Current Private Barrel Programs

[jaxn slim]

I've done about 10 private barrel selections over the years, but now I'm in a new city with a new store and set of distributors.  I was hoping to get some info on what is available for private barrel purchases at present.

So far I've heard from Four Roses who says they are not really doing anything any more except with existing barrel customers, Sazerac who is offering only Buffalo Trace and 1792, and Woodford who, frankly, does not interest me much.  I haven't heard back from Heaven Hill, and I think that Wild Turkey is doing Russell's Reserve and Kentucky Spirit.  

Anyone know anything about this?

[Hop]

Those are the main ones and I know HH at least was doing some because I've got Barrel Selections of Henry McKenna 10 BIB - I also know that BT is doing Hancock's Reserve as I just purchased a couple of those

[Paddy]

34 minutes ago, Hop said:

Those are the main ones and I know HH at least was doing some because I've got Barrel Selections of Henry McKenna 10 BIB - I also know that BT is doing Hancock's Reserve as I just purchased a couple of those

Yes, about the only time you see Hancock's around here anymore is when a store pick makes an appearance.  

[jaxn slim]

1 hour ago, Hop said:

Those are the main ones and I know HH at least was doing some because I've got Barrel Selections of Henry McKenna 10 BIB - I also know that BT is doing Hancock's Reserve as I just purchased a couple of those

That's interesting. My Sazerac guy offered up only the two I mentioned in the OP.  Maybe it's something they offer to stores but not individuals.  

Also, Henry McKenna would probably be my pick unless they're doing EC.

[flahute]

1 hour ago, jaxn slim said:

That's interesting. My Sazerac guy offered up only the two I mentioned in the OP.  Maybe it's something they offer to stores but not individuals.  

Also, Henry McKenna would probably be my pick unless they're doing EC.

What's available at any time for a Private Barrel varies. 6 months from now BT and 1792 may not be available any more whereas other from Sazerac are. 

[jaxn slim]

1 minute ago, flahute said:

What's available at any time for a Private Barrel varies. 6 months from now BT and 1792 may not be available any more whereas other from Sazerac are. 

Good point.  I got the impression that they typically do their barrel allotments on a calendar year.  At the beginning of the year, they have x number of barrels of y brand available for the year, and then on January 1, they start over.  I could be wrong on that.

[cc007]

Knob Creek? I answer as a question because the only info I have is this blog post I read from September of 2015:

http://sipologyblog.com/2015/09/25/picking-a-barrel-of-knob-creek-a-photo-essay/

 

[petrel800]

We're having this discussion currently on a barrel pick.  The above is in line with what we are seeing.  

I do believe Sazerac is still offering the ER10, I see a few of those in local stores, but from what I heard those barrels are on the "annual allocation" noted above so you need to be on the list if you want a selection and be prepared to wait.

Eventually the Makers "make your own barrel" deal should come online, but isn't there yet.  

KCSB mentioned above was one of our GBS selections and I would think should have some availability, but since that one was done last fall, we are looking at other options.

I don't see Hancock's very often here in the south and when I do, it's in the $40-50 a bottle range.  I don't know if it has ever been offered as a selection to us, but at $40-50 even with the reduced cost of the barrel selection, I think the consensus would be a pass.  Last time I bought it in KY, been awhile, it was in the high $20s-low $30s and that bottle was barely worth the cost.  Had a real soapy component to it.

Edited February 22, 2016 by petrel800

[PaulO]

A local grocery sells KCSB.  Sometimes they have bottles with a silver tag that says selectected by Fred Noe for the store and a barrel number.  

I've seen Old Forester single barrel selections.  Those just seemed like a big mark up in price for 90 proof and ~5 years old.

Henry McKenna BIB seems like a natural since they are all single barrel with numbers and dates. 

[The Black Tot]

The Hancock's barrel pick I bought last year was one of my favorite bottles of 2015, and they were something like 33 bucks each. I think I bought 14 of 'em I loved em so much. Kinda turned me into (or pushed me further in the direction of) being a curmudgeon about all these $60 offerings.

You even get a fancy velvet bag with 'em. Nuff said!

[jaxn slim]

5 hours ago, petrel800 said:

We're having this discussion currently on a barrel pick.  The above is in line with what we are seeing.  

I do believe Sazerac is still offering the ER10, I see a few of those in local stores, but from what I heard those barrels are on the "annual allocation" noted above so you need to be on the list if you want a selection and be prepared to wait.

Eventually the Makers "make your own barrel" deal should come online, but isn't there yet.  

KCSB mentioned above was one of our GBS selections and I would think should have some availability, but since that one was done last fall, we are looking at other options.

I don't see Hancock's very often here in the south and when I do, it's in the $40-50 a bottle range.  I don't know if it has ever been offered as a selection to us, but at $40-50 even with the reduced cost of the barrel selection, I think the consensus would be a pass.  Last time I bought it in KY, been awhile, it was in the high $20s-low $30s and that bottle was barely worth the cost.  Had a real soapy component to it.

How do you like your KCSB pick?  I hadn't really considered them because I've never been a huge KC fan.  But if the single barrels have more to offer, that might be a good option for us.

[fishnbowljoe]

 A fellow member asked me to try a sample he had once. He then asked me to guess what it was. I guessed everything but a Beam product.  It was a KCSB ps. No Beam funk/yeasty taste, and it sure didn't drink like 120 proof. It was fantastic. The store picked a superb barrel IMHO. I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a few bottles of it. I still have one bottle left that I'm holding on to just 'cause it was so darned good. 

Cheers! Joe

[petrel800]

Love it, I didn't get to participate in the picking of that one, but the GBS crew did a fantastic job.  I've never been the biggest fan of the off the shelf KCSB, but I've had some great selections.  I believe this one was 10 years old and I love the toasted oak component I get from it.  We also did a RRSB from Turkey last year which I thought I would prefer to this one, but to me the KCSB is the winner by far.  KCSB selections seem to be pretty available, maybe grab one locally and see if you think it's worth a shot to do your own.