Break'g & Entering?...Breackenridge?

[Richnimrod]

I was visiting my local spirits monger a little while ago.

He wanted me to try (for $40) a bottle of what he claimed was; "...the real deal". It was Breaking & Entering Bourbon.

He also tried to get me to order another 'new' offering he claimed to have heard great things about;

Breckenridge Bourbon (he had no price yet for this one).

Does anyone have experience with either one of these? What is anyone's recommendation... or lack thereof?

[sku]

These are both bourbons sourced from Kentucky by other companies. I actually have a review of the Breckenridge lined up for next week. I like it, though it's a bit pricey. I didn't care for the Breaking & Entering which is quite light.

[black mamba]

I was gifted a bottle of B&E about 5 months ago, drank a couple drams then and was not impressed. I'm revisiting it right now, to add some fresh notes for you.

Color: Medium light honey tan. If straw colored Scotch is a 1 and ECBP is a 5, this is about a 2 to 2-1/2.

Nose: Mostly rubbing alcohol, with a tiny hint of fruit cocktail. I don't think I would know it was bourbon, blind.

Taste: Dry, very little sweetness or barrel char. With a 10 second "Kentucky Chew" some astringency and heat, despite 86 pf.

Finish: About 2 seconds of alcohol heat and that's it.

One of the worst bourbons I've had. If it weren't a gift, I'd feel worse about it. At least I didn't spend money on it.

My $8 bottle of current Old Taylor is much better juice.

[squire]

That's a remarkable comment, that current Taylor comes off well in comparison.

[black mamba]

But true, squire. It may be only 80 pf, but it still has some butter/caramel sweetness, and tastes like bourbon.

[squire]

And worth every penny.

[petrel800]

I'm not a fan of either myself.

I've tried both at local establishments here in the Atlanta area. The B&E deal is from St. George and I typically like what they are doing (I really enjoy their Gins), so I gave their bourbon a try and found it very light and not very flavorful. Agree with some of the above poster's comments.

The Breckenridge stuff tasted mighty young to me, almost white doggy, but I'm not sure how much it has evolved since I tried it. My biggest bitch about that brand is the absolute garbage I get from people trying to sell it to me. I've been told by bartenders and shopkeepers alike that it is 6, 7, 8 years old and a bargin for the price, that and they got double gold at the SF Spirits and Long Drive competition or something like that. All I know is there is no age statement on the bottle and everything I have found states the juice is 2 to 3 years old. I might be more willing to give it another chance if I found the marketing to be a bit more honest, not sure who to put that on, the distillery, the distributors, or the stores, but one way or another, I'm not biting.

[Richnimrod]

Thanx all! :grin: Particularly the honest and unflinching taste test by Black Mamba. Better you (for free) than me, dude.

I was leery about the hard sell for a couple drams I knew so little about, other than they are (or were) sourced from either Indiana or KY, and not distilled by the folks marketing either one. I guess one of 'em is soon to be 'self-distilled', at least in part; but, when that happens it is expected to be unchanged from the current profile... apparently still mediocre ... And at pretty steep dinaro, I'm even more unlikely to jump on 'em. I'll look for your review SKU. But, I'm thinking these aren't for my taste... or wallet.

Again, thanx folks!

[GaryT]

I have the B&E at the KBF and was unimpressed, and the Breckenridge has always been too pricey to try ($42+ for 86 proof, 2-3 yrs old? Puuhleeez) I figured since I hadn't heard anyone raving about it, or hadn't seen it on a table at the gazebo or some GBS event, probably not that great Although - Bourbon Supreme has made some appearances (along with American Spirit?), so my gauge ain't that great!

[squire]

Not really a fair comparison though, Bourbon Supreme is twice as old.

[brettckeen]

These are both bourbons sourced from Kentucky by other companies. I actually have a review of the Breckenridge lined up for next week. I like it, though it's a bit pricey. I didn't care for the Breaking & Entering which is quite light.

Are you sure it's sourced goods?

I'm fairly positive Breckenridge is a Colorado Distillate? https://www.breckenridgedistillery.com/hooch/products

Unmalted barley is interesting that would make it an enzymatic distillate. Who in kentucky does unmalted bourbon?

Edited June 12, 2013 by brettckeen

[GaryT]

Not really a fair comparison though, Bourbon Supreme is twice as old.

And American Spirit is 10 times as light, so you're right - not fair by a stretch

[sku]

Are you sure it's sourced goods?

I'm fairly positive Breckenridge is a Colorado Distillate? https://www.breckenridgedistillery.com/hooch/products

Unmalted barley is interesting that would make it an enzymatic distillate. Who in kentucky does unmalted bourbon?

[brettckeen]

I was told directly by the distillery that it is a Kentucky bourbon. They are aging their own as well and eventually plan to blend it and then switch over entirely.

I also asked about the unmalted barley and was told that was a mistake. The mashbill uses regular malted barley.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Had a customer request Breckenridge today. He showed me a write up in some whiskey magazine. 2-3 yr old sourced bourbon. Ho hum

[JKLS]

Seems like every halfway decent liquor store with a better than bare minimum bourbon selection in these parts has both of these. Haven't had the Breckenridge, we have a bottle of B&E at work. Meh, not great, not terrible: underwhelming. At least they are upfront and honest with the origins of their juice, unlike some other micros. They even put it it right in the name!

[sailor22]

I have sampled the Brekenridge and thought it was too light and simple to be worth the $. It seems to get fair to decent reviews.

[Enoch]

I was told directly by the distillery that it is a Kentucky bourbon. They are aging their own as well and eventually plan to blend it and then switch over entirely.

I also asked about the unmalted barley and was told that was a mistake. The mashbill uses regular malted barley.

I was at the distillery in April (go twice a year) and was told that they were already blending their bourbon with the Kentucky sourced stuff. They hoped to eventually go to 100% their stuff. They said the point where they began blending was when they changed to wording on the bottle. I have both bottles and the newer (blended?) stuff seems little lighter and I really like it, but I have never done a blind tasting so it could be mind over matter. They would not say the percentages of each so it may be 95/5. They have been distilling for several years and use 53 gal barrels so they should have some on hand. They were also adding a continuous still and expanded storage after ski season. At the distillery it goes for $40/ bottle but in Dillon/Silverthorne I have seen it from $30 - $60. Go figure...

I thought the Peach Street (Palisade, CO) tasted similar and they say it is 100% their stuff and at least 2 years old, but at $60 - $70/bottle, I thought it was a little too steep.

River North Brewery in Denver uses Breckenridge Bourbon barrels to barrel it's bourbon-barreled beer so I They have dumped some barrels. Excellent beer btw.

Edited June 13, 2013 by Enoch

[Unearthed]

I don't think Breckenridge is all that bad, I just don't think it's a $45 bottle of Bourbon. I spoke to the local distributor about this just yesterday. It's a decent higher rye bottle that has no place being in this price range. If I were in the mood for that type of bottle, I would buy Elmer T Lee for $32.

[HighInTheMtns]

River North Brewery in Denver uses Breckenridge Bourbon barrels to barrel it's bourbon-barreled beer so I They have dumped some barrels. Excellent beer btw.

They could be using the barrels from the bulk whiskey. A local brewer here makes a beer aged in "High West" rye barrels. Since HW isn't selling their own juice yet, presumably those are LDI barrels.

Too much mystery around Breckenridge. They're selling their resort town name as much or more as they're selling their bourbon. If they start being legitimately honest about what they're bottling, I might try a bottle. If they continue to be vaguely "honest" (hey, there's SOME of our own distillate in there!) then there's no chance.

[squire]

I agree Jim, but I don't care for any promotion by association whether it's a resort address or a former long dead President.

[Enoch]

They could be using the barrels from the bulk whiskey. A local brewer here makes a beer aged in "High West" rye barrels. Since HW isn't selling their own juice yet, presumably those are LDI barrels.

Too much mystery around Breckenridge. They're selling their resort town name as much or more as they're selling their bourbon. If they start being legitimately honest about what they're bottling, I might try a bottle. If they continue to be vaguely "honest" (hey, there's SOME of our own distillate in there!) then there's no chance.

I must apologize. River North uses High West barrels. (Some-timers kicking in.) Point well taken.

[mark fleetwood]

Breckenridge's other claim to fame is cutting the whiskey with rocky mountain water. imagine that, we've gotten to the point where someone actually sells the fact that they're watering down your whiskey. Not water in the distillation mind you, but WATERING DOWN! What's next, "We package in a smaller 700ml bottle to store more of the flavor you used to get at 750ml."

[squire]

Breckenridge's other claim to fame is cutting the whiskey with rocky mountain water. . . . What's next, "We package in a smaller 700ml bottle to store more of the flavor you used to get at 750ml."

That last statement is actually insulting.

[Enoch]

Thought you might be interested in article in Summit Daily. Breck Distillery new barrel storage going from 320 to 3700 barrels.

Here's the article:

http://www.summitdaily.com/news/7173462-113/distillery-breckenridge-via-peach