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Medley Brothers Bourbon


cowdery
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Seeing this thread revived makes me want revise my previous post. More time with the 12 yr and I have to say it doesn't work for me. I'd be more interested at half the price, but the reality is that this one is just not in my wheelhouse so on second thought I'd not go after it even at half the price. I'll take WT101 and VOB BIB instead.

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I've been interested in the 12, but just can't pull the trigger on anything expensive and low proof.

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The folks behind the Medley line, Charles Medley and his son, Sam, will be involved again with the Owensboro distillery and have been working with the new owners. Charles, who is 72, and was the last person to run that distillery 22 years ago, will help them get it started. They have some renovation to do first but could be up and running in about a year.

The Medleys, whose whiskey is contract-distilled for them elsewhere in Kentucky, hope to make their whiskey right there at their old family distillery in the future. It will be made naturally, not by using any of Terrasentia's 'processes,' so Sam Medley tells me.

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Well that is good news, Chuck.

I want to pick up a Medley Bros., because I do like the 12yo and one of the aspects I like about it is mouthfeel. If that is coming from the high malted barley content, it is something that is a bit unique in the bourbons I've tried so it has my interest. Should have bought it when I saw it, but it appeared that there was a decent amount on the shelf.

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That is a positive development Chuck, let's hope it comes to fruition. The terrasentia website did mention traditional distillation, hopefully they'll let Charles Medley show them how it's done.

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I did pick up another bottle of Medley Bros. while I was in KY. The last bottle I had didn't last long. Then my local stores never got any more.

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I did pick up another bottle of Medley Bros. while I was in KY. The last bottle I had didn't last long. Then my local stores never got any more.

Paul, just let me know if you need more, we stock it.

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I want to pick up a Medley Bros., because I do like the 12yo and one of the aspects I like about it is mouthfeel. ...

That mouthfeel is in the Single Barrel and why I always have a bottle around...my current a Binny's handpicked that is terrific.

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Thanks Ben, I'll keep that in mind. Keep those barrel selections coming too.

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I picked up a couple @ $24 and this inexperienced palate is impressed.

For those that like George Dickel 12, HH BIB 4 or 6, I think you would like this. My initial impression (poured after a tough day so I know my impressions are probably skewed a bit):

It has a nice kick at 102 proof that gives it an edge over GD.

Great mouthfeel, sweetness balanced by the mild burn on the finish, and there is a fruity sweetness that emerges. Very satisfying.

For the QPR folks out there: I love the HH BiBs, but if you are wondering is the extra $8-$12 bucks worth the experience, "YES". Why? On the HH BiBs, I at times pick up a slightly vegetal note on the finish - nothing off-putting, but nonetheless it is there. There is only a very very slight bit of that here a minute or so after the swallow - even if this is 4 yrs and a day, it is well-balanced.

I don't drink enough for $8 or $10 a bottle to bother me if the experience is different enough, and this is to me. Again for the QPR folks, a bottle of GD12 around me is now $28 - if I'm buying that, I'm definitely buying this - give it a try.

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It has a nice kick at 102 proof. Great mouthfeel, sweetness balanced by the mild burn on the finish, and there is a fruity sweetness that emerges. Very satisfying.
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Thanks Joe! I would encourage folks to give this a shot - for a one time purchase of $23-$25, even if it isn't to your taste, I think you'll find use for it. I'll be buying more. Don't let those QPR or sourcing questions worry you too much at this stage - glad to have something new out there in the market at an affordable price.

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Good notes Mark, I shudder to think of what the price would be if some NDP had gotten their hands on this old brand.

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Good notes Mark, I shudder to think of what the price would be if some NDP had gotten their hands on this old brand.

Good point, Squire. By the way, where does Medley get their juice from anyway? Charles Medley won't say.

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I don't know who makes it but I know it's a contract distilling job, not bulk, which means the taste profile will be consistent from batch to batch, they won't have supply issues, etc.

As some may not know, this brand is a project of Charles Medley and his son, Sam Medley. When United Distillers bought Glenmore in 1991, Medley in Owensboro was Glenmore's only operating distillery. UD kept it going a short while until they fired up New Bernheim. So a lot of the Glenmore bourbon, some UD bourbon, and some of the great, very old rye that has been around was all made there under master distiller Charles Medley. A lot of the very good 15 and 12-year-old Ezra Brooks was his, along with regular Ezra and brands like Yellowstone and Kentucky Tavern. So if you've got dusties from 1992 and before, of those brands, there's a good chance Charles made that whiskey.

Edited by cowdery
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Chuck, I know you have written about the Medley Brothers and I know you like this product. Obviously, tastes vary but what old or current products would you compare this and Wathen's to?

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Evan Williams black label, Wild Turkey 101, Old Forester. It's a very traditional profile.

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