Best in Show of the cats and dogs

[Flyfish]

Total Wine and BevMo stock several bourbons I have never heard of and never purchased: e.g., Black Eagle, Watkins Select, Chestnut Farms, Paddleford Creek, Black Ridge, Southshot, etc. They tend to be low priced but that does not necessarily mean high value. Has anyone found these non-standard brands to be worthy of attention? Don't limit your answer to those listed above. I'm interested in any nominees.

[jvd99]

I'm not familiar with any of the mentioned bourbons. However, I'm finding myself looking at obscure/unfamiliar labels as background noise at this point. The lack of transparency regarding the source of bourbon/rye, ridiculous "historical" back stories or outright gimmicks (Ocean aging!?!) associated with many labels has really turned me off from buying much of anything I'm not familiar with and trust already. The bourbon boom has everyone and their brother creating "distilleries" out of thin air which generally only means that the juice was sourced from an actual distillery. There's a lot to be said about providing the customer with some modicum of truthful and accurate information about the bottle contents and my dollars are spent supporting brands that do this. I'll reach for a FR, BT or even High West because they actually openly discuss the sourcing process before snatching up a new bourbon of unknown origin.

[squire]

Does the label say Clear Springs Distillery? That was Beam up until a couple of years age when it was acquired by Buffalo Trace. I think originally the labels were house brands for Costco and the like. They are higher priced though, $40-$50 last year, so it would seem Sazerac finds it more profitable to launch new brands rather than raise prices on old ones and selling through major retailers saves on advertizing costs as well.

[black mamba]

For anything under $15 the HH BIBs are untouchable, so I don't pick anything else in that price range. When W12, OFS100, et.al. are just over $20, that doesn't leave much room for the NDPs. I pretty much don't bother with them any longer.

[DBM]

Total Wine and BevMo stock several bourbons I have never heard of and never purchased: e.g., Black Eagle, Watkins Select, Chestnut Farms, Paddleford Creek, Black Ridge, Southshot, etc. They tend to be low priced but that does not necessarily mean high value. Has anyone found these non-standard brands to be worthy of attention? Don't limit your answer to those listed above. I'm interested in any nominees.

I see every one of the labels you mentioned on the shelf at Total Wine (add Two Stars to the list too), but I've never seen them at BevMo.

I assumed these were Total Wine private labels with whisky from HH, BT, MGPI and anywhere else they can source direct. Are you sure any of these are available at BevMo?

The Total Wine employees like to push anything with the "Spirits Direct" shelf tags, presumably because there is higher margin on these products. I've never purchased these products, but a friend picked up a Chestnut Farms (for over $70!) and we both concluded that it was mediocre at best.

[squire]

Drop the age statement from Benchmark and see what happens.

[393foureyedfox]

For anything under $15 the HH BIBs are untouchable, so I don't pick anything else in that price range. When W12, OFS100, et.al. are just over $20, that doesn't leave much room for the NDPs. I pretty much don't bother with them any longer.

thats my thinking.....theres too much good stuff under $25 to bother.

that said, I do want to get an Old Scout, preferably an 8 year if possible. Im saving my WFE 8 year for graduation, and would like to have a similarly aged OS along with it to compare. A sourced barrel proof age stated whiskey with the reputation for quality selections like WFE and OS, I dont mind paying for. But, to pay $40+ for an unagestated, unspecified source 90-ish proofer? no thanks.

me thinks Willett is soon going to find itself in a pickle......the combination of OS getting good marks for their stuff at $10-15 less than comparablly aged WFE's, PLUS the fact that WFE hasnt bottled any WFE in over a year....

[whiskeyobsessive]

I'm pretty sure that the clear springs distillery bourbons (Two Stars, Black Ridge and Chestnut Farms) are now Barton distillate, consistent with their Sazerac owenership. The Black Ridge, though not side by side, tasted pretty much identical to VOB 6/90. For double the price, I guess you get a cognac-style bottle and a terrible label. I think the Jeffers Creek stuff in other stores is 80 proof Barton. The others at Total wine (Paddleford, Watkins etc) are so cheap that they scare me, assuming a similar markup...

[MyOldKyDram]

Not exactly true. They had (have?) a 20 yr wheated WFE at the gs earlier this week. $210 and its all yours, foxxie.

[Old Dusty]

Not exactly true. They had (have?) a 20 yr wheated WFE at the gs earlier this week. $210 and its all yours, foxxie.

Sean, you apparently tasted one of those in the blind sample deal. What did you think?

[squire]

Well they're all under the Sazerac umbrella so with age reduced for both Benchmark and Barton there's bound to be some 4-6 year old barreled stuff on hand for new, higher priced labels. Same donkey, new haircut.

[MyOldKyDram]

Did I? Which one was it? Still haven't gotten to half of them, sadly. I hate it, but had much going on in my personal life the past two months and haven't been able to finish them. My apologies to truth.

[Old Dusty]

Don't know the number, but he did the "reveal" and one was a 20 yr GS bottle same barrel # as the one I got during KBF but haven't opened yet. I was looking for a preview.

[MyOldKyDram]

I'll see if I can find the number and will give it a go.

[Old Dusty]

Sweet. You can PM me so we don't hijack this thread even worse-sorry Ox!

[393foureyedfox]

Not exactly true. They had (have?) a 20 yr wheated WFE at the gs earlier this week. $210 and its all yours, foxxie.

I think those were $400 at KBF last september. half price!

[PaulO]

For anything under $15 the HH BIBs are untouchable, so I don't pick anything else in that price range. When W12, OFS100, et.al. are just over $20, that doesn't leave much room for the NDPs. I pretty much don't bother with them any longer.

I agree 100%. Less than 90 proof NAS mystery juice, no thanks.

[JPBoston]

I see a lot of those labels at Total Wine as well... never have bothered to try. They tried to push that Paddleford Creek one on me a few times, though I just chuckled and reached for one of my go-to's.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

[squire]

One is tempted to carefully set the bottle down and step slowly back.

[GaryT]

We bought the Watkins Select once, and it was worthless (not even worthy as a mixer - literally poured it out). Haven't bothered to waste any time/money on any of the others after that. Just way too many known solid pours for under $20 out there to take a chance IMHO.

[squire]

But,but,but,but,but,but . . . it's NEW! See, different label and everything.

[GaryT]

But,but,but,but,but,but . . . it's NEW! See, different label and everything.

Ironically, that is the challenge. I swear I'm stoopid enough that if they put one of those losers on sale, I'd bite

[mbroo5880i]

Admittedly, a different name and unique bottle makes you look twice. Then reality sets in.

[squire]

We're all suckers for a pretty face.

[jvd99]

J.R. Ewing Bourbon - 80 proof 4 year old from an unnamed distillery and the "Southfork Bottling Co." Seriously? I can't believe the s**t they put on the shelves and expect us to buy.

http://www.bourbonblog.com/blog/2014/02/22/j-r-ewing-bourbon-dallas/