of Beam Global make it all the way down here on the fifth page I would like to ask them if the constraints are too great to bring this once proud bourbon back to relevance with a solid bourbon taste, a respected proof, and a price that causes reasonable men to foresake $40 bottles in mind bending droves.

[Jaysus]

I too have fond memories of the Old Crow... not nearly on the same level as Mr. McHinson, but quite fond none the less.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of this one in the PA monopoly cluster#### that is our state store system.

[cowdery]

I have now tried the new Old Crow Reserve. My full review is here.

The gist of it is, I like it. It's a drinkable $10 to $12 bourbon. The last time I tasted standard Old Crow, I rated it undrinkable, so this is an improvement. It is 86 proof and 4 years old whereas standard OC is 80 proof and 3 years old.

I was expecting that strong, vegetal bitterness I remember from the standard OC, that characterizes a lot of young, nasty bourbons, and it just wasn't there. Instead I got a bit of smokey caramel.

We've been asking Beam to give us something at least a little bit interesting and that's exactly what this is, something a little bit interesting.

[Phantos]

...that's exactly what this is, something a little bit interesting.

[JohnHansell]

I'll throw my two cents in here. I disagree with Chuck. You'll see my review here. I lined it up against Evan Williams (same price point, and they whiskey they said it was designed to compete with), and I invite you to do the same. The Evan Williams was clearly superior--more mature, more complex with greater depth.

[callmeox]

My anectotal evidence to the quality (or lack of quality) of Old Crow Reserve is that Ohio only carries the product in the 1.75L size.

Draw your own conclusions. ;-)

[JohnHansell]

I'll throw my two cents in here. I disagree with Chuck. You'll see my review here. I lined it up against Evan Williams (same price point, and they whiskey they said it was designed to compete with), and I invite you to do the same. The Evan Williams was clearly superior--more mature, more complex with greater depth.

And I mean that with all due respect to Chuck, of course. I forgot to include that in my original comment.

[Rotgut]

I can't wait to try it, but I haven't seen it anywhere yet. Does anyone know anything about its current and / or future distribution?

Mike

[Rotgut]

My anectotal evidence to the quality (or lack of quality) of Old Crow Reserve is that Ohio only carries the product in the 1.75L size.

Draw your own conclusions. ;-)

Of course this is a pertinent point . . .

Mike

[p_elliott]

I'll throw my two cents in here. I disagree with Chuck. You'll see my review here. I lined it up against Evan Williams (same price point, and they whiskey they said it was designed to compete with), and I invite you to do the same. The Evan Williams was clearly superior--more mature, more complex with greater depth.

John

I was surprised you gave EWB such a high rating, I maybe wrong but I have always taken you to be more of a scotch guy. EWB is a more down to earth bourbon I do like it and I think it is a very good value I just was surprised that you found it to be so.

[JohnHansell]

I review all whiskies (and whiskeys). I am an equal opportunity drinker. :grin:

[cowdery]

And I mean that with all due respect to Chuck, of course. I forgot to include that in my original comment.

[TNbourbon]

By popular demand -- :skep: ? -- proof:

[ATTACH]10318[/ATTACH][ATTACH]10319[/ATTACH]

Here's a comparison I did some years back comparing Jim Beam White (4yo) and Jim Beam White 7yo, which is germane to this whiskey:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?p=73766#post73766

As someone earlier suggested, this is 4yo Jim Beam (thus white label) at 86 proof (7yo), so a cross between the ones I described.

The corn/cinnamon taste/nose is dominant. BUT -- and, a big point! -- the 86 proof gives some ooomph! to this bourbon. It was $10.99 locally (Oscar reported a $7.97 price! in Michigan). At that price, it's less than the lowest-level JB. It's a better whiskey.

I've sampled it tonight (in addition to neat out of the bottle) over ice, with ginger ale, and cola. For those purposes, it's fine. It's bourbon. It's $10.99 (did I mention that already?) -- the only way to get lower-priced bourbon around here is to buy 4yo, generic Heaven Hill bottlings (which I frequently do).

If you don't keep a 'kitchen whiskey' in the house, this probably won't interest you. If you do, though, you should check it out. Pace Martha S., but it's a good thing.

I have now tried the new Old Crow Reserve. My full review is here.

The gist of it is, I like it. It's a drinkable $10 to $12 bourbon. The last time I tasted standard Old Crow, I rated it undrinkable, so this is an improvement. It is 86 proof and 4 years old whereas standard OC is 80 proof and 3 years old.

I was expecting that strong, vegetal bitterness I remember from the standard OC, that characterizes a lot of young, nasty bourbons, and it just wasn't there. Instead I got a bit of smokey caramel.

We've been asking Beam to give us something at least a little bit interesting and that's exactly what this is, something a little bit interesting.

I'll throw my two cents in here. I disagree with Chuck. You'll see my review here. I lined it up against Evan Williams (same price point, and they whiskey they said it was designed to compete with), and I invite you to do the same. The Evan Williams was clearly superior--more mature, more complex with greater depth.

And with all due respect to you, John, what is it I wrote with which you disagree? You took a different tack, skinned the cat a different way, but I can't spot the disagreement.

(With tongue firmly planted in cheek:skep:) Hey, can I get a dog in this cat fight (all due respect all around, of course, ya know:soapbox:)? Or does it require a book or magazine? (All I have is 25 years of newspaper scraps!)

Just a lowly, willful arrogant:cool:,

Tim

[JohnHansell]

And with all due respect to you, John, what is it I wrote with which you disagree? You took a different tack, skinned the cat a different way, but I can't spot the disagreement.

Chuck, since you asked. You say in your review:

"Is it worth drinking? Yes, it is. And that's saying something, since the standard Old Crow is not. There is for me now a drinkable/undrinkable line that Old Crow conveniently straddles. Standard Old Crow is just barely on the wrong side and Old Crow Reserve is just barely on the right side."

I don't think it is worth drinking. Not when there are clearly superior whiskies, like Evan Williams, available for the same price (or even lower). I think OCR is on the same side as OC. The wrong side.

[Josh]

What a lame fight this has been! Nobody's called anybody a liar or threatened anyone. Let's pick it up, people.

[DeanSheen]

Well it is quite interesting reading about where the swill line is. It's inspired me to take a shot at EWB since even if I dont like it I wont be out much money.

The OC does not sound very interesting from any of the reviews I've read. Scott did ask me to split a 1.75 but I politely declined.

[pepcycle]

Just as a historical note, Roger started a thread about Beam Stewardship a while back.

Its interesting to read in light of the changes we've seen in OT and OC.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8747&page=2&highlight=old+crow

[JohnHansell]

Actually Chuck. You are right. We really aren't that far apart in our opinions, and it's certainly not making an issue out of it. Moving on...

[callmeox]

Well it is quite interesting reading about where the swill line is. It's inspired me to take a shot at EWB since even if I dont like it I wont be out much money.

The OC does not sound very interesting from any of the reviews I've read. Scott did ask me to split a 1.75 but I politely declined.

Scott who? I already use Goof Off™ to remove heel marks and such from the floor so I don't need most of a liter of OC-R. -f I did ask it must have been in jest.