BOTM: 7/12 Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye

[Chuckles]

Gee, thanks, Joe. I had been saving opening my sole bottle of VWFRR for an occasion more special than a break in the heat wave, but I'm always game to join the BOTM discussion (assuming a rye can be bourbon of the month)--especially if I have the subject at hand in hand. So I've been sampling my VWFRR for a couple of weeks now. I want to love it, but I just don't. I like it--pretty much, I guess, as the bottle's level is lowering quickly--but I don't love it. Like Joe, I love my wheaters, esp. my Van Winkles. But I like my rye on the rough side. The VWFRR has a great nose, decent legs, and okay mouth feel. It's got a nice dose of the heat and spice I like in a rye, but the finish doesn't linger as I hoped it would. As suggested on an earlier post, I'll let the open bottle rest till winter, and see how I feel then. I like rye better in the cold months anyway. When I have a hankering for a rye now, I think I'll keep reaching for something Handy.

[biskuit]

Another "one of my favorites" - I got lucky the past two releases (that included the rye) with one bottle each time, I rarely break it out because I treasure it so much, though! Need to fix that thinking.

[jeanraulmitchell]

Gee, thanks, Joe. I had been saving opening my sole bottle of VWFRR for an occasion more special than a break in the heat wave, but I'm always game to join the BOTM discussion (assuming a rye can be bourbon of the month)--especially if I have the subject at hand in hand. So I've been sampling my VWFRR for a couple of weeks now. I want to love it, but I just don't. I like it--pretty much, I guess, as the bottle's level is lowering quickly--but I don't love it. Like Joe, I love my wheaters, esp. my Van Winkles. But I like my rye on the rough side. The VWFRR has a great nose, decent legs, and okay mouth feel. It's got a nice dose of the heat and spice I like in a rye, but the finish doesn't linger as I hoped it would. As suggested on an earlier post, I'll let the open bottle rest till winter, and see how I feel then. I like rye better in the cold months anyway. When I have a hankering for a rye now, I think I'll keep reaching for something Handy.

I felt the same way until I started taking larger than normal amounts into my mouth. I was thinking VWFRR needs to touch all the parts in your mouth at once to really get what I think is a very elegant whisky. This isn't a regular whiskey and that's why I find it unique to have to drink it like it's something other than whiskey to find that elegance, kind of a paradox. It does possess something entirely different than any other whiskey I've tried. Now, don't get me wrong, I'd trade anyone a bottle of it for a 2008 or older PVW 15 but I do think it's a special whiskey. Last fall, I ran across, if I remember correctly, five bottles. I have one left from the fall now and I gave one to a really good friend. Guess, I liked it enough to go through three bottles. The funny thing is, is I hit this rural area near KY about a week after the allocation and I found only these ryes. I think I grabbed 1 of 2 ORVW 107s off the shelves & I saw a 23yo there. Here in LA, forget it, VW isn't on the shelves unless it's an overpriced ORVW and that usually means the 90 proof. I can go tomorrow & get 5 Handy bottles within 5 miles from my place. I love that one too and glad I can usually find it any day of the year. But if VWFRR was out there tomorrow I'd be on my way before they opened.

Edited July 31, 2012 by jeanraulmitchell

[OscarV]

The Van Winkle rye is bourbonesque. Like the post before this one said, "...a very elegant whiskey".

[unclebunk]

The Van Winkle rye is bourbonesque. Like the post before this one said, "...a very elegant whiskey".

[Rutter]

Reading this thread makes me glad I found one in little old London town, its nearing half empty now and I doubt i'll manage to secure another bottle any time soon, it is up there with the best I've sampled though.

[Mickbourbon]

I passed on a bottle last fall and have been kicking myself ever since. I may have been ill that day.

[univibe88]

I have never seen a bottle for sale around Boston. A friend of mine in Wisconsin found some last fall and got me a bottle.

At the end of June I rode my motorcycle out to Wisconsin to pick it up. But I haven't opened it yet.

[weave]

My favorite whiskey. Unfortunately I no longer have a bottle to enjoy for his months BOTM. I finished the only bottle I have ever found on a retail shelf about 3 months ago.

[timd]

I would buy any/every bottle of this available if I could. It's delicious, lip smacking, mouth watering goodness in a bottle. I like SW & Pappy stuff well enough, but aside from Weller Centennial, I don't go ga ga for it like most - it's just really good whiskey, but I prefer ryed bourbons & smokey scotch. This one is the whiskey that converted me to American booze and made me a hoarder.

I blame VWFRR for making me what I am today in terms of whisk(e)y obsession. I've only got a couple of bottles on hand (because I drink them!), but I try to stock up with 2-3 more bottles every fall.

[LostBottle]

VWFRR is such a delicious whiskey and in my top 5. It has really great complexity and is a smooth sipper; I also think the proof is perfect for this bottle. If I had to be picky, I do wish there was a tad more rye component showing a bit more spice and a little less sweetness, but perhaps its bourbon-like qualities are what has made VWFRR so well-liked. The great thing is that unlike the equally amazing Vintage 21, this one is still being released!

Edited August 15, 2012 by LostBottle

[wildcatdon]

This is one of my favorites also..It stands right there next to Pappy 20..It's a shame that there is none out there and last weeks release might be the lowest I have seen in Louisville stores in quite some time...Not sure what they are trying to do..would love to have a bottle of this stuff..