Stitzer-Weller making bourbon again

[ChainWhip]

Saw this on the RSS feed this morning:

http://www.whiskyadvocateblog.com/2013/01/13/stitzel-weller-distillery-to-start-making-bourbon-again/

Very interesting to say the least!

Edited January 13, 2013 by callmeox
Do not copy entire works from other sources

[MyOldKyDram]

How long before we see new make Pappy at $100 a pop? :bigeyes:

[BAO]

Indeed. Can't wait to see the vintages they roll out and for the fruits of their labor another 15 years from now.

I would also like to add I hope their product is nothing like Bulleit.

Edited January 13, 2013 by BAO

[ErikH]

I wish they could go back to making Old Fitzgerald. I was lucky enough to sample a dusty of VOF from 1968, and it was very special indeed.

[BFerguson]

I wish them luck. I think we can be assured that it will never be the same as it was, and that they have some pretty big shoes to fill with the expectations.

They really better spend the time and resources to put out a top notch product if they want to be able to possibly continue the "hype" of what was done in the past.

Hopefully, the phoenix will arise from the ashes......

B

[portwood]

Purely a marketing exercise to take advantage of the current buzz of PVW bottles.

The spirit that will come off the stills will NOT be the same as what was previously distilled and the maturation will be different. Simply put - the whiskey will be "modern". Therefore, for economic reasons they would be better off starting an industrial type distillery from scratch. Diageo is known for being .... err ... efficient*, therefore, the only reason for re-starting up an old distillery is .... marketing/goodwill in a market (bourbon) where they have a very small footprint.

* Scotch fans know them more for closing old/inefficient single malt distilleries and opening supper efficient grain distilleries than bringing old distilleries back to life.

[ebo]

Too bad Ohio will never see any of it.

[compliance]

I woke up to the same thing in my RSS feeder. Felt like Christmas . Very excited to see what kind of old stock they have to release still. Since they can't call it Pappy I might be able to get some.

[portwood]

Very excited to see what kind of old stock they have to release still. Since they can't call it Pappy I might be able to get some.

Diageo may not be able to use brand names owned by someone else. Also, if you look at Diageo owned closed Scotch distillery releases (Brora, Port Ellen), the price will not be as friendly as suggested retail prices for PVW! They have demonstrated a very good ability at managing old stock from closed distilleries ... if they have some, don't count on general availability and/or "affordable" prices.

[portugieser]

What amazing news for a Sunday morning. I wonder, though, how much work has been done on the facilities and whether old stills are being restored or replaced with similar designs. I know that the place had a big asbestos issue according to Preston Van Winkle and, given the capital investment involved, changes will be made to increase efficiency.

[GaryT]

Looking forward (in how many years?? Long time, right?) to see what comes from this, but not anticipating anything like vintage SW juice. Agree that this will mainly be a marketing ploy - and hope it doesn't taste anything like Bulleit (not bashing Bulleit, but not my cup of tea - er, bourbon).

[HP12]

Looking forward (in how many years?? Long time, right?) to see what comes from this, but not anticipating anything like vintage SW juice. Agree that this will mainly be a marketing ploy - and hope it doesn't taste anything like Bulleit (not bashing Bulleit, but not my cup of tea - er, bourbon).

[GaryT]

I tend to agree. With the increased use of GM corn, future expressions of SW will likely fall short of past production quality and popularity.

[Tennessee Dave]

Good news but I fear the magic of SW is gone forever.

[portwood]

Back in Scotland, if a still had a ding or dent in it, when it was time to replace it they would try to replicate that imperfection - just to retain as much of the original characteristic as possible.

[tanstaafl2]

Even when new stills are replicated right down to the dings and dents, the spirit can still be different. Don't forget that it is commonly recognized that >50% of the flavour is imparted by the wood. So, even if they manage to distill the same spirit, there is no guarantee the matured whiskey will be the same!

[compliance]

All the tempered expectations in this thread are getting me down. Can't we at least celebrate for one day? Isn't this what we are always asking for? One of the great American distilleries is getting resurrected! This is nothing less than great news! Disappointment in their new product can come later.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I'm excited in that there will be another whiskey out there with seemingly a new taste profile from a company with enough $$ to ensure sustainability. However, using the S-W name to me is only borrowing a label from the past, I don't see a strong connection that translates inside the bottle.

[ebo]

All the tempered expectations in this thread are getting me down. Can't we at least celebrate for one day? Isn't this what we are always asking for? One of the great American distilleries is getting resurrected! This is nothing less than great news! Disappointment in their new product can come later.

[Ejmharris]

Lots of speculation. I will reserve judgement (good or bad) until a product is on the shelves.

Mike

[squire]

I'll take it as good news an American Bourbon distillery is being brought back into production. Just that and no more at this time.

[ChainWhip]

I'll reserve judgement until I'm able to sip on the goods - the proof is in the pudding so to speak. In the meantime, I am very excited for American whiskey that a storied distillery like SW is being resurrected and hopefully Diageo will be faithful caretakers of that legacy.

[squire]

Would be a treat though if they kept the original stills.

[Old Lamplighter]

I'll take it as good news an American Bourbon distillery is being brought back into production. Just that and no more at this time.

I agree with your reaction & sentiment. We'll await patiently & certainly hope for the best.

[Tony]

Great news, good to see.

Best regards, tony