What's the deal with Lot B???

[boneuphtoner]

So I went by to get my 1 allocated bottle of Pappy 15, and the clerk asked me...."do you want any of the Pappy 12 year old?". Since I had never heard of this, I said sure. He produced two bottles of Lot B. Having never tried it, I took the plunge. Its excellent stuff IMHO! Better than ORVW 90 for sure, and more refined and better integrated in the char/sweetness balance to my palate than Weller 12. But since I've only seen it mentioned around here a couple of times next to the Weller's, Pappys, and ORVW's, I have to ask the question...what sort of niche are they trying to fill with this product? Is this supposed to be some sort of intermediate product between the ORVW and Pappy markets?

The shop I was in just happened to have these available among their reserved van Winkle products. The clerk said that no one had reserved these, and I just happened to be there at the right place and right time. I think this stuff is great, just besting Weller 12 by a whisker as my favorite wheater that isn't a Pappy 15 or JPS18. But is the point of this product to be some intermediate range between ORVW and Pappy? Given the price (nearly $50), it isn't that much better than the Weller 12 to justify being twice the price, IMHO.

What sayest thou?

[BradleyC]

In my opinion Lot B is overpriced Weller 12. They both are the exact same recipe, same distillery, same barrels, same warehouses, etc. The only difference is that Julian gets first pick of the barrels for what goes into Lot B vs Weller 12. The difference in taste is not worth the premium Lot B carries in my mind. I passed on Lot B this year at $39.99. The same store had Liters of Weller 12 for $22. That was a no brainer for me. I saw Lot B as high as $75 which is absurd given Weller 12 is available in the marketplace. I have empty Lot B bottles to pour my weller 12 into if the fancy VW label makes me feel more fuzzy inside.

All of this being said, I would be extremely surprised if BT didn't drop the Weller 12 label since they can make so much more money selling it to the Pappy chasers under the Van Winkle label.

[BFerguson]

Out of the last two that i had, the first was stellar, a massive balck cherry bomb. Intense.

The second was "meh"........

It's kind of the illegitimate stepchild of the line filling in extra space. And I'm not sure anybody puts in a request for it. More of a consolation prize for not getting any of the others.

That being said, as I mention in a earlier thread, I might throw down for one if they stick around. But with a $50 spread between it and Weller 12yr, Weller definately has the edge. Three to one, those are some good odds.

B

[camduncan]

In my opinion Lot B is overpriced Weller 12. They both are the exact same recipe, same distillery, same barrels, same warehouses, etc. The only difference is that Julian gets first pick of the barrels for what goes into Lot B vs Weller 12. The difference in taste is not worth the premium Lot B carries in my mind. I passed on Lot B this year at $39.99. The same store had Liters of Weller 12 for $22.

Wow, as Lot B is my hands-down favourite Van Winkle, that makes me want to spring for shipping a case of Weller Downunder!

[tommyboy38]

I'm also a big fan of the Lot b and have a few in the bunker but i'm not sure I'd buy it at current prices.

When it was $35 or so, I always had a bottle open.

[michaelturtle1]

I agree, I would trade my PVW 20 for a few Lot Bs anytime... It is hands down my favorite bourbon

[Special Reserve]

Lot B is a one of my favorite pours. However, some don't like the low proof. I enjoy lower proof good bourbon.

[BFerguson]

Hmm... Lotta love for it, and I get that, when its good, it's great.

But do you you love or like it at the new price point??

B

[WAINWRIGHT]

I am also glad I have quite a few of these bunkered as pricing continues to rise.I do love W12 but feel the honey barrels selected for Lot B makes all the difference,that being said the last ones I picked up were $39.99.FWIW,this bottling seems to out last all other VW selections on the shelf in my area.

[unclebunk]

I am also glad I have quite a few of these bunkered as pricing continues to rise.I do love W12 but feel the honey barrels selected for Lot B makes all the difference,that being said the last ones I picked up were $39.99.FWIW,this bottling seems to out last all other VW selections on the shelf in my area.

My sentiments exactly. I thoroughly enjoy Weller 12 but feel that Lot B gives me a bit more for my money. When I was bunkering them a few years back my price was $35-$40. At $50-ish I start to balk at the price and look further down the shelf. That isn't to say that Lot B isn't worth $50, but I've had so much of it that I prefer to spend my money on things I haven't tried or very infrequently buy.

[Tony]

I agree, I would trade my PVW 20 for a few Lot Bs anytime... It is hands down my favorite bourbon

I would take that trade all day long. I love the PVW20, prefer it over all the others. The 23 may be a tad better but not when you factor in the price. I do enjoy the Lot B when I can find it at a decent price though.

Best regards, Tony

[CADMixes]

In my opinion Lot B is overpriced Weller 12. They both are the exact same recipe, same distillery, same barrels, same warehouses, etc. The only difference is that Julian gets first pick of the barrels for what goes into Lot B vs Weller 12.

It's worth noting that, for the time being, this isn't true. Lot B still contains some Bernheim juice. So you are not just paying for someone's Weller 12 barrel picks.

I've drank my way through a few bottles of both Weller 12 and Lot B over the years, and have a slight preference for Lot B. Not a triple the price preference, but a preference nonetheless.

[p_elliott]

I believe CADMixes is correct that the Lot B is at least part Bernheim bourbon. It's my favorite VW and I much prefer it over the Weller 12. Sorry Joe.

[squire]

I like Lot B, drank a lot of it over the years and it's worth what customers are willing to pay. For myself, no, the current cost exceeds my price/value requirements.

I also no longer buy Delamain Pale & Dry Cognac for the same reason.

Edited December 1, 2012 by squire

[Tucker]

I like it and I've got several in the bunker but had to pass this time when it was offered at $65. The most I've paid was $44 and that was for the Spring 2011 allocation.

[cowdery]

I'm a long time Lot B fan. We don't talk about it much to keep it under the radar of the Van Winkle idiots. I have heard other people call it "Pappy 12-year-old."

[White Dog]

Should we really believe that there's still Bernheim juice being used??:skep:

[camduncan]

With the US prices being almost a third of Australian prices, you guys are getting a bargain..... I'd pay $50 for a Lot B any day of the week.... in fact, at that price I'd buy a case!

[macdeffe]

Cherry picked casks are the ones I am looking for. The lot B is one of my favourite bourbons, and I appreciate distilleries and producers that do the effort of finding these, instead of vatting everything together

Steffen

[Rockefeller]

(Edited. Unaware this was redundant with another thread)

Edited December 2, 2012 by Rockefeller

[Rockefeller]

http://sourmashmanifesto.com/category/reviewsratings/w-l-weller/ Edited December 2, 2012 by Rockefeller

[Rockefeller]

I'm a long time Lot B fan. We don't talk about it much to keep it under the radar of the Van Winkle idiots. I have heard other people call it "Pappy 12-year-old."

I think that ship sailed a while ago when it started selling for $120+ on eBay

[LongBeachScott]

I think the Lot B bottles I have had are generally better than bottles of Weller 12. I rarely see it anymore though. And I am afraid it isn't enough better than Weller 12 to get me to buy it at the prices some shops are asking.

[Barclay Beach]

http://sourmashmanifesto.com/category/reviewsratings/w-l-weller/

Jason probably says it better than I could in his review. Side by side, the Lot B is clearly superior to me. More complex, deep -- and the mouthfeel and finish are outstanding. In general, I would rate Lot B much higher if it had a better nose. In the bottles I've had the nose tends to be relatively subdued with a little the nail polish thing going on.

[boneuphtoner]

Thanks for all the comments.

The Lot B seems to be getting even better. When I did my comparison with Weller 12, it was on a bottle open for at least a month verus a freshly opened Lot B...given what I've read here and my own personal experience, that is spotting the Weller a huge advantage. In just a couple of days time, I'm sensing the Lot B is increasing what was a razor thin advantage over the Weller 12. I like the sourmash review, especially what he said about the mouthfeel. The similarities are very striking, but the Lot B seems a notch or two more refined. I would probably buy a bottle or two every year or so, but given that it is twice the price, probably not more than that.