What might be expected from a store-selected EC12?

[BigBoldBully]

So far, every bottle (total of 3, so not a huge sample) of EC12 I have had strikes me as overly woody and a little too rough. Yet, I have thoroughly enjoyed the ECBP. Now I have a chance to pick up some EC12 from a grocery-store "selected" barrel. Have you guys found these sorts of selections to be quite similar to the small batched bottles you have had, or is there a good chance I would get something significantly different? (I know I've seen reports of big variations between standard bottlings of this whiskey, but my bottles all seem the same, though bought in different seasons, and I am hoping for a change of pace.)

Even better, if you live in Wisconsin, have you tried a Woodman's EC12 selection?

Yeah I know it's only a $25 gamble and it is not likely to be undrinkable, but one more half-empty bottle of the same-tasting stuff on my shelf is probably one too many at this point.

Thanks for the input!

[Conquistador]

I do enjoy the standard EC12 for what it is, a nice value bourbon. IMO the woodiness isn't very pronounce to me. However, the store-selected EC12s that I've had have been clearly different (yet retaining some familial traits), in large part because they are single barrels, not the multi-barrel dumps that are used in the standard EC12 small batch. Depending on who does the selection for the store, his/her tastes might not match up with yours (or maybe it will). Of the 3 different store selections I've tried, each was better than a standard EC12, but each offered different "highlight" elements; one was a surprising in that it was dominated by notes of butterscotch, honey, and orange peel; another was heavy on the baking spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg); and the third was closer to the standard EC12, but with a longer finish. I haven't had the opportunity to try the Woodman's EC12 selection.

Since you pick up a lot of wood in the standard EC12, maybe it is a bad omen to be thinking about purchasing a "Wood"man's store selection! :grin:

[MauiSon]

I think you've described EC12 perfectly - that's what it is (more woody than most and rough around the edges). As far as store-selections, you could ask for a taste or at least a description. I wouldn't expect too much difference, but it's always possible.

[bourbonfoot]

So I really like EC12. It's probably in my top 3 readily available value pours in that price range around here with ETL and 4RSmB. So a buddy of mine went to TN and the store he stopped at had EC12 private selections. The guy told me "if you really like EC12 you might not like this." He said when they had gone to HH they relayed to Mr. Beam they weren't too fond of EC12. So they picked out a barrel of "EC12" from a different part of the rickhouse that fit their taste a bit more. When I got it I was floored by it. The nose is truly incredible, reminiscent of OFBB13 or something similar. It's one of my favorite pours I have. Side by side I'd never peg it for EC12 but I guess what I'm saying is you'll never know unless you try it really. I've had store picks go both ways compared to their normal stock variety.

[BigBoldBully]

Thanks for the responses so far. I asked if there was a description or sample available, but neither was. A bottle of this with some honey and/or butterscotch going on sounds great, since it should work as a nice counterpoint to the dry woodiness I am used to finding. Then again, they probably would pass over such a barrel given the pressure to live up to the store's name!

[squire]

bourbonfoot that is interesting, would you pm me with the name and location of that store?

[jeffrey r]

As you said OP, a small risk, and one I would certainly take. I have store select single barrels of OWA, EC12, BT, ETL, ER10, and Blanton's, and I've never been disappointed.

My ER10 bottles were selected by Harlan Wheatley. Most of the others by the whiskey mongers. To be able to get single barrel bottles of EC12 and BT at around $25 is a coup IMHO, and I have several of each.

[dSculptor]

Thanks for the responses so far. I asked if there was a description or sample available, but neither was. A bottle of this with some honey and/or butterscotch going on sounds great, since it should work as a nice counterpoint to the dry woodiness I am used to finding. Then again, they probably would pass over such a barrel given the pressure to live up to the store's name!

Hey Bully, I too am in Wisc., I really like the EC12, one of my fav pours, but have never tried a store select, I guess I never thought about it being different,or for that matter a SB, I passed on a Sendik's, I am near the Woodman's in Meno Falls.. Is this the one? I may have to go out and get me one.I like the idea of a EC12SB! You've opened up a new door for me....now I might be on a mission! So I wonder if each store has it's own barrel ,or 1 barrel and it gets divided amongst the stores?

[MonsterMashBill]

I believe that I read somewhere that Heaven Hill was discontinuing their single barrel program for Elijah Craig, so enjoy them while you can find them.

[mbroo5880i]

I like EC12. I have only had one store select version and I have found it too be a little less woody. This is from a store with a good reputation for private barrel selections.

[BigBoldBully]

Whoops just realized I probably should have posted this in premium/specialty bottlings.

Predictably, you guys talked me into the purchase, which was made over the lunch hour. I will do a sbs with regular EC12 and post a few notes.

[DrBob]

If you can arrange your SBS to be blind, its even more fun. curious as to your results, EC12 barrel select is high on my list to find.

[Tony Santana]

I'm interested in the results as well, since there's a Woodmans about 2 miles from my house. Don't know where in Wisconsin you live, or whether the barrel selection is spread thoughout all their stores.

[393foureyedfox]

whether the barrel selection is spread thoughout all their stores.

[BigBoldBully]

dSculptor, my closest Woodman’s are Green Bay and Appleton. Got this in Appleton. I would suspect they split a barrel up between the stores, as it yielded 216 bottles. But you can verify by checking the barrel serial number. It isn’t on the bottles, but is on a certificate the stores have on display. The barrel the Appleton bottles came from is #4272476.

[BigBoldBully]

okay, here are the results of a quick blind sbs between the store selection and regular.

On the nose:

the first glass has a vibrant, citrusy aroma that I do not normally associate with EC12. sort of reminds me of a nice OFBB. there may be a touch of honey in the background.

the second glass has a more subdued nose yet a somewhat fuller range. it’s nutty and baking spicy. amazing to me how different these whiskeys smell.

On the palate:

the first glass brings a mix of citrus fruits, with orange probably the strongest flavor. light honey is definitely there and combines with a bit of spearmint to make me think of tupelo. tastes “younger” and more vibrant than I expect from an EC12. the wood is present but quite restrained and makes itself known partly through a paper-soaked-with-whiskey quality (not sure if that makes sense).

the second glass is more brooding, darker, but not in a dark-fruit sort of way. more a dark woodiness with a shaving of nutmeg and a smouldering fire around the edges. the main resemblance between these two seems to be in the way they “feel,” producing a very similar cascade of sensations until the second one (which we have probably all guessed by now turned out to be the small batch version) finishing with a much tighter, more resinous grip. today I found it enjoyable in small amounts, but it is still not my everyday thing.

overall, first impression is that the store selection is a lot easier going but interesting enough to be worthwhile, and that it apparently only takes a small percentage of the really oaky stuff to dominate the character of the small batch. I tried mingling them in a glass, 3:1 single barrel to small batch, and the wood really took over.

thanks again to those who advised me to give the store selection a try.

[mosugoji64]

Thank you for the notes on that one. It sounds like you got a good one! The only EC12 SB I've had was very good neat and a vanilla bomb on ice. Haven't seen any more since then.

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[fishnbowljoe]

I have seen several grocery store private selections over the years. From what I've heard and read, they are done a little differently than liquor store PS's. Liquor stores usually taste from samples, and pick a barrel. A grocery store usually has the distillery pick out the barrel for them. I do know of at least a couple of liquor stores that have had the distillery pick a barrel for them too.

FWIW, a few years ago, I picked up a "bourbon" that was a private store pick. I really liked said "bourbon" back then, and almost bought a case. Glad I didn't. It was terrible. I called the store and inquired about the bottling. I didn't mention anything about the taste. They said, "Oh yeah, we just had the distillery pick a barrel for us."