Distillery of the year?

[petrel800]

Another vote for 4 Roses here.

That being said, even though a lot of age statements are going away and we're losing some great value pours, I have to say, I am impressed with the quality of bourbon that is coming out of 4R, HH, and even BT. It would be easy in this boom to put crap in their long time labels to make a buck, but in my opinion they're still producing at a high level, even if it means there are some empty spaces on the shelves from time to time. I'm also excited to see what Smooth Ambler and HW can do with their own juice as we inch closer and closer to their stuff being aged.

[White Dog]

Since we are pondering the virtues of bourbon of the year, why not discuss the status and state of the bourbon houses....those genteel purveyors of fine spirits, many of whom are near and dear to our hearts?

At this moment in time....who is doing it very well, fairly well or not well at all? The world wants to know what the defining StraightBourbon Society thinks.

I would cast a vote for the house of 4 Roses and ask....who is currently doing it better and more consistently than the good folks in Lawrenceburg?

I agree that those good folks in Lawrenceberg, Indiana are consistent. Those minty Ryes all taste the same!

[VAGentleman]

Not sure if a Tennessee whisky distillery can be distillery of the year but I'll give a shout out to George Dickel for putting out what a lot of us have been asking for. Older and higher proof single barrels.

[theglobalguy]

Four Roses. Quality, Consistency and Passion for their customers. Mr Rutledge stopped and signed my 125th bottle the day of the KBF event WELL after he was supposed to be hustled on stage. Despite the nice admin person pushing him to move, he took the time to sign and shake hands all with a smile on his face. Watching him up on stage telling stories for over an hour, caused me to gain a tremendous respect for a guy i already admired. The whole place seems to be filled with the "customer first" culture at all levels.

Heaven Hill gets a distant second for some of their products, but to Bingstein's point above...while i can't blame them for earning a profit, they sure seem to have disconnected from their common customer as it relates to price.

BT is a really distant third. Between their mid shelf stockouts and clear need for a taller fence, my manufacturing background tells me they have a wider cultural issue than they are letting on. Some great products mixed with some that are dropping in quality as time goes on.

[Josh]

I'm going to go against the grain and say Four Roses with Heaven Hill in second place. Oh wait.

[393foureyedfox]

Not sure if a Tennessee whisky distillery can be distillery of the year but I'll give a shout out to George Dickel for putting out what a lot of us have been asking for. Older and higher proof single barrels.

I thought I'd be the only one to say that!

[The Boozer]

I'm going to go against the grain and say Four Roses with Heaven Hill in second place. Oh wait.

I'm shocked that Josh would pick Four Roses:shocked:. I thought he bought a 2nd home there.

Four Roses by a nose over HH.

On a secondary note;

I thought AAA 10yr was only going to be available in 1.75L but not going away. Clarification please.

[smknjoe]

Paddy, I'll second your nomination. While I would love to expound on the many reasons why I must simply say that it is late, and my wallet has said more on the issue than I possibly could.

I'll cast my vote for Four Roses as well, but Heaven Hill put up a good fight. I don't think another distillery was even in the conversation this year.

Yes and yes. ECBP was a great deal here, if you could find it, for about ~$38.

I need to try some more 4R barrel proof expressions. I had one and loved it, but didnt know enough about bourbon at the time to know there were 10 different recipes available.

which of the 75% corn barrel proofers do you guys recommend starting with?

I haven't had a bad one yet. Look at their site or the 4R recipe thread here to see what the difference is between yeasts used.

[HighHorse]

You Kentucky boys make some very good points & I find myself nodding in agreement as I go through your points.

[mbroo5880i]

It is pretty obvious that Four Roses is doing things right. For those who enjoy their products, the quality is very consistent and you don't generally question whether it is "worth it" when purchasing one of their products. While their offerings are limited to bourbons, they have a diverse profile of offerings, ranging from the lower end Yellow Label to the higher end Limited Editions. Not to mention, 10 distinct flavor profiles. Not a negative but a wish. I wish they would opt to distill and market a rye product.

I would rate BT second, primarily because of their wide portfolio of bourbons and ryes, including wheat options. Their portfolio is probably the broadest of any distillery. They have category leaders across the board.

I rate HH third, but that isn't necessarily a negative but more just because of the great competition. I knock them down a little because while they have several product labels, I find many offerings to be similar and have a distinct "Heaven Hill" taste. I like many of their products - EC, Larceny, etc. But, find others to have very little distinguishing characteristics from similar offerings. For example, I don't find much difference between Heaven Hill products and Henry McKenna. However, I do find some differences between BT and ER. So, the breadth of what they offer isn't what it seems to be, at least to me.

[squire]

Not sure if a Tennessee whisky distillery can be distillery of the year but I'll give a shout out to George Dickel for putting out what a lot of us have been asking for. Older and higher proof single barrels.

Why not a Tennessee? I started drinking Dickel back in the early 70s when it was harder to find than Daniels. After a period of benign neglect Diageo may have discovered the rock rejected by the builders may well be the cornerstone of a new structure.

As for JD, I would've voted for them the year Old No. 7 became the World's largest selling whisky, beating out Johnnie Walker who had a looong head start.

[steeltownbbq]

FR based on the fact that Jim Rutledge sends me a birthday and Christmas card each year.

[Paddy]

Why not a Tennessee? I started drinking Dickel back in the early 70s when it was harder to find than Daniels. After a period of benign neglect Diageo may have discovered the rock rejected by the builders may well be the cornerstone of a new structure.

As for JD, I would've voted for them the year Old No. 7 became the World's largest selling whisky, beating out Johnnie Walker who had a looong head start.

I couldn't agree with you more Squire. A definite nod should be given to the TN distillers who each bring a markedly unique product to bear for our drinking pleasure. I am also anxious to see what the future holds, as the smaller houses age their product and ultimately are able to ramp up production and distributing. It is an exiting time!

The responses to this thread have been excellent and on point. One would expect no less from this distinguished group and I appreciate knowing that there is no other place I need to go to continue my education....because I am already here.

I really can't add anything to what has already been written above. Each post stands on it's own merit, as we individually have our own experiences, tastes and expectations as to what a good bourbon house should be able to produce and provide.

The one thing that really surprises me is that no one has championed Brown-Forman or the house of Beam. I certainly do enjoy a few of the Beam products, as a couple of the Jim Beam Masters Collection members do seem to get their fair share of love in my home. :toast:

[sutton]

What is striking to me is 4 pages in and I don't think I saw much mention of B-F. They might want to think about that.

Toss up for me between 4R and HH - I like them for different reasons. 4R for the unique and creative approach and distinctive bourbons, but HH for their ability to maintain at high volume so many offerings at so many price points, and with consistency. Also one with a manufacturing background, that is not easy to do, especially coming out of the effects of the fire in '96.

Edit: Paddy beat me to the B-F comment! :grin:

[393foureyedfox]

The one thing that really surprises me is that no one has championed Brown-Forman or the house of Beam

B-F offers nothing i care to repurchase, but Beam does!

[White Dog]

I would have been shocked if anyone nominated B-F, Beam or Turkey.

[Paddy]

Well....I posted prior to dinner and then realized that when we are talking about Jack, we are including BF. Nevertheless, it is interesting that nothing of BF house bourbons is mentioned herein.

[sailor22]

So -- is Four Roses todays Stitzel Weller?

[gooneygoogoo]

I need to try some more 4R barrel proof expressions. I had one and loved it, but didnt know enough about bourbon at the time to know there were 10 different recipes available.

which of the 75% corn barrel proofers do you guys recommend starting with?

I really like the OESK selection I got from Liquor Barn back in Sept. The OESV I bought about a month ago is excellent as well. Oh and put me down for another vote for Four Roses

[GaryT]

For me it is a coin flip between Four Roses and Heaven Hill. Both are doing great things and making great whiskey. Besides ECBP, I think just considering the variety that HH produces (and produces well) while continuing to innovate - something to be said for managing all of that and not losing a step. Glad both keep doing what they do!

[Paddy]

So -- is Four Roses todays Stitzel Weller?

I think they are a rye brand shy at this point.

[OscarV]

So -- is Four Roses todays Stitzel Weller?

Yep,yep,yep, no F'ing doubt!

Excellent point my good man, glad you said it.

Ain't no one putting out anything that is properly aged and has something as unique as S-W's wheated mashbill as 4R's multi choice mashbills.

[MyOldKyDram]

No.

They're better.

[squire]

Yes, yes and . . . . yes.

[sailor22]

For me it's a toss up between 4Roses and Trace. As excellent and as well crafted as the 4R products are there is something feminine or floral that often leaves me wanting the more traditional sugar vanilla oak sandwich that a great single barrel from Trace delivers.

Some single barrel picks of the standard BT I have tasted recently are an equal to the UD OGD 86 I love, some of the ER single barrel picks are honey and sugar bombs poured over warm oak, Baby Saz and Saz 18 are possibly the two best Ryes in current release, most whiskeys struggle to match the balance some of the best ETL's show, the Weller line can provide satisfying entertainment on any given evening. No need to mention the circus Pappy has created, sure, it's not as good as it was but it still qualifies as a damn good bottle. It's a list of satisfying standards that is rounded and appeals to me greatly.