What bourbon are you drinking in Australia? - Winter 2011

[HighTower]

The only GT Stagg i've tried was CamDuncan's 2004 Stagg which i found to be truly amazing with a strong chocolate after-taste. Tonight i am cracking a 2009 Stagg and hoping it is as good or better. :grin:

Oh you must be forgetting the stellar 2005 131.8 Stagg we finished off at the Bowery that day! What I would trade for a bottle of that!!

Scott

[HighTower]

Caught up with Hightower and his family last night for a fantastic dinner & drinks.

Tried some Jim Beam 1795, followed by some 1972 Barrel C, 1792 KBS Barrel of the year, Old Overholt Rye, Angels Envy, Elmer T Lee Barrel C and finished with some WL Weller KBS Barrel of the year.

The 1792 Barrel C & Angels Envy were definate standouts, while the Old Overholt was the bargain of the night (cost $10.88 when I was in Hawaii last month)

That Weller never ceases to amaze me, and the 1792s were great! ETL also a favourite....

Good food any company made it a great night!!

What did you think of the 1795 Cam? JB Black in a fancy dress?

You're not far off the mark, Tym. Tastes a bit older than JBB but that's about it. Nice bourbon but I'd rather buy 4 bottles of BT for my money....

[Stones]

Oh you must be forgetting the stellar 2005 131.8 Stagg we finished off at the Bowery that day! What I would trade for a bottle of that!!

Scott

I did forget about that 2005 Stagg at the Bowery! :shocked: Now that you mention it i do remember it being outstanding, pity we were finishing it off and not starting it. Some of that night afterwards has erased from my long term memory - too many mint juleps! A bloody good night was had! :grin:

[Stones]

That Weller never ceases to amaze me, and the 1792s were great! ETL also a favourite....

Good food any company made it a great night!!

You're not far off the mark, Tym. Tastes a bit older than JBB but that's about it. Nice bourbon but I'd rather buy 4 bottles of BT for my money....

Yeah i saw this at Dan Murphy's for an amusing $AU189 but as you say would prefer to buy four of something else. I was pleasantly surprised to see DM now stocks Eagle Rare via Southtrade for around $64. Not bad considering how much it would cost to ship our own through customs - so i bought one.

:toast:

[HighTower]

Yeah i saw this at Dan Murphy's for an amusing $AU189 but as you say would prefer to buy four of something else. I was pleasantly surprised to see DM now stocks Eagle Rare via Southtrade for around $64. Not bad considering how much it would cost to ship our own through customs - so i bought one.

:toast:

I saw them selling it for 70 which I thought was decent, 64 is a great price, solid bourbon.

Scott

[HighTower]

The unfortunate part of them stocking Buffalo Trace is it has now dropped to 80 proof from 90 proof. It will allow them to be available in more places due to the price drop, but an unfortunate thing to have to do.

I love BT but will be buying all the 90 proof I can while it can still be found here.....

Scott

[Pieface]

The unfortunate part of them stocking Buffalo Trace is it has now dropped to 80 proof from 90 proof. It will allow them to be available in more places due to the price drop, but an unfortunate thing to have to do.

I love BT but will be buying all the 90 proof I can while it can still be found here.....

Scott

The proof drop is codswallop. It's just grabbing more margin. Sure the bottle price "may" drop about $5 when it is introduced but it will be back $50+ again within a few months. I can assure BT that I won't buy any 80 proof whiskey on principle. I'd rather give my money to HH.

I'm pretty pissed off about the pricing atm on bourbon. Rarebreed is over $80 here now, EC12 is over $50 unless you nab a special. There is very little I can justify spending the coin on. I am mostly drinking beer again these days. I can grab a couple of great Belgian/German etc beers for about $15 and scratch my itch for a quality beverage.

[camduncan]

The proof drop is codswallop. It's just grabbing more margin.

I had a conversation with Ken Webber from BT several years ago when they were looking at the logistics of launching in the Australian market. One of their BIG concerns was that the Australian taxation system saw them coming into the market priced well above brands like Makers Mark and Elijah Craig 12yo, when in the US they are priced at almost half the price of those brands and compete with the likes of Jim Beam White and Jack Daniels. So whilst I don't doubt the proof drop is profit driven, I do expect it's also to try and position them closer to their real market competitors.

[camduncan]

Yeah i saw this at Dan Murphy's for an amusing $AU189 but as you say would prefer to buy four of something else. I was pleasantly surprised to see DM now stocks Eagle Rare via Southtrade for around $64. Not bad considering how much it would cost to ship our own through customs - so i bought one.

:toast:

Have you opened it yet Tym? What did you think? I had my first try a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. I hear Southtrade 'might' have some limited stocks of Eagle Rare 17yo, but I'm not sure how we'd get hold of some...

[Pieface]

The proof drop is codswallop. It's just grabbing more margin.

I had a conversation with Ken Webber from BT several years ago when they were looking at the logistics of launching in the Australian market. One of their BIG concerns was that the Australian taxation system saw them coming into the market priced well above brands like Makers Mark and Elijah Craig 12yo, when in the US they are priced at almost half the price of those brands and compete with the likes of Jim Beam White and Jack Daniels. So whilst I don't doubt the proof drop is profit driven, I do expect it's also to try and position them closer to their real market competitors.

They still aren't going to get within a cooee of JB or JD pricewise. They will have a product at a premium with no point of difference. I can't believe they are going to find around $15/750ml at regular retail pricing from a 10 proof drop. Can you explain how they are at a disadvantage under our system? EC12 and MM are similar proof so I'm not sure where the big impost is coming in...?

[camduncan]

The proof drop is codswallop. It's just grabbing more margin.

They still aren't going to get within a cooee of JB or JD pricewise. They will have a product at a premium with no point of difference. I can't believe they are going to find around $15/750ml at regular retail pricing from a 10 proof drop. Can you explain how they are at a disadvantage under our system? EC12 and MM are similar proof so I'm not sure where the big impost is coming in...?

I'm trying to remember conversations from several years ago.... I guess I understood it to mean proof was irrelevent in their calculations - they were more concerned with market positioning and where their base product was designed to fit into the overall market. In the US it is their bottom shelf entry level product, like Beam White Label is for Jim Beam and Heaven Hill White Label (Nelson County) is for Heaven Hill, and that is where it's meant to compete.

Don't forget, I'm on the same page - I'm pissed they're dropping the proof! But if that's what they need to do to stay in the market, I'd rather a lower proof BT than none at all.

[Pieface]

Sorry if it seems like I am having a crack Cam, I'm certainly not intending to come across as such. Just disappointed in BT especially as they said they would not drop proof when they entered the market. I just don't see how they think this is a positive step forward.

[PaulO]

BT has several 80 proof bourbons in the US that are priced well under their 90 proof Buffalo Trace: Benchmark, Old Taylor (until they use up the barrels they got from Beam), and Old Charter 8 year old. I don't know why they they would want to deminish their flagship brand. It seems like they could just export some of the lower priced brands they allredy have.

[Pieface]

I saw Benchmark on the shelf the other day...

[camduncan]

I saw Benchmark on the shelf the other day...

That's really interesting.... the BT event I went to a couple of weeks ago gave us a taste of Benchmark, and pointed it out as a product not available in Australia.... I guess they had their facts wrong?

[Stones]

Have you opened it yet Tym? What did you think? I had my first try a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. I hear Southtrade 'might' have some limited stocks of Eagle Rare 17yo, but I'm not sure how we'd get hold of some...

Haven't opened it yet Cam, I intend to this weekend. :grin:

[Pieface]

That's really interesting.... the BT event I went to a couple of weeks ago gave us a taste of Benchmark, and pointed it out as a product not available in Australia.... I guess they had their facts wrong?

Rechecked last night. Definitely BT Benchmark @ 80 proof. $38 bux. This is the store that has ETL and ER10/90 currently

[HighTower]

Well......spent a week in Melbourne and caught up with a good friend of mine, Adam.

We went through 21 different whiskeys on a lazy Saturday afternoon/night.

In this particular order....

Mint Julep made with Eagle Rare 10

Very Xtra Old Fitz barreled 58 bottled 68

1792 Single Barrel Barrel "C"

Sazerac 18 2009

Van Winkle Rye

Russells Reserve Rye

Vintage 23 Rye

Rittenhouse 25

Pappy 23 SB

Jim Beam 6 Grain

WT Tribute 110 proof (japan version)

WT Kentucky Spirit 1994 pewter

Jim Beam 1795

Bruichladdich Maine Mhor 3D (I still dont get scotch)

Four Roses Mariage 09

Parkers Heritage 27yo

Angel's Envy

Old Rip 10/107

Parkers Heritage barrel Proof (1st release)

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Jim Beam Red Stag

GTS 09

a sazerac made with Van Winkle Rye and Hennessy paradis extra

Yeah, I know right.......I must say this was over about a 7 hour period and they were about 10-15ml pours.

It was an awesome day with great food and company, and the standouts were (in no particular order) VXOF, WT KS 94, Ritt 25, FR mariage, GTS09

btw, who follows Red Stag with George T Stagg??:skep:

Scott

[camduncan]

What was the Vintage 23 Rye like Scott?

[HighTower]

What was the Vintage 23 Rye like Scott?

I couldn't believe when I opened it, overwhelming smell of ripe cherries.

It's a great rye Cam, thanks you, a much appreciated gift :grin:

It was by far the darkest whiskey we had too.....much darker that parkers 27 or rittenhouse 25, almost resembled seasoned oak!

Scott

[camduncan]

Rechecked last night. Definitely BT Benchmark @ 80 proof. $38 bux. This is the store that has ETL and ER10/90 currently

Hey Morgan, can you PM or post the details of the store and if it's a chain store or independant one? I'm in NSW for the weekend and would definately pick up some Benchmark if I can find it here.

[Pieface]

Over here they are called liquor barons. Not sure who their tie up is with Nationally sorry...

[spy247]

Even though this cut in BT Proof has been coming for over a year and I have stock piled heaps, It is still very disappointing. Again we are given the short end of the stick.

On a brighter note the local availabilty of ER10/90 at Liquor Barons and Dans gives us something to be happy about.

Currently sipping my way through some Four Roses & ETL

[jcg9779]

Having my first pour of Vintage 17 y/o bourbon. So far it's pretty tasty.

[Stones]

Well......spent a week in Melbourne and caught up with a good friend of mine, Adam.

We went through 21 different whiskeys on a lazy Saturday afternoon/night.

In this particular order....

Mint Julep made with Eagle Rare 10

Very Xtra Old Fitz barreled 58 bottled 68

1792 Single Barrel Barrel "C"

Sazerac 18 2009

Van Winkle Rye

Russells Reserve Rye

Vintage 23 Rye

Rittenhouse 25

Pappy 23 SB

Jim Beam 6 Grain

WT Tribute 110 proof (japan version)

WT Kentucky Spirit 1994 pewter

Jim Beam 1795

Bruichladdich Maine Mhor 3D (I still dont get scotch)

Four Roses Mariage 09

Parkers Heritage 27yo

Angel's Envy

Old Rip 10/107

Parkers Heritage barrel Proof (1st release)

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Jim Beam Red Stag

GTS 09

a sazerac made with Van Winkle Rye and Hennessy paradis extra

Yeah, I know right.......I must say this was over about a 7 hour period and they were about 10-15ml pours.

It was an awesome day with great food and company, and the standouts were (in no particular order) VXOF, WT KS 94, Ritt 25, FR mariage, GTS09

btw, who follows Red Stag with George T Stagg??:skep:

Scott

Wow! That's an impressive day of libations Scottie, even if you did only do 15ml pours. Such an array of different profiles, many I'm sure were incredible - oh the envy... :grin: