Variance in mass-bottled whiskey.

[ethangsmith]

Recently I purchased a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 bourbon that is EXCEPTIONAL. It's leaps and bounds better than any other bottle of WT101 bourbon I've ever had. It has greater complexity and a nice dry tobacco flavor that I've never found before in this bottling. To my palate, it even surpasses the Rare Breed for balance and complexity.

This got me thinking a little bit about variance and nuances I've noticed in the mass-bottled whiskies. Is this common? Is it just in my head? Has anyone else noticed these variations in the mass-bottled stuff????

[bad_scientist]

Recently I purchased a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 bourbon that is EXCEPTIONAL. It's leaps and bounds better than any other bottle of WT101 bourbon I've ever had. It has greater complexity and a nice dry tobacco flavor that I've never found before in this bottling. To my palate, it even surpasses the Rare Breed for balance and complexity.

This got me thinking a little bit about variance and nuances I've noticed in the mass-bottled whiskies. Is this common? Is it just in my head? Has anyone else noticed these variations in the mass-bottled stuff????

WT 101 and BT are the biggest teases in the industry

I get more variation from their bottles, regular and "special" offerings, than any other company.

[ethangsmith]

I would take an infinite number of bottles of the WT101 bottle I have right now. Just had some more this evening and it was AWESOME again.

[Clavius]

I would take an infinite number of bottles of the WT101 bottle I have right now. Just had some more this evening and it was AWESOME again.

Too bad you can't clone a bottle of whiskey.

[jmj_203]

I've only had 1 bottle of BT, but the 3 bottles of ER10 so far have been dead on consistency and taste wise. They were all from the same store around the same batch on the shelf (before a new case restock) so thats not a surprise. Same with WT101, only been thru a few bottles that taste the same but again from the same few months/stores. I do notice some nights I just have an off palate night where a bourbon tastes maybe not as complex or deep. If you've had this several nights tnen its not just a good taste night effect, you just got a great bottle. I get it more from Rare Breed, so maybe you got a honey barrel that made its way into a standard 101 bottling.

[thebwood]

I've definitely noticed variance with Buffalo Trace. I thought they were consistent, until I got stuck with a 1.75 that was a real stinker - thin, acidic, with a lot of alcohol heat. I'm definitely not imagining it. I like BT. I do not like this bottle.

[mbroo5880i]

I have had some standard bottles of brands that I like that don't seem as good. I have also had some that seem infinitely better. I have also had some bottles that seem to improve the longer they are open. I would assume some variability if the batches are based on input from tasting panels. I would also assume some variance based on palate changes over time. Some whiskeys seem better in the winter than summer. I am not sure why. I assume part of it is mental based on perception of what is best during what time of year.

[ethangsmith]

I should add that my recent bottle of the new batch of Rare Breed is downright awful. I think I may have hit the opposite end of the spectrum with this one. Everyone else seems to be enjoying the new 112 proof bottling over the old 108, but my bottle is just lousy. It's flavorless, hot, thin, and loaded with nothing but cinnamon notes. So I'm counting that one as a bad bottle. I've also found some minor bottle-to-bottle variance in Evan Williams, Old Ezra 101, Old Grand Dad BIB, and Old Forester Signature. Then, of course there's the small batch stuff like EC12 and 1792 where I've found less subtle variances (Most times for the good, not the bad.).

[ramblinman]

I've had bottles of Elijah Craig that could have been completely different brands to the point that I don't really expect anything consistent about it with the exception of heavy oak.

[393foureyedfox]

if it was a recent purchase, go back to that store and buy loads more. you have a decent chance on getting the same batch at least.

ive been very pleased with both WT101 and the new 112 WTRB lately. maybe theyre onto something again

[PaulO]

This is just speculation on my part. High volume NAS brands dump lots of barrels together. The barrels are not exactly the same. They are all at least 4 years older. Some are probably older or "honey barrels" added to try and keep the overall brand profile consistent. My theory is somehow it all didn't get completely mixed together, and your bottle got an extra large dose of one of the better barrels. Another idea, maybe your bottle was one of the first ones bottled directly after they finished bottling a run of one of their high end brands.

My experience with variation was with Old Fitz BIB. I got a 750ml that was extra good. It tasted like a 100 proof version of Larceny. I went back to the same place and got a handle. When I opened that, it was just the same old run of the mill.

Edited July 7, 2014 by PaulO

[Josh]

I've noticed this too, especially in WT products and in Old Forester. I get a good bottle and I start proclaiming the rebirth of the brand, then I get a bad one and I declare it dead.

I've noticed a lot of variation in EC 12 and VOB in the past. The EC 12 problems seem to have worked themselves out and VOB seems to be more consistant now that Sazerac owns the distillery. Not that I ever disliked a bottle I've had of either.

[sutton]

Another idea, maybe your bottle was one of the first ones bottled directly after they finished bottling a run of one of their high end brands.

This changeover theory seems the most probable since it does seem WT batches barrels into a larger vessels prior to bottling - unless, of course, that same WT employee again forgot to turn the valve toward the Tradition bottling line and mis-directed it toward the standard 101 ... UnFathomable ....

[Quantum]

I've had bottles of Elijah Craig that could have been completely different brands to the point that I don't really expect anything consistent about it with the exception of heavy oak.

The first bottle of EC12 I bought was downright terrible, which turned me off of the brand for a few years. I couldn't even get people to mix that stuff with coke.

Weller 12 is the brand I have noticed the most inconsistency with, specifically the bitter soot flavor that creeps in sometimes. Ive have some that would qualify as an "upper middle class" mans pappy, and some that was downright undrinkable.

[Patrick_OKC]

I would also allow for the possibility that your palate will differ a tad from day to day, such that a very enjoyable pour from a bottle over two consecutive nights might be followed by a rather sub-par pour on the third night. All from the same bottle, mind you.

Pat

[boneuphtoner]

ive been very pleased with both WT101 and the new 112 WTRB lately. maybe theyre onto something again

For me, WT has been the most positive turnaround I've experienced since I got into the hobby a few years ago. Both the current 101 and 112 RB are among my favorites now, whereas I had them as "meh" just a few months ago.

[boneuphtoner]

Getting back to the original thread, perhaps how much I've enjoyed recent WT offerings is a result of inconsistency.

[ethangsmith]

Here's a good one- I have a bottle of the new DSP 1 Rittenhouse rye that tastes IDENTICAL to a bottle of Evan Williams BIB bourbon I have. And that's not just my palate, others have tried them side-by-side and proclaimed them to be the exact same whiskey. Something seems a bit wrong there!

[TLH-Mike]

WT 101 and BT are the biggest teases in the industry

I get more variation from their bottles, regular and "special" offerings, than any other company.

Agree. I've purchased Wild Turkey 101 from my local Sam's Club fairly regularly and I'm surprised at the variation within each bottle often purchased no more than two months apart. Evan Williams Black has been the exception lately...