Elmer T. Lee SB, Jeffersons PR SB, Blanton's, Rock Hill Farms?

[Enoch]

It seems to me that these use the same mashbill, vary from almost 90 to 100 proof, and NAS and yet run in price from $25 to $50. I have all four and cannot tell much difference. Is there much difference between them except barrel selection?

Edit: I mean Hancock's not Jefferson's. What happens when I should be working.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Enoch

[HighInTheMtns]

Hancock's PR right? Not Jefferson's? Yes those all use the same mashbill. All are single barrel, all are NAS. They differ in barrel selection, proof, and probably somewhat in age. I believe that Blanton's in particular comes from one warehouse only. For myself, factoring in price, I'd choose ETL.

This is pretty well standard practice - every distillery save for MM releases the same distillate in many iterations.

[squire]

Elmer Lee and Rock Hills are made by Buffalo Trace, share the same mashbill and display a related nature in their profiles. ETL is sweeter and shows flavors associated with a darker style and Rock Hills is more complex and sophisticated, two brothers who pursued different paths, as it were.. These two show what can be done by Master Blenders who have a number of barrels to choose from which in the case of Buffalo Trace means millions of gallons.

The company who produces the Jefferson brand buy their whisky from others and do not disclose their source(s) so what's in the bottle is a mystery and there is no assurance the next run will not be sourced from a different supplier.

[Enoch]

Hancock's PR right? Not Jefferson's? Yes those all use the same mashbill. All are single barrel, all are NAS. They differ in barrel selection, proof, and probably somewhat in age. I believe that Blanton's in particular comes from one warehouse only. For myself, factoring in price, I'd choose ETL.

This is pretty well standard practice - every distillery save for MM releases the same distillate in many iterations.

Sorry, I meant Hancock's PR. And I usually drink ETL. It is the one thing that is cheaper in Virginia than SC and is often on sale for $24.99 so I pick up a couple of bottles when I'm up there. I always keep Blanton's out of sentimentality because it was the first bourbon I tasted in my modern era (30 years after college). Tried it in a small riverfront bar in Frankfort and decided to switch from Scotch. I don't think Hancock's or RHF is worth the difference. JMHO

Edited March 13, 2013 by Enoch

[squire]

Hancock is one I've never figured out. Like the politician it's named for it seem to try to please everybody while being unremarkable compared to the others. A high grade, well polished whisky that doesn't offend and presents in a wooden box that wraps well as a gift.

Pleasant but innocuous, a house pet rather than a hunting dog.

[clingman71]

All AA mashbill. Hard to beat ETL, especially considering price. AAA same mashbill too, last year's TPS selection was very good, although it actually still does have an AS.

[OscarV]

I dropped all those brands a long time ago.

Except for a few of the BTAC BT basically blows grass and pine.

[GaryT]

I've never done side-by-side comparisons across them (actually never tried Hancocks PR), but I thought both Blanton and RHF were over-priced. I do like ETL (as well as AAA), and ever thought much about what they all have in common, but for enjoyment-per-dollar I would go with ETL or AAA.

[black mamba]

I find ETL and Hancock's to be similar, sweet citrus being the main theme, while Blanton's and RHF are darker and more complex, more dry and woody, probably older or more intensely positioned in the warehouse. Depending on mood, I think all are equally worth their price.

[squire]

Gary I've done comparison tastings of all four on my own and in group tastings I hosted. The consensus mirrors what mamba said above and the reason FHF and Blantons cost more is the packaging. Having said that RHF is one of the best Bourbons I've ever tasted.

[MyOldKyDram]

Rock Hill is certainly my fave of the bunch, by a fairly wide margin, even if I don't always have it handy. ETL and AAA on the other hand can always be found at my house.

[squire]

Also you can have an ETL and a AAA for the price of one RHF.

[smknjoe]

Rock Hill is certainly my fave of the bunch, by a fairly wide margin, even if I don't always have it handy. ETL and AAA on the other hand can always be found at my house.

[GaryT]

Maybe I just didn't have a good pour of RHF (or it was after too many good pours . . . which could have been the case!) I've tried Blantons more than once, and each time thought it was OK, but not worth the money - but maybe need to give RHF another shot!

[squire]

It's all good Gary, I will cheerfully drink any of them.

[Kyjd75]

Of this mash bill, AAA 10 yr and RHF are my favorites.

[WAINWRIGHT]

I figured most would say Blanton's by a landslide,I would also have to say RHF's is my pick of the bunch.I have had some that are a bit grassy,but others that are just really great with a sour apple note that I've never had in any other bourbon that always stays fresh in my mind.I think the Hancock's is ultra fruity and and the oddity to the group,not bad just not to my taste.I will also have to agree with the group as AAA 10yr is a great value pour and one I almost always have on hand,open and ready to pour!

[humchan2k]

Having said that RHF is one of the best Bourbons I've ever tasted.

I knew I loved Squire, I just knew it. I'm 100% with you, man. RHF is my favorite bourbon out there, it's so complex and delish. I really want K&L to do another private barrel selection of it.....man, that makes me thirsty just thinking about it.

[Pieface]

I'm not surprised to see Blanton's not getting much oxygen WW. It's always been a label here that gets slated with the too expensive tag.

My terms of reference are a bit limited as I've only had the Blanton's and the RHF. Not too interested in the ~$90 buy in on ETL here to expand my experience

RHF is undoubtedly the more complex whiskey for me but I think Blanton's excels in what it tries to be. I'm reaching for the Blanton's 4:1 compared to RHF because the Blanton's is just such a good "comfort" bourbon. RHF seems a more challenging pour that if not given due attention you miss a lot of what is going on in the glass.

These days I guess I prefer to drink whiskey more than I like to taste whiskey.

[Brisko]

I do have a fondness for the Age mashbill but I don't buy it that often. I've had a bottle of RHF open since November and it is deep and complex but very subtle. Almost muted in a way. I thought it might open up with time but it hasn't yet. I just bought a ETL last week, though, and it drinks bigger than that RHF, even at lower proof. Now obviously single barrel variations may play a role, but to compare these two, I would say, I like the what this RHF aspires to, but I think the ETL is better executed.

I do love the RHF decanter bottle. That will get refilled with other juice once it's gone.

[squire]

Which is the best use for that bottle.

[SFS]

Agreed................................

[Richnimrod]

Anybody else find Blanton's a bit "oily" as to mouthfeel??? Maybe it's just me. Anyway I didn't care much for that aspect of a pretty high-priced bourbon; I found that to be "off-putting". Most times I like ETL very well, and find it to be big, bold, well-done and a good value; although the last bottle I picked up seemed a little green and grassy, and had a slight sour apple under-taste. That is a disappointment I've not encountered before with ETL.

[black mamba]

ETL does change a bit from bottle to bottle, as should be expected from a single barrel. But when it's good, it's real good and underpriced.

[suntour]

The local liquor store had a pick of three barrels, one was said to have that kind of that oil-rag/rope/box flavor I've gotten in some BT products, and the other two were sublime. Obviously I've only tasted the one they said they thought best but man is it good. It actually is interesting to taste blind/side-by-side with Blanton's. Sometimes I think it has a nicer sweetness where I might find a twinge of nutrisweet in Blanton's occasionally. I also want to taste these side-by-side with AAA10yr, which I hopefully have a line on.

They also had multiples cases of hand-picked ER that I missed out on, figuring it'd be there for awhile. Nope. Gone in like a week.