AaronWF Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I'm surprised at the GTS disappointment that's been voiced. I hope you're not stubbornly refusing to add water, because it makes all the difference in the world.I loved Binny's '09 barrels of ER1B10, but every bottle I've bought since has been pretty bland.I thought RR Rye 6yr was pretty yuck.I've been let down by the entire Weller line recently, though my bottle of OWA that's been open for a number of months is getting better for sure, and it's been a few years since I've cracked a 12yr. I was a big fan of the 2010 WLW, but I'm not digging the 2011.I find the 2011 Pappy15 to be better than but similar to the 2011 WLW, and definitely lacking the texture and complexity of the 09 Pappy15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Reserve Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Disappointment with GTS? Could it be that the expectations are too high?I have not had all the GTS offerings, those that I have had are impressive pours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainQ Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Masterson's 10 year rye. I tried it at a bar and recall liking it. I saw the bottle in the store and thought what the hell. I do like Whistle Pig, but I don't think that's a "Canadian" rye like Masterson's is.Chris, Whistle Pig is distilled in Canada, says so right on the label in tiny print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentleman Racer Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 High West Rendezvous Rye is my latest one...well, really the only one over the course of the last year or so. From everything I had read here, I knew going in that it was going to be different from the usual rye experience. However, just too different for me. Not a necessarily a bad rye...just too different for my palate. If I could use one word to describe it, ''weak" is what first comes to mind. Of course, I am holding it up against some pretty stiff competition: VWFRR, THH, & Ritt BIB to name a few of late.Testify! I looked forward to trying this and just found it, also, weak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayMonster Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 Disappointment with GTS? Could it be that the expectations are too high?I have not had all the GTS offerings, those that I have had are impressive pours.I think that can certainly can be the case... Not just for GTS, but any brand that develops a certain stature. Reading these threads, I would never dream that anybody could have a less than glowing love for all things Pappy or (to a less extent) Eagle Rare, or several other brands. And maybe they are still good, but perhaps expectations get too high when all you see are the raves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockefeller Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 PVW20. I found it to be very tannic and woody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkersback Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I'm surprised at the GTS disappointment that's been voiced. I hope you're not stubbornly refusing to add water, because it makes all the difference in the world.No, I do add water. It just hasn't set right with me, at least not yet. But I just took the suggestion above of diluting down in the bottle--I took it all the way to 100--and waiting on it a bit. We'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angler82 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I had high expectations for the Single Oak Project and some of the BT Experimentals. I get that they're unique but I'm pissed for paying $55-60 a 375.A couple months back I bought a Single Oak Project bottle instead of a Parker's Heritage Cognac finished. Dumb mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcg9779 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I've been let down by the entire Weller line recently, though my bottle of OWA that's been open for a number of months is getting better for sure, and it's been a few years since I've cracked a 12yr. I was a big fan of the 2010 WLW, but I'm not digging the 2011.I've posted a few times that OWA and WSR have been pretty thin tasting to me lately (the OWA was the age-stated version, and both were the older paper label). A spash of WLW helped round out both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nivto Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 2011 4R LE Single Barrel. It just didn't seem to have it this year. The Small Batch release kicked its ass.Other way around for me. I really enjoy the 2011 SB, but was disappointed a bit with the 2011 SmB when I had a pour of it for the first time the other week. It's definitely less of an odd ball than the SB, but I didn't love what it had to offer. Not my favorite expression from FR based off that pour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosugoji64 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Which # CnB selection?#18. Doesn't taste bad, but so thin that I FEEL like something's missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gblick Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I've posted a few times that OWA and WSR have been pretty thin tasting to me lately (the OWA was the age-stated version, and both were the older paper label). A spash of WLW helped round out both.Jack, I'm a huge fan of OWA, but I think the last two years of the age-stated 7yo (just before they went NAS) weren't up to par. I've only had a couple of bottles of the NAS OWA, but IMO it was an improvement compared to the two previous years.I finally got around to trying the EWB (bought a 200ml a few weeks ago), and I was unimpressed. I also didn't care much for the EWSB, I think it was a 1993. To be honest, none of HH's offering that I've tried have grabbed me, except for the PHC'10 and the Cadenheads that Leif brought to Randy's. I was gifted a bottle of EC18 that I thought was ok but not enough to buy again (for the price). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hectic1 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I've posted a few times that OWA and WSR have been pretty thin tasting to me lately (the OWA was the age-stated version, and both were the older paper label). A spash of WLW helped round out both. Couldn't be due to all the barrel proof uncut bourbon's that you've been pouring of late could it? I've been disapointed by number of the recent GTS(2009/10) and WLW's(2009) in the past couple years as I found them to be extremely hot and the pallet and nose. I've had multiple bottles of barrel proofs that are just as high from a ABV% and they have absolutely intoxicating noses and can be drank neat without feeling like you're stripping the taste buds off your tongue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hectic1 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Jack, I'm a huge fan of OWA, but I think the last two years of the age-stated 7yo (just before they went NAS) weren't up to par. I've only had a couple of bottles of the NAS OWA, but IMO it was an improvement compared to the two previous years. Gus, I'm coming in town on Monday night and Randy, Wade, and I are gonna grab some dinner...you around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gblick Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Gus, I'm coming in town on Monday night and Randy, Wade, and I are gonna grab some dinner...you around?I'll see if I can make it, I still have this small bottle of Old Ezra 15/101 I've been holding for you. Where and what time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMartin42 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Really disappointed in my first bottle of Ritt rye BIB. Its not that it is bad at all, it just doesn't have the wow factor that I expected. Maybe after listening to all the praise it receives on here I was just expecting too much from an $18 bottle. I'm gonna give it a week or two and then go back to it with altered expectations and see what I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunk Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I always feel like having a drink of GTS is a task: measure out the bourbon, get the distilled water, etc. Do some stretches. Give myself a pep talk in the mirror. Then there's the actual taste, which to my palette has too much wood. It's astringent and hot on the finish, even with the proof lowered.Some people pull their hair out tracking this stuff down, and you worry about adding water to it? :grin: C'mon man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronWF Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 No, I do add water. It just hasn't set right with me, at least not yet. But I just took the suggestion above of diluting down in the bottle--I took it all the way to 100--and waiting on it a bit. We'll see.Have you visited Buffalo Trace? From nose through finish, the Stagg completely transports me to their barrel-aging warehouses, in the most satisfying way.Other way around for me. I really enjoy the 2011 SB, but was disappointed a bit with the 2011 SmB when I had a pour of it for the first time the other week. It's definitely less of an odd ball than the SB, but I didn't love what it had to offer. Not my favorite expression from FR based off that pour.Give that one some weeks to open up. After being open for a good 2-3 weeks, I'm getting the most divine honeyed fruit from it. I'm a big fan of the 2011 LE1B as well.Really disappointed in my first bottle of Ritt rye BIB. Its not that it is bad at all, it just doesn't have the wow factor that I expected. Maybe after listening to all the praise it receives on here I was just expecting too much from an $18 bottle. I'm gonna give it a week or two and then go back to it with altered expectations and see what I think.I think you were expecting too much. For me, the wow factor with Ritt is that it's tasty, high quality, and about $20; perfect for some absent-minded tossing back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodisgood Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 The new PVW15 was pretty disappointing. We compared it to the 09 bottling and it was like night and day.My first few drinks from the PVW15 2011 were wonderful but I felt it didn't quite match up to the previous bottlings. I let it sit for almost five weeks. Then, lo and behold, the air in the bottle must have done something because a few nights ago my latest pour was fantastic. I'm probably going to open another bottle so it's "ready" for me in a few weeks.My latest disappointment has been the GTS 2011; the finish just doesn't last long for me like previous years, even after playing with various amounts of dilution. It's an okay pour, but doesn't hold a candle to 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bad_scientist Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Really disappointed in my first bottle of Ritt rye BIB. Its not that it is bad at all, it just doesn't have the wow factor that I expected. Maybe after listening to all the praise it receives on here I was just expecting too much from an $18 bottle. I'm gonna give it a week or two and then go back to it with altered expectations and see what I think. The first few pours for me were boring, just corn and cherries. After a week or so, it got to tasting better. Now I keep it in my freezer to chill it without diluting it, and it is fantastic. Lots more spices than I got at first. I don't know if it's the cold, the air exposure, or both, but I struggle to drink anything else because it's all I can think about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Dog Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Really disappointed in my first bottle of Ritt rye BIB. Its not that it is bad at all, it just doesn't have the wow factor that I expected. Maybe after listening to all the praise it receives on here I was just expecting too much from an $18 bottle. I'm gonna give it a week or two and then go back to it with altered expectations and see what I think. One of the main reasons RittBIB is so good, is that JB/OO Rye is so bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkEdwards Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I'm surprised at the GTS disappointment that's been voiced. I hope you're not stubbornly refusing to add water, because it makes all the difference in the world.I've always had the GTS unwatered and found it to be absolutely amazing at full proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clingman71 Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I've always had the GTS unwatered and found it to be absolutely amazing at full proof. I had my first taste of GTS neat, I felt like I was going to burst into flames. Again, I think the ratio of water is crucial, enough to make it drinkable, but not so much as it loses its "Staggness". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yountvillewjs Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I've always had the GTS unwatered and found it to be absolutely amazing at full proof.Acquired taste for sure, but I have it and agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tucker Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 2011 4R LE Single Barrel. It just didn't seem to have it this year. The Small Batch release kicked its ass.I have to agree, although I'm about half way through my 2011 single barrel and it's improving. Gone is the overwhelming C2H5OH and I'm beginning to appreciate it more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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