Another Age Statement Bites the Dust (And More Recent COLA Findings)

[c2walker]

Very minor TTB find from a couple weeks ago:

Looks like Old Rip may soon be bottled in the wine-style bottles like are sold overseas. I guess that's good news...they take up less space on the bar.

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13044001000320

[Meruck]

Very minor TTB find from a couple weeks ago:

Looks like Old Rip may soon be bottled in the wine-style bottles like are sold overseas. I guess that's good news...they take up less space on the bar.

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13044001000320

at least they aren't putting wine in the dumpy bottles.

[HighInTheMtns]

Very minor TTB find from a couple weeks ago:

Looks like Old Rip may soon be bottled in the wine-style bottles like are sold overseas. I guess that's good news...they take up less space on the bar.

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13044001000320

Sorta don't like this. Classing it up to look better next to the other less well priced expressions. Hope I'm an alarmist.

[squire]

I'd say you're a realist.

[matthewdc]

Interesting this was a topic here a couple years ago. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-15399.html Foreshadowing, maybe?

If ORVW gets rid of the barrel bottle that would be unfortunate. It has been a trademark of the Van Winkle family and Stitzel Weller brands. kind of loosing a little bit of history, I think...

Second thought, I guess it matters more what's in the bottle than the bottle itself.

Edited March 26, 2013 by matthewdc
second thoughts

[BradleyC]

I am sad to see the original label that they have used for 40 years get changed but I am sometimes slow to accept change. That's a pretty long run for a label without significant alteration and I don't think there are a whole lot of other examples.

The loss of the barrel bottle is harder to see. I was sad to see BT abandon it for the Weller line. Those bottles with their paper labels have always had a special place with me. I can't argue that the VW wine bottle style presentation is top notch though. It is and always has been. I will definitely miss the old barrel bottle though. At least they won't be using the new "Weller Style" bottle. Those are not very appealing to me.

I've noticed Rebel Yell is no longer using that bottle anymore either. I always was curious how they ended up with that bottle. That, and why the BHC IW Harper used that bottle while the VSOF did not. I guess I won't be adding any more new bottles to my barrel bottle collection.

[brettckeen]

If ORVW gets rid of the barrel bottle that would be unfortunate.

I tried the Lairds 7.5 year apple brandy today bottled in the ORVW barrel bottle. I had to stop myself from liking the brandy just because it was in hat bottle which i have so much affinity for.

[MyOldKyDram]

That's a good looking product. Great bottle and label. I actually do like the brandy too, however.

[qman22]

For the Birthday Bourbon fans

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13049001000282

Also, something new from Angel's Envy if you happen to like the finished stuff

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13086001000139

[qman22]

Also, some new Old Scout

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13051001000690

[BradleyC]

James Pepper 15 year barrel proof rye:

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13029001000204

I also noticed Michter's re-applied for the 10 year single barrel rye on 2/21. I didn't notice anything different about it. I did just glance though. I'm guessing if they start bottling this again it won't be 18-20 years old.

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13025001000089

[MyOldKyDram]

Is the proof on that rye correct, or just a placeholder?

[cowdery]

I tried the Lairds 7.5 year apple brandy today bottled in the ORVW barrel bottle. I had to stop myself from liking the brandy just because it was in hat bottle which i have so much affinity for.

Back in the Stitzel-Weller days, they called that the barrel bottle. Only Stitzel-Weller used it and they used it for everything. When I first started to buy Old Fitz Prime (the 80 proof gold label) it was in that bottle. Everybody seems to be dropping it. Not sure why, although retailers don't like wide bottles, the new roundy Weller and VOB bottles aren't that much narrower, or are they? Could be an illusion. Retailers will tolerate non-standard bottles for super-premiums, but really don't like them for standard pours. That tends only to be an issue if you're trying to expand distribution.

[BradleyC]

Is the proof on that rye correct, or just a placeholder?

I'm not sure. The back label does say something about the low barrel proof which makes me wonder.

update:

the back label says: "Bottled at a surprisingly low barrel proof and not chill filtered."

Edited April 3, 2013 by BradleyC

[Trey Manthey]

OK, not COLA, and not straight whiskey, but an interesting and probably delicious release forthcoming from High West:

High West Barreled Boulevardier

http://trademarks.justia.com/858/93/the-barreled-boulevardier-85893315.html

http://2013highwestderbyday.eventbrite.com/

I have seen some hints that the bitter liqueur involved will be Tempus Fugit's Gran Classico!

[Trey Manthey]

"Master Distillers' Unity"

A bonded bourbon forthcoming from Heaven Hill:

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13141001000214

Interesting that "distillers'" is plural. Maybe a vatting of the multiple generations of Beams?

[MyOldKyDram]

Read somewhere it was something like all distillers united behind Parker and ALS.

[squire]

Any new BIB is a positive.

[Phil T]

I may have missed something, I see 100 proof, but I don't see bonded or BIB

[TheNovaMan]

I'll second Phil's comment. Class Type 101 is straight bourbon, and there is nothing on the label that indicates it's a BIB.

[GaryT]

Interesting . . . makes you wonder.

What if . . . Master Distillers from several distilleries picked some great barrels (their donation to their cause?) and either gave or sold them to HH to mingle into this creation?

[MyOldKyDram]

A bourbon collab mingled by Parker? Doubt it's anything that interesting, but how sweet would that be?

[squire]

You guys are right. I went back and read the label which doesn't list BIB or DSP No., only made in Kentucky. This could well be a melding of barrels from different distilleries.

[Trey Manthey]

I seem to remember seeing a recent photo of several of the old guard master distillers hanging out in a rickhouse. Parker, Jimmy, and Elmer, if I recall. I hate to lend momentum to wild speculation, but now I can't imagine what else this could be.

[MyOldKyDram]

Wild Parker Lee? Heaven T Turkey? Elmer Craig Russell?