New Van Winkle-Park Avenue Liquor Shop bottling

[jvanwinkle]

We have just shipped a single barrel bottling to Park Avenue Liquor Shop in NYC. They are on 292 Madison Avenue, near Grand Central. Their phone # is:

212-685-2442.

E-mail is:

info@parkaveliquor.com

We bottled a barrel of 18-year Van Winkle bourbon. The whiskey is not chillfiltered and was bottled at 105.2 Proof. The price is $75.00/750ml bottle.

I must say that this is an excellent whiskey. It has the sweetness of our 15-year, but also some of the incredible character of our 20-year Pappy. I think since it is not chillfiltered, there is more flavor in this bottling than others we have done.

Give it a try, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Contact Jonathan Goldstein at Park Avenue.

I have attached a label.

JULIAN

[cowdery]

God bless you, Sir. Keep up the fine work.

[Bob]

Julian,

How would you compare this barrel with the one many of us are eagerly awaiting from Sam's? BTW, can you update us on the status/progress with the Sam's barrel? Thanks again for all of your fine products!

Bob

[Gillman]

This is good news.

I just picked up some Van Winkle whiskey in New York, at the other end of town, the liquor store next to Heartland Brewery, Union Square. This is the 13 year old, discussed on the Board recently.

I will make a statement: Van Winkle whiskey is all great but the Family Reserve rye is not just the best in the VW range (saving perhaps this new single barrel bourbon, which I have not tried) - it is the best straight whiskey in America today.

Gary

[cowdery]

the Family Reserve rye ... is the best straight whiskey in America today.

As much as I hate to be that definitive, I probably agree. "Best" is always a slippery concept, but for everyday drinking enjoyment it is hard to beat. VanWinkle Family Reserve Rye is the only whiskey I can't stand to be without.

My Dad likes it too.

But let's not build it up too much, because it's still nicely priced.

[Speedy_John]

"Van Winkle whiskey is all great but the Family Reserve rye is...the best straight whiskey in America today."

[jvanwinkle]

This 18-year bottling for Park Avenue is quite different from the Sam's 20-year. It's not so much the flavor rather than the proof difference. The Park Avenue is 105.2 proof and the Sam's bottling is barrel proof at 133.4 proof.

We finally received label approval so we hope to bottle Sam's next week.

It should be on the shelves in 2 or 3 weeks.

Julian

[Gillman]

Chuck, I agree fully, I meant your comments as implicit in mine.

Greatness is always relative, but as an "all-rounder", Van Winkle 13 year old rye can hardly be bested.

The only contender is, I would say, the Michter whiskeys from Hirsch - and that's a finite item.

Gary

[Bob]

Thanks Julian, I'm looking forward to trying both!

Bob

[Nokia]

I had a chance to sample the new 18 yr. at Park Ave. the other day and it is excellant. But on the otherhand you can get at least 2 bottles of the 13 yr. old Rye for the same price. Tough decision.

[bluesbassdad]

If, like you, I had the opportunity to sample the Park Avenue bottling, I'm guessing I would find the sample ample.

Lacking that opportunity, I will find out the expensive way in just a few days. My order should be to about Kansas City by now.

Your idea of measuring premium bottlings against the VWFR 13 year-old rye (which, as we all know, is often much older than labeled) is a tough standard. I can't imagine any bottling, even my 16 year-old Hirsch, being worth two or three times the VW rye. (Note that Sam's sells the VW rye for $23.99, compared to $75 for the Park Avenue special bottling and a few dollars less for the Hirsch at Sam's.)

My problem is that I can't place a dollar value on satisfying my curiousity. In fact, I'm still in the queue for the Sam's bottling of barrel-proof VW, at a whopping four times the price of the 13 year-old rye.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Nokia]

Dave, you make an excellant point regarding the curiosity value of a rare and also very good premium bottling. The comparison only came to mind because I have just finished my bottle of VW Rye and plan on picking up a replacement at the best local price I can find. Park Avenue Liquors is only a subway ride away for me, so I am able to go home and make a decision at a later time knowing what both taste like and that the new bottling will be available, at least for now.

The end result will most likely be that I purchase one bottle of each and enjoy them both.

Of course the Sam's bottling can now be measured against the cost of buying one each of the VW Rye and Park Avenue Bottling.

David

[koji]

Hi Julian,

Thanks to a friend in New York we bourbon fans in Japan got to taste this super bourbon.As every one of your bourbons I have in my bar (right now I have atleast 16 or more labels from you)it was fantastic!

My friend (you all know him) sent me a Woodside Partner as well,that was a great bourbon as well!I'm enjoying all these new bottlings.

But I never knew about the Sam's bottle

Sad yes ,but I know that everybody on this forum are very kind so when I show up at the festival this September somebody will let me have a taste

of this special bottle,right guys!

Hope to see you at the festival Julian.

Koji

Bourbon lover in Japan