But she said she was 18

[Flyfish]

Although it might technically be called bourbon, few of us are interested in 2YO stuff. Or even 3YO. Many think that bourbon comes into its own at about 6 to 10 and then starts to decline. Most of the popular "bourbony" compounds get sucked out of the oak by then and you are left with the equivalent of chewing gum left on the bed post over night.

On the other hand, there are aficionados who are convinced that bourbon is just starting to come into its own at 12 and keeps getting more intriguing until it reaches 17, 18, or 23.

So, in your opinion, when is bourbon old enough to take to the big dance? And when is it so old that you feel like you have been coerced into taking your maiden aunt Betty?

[kjbeggs]

Well, it depends on many factors.

I think 4 years is probably a good minimum. I've had younger stuff, but never one I really cared for.

On the other end, things get tricky. There are too many variables that affect the aging process.

I've had some fantastic 20 Year old bourbon, and some not so great 21 year old bourbon.

[393foureyedfox]

bourbon comes into its own at about 6 to 10 years

thats my line of thinking. But I also find EC12 enjoyable, and even enjoyed 20 year old Barterhouse once without thinking it overaged. Depends on the bourbon itself I guess, but in general, I look for 6-10 years. With HH6BIB, Dickel 9, Bookers and KC being some of my favorites, thats obviously my age range, as those are all 6-9 years old

[squire]

For me it depends on barrel entry proof. Low entry proof, 4-6 years, high entry proof, 6-8 years.

[Flyfish]

As usual, that's an interesting response, Squire. But could you give examples of your preferred bourbons that fall in each category. BT and FR have experimented with entry proof and WT raised theirs from 110 to 115. Barrel strength releases get a lot of buzz but nobody seems to market barrel entry proof as a key factor.

[The Black Tot]

From what I understand (which is far from comprehensive), barrel placement in a rackhouse in addition to the specific properties of the wood in a barrel all have their effect on the speed of maturation, as well as the barrel entry proof as Squire already mentioned.

The lower, cooler positions in a rackhouse seem to be geared towards long aging, and often will slowly downproof over the years.

I don't think it's as simple as saying there's an Xyr to Yyr sweet spot. A master distiller decides what he's going to go for, and then he sets up the conditions to achieve that. Some ideas take more time (and some others are happy accidents/changes in plan).

I enjoy my 26yr Old Blowhard, but don't like the EC21 I bought. I wasn't on the scene when the Parker's Heritage 27yr came out, but I would have loved to have tried that.

My faves run from 7-26 years and I enjoy most of them for their own specific qualities. I mostly drink 7-12 but that's because my 15+ stuff is more expensive and held more for special occasions (like Friday night, ha)

What I do seem to see is that past 12 years of age, getting more out a bourbon with additional age and not ruining it takes a lot of experience and finesse. I think it takes some really clever master distillers to extra-age a whiskey without killing it. When I find a high aged one I like, I usually try to buy a few, because it's not going to happen very often. I value uniqueness in a flavor profile, and the higher aged whiskeys are usually unique, whether they're everyone's cup of tea or not.

We're probably going to have to wait for the decade after the next glut to be seeing much more 20+ers anyway, since what's left at those ages is getting out of my price comfort zone. I'm perfectly happy to drink the 7-12s while we wait.

[Tony Santana]

It obviously varies quite a bit, depending on the particular bourbon, but I tend to gravitate to the 7-12 year range. I used to like the more heavily oaked stuff better than I do now. Obviously there's at least some correlation between that and age. I still like some older stuff quite a bit (only had the 27 year Parker's Heritage once, but thought it was sublime), but tend to admire the older ones that don't show the wood so much.

[Andre28]

I think it certainly varies with what goes in to the barrel, where the barrel is kept (weather extremes it is subjected to) and the barrel itself. I like older than 6 though generally. Some brands make great older whiskeys, some try and fail.

[dSculptor]

For me , I like the old stuff, I think my taste preference comes in at around the 12 yr. mark, I can take the younger ones alright, but I love the dark woody color and taste... EC18, I could drink that stuff for the rest of my life exclusively! Followed by the SAZ 18! But then again the RHF is a younger one that resembles both of those.(well not so much the Saz, but you get my drift)So I suppose if they could come out with something younger,but still has those older qualities.. bingo!

[Yeti]

Well, I prefer Heaven Hill BIB at 6 years, Elijah Craig at 12, Stagg around 17, Wild Turkey Tribute at 15, and Four Roses somewhere between 9 and 17.

[Josh]

There are some four year olds that I like and some 12+ year olds that I like, but the sweet spot for me is 6-10 y/o.

[Richnimrod]

I find so much variability in 'em as the ages rise above 7 or 8 years, that I can't really pick a particular age range. I don't really have any faves below 6-years or so; but I have tasted a good many that go up from there as far as 23-years that I've found exhilarating. However, I've also tasted more than a few above 15-years that I do find toooooo woooooody for my taste.

[393foureyedfox]

There are some four year olds that I like and some 12+ year olds that I like, but the sweet spot for me is 6-10 y/o.

taken out of the context of this forum, the online po-po's would be all over you for such a statement

[sutton]

There are some four year olds that I like and some 12+ year olds that I like, but the sweet spot for me is 6-10 y/o.

[cowdery]

There are some four year olds that I like and some 12+ year olds that I like, but the sweet spot for me is 6-10 y/o.

[dSculptor]

Wish I had bunkered that EC18 when it was $42 or so, and that wasn't very long ago!

[GaryT]

I would say that the 12-14 yr range seems to be my top end of preference, although there certainly have been some wonderful exceptions to that. As others have said though, age is but one piece of the puzzle. Where it is aged, what the mashbill is, etc all come into play. WLW is one I absolutely love despite it being older than that.

[B.B. Babington]

sounds like I'll have less competition at the old folks home. I'm thinking of adding some charred maple strips to an Old Blowhard hoping it'll add more umph after few years.

[tanstaafl2]

I would say that the 12-14 yr range seems to be my top end of preference, although there certainly have been some wonderful exceptions to that. As others have said though, age is but one piece of the puzzle. Where it is aged, what the mashbill is, etc all come into play. WLW is one I absolutely love despite it being older than that.

WLW is typically somewhere around 12 years old. I tend to want to think it is older because it is BTAC but it is not that much different in age than standard Weller 12. A bit like Handy and Baby Saz I suppose in that one is the barrel proof version of the other (although presumably cherry picked barrels?). There was one in the mid 2000's that was 15+ years old but that was a bit of an exception it appears. Very early versions could have been older as well.

2013 for example was 12 years 1 month.

Edited October 18, 2014 by tanstaafl2

[The Black Tot]

I am hoping that eventually WLW might increase in age if stocks catch up to where they need to be to allow that. BT's wheaters have been under supply strain in every direction, it seems, including the P word.

It's not gonna be next year, of course, ha. I'd settle just for the numbers of 12yr to rise up to GTS production figures!