kaiserhog Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 They are the best small distiller in the country. Their Bourbon ranks up with the best from Kentucky and Tennessee. They are even Ralfy approved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balcones Winston Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I'm curious to try their whisky that Jim Murray named US Micro of the Year. Alas, like most of the other high raters, I can't find it anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Me neither and it's officially available here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danz Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Has anybody here had any contact with them? I wonder what their position is on whether or not additives are allowed in non-straight bourbon. I believe the TTB view is that they are not, but a lot of people lately seem to think otherwise. The age requirement for straight bourbon seems like a pretty easy hurdle to get over if they wanted to remove doubt. Wasn't Jim Murray also a fan of Templeton Rye? That said, I haven't had any whiskies that Jim Murray recommended that I thought were bad, although I haven't explored all of his suggetions.https://www.rocktowndistillery.com/products/single-barrel-bourbon-whiskey/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil4100 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Hey Danz, Phil here from Rock Town Distillery. I'm not for certain what the regulations are, but I can assure you we don't have any additives in our bourbon. It's just corn, wheat, malted barley, water, and yeast. Double distilled, aged in new charred oak. Simple as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Hey Danz, Phil here from Rock Town Distillery. I'm not for certain what the regulations are, but I can assure you we don't have any additives in our bourbon. It's just corn, wheat, malted barley, water, and yeast. Double distilled, aged in new charred oak. Simple as that.Thanks for speaking up Phil, and please know that we appreciate what you guys are doing. Can you shed any light on current distribution? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Hey Phil, thanks for joining the conversation. How long do you age the Bourbon and Rye and in what size barrels? I notice the Bourbon/Rye labels do not include the word 'Straight' so any details you would like to share would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil4100 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Thanks for speaking up Phil, and please know that we appreciate what you guys are doing. Can you shed any light on current distribution?For the Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon, there's some in Oklahoma, Chicago, Memphis (Poplar Wine and Spirits), Nashville (Red Spirits and Wine) and Arkansas. Soon we'll be shipping orders to New Jersey and Maryland. Missouri is in the registration phase. The order for the UK should arrive in a week or so (it's on a slow boat). Not all our distributors elected to pick it up (Georgia, Florida, Texas). Of course, we sell it at the Distillery and we're open 7 days a week for tours and tasting and bottle sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil4100 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Hey Phil, thanks for joining the conversation. How long do you age the Bourbon and Rye and in what size barrels? I notice the Bourbon/Rye labels do not include the word 'Straight' so any details you would like to share would be appreciated.We generally age for a little over a year primarily in 10 and 15 gallon barrels for both the Rye and Bourbon. The Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon is aged a little longer in 15 gallon barrels exclusively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danz Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 For the Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon, there's some in Oklahoma, Chicago, Memphis (Poplar Wine and Spirits), Nashville (Red Spirits and Wine) and Arkansas. Soon we'll be shipping orders to New Jersey and Maryland. Missouri is in the registration phase. The order for the UK should arrive in a week or so (it's on a slow boat). Not all our distributors elected to pick it up (Georgia, Florida, Texas). Of course, we sell it at the Distillery and we're open 7 days a week for tours and tasting and bottle sales.Thanks very much for letting us know. This and the other responses are great information. I will keep my eyes open in Maryland and NJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Thanks I appreciate the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TunnelTiger Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Not all our distributors elected to pick it up (Georgia, Florida, Texas). Just our luck. They don't hesitate bringing in every NDP NAS "craft" bottles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Just our luck. They don't hesitate bringing in every NDP NAS "craft" bottles.If you are depending on logic and understanding of (not to mention a passion for) bourbon/rye/American whiskey from distributors you are in for substantial disappointment! Some of them get it (but often aren't the ones in the position to make these kinds of choices) but I am afraid too many do not. Too often it seems like if it isn't vodka that can sell a zillion cases a month then the interest for it just isn't there. As a result the things that do show up are the slickest packaging/best marketed products (Templeton for example) or the hottest trend ("moonshine" for example) and not the ones we as whiskey nerds would typically like to see. Which doesn't stop me from banging on them on a regular basis about getting access to certain things. I rarely have much impact but when I do it is a nice feeling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhalter Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) A friend shared a bottle of the Small Batch with me last night. Different, unique, and tasty. It does taste young, but not in a bad way. I appreciated the finish on it. Nice richness, and quite drinkable without tasting thin. Im going to have a few bottles muled to FL for me. This is a micro I can support, because its a good product, and its being done the right way. If you see it, try it. Edited February 8, 2015 by jonhalter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiserhog Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) This fall they bring out a 4 year old straight bourbon, maybe bottled in bond. I understand it will be at least 100 proof maybe cask strength. Edited February 9, 2015 by kaiserhog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Blacksmith Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Sorry guys, and Phil, but I just can't support Rocktown yet. I had a 375, paid $45 for it, and it was so young it gave me heartburn. This may have been from the first batches, as it was aged about 3 months if I remember correctly. It was a few years ago.Not enjoyable enough for me to even try a second bottle. I would have to taste it again to make sure it's matured, changed, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golzee Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I cannot speak about their barrel aged products, however, I bought the Arkansas Lightning moonshine/white whiskey as a gift to a friend who had recently dabbled in making his own shine. The Arkansas Lighting was a bruiser, tasted like rubbing alcohol. I have since put the remainder of the bottle in with an oak stave (came with a WT 101 gift pack). It has been about 6 months and it still smells vile. Hopefully, in another 6 months I will be able to cut % down and have something drinkable. Fun science project though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marhjan Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I've seen Rocktown on the shelf in Morris County, NJ - been wondering about it - as I'm always interested in trying new things. Anyone else sampled it yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBoldBully Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Sorry guys, and Phil, but I just can't support Rocktown yet. I had a 375, paid $45 for it, and it was so young it gave me heartburn. This may have been from the first batches, as it was aged about 3 months if I remember correctly. It was a few years ago.Not enjoyable enough for me to even try a second bottle. I would have to taste it again to make sure it's matured, changed, etc.My word, being $45 lighter for half a bottle of young whiskey is enough to give someone heartburn all by itself. Sorry to hear it was not surprisingly palatable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiserhog Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I've seen Rocktown on the shelf in Morris County, NJ - been wondering about it - as I'm always interested in trying new things. Anyone else sampled it yet?You heard wrong and this fall they will be releasing a 4 year old bottled in bond version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Vino Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I've seen Rocktown on the shelf in Morris County, NJ - been wondering about it - as I'm always interested in trying new things. Anyone else sampled it yet?I bought a bottle of a private selection of the Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon. Cask Strength @ 56.9% NAS. I plan on giving it a whirl this weekend with some friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Vino Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) Opened this up at noon and let a glass sit until 5PM. Taking a civilized sip (with my pinky out). Full strength in a Glencairn. Pretty dark in the glass. Sweet oaky nose that (I lIke) with something in common with Balcones that I can't put my finger on. Maybe it that it is young and from what smells like well charred barrels. Whatever it is, it is not a negative. Hard to pick out any dominant flavor. Definitely vanilla and pralines. I like it - very good young whiskey at barrel strength. Look forward to following the products as they get older. May need another bottle of this for the bunker.Edit: Now 5-10 minutes after my last sip, you definitely taste the new oak barrel sweetness. In 10 years, this will be a knockout. Edited February 28, 2015 by El Vino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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