What Bourbon did you purchase today? / Spring 2015

[CL]

A couple miniatures, presumably from the 30s, both from Frankfort Distilleries, for sentimental reasons. Shipping Port Straight Bourbon and Wolf Creek Straight Rye.

[Spade]

Picked up an ECBP. The price has gone up since the last time I got one. It is still a really good deal for now.

[kjbeggs]

You are probably wise to be skeptical. I seriously doubt the manufacturer would scrap an 8-year age statement if the Bourbon really still is 8-years old. I certainly hope it isn't 8-seasons (as in; '2-years' old). But, any time that kind of 'wiggle room' is brought into the equation, the folx behind the curtain aren't doing it to benefit us, the consuming public.

Does the new label still say "Straight bourbon"? If so, wouldn't the age have to be stated, if under 4 years old?

[squire]

Yes, good point, if less than 4 actual years old a Straight must list an age statement. I was just pointing out something can accurately be labeled as 8 seasons old when in fact it's only 4 calendar years old.

[squire]

You are probably wise to be skeptical. I seriously doubt the manufacturer would scrap an 8-year age statement if the Bourbon really still is 8-years old.

Another good point, why indeed scrap any age statement except for profit. It's almost amusing to hear age is just a number from folks who continue to prominently display a number on the label.

[Paul W]

So I emailed Mark Brown at BT and he emailed back the same day, which I thought was very nice.

Here is what I said in my email to him:

Old Charter bourbon used to have a “Aged 8 Years” statement, but the new label just says “8”. However, the text on the front of the label that says “aged eight seasons” has not changed.

Can you help me understand what “aged eight seasons” on the new label means in this context?

And here is what he said in his email to me:

Yes. Since acquiring the brand in 1998 we have come to learn that Charter consumers are very particular about the taste of Charter versus the exact age of the brand. Often times we would have barrels of 9 year old that did not meet the requisite taste profile whereas a barrel of 7 year old and 6 months did but the labeling regulations would not permit us to bottle it until the whiskey was at least 8 years of age and it was causing out of stocks at retail. We also discovered that the brand was known as “Charter 8”, hence our adoption of “Charter 8” on the label versus “Aged 8 Years” or just calling it Charter.

With respect to the “aged eight seasons”, I am not familiar with how that came to be on the label, so I won’t speculate but given there are four seasons in each year it does not appear to have any relevance from a marketing point of view or the age of the product since if it were two years of age, the labeling laws require that anything under 4 years age be so declared on the label. Out of interest, as of writing the age of the product is averaging out around 8 years of age.

[kjbeggs]

Picked up a Balcones FR. Oak today.

I've scored quite a bit of Balcones lately.

Also got to sample a few things while at the store.

Smooth Ambler Vodka (Vanilla-ey), and Barrel-aged Gin (Not my thing, but not bad as Gin goes),

Crown Royal NH Rye (meh), and JD Rested Rye (For those that think regular JD has a banana note, you'll think this is Banana juice).

[meadeweber]

So I emailed Mark Brown at BT and he emailed back the same day, which I thought was very nice.

Here is what I said in my email to him:

Old Charter bourbon used to have a “Aged 8 Years” statement, but the new label just says “8”. However, the text on the front of the label that says “aged eight seasons” has not changed.

Can you help me understand what “aged eight seasons” on the new label means in this context?

And here is what he said in his email to me:

Yes. Since acquiring the brand in 1998 we have come to learn that Charter consumers are very particular about the taste of Charter versus the exact age of the brand. Often times we would have barrels of 9 year old that did not meet the requisite taste profile whereas a barrel of 7 year old and 6 months did but the labeling regulations would not permit us to bottle it until the whiskey was at least 8 years of age and it was causing out of stocks at retail. We also discovered that the brand was known as “Charter 8”, hence our adoption of “Charter 8” on the label versus “Aged 8 Years” or just calling it Charter.

With respect to the “aged eight seasons”, I am not familiar with how that came to be on the label, so I won’t speculate but given there are four seasons in each year it does not appear to have any relevance from a marketing point of view or the age of the product since if it were two years of age, the labeling laws require that anything under 4 years age be so declared on the label. Out of interest, as of writing the age of the product is averaging out around 8 years of age.

I like BT products and the amount of information they provide but let me be hypercritical for a moment: That "four seasons in each year" comment does not sit well with me because most people don't take 8 seasons to mean 2 years. It is borderline deceptive.

Also, why does the President and CEO not know why something is on a label? As you stated, it was nice that he emailed you back the same day but maybe it would have been better if he took a little time to do some research and got back to you with more precise information.

Once again, I'm just being hypercritical and I will still patronize BT.

[barrel_proofer]

I'm been trying to reign in the spending a bit so I grabbed a EWBIB and an Old Forester Signature. Both are quite tasty.

[jeffrey r]

My OC 10 handles say "gently matured for ten seasons". So, whether it made sense or not, there was clearly some intent that the "seasons" matched the age statement of the respective brands of OC10 and OC8. But obviously read literally, those words mean virtually nothing.

[drunkenjayhawk]

Like a previous poster from this week. I found two 1L bottles of Old Charter 8 , that says Aged 8 Years on the neck instead of the number 8 by itself. Bought those today to compare at some point to my OC 10 year old from Frankfort and Lville.

[jasmorg1075]

ECBP and EW BiB. Haven't seen the ECBP around here in a long time.

[typoerror]

frsb ps obsq @ $49.99 came home with me today.

[Richnimrod]

frsb ps obsq @ $49.99 came home with me today.

OOOOOOH, nice grab. Great price, too. Around here the 4-R private picks are around $70 with tax.

...And a 'Q' recipe! Those seem to be very hard to find any more.

[squire]

So I emailed Mark Brown at BT and he emailed back the same day, which I thought was very nice.

Can you help me understand what “aged eight seasons†on the new label means in this context?

And here is what he said in his email to me:

. . . .We also discovered that the brand was known as “Charter 8â€, hence our adoption of “Charter 8†on the label versus “Aged 8 Years†or just calling it Charter.

With respect to the “aged eight seasonsâ€, I am not familiar with how that came to be on the label

Mr. Brown is to be commended for a quick response (or any response for that matter) yet reading his comments is a waste of time because he uses a lot of words to say very little. And what's said is deceptive, very deceptive in fact. If the president (CEO or whatever) of a distillery doesn't know what a distilling season is he should find employment elsewhere. The piddling excuse to leave 8 on the label as an accommodation to customers is so weak it makes water look strong in comparison.

The men of my Father's generation were brand loyalists and those who favored Charter called it Charter. They didn't add a number nor did those who drank Wild Turkey refer to their favorite as 101 and those who liked Yellowstone didn't add a 7 when calling for a drink. I must admit though the marketing angle to keep a number on the label because "that's what the customers call it" is a brilliant concept and whoever came up with it deserves a promotion. It's still hogwash though and deceptive as Hell because what you're really doing is selling younger whisky while pretending it's older.

It was my understanding Mr. Brown has a reputation for being forthright so the most charitable thing I can say about his note is perhaps he didn't write it.

[suntour]

Agree, and who has even had time to calling it Charter 8? That iteration has only been around a couple of years at most, right. Definitely pissing on you and telling you its raining.

[GAbiker]

Well, it's not a bourbon but picked up a bottle of the Whistle Pig Old World Port finish.

[smokinjoe]

Agree, and who has even had time to calling it Charter 8? That iteration has only been around a couple of years at most, right. Definitely pissing on you and telling you its raining.

It seems I hear simply "Weller 12" a whole lot.... Just sayin...

[T Comp]

...The men of my Father's generation were brand loyalists and those who favored Charter called it Charter...

Being a northerner Squire I always thought they were calling it Charrrwrdur :grin:.

[Trappersim]

I got a bottle of Russell's Reserve Single Barrel and 3 bottles of Knob Creek 120. My Buddy got 3 bottles of Knob 120 also so we got the 6 bottle case at 10% off. Not to bad.

[stickly]

Here are my latest acquisitions. Was lucky enough to take part in the awesome Kentucky Bourbon Affair event at Heaven Hill today. Got to go in rickhouse Y and sample straight out of 3 different Evan Williams barrels on different floors of the rickhouse (1st, 4th, and 7th). Got served the samples by none other than the 3 current master distillers for Heaven Hill: Craig Beam, Denny Potter, and Charlie Downs. My wife and I chose to get bottles from the 4th floor and 7th floor barrels. These are barrel proof 10 year (125.5 proof) and 11 year (138 proof) versions of Evan Williams. Delicious!

Edited June 6, 2015 by stickly

[fozzy71]

Nice. Can I ask what the prices were?

I grabbed a few bottles today due to boredom. 2 on the left I haven't had recently but enjoyed and the 2 on the right cuz I am loving the open bottles I have of each currently:

[amg]

Picked up an OESK today. I think I'm getting pretty close to having all 10.

[stickly]

Nice. Can I ask what the prices were?

[fozzy71]

hehe, that's nuts. My new upper limit or bottle average for purchases (or the collection on whole) is now $30 (which means if I buy a $40 bottle I need to buy a couple of <$25 bottles as well). The 4 above cost me $101.xx out the door. 2 around $30 and 2 under $20. There are a lot of 50 and 60 dollar bottles I want to try that I hear mentioned on hear often but I just can't bring myself to pay that anymore (other than maybe FRSB @ $42 + tax here). I will probably hit the local whiskey bar that has a massive selection when I want to at least know what they taste like.