What's With Buffalo Trace?

[fishnbowljoe]

such as whom? among the big players, of whom are you speaking? HH, Beam, WT, 4R.....I'm not aware of any significant issues with any of them lately. MM had a short period of availability issues and a split-second decision and reversal about proof, but listened to its fans ultimately. WT had one new product flop........but overall, among the other big producers, if one wants to go out and get most any of their stuff, one can usually find it without too much difficulty, and without feeling like they have to read everything on the label to see what has changed about it since they bought it last week.

[luther.r]

At the moment I was thinking of Diageo, who makes Sazerac look good, but then, low hurdles... I was under the impression that other distillers have eliminated expressions, or age statements on expressions recently. Two that come quickly to mind are Elijah Craig 18 year and Basil Hayden's formerly 8 year / Old Grand Dad now-80 proof. Didn't Wild Turkey formerly have an 8 year age statement?

[Harry Marsh]

Hasn't Old Fitz went away, as well? Their 12 year wheater?

It's hard not to panic and believe weller12 is next

[smokinjoe]

It's just a simple adjustment. They all have, and are, going through it. This too, shall pass. No need to panic. We all bitched on this site several years ago when HH dropped the age statement on EW Black and EW 1783. They also, BTW, changed the 1783 from "Aged 10 Years", to "No. 10 Brand". So you see, this is all just a rerun of what happens from time to time. It will all work itself out, and we'll be fine. If you're having trouble coping, just drink more whiskey!

[Harry Marsh]

But, ya think they said the same about Centennial? Or Bernheim Weller12? Or any number of other whiskies that now command a premium?

[Restaurant man]

It's just a simple adjustment. They all have, and are, going through it. This too, shall pass. No need to panic. We all bitched on this site several years ago when HH dropped the age statement on EW Black and EW 1783. They also, BTW, changed the 1783 from "Aged 10 Years", to "No. 10 Brand". So you see, this is all just a rerun of what happens from time to time. It will all work itself out, and we'll be fine. If you're having trouble coping, just drink more whiskey!

[smokinjoe]

But, ya think they said the same about Centennial? Or Bernheim Weller12? Or any number of other whiskies that now command a premium?

[smokinjoe]

Drink, bitch, drink, repeat. Got it. Thanks joe!

[Harry Marsh]

No questions. A reflection, if anything.

And BS'ing, while I drink Barterhouse and debate whether it was worth the $$ or not

If I had a question to pose, it would be whether you thought it would be worthwhile to bunker a few bottles of weller12, or not

[393foureyedfox]

How about Barton/1792 dropping the 6 year age statement on their VOB BIB? After posting over 30 times in the VOB thread, I'm really surprised you forgot about that one Doug.

my point was, who other than BT/Sazerac, was making so many changes in so short a period as anyone else....and since Barton is now under the same umbrella, I left out 1792 and AS VOB's.

With the bourbon market as it is, I understand the dropping of age statements, and am not going to hold that against anyone.....unless it is accompanied by an attempt to trick people into not noticing it. If the age statement is quietly removed, so be it. If "X year" is replaced by "-X-", that's different. And in my 18 months or so of bourbon dorkdom, Ive only seen one distillery strike a nerve as much.

Ive read a lot of complaints on Diageo as well. Their attitude may alienate a lot of people currently, but I love the fact that they put out two age stated 100+ proof Dickels last year. I love that offering, but other than that specific bottling, I dont buy any of their other stuff anyway....and when it crosses the $50 mark, as has been suggested by the above mentioned negative attitude, none of my business will go to them.

Ultimately, despite misleading marketing and attitudes that rub us the wrong way, we can vote with our wallets and have the final say.

Edited March 16, 2014 by 393foureyedfox