J.T.S. Brown, T.W. Samuels

[dSculptor]

Hey guys, What you do you know about these KSB's? J.T.S.Bown, & T.W.Samuels? I seen both of them today at a place that said .. "You won't find these anywhere else". Bottom shelf, Almost sprung but they were really cheap, and sometimes that scares me, however the bottom of the bottles said '08.Just wondering? Taste?

[squire]

Standard Heaven Hill BIBs under different labels. How cheap were they?

[dSculptor]

I don't remember exactly, but at the time I thought cheap,I believe cheaper than the EWb @ $13.99 ? Taste?

[dSculptor]

Standard Heaven Hill BIBs under different labels. How cheap were they?

[393foureyedfox]

I think they were only 80 proof. The reason I ask is because I see the whiskey tree says it's the same mashbill as the EC12 , which I like alot, which I also noted that the WT , and RR are the same, funny because I have those and really didn't connect between them.

I dont think mashbill is as important as it's made out to be. Ive had several whiskeys that were only different in their proof points, yet tasted more like different lines altogether than just different proof levels....OGD 100 and 114 being my favorite example

[squire]

Don, Heaven Hill uses the same mash bill for all their Bourbon no matter what the label. There are differences of course, age, proof and where aged in the warehouse being the principal influences, but there is a wide variance in flavors.

Heaven Hill has a lot of bottom shelf labels bottled at 80 proof and I wouldn't look to any of them for a new taste experience as they are for the most part unremarkable mixers. If you need a cheap mixer get them, I would.

[dSculptor]

Never looking for a cheap mixer, I collect whisky for the taste,and like to be able to taste as many as I can in my lifetime,whether they be top , middle lower,.. Excellent, good, fair or not as good, (never had a bad one yet), but it has come to my attention that nowadays you pretty much get what you pay for... sad but true.. I guess I was looking at the age of them being from 2008, kind of relates to my old vs. new thread.. this stuff must change over the course of a time. Which fits me as a person, I tend to like the older stuff no matter what it may be.. cars, stereos,street lights,guitars,whisky...etc.etc.So maybe I answered my initial ?.Still like to hear what you guys think.

Edited February 6, 2014 by dSculptor

[squire]

You get what you pay for used to be true for Bourbon but alas is no longer. There are NDPs out there that will cheerfully sell ordinary bulk whisky in a fancy bottle for $150.00 and no questions asked. Which is to say they hope you don't ask any.

[Richnimrod]

Have not tasted the 'Samuels'. JTS Brown on the other hand, is OK..... if its the BIB. Didn't care for the 80-proof.

[mark fleetwood]

Heaven Hill BIBs like TW and JTS (be sure it's not the 80prf version) are steals. Same for JW Dant.

Get them while you can. Given how HH White is losing age statement and other producers (Saz) are reducing age on some of their low shelf brands (Benchmark) it may only be a matter of time before juice that used to be TW Samuels or JTS at $13 a bottle needs be diverted to some $45 NDP "exclusive" called Al Capone Reserve or Appalachian Select.

[squire]

Or diverted to a "quality blend" that will be "smooth as silk".

[shoshani]

...It may only be a matter of time before juice that used to be TW Samuels or JTS at $13 a bottle needs be diverted to some $45 NDP "exclusive" called Al Capone Reserve or Appalachian Select.

[fishnbowljoe]

If they are BIB's, I'd give them a try regardless. The HH BIB's are all pretty decent IMHO. If I had to rate them, the EW BIB and HH 6 yr white label BIB, are the best. A step down from those would be the JTS Brown BIB. A bit below that, the TW Samuels BIB. If it were me, I'd get the TW Samuels just because. I'm pretty sure (but not 100% positive) that the TW Samuels BIB has been discontinued. That was the info I received a couple of years ago from a fairy reliable source. After receiving that info at the KBF a couple years ago, I bought a few bottles of the TW Samuels BIB. A couple were current bottlings from HH, but a couple of 200 mls I found were dusties. As with pretty much most any bottling, the dusty version was better. Below is a pic from back then of my BIB's.

[PaulO]

I agree with getting them if they are the bottled in bond versions, pass on the 80s. JTS Brown is one of my favorite value pours. I haven't seen the Samuels BIB for a number of years. The one bottle I tried had the Heaven Hill eucalyptus taste stronger than anything I've tasted.

[squire]

I have sometimes suspected with it's C&D brands Heaven Hill is pouring out of the same vat and just changing labels. I've had T.W. Samuels that was pretty good and some that was not, so for me it's highest recommendation is being cheap.

I avoid the 80 proof HH C&Ds altogether because some of them belong in the basement underneath the bottom shelf.

[unclebunk]

I agree with Big Joe that it is worth trying all the BIB's at such affordably low prices to see which ones you prefer. My rankings are slightly different than his but that's just me. Of the lower shelf bargain BIB selection in our local stores, I always go for the JTS Brown, but then I've always been a big fan of the original movie "The Hustler" and that's always what Fats (Jackie Gleason) ordered when he entered the pool hall.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited February 7, 2014 by unclebunk

[squire]

JTS Brown was Fast Eddie Felson's choice, Minnesota Fats ordered White Tavern Scotch with ice which was a name change because White Horse Scotch refused to pay for a product placement endorsement.

[unclebunk]

JTS Brown was Fast Eddie Felson's choice, Minnesota Fats ordered White Tavern Scotch with ice which was a name change because White Horse Scotch refused to pay for a product placement endorsement.

Yes. My mistake. A semi-senior moment?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[squire]

Sometimes people will remind me of something I've said and I say I don't remember that but it sounds like me.