Birthday Bourbon '03

[Paradox]

He said the proofs will be 89 for the Fall 1990 and 93 for the Spring 1990. He also said that they plan on using the same bottles as before but with some label design changes here. As for price, let's hope it doesn't go up but maybe down or at least stay the same.

[bourbonmed]

Two cheers...

Kentucky stores are getting 1700 of this year's Vintage OFBB bottles.

(Total production: aprox. 9000)

The Courier-Journal says the Spring 90 vintage, kept on the outer edges of the upper floors of the warehouse, has a long & spicy finish.

The Fall 90 vintage, kept on the interior/lower floors of warehouse, has soft & lingering fruit notes.

Worth noting: Fiscal '02 showed the 1st increase in Old Forester sales in 29 years.

http://www.courier-journal.com/business/news2003/08/29/biz-front-booze29-4121.html

Omar

[Bob]

Omar,

Both sound great! Can't wait to get some at Fest time!

Bob

[ratcheer]

Worth noting: Fiscal '02 showed the 1st increase in Old Forester sales in 29 years.

That is probably due to me.

Tim

[Paradox]

Both sound great! Can't wait to get some at Fest time!

You're not kidding Bob. It will be nice to compare them both and see how location truly has an effect on the final product. Thanks for the updated info Omar.

[CL]

Tasting notes in a business journal. Gotta love it!

[Barrel_Proof]

Brown-Forman selected 15 barrels of each, said brand manager Michael Haering, enough to fill about 9,000 bottles, or a bit more than twice the 4,000 of last year's version from 1989.

According to this story, the bottlings will be equally rare. This differs from the earlier news that one would be a bottling of 450 cases (2,700 bottles) and the other 1,000 cases (6,000 bottles). The total bottling remains the same.

The other real news here is that the fuller bodied of the two is the <font color="green">Spring</font> bottling at 93 proof, the higher of the two proofs, with the <font color="red">Fall</font> bottling being the more subtly flavored of the two, bottled at 89 proof. Each is bottled at a lower proof than last year's inaugural bottling at 95 proof.

It also appears from the image on the biz journal website that the hang tags will differ, the <font color="green">Spring</font> in <font color="green">green</font>, with the <font color="red">Fall</font> in <font color="red">red</font> like last year's vintage 1989 bottling. By the way, last year's bottling was distilled in the early Spring (March 23, 1989).

[kgiammarco]

Lets hope that stuff like this continues... Wouldn't it be great if every bottle of bourbon had some basic info about the mashbill, where it was stored in the warehouse and how many barrels were mingled together to make that particular bottle? i can't understand why everyone doesn't do that already... I would think that it would add individuality to bourbons, almost like vintage dating does...

-chris

[jeff]

Called several local liquor shoppes today and no sign of the Birthday Bourbon. I was told by a gentleman at Shoppers Village that the "sales rep" hadn't mentioned anything about it. Another told me to check back on Thursday. I'll keep you posted as I plan on calling around every day. If anyone else, Bobby, finds any, please let us know (after you have purchased your fair share of course )

[brendaj]

Jeff,

If anyone else, Bobby, finds any, please let us know (after you have purchased your fair share of course )

I talked to Guthrie (Toddy's) yesterday, and he doesn't think he's gonna get much more than about 6 bottles of only one expression. He had been expecting it last week, but it didn't happen.

You might try my buddy Morgan (you met him @ Shoppers Village). He's changed positions, he's now assistant manager @ one of your bigger Liquor Barns. I'm sure the folks @ SV can tell you which one.

Actually, I'd love for them (Moe & his SO) to join us on the Buffalo Trace tour if it would be ok with everyone. I've been trying to get him to join the group, but I'm not sure he's comfortable with the computer thing... I keep telling him what a great bunch of guys ya'll are...

Bj

[boone]

Brenda,

I stopped by Toddy's last night on my lunch break...They told me the same thing...

Hey...I talked to a lot of sweet old "Home Boyz" on the phone...I called all around...Lebanon, Howardstown, New Haven, Bloomfield...They'd answer with the reply...Birthday what?...who's birthday is it...Then as ya can imagine...I like to mess with em...and the plot thickens ...

Perry came to visit us last night...There were lots of kisses and hugs for him and his wife Debbie...He left this morning at 8...They do the surgery at 6 a.m. Thursday morning...

Bettye Jo

[bourbonmed]

As Bettye Jo said 'the plot thickens'.

Just spoke w the folks at Commonwealth Wine & Spirits (official distributors of Old Forester in KY). They should have it 'any day'. Initially, they are releasing just one vintage (Spring) to be followed 'in a few weeks' by the Fall vintage.

Sorry folks, we may not have access to both vintages during the festival.

Omar

[Paradox]

They should be for making us wait weeks between each release... That's just not right... Not only does it make comparing them both side by side during the festival impossible, but those of us living outside of KY may find it even harder to find them both now. Oh well, as always, thanks for the updates Omar!

Oh, and did I mention what they are doing is wrong? hehe

[kgiammarco]

boy, that sucks for everyone that was planning on stocking up during the festival...

-chris

[Paradox]

It was just too easy for them to ship everything at one time and make consumers lives easier. Not to mention making their time during the festival more enjoyable by allowing for tastings and comparisons between the two... I wonder who in charge made this 'great' marketing decision.

[jeff]

I do feel for you guys comming from out of state, but for me it is something of a relief. Now I don't have to come up with the money to put away several bottles of both at the same time. I'll be happy to help anyone out in obtaining the Fall release when it is in fact, released.

[Paradox]

I started saving money for the new release of OFBB (hell, I started saving jsut for this years festival in general!) once I heard it would be a yearly thing last year . It's that good... Let's hope they continue to impress us with this years as well, whenever we get to taste them both. Thanks for the offer to help people as well Jeff, that is very nice of you. Looks like some may be needing it now.

[bobbyc]

I don't know what to say. It works for me, but who cares! I just made a call to someone who said they would have it Wednesday but they do not. So the End of this week is to look forward to. It will be out sooner or later. One place I went to informed me that it was a one time only shot, last year. Another, We have plenty, but it was plain ol' Old Forester. Not many folks know who George Garvin Brown was or when his Birthday occured. You'd think B-F would put a little flyer in the cases, Hey, there was this guy named George and he means something to us.......Please run this by your shelf stockers........

[Barrel_Proof]

You know gang---this lack of marketing fanfare accompanying the second annual release of B'day Bourbon tells us that we bourbon fanatics are (thankfully) still a small, small minority--a mere fly speck on the distilled spirits radar. This is not to say that the distillers who service our craze don't care big time about what they do, but I do mean to say that the corporos above them consider the bourbon segment of the market the ugly step-sister in their quiver. I, for one, think that is just great. We don't need any bourbon prom queens anyway. We all know what we are looking for, we will find it, and (I trust) we will continue to share it when we find it with our sisters and brothers on this board. 'Nuff said. They can release these fine bourbons in sheer silence for all I care. WE WILL FIND THEM.

[bobbyc]

Your point is well taken, Cliff. Let us Bourbon Nuts do what we do best.

On the aside one of the folks I spoke with did mention that they were getting a lot of calls on this one.

[Barrel_Proof]

Right now I think things are just about perfect. We have BT bottling some wonderful discoveries in the inventory (the original Antiques) and introducing the truly remarkable barrel proof Stagg; B-F bottling a wonderfully balanced Birthday surprise (or two) each year; Julian bottling some extraordinary wheaters; and a host of others (including WT and HH) bottling tasty bourbons of marvelous sorts. And of course there are the gems like Hirsch, Wathen's, and Four Roses Single Barrel, too.

I, for one, hope these fine bourbons remain the stealth bomber of the spirits industry. They can fly beneath the media radar screen for as long as they like. I prefer my whiskey, like my women, to be less conventional, less cut by the common mold, to aspire to a more refined and nuanced taste and, still, kick some serious ass.

All's well in bourbonville, IMHO.

[brendaj]

Bobby,

one of the folks I spoke with did mention that they were getting a lot of calls on this one.

Well, if you're talking about Guthrie @ Toddy's, or the folks @ Evergreen Liquors, I was probably one of those calls...

I was in Evergreen the other day and saw they had a bottle of Weller 19 (I didn't really have the money for it then... ). I intend to make that sweetie mine, if it's still there when I get back... So, I called them about the Birthday Bourbon. Buzz was clueless, and didn't seem to care...

Bj

[bourbonmed]

Birthday Distribution Bulletin

The belated B-day Bourbon is arriving tomorrow, Sept. 5th.

Only 42 stores are getting it in all Kentucky.

State share: 200 cases (1200 bottles).

That's not much, but KY got a lucky break because Alabama (traditionally a huge market for Forester) backed out of their state-run allocation (80 cases). Even so, the KY distributor told me he could use another 100 cases. He said the recent articles in the Courier-Journal (B-day vintages, new design labels, etc) have aroused curiosity and there are waiting lists in some shops.

Look for the Spring Vintage in Louisville's affluent East End (Party Mart, Party Outlet, Liquor Barn, Neff, Prospect) or similar in Lexington, etc.

Forget about the Fall Vintage coming out this month or next. The new shipping date 'if all goes well' is December 8th.

The Black Diamond 100 proof OF may or may not be out during fest. It has to do w/ rotation of stock. Distributor says our best bet is to ask individual store managers to special order the Black Diamond bottles for us in advance.

Tip: If you still need the Birthday '02 and can't find it anywhere, try Chuck Evans in Bowling Green. They have 6 bottles left.

There you have it.

Cheers,

Omar

[jeff]

Omar, are the bottles arriving in the stores tomorrow or just to the distributor?

[bourbonmed]

Jeff,

They are arriving at L'ville stores tomorrow (in the morning shipment) is my understanding. I'd think it's same in Lexington.

Omar