The "new" Old Bardstown?

[Clueby]

Bought a bottle of Old Bardstown 90 proof. It says "Distilled and Bottled by The Willett Distillery" and has a new tan label. Up till recently wasn't this (black?) label thought to be distilled at HH?  Is this new stuff actual Willett made?

It's a beautiful coppery gold color.  The nose is all young grain and corn with quite a bit of alcohol for 90 proof. After sitting a bit I'm left with pretty much corn and maybe a little rye and grain in there. It has a thin, watery feel to it but has a bit of that cooling mint feel. The taste is more grain and corn but "soft" somehow. The finish comes on hot and then you finally get some bitter oak in the back of the throat along with a little spiciness that moves along from tip of the toungue to the back. Doesn't stick around long.

There is almost no sweetness beyond simple corn. I can't says it's bad necessarily. It tastes like very young bourbon with a splash of rye. Give this a couple extra years and you might have something.

[Clueby]

[flahute]

This is a new label, yes, and it is now Willett distilled.

[Paddy]

2 hours ago, flahute said:

This is a new label, yes, and it is now Willett distilled.

^^^Yep, to further confuse, we now have the 'new' Willett Old Bardstown to go alongside the KBD Old Bardstown 'estate bottled' offerings (that sure is a pretty label on the KDB bottle).. 

 

With the Willett product, you'll see both the Willett name and DSP#.  With the KBD products, you'll see neither.

 

P. S.  I'm hearing that the the Willett OB BIB is pretty good, but I've yet to pull the trigger.

[Clueby]

27 minutes ago, Paddy said:

^^^Yep, to further confuse, we now have the 'new' Willett Old Bardstown to go alongside the KBD Old Bardstown 'estate bottled' offerings (that sure is a pretty label on the KDB bottle).. 

 

With the Willett product, you'll see both the Willett name and DSP#.  With the KBD products, you'll see neither.

 

P. S.  I'm hearing that the the Willett OB BIB is pretty good, but I've yet to pull the trigger.

There is no DSP# anywhere on this bottle...just the words "Distilled and Bottled by The Willett Distillery".

[garbanzobean]

I liked the Willett distilled Old Bardstown BIB sample I tried on the tour well enough to buy a bottle.  I am not going to sit here and pretend like it is the next QPR king in its price range or anything, but it is pretty good.  If you enjoy younger Heaven Hill products, you'll probably enjoy the BIB.

 

Sounds like the 90 proof version is an easy miss, though.

[Paddy]

12 minutes ago, Clueby said:

There is no DSP# anywhere on this bottle...just the words "Distilled and Bottled by The Willett Distillery".

I should have said the DSP# does show up on the BIB, as I'll admit, I haven't even bothered to look at the 90 proofer. 

 

I do wonder... why they'd put it on one and not the other? 

[Old Dusty]

9 minutes ago, Paddy said:

I should have said the DSP# does show up on the BIB, as I'll admit, I haven't even bothered to look at the 90 proofer. 

 

I do wonder... why they'd put it on one and not the other? 

Required information on the BIB. Must list the distillery DSP and  if bottled elsewhere the bottler DSP too. Not required on the 90 proofer since it isn't bottled in bond. 

[Flyfish]

12 hours ago, Paddy said:

I should have said the DSP# does show up on the BIB, as I'll admit, I haven't even bothered to look at the 90 proofer. 

 

I do wonder... why they'd put it on one and not the other? 

Perhaps the DSP# is required for BIB.

[JDB]

You got it, the DSP is required for BIB. I tried the BIB at KBF and thought it could easily be a daily drinker. Not sure what would make me want the 90 proofer as it's only a few bucks cheaper.

[Paddy]

^^^Thanks guys.  And I agree with JDB, as I can't think of any reason to settle for the 90 proofer (at least anywhere the BIB is available).

[Clueby]

1 hour ago, Paddy said:

^^^Thanks guys.  And I agree with JDB, as I can't think of any reason to settle for the 90 proofer (at least anywhere the BIB is available).

Well...the BIB wasn't available.  I got caught up in the "It's on the allocated shelf!" hype and saw the note about this being distilled by Willett so had to grab it.  At least it was under $20.  Would make an OK mixer.  It's a much classier looking label than before at least.

[0895]

On 11/7/2016 at 3:49 PM, Clueby said:

Well...the BIB wasn't available.  I got caught up in the "It's on the allocated shelf!" hype and saw the note about this being distilled by Willett so had to grab it.  At least it was under $20.  Would make an OK mixer.  It's a much classier looking label than before at least.

 

I fell for it too... same store, same shelf.

I knew it wouldn't be worth talking about, but I got all sentimental that it's the first of the willett juice.  For whatever reason, I just couldn't leave without it.

[Clueby]

34 minutes ago, 0895 said:

 

I fell for it too... same store, same shelf.

I knew it wouldn't be worth talking about, but I got all sentimental that it's the first of the willett juice.  For whatever reason, I just couldn't leave without it.

That was pretty much my same thought process.  Passed up the Pot Still for $31-ish.  Nothing new on that shelf this week.  They told me a few weeks ago that almost all the allocated stuff that hits that shelf comes in on Tuesday mornings. Not sure how accurate that is but I'm making it a regular Tues. stop or sending my daughter by for the next few weeks.  Keep hoping I'll get lucky.

Have you tried the OB yet?  What is your assessment?

Edited November 8, 2016 by Clueby

[0895]

No,
I have far too many bottles open right now.  I quietly put it in my hiding spot for a rainy day in the future.

I'm slightly nervous that I'll be disgusted by it when I open it and want to dump it.  KDB / willett products leave a lot to be desired for me.

Oddly enough I like the pot still, Rowan's creek, and the young 3yr. willett distilled rye....that's about it.

 

Unfortunately I am usually at work during the day, but I have gotten lucky there a few times stopping by in the evening with some quarterly allocated somewhat harder to find bottles.

Luck seems to be the best strategy when shopping there.