Barrel/Cask Strength Bourbons

[mosugoji64]

pissing on a kid's birthday cake.:

The image of someone doing that while surrounded by crying/incredulous children made me laugh hysterically. Thank you :slappin:

[JayMonster]

I never imagined that beinging up Wild Turkey Rare Breed as a cask strength bkurbon would send this thread spiraling down uncontrollably until we reached pissing on birthday cakes.

[Brisko]

Maybe that's why there is so much inconsistency between batches (at least from what I've experienced). The relative amounts of each stock can change quite a bit every time a new batch is made.

Haven't they been using the same batch number for the last several years (WT03B or whatever)? Surely you're not implying that they've actually released more than one batch with the same labels :bigeyes:

/actually, it is kind of weird how started out using new batch numbers and then seemingly quit. Unless of course they bottled a huge batch and have been releasing it piecemeal ever since.:skep:

[Young Blacksmith]

Or did they make a huge vatting and have been trickling bottles out of the tank, ala Saz 18.

[bad_scientist]

There is no way they just did one large vatting. The bottles I've had have been so vastly different that they couldn't possibly have come from the same mega-tank.

[cowdery]

Never said they were trying to "screw us." And sure, maybe they blend various proof barrels to always achieve 108.2. I would have thought they were blending for a flavor profile, rather than a proof, but hey, what do I know?

And hey Cowdery, if my posts are so full of shit, why not use the "ignore" option that you recommend to others?

I usually reserve 'ignore' for people who never post anything worth reading. You're not there...yet.

[cowdery]

There is no way they just did one large vatting. The bottles I've had have been so vastly different that they couldn't possibly have come from the same mega-tank.

It's possible the batch numbers are fake, people have been known to do that, but that would surprise me a little.

[bad_scientist]

It's possible the batch numbers are fake, people have been known to do that, but that would surprise me a little.

Okay, maybe they could be if they kept it in the same tank over the years, so the batch would be exposed to more and more air each year as bottles were filled and the liquid level went down. I'm not taking a stance on the accuracy of their label, but my own taste tells me that the various pours I had have experienced pretty different conditions.

[callmeox]

I never imagined that beinging up Wild Turkey Rare Breed as a cask strength bkurbon would send this thread spiraling down uncontrollably until we reached pissing on birthday cakes.

There's no telling what will set this place aflame. :icon_pidu: :70358-devil: :horseshit:

[Brisko]

It's possible the batch numbers are fake, people have been known to do that, but that would surprise me a little.

A quick search brought up this thread; http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12017

It appears that they used discrete batch numbers for several years but it's been the same batch number since '03. So either they a)quit using real batch nos., or made one huge batch.

Unless anyone has seen a more recent batch number?

/my OGD 114 says Lot #1, too, for what it's worth

[BradleyC]

pissing on birthday cakes.

I thought I would try to bring some humor to this thread. This is the best I could do.

[Old Lamplighter]

There's no telling what will set this place aflame. :icon_pidu: :70358-devil: :horseshit:

[JayMonster]

Well, at the risk of starting another flame out, but in trying to get this thread back on track to the original question, another higher proof (which they call "near" Barrel Strength) is the Knob Creek Single Barrel.

I know this is one that is not very highly regarded... but it is one of very few High Proof bourbons I would even consider drinking neat.

[ebo]

Well, at the risk of starting another flame out, but in trying to get this thread back on track to the original question, another higher proof (which they call "near" Barrel Strength) is the Knob Creek Single Barrel.

I know this is one that is not very highly regarded... but it is one of very few High Proof bourbons I would even consider drinking neat.

I'm a fan of this offering. I happen to like the regular KC quite a bit. I like the KCSBR even better.

[Josh]

I'm a fan of this offering. I happen to like the regular KC quite a bit. I like the KCSBR even better.

I have a bottle of the KCSB open currently. I like it. It's not as good as Rare Breed, Stagg or any of the Four Roses barrel strength editions, but it's not bad.

[ebo]

I have a bottle of the KCSB open currently. I like it. It's not as good as Rare Breed, Stagg or any of the Four Roses barrel strength editions, but it's not bad.

I agree, it isn't as good as those you mentioned, but it holds it's own.

[awachatz]

I have been really wanting to try the Blanton's straight from the barrel, but as it was indicated it is an export product only.

Disappointing that this isn't available for the domestic market.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

[bad_scientist]

I have a bottle of the KCSB open currently. I like it. It's not as good as Rare Breed, Stagg or any of the Four Roses barrel strength editions, but it's not bad.

I like it, too. I would agree about the ranking, as well. I'd say the 4R and the Stagg are in the top category, the Rare Breed at its best in a slightly lower category, and the KCSB quite below that, but much better than most $20-25 bourbons. I'd only say that it's so, so sweet... I wish there were more of a wood influence.

[ebo]

I have been really wanting to try the Blanton's straight from the barrel, but as it was indicated it is an export product only.

Disappointing that this isn't available for the domestic market.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

Yea... I hope this becomes available in the States. I like Blanton's a lot, but I rarely buy it, because I think it's too expensive for what it is. I'd gladly pay a bit more for a barrel strength offering, though.

[awachatz]

In hindsight, I should have purchased a bottle of the barrel proof Abraham Bowman when I had the chance. That is the last time I hesitate. :smiley_acbt: The main reason I enjoy the barrel proof bourbons is that they typically have a more intense flavor. I could really care less what proof a bourbon is, but haven't found many non-barrel proof bourbons that can deliver enough flavor other than wood. Most times the finish is short or non-existent.

Has anyone had any luck with non-barrel proof bourbons that pack a punch in the flavor department and have an above average finish?

[CaptainQ]

Has anyone had any luck with non-barrel proof bourbons that pack a punch in the flavor department and have an above average finish?

Yes. Old Weller Antique, single barrel, bottled at 107 proof.

[JayMonster]

Has anyone had any luck with non-barrel proof bourbons that pack a punch in the flavor department and have an above average finish?

Well, actually... 1/2 of all bourbons have an "above average" finish.

From a slightly more serious, but psychological standpoint, there is something that you can find to criticize in any bourbon, so with your pre-supposition that anything that isn't barrel proof will not have an above average finish, you will always find something wrong with the finish of the non-barrel proof bourbons making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

From a more subjective point of view (bearing in mind I do not have the experience to have tried as many brands as most others), most wheaters I have tried lean more towards a "clean" (short) finish (sorry CaptainQ, I love OWA as much as anyone, but it is a little short on the finish... which is what I like about it, but still, anybody looking for a complex finish would need to look elsewhere... I believe anyway). Most lower shelf brands either have a short, thin, or below average finish.

But once you get past that point, it becomes nothing more than a matter of taste. I am not personally one for the very high Rye products, so while I am no fan, you certainly can't say that (for example) Wild Turkey short of Rare Breed has a non-existent finish. I know Beam products tend to be the whipping boys of the enthusiast, but you certainly can't say that Knob Creek (though I will admit, I do think the KCSB is superior to standard 100 proof expression), or hell even Jim Beam Black has a non-existent finish (OK, the Black may be a little thin, but not awful). And of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention VanWinkle. I have never had Pappy (and at the price I am unlikely to have it anytime soon), but by all accounts it fits the bill of a less than barrel strength with above average finish. I can also from personal experience at least mention the ORVW 10/107.

My question in return though is... how do you define an "above average" finish that makes only "barrel proof" seem to fit the bill? Is it a long finish? Complex? Or is it just the intensity of the higher proof?

Edited to add: I left Woodford Reserve out of this discussion because I do not particularly care for it. But regardless, it is another that is hardly a thin or non-existent finish, just not one that I would personally call above average since its... unique... taste is not for me. (I almost wish the finish on this was thinner or shorter rather than having that metallic taste linger in my mouth for so long).

[Lazer]

Has anyone had any luck with non-barrel proof bourbons that pack a punch in the flavor department and have an above average finish?

FR1B at 100 proof has a great finish IMO.

[hectic1]

From a more subjective point of view (bearing in mind I do not have the experience to have tried as many brands as most others), most wheaters I have tried lean more towards a "clean" (short) finish (sorry CaptainQ, I love OWA as much as anyone, but it is a little short on the finish... which is what I like about it, but still, anybody looking for a complex finish would need to look elsewhere... I believe anyway). Most lower shelf brands either have a short, thin, or below average finish.

Wow...look at this post from the resident expert on finish...have you had the OWA that Dave is referring to? Well, I can answer that question...NO. So your comments here regarding OWA are ill-advised to say the least.

Finish like the rest of the bourbon experience is subjective...without a doubt based on your post here you and I have a different point of reference on what's important.

Your hypothesis that anything that isn't BP will have a something wrong with it is another one I completely disagree with...see Pappy 15, Weller Centennial, WT Tribute, VSOF, etc...I could go on and on and on!

[SMOWK]

Bring a few non-BP dusties into the fold, and....