Ten High Straight Bourbon Whiskey

[bllygthrd]

Visited a liquor monger in WV today, and they had Ten High Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in 750 mL. It didn't have the "a blend" moniker on the label. Has Sazerac started shipping a straight bourbon expression of High Ten again?

[HighInTheMtns]

Looks that way: http://www.bartonbrands.com/tenhigh.html. I bought a bottle of Ten High right before it became a blend and I don't remember much except that it was thin and finishing the bottle was a chore. I wonder how good the juice in the new KSBW version is? In any case it's nice to see that they have sufficient stocks to make it a bourbon again, and it's nice to see someone make a brand better instead of worse.

This is one of two Barton expressions available in Utah. I'll pay attention and when it switches to a bourbon again, I'll give it a try. It's cheap, why not?

Edited September 2, 2012 by HighInTheMtns

[CoMobourbon]

Last time I checked, not so great. It's pretty much the cheapest KSBW money can buy, and while it's not absolutely undrinkable straight, I can't imagine doing anything with it other than putting it in Coke.

*And that's coming from me, the cheapest bourbon drinker in the world.

[tmckenzie]

I am pretty sure nothing has changed. From what I understand, they kept it straight in some states. Control states, where it is hard to change stuff up. I always liked it for an everyday bourbon.

[unclebunk]

The only non-blended TH that I've ever seen around here is the older bottles of Ten High Ten which are definitely worth your while if you ever come across one.

[bad_scientist]

The only non-blended TH that I've ever seen around here is the older bottles of Ten High Ten which are definitely worth your while if you ever come across one.

So many of those tax stripped ones in DC. Sku didn't like it, so I've just passed them up, but if you say differently, I guess I might as well try it out.

[Enoch]

I don't think it was ever a blend in SC.

[ethangsmith]

PA has the blend stuff. What gets me is- How do they call it a bourbon whiskey if it contains GNS??? Would it not be a blended whiskey and not a bourbon whiskey???

[HighInTheMtns]

It's a blend here too, if they only kept the KSBW version in sime control states it seems that it wasn't so in PA or UT. I don't think there's anything stopping them from using "blended bourbon" because that term is just not defined legally. They don't use the word "straight" and that's enough.

[unclebunk]

So many of those tax stripped ones in DC. Sku didn't like it, so I've just passed them up, but if you say differently, I guess I might as well try it out.

I wouldn't expect some kickass hidden gem but for under $20 you'd be picking up a thoroughly decent whiskey. And keep in mind that Ten High Ten was one of the earlier attempts at marketing a "premium" whiskey, complete with the fancy tin packaging and cool contoured bottle. Have the ones you've seen come in the tin?

[White Dog]

I'll second Unclebunk. Dusty Ten high 10yr is might tasty.

[fishnbowljoe]

I'm also in agreement on the older Ten High Ten. Not bad at all IMHO.

[Young Blacksmith]

Not sure about ten high ten, but the dusty Ten High half pint I picked up not long ago was somewhere between barely drinkable and just OK. Straight, no GNS, marked as a Hiram Walker product, from around '82. It's actually a barton product I think, which is a decent sign for me, I just prefer Tom Moore a bit more.

I see half gallons on the bottom shelf all the time here, also straight, but I'll have to check now.

[tmckenzie]

I like that tax stripped ten high. It has a nice sweetness to it. Much better in my opinion than some premium stuff made today. Next time you see some, if you do not want it, send it my way.

[bad_scientist]

Not sure about ten high ten, but the dusty Ten High half pint I picked up not long ago was somewhere between barely drinkable and just OK. Straight, no GNS, marked as a Hiram Walker product, from around '82. It's actually a barton product I think, which is a decent sign for me, I just prefer Tom Moore a bit more.

I see half gallons on the bottom shelf all the time here, also straight, but I'll have to check now.

I didn't realize that Ten High came in normal and 10 year versions back in the '80s. I need to take a closer look at what they are around here. I didn't see any with a tin, for sure.

Edited September 3, 2012 by bad_scientist

[Young Blacksmith]

I think the Ten High Ten came out for a few years, then was dropped to the normal Ten High. There are some pics on here somewhere I've seen of the 10H10.

[cowdery]

Ten High Ten is a dusty. It hasn't been available for years.

Unless something has changed very recently, Sazerac makes Ten High in two versions, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and a Bourbon Blend. Distributors can choose, but they can't have both, so a given state should have one or the other, but not both.

A blended bourbon, aka bourbon-a blend, is at least 51 percent straight bourbon on a proof gallon basis. The rest can be and usually is GNS. A blended whiskey can be as little as 20 percent straight whiskey on a proof gallon basis and the rest can be and usually is GNS.

[p_elliott]

I think Iowa still gets the straight bourbon as it was the best selling bourbon in the state for years (hangs head).

[HighInTheMtns]

I think Iowa still gets the straight bourbon as it was the best selling bourbon in the state for years (hangs head).

Hey, at least it's unique from JBW, I'm sure the best selling bourbon in every state is young and nondescript.

[cowdery]

The KSBW Ten High is a perfectly respectable whiskey and a very good value.

[squire]

It was a quality presentation alright, also a lesson in why some whiskies just aren't meant for long aging. My recollection is Ten High Ten was an overly woody whisky past it's prime.

[tommyboy38]

But some of us prefer a woody

whiskey

[squire]

The regular Ten High is a Straight Bourbon here and a very good value that I wouldn't hesitate to use or serve to guests.

[humchan2k]

My family was given a handle of the Ten High Straight from '82 about a year ago, tax stamp in place and everything....and boy, wow....it's some of the worst whiskey I've ever had. I honestly can't find a single thing to like about it...at all.

If you're going to buy a cheap whiskeye in the same price range as this, for the love of GOD, man, go get some VOB BIB for $12-14.

[cowdery]

82 would have been some of the last Ten High made in Peoria, IL, where the brand originated. After that, it was briefly a Heaven Hill product, but has for about 25 years been made at Barton. The Barton Ten High, which is all you're going to find in stores, the occasional dusty notwithstanding, is VOB at four years rather than six. The only thing is to make sure you get the straight bourbon version and not the bourbon blend, which depends on where you are. Here in Illinois, where Ten High began, it's still a straight bourbon, and still a great value at $11/750.