overholt three years old, better than the four?

[tmckenzie]

I picked up some old overholt yesterday, wanted ro see how the three year stuff was. I was suprised. the last time I had any, it was the four year and was tasteless to say the least. the three year was very flavorful.I remember some talk several years back about beam changing still proofs etc to match brands. I wonder if this is the first proof we are seeing of this. if so, beam rye is fixing to get right in the next several years.

[squire]

We will see Tom, thanks for giving us your impressions.

[cowdery]

Different tastes. I too recently got a bottle of the 3-year-old Old Overholt and found it nasty and undrinkable.

[ethangsmith]

I'm with Tom. I really like my bottle of the three year old stuff. The four was ok, but the three is "fresher" and spicier. I plan on keeping a bottle around since it's fairly cheap.

[soad]

Sounds like good news....if 50% of the people like the 3 year-old, that's 50% more than liked the 4 year-old.

[jmj_203]

Sounds like good news....if 50% of the people like the 3 year-old, that's 50% more than liked the 4 year-old.

I think this is priced fairly low, I just haven't seen it in stores yet. I may buy a bottle if I ever see it, sounds worth a try.

[smokinjoe]

Sounds like good news....if 50% of the people like the 3 year-old, that's 50% more than liked the 4 year-old.

Nicely done!

[TunnelTiger]

Is the three year still 80 proof?

[ethangsmith]

Yep. Only downside to the Overholt. I wish the BIB would return- but I suppose that's what the Knob Creek Rye is!

[kaiserhog]

I really wish the new owners of Beam would revive this venerable old brand. It does deserve better, Old Overholt was my first Rye and still sneak in a dram now and then.

[GaryT]

Sounds like good news....if 50% of the people like the 3 year-old, that's 50% more than liked the 4 year-old.

That is funny - I was thinking "I don't know hardly anyone who liked the 4 yr old?" And now I feel like a moron for thinking "But TWO people like the 3 yr old . . . might need to try that stuff out!" On the plus side, very little financial risk.

[Brisko]

Yep. Only downside to the Overholt. I wish the BIB would return- but I suppose that's what the Knob Creek Rye is!

[MauiSon]

Sounds like good news....if 50% of the people like the 3 year-old, that's 50% more than liked the 4 year-old.

Uh, I like the 4yo, stocked up a few, too. No accountin' fer ma taste, ' s'pose.

[kaiserhog]

Love to see a BIB version aged for 6 years and made according to the National Distillers recipe.

[squire]

Anybody recall the original Overholt mash bill? I was thinking about 59% rye.

[Brisko]

Well, I took the plunge and picked up a bottle last night.

I have to say it's not bad. Pretty different from the 4 year olds, though. More flavor, big and grainy, with a nice clean finish. Not white doggy at all but obviously really young. Best part, it lacks a lot of that Beam funk we've all come to expect.

Others on this board have pointed out that rye shows itself well both very young and very old, and I think this is a good example of that.

I'm not sure I would recommend it, unless you're a fan of bold, young whiskey, but I think it's worth trying just to experience how different it is from the earlier product. Which makes me think I should revisit the Beam rye. Last time I did a head to head with Beam and Overholt they were indistinguishable, and pretty bland.

[squire]

That's not surprising because they're the same thing under different labels though one would hope Beam does blend to a flavor profile. They certainly have enough barrels to choose from.

[393foureyedfox]

as bad as I found the only 3 year old bottle I've had to be, I wouldn't even consider purchasing a 4 year if i saw it. I found it to be undrinkable, and used it for a few times to mix in my BBQ sauce. When I determined it wasn't even maskable with habanero BBQ sauce, I dumped it down the drain. That's the only whiskey Ive ever dumped out. But, in fairness, I've come to not be a rye fan. Rye heavy bourbons are okay, but not ryes.

[Gillman]

It's not "rye" though that's at fault (I'm responding to the last posting), but rather Jim Beam's (current) take on it. They can do better.

Gary

[393foureyedfox]

but I do enjoy OGD114, which is a high rye Beamer itself

[soad]

but I do enjoy OGD114, which is a high rye Beamer itself

I believe that the OGD mashbill is different than the Beam one.

[GaryT]

but I do enjoy OGD114, which is a high rye Beamer itself

I think Gary's point is I wouldn't consider OO to be a fair representation of rye. Not sure what other ryes you have tried, but also know folks who like high-rye bourbons like OGD and just don't care much for ryes outside of a couple.

[cowdery]

The Old Grand-Dad mashbill is (approximately) 60% corn, 30% rye, and 10% malt. The Jim Beam mashbill is (approximately) 75% corn, 15% rye, and 10% malt.