Old Heaven Hill BiB vs. Old Heaven Hill 8 y/o

[Brisko]

Well, the 8/86 is pretty decent. Tastes like bourbon :grin:

Smells pretty grassy, a little mentholated. Goes down easy. I'd say it drinks better than it noses, if that makes sense. There's definitely some nice rye spice in the palate and it finishes clean. Very brief, but clean.

I'll have to grab a bottle of the 4y/o BiB to compare it to, eventually. But, I'm happy with it, given the price (and my expectations weren't high).

[squire]

Ethan the HH BIB we get has the white label but is 4yrs so the same stuff or close. A true bargain, ours is a little over $10 a bottle.

[ethangsmith]

Does it seem to have a very high rye content in it? That's what I love about the HH BIB that I get- it's real dry and full of rye. It's VERY similar to OGD BIB if you drink them neat side by side- only the HH BIB is half the price!

[CorvallisCracker]

Yesterday I was in the store that used to carry the VROHH 8/86, and its former place on the shelf is now occupied by HH Green Label 6/90. At $10.45 it's $2.50 less than EWBL. I'm wondering how they (HHGL and EWBL) compare.

[squire]

Ethan I wouldn't say high rye, not so much as Grand Dad, noticeable though with a traditional Bourbon flavor profile.

[ethangsmith]

I was thinking the dry flavor was from the rye in it, but I guess it's not. What makes that wonderful dry flavor in OGD, HH BIB, Booker's, and Knob Creek?

[squire]

Ethan it could be part of the barrel influence spiced by the rye.

[ethangsmith]

That makes sense. The dry, earthy flavor is what attracts me to OGD BIB and OHH BIB and has made those two bourbons my favorites.

[BFerguson]

Well , after reading this thread earlier last week, and then seeing a small gathering of liters and handles on the bottle shelf at a store this weekend of the VROHH 8y/o, I said, why not, the price is right to try it. THink I paid around $12 for the liter.

First couple of glasses, it was good, nothing to write hoe about. There was something a bit off in each of the first couple of glasses when starting the drink, but did improve a fair amount by the end of the glass.

Tonight, much better start, and hopefully expecting much better finish. While not quite worthy of standing on it's own,I think it couple be a new staple bourbon with plenty of ice. I know some think ice is just plain wrong, but to each their own. Everybody is entitled to their opinions, and mine certainly lean to that there is a bourbon for every situation.

I've been hitting a lot of the local stores hard lately on the collection for a small project, and when I think back , I don't remember seeing this particular bottling in but the one where i picked it up. For the price it is certainly worth picking up a couple to stash away for future enjoyment. Especially since it seems like it is on the way out, or already is by the previous replies.

For what it is worth, the bottle that I have has a 10 on the bottom for the date code.

Looks like another trip is i order

[Brisko]

I've been seeing more of it around, actually.

It's great over ice, and at that price I don't really expect it to be a sipping whiskey. I will say, though, that at 8 years, it lacks the copmplexity you'd expect. Instead of complexity and maturity, the age shows in the dryness and tannicity. I think it's the same aspect that gives EWB its clean, short finish, but amplified. To me it's a little off-putting.

I guess it's a demonstration that age statements aren't always an indicator of superior quality. EWB is in the same price range and I give it a slight edge. It's barely even on the same planet as EWSB, its one-year-older cousin.

Don't get me wrong. I like it. It actually reminds me a lot of Beam White without the Beam yeast.

[BFerguson]

I agree to the off-putting comment. There is something vaguely there, but seems to be lessening the more I taste it. Absolutely, age is not everything, there are bottles that are great for young, and at the other end, there are some that are just way past their prime.

On ice is the way to go with this one. Looking forward to the warmer days to sit on the front porch with a glass at my side, dog at my foot, and paper in hand on a lazy weekend.

And yes, there was another trip to procure more for the cellar. Good price to stash away at. Plus there weresome BT experimental's that were calling out to me to give a good home to.:grin:

[Bbstout]

On 1/21/2011 at 5:34 PM, CorvallisCracker said:

Although there's no bottling date on the bottles, I was told by the owner of the liquor store where I'd been buying them that his last case of it had a date of May 2001 printed on the case. The seven bottles I bought in December have an 01 on the bottom of the bottle. So I'm pretty sure that the stuff I've been buying these past 2.5 years was distilled at the now-destroyed Bardstown distillery.

It may be that they've produced some more. It would be from Bernheim, and even though it might be good, I doubt it tastes like the old DSP-31 stuff.

Mike, where are you, BTW?

Added via edit:

Okay, I see from this post you must be in Minnesota.

I'm starting to believe that the only two customers for this have been the OLCC and some distributor in Minnesota. Both ran out (probably late last year) and HH has produced some more.

As for the 11 bottle date, it might be the same bottle used for EW (I need to compare them), in which case the bottle producer ships them as fast as they make them, and HH fills them as fast as they get them.

Is there any way to date VROHH bottles? It looks like anything bottled before 2004 would be pre fire DSP-31.