The best versions of BT's high rye mashbill

[compliance]

I was talking with a friend yesterday about how much we both love the BT high rye mashbill and how there should be a BTAC version of it. I remember that sentiment coming up on here before too. (I guess the lack of a BTAC version has something to do with Age International.) I'm interested in tracking down the the BTAC-like versions of this mashbill, with extra age and/or proof compared to the common releases. For the heck of it I started a list. Hopefully we can identify them all. I really need to find some Blantons straight from the barrel and the BTEC French Oak bottles, which i never realized were the high rye before. I imagine there are some other interesting limited and dusty releases out there. What is everyone's favorite?

Regular releases:

Elmer T Lee

Rock Hill Farms

Hanckock Reserve

Ancient Age

Ancient Ancient Age 10 year

Ancient Age 10 star

Blantons

Foreign:

Blantons Gold (51.5% abv, age?)

Blantons Straight From the Barrel (barrel proof, age?)

Blantons Special Reserve (40% abv)

Dusty:

Elmer T Lee 15yo barrel pick (when was this released and what store?)

BTEC 19 and 23 year French Oak

Virginia Gentleman

Blanton's Silver (98 proof, foreign release)

Edited October 21, 2013 by compliance

[MauiSon]

I've only had 2, Blanton's and ETL. Of the two, Blanton's wins (even on a value basis, as I only paid 10% more for Blanton's). I do prefer the ETL bottle, tho.

Edited October 21, 2013 by MauiSon

[compliance]

I am extremely jealous of your cheap Blanton's out there in HI, not to mention the beautiful beaches. Here Blanton's is almost double the price of ETL. I end up drinking a lot of ETL for that reason, even though Blanton's and RHF are both excellent.

[suntour]

i know its proof works against it, but the last bottle of Hancock's Reserve I had was honeylicious. I kept drinking it, almost to excess.

[smknjoe]

Don't forget ETL BUB (Butt Ugly Bottle) at 107 proof. (Dusty)

[Yeti]

how there should be a BTAC version of it.

At the risk of being crass, I think the passing of Elmer T. Lee and the way it brought attention to that brand over the summer would be a good chance to consider an ETL 15 addition to the BTAC. I guess it's a social media thing, where one person with an interest, like the members here, can post about an event and now lots of formerly unaware individuals are taking notice. I had several people who aren't whiskey geeks say that they either drank ETL or bought a bottle of ETL in the week after Elmer's passing, and you can't even buy ETL in this state.

[michaelturtle1]

At the risk of being crass, I think the passing of Elmer T. Lee and the way it brought attention to that brand over the summer would be a good chance to consider an ETL 15 addition to the BTAC. I guess it's a social media thing, where one person with an interest, like the members here, can post about an event and now lots of formerly unaware individuals are taking notice. I had several people who aren't whiskey geeks say that they either drank ETL or bought a bottle of ETL in the week after Elmer's passing, and you can't even buy ETL in this state.

oddly enough that is exactly when I bought my first ETL bottle. Passed a liquor store just after reading about his passing and decided to grab one.

[Smithford]

Blantons Straight From the Barrel is sublime. Way better than G T Stagg (IMO).

[Josh]

Best I've had was the Kahn's Rock Hill Farms from a couple years ago.

[compliance]

Forgot about ETL 107! Thanks smknjoe. You also reminded me of the ETL 90th birthday edition. Does anyone know if there was anything special about the birthday edition or was that just a special bottle?

I had intended to edit the list in the first post as I go. I didn't realize we lose edit capability after some time.

Looking through old posts on the BUB I've also found references to Ancient Age Barrel 107, which was 10 year old 107 proof. Sounds delicious.

Edited October 22, 2013 by compliance

[mosugoji64]

Best I've had was the Kahn's Rock Hill Farms from a couple years ago.

I tried that one at the Keystone store a while back and agree that it was very good. Unfortunately, they were sold out and only had the sample bottle behind the counter.

[WsmataU]

I'll play Devil's advocate...since Mr. Lee passed isn't it impossible to add his label to the BTAC? As much as I like the idea, all his lots were personally selected. Without him making the selection, isn't it just Rock Hill?

Oh, and don't forget ETL 90th B-day bottle in your list.

[barturtle]

Forgot about ETL 107! Thanks smknjoe. You also reminded me of the ETL 90th birthday edition. Does anyone know if there was anything special about the birthday edition or was that just a special bottle?

I had intended to edit the list in the first post as I go. I didn't realize we lose edit capability after some time.

Looking through old posts on the BUB I've also found references to Ancient Age Barrel 107, which was 10 year old 107 proof. Sounds delicious.

Both are stellar. I'm still sitting on a couple of the AA Barrel 107s.

The early Bulleit in the ETL square bottle is probably also this recipe, in both 90 and 107 guise.

[GaryT]

I'll play Devil's advocate...since Mr. Lee passed isn't it impossible to add his label to the BTAC? As much as I like the idea, all his lots were personally selected. Without him making the selection, isn't it just Rock Hill?

My understanding is that Mr. Lee created the taste profile, and very well may have selected batches - but not every ETL batch was passed by him. To avoid it being like Blantons - even just a barrel proof ETL would be pretty cool!

[mbroo5880i]

ETL has no age statement, right? But, I seem to recall reading somewhere that it is aged at least 10 years. I haven't seen it in Indy for awhile but seem to recall that AAA10 and Charter 10 were being discontinued so that more ETL could be produced. Do any of our retailers out there know when it might be released again?

[Old Dusty]

So would anyone really care or notice if they replaced the ER17 with ETL12 barrel strength or Blanton's Straight from the Barrel in the BTAC? Wouldn't that improve the lineup?

[MyOldKyDram]

I dream of the day Blantons SFtB is available stateside. Soooo damned good.

[T Comp]

ETL has no age statement, right? But, I seem to recall reading somewhere that it is aged at least 10 years.

That was actually posted here by Ken Weber (then brand manager for Sazerac) at post #4 in December 2005. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?4708-Elmer-T-Lee-age

But that was back in 2005 and it's nas for a reason. Recent private barrel picks running between 8 and 9 years.

[WsmataU]

So would anyone really care or notice if they replaced the ER17 with ETL12 barrel strength or Blanton's Straight from the Barrel in the BTAC? Wouldn't that improve the lineup?

[Yeti]

So would anyone really care or notice if they replaced the ER17 with ETL12 barrel strength or Blanton's Straight from the Barrel in the BTAC? Wouldn't that improve the lineup?

[barturtle]

I would notice. ER17 is a completely worth addition to the lineup, and is currently the most "antique" of the Antique Collection. The 2012 19 year was excellent. I vote for adding an ETL 15 107 to the lineup, and changing ER17 to ER20.

[Yeti]

as that statement leaves them more room to choose the best barrels each year of their 17+ year old barrels.

[humchan2k]

I think we should do an SB barreling of ETL at 107

[smknjoe]

I think we should do an SB barreling of ETL at 107

Um...yeah! .....filler...........

[humchan2k]

I also think that the best high rye mashbill is RHF, as Compliance and I had had this discussion awhile back......can't wait to try that ETL 15 year!