If You Could Pick Any Single Barrel

[Brisko]

They really told me this! It was while we were looking at barrels in one of their old rickhouses. A man asked what the oldest whiskey they had was,(dont remember how old) and the tour guide said they actually had too much older whiskey & to get rid of it, they'd have to come out with some older expressions. They'd start next year with a 17 year old barrel proof bourbon. Alot of questions were asked but he had limited answers

I believe you (that they told you this), but my BS meter is about to go into meltdown. If they have old stock they want to dump, they could always bring the 12 year old back into domestic distribution. But I suppose that wouldn't be as big a moneymaker.

I have no doubt that they have enough 17 year old bourbon to put out a new limited edition (let's see, that would make it distilled in 96 or 97, not long after they ramped up production coming out of the glut) but the idea that they're swimming in a sea of superannuated bourbon is laughable.

Edited March 19, 2013 by Brisko

[sailor22]

American Spirit was 15yr and supposedly had older juice in it, Tradition is 14yrs, hasn't been a big seller and has been on the market for 4 years or so. Having some stocks of 17+ available as a special edition sounds reasonable. Not sure about what they would call barrel proof - they seem to use the term loosely at WT. They call Rare Breed barrel proof and it's all bottled at 107.

[squire]

No reason why they wouldn't have old stock, they've been making whisky for a lot of years.

[Brisko]

Well if that's the case, what's their excuse for putting out whiskey that's young and hot?

Like I said, I'm sure they have some-- not a lot, but some. I wonder where they'll price it? I've seen Tradition in the neighborhood of $100.

[OscarV]

they seem to use the term loosely at WT. They call Rare Breed barrel proof and it's all bottled at 107.

I don't know about that, I have never seen or heard Rare Breed called barrel proof, they have been pumping out a lot of bottles for a lot of years at 108.2 proof so I doubt that they would say they all came out of the barrel at that proof but I could be wrong.

[OscarV]

Well if that's the case, what's their excuse for putting out whiskey that's young and hot?

Because spirits are trendy now and the trendy audience doesn't know any better, they just want to look cool,...did I say cool, pardon me that is oh so 1950's and '60's.

[HighInTheMtns]

I don't know about that, I have never seen or heard Rare Breed called barrel proof, they have been pumping out a lot of bottles for a lot of years at 108.2 proof so I doubt that they would say they all came out of the barrel at that proof but I could be wrong.

It says barrel proof on the label.

[Josh]

I don't know about that, I have never seen or heard Rare Breed called barrel proof, they have been pumping out a lot of bottles for a lot of years at 108.2 proof so I doubt that they would say they all came out of the barrel at that proof but I could be wrong.

It's right on the label my man.

[Yeti]

Rare Breed has a batch number (and I'm sure it's an ENORMOUS batch), so maybe 108.2 is the natural barrel strength. It goes in the barrel at 105, and RB is...what? 8 years old max? So depending on where it was stored I can see the vatting coming out to 108.2. "Cask strength" =/= "very high proof" by definition. It just works out that way with Kentucky bourbon more often than not.

[OscarV]

It's right on the label my man.

Damn, if you ain't right,...let's call WT out on this.

First the mighty mighty SB.com got MM to stop the water now let's stop this,...Barturtle where are you now that we need you?!?!?!?

[HighInTheMtns]

Rare Breed has a batch number (and I'm sure it's an ENORMOUS batch), so maybe 108.2 is the natural barrel strength. It goes in the barrel at 105, and RB is...what? 8 years old max? So depending on where it was stored I can see the vatting coming out to 108.2. "Cask strength" =/= "very high proof" by definition. It just works out that way with Kentucky bourbon more often than not.

I can buy that the early batch numbers actually denoted individual batches, but I don't buy that about WT-03RB. Purely speculation but I don't think they made a batch to last 10 years back in '03.

[squire]

Let's see, WT has at least 20 warehouses, as of the fire in 2000, so there could be more since then, each holding a little over one millions gallons. I don't know precisely what their sales figures are but it's not 20 million gallons a year, so, yeah, they have some aged surplus.

[OscarV]

, so, yeah, they have some aged surplus.

So when do you think they will bottle it and send it our way?

[sailor22]

Both Tradition and American Spirit are both notably dry and woody. Some say overaged and overpriced. Both are younger than 17yrs. I'll hold off getting excited about the new stuff until I get a chance to taste it.

[OscarV]

Both Tradition and American Spirit are both notably dry and woody. Some say overaged and overpriced. Both are younger than 17yrs. I'll hold off getting excited about the new stuff until I get a chance to taste it.

Yep, yep and yep on all three points, sometimes I get weak but holding off until 2014 isn't a bad idea,...unless WT can convince us other wise.

[squire]

Oscar as soon as they notify me I'll let 'cha know.

[Josh]

Damn, if you ain't right,...let's call WT out on this.

It happens once in a blue moon.

First the mighty mighty SB.com got MM to stop the water now let's stop this,...Barturtle where are you now that we need you?!?!?!?

I think you have the finest flock of turkeys I've ever seen, O. I think you need to lead the charge!

[Brisko]

Rare Breed has a batch number (and I'm sure it's an ENORMOUS batch), so maybe 108.2 is the natural barrel strength. It goes in the barrel at 105, and RB is...what? 8 years old max? So depending on where it was stored I can see the vatting coming out to 108.2. "Cask strength" =/= "very high proof" by definition. It just works out that way with Kentucky bourbon more often than not.

Supposedly it's a vatting of 6, 8, and 12 year-old stocks. And their barrel entry proof has gone up lately (too lazy to search for specifics right now). The new batch is going to be 111 or something like that.

I can buy that the early batch numbers actually denoted individual batches, but I don't buy that about WT-03RB. Purely speculation but I don't think they made a batch to last 10 years back in '03.

Yeah, it does seem a little hard to swallow. Although the two WT-03Bs I've had in the past couple of years were pretty similar if not identical.

Both Tradition and American Spirit are both notably dry and woody. Some say overaged and overpriced. Both are younger than 17yrs. I'll hold off getting excited about the new stuff until I get a chance to taste it.

Which is why I would rather they put the aged stock into a 12 year-old bottling.

And that's why my early response for the "dream" single barrel specified a 12 year old Turkey (finally, back on topic!!).

And again, back on topic, would love to taste an Old Forester at about 9 or 10 years old and barrel proof.

[barturtle]

Both George and Jack filter the new whisky through a deep vat of charcoal (10 feet or more) before barreling the whisky for aging. This is called the Lincoln County process. The whisky is again given a chill filtering prior to bottling. The difference is Dickel chills the whisky before each filtering.

Gentleman Jack gets a second run through the big charcoal vat (or something similar) after aging and before bottling.

Also one, Dickel iirc, fills the tank and then releases the mellowed spirit, whereas the other just lets it drip through and collects at the bottom.

[LostBottle]

An 18yo barrel proof Bowman Rye would certainly grab my attention.

[MauiSon]

I guess I'm just either foolish or pragmatic - I'm happy with the current level of innovation and new/special product presentation. The major distillers are moving as fast as I could wish - good job, boys!

[ChainWhip]

An 18yo barrel proof Bowman Rye would certainly grab my attention.

This!

In addition, I'd like to see the current tanked Sazerac 18 go out with a bang and have it released as Barrel Proof for the final release.

Edited March 19, 2013 by ChainWhip

[Josh]

While we are dreaming, how about a Dixie Dew/Mellow Corn at 10-15 years in those used barrels. I really have no idea if it'd taste good, but I'd love to try it. It might begin to go in a scotch-like direction.

Almost missed this one.

Yes! superb idea. I would love to see what those whiskeys can do at 12 y/o!

[OscarV]

While we are dreaming, how about a Dixie Dew/Mellow Corn at 10-15 years in those used barrels. I really have no idea if it'd taste good, but I'd love to try it. It might begin to go in a scotch-like direction.

That's about the best idea I have heard in a long time, wow! aged DD/MC, where do I stand in line?

Almost missed this one.

Yes! superb idea. I would love to see what those whiskeys can do at 12 y/o!

Hear hear!

[DBM]

Weller 15 year barrel proof

MM 100 proof, with or without extra age

ETL 18 year 107