75th Anniversary of Keeneland Maker's Mark bottle

[SMOWK]

SMOWK - I take it you place Pappy 23 above 15 and 20 yr? Just curious, been waiting to pull the trigger on the 23, but I always hear compared to the 20, it's just not worth it.

[WsmataU]

SMOWK - I take it you place Pappy 23 above 15 and 20 yr? Just curious, been waiting to pull the trigger on the 23, but I always hear compared to the 20, it's just not worth it.

Nope we're officially off topic here...lol. I'm one of those guys you are referring to. I've had all three 15/20/23 and strongly believe the 20 is head and shoulders above the rest. The 15 would come in second place out of those three. I just didn't enjoy my 23 and it made me regret missing the opportunity to buy 2 x 20s for that price. Of course SMOWK gets it for practically free :grin:.

That said, it's not clear to me what SMOWK meant about the decanter set vs the "regular" 23. This isn't a Hirsch re-do. The ORVW decanter set is different bourbon (hence the name Old Rip vs Pappy).

While I'm at it I'll defend (and get us back on topic) the MM collectibles to a degree. For those of us that have been around a while the MM collectibles started as a "special" bottle generally for Kentuckians. If you've ever been to Keeneland you'll understand what I mean. Tourists go to Churchill Downs. Keeneland is where people "in the know" take friends when they want a taste of KY. I agree MM cot carried away with the marketing and NFL bottles, but the Keeneland and UK bottles still find a soft spot in my "do not touch" liquor cabinet. It is just like a coin collection IMHO.

[SMOWK]

That said, it's not clear to me what SMOWK meant about the decanter set vs the "regular" 23. This isn't a Hirsch re-do. The ORVW decanter set is different bourbon (hence the name Old Rip vs Pappy).

Meaning that I wouldn't spend the extra money if the juice in that decanter was Pappy 23. Being that it is ORVW 23/114, I thought it was worth the $320+tax that I paid. Unfortunately, those did not come as cheap as others. I don't know why Maryland gets such a good deal on the BT stuff, but they do.

While I'm at it I'll defend (and get us back on topic) the MM collectibles to a degree. For those of us that have been around a while the MM collectibles started as a "special" bottle generally for Kentuckians. If you've ever been to Keeneland you'll understand what I mean. Tourists go to Churchill Downs. Keeneland is where people "in the know" take friends when they want a taste of KY. I agree MM cot carried away with the marketing and NFL bottles, but the Keeneland and UK bottles still find a soft spot in my "do not touch" liquor cabinet. It is just like a coin collection IMHO.

Understood. :bowdown: Somehow you made me get it.

[squire]

Dale profits don't come out of their pockets.

[NeoTexan]

Dale profits don't come out of their pockets.

I understand what you are trying to say, but at least they are doing something for the community. They could be selling these bottles to collectors for more than the normal pricing and just lining their own pockets.

It may just all be an advertising ploy, but at least some good is coming from it.

[SMOWK]

It may just all be an advertising ploy, but at least some good is coming from it.

Another good reason...

[WsmataU]

Meaning that I wouldn't spend the extra money if the juice in that decanter was Pappy 23. Being that it is ORVW 23/114, I thought it was worth the $320+tax that I paid. Unfortunately, those did not come as cheap as others. I don't know why Maryland gets such a good deal on the BT stuff, but they do.

[SMOWK]

A liquor license is the first step to cutting out the middle man.

[craigthom]

All the bottles don't have to be gone from the shelves for it to be sold out. There just needs to be none left for them to sell to wholesalers (and what's available at the distillery counts as sold, too, since I'm pretty sure it has been sold to a wholesaler and purchased back. Long live the three tier system!)

While collecting bottles of Maker's Mark is not my thing*, I really don't have a problem with people who do it. I collect pressed pennies, which other people think is odd. I've also got a few old cameras (although I've put restrictions on my camera collecting to keep it in check).

I have a problem with Maker's Mark fans who insist that it is the greatest bourbon ever and that they don't have any desire to even taste anything else, but that's a different issue (and not because of their choice of bourbon but because of their choice of blinders).

But the collecting? Sure, I think that's an awfully expensive and, to me, silly hobby, but so is collecting toys kept in their original packaging. It's not something I would do*, but I'm sure I do things they wouldn't do and that they would think silly. Silly things make life interesting.

*I do have two bottles of Maker's Mark I'm not likely to open: both are 375ml bottles I dipped myself. The first is a regular one I got on my first tour; the second is the special bottle from last year's Homecoming.

[White Dog]

SMOWK - I take it you place Pappy 23 above 15 and 20 yr? Just curious, been waiting to pull the trigger on the 23, but I always hear compared to the 20, it's just not worth it.

love to hear any varying opinions.

To stay on topic - I won't be collecting this bottling of Maker's

Hello Kevin. Late to this thread and WAY off topic, but I'd like to give my 2 cents. I go back and forth between favoring the 15 and the 20, as both are extremely different. I know the 20 is too woody and dry for some, but on certain days the flavors are so layered as to be amazing. On other days, the 15 is so hedonistic in it's rich envelope of maple and spice and butter that I want to drink nothing else.

Having had the 23 for free on a few occasions, I can't imagine ever buying it. It always falls flat to me.

I'll drop loads of money on the 15 and 20 and continue the exploration, but the 23? Not so much. Find a bar/restaurant that pours it, if you can, and order a glass. You may never buy it again.

[proof and age]

Looked at the bottle today, does not say Straight. Anybody else notice that?

[callmeox]

Looked at the bottle today, does not say Straight. Anybody else notice that?

I squinted at a bunch of pix of the 2010 bottle online and they also lack the "straight" designation.

I'm sure there's a good reason for it. :grin:

[cowdery]

Best reason of all. It didn't fit into the design and its absence won't reduce sales one iota. They don't need it.

It's not on the 46 bottle either. Same reason.