VOB BiB dropped age statement

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Is Barton still the biggest selling bourbon in the Bourbon Motherland of Kentucky?

Doubtful nowadays. Beam 4 year and Evan Williams

Maybe if you consider all three proofs of VOB as one product but then you would have to do the same for the plethora of products carrying the beam name.

[callmeox]

I'm starting to think the only (or at least biggest reason) Sazerac bought Barton was to get their hands on Barton's warehouses.

I mentioned the same up thread. We will just need to keep an eye out for DSP KY-113 barrels in the Barton warehouses over the next few years.

Ya hear that future selves?

[wadewood]

I mentioned the same up thread. We will just need to keep an eye out for DSP KY-113 barrels in the Barton warehouses over the next few years.

Ya hear that future selves?

You don't have to be from the future; I've already saw that this past spring.

[jburlowski]

I'm starting to think the only (or at least biggest reason) Sazerac bought Barton was to get their hands on Barton's warehouses.

It certainly was a factor. BT has plenty of distilling capacity... but it rapidly running out of warehouse space. (The same is largely true for the other major producers.)

[DEelfinn]

I know that Sazerac is getting some heat in the forum about leaving "6" on the neck label. I know there are all kinds of back stories about various "prominently" displayed numbers on bottles but I am not sure the average consumer really knows what some of these numbers mean and just assume that they reflect the age. I know I did before I joined this forum.

For example, I thought the difference between Dickel 8 and Dickel 12 is four years age. You can't tell me, even if the intent isn't there, the benefit of misunderstanding the meaning of the number doesn't lead to improved sales.

I don't recall on which page of this thread but I seem to recall Chuck indicating that this is a common practice. Doesn't make it right, but he was just stating the facts.

For example, I found an old thread on Dickel 12.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?2972-George-Dickel-No-12-age

I know this thread seems circuitous but it is interesting to try to "guess" where all of this leads, not just to VOB but to the industry as well.

Edited December 30, 2013 by DEelfinn

[TunnelTiger]

It certainly was a factor. BT has plenty of distilling capacity... but it rapidly running out of warehouse space. (The same is largely true for the other major producers.)

[393foureyedfox]

I've seen this factor addressed in other posts and for the life of me I can't see why warehouse space would be a problem. A warehouse, especially they type distillers use, has to be one of the lowest expense they could have.

Edited December 30, 2013 by 393foureyedfox

[TunnelTiger]

Disagree, have bulit many warehouses in my career that require a lot more equipment than what is used in bourbon warehouses. It's pennies compared to the value of what is inside them. In addition there is not a state or county government that doesn't give tax incentives to any new building for mfg or warehouosing. That is why you see a lot of empty older ones.

[Quantum]

What that was supposed to say was:

Hello and thanks for your inquiry.

The age statement has been removed because when the bourbon reaches the taste profile, they will release it.....and that is happening sometimes, before 6 years, and they don't want to hold it back. The brand is recognized as VOB 6, so they kept the 6 on the bottle.

Rob Sharp

Consumer Affairs Associate

Buffalo Trace Distillery

[suntour]

Pretty sure I read somewhere they don't even taste the big dumps of perennially available product (if you could call W12 that). I find that pretty baffling.

[393foureyedfox]

Pretty sure I read somewhere they don't even taste the big dumps of perennially available product (if you could call W12 that). I find that pretty baffling.

New for 2014......."Weller Single Dump"!

[DEelfinn]

Phew! Took some time, but I actually read/skimmed all the comments up through 307.

What that was supposed to say was:

Hello and thanks for your inquiry.

The age statement has been removed because when the bourbon reaches the taste profile, they will release it.....and that is happening sometimes, before 6 years, and they don't want to hold it back. The brand is recognized as VOB 6, so they kept the 6 on the bottle.

Rob Sharp

Consumer Affairs Associate

Buffalo Trace Distillery

To someone not a connoisseur/enthusiast the large numeral 6 conceivably could be a brand indicator independent of age, though I think it's a stretch. On the whole, though, the reply seems disingenuous, painting a picture of quality, not supply/demand, being the driving force behind the change. Also, the use of "they" makes it sound like Barton's drove the change, not Sazerac.

[weller_tex]

We need to keep in mind what "taste profile" means to BT.

A couple months ago I bought two bottles of Weller 12 from the same store on the same day, and one tasted like young pappy, while the other tasted like licking the inside of a chimney. While I have great respect for their distilling abilities, they consider a chunk of rump roast left in the sun all day as having the same taste profile as prime ribeye.

As long as I can get it aged twelve years I will take the variability. I get like one so so bottle to ten very good ones

[JPBoston]

We need to keep in mind what "taste profile" means to BT.

A couple months ago I bought two bottles of Weller 12 from the same store on the same day, and one tasted like young pappy, while the other tasted like licking the inside of a chimney. While I have great respect for their distilling abilities, they consider a chunk of rump roast left in the sun all day as having the same taste profile as prime ribeye.

Agreed on that W12 chimney flavor. I've only bought 2 bottles in my life, both last winter... both tasted like soot. It was quite the disappointment.

In my short time as an enthusiast, even I noticed the decline of OWA over the last year or so... which seems to be in line with the shortages we're seeing now. They just keep using more and more of the "meh" and younger barrels to keep up, it seems

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Edited December 30, 2013 by JPBoston

[perryw]

also, those old warehouses were built at a time when there was little regulatory oversight/standards/regulations. Though they are obviously very sturdy and durable, modern codes and regulations would drastically drive up the costs today. buying older warehouses already set up is a good buy, especially if its already full of aged bourbon that you then drop the age statement on...

The Jack Daniels NatGeo documentary showed a plum line dropped from top to bottom of the warehouse, through a 1.5" or so hole. When the line hit one side of the hole, they knew the warehouse was leaning too much and it was time to load barrels differently to straighten it up.

[squire]

That's true, they all use plum lines, the warehouses are almost like an egg shell compared to the tremendous weight of what they contain.

[Quantum]

As long as I can get it aged twelve years I will take the variability. I get like one so so bottle to ten very good ones

I don't mind one so-so bottle every once in a while, but from "good" to "not quite good enough for mixing" is not an acceptable level of variability to me. When the difference between two bottles of Weller 12 is greater than the difference between Old Forester 86 and OFBB, something is wrong. I know they don't have many batches this bad, but it is an example of what they consider an acceptable level of variability.

I hope that Barton doesn't start following that model, but BT has a track record of selling what is essentially completely different products under one label.

[393foureyedfox]

I hope that Barton doesn't start following that model, but BT has a track record of selling what is essentially completely different products under one label.

which is interesting because they talk repeatedly on the BT tours about consistency and keeping customers due to it.....

[smokinjoe]

...but BT has a track record of selling what is essentially completely different products under one label.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Can you elaborate?

[weller_tex]

I don't mind one so-so bottle every once in a while, but from "good" to "not quite good enough for mixing" is not an acceptable level of variability to me. When the difference between two bottles of Weller 12 is greater than the difference between Old Forester 86 and OFBB, something is wrong. I know they don't have many batches this bad, but it is an example of what they consider an acceptable level of variability.

I hope that Barton doesn't start following that model, but BT has a track record of selling what is essentially completely different products under one label.

G

I just never got this snootiness that some of you refer to since I became a regular of w12 7 or 8 years ago. Some bottles are full of coconut and butterscotch, while others will just be good,sweet, with just a hint of coconut and a little bit of an artificial taste. I guess when you are getting a 12 year wheatear for 22 bucks they are cutting costs by not tasting each batch as was stated elsewhere in this thread.

[bingstein]

Each time I think I'm done buying I find more. Alas... I can share with those not fortunate enough to bunker in a few years.

[buoy37]

Each time I think I'm done buying I find more. Alas... I can share with those not fortunate enough to bunker in a few years.

NICE!!

:bowdown:

[oke&coke]

Now that is VOB......Very Overboard Bingstein. Nice haul.

[bingstein]

Now that is VOB......Very Overboard Bingstein. Nice haul.

Turns out it's more fun to bunker favorites when they're $12.99

[smknjoe]

Isn't that the truth. I only recently tried VOB BIB since it's pretty new to this area. It's a really good bourbon regardless of price. Too bad it's going NAS and too bad I won't be able to "bunker up" like that!