smknjoe Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Over the past several months I've been told that the 2006 release of BTAC WLW, and only the 2006 version, was from S-W distillate. I pretty much blew if off as a rumor, but I've been told it is once again. If you believe this to be true can you please give a viable reason as to why you believe this? I know that distilleries trade barrels back and forth to some extent and that when BT took over the Weller brand that they likely had access to some S-W and Bernhiem distillate, but isn't BTAC supposed to be a showcase of Buffalo Trace's whiskey producing abilities and only Buffalo Trace's abilities, and not be just another premium offering? If that's the idea behind BTAC then why would they use bourbon from another distillery? Why would it only be the 2006 vintage, but not the 2005 or the previous 19 year versions of BTAC Weller? As far as I know it's still just a rumor and nothing more.Just to be perfectly clear this is not a quest to find S-W. This is a quest for the truth. Before anyone starts with "well, if it's good who cares where it came from" I'd like to quote some guy I know on the Internet: "We're bourbon geeks, it's who we are, it's what we do." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dusty Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 (edited) It's is the first I have heard of this, and I have no inside info to support or refute that rumor. I can add a couple of points to the discussion though. I can see where the rumor might have some legs. The '06 release was (and still is) the oldest WLW release by a good three years. Maybe BT had 15 yr wheated stock of their own in '06. However simple math puts the distillation date of that release in 1991 prior to the shuttering of SW. So it's certainly possible. And it is, to my taste the best of the WLW releases. If nothing else makes for an interesting, if geeky, topic. Edited June 25, 2014 by Old Dusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Over the past several months I've been told that the 2006 release of BTAC WLW, and only the 2006 version, was from S-W distillate. I pretty much blew if off as a rumor, but I've been told it is once again. If you believe this to be true can you please give a viable reason as to why you believe this? I know that distilleries trade barrels back and forth to some extent and that when BT took over the Weller brand that they likely had access to some S-W and Bernhiem distillate, but isn't BTAC supposed to be a showcase of Buffalo Trace's whiskey producing abilities and only Buffalo Trace's abilities, and not be just another premium offering? If that's the idea behind BTAC then why would they use bourbon from another distillery? Why would it only be the 2006 vintage, but not the 2005 or the previous 19 year versions of BTAC Weller? As far as I know it's still just a rumor and nothing more.Just to be perfectly clear this is not a quest to find S-W. This is a quest for the truth. Before anyone starts with "well, if it's good who cares where it came from" I'd like to quote some guy I know on the Internet: "We're bourbon geeks, it's who we are, it's what we do." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAINWRIGHT Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I'm going to say that Dawn or Joe are going to be the ones to chime in here.S-W or not it's absolutely the best WLW I've ever had period! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Don't forget that BT distilled wheated bourbon for S-W in the 1980s and some of it stayed in their warehouses so there could be some of that stock in the mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 It's my understanding years ago Buffalo Trace did some contract distilling for Stitzel-Weller using the SW mash bill and proprietary yeast. I believe some of this stock was still on hand at BT when they bought the Weller brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dusty Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I'm going to say that Dawn or Joe are going to be the ones to chime in here.S-W or not it's absolutely the best WLW I've ever had period!If Dawn chimes in it will be to say STFU about it. And the 129.9 really sucks. And she'll take those shitty bottles off your hands. Or words to that effect:grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smknjoe Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 Don't know anything definitive about the WLW 2006 source but Sazerac 18 Rye has not been about what BT can do (although that may be changing soon) so I don't know that your premise about the purpose for BTAC necessarily rings true.Good point. I forgot about that one.Don't forget that BT distilled wheated bourbon for S-W in the 1980s and some of it stayed in their warehouses so there could be some of that stock in the mix.It's my understanding years ago Buffalo Trace did some contract distilling for Stitzel-Weller using the SW mash bill and proprietary yeast. I believe some of this stock was still on hand at BT when they bought the Weller brand.Exactly why it's just a rumor to me, so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luther.r Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Everything that happened with the wheat recipe in the early 90s is cloudy and ambiguous.As others have mentioned, wheated bourbon was contract distilled at AA for SW (some barrel head pics have been floating out for a while, I think from 1991).Also, at the time UD owned the SW, Bernheim, and Medley distilleries. Supposedly any and all of those distilleries were making wheated stock and shipping them to SW for barreling and aging. So AA-distilled whiskey could have gone in barrels that said DSP-KY-16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbanzobean Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Don't know anything definitive about the WLW 2006 source but Sazerac 18 Rye has not been about what BT can do (although that may be changing soon) so I don't know that your premise about the purpose for BTAC necessarily rings true.I hate to take up too much space in someone else's topic, but it seems like there might be an interesting story behind your post. I did a quick search and couldn't find anything, so I figured I would ask. I have heard rumors about Sazerac 18, like the entire supply for the past few years has been sitting in a metal tank and being doled out slowly while new spirit ages, etc. Are you stating that it is not BT distillate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrel800 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I hate to take up too much space in someone else's topic, but it seems like there might be an interesting story behind your post. I did a quick search and couldn't find anything, so I figured I would ask. I have heard rumors about Sazerac 18, like the entire supply for the past few years has been sitting in a metal tank and being doled out slowly while new spirit ages, etc. Are you stating that it is not BT distillate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 My vote goes for Cream of Kentucky Rye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbanzobean Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Thanks for the info guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I hate to take up too much space in someone else's topic, but it seems like there might be an interesting story behind your post. I did a quick search and couldn't find anything, so I figured I would ask. I have heard rumors about Sazerac 18, like the entire supply for the past few years has been sitting in a metal tank and being doled out slowly while new spirit ages, etc. Are you stating that it is not BT distillate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dusty Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I went to a WLW thread and a Saz18 thread broke out:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BourbonJoe Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) According to Ken Weber himself it was indeed SW whiskey. Shortly after he announced this (and I heard him say it) he was fired from BT. One wonders why.Joe :usflag: Edited June 26, 2014 by BourbonJoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smknjoe Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 Okay, did he say why they used it only that one time and not for the previous iterations of WLW/Weller 19? If they were using S-W in the line up until 2006 that would make more sense to me than just a one time deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I thought they did use SW stuff for the 19. I would've bet on that although not a large amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dusty Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 According to Ken Weber himself it was indeed SW whiskey. Shortly after he announced this (and I heard him say it) he was fired from BT. One wonders why.Joe :usflag: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Yes, and was a good contributor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tylermke Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I believe at one point Mark Brown also confirmed to a few members that it was SW. Either way, I agree with Ryan that it is the best WLW I've ever had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamba Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 dusty porn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCWoody Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Dusty porn my ass, that's vintage porn. Ah, the good ol days. Very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OtisCampbell Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I have a 2006 WLW saved to open for a significant event; maybe closing on my first house on 30 days is the right time? I've had enought SW that I'd imagine I'd be able to tell if it was distilled there.. I'm looking forward to it! :grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dusty Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 QUOTE=OtisCampbell;429792]I have a 2006 WLW saved to open for a significant event; maybe closing on my first house on 30 days is the right time? I've had enought SW that I'd imagine I'd be able to tell if it was distilled there.. I'm looking forward to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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