"Texas Made" Bourbon 1835

[redbear]

My curiosity piqued, I started poking around some more. Looking at the COLA, they list DSP-TX-15017. I did some searching around and found this list of DSPs published by the TTB: http://www.ttb.gov/foia/xls/frl-spirits-producers-and-bottlers.htm

TX-15017 is listed as Ranger Creek brewing. Ranger Creek is in San Antonio, not Lewisville. They do make their own whiskey. http://www.drinkrangercreek.com/whiskey/

Anyone want to hazard a guess on what the relationship is between North Texas Distillers (who aren't on the DSP listing at all) and Ranger Creek?

Fred Minnick's article says the trademarks indicate that the distiller is the Quentin D Witherspoon distillery. That is on the DSP list as TX-S-20009.

[redbear]

Looks like I can't let this one go.

I emailed the Secretary of State for information on the LLC. I'll leave out the personal contact info, but here is the general LLC information:

Name: North Texas Distillers, LLC

Filing Number: 801010086

Entity Type: Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Original Date of Filing: July 29, 2008

Entity Status: In existence

Formation Date: N/A

Tax ID: 32037625640

FEIN:

Duration: Perpetual

Address: 845 N MILL ST STE 100

LEWISVILLE, TX 75057-3170 USA

They filed as an LLC in July of 2008. So, theoretically, they could have 4 year old whiskey in the bottle. The COLA was filed in march of 2012, which was previous to July of 2012.

[wadewood]

My curiosity piqued, I started poking around some more. Looking at the COLA, they list DSP-TX-15017. I did some searching around and found this list of DSPs published by the TTB: http://www.ttb.gov/foia/xls/frl-spirits-producers-and-bottlers.htm

TX-15017 is listed as Ranger Creek brewing. Ranger Creek is in San Antonio, not Lewisville. They do make their own whiskey. http://www.drinkrangercreek.com/whiskey/

Anyone want to hazard a guess on what the relationship is between North Texas Distillers (who aren't on the DSP listing at all) and Ranger Creek?

Fred Minnick's article says the trademarks indicate that the distiller is the Quentin D Witherspoon distillery. That is on the DSP list as TX-S-20009.

I'm pretty sure Ranger Creek's DSP is TX-15024.

[HighInTheMtns]

I'm pretty sure Ranger Creek's DSP is TX-15024.

It's from the list at ttb.gov that he linked. 15024 is listed as Yellow Rose Distilling. But look at the DSP-KY numbers on the same list... Not the ones we are familiar with.

[wadewood]

My curiosity piqued, I started poking around some more. Looking at the COLA, they list DSP-TX-15017. I did some searching around and found this list of DSPs published by the TTB: http://www.ttb.gov/foia/xls/frl-spirits-producers-and-bottlers.htm

OK, I looked at that list and I will tell it's flat out wrong. Example Balcones is TX-15018 and this list has it as 15011.

[Fred Minnick]

Hi, all, this is my very first post about here. It appears my bourbon was off by one digit. 1836 bourbon is trademarked the Quentin D Witherspoon. http://www.trademarkia.com/1836-whisky-86-proof43-abv-quentin-d-witherspoon-distillery-lewisville-texas-85448405.html

1835 is indeed trademarked by North Texas.

I will make correction on my site. Thanks, fellas.

[wadewood]

Hi, all, this is my very first post about here. It appears my bourbon was off by one digit. 1836 bourbon is trademarked the Quentin D Witherspoon. http://www.trademarkia.com/1836-whisky-86-proof43-abv-quentin-d-witherspoon-distillery-lewisville-texas-85448405.html

1835 is indeed trademarked by North Texas.

I will make correction on my site. Thanks, fellas.

and what is your site?

[Woodford'sMark]

Too young of a bourbon IMHO. Should have aged it the few extra years. I'll stick to "Kentucky Tea" :grin:

[redbear]

and what is your site?

[michang5]

Fairly recent lurker, first time poster.

I'm a bit confused on how to perceive 1835 Bourbon. It seems to encapsulate so many of the themes I've seen discussed here and on other bourbon sites:

- Sourced vs. distilled at location -- Seems that this is clearly sourced, but I can't say I'm offended by it. Many sourced bourbons are well regarded. I'm happy with my Jefferson's Reserve.

- Real Texas vs. Texas-washing -- Having spent nearly 35 years in Central Texas, I can say I take pride in my state. I love the Longhorns, but I don't walk around wearing boots and a Texas flag. That said, I appreciate that it is bottled in Texas. Would I like it more if it were distilled here? Sure. Is it dishonest? Maybe a bit, but after reading Mike Veach's book, I choose to take it as "history by marketing."

- Crappy vs. good drink -- I saw this at my local Spec's before I started my bourbon journey a few months back. I turned down a sample offering that day. Then I started drinking and researching bourbons and felt validated in my refusal after seeing the reviews here and elsewhere. But then I saw Mr. Minnick's recap of SF World Spirits Competition. At the bottom is clearly a pic of 1835. Based on this write up, I quickly picked up a bottle.

Granted my exposure to bourbons hasn't been very long, but it has been very intense. I've done blind taste tests at home with 12+ bottles. I keep copious notes. I know what I like (I'm a fan of sweeter bourbons; Rock Hill Farms is my #1; Weller 12 is my favorite value bourbon; I hated my flask of Knob Creek Small Batch). And I quite liked 1835. It handily beat Four Roses Small Batch in my blind test. It didn't beat RHF, but was more than respectable.

I find it odd that the variance is so high. It's either crap or Top 3 or 5. How can it be so wide a gap?

- Personal preference vs. group mentality -- I'm curious to see how perception of 1835 changes based on the SF recap. Maybe it won't because I don't see any promotion of the recap by the makers of 1835. If Mr. Minnick's spark doesn't catch fire, then the existing negative perceptions will remain. I look forward to more taste comparisons to see if 1835 holds up for me over time. Maybe my palate isn't developed enough. Maybe the SF panel just went crazy that weekend. Maybe the reviewers to date have been too harsh.

--------

I'd love to hear thoughts from the forum.

[squire]

Hello michang5, welcome aboard. No perceptions on my part, I just drink what I like. I am not however tempted by mystery whiskys of undisclosed provenance.

[michang5]

To close the feedback loop... My impressions of 1835 has soured significantly. I've started experiencing a mid-palate "shiver" whenever I try this neat. I notice it when mixed in Old Fashioneds, too. I won't be getting this again. No matter how much discounting Spec's does.

[Fred Minnick]

To close the feedback loop... My impressions of 1835 has soured significantly. I've started experiencing a mid-palate "shiver" whenever I try this neat. I notice it when mixed in Old Fashioneds, too. I won't be getting this again. No matter how much discounting Spec's does.

Thanks for the update. I've contacted them twice in hopes of learning more about the whiskey, but I've not heard anything. I'll be sure to post an update as soon as I learn more about 1835.

[Balcones Winston]

Thanks for the update. I've contacted them twice in hopes of learning more about the whiskey, but I've not heard anything. I'll be sure to post an update as soon as I learn more about 1835.

I live 20 minutes from their "distillery"

Shall I go make a visit?

[timd]

I live 20 minutes from their "distillery"

Shall I go make a visit?

I'll go with you - I've asked them about a visit before at a few local "Texas tastings" and they've been amenable to it - just not sure what they have there to actually see!

Nice enough guys even if they don't actually "make" anything.

At least they aren't like the Red River guy who patently lied to my face (and on their bottle) about their product!

[buoy37]

Sorry to dredge up an old post...

I read through this thread and smiled. You guys dug in on the 1835 "Texas" whiskey pretty hard. Earlier this year, I had to call the local Spec's staff out on it. Everytime I walked down the whiskey isle, I was asked by an employee (more often the same guy) if I had tried the new 1835. I finally asked why could I not stand in this isle without being asked about the 1835. I asked him where it was distilled. I pointed at real KY bourbons and told them where they were distilled. I even told him where the Garrison and Balcones was distilled. Now when he sees me, he just says "Hi!" and we shake hands. I know the staff is just doing their job. What bothers me is when I see people asking for help on selecting their first bourbon and the 1835 is what is put in there hands.

....and I guess I was a little bothered that as a customer that visited the store weekly (sometimes twice a week) the same clerk put more effort into pushing the 1835 on me vs. recognizing me as a repeat customer that has told him no several times.

Edited December 12, 2013 by buoy37

[wadewood]

Sorry to dredge up an old post...

I read through this thread and smiled. You guys dug in on the 1835 "Texas" whiskey pretty hard. Earlier this year, I had to call the local Spec's staff out on it. Everytime I walked down the whiskey isle, I was asked by an employee (more often the same guy) if I had tried the new 1835. I finally asked why could I not stand in this isle without being asked about the 1835. I asked him where it was distilled. I pointed at real KY bourbons and told them where they were distilled. I even told him where the Garrison and Balcones was distilled. Now when he sees me, he just says "Hi!" and we shake hands. I know the staff is just doing their job. What bothers me is when I see people asking for help on selecting their first bourbon and the 1835 is what is put in there hands.

....and I guess I was a little bothered that as a customer that visited the store weekly (sometimes twice a week) the same clerk put more effort into pushing the 1835 on me vs. recognizing me as a repeat customer that has told him no several times.

This is also a Specs "house" brand. What I mean by that is Specs and wholesaler (Texas is 3 tier state) have a very friendly (and IMHO possible illegal) relationship, where this brand is practically sold exclusive in Specs. They probably pay their sales people on commission to push this brand.

[squire]

That explains a lot.

[BlackPrairie]

I was gifted a bottle of 1835 last year around this time. I have family members that are quite proud of their Texas roots. I can't say that I blame them. But after we all shared a pour of this "bourbon", they considered becoming Mississippians.

I can't say I blame them for that either.

[BoyScout]

I have to weigh in here - traveling in Houston this week and a Specs showed up on the service road, went it, not a great selection, I was about to pick up an ER10 when they started pushing 1835. I relented, for $25 it was worth a try. I took it back to hotel to share with my travel group. Overall I have to say we enjoyed it. A high rye, spicy in flavor and relatively smooth. I've tasted much much worse. I've been known to throw bottles I don't like down the sink or use them for fire starter. After reading all this post I have to suggest it is an LDI juice with a Texas label.

[squire]

LDI/MGP makes a decent grade Bourbon but I would've chosen Evan Williams or Jim Beam at half the price. I mention those because they are usually available in limited stock stores.

[Junkpile]

I was in Houston this past week on a business trip, and was staying across the street from a Spec's. I was talked into a bottle of 1835. Why they call this "bourbon," I have no idea. I've always been skeptical about anything labeled bourbon that isn't made in KY, but I was overly unimpressed with this stuff. I found it to be horribly sweet with something else in there that I couldn't place, real heavy cheap liquor smell to it, and a weak finish. Now, I normally drink Bulleit, Knob Creek, and recently got into Maker's, and from the description I got of 1835, I was really supposed to like it. Overall, I'd only call it ok, maybe on par with Beam white label.

I didnt even even bother bringing the bottle home.

[squire]

Chalk it up to experience Jp, I won't buy a bottle of Bourbon unless I know enough about it to make an informed choice, starting with who made it.

[gblick]

Strange, I go into Spec's often, and they never tried to push the 1835 off onto me.

[wadewood]

Strange, I go into Spec's often, and they never tried to push the 1835 off onto me.

Have you ever asked for help finding a bottle of bourbon at Specs? and not I'm looking for xyz specific bottle, just I'm looking for a bourbon?