Finishing and the future of bourbon.

[brettckeen]

I see a lot of the high quality finished bourbons as gateway whiskeys for people previously not interested in the whiskey category for libation. Its a great way to introduce timid folks to bourbon. More people drinking whiskey equals more money in my pocket and I have never been apposed to that.

[Balcones Winston]

Except people are putting out good ones at reasonable prices. The New Holland Beer Barrel, the Parker's Heritage Cognac, the new Jim Beam Signature finished with Spanish Brandy, the Angel's Envy Rye, Maker's 46. You might even consider Dickel Rye a finish, since the charcoal filtering took place after aging. Those are all good and the prices are more-or-less reasonable.

You first have to be interested in new flavors against a bourbon base to be interested in finishes. If you're simply not, if straight whiskey is all you care about, then you're not going to be interested in finishes. That doesn't mean any of these products are bad, it's just a dimension of the product type that doesn't interest you. Obviously one can feel the same way about flavorings, or extra-long aging, or cocktails for that matter. That doesn't make those things bad. They're just not to your taste.

That's fine. There's no reason to be nasty about it.

Even if you are open to finishes, it's likely you will find some more successful than others. In some cases, you may be with the majority, in others with the minority. That again is in the nature of an initiative that pushes the boundaries about what kind of edifice can be constructed on a bourbon foundation.

Don't be so quick to close your mind. What is it about the whiskey hobby that makes some people so orthodox? Most of you are way too young to be so rigid in your beliefs.

[jfw]

I pretty open to trying new things. O.K., I'm a sucker for new things. I have gone way out of my way importing things from far away places to try them.

I like AE. I'm also a fan of the Big Bottom port finish. If you like bourbon and port, then it's a really nice mix because the bourbon is so young the port shines through. It's fruity, porty bourbony stuff. (Hey, I keep saying I'm bad at tasting notes). If you are going to sell a really young bourbon, finishing it isn't a bad way to go. I'm not a big fan of the JB small batch (with port added) imported from down under. I keep trying to like it, but the beam yeast flavor is just wierd with the port. The Hooker House pinot finished is pretty decent. I wasn't a fan of the PHC cognac, but that might be just me and I keep comparing it to the other PHC releases which I really love. I'm a much bigger fan of port and pinot then I am of cognac in general so I guess it makes sense.

I just imported a New Holland BB and a JB signature from KY but I haven't opened them yet. I'm about 40 open bottles behind, so it might be a while.

Basically, I'll try anything once. Feel free to send me samples.

[wadewood]

Personally, I think bourbon is too bold for finishes like those used in single malt scotches. I have not had any bourbon that have been finished that I would rate as outstanding.

OK, I did forget about the PHC Cognac when I typed that - that I would rate as outstanding. But I also suspect that if I would have tried that same bourbon before Cognac finish, I would have thought the same.

[wadewood]

Angel's Envy is the only one you list I find anywhere near redeemable - and it's $60+ for a bottle. That's not a reasonable price IMHO.

? $60+; where have you been shopping? Typically about $40 here in Houston.

[scratchline]

The only finished bourbon I have is the Hooker's House bourbon finished in Pinot Noir barrels. I like that it's 100 proof and I like its price point: mid-30s. I can't say it's one of my favorites but it's good to have around to offer people who want to expand their whiskey drinking experience. And in an impromptu blind tasting that I put together for a bourbon newbie who was visiting me, it was her #1 pick. I can't remember exactly what she was tasting it against but I know that it was very good whiskey 'cause that's all I pour.

As long as whiskey is booming, the finishing experiments will continue and expand. Those that appeal to a significant portion of the market will increase their niche and those that don't will dwindle and die. Right now, the prices are just too high (the Hooker's House people have a 21 yr for 200 bucks) for most of the finished bourbons to have mass appeal, but then they're not being produced for large numbers but for connoisseurs and crossover drinkers.

I look forward to the future of finished bourbons as I imagine, despite some missteps along the way, there are some outstanding products to come.

[Meruck]

............... bourbon is more popular here in the US. Maybe our palates are more attuned to sweetness.

surger & spice and everything nice..........