Show Us Your Stash -- Volume 3.0 (The Subliminal Verses)

[AaronWF]

Maybe the V21 bottle had been open for too long, or perhaps for not long enough.

Since you like the V23, you might like Lenell's Red Hook Rye, or the older Willett 23 year ryes. Those were my personal holy grails (SW can go jump in a lake), and I finally got to have a Lenell's last month. It was a bit sour and really, really woody to my taste. I don't think I found the V23 sour, but the extremely oaky profile of the Lenell's reminded me of the V23.

Rathskellar Rye is 130+pf and is a Willet bottling from the same Medley batch, if my taste buds are serving me correctly. I had a taste of it at the Seelbach in Louisville where they still have stock to replace the bottle on the bar when it runs out. I've also tasted an imported VWFRR that was unchillfiltered and more than 100pf (I don't remember exactly) that I believe to be part of the same family. The BMH 23 also seems similar.

Aaron, I am surpised on this one as I usually agree with your WhiskeyWonka reviews. I have to say I find the Vintage Rye 21 to be far better than the tired and over-oaked 23 - these two whiskeys are not even close. In fact, I think with its perfect amount of wood and still vibrant profile, the 21 may be one of the greatest ryes ever. I encourage you to re-taste the Vintage 21; my bet is you had a bad sample and a second try will not leave you underwhelmed.

The taste I had of the V21 was in a bar in Bardstown, so there's no telling how long it had been open. I haven't seen it on a store shelf, so I'm far from having written it off. I've found two V23s, so I've been able to drink plenty of it. I recently heard that the V21 and V23 are from different sources, which I found interesting, but made sense, as I couldn't tell a family resemblance between the two. I wouldn't hesitate to snatch up a bottle of the V21 if I saw it on a shelf at a reasonable price.

And in a small effort to stay on topic here, I do have a Ritt 23yo stashed away that I've never tasted. I tasted one ultra-aged Ritt that I loved, but I think it was the 21yo.

Edited August 5, 2012 by AaronWF

[WAINWRIGHT]

No bar area in current home so for now my collection is confined to a lone oak cabinet.:hot:

[GaryT]

No bar area in current home so for now my collection is confined to a lone oak cabinet.:hot:[ATTACH=CONFIG]13985[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13986[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13987[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13988[/ATTACH]

Great collection!!

[mosugoji64]

No bar area in current home so for now my collection is confined to a lone oak cabinet.:hot:

You made that lone oak cabinet look very, very nice!

[Young Blacksmith]

You got that right, I'd be lonely with that cabinet any day....

[p_elliott]

Nice collection Ryan :grin:

[irongambit]

Here's a crappy cellphone pic of my current setup, minus the bunker.

[p_elliott]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13989[/ATTACH]

Here's a crappy cellphone pic of my current setup, minus the bunker.

That was better than my crappy cellphone picture.

[timd]

The taste I had of the V21 was in a bar in Bardstown, so there's no telling how long it had been open. I haven't seen it on a store shelf, so I'm far from having written it off. I've found two V23s, so I've been able to drink plenty of it. I recently heard that the V21 and V23 are from different sources, which I found interesting, but made sense, as I couldn't tell a family resemblance between the two. I wouldn't hesitate to snatch up a bottle of the V21 if I saw it on a shelf at a reasonable price.

For what it's worth, my experience is similar to others' - without the extra proof found in Dougs, Lenells, Red hook, the V23 really suffers. The wood just dominates too much. It's termite juice (it's not bad - it's quite good, but it's overpriced and the V21 is far superior).

The barrel strength Medley's is where the magic is - otherwise V21, VWFRR are ideal. I've gone through a few bottles of the V23, and I like it, but once it crossed the $90 price point, it fell off my list. I can still find the odd V21 for under $80 and it's a steal.

But... I still think that the closest thing to DougDog's Rye I've had - not in similarity, but in terms of enjoyment and "wow factor" is the Bowman TPS Ryes. Amazing juice! Not on the same playing field as the old Medleys, but damn near it.

[WAINWRIGHT]

First picture I ever took with a cell phone I'll use my camera and take a proper one.

Nice collection,I would have blamed impaired motor skills and not the camera though.Where do all you guys come up with all the out of production bottles?I have 1 dusty to my name and it is just an older bottling nothing special really.

[MyOldKyDram]

As close as I have to having my collection together. Few others are out in the living room, and dups are bunkered away.

[Clavius]

As close as I have to having my collection together. Few others are out in the living room, and dups are bunkered away.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14007[/ATTACH]

Hey man, nice collection!

[autiger23]

Here is the updated stash to date.

[LostBottle]

^^Nice collection! You don't like wheaters do you?

[tigerlam92]

Here is the updated stash to date.

Very nice!!!

Cheers

--Hugh

[autiger23]

Here is the updated stash to date.

Not at all...:-)

[MyOldKyDram]

Not just that, but goodness check out all of the VWFRR. :bigeyes:

[Smithford]

I was moving things around yesterday, so I got everybody together for a family portrait.

The collection:

Open and on-deck:

The bunker:

I complain a lot about bourbon selection in Ontario. But looking at this, I've done not too badly for a guy who only gets to the US once or twice per year.

[WAINWRIGHT]

I was moving things around yesterday, so I got everybody together for a family portrait.

Great collection,I see a lot of familiar faces in there.I thought you said Canada was slim pickins.:grin:

[ChainWhip]

Nice collection! How's that Nikka?

[Smithford]

I thought you said Canada was slim pickins.:grin:

It has got somewhat better recently. But I have to say - of the 40 or so bottles in the "collection" picture, at least half of them were bought traveling - the bourbons & ryes from the US, and the malts from Scotland. I generally use up every ml. of my duty free allowance. :grin:

Nice collection! How's that Nikka?

Thanks. It's not bad. Intense, but balanced, well sherried, nicely peated, with a sweet, floral backbone. I never would have considered buying it - it was re-gifted to me by someone who didn't like it. But it's good enough that it will make me consider buying another Japanese whisky down the road.

[OscarV]

I was moving things around yesterday, so I got everybody together for a family portrait.

Thanx 4 the pics, they are such cute little dickens at that age but they grow up fast.

[Rutter]

Not so much a stash, and several Scotch and Irish in here too but here goes...

Recently moved so finished off a lot of bottles that only had a few pours left in them, here is what made it to the new house, since the photo was taken I’ve bought a glenfiddich rich oak 14 and I’m looking forward to growing the collection more over the next few months as recently I’ve been drinking more than I’ve been buying.

From right to left we have Bushmills, Jameson, Grants ale cask, Monkey shoulder, Dalwhinnie 15, Abelour 10, Snow grouse, Glenmorangie Nectar d’or, Talisker 10, The Singleton, Jim Beam black label, White owl whisky, George Dickel cascade hollow, Russell’s Reserve 10, Four Roses yellow label, Blantons straight from the barrel, Van Winkle Lot B, Van Winkle Family reserve rye, Old Grand dad, Georgia Moon, Seagrams crown royal bottled in 1969.

http://thumbsnap.com/s/d8qhUHP1.jpg|http://thumbsnap.com/d8qhUHP1"]

[cthomps1]

I've been pretty lucky to find the harder to get stuff, but I'm done trying hard for the PVW.

[WAINWRIGHT]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14165[/ATTACH]:grin:[ATTACH=CONFIG]14166[/ATTACH]I've been pretty lucky to find the harder to get stuff, but I'm done trying hard for the PVW.