BTEC - Spring 2011 "Lost Barrels"

[callmeox]

The latest in the Experimental Collection from BT is....the Lost Barrel!

Kris Comstock (from another site):

"In 1998 we acquired the Old Charter brand, along with a large inventory of barrels, approximately 150,000. In a recent audit of our barrel inventory, we found some barrels from this lot. One was empty, one tasted horrible, and the others tasted very nice. Of course we bottled the very nice barrels and are offering these rare finds under our Experimental Collection label."

[OscarV]

So are they going to call the 2011 BTEC, "Old Charter In 375ml Bottles at Pappy 20 Prices"

[barturtle]

Damn! I might just have to seek this out, as I do love me some OC.

[cowdery]

I guess the 'experiment' is just to see if people will buy them.

[DeanSheen]

So are they going to call the 2011 BTEC, "Old Charter In 375ml Bottles at Pappy 20 Prices"

Yeah, not being a true experiment I may have to pass on these.

The original BTEC are fun because they are experiments. This feels like just as you described Oscar.

I wonder if they are still going to do a regular experimental release?

[callmeox]

I guess the 'experiment' is just to see if people will buy them.

Perhaps the original experiment was a flop and these are the backup option?

[doubleblank]

I see this release is actually a set of three. Whiskey barreled in 1989, 1991 and 1993. Gimme a "W"....gimme an "O"......you know the rest. They are old, but don't really fit the experimental theme.

Randy

[Lost Pollito]

I see this release is actually a set of three. Whiskey barreled in 1989, 1991 and 1993. Gimme a "W"....gimme an "O"......you know the rest. They are old, but don't really fit the experimental theme.

Randy

Very similar packaging to the first release. Chard, cab franc, and zin.

[TNbourbon]

Very similar packaging to the first release. Chard, cab franc, and zin.

The first release was French Oak, Double Barreled, and Fire Pot. The two Chard finishes were second, and so on...

I've been non-plussed by the BTEC for quite a while now. I'm all for getting to taste new and different products, but not at exorbitant prices for bottlings -- er, make that a bottling -- I can't re-buy if I AM truly wowed. Especially since I understand none of them have gone to actual production.

Until BT actually begins to produce one of these, I'd have to say the 'experiments' failed, however profitably for them (IF they've made a profit, which I kinda doubt, even at these prices).

[CaptainQ]

Releases by Year

2009

FINE GRAIN OAK:

These barrels were filled July13, 1994 and bottled May 7, 2009. Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 was used and the product entered the barrel at 125 proof. After more than 14 years of aging, the slow-growth of fine grain wood concentrated the sugars and imparted extra doses of caramel and vanilla. The bourbon is rich and exceedingly sweet with an almost syrupy character. It also has a nice balance of flavors and complexity.

COARSE GRAIN OAK:

The filling and aging time on these barrels is the same as with the fine grain. After nearly 15 years in the barrel, this whiskey is dry with a balance of smokiness and wood with herbal qualities. The finish is quick and woody and it is slightly heavy with a powerful complexity.

1993 Double Barreled:

These barrels were filled April 4, 1993 and bottled September 15, 2009. Buffalo Trace Rye Bourbon Mash Bill #2 was used and the product entered the barrel at 125 proof. The bourbon was removed from its original barrel and re-barreled December 12, 2001. At 16 years and five months of age the finished product has a deep, rich flavor that fully expresses the oak character. The re-barreling has taken it far beyond its 16 years. It has a very strong, powerful finish.

1997 Double Barreled:

These barrels were filled November 18, 1997 and bottled September 16, 2009. Buffalo Trace Rye Bourbon Mash Bill #2 was used and the product entered the barrel at 125 proof. The bourbon was removed from its original barrel and re-barreled December 12, 2001. At 11 years and ten months of age the finished product has a complex barrel flavor. It possesses a deep caramel color making it pleasing to the eye as well as the palette. It has a very robust start and finishes smooth.

2008

CABERNET FRANC AGED AFTER SIX YEARS:

This whiskey was bourbon aged for six years and three months in a new oak barrel before it was re-barreled into a used French Oak Cabernet Franc barrel. There it was aged for another eight years, making it a total of 14 years old. Earthy tannins of Cabernet mingle well with the bourbon undertones.

CABERNET FRANC AGED AFTER EIGHT YEARS:

This whiskey was bourbon aged for eight years and one month in a new oak barrel before it was re-barreled into a used French Oak Cabernet Franc barrel. There it was aged for another eight years, making it a total of 16 years old. The taste combines an amazing balance of heavy wine and bourbon character.

17 year-old Rum Marriage:

This consists of two 17 year-old barrels of Rum. One barrel was new and one used. Both barrels were aged on the second floor of Warehouse I in charred oak barrels. The new and used barrel samples developed their own character over the years but neither was inspiring—that all changes when the two barrels came together. The rum aged in new wood offers oak sweetness and rich caramels, while the used barrel aged rum packs intense tannins and heavier rum flavors. The marriage is very balanced.

2007

CHARDONNAY AGED AFTER SIX YEARS:

This whiskey was bourbon that was aged for six years and three months in a new oak barrel before it was re-barreled into a used French oak Chardonnay barrel. There it was aged for another eight years, making it a total of 14 years old. The taste combines the fruitiness from the Chardonnay barrel with smoky vanilla taste of the whiskey.

CHARDONNAY AGED AFTER TEN YEARS:

This whiskey was bourbon aged for ten years and six months in a new oak barrel. Then it was then re-barreled in a used French oak Chardonnay barrel for another 8 years. Aged a total of 18 years this whiskey boasts more oak at the start, but finishes with the fruitiness of the wine influence.

ZINFANDEL AGED AFTER SIX YEARS:

This whiskey was bourbon that was aged for six years and three months in a new oak barrel before it was re-barreled into a used American Oak Zinfandel barrel. There it was aged for another eight years, making it a total of 14 years old. The expected wine fruitiness is absent in the initial palette, but is replaced with an exciting spiciness. It is not the rye-grain spice normally associated with bourbon, but a grape-vine herbal quality that slides across the tongue and lingers for what seems like forever. This is an epic whiskey with grandeur and grace. Old world quaffing of a vine and field mélange.

ZINFANDEL AGED AFTER TEN YEARS:

This whiskey was bourbon aged for ten years and four months in a new oak barrel. Then it was then re-barreled in a used American Oak Zinfandel barrel for another 8 years. Aged a total of 18 years this whiskey carries little subtlety. The original whiskey brings powerful flavors to the refinement of the zinfandel wine barrel. The battle of flavor is won rather than shared by the bourbon. The zinfandel does dance along the edges with its dry herbal flavorings, but the bourbon fills the ballroom with its grain and wood bouquet.

2006

FRENCH OAK:

This bourbon was aged ten years in a French Oak barrel in which the staves were first air-dried for 24 months. The French Oak has given the whiskey a sugary sweetness and dark caramel color.

TWICE BARRELED:

After aging this bourbon for eight years and eight months, this whiskey was put into a brand new barrel. With twice the wood, this whiskey has lots of oak and has a long warm finish.

FIRE POT BARREL:

This barrel was heated to 102°F for 23 minutes to dry the wood prior to filling. The whiskey has a smoky nose, and hints of fruit and tobacco on the pallet.

[Guest wripvanwrinkle]

Today, I picked up a bottle on a whim. Super nose...lots of sweetness. Caramel and vanilla. Almost plum. My first impression was alot of spice, though I don't get that now. It has a quality that I associate with seriously aged bourbon and rye...at that place that I expect to find some kind of baking spice there is something similiar...more refined...like some kind of mythical baking spice that I wouldn't choke on if I ate a tablespoon of it.

The taste doesn't dissapoint the smell. More sweetness, maybe dehydrated apricot. What is strange to me, is that sweetness rolls off of the back of the tongue.

I'm very much enjoying it.

[callmeox]

Which year did you sample?

[Guest wripvanwrinkle]

It was from 1991.

[Rughi]

So are they going to call the 2011 BTEC, "Old Charter In 375ml Bottles at Pappy 20 Prices"

[OscarV]

Old Charter 20+ at Pappy 20 prices?

Charter would get my money first.

[cas]

"In 1998 we acquired the Old Charter brand, along with a large inventory of barrels, approximately 150,000. In a recent audit of our barrel inventory, we found some barrels from this lot. One was empty, one tasted horrible, and the others tasted very nice. Of course we bottled the very nice barrels and are offering these rare finds under our Experimental Collection label."

[RegChumpington]

I see a missed marketing opportunity. If you can sell white dog as something special I bet with the right sales pitch they could have bottled and sold the empty and horrible barrels.

Craig

[cowdery]

To quote Wilde, ""To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."

[gburger]

I got a bottle of all three years. IMO, the 1989 is a little to woody. It is ok, but not worth getting it unless you really got try some 21 year old stuff. The 1991 and 93 is very good.

[Josh]

I picked up a 1993 bottle in Indianapolis yesterday on the way back from French Lick. Great resort there, btw, only 100 miles or so from Indy, 55 from L'ville, 2 beautifully restored historic hotels, bars have good bourbon selection too.

Anyway, I noticed something curious on my bottle. Under barrels, it said "Bluegrass Cooperage", which is the old name for the Brown-Forman cooperage. Was B-F making barrels for UD at the time? Did they make all of their barrels? Anybody know the story on this?

[tmckenzie]

They were probably making barrels for everybody then. I do not know when b-f bought them, but I do not think it was that long ago.

[Bourbon Boiler]

They were probably making barrels for everybody then. I do not know when b-f bought them, but I do not think it was that long ago.

[cowdery]

The cooperage formerly known as Bluegrass, now Brown-Forman Cooperage, has been owned by Brown-Forman for as long as it has been a cooperage. Before that it made rifle butts and other things. Brown-Forman bought it in the 40s and turned it into a cooperage.

Bluegrass sold barrels to the rest of the industry until a few years ago. They basically expanded capacity at the existing plant as much as they could but the need for Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve Barrels keeps growing so a couple of years ago they stopped selling to other producers.

I was at an Evan Williams Single Barrel unveiling one year. I was sitting in front and noticed the "B" on the rivets. Parker was initially embarrassed, then remembered that they had gotten some barrels from Bluegrass that year, though if he had noticed it earlier he probably would have replaced it with an "I."

[Josh]

Thanks for the information Chuck!

[Bourbon Boiler]

Thanks Chuck. Do you know if there are thought to be differences between the cooperages that affect the flavor of whiskey? I would assume if the char level and size/shape are consistant, the manufacturer or location is irrelevant.