Btac 2014

[jvd99]

Gold as well, but I'm going with the 'gold is the secret barrel' theory

[flahute]

There's a huge to do on one of the FB groups about how the 2014 GTS bottles that have black ink on them are different from the ones with gold ink. Conspiracy theories so far include the black ink being a top sekrit single barrel or that it was bottled earlier so there was less barrel char floaties and therefore somehow better. The idea that maybe the gold pens were out of ink and black was all they had was immediately discarded as being ridiculous.

This is hilarious. I love facebook group hysteria. (From afar that is, I can't stand to be in the middle of it.)

[cadillac doc]

Mine are gold. Getting ready to toss them in the recycling. No point in saving.

Don't toss them, I'm doing a glass cutting project and will trade something unique and tasty for your empty BTAC bottles.

[garbanzobean]

Apparently, suggesting this must be the spiritual successor to Doug Dog's Willett "Black Ink" was not funny. At any rate, a few blind SBS samplings have confirmed that there's no noticeable difference, so I think we can all rest easy.

[Underhilltab]

On Saturday night, I got a call from one of my contacts at a local store. He left a vm saying that he had a Saz 18 for me. I called back about 15 minutes later, but he had left for the night. We spoke this morning and I told him I'd be in around lunch time to pick it up. He called me back a little while later and, after apologizing, he said that the manager had apparently given/allocated the bottle to another customer. He then said that, to make it up to me, he hoped I'd be happy with a VWFRR instead. I hurried over and picked it up.

[upStomp]

Just picked up my GTS from a lottery for the not-quite-gougie price of $150. I was surprised, but really didn't mind paying the premium since it takes plenty of extra overhead to manage their lottery system (sales-based ticketing, manual drawings, informing the winners, etc), not to mention the incessant calls from folks looking for these allotments. This lottery was really my only chance in Mass to score a bottle, so I'm just pumped that I actually got something this season. I had 4 entries and bet them all on GTS.

Now the wait begins. I'm not cracking this open until I get some worthy company to enjoy it with. :cool:

[The Good Sir]

On Saturday night, I got a call from one of my contacts at a local store. He left a vm saying that he had a Saz 18 for me. I called back about 15 minutes later, but he had left for the night. We spoke this morning and I told him I'd be in around lunch time to pick it up. He called me back a little while later and, after apologizing, he said that the manager had apparently given/allocated the bottle to another customer. He then said that, to make it up to me, he hoped I'd be happy with a VWFRR instead. I hurried over and picked it up.

That is awesome! I love the Saz 18, but that VWFRR is amazing stuff. I hope to get my hands on a bottle this year.

[tanstaafl2]

That is awesome! I love the Saz 18, but that VWFRR is amazing stuff. I hope to get my hands on a bottle this year.

VWFRR is something of a curiosity at this point. BT is blending their rye into the mix and I have no idea how much, if any, of the original rye is left or used to blend into the current VWFRR. Could well be little more than a 13yo version of the rye that will eventually also become Saz 18.

Not that it isn't still some excellent whiskey. Presumably the same as the Baby Saz/THH mashbill although the presence of the (presumed to be) different rye mashbill used in the CEHT means perhaps they could be blending different ryes at some point if they aren't already. I think it makes for some interesting possibilities, especially since I like both the Baby Saz/THH and CEHT rye mashbills.

Just wish there was a little bit more transparency about what each of these bottling's really are.

[iDoc]

VWFRR is something of a curiosity at this point. BT is blending their rye into the mix and I have no idea how much, if any, of the original rye is left or used to blend into the current VWFRR. Could well be little more than a 13yo version of the rye that will eventually also become Saz 18.

Not that it isn't still some excellent whiskey. Presumably the same as the Baby Saz/THH mashbill although the presence of the (presumed to be) different rye mashbill used in the CEHT means perhaps they could be blending different ryes at some point if they aren't already. I think it makes for some interesting possibilities, especially since I like both the Baby Saz/THH and CEHT rye mashbills.

Just wish there was a little bit more transparency about what each of these bottling's really are.

Where did you find out that the VWFR Rye is no longer the Medley/Bernheim blend?

From April 2012, prior to that year's release. Per Preston VW.

With regard to the Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, the very first run of that rye, back in the '90s, was entirely from the Medley Distillery and was released in both 12 an 13 year old expressions. That run quickly sold out and since then, the Van Winkle Rye has come from a marriage of Medley and Bernheim (Cream of Kentucky) rye that was purchased by Julian years ago and has been in stainless steel tanks. Buffalo Trace is aging rye to replace the Medley/Bernheim blend when it runs out, but Preston thinks there are probably a few more years of that tanked rye left.

http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2012/04/preston-van-winkle-everything-in-pappy.html

[tanstaafl2]

Where did you find out that the VWFR Rye is no longer the Medley/Bernheim blend?

From April 2012, prior to that year's release. Per Preston VW.

With regard to the Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, the very first run of that rye, back in the '90s, was entirely from the Medley Distillery and was released in both 12 an 13 year old expressions. That run quickly sold out and since then, the Van Winkle Rye has come from a marriage of Medley and Bernheim (Cream of Kentucky) rye that was purchased by Julian years ago and has been in stainless steel tanks. Buffalo Trace is aging rye to replace the Medley/Bernheim blend when it runs out, but Preston thinks there are probably a few more years of that tanked rye left.

http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2012/04/preston-van-winkle-everything-in-pappy.html

Last year (I think) while at a bourbon dinner Harlan Wheatley said that VW Rye has had BT rye blended in for the past couple of years. As I said it still has the original COK/Medley ryes in it as well but I don't have much doubt that they are stretching it out with BT rye. I don't have any other proof other than what he said but it seems an odd thing to say in public if it ain't so! I posted about it here around the time he mentioned it but can't find the posts at the moment.

Here it is:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?7589-Van-Winkle-Family-Reserve-13-rye&p=391948&viewfull=1#post391948

Edited November 18, 2014 by tanstaafl2

[iDoc]

Last year (I think) while at a bourbon dinner Harlan Wheatley said that VW Rye has had BT rye blended in for the past couple of years. As I said it still has the original COK/Medley ryes in it as well but I don't have much doubt that they are stretching it out with BT rye. I don't have any other proof other than what he said but it seems an odd thing to say in public if it ain't so! I posted about it here around the time he mentioned it but can't find the posts at the moment.

Here it is:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?7589-Van-Winkle-Family-Reserve-13-rye&p=391948&viewfull=1#post391948

Who knows. Those comments from Preston Van Winkle were in response to claims Harlan Wheatley had made earlier too.

[The Good Sir]

Where did you find out that the VWFR Rye is no longer the Medley/Bernheim blend?

From April 2012, prior to that year's release. Per Preston VW.

With regard to the Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, the very first run of that rye, back in the '90s, was entirely from the Medley Distillery and was released in both 12 an 13 year old expressions. That run quickly sold out and since then, the Van Winkle Rye has come from a marriage of Medley and Bernheim (Cream of Kentucky) rye that was purchased by Julian years ago and has been in stainless steel tanks. Buffalo Trace is aging rye to replace the Medley/Bernheim blend when it runs out, but Preston thinks there are probably a few more years of that tanked rye left.

http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2012/04/preston-van-winkle-everything-in-pappy.html

I know we are OT here and perhaps better suited for the rye forum, but I do find this interesting. I've heard from several people that have purchased this release of VWFRR that the laser code is still B13. I'm not sure if that is relevant to this or not.

[tigerlam92]

I noticed in the 2014 GTS, there is very little charcoal that I can tell. Anyone else?

I'm a shake and drink guy in recent years and there isn't much to shake in my bottle from this year. 2013 and 2012, I can clearly and easily see all the charcoal.

I've been drinking this daily but within a day, it should have settle some?

Edited November 19, 2014 by tigerlam92

[matthewdc]

On Saturday night, I got a call from one of my contacts at a local store. He left a vm saying that he had a Saz 18 for me. I called back about 15 minutes later, but he had left for the night. We spoke this morning and I told him I'd be in around lunch time to pick it up. He called me back a little while later and, after apologizing, he said that the manager had apparently given/allocated the bottle to another customer. He then said that, to make it up to me, he hoped I'd be happy with a VWFRR instead. I hurried over and picked it up.

That's a pretty nice consolation prize!

[CaskStrength77]

Anyone from Houston heard if Spec's had given out their distribution yet? One store told me he put out his 3 bottles of GTS almost a month ago.

[greens]

Anyone from Houston heard if Spec's had given out their distribution yet? One store told me he put out his 3 bottles of GTS almost a month ago.

It's long gone and honestly I'm disgusted with Specs and how they have chosen to handle the distribution these past two years. Prior to the 2013 release I could literally find bottles of the Stagg and WLW at multiple locations. I don't know if bourbon just went off the trendy charts in the past two years or if BT severely limited the amount released but this stuff is literally impossible to find now unless you're a friend of a friend of a friend or you wasted three hours of your life kissing someones ass at Smith St. It's truly baffling to me how this stuff went from easy to find, for instance I had no problem purchasing 9 bottles of Stagg in 2012 at various locations within a 20 mile radius, to not being able to find a single bottle anywhere.

The Gastropub my brother manages JUST got their PVW allocation yesterday. Some lady came by from Specs in a Benz and dropped it off in person. Only 10 and 12 year though.

[amg]

bourbon just went off the trendy charts in the past two years

Pretty much this is what happened.

[The Black Tot]

I had heard the list was very long at Spec's and was mostly based on how big a spender you were. I don't begrudge them that model, those are their sugar daddies. But there's little hope even for the $10K/yr spender at Spec's downtown.

[flaminiom]

I don't know if bourbon just went off the trendy charts in the past two years or if BT severely limited the amount released but this stuff is literally impossible to find now unless you're a friend of a friend of a friend or you wasted three hours of your life kissing someones ass

Yes

I think another big factor is on-premise accounts are wanting on board too. I hear of hotels/bars/etc that used to not request special releases wanting in. They move a lot of bottles too. Plus they're even getting in on the barrel selections that bump them up further.

[dcbt]

I voiced my disgust with Spec's a year ago here: http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?21570-Spec-s-and-the-premiums

[nd2005]

Yes

I think another big factor is on-premise accounts are wanting on board too. I hear of hotels/bars/etc that used to not request special releases wanting in. They move a lot of bottles too. Plus they're even getting in on the barrel selections that bump them up further.

Yup. Lot and lot of upscale bars that used to have a few expensive scotches and an overlooked bourbon selection are trying to get their hands on bottles as well.

[Paddy]

Yes

I think another big factor is on-premise accounts are wanting on board too. I hear of hotels/bars/etc that used to not request special releases wanting in. They move a lot of bottles too. Plus they're even getting in on the barrel selections that bump them up further.

^^^^^^This^^^^^^ = smaller distributions for off premise accounts + increased demand (on both fronts) is really it in a nutshell.

In the end it makes each score that much more difficult. What kills me is the guy(s) I see/hear complaining about only getting two or three of this or that, because where I'm at I'd love the chance to get 2 or 3 of any limited.

Yes it's tough sledding for now but folks, we need to be thankful when we get anything these days. There are a lot more fish in the sea than there used to be...:fish2:

[GaryT]

Hugh - I just cracked mine tonight, and I taste the char - but don't see as much char/sediment as I have in past GTS bottles. I gave it a good shake as well, and not a whole lot floating around. Sometimes the bottom of the bottle almost looks painted black, and this one doesn't. So - not just you

This is a really nice bourbon. I've only owned two other GTS previously, and intend to do a blind sbs with the one I still have. But my first impression is that this is definitely one of the better Staggs I've had the pleasure of pouring. Nicely balanced, and by balanced I don't mean "smoothed out". The nose isn't as harsh to me as some prior GTS, but the palate doesn't hold back.

I noticed in the 2014 GTS, there is very little charcoal that I can tell. Anyone else?

I'm a shake and drink guy in recent years and there isn't much to shake in my bottle from this year. 2013 and 2012, I can clearly and easily see all the charcoal.

I've been drinking this daily but within a day, it should have settle some?

[bin31z]

If you could pick one, FRle small batch 2014 or 2014 stagg or 2014 WLW, which would it be?

[nd2005]

If you could pick one, FRle small batch 2014 or 2014 stagg or 2014 WLW, which would it be?

WLW, without thinking twice