AAA 10 Star

[ATXWhiskey]

I know that traditionally Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star was reportedly a six year product, and was not as high quality as AAA 10 year, which was very well regarded on this forum. I have never been able to get either in Texas, aside from stumbling across one bottle of the 10 Star a few years back which I picked up since it was dusty and I wanted to try it. I don't remember thinking much of it, though it was drinkable.

A friend from Louisiana recently argued with me that -- after AAA 10 year went away -- that he started seeing AAA 10 Star and that the quality was pretty close to the AAA 10 Year we had in Kentucky. So when I saw a bottle here in Austin, I went ahead and picked it up to find out for myself.

It is better than what I remembered the 10 Star being from the first time I drank it. I'm not sure if it is as good as the AAA 10yr that I had in KY, but I'm enjoying it.

So my question is whether anyone has any current/inside knowledge of what they're doing with the 10 Star label now that the 10 yr has been discontinued. Is this a NAS proxy for the 10 yr, or is it still the same stuff that it was before?

[squire]

Can't claim insider status but from first person knowledge can say this about that. 20 years ago I saw AAA 10 year sitting on the shelf next to 10 yr/90 proof Van Winkle priced two dollars a bottle higher than the Van Winkle yet still outselling the VW by a large margin.

[flahute]

Can't claim insider status but from first person knowledge can say this about that. 20 years ago I saw AAA 10 year sitting on the shelf next to 10 yr/90 proof Van Winkle priced two dollars a bottle higher than the Van Winkle yet still outselling the VW by a large margin.

[mbroo5880i]

I may be wrong but I don't believe 10-Year was available outside of Kentucky. Since they both existed at the same time, I don't believe 10-Star is now intended to serve as a NAS version of 10-Year. As a younger whiskey, 10-Star has a different profile than 10-Year.

[squire]

Decades ago I found AAA 10 yr/86 proof in several States other than Kentucky, specifically TN, MS and LA. I understand it was available in some other places as well but don't think it was ever widely distributed.

[Paddy]

Agreeing with what's already been said above, in that 10 star was always a readily available alternative to the 10 year, as well as also available in several states other than KY.

As highly regarded as the 10 year old has always been, it is worth noting that many others here have reported that they enjoy the 10 star equally, or even more so, than the 10 yr. I suspect that those who may have preferred the younger cousin did not appreciate the increased barrel influence, and drier finish, of the older cousin. Also noteworthy, is that many have reported that they cannot tell much of a difference in the two!

Like everything, it really comes down to personal preference. I've always much preferred the 10 yr AAA over the 10 star.

So, is the 10 star worth the price of admission? Only you... can answer that question. :grin:

Edit: And to address change in the 10 star, nothings changed...same as always. Just blending barrels for a profile, while taking the older stuff once reserved for the 10 yr and marking it up under other fancy labels.

Edited January 5, 2015 by Paddy

[mbroo5880i]

Decades ago I found AAA 10 yr/86 proof in several States other than Kentucky, specifically TN, MS and LA. I understand it was available in some other places as well but don't think it was ever widely distributed.

I recall hearing of folks finding it at Binny's and just across the river in Southern Indiana. Unfortunately, as we all know, you can't even find it in KY any more. It sounds like 10 Star might have been more widely distributed.

I have read previous posts where you have said that, even though more expensive, it was more popular than VW. That is awesome! I almost hesitate to ask because I am sure we will all cringe, but do you recall the price back then?

[B.B. Babington]

10 year was well distributed in east. Used to get it regularly in KY, NC, and VA, saw it in TN and GA.

[B.B. Babington]

I almost hesitate to ask because I am sure we will all cringe, but do you recall the price back then?

remember one time could get a nice house for few hundred bucks, so's value of $$ changes. I think maybe remember early 70's $5/fifth but then a good used Smith and Wesson model ten might be $50.

[squire]

Sure, the VW was about $11.59 a bottle and AAA was about $13.29. The 10yr/107 proof VW (which I bought by the case) was around $14.00 a bottle with 10% discount on a case purchase.

I don't recall seeing AAA 10 Star until AAA 10 year was phased out and I refused to buy 10 Star because the label was blatantly misleading and clearly designed to fool consumers into thinking they were actually getting 10 year old stuff.

[ATXWhiskey]

Agreeing with what's already been said above, in that 10 star was always a readily available alternative to the 10 year, as well as also available in several states other than KY.

As highly regarded as the 10 year old has always been, it is worth noting that many others here have reported that they enjoy the 10 star equally, or even more so, than the 10 yr. I suspect that those who may have preferred the younger cousin did not appreciate the increased barrel influence, and drier finish, of the older cousin. Also noteworthy, is that many have reported that they cannot tell much of a difference in the two!

Like everything, it really comes down to personal preference. I've always much preferred the 10 yr AAA over the 10 star.

So, is the 10 star worth the price of admission? Only you... can answer that question. :grin:

Edit: And to address change in the 10 star, nothings changed...same as always. Just blending barrels for a profile, while taking the older stuff once reserved for the 10 yr and marking it up under other fancy labels.

Thanks for the input. At $20 a handle I'm pretty satisfied with what I have. Wish I could still get some of the 10yr, or that the ETL I presume the current stocks are going into would be more available!

[mosugoji64]

FWIW, I have both open and don't detect a huge difference in the two. The 10 Star is a bit bolder due to the higher proof, but the flavor profile is very similar.

On a related note, I once did a BTB tasting with AAA 10yr and Blanton's. While I enjoy the 10yr quite a lot, Blanton's won hands down. Barrel selection makes all the difference!

[black mamba]

When in Lexington about 4-5 years ago I bought AAA 10 yo and ETL and did a SBS tasting two nights in a row in the hotel room. Two more closely flavored whiskeys could hardly be found anywhere. The ETL had a very, very slightly more buttery sweetness that was only evident after going back and forth 3 or 4 times. The difference was less than that between two barrels of the same whiskey in a selection I was part of. The difference was less than that between two bottles of ETL that I tasted SBS on another occasion. I have often thought that AAA 10 yo was what was left after the ETL selections were made at 9 to 9½ years and left to reach 10 before mingling. The 10 Star always had the same profile, but less mature and not close to the same as 10 yo, but then I prefer very mature whiskey.

Edited January 6, 2015 by black mamba

[TunnelTiger]

If I ever had the 10 yr it was so long ago I can't remember and would be back in the days when everything I drank was mixed with Coke. Not diet Coke since it wasn't on the market.

That being said I do buy and enjoy AAA10* now for what it is. A great tasting bourbon and a good price.

On the other hand I don't know when I'll come off my horse and buy a bottle of VOB 6. Just can't do it yet, maybe next year.

[flahute]

If I ever had the 10 yr it was so long ago I can't remember and would be back in the days when everything I drank was mixed with Coke. Not diet Coke since it wasn't on the market.

That being said I do buy and enjoy AAA10* now for what it is. A great tasting bourbon and a good price.

On the other hand I don't know when I'll come off my horse and buy a bottle of VOB 6. Just can't do it yet, maybe next year.

Edited January 7, 2015 by flahute
spelling

[DBM]

TT, the VOB 6 is OK, give it a go, you won't be disappointed.

Ass for AAA10*, I'm now on the hunt for it.

[flahute]

Steve, your hunt is over.

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