OGD 114 Being Discontinued? (Rumor)

[timd]

I've stated it in another thread before, and will co-sign it with Joe & hn4bourbon here - this whiskey has, without a doubt, done a complete profile change in the last year or so. I would venture that some of the regular Beam mashbill has been blended in. It's not awful, but it's not the OGD114 we know and love. I would try one before you empty the shelves.

[suntour]

I have only been drinking it since 09, but I agree with this assessment. I finished off a '12' bottle and opened a '13' bottle recently and felt like the 13 was hotter and more one-note; a week later with some air and they were virtually indistinguishable.

Man, what I would give to try ND OGD 114. Someday.

[BigBoldBully]

I was actually considering starting a thread on the differences between the last two batches I have had and soliciting the community's opinions. Unfortunately, I bought several bottles at once of the same new batch without having confirmed that it was similar to the last. I have always gone by the little white code near the bottom--it is just below the back label generally, and is easily missed. (So far, every time I open a bottle with the same white code, it tastes the same, so I assume this is a reliable indicator.) The current lot starts with "L3102."

Anyway, when I opened the new bottle I did a blind sbs with a pour from the current bottle (opened about a month ago, still nearly half full). The new one was remarkable for its lack of depth on the nose, and unfortunately this followed on the palate. It was missing most of that brownie-edge-plus-tropical-fruit-essence I love so much in OGD114. And it seemed much thinner, with a rather watery and bitter finish. Without cluing her in, I had my wife do a sniff test and even she reacted instantly, saying one glass (it was from the older bottle) smelled much "yummier" while the other smelled "watered down." (This was especially remarkable to me since she is not one to notice or care about subtle differences.) My recollection is that the older bottle was great right out of the gate, so I am not optimistic that air time will help dramatically. But I am certainly crossing my fingers!

[suntour]

what was the lot of the older bottle? when would you guess it was from?

[Brisko]

I haven't been judicious about checking bottle dates since I started drinking OGD (2010) but I had some that I know to have been older stock (probably mid-2000s) that sucked. I've had one recently that was kind of "meh." The rest of them have been good to great with some of the best coming from the past year (and probably current stock because the store had just started carrying it.

[lakegz]

I remember building up a collection of Bourbons when I lived in Japan and OGD 114 was the bourbon with my highest turnover. It always had that nice round and sweet taste that made it easy to drink with the strength that made it easy to have a good time. All to go with that price that made it easy to replace.

[luther.r]

This is all interesting as I've only ever bought one bottle and I found it to be pretty bad. Maybe there's more batch variation that people previously suspected, and we need to collectively figure out which ones to buy.

[bingstein]

I bought my first bottle in quite some time the other day and found it to be worse than I remembered. I don't know if that is a result of having had some really terrific bourbons in the year since I last had it or whether it has something to do with batch variation. I just know it didn't meet my expectations.

[smokinjoe]

I disagree... yeah, there are subtle changes from year to year (and bottle to bottle), but nothing distinct. I drink OGD 114 at least weekly, if not more often, and can't say it's significantly different now than when I started buying it in 2008/9.

WAAAAAY different than the ND versions I've got - those are liquid gold and even better than the current release - but a big part of the OGD BiB & 114 profile is that it is NOT Beam -it's the old ND mashbill & yeast. If it tasted anything remotely "Beamish" I'd be spitting it out - and I simply don't get that at all. Again, differences have been there - but they are subtle, and frankly as a regular drinker of this bottle I barely pick them up.

To say it's a "complete profile shift" in the last year or so... I'm just not with you on that. I've got open bottles from the last 4 years that I've done multiple SBS's on, and it's just not the case IMHO... Who knows, maybe I'm just numb to it, or don't have a super palate or whatnot, but I'm just not getting the same result as you are. There are variations, but they are in small degrees, not the entire profile.

Just my $.02, take it for what it's worth...

I've had a lot of 114 in my day, too, and the bottle I described up-thread is more than just a small or subtle shift in profile. It is markedly different. I won't go as far to say it's an entire brand profile shift, as the bottle is a '12, but I assure you it is very different than the standard 114 that I am accustomed to. I will say this, though, the difference is not the result of a "bad" or "tainted" bottle, as the whiskey is not bad tasting. It's more like something is...just plain different. Lacking totally the "burnt nt corner of the brownie pan" signature that I have known and loved. Again, I hope it was just an odd lot, as I have surely had '13 bottles that were deliciously within the profile I expect from 114(though, I don't know that the other bottles I had in 2013 were actually 13's).

I will continue to hope for the best.

[Duxnutz]

Recently got two bottles of 114 and two bottles of BIB. Cost a bit to get them over here to Australia but well worth it (Beam sends Basil here only).

What did that set you back in duty (feel free to PM answer if its sensitive). I've got a couple bottles on the shelf but I do like the 114 alot.

[Scotch Neat]

First and only bottle was better than expected with just a teaspoon of water, i would buy it again especially at $22.

[ModernThirst]

I disagree... yeah, there are subtle changes from year to year (and bottle to bottle), but nothing distinct. I drink OGD 114 at least weekly, if not more often, and can't say it's significantly different now than when I started buying it in 2008/9.

WAAAAAY different than the ND versions I've got - those are liquid gold and even better than the current release - but a big part of the OGD BiB & 114 profile is that it is NOT Beam -it's the old ND mashbill & yeast. If it tasted anything remotely "Beamish" I'd be spitting it out - and I simply don't get that at all. Again, differences have been there - but they are subtle, and frankly as a regular drinker of this bottle I barely pick them up.

To say it's a "complete profile shift" in the last year or so... I'm just not with you on that. I've got open bottles from the last 4 years that I've done multiple SBS's on, and it's just not the case IMHO... Who knows, maybe I'm just numb to it, or don't have a super palate or whatnot, but I'm just not getting the same result as you are. There are variations, but they are in small degrees, not the entire profile.

Just my $.02, take it for what it's worth...

Aren't OGD and BH distilled at the Booker Noe facility rather than the main Stillhouse in Clermont? (Not that it would necessarily make it difficult to mix regular beam mash in with the OGD anyway at bottling...just thinking out loud here)

[shoshani]

WAAAAAY different than the ND versions I've got - those are liquid gold and even better than the current release - but a big part of the OGD BiB & 114 profile is that it is NOT Beam -it's the old ND mashbill & yeast. If it tasted anything remotely "Beamish" I'd be spitting it out - and I simply don't get that at all. Again, differences have been there - but they are subtle, and frankly as a regular drinker of this bottle I barely pick them up.

[cowdery]

The Booker Noe Distillery in Boston, Kentucky, cranks out the standard Beam liquid, primarily intended for the 4-year-old white label, and nothing else. Everything else is made at Clermont.

The only reason they would discontinue 114 would be if sales dropped to an unsustainable level. All of the Old Grand-Dad products, which includes Basil Hayden, return a premium profit so they aren't going anywhere. The volume is low but the margin is good and they spend virtually nothing to support it.

If Beam ever finds itself short of OGD stock, they certainly could kick some Beam-recipe liquid into the mix. It's perfectly legal and no one would notice. No reason to think they're doing that, but if they did it would be no big deal.

Edited July 9, 2014 by cowdery

[squire]

I doubt the 80 proof customers would mind.

[meadeweber]

I was told by the purchasing specialist for our county that OGD 114 was discontinued by the distillery. Has anyone else heard this?

[dcbt]

I was told by the purchasing specialist for our county that OGD 114 was discontinued by the distillery. Has anyone else heard this?

That seems utterly laughable. Good grief.

[meadeweber]

I apologize for starting a new thread. I just realized that someone had started a similar one early last year. Unfortunately, I do not know how to link it or show the link.

[dcbt]

Just copy it from your web browser and paste it:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-21499.html

[Harry in WashDC]

meadeweber - I don't recall seeing the 114 at any Montgomery County, MD, store, and it doesn't appear on the product list. It could be that your county just doesn't order it or stock it, either (if you are in an other MD county).

[callmeox]

Merged with recent thread on same topic.

Edited March 28, 2015 by callmeox

[amg]

Yep, not every product is available everywhere.

[Josh]

Went to a liquor store this morning and the place had a shelf full of it. I think any shortages are just local. Never believe what people like that tell you. This forum is collectively more knowledgeable than any rep.

Edited March 28, 2015 by Josh

[bonneamie]

And I got some, just in case...

[BigBoldBully]

If the rumor is true, it just adds to my disappointment in Beam Suntory. The first let down for me was their removing the 8 year age statement on Jim Beam Black. It's as though they recognize the greatest values in their line of brands and decide to cut corners based on that (to maximize profits). Let's also not forget the Maker's Mark proof change debacle.

I could be wrong but I thought they did not become Beam Suntory until after the 42% debacle. But I'll pile on and express disappointment about the pricing on the Craft Harvest stuff ($50 for half a bottle) and MM cask strength. As for OGD 114, it may well make perfect sense to discontinue it, which is why I have been bunkering it for years. It is clearly due for either a makeover + price hike or discontinuation.