LDI / MGP Bourbon

[PaulO]

I gather that LDI, now known as MGP in Lawrenceburg Indiana started by making straight whiskies to be used in blends. Nowadays they are selling to quite a few people to supply non producer distributors. I've tried probably five different versions of the rye, under different labels. I like some of them. On the other hand, I've never had any of their bourbon. It's hard for me to justify paying premium price for young-ish bulk whiskey at 80 odd proof. Am I missing something? Is there some version of their bourbon I should try.

[393foureyedfox]

id say i generally try not to pick up the NDP stuff, but just an hour ago i bought an ezra 101. i couldnt tell you what LDI bourbons are out there, but id like to know as well

[Old Dusty]

Paul, the Hoosier bourbons that I am aware of are MGPI. Spring Mill, and Harrison for sure. There are plenty of others.

[MyOldKyDram]

Most if not all of the Smooth Ambler stuff too, yeah?

[Josh]

Paul, the Hoosier bourbons that I am aware of are MGPI. Spring Mill, and Harrison for sure. There are plenty of others.

Most if not all of the Smooth Ambler stuff too, yeah?

Yes. All these are tasty too, imo. The Harrison is overpriced though.

[Yeti]

I gather that LDI, now known as MGP in Lawrenceburg Indiana started by making straight whiskies to be used in blends. Nowadays they are selling to quite a few people to supply non producer distributors. I've tried probably five different versions of the rye, under different labels. I like some of them. On the other hand, I've never had any of their bourbon. It's hard for me to justify paying premium price for young-ish bulk whiskey at 80 odd proof. Am I missing something? Is there some version of their bourbon I should try.

[bllygthrd]

There was some Smooth Ambler Very Old Scout 14 YO, 15 YO and 17 YO bottled and sold ... and at least one bottle of 19 YO (50% ABV) in my stash.

[Yeti]

Also an 11 year. I've heard of the 15 and 17, but have never seen either.

[cowdery]

I have the 14-year-old. I wanted to love it. I just don't.

[BFerguson]

I wanted to love it. I just don't.

That has the makings of a great thread title......

B

[PaulO]

Thanks for the replies. I started the thread because I'm curios, and have noticed the Lawrenceburg bourbon doesn't get much notice around here. I see a lot on shelves lately.

[TunnelTiger]

Got to say I do enjoy more of the LDI/MGP ryes than bourbons but some of their other whiskys are yuck. Try the Chattanooga 1816 as a reference point.

[PaulO]

I don't think I've ever seen that one. Is that a good, or bad reference point?

[TunnelTiger]

I don't think I've ever seen that one. Is that a good, or bad reference point?

Just my noobs opinion but the Chatt 1816 makes JB Devils Cut taste like an A+. I'm close to Chatt and they are starting up their own brewery downtown and their story is that this is their great-great grandads mash bill, like MGP would make something special for them but they have the local paper and politicos convinced. :skep:

[cowdery]

MGPI Indiana will make something custom, but it's very expensive and, if it's custom, you have to let it age, you can't just buy it off the shelf. It's unlikely that it's truly custom but it's possible.

[squire]

I gather that LDI, now known as MGP in Lawrenceburg Indiana started by making straight whiskies to be used in blends . . . . I've never had any of their bourbon. It's hard for me to justify paying premium price for young-ish bulk whiskey at 80 odd proof. Am I missing something?

Since the bulk % of the blends was GNS I suspect the bulk of MGP's output was/is GNS as well. As for the Bourbon, changing the label does not change the basic whisky so rather than missing something I believe you have instead gained by saving a lot of money that can be spent on established brands actually made by the people who bottle them.

[squire]

. . . I'm close to Chatt and they are starting up their own brewery downtown and their story is that this is their great-great grandads mash bill . . .

Well . . . It could be, I really wouldn't know, but even if the statement is true it only implys they are either recreating or continuing a tradition of making a specific whisky, which would be impossible. What was the brand grandpa made anyway?

[macdeffe]

Smooth Ambler Bourbons are also Four Roses

Steffen

[Gillman]

I had one of the bourbons, the 11 year old, and didn't enjoy it. It had (IMO) a rough wood note, that put me off. Had one of the ryes and a similar experience. Won't revisit.

Gary

[TunnelTiger]

Well . . . It could be, I really wouldn't know, but even if the statement is true it only implys they are either recreating or continuing a tradition of making a specific whisky, which would be impossible. What was the brand grandpa made anyway?

Went back and researched this and they actually never said and now I find that odd.

[p_elliott]

Smooth Ambler Bourbons are also Four Roses

Steffen

Not to be a smart ass but care to back that up with something?

[cowdery]

Smooth Ambler Bourbons are not Four Roses. The connection is that both Four Roses and MGPI Indiana used to be owned by Seagrams. Although they have some of the same DNA, and the mash bills are similar, the whiskeys are very different. Smooth Ambler Old Scout is all MGPI Indiana, as the Smooth Ambler folks are happy to tell you.

[macdeffe]

When I visited them last summer during the power cut in the summer I was in their warehouse and took some photos. They told me that they sourced their casks at LDI. Which I don't doubt at ll. But when I got home I had a closer look at this photo

My personal theory is that Four Roses used the LDI warehouses to mature whiskey back in the Seagram's days. But thats my perosnal theory

This could be the only KY8 barrel there for all I know, it was a very hot day, so was kinda not paying too much attention to anything, but since I discovered this photo I pay a lot more attention when seeing barrels

Steffen

Edited October 26, 2013 by macdeffe

[cowdery]

Back when both were Seagrams, Four Roses sent bourbon to the Indiana plant for use in Seagram's Seven and other blends. This continued for some time after the sale to Kirin, so it's entirely possible some Four Roses-made bourbon has made its way to NDPs via LDI, and here I deliberately use the former name because LDI was selling anything and everything someone would buy just to keep the lights on. It's also known that Pernod, when it owned the Indiana plant, was the first to sell whiskey in their possession to NDPs. That's what got Templeton and High West going, but they were buying rye of course. My blanket statement was because I know the Smooth Ambler folks and if they had any Four Roses bourbon, I think they would have said so.

It is, however, likely they received the whiskey they bought in totes, not barrels, since shipping in barrels can be a little dicey and is only done if the purchaser intends to continue aging the spirit.

Four Roses still makes whiskey for Diageo, although most if not all of it goes into Bulleit Bourbon, and is aged at Stitzel-Weller. But Diageo is very secretive and who knows where they send things. The Jefferson's Presidential, for example, was made and aged at Stitzel-Weller, then shipped to Canada and had to be imported back to the U.S. for Jeffersons.

Edited October 26, 2013 by cowdery