Dusty motherlode!

[bmajazz]

First post here.. I have been getting into collecting dusties, though haven't chanced on too many bourbons. Had found an old Walker's Deluxe lic. plate decanter 8 yr from the 70's and the "I Dream of Jeannie" Beam's Choice, both of which were partly consumed when I got them but still tasty. One quart of JB white label has been my bourbon collection.. until today.

These were from a gentleman who had a liquor store from the 60's-80's... tired of moving his bottles around when he moved. A mixture of pint and half-pint (or 375 and 200ML, depending on vintage.)

OGD 86 x2

OGD BIB pint (68/74)

Old Taylor 86 x2

Old Taylor BIB x6 (2 big, 4 small, varying vintages bottled '74-83)

Old Crow x7

Old Charter x3

Wild Turkey 101 x2

WI Weller Cabin Still

Walker's Deluxe 8yr x6

IW Harper x3 (early 80's I think)

Yellowstone 6yr x5 (70's?)

Hill & Hill x2

Jim Beam x5 (metric/UPC)

"Antique" 6yr (Frankfort KY)

Ezra Brooks Gold Label

JD x8

Ancient Age x3

Ten High x7

Sunny Brook

I either have to get rid of some of these, or kiss my liver goodbye!

I couldn't believe my luck when I started going through the stuff. He really didn't know what he had, and there were over 200 bottles available, but mostly liqueurs, some Tequila, and blended Am/Canadian/etc.

Also some blended Scotches, i.e. Pinch 12yr, Dewars White, Old Bushmills, Chivas 12, White Horse, Cluny, Johnny red/blk...

One of the pics did not turn out, but some of the most interesting bottles for you guys are visible here.

I started out getting into this with some minibottles.. Still have some of those, including a 1947 BIB Rittenhouse Rye that I am dying to try when I have the right time.. should probably not wait too long since there is already some evaporation!

I have been reading the forums for awhile, and have some idea of what I have... from what I understand I should be most excited about the Old Taylor, OGD, maybe Cabin Still. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Andrew

[Andre28]

Holy...... sweet find! we cant get most of that in Australia

If you would consider packing and sending to Aus i would be happy to buy some off you. It couldnt be too much, maybe 1-1.5 litres, i might get it through customs if it is listed as collectibles or something.

[dridge11]

Nice find...you should crack one of each and invite some buddies over for a side by side tasting.

[bmajazz]

I am hoping to do that. I first have to find some places to store/catalog it. Some of the BIB come from various years, mostly late 60's-'74 or so, a few early '80's. Lots of various sizes and types.

Plus, I just moved back out to L.A., so am trying to locate some new drinking buddies!

It's nice having the smaller sizes, though, because I don't have to worry as much about oxidation as the bottle sits!

It may be interesting reflecting on what he had left over. I have no idea how this former liquor store owner ended up with the collection he did, but it struck me that he had a fairly significant selection of bourbons, blended whiskies, and liqueurs. He had fewer rums & tequilas, and very few vodkas & gins in there.

I suppose it could fit into the general malaise that seems to have befallen bourbon/whiskey in the 70's/80's that he would have so much extra stock, and that there would be comparatively little vodka or gin. Or, maybe he just knew some vodka drinkers and gave them away before I got there!

[Parkersback]

I can't speak to the Cabin Still, but the OGD is very, very good, and the OT is incredible. I've only had the 86: I've got 3 bottles of the BIB, but I'm waiting to open one for my 40th, which is this upcoming June (the distillation date on the BIB is 1972, my birth year).

I've also had the Old Crow and I think it's quite good. Not as distinctive as the OGD or OT, but solid.

[Chuckles]

Cabin Still was my go-to in the '70s, and even though that bottle seems to have seen some evaporation, I'm betting it's still tasty!

[bmajazz]

Has anyone tried the Hill & Hill, Ezra Brooks, or Sunny Brook?

More important, I'm curious about the Old Charter 10yr. I've had some Walkers Deluxe and enjoyed it. I think it may have been a little earlier vintage, but hopefully this is the same juice.

I also have a fair number of blended Scotches here.. was enjoying a White Horse, which is very, very mild and a little "new" for a blend.. some alcohol aroma in the nose. There's also Cluny, Dewar's White Label, and something else that I forget at the moment. I will also be interested in the White Label since the modern stuff is unremarkable.

[StraightBoston]

Sunny Brook was an ND lower-shelf offering. I've seen both yellow (blended) and white (straight) labels. A little light but good representation of the ND house flavor.

[jinenjo]

Has anyone tried the Hill & Hill, Ezra Brooks, or Sunny Brook?

Over the last 3 years or so, I went through three 1.75L bottles of Ezra Brooks 7 y.o., 90 proof dating from the mid '70s. I thought it was an excellent pour from Medley. Nice leather on the nose. Maple sweetness on the pallet.

[bmajazz]

I just learned how good White Horse is, comparatively. I opened a bottle of vintage Jack Daniels 86 proof, probably just after they lowered the proof from 90.

It smells more of Everclear than anything else. Guess it is the true mixer!

[Bbstout]

Back from the grave. I have been into Dusties lately. Any feedback from the old timers on the bottle in this pic? 87 ND so likely extra aged glut juice. I've had 87 Old Crow and was amazed by the maple syrup notes. Is the Sunny Brook similar if anyone can recollect?

[KyleCBreese]

I get maple syrup on a lot of the dusties that I’ve had. I’m wondering if most of what we’re tasting is just oxidized at this point. 

[Bbstout]

I hope not! At least as long as it has good fill levels. Is oxidation an issue in dusties?

[GaryT]

No experience with that specifically, but I get a lot of butterscotch in dusty ND stuff (including OGD, Old Taylor, etc) from that era.  And that tax-stamped OF off to the right is probably delicious stuff!

[Bbstout]

Here's another one that I'm looking for feedback. It's from 1981. I know the brand made a comeback recently but couldn't find much on dusty tasting notes.

[Bob_Loblaw]

17 hours ago, Bbstout said:

Here's another one that I'm looking for feedback. It's from 1981. I know the brand made a comeback recently but couldn't find much on dusty tasting notes.

Very cool!  Curious to hear thoughts, I am of no help with tasting notes.  As I started down the rabbit hole a few years ago I made the conscious decision to not chase dusties.  With the market being what it is and my penchant for getting immersed into my hobbies I thought it was too much of a slippery slope to go down.

 

Consider myself a modern bourbon drinker and it keeps me  on the path to zen and helps an already light wallet from going into extinction!

[ThirstyinOhio]

congrats on the great find!

[parksmart]

22 hours ago, Bbstout said:

Back from the grave. I have been into Dusties lately. Any feedback from the old timers on the bottle in this pic? 87 ND so likely extra aged glut juice. I've had 87 Old Crow and was amazed by the maple syrup notes. Is the Sunny Brook similar if anyone can recollect?

Recently, I’ve had a few Sunny Brook KSBW from the early 80s, in 200ml and 500ml formats.  They’ve all been quite enjoyable, though in somewhat different ways.  Sometimes, it’s a butterscotch/caramel bomb.  The most recent one I opened and left with @fosmith had a bit of depth to it, and almost came across like an Armagnac.  Not so wildly different that they were like the Forrest Gump box o’ chocolates.  But to me, they’ve certainly reinforced the notion that “they don’t make them like they used to”.  
 

If your bottle remained relatively well sealed for the past 30++ years, then you should have a fine time with it.  Enjoy!

[fosmith]

16 hours ago, parksmart said:

Recently, I’ve had a few Sunny Brook KSBW from the early 80s, in 200ml and 500ml formats.  They’ve all been quite enjoyable, though in somewhat different ways.  Sometimes, it’s a butterscotch/caramel bomb.  The most recent one I opened and left with @fosmith had a bit of depth to it, and almost came across like an Armagnac.  Not so wildly different that they were like the Forrest Gump box o’ chocolates.  But to me, they’ve certainly reinforced the notion that “they don’t make them like they used to”.  
 

If your bottle remained relatively well sealed for the past 30++ years, then you should have a fine time with it.  Enjoy!

I second @parksmart here.  The 200ml of Sunny Brook that he left after bringing and opening at our GTG is a unique and delightful bourbon.  Blind, I would not have called it as a bourbon.  Totally lacking the traditional oak/vanilla/caramel nose and palate.  Instead, very fruity - almost grapey and brandy like with lots of flavor for 80proof.  My first true dusty experience and, yeah, they don't make 'em like that anymore...

[smokinjoe]

1 hour ago, fosmith said:

I second @parksmart here.  The 200ml of Sunny Brook that he left after bringing and opening at our GTG is a unique and delightful bourbon.  Blind, I would not have called it as a bourbon.  Totally lacking the traditional oak/vanilla/caramel nose and palate.  Instead, very fruity - almost grapey and brandy like with lots of flavor for 80proof.  My first true dusty experience and, yeah, they don't make 'em like that anymore...

I have always described that dusty note as “rum like“.  We’re all sending the same thing, just different names and connotations to each individual.  I find the note across different distilleries of that era, as well.  

Of course that rum like taste is for good rum, not that crap that Paul likes.  

[Bbstout]

10 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

I have always described that dusty note as “rum like“.  We’re all sending the same thing, just different names and connotations to each individual.  I find the note across different distilleries of that era, as well.  

Of course that rum like taste is for good rum, not that crap that Paul likes.  

Thanks for all the replies guys. I do get a sweeter profile from the dusty ND stuff I have had. I love the uniqueness. Alot of the long standing members on SB despise the secondary but without the secondary people like me who got into bourbon only 15-20 years ago can try glut bourbon and enjoy a piece of history.

[The Black Tot]

11 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

I have always described that dusty note as “rum like“.

 

I nearly fell out of my chair for a second there. Fortunately you brought it back down to earth at the end...

[Bbstout]

29 minutes ago, The Black Tot said:

 

I nearly fell out of my chair for a second there. Fortunately you brought it back down to earth at the end...

Is this some kind of old timers inside jokes. LOL.

[The Black Tot]

1 hour ago, Bbstout said:

Is this some kind of old timers inside jokes. LOL.

 

This is just Joe's way of expressing his love for high-ester Jamaican and Trinidadian rums.

 

If you find a funky, powerful one, he'd love it if you mailed him a sample. It's what we do for each other here on SB.com.

[flahute]

2 hours ago, The Black Tot said:

 

This is just Joe's way of expressing his love for high-ester Jamaican and Trinidadian rums.

 

If you find a funky, powerful one, he'd love it if you mailed him a sample. It's what we do for each other here on SB.com.

lolololololololololololololol