Is the new label Eagle Raree single barrel?

[12stones]

I just received a special order case of Eagle Rare. It has the the new neck band with just the stars and no single barrel 10year statement. However there is a tag on the box that says single barrel. From reading other threads here I understand that the new label was a batch whiskey not single barrel. It tastes just as good as my last bottle that was labeled single barrel. Is this maybe just a step in the process of changing to batch from single barrel?

Edited September 16, 2014 by 12stones

[squire]

Old box, new batch. If you like the whisky and the price was reasonable then accept it for what it is. If the goal is to put better whisky in the bottle maturity and higher proof count but this single barrel idea was not intended to make a better whisky, rather it's a marketing concept created to compete with single malt.

[ramblinman]

Old box, new batch. If you like the whisky and the price was reasonable then accept it for what it is. If the goal is to put better whisky in the bottle maturity and higher proof count but this single barrel idea was not intended to make a better whisky, rather it's a marketing concept created to compete with single malt.

So much this. Its always been odd to me that we're enamored with the idea of single barrel being a quality indicator. If anything its likely to be a marker of inconsistency. That inconsistency might be interesting, and it allows you to occasionally get something really amazing, but gives equal chance of getting one that doesn't sit right with you. Either way, unless you're lucky and quick, you're unlikely to have another bottle from that barrel again.

[amg]

At least it's still age stated 10 years on the back label. We'll see how long that sticks around.

[Richnimrod]

So much this. Its always been odd to me that we're enamored with the idea of single barrel being a quality indicator. If anything its likely to be a marker of inconsistency. That inconsistency might be interesting, and it allows you to occasionally get something really amazing, but gives equal chance of getting one that doesn't sit right with you. Either way, unless you're lucky and quick, you're unlikely to have another bottle from that barrel again.

You are SPOT ON, ramblinman! IMHO Inconsistency is the big bugaboo with SB offerings. I think the distilleries do their brands a disservice when they don't pick to a pretty tight profile for these offerings; but apparently they don't agree, or at least don't feel it is important enough to spend the extra time to do that. I've had a few that were way 'off'. I had a bottle of ET Lee a couple years ago that was awful! I stayed away from the brand until very recently, after hearing from many that urged me back.

[MauiSon]

As I understand it, ER10 is still a single barrel product. However, due to bottling line intricacies, sequential barrel bottlings may have some mixing in some bottles. This has led BT to determine that this brand no longer meets their definition of single barrel. This does not make it small batch, though, since the mixing is unintentional. If I am wrong about this, please let me know.

I don't care about the lack of legal definitions here, I just want to know the process used. My definition of single barrel would be all the whiskey in the bottle came from one barrel dumped out at one time. My definition of small batch would be a number of barrels mixed together to conform to a desired taste profile. If it isn't done that way, it doesn't meet my standard for those terms.

Edited September 16, 2014 by MauiSon

[ramblinman]

It doesn't have any legal meaning, so anything from a single barrel up to multiple thousand gallon dumps can be small batch.

The individual distillers have their own definition, but off the top of my head I can't think of one who has actually published what they mean by it.

[dcbt]

As I understand it, ER10 is still a single barrel product. However, due to bottling line intricacies, sequential barrel bottlings may have some mixing in some bottles. This has led BT to determine that this brand no longer meets their definition of single barrel. This does not make it small batch, though, since the mixing is unintentional. If I am wrong about this, please let me know.

[12stones]

Thanks guys, I must of missed the Mark Brown open letter thread. That all makes sense. It's good bourbon and that's all that matters.

[ramblinman]

My definition of small batch would be a number of barrels mixed together to conform to a desired taste profile.

[Flyfish]

As I understand it, ER10 is still a single barrel product. However, due to bottling line intricacies, sequential barrel bottlings may have some mixing in some bottles.

Does this imply that the lines must be drained and cleaned between barrels for any bourbon to qualify as a true single barrel?

[squire]

Absent a legal definition it really doesn't matter what we think.

[MauiSon]

So less than some number or just that there was more than one barrel involved? Not sure I'm processing that sentence correctly in my head.

The number of barrels doesn't matter to me, only the purpose. If 10, 100 or 1000 barrels are combined without regard for creating a specific taste profile, that doesn't qualify as 'small batch' because it lacks the proper purpose.

Edited September 16, 2014 by MauiSon

[squire]

If I had a moniker I'd also have a moll.

[TunnelTiger]

Thanks guys, I must of missed the Mark Brown open letter thread. That all makes sense. It's good bourbon and that's all that matters.

The fact that to you it is good bourbon is all that really matters.

[flahute]

Does this imply that the lines must be drained and cleaned between barrels for any bourbon to qualify as a true single barrel?

BT thinks so, which is why they removed the designation. As squire said, without a legal definition, it doesn't matter what we think. For all intents and purposes, it seems to me that it still is essentially a single barrel product. Whatever small amount is left over in the lines from the previous barrel won't be enough to alter the taste of the new barrel (my opinion based on no factual evidence) but it's nice of BT to be concerned about the technicalities because the whiskey geeks sure are.

[The Black Tot]

It is indeed nice for them to be concerned.

Not quite sure how they were handling the situation in the past where the end of the barrel filled half a bottle... something tells me the bottling line didn't all line up and do shots.

Does anyone know what usually happens to such dregs at a distillery? Is it allowed for them to mix it with half a bottle of the next barrel? I wouldn't think so, but few things surprise me anymore in the world of whiskey.

[tylermke]

It is indeed nice for them to be concerned.

Not quite sure how they were handling the situation in the past where the end of the barrel filled half a bottle... something tells me the bottling line didn't all line up and do shots.

Does anyone know what usually happens to such dregs at a distillery? Is it allowed for them to mix it with half a bottle of the next barrel? I wouldn't think so, but few things surprise me anymore in the world of whiskey.

There are 375ml versions of ER10, which helps alleviate some of that issue. And not all bottles have to be sold. Many are given (or discounted) to employees as gifts.

[The Black Tot]

There are 375ml versions of ER10, which helps alleviate some of that issue. And not all bottles have to be sold. Many are given (or discounted) to employees as gifts.

That makes sense. Thanks

[Flyfish]

Does anyone know what usually happens to such dregs at a distillery? Is it allowed for them to mix it with half a bottle of the next barrel? I wouldn't think so, but few things surprise me anymore in the world of whiskey.

Wouldn't it be terrible if some of that ER juice got into my BT? Reminds me of the time that someone spilled some chocolate in the peanut butter. No, wait. It was the time someone spilled some rye whiskey in the WT.

[squire]

Does anyone know what usually happens to such dregs at a distillery?

[Harry in WashDC]

FWIW, today I was in an I-95 corridor Virginia ABC store that had ER 750s with the 10 yr SB neckband next to 750s with the star neckband with 10 yrs on the back label. Same price. Guess VA ABC hasn't worked through its old inventory. If you are interested, you, too, might find some.

[nd2005]

FWIW, today I was in an I-95 corridor Virginia ABC store that had ER 750s with the 10 yr SB neckband next to 750s with the star neckband with 10 yrs on the back label. Same price. Guess VA ABC hasn't worked through its old inventory. If you are interested, you, too, might find some.

i found a store in my area a while back that had a few of the old-label. I grabbed a couple and left a couple more...

ER isn't my favorite BT expression, but I want to do a side by side with the new label at some point

[Scotch Neat]

There will be variation in any bourbon, I have tasted the new vs the old and dont have any issues with the new product.

As far as a "legal" definition of single barrel, do you really need one? All the spirit in the bottle should originate from one barrel! Period!

[sutton]

As far as a "legal" definition of single barrel, do you really need one? All the spirit in the bottle should originate from one barrel! Period!