EWSB 2002 or 2003?

[ramblinman]

Haven't had a bottle of this stuff yet, and after having quite a bit of EW black label at the in-laws a few weeks back I feel like trying it.

My open count has gotten a little large lately and I'm running out of room, so probably only buying one for the time being. Both on the shelf at my local, between the two which vintage do/did you prefer?

[Clavius]

2002 was good but I'm really liking the 2003. Don't think you can go wrong with either, though.

[KyFriedChicken]

EWSB 2003 is a great choice. If you stumble across a 2000 vintage I would recommend it over the 02 or 03, but what a great bargain all around. Enjoy!

[Danger]

2002 has a great bouquet, and is silky-smooth but a bit short on flavor. Can't speak to the 03.

[MauiSon]

I don't believe that thinking about each vintage as distinct is realistic, it's more of a continuum as one year progresses to another. Each barrel is distinct, but the process is not altered when the vintage date changes, as far as I know. In other words, it is entirely unlike Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, for instance, where the aging or the mashbill is altered in a uniform manner each year.

Edited April 11, 2013 by MauiSon

[omgmarclol]

of the past 4 vintages, 00-03, i enjoyed '00 and '03 the best. those two years are the only one's i've bought multiples of.

[cowdery]

I like the 2003 better than the 2002, but they're very similar and you can't go wrong with either one.

[Flyfish]

of the past 4 vintages, 00-03, i enjoyed '00 and '03 the best. those two years are the only one's i've bought multiples of.

My wife and I did a blind tasting of these vintages. I preferred the '00 but she liked the '03. With that said, there was a clear family resemblance and repeating the tasting might easily produce different results. The maginal difference between "this is pretty good" and "this is damn good" is hard to quantify.

[MyOldKyDram]

Depends. We talking reviewer honey barrel here or not?

[ER07]

I'd go with the 2003

[ThirstyinOhio]

I had my first pour of the 03 just a couple of nights ago and holy crap I was blown away. My bottle of 03 was heads and shoulders above the 02 bottle that I had.

[RBancroft]

My wife and I did a blind tasting of these vintages. I preferred the '00 but she liked the '03. With that said, there was a clear family resemblance and repeating the tasting might easily produce different results. The maginal difference between "this is pretty good" and "this is damn good" is hard to quantify.

If you don't mind me asking, were you able to find the 2003 in Toledo? I had been looking, but was never able to find any.

[ramblinman]

Looks like the consensus is 2003 was a bit better. Thanks all, probably going to pick it up today for my Friday treat.

And MauiSon, understood, I knew that the recipe/method wasn't changed, but I assumed different years the weather affects the grains and such. Allowing for the difference between single barrel and "small batch", is there any more variation between a different vintage EWSB than say between a few EC12 bottles (to keep discussion within same distiller)? The EC12 has a profile they're looking to build and keep somewhat consistent between bottling but to my taste they've got a wide path and I've had bottles of it that felt more like cousins than siblings.

[JPBoston]

Looks like the consensus is 2003 was a bit better. Thanks all, probably going to pick it up today for my Friday treat.

And MauiSon, understood, I knew that the recipe/method wasn't changed, but I assumed different years the weather affects the grains and such. Allowing for the difference between single barrel and "small batch", is there any more variation between a different vintage EWSB than say between a few EC12 bottles (to keep discussion within same distiller)? The EC12 has a profile they're looking to build and keep somewhat consistent between bottling but to my taste they've got a wide path and I've had bottles of it that felt more like cousins than siblings.

I think you'll find a lot of similar opinions on EC12 varying from bottle to bottle. There was some discussion regarding this a year or two ago.

[BB Slim]

Seems like the majority here prefer the 2003 EWSB over the 2002. I know the 2000 vintage is the "Holy Grail" of EWSB but does anyone have any thoughts about the 2001 vintage especially in comparison to the 2003?

[Parkersback]

I'm working through a bottle of 2002 right now, and it's the first time I've understood the accusation against HH whiskey for being too minty. This one has a lot of that going on.

[HighHorse]

Our barrel team picked an '02 that was (is) very good. A few weeks ago we were back in the rick house and picked an '03 that was excellent out of the barrel. It has not come in yet and it will be interesting to try them side by side. EWSB continues to climb up the ladder for me. On a shelf with about 100 quality bottles it's overlooked too often. HH makes darn good bourbon IMO .. Bernheim being the exception.

[p_elliott]

Bernheim isn't bourbon so you're comparing apples to oranges.

[theglobalguy]

Both are tremendous value, but have to agree with the masses that 2003 was my favorite of the two.

[WhiskyRI]

I just found in the last few months the following EWSBs - 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002. No 2003 on the shelves in RI yet that I've seen. The 1997 and 2000 I just got on Friday and there were 2 bottles of 2000 left, though given consensus here I'll be going back for those 2000s. I haven't cracked any of them open yet because I want to know a bit of what to expect and because I might be do a vertical tasting. (and because I already have too many open bottles). Among the EWSB cognoscenti how do those vintages compare?

[mosugoji64]

I just found in the last few months the following EWSBs - 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002. No 2003 on the shelves in RI yet that I've seen. The 1997 and 2000 I just got on Friday and there were 2 bottles of 2000 left, though given consensus here I'll be going back for those 2000s. I haven't cracked any of them open yet because I want to know a bit of what to expect and because I might be do a vertical tasting. (and because I already have too many open bottles). Among the EWSB cognoscenti how do those vintages compare?

I have all of the vintages you mentioned and find the '97 and '00 to be my favorites (along with the '98, which isn't in the list). A vertical is a lot of fun with these, particularly with the '96 and earlier vintages, '97, '98/'99, and '00 and later as they were all different distilleries. Have fun with your tastings and let us know what you think!

[deathevocation]

I've just opened a 02. Will post thoughts later. Had two bottles of the 00 and have two bunkered, great drop. Also got a 97 unopened. Been drinking quite a bit of black label lately too. Thumbs up H&H. Good value and quality.

[Dolph Lundgren]

I'm a big fan of 2003. One of the best values in whiskey right now, especially if you stumble on a store that has it marked down to $19.99.

[deathevocation]

Had two glasses of the 02. Don't think it is in the same class as the 00 and is very short on the finish.

[Richnimrod]

I have all of the vintages you mentioned and find the '97 and '00 to be my favorites (along with the '98, which isn't in the list). A vertical is a lot of fun with these, particularly with the '96 and earlier vintages, '97, '98/'99, and '00 and later as they were all different distilleries. Have fun with your tastings and let us know what you think!