Dusty Bottles to Watch For

[gurgalunas]

While I'm not new to bourbon, I haven't always had the interest in the broad spectrum of offerings that distillers have produced over the years.  As my interest grew, the classics started to disappear, going to NAS labels.  To confuse matters, a wide variety of new brands (with younger whiskey) started hitting the shelves.  

 

Having graduated from mixing with coke or soda to whiskey forward cocktails, to enjoying on the rocks and neat servings, my preferences for the older, woodier, aged bourbon became apparent.  Younger juice doesnt do much for me.  What are some of the bottles I missed out on?  Specifically, as I peruse LS shelves, what Dusty Bottles do I need to recognize as good stuff that suits my tastes?   I'm not guessing I'll find bottles that have been out of production for 20 years, but I wasn't paying attention when good, older whiskey went NAS. 

 

A few I've seen discussed recently are EC12, some of the age-stated WT,  etc.  What else could someone stumble upon and need to recognize?

[graftonbc1]

I would keep an eye out for older offerings of Bookers (2015 and 2016 batches, before the price increase). These have been aged between 8 and 9 years, and are a great value in the 45-60 dollar range. They are also unfiltered and cask strength, so they provide that aspect as well.

[BottledInBond]

I hate to say this, but for the most part I have given up on "dusty" hunting. It has been a very long time since I have found anything particularly notable. On this site you might hear a very occasional story about people finding something interesting, like recently there were posts of someone finding a WT Tradition and a SW era Old Fitzgerald. Those would be cool funds and the Tradition would fit your bill as a 14 year old expression although if it were found it would certainly still be over $100 even if the store sitting on it was not aware of the current market conditions. Once in a while someone still finds a 7 year age stated Weller.

 

People still buy age stated versions of now NAS products like EC, Fighting Cock, Knob Creek, Old Charter, VOB, etc. 

 

You could come across a 15 year age stated version of Noah's Mill and some of those were pretty good. Don't bother inspecting the bottles further unless you see the old wax dipped versions.

 

If you like older whiskey and particularly if you like Barrel Proof, look for older Barrel picks of Four Roses and KCSB. The more recent FR picks are often under 10 years now but once in a while you see some bottles left from older picks still. And KCSB has been the exception lately with older juice. I got a bottle recently (via Bbstout) that was like 13.5 years, and the prices are totally reasonable on these. 

 

If you want the age stated WT 8 or 13 they are still attainable overseas. You can order them online or get friends to pick them up while traveling, etc. 

 

Final comment, I'm a Diageo basher in general, but out of their portfolio if you like older juice I think the Harper 15 and the Barterhouse are drinkable and not priced too crazily for what they are.

 

Happy hunting

[JoeTerp]

1 hour ago, graftonbc1 said:

I would keep an eye out for older offerings of Bookers (2015 and 2016 batches, before the price increase). These have been aged between 8 and 9 years, and are a great value in the 45-60 dollar range. They are also unfiltered and cask strength, so they provide that aspect as well.

The 2016 Bookers are all 6 years. I think only 2 of the 2015 are even 7 years and certainly none are 8. I don't know how far back you have to go to find 8 year old bookers. 

[gurgalunas]

1 hour ago, graftonbc1 said:

I would keep an eye out for older offerings of Bookers (2015 and 2016 batches, before the price increase). These have been aged between 8 and 9 years, and are a great value in the 45-60 dollar range. They are also unfiltered and cask strength, so they provide that aspect as well.

Yes.  Found 2015-1, the first of the "named" batches, on the shelf awhile back.  Also have several 2016-2, which is a 6 yr.

 

That's about the time I was in my whiskey cocktail phase.  I was sticking with the BT and WR type bourbons then.  Occasionally branched out to better stuff, but not much then.  Mostly tried at bars.

Edited August 31, 2017 by gurgalunas

[gurgalunas]

52 minutes ago, BottledInBond said:

I hate to say this, but for the most part I have given up on "dusty" hunting. It has been a very long time since I have found anything particularly notable. On this site you might hear a very occasional story about people finding something interesting, like recently there were posts of someone finding a WT Tradition and a SW era Old Fitzgerald. Those would be cool funds and the Tradition would fit your bill as a 14 year old expression although if it were found it would certainly still be over $100 even if the store sitting on it was not aware of the current market conditions. Once in a while someone still finds a 7 year age stated Weller.

 

People still buy age stated versions of now NAS products like EC, Fighting Cock, Knob Creek, Old Charter, VOB, etc. 

 

You could come across a 15 year age stated version of Noah's Mill and some of those were pretty good. Don't bother inspecting the bottles further unless you see the old wax dipped versions.

 

If you like older whiskey and particularly if you like Barrel Proof, look for older Barrel picks of Four Roses and KCSB. The more recent FR picks are often under 10 years now but once in a while you see some bottles left from older picks still. And KCSB has been the exception lately with older juice. I got a bottle recently (via Bbstout) that was like 13.5 years, and the prices are totally reasonable on these. 

 

If you want the age stated WT 8 or 13 they are still attainable overseas. You can order them online or get friends to pick them up while traveling, etc. 

 

Final comment, I'm a Diageo basher in general, but out of their portfolio if you like older juice I think the Harper 15 and the Barterhouse are drinkable and not priced too crazily for what they are.

I realize this is probably futile, but I'm traveling the Midwest enough, and try to stop if I see a LS with time on my hands.  I really don't expect to find much, but definitely won't if I don't know which to look for.  Thanks for the EC, FC, OC, VOB ideas.  I think I'd recognize the OC, as it has come up in conversation recently.  The NAS VOB I tried on tour at 1792, and wasn't impressed.  What am I looking for on that one, just an age statement?  Will it be that much better than the stuff I sampled?

 

The Noahs Mill tip is a good one.  I've sampled at bars and liked, but wasn't aware of the age statement/wax trick.  I'll keep an eye out for that, and might know where one is already...

[MOwhisky4me]

Every now and then I'll run across some older bottlings of Evan Williams Single Barrel (2004 and earlier). These are usually 10 years old or older and priced around $28-35. I found a 2000 vintage this past winter on the shelf in a LS in the St Louis area. They're getting more and more scarce obviously, but they're still out there.

[BottledInBond]

43 minutes ago, gurgalunas said:

I realize this is probably futile, but I'm traveling the Midwest enough, and try to stop if I see a LS with time on my hands.  I really don't expect to find much, but definitely won't if I don't know which to look for.  Thanks for the EC, FC, OC, VOB ideas.  I think I'd recognize the OC, as it has come up in conversation recently.  The NAS VOB I tried on tour at 1792, and wasn't impressed.  What am I looking for on that one, just an age statement?  Will it be that much better than the stuff I sampled?

 

The Noahs Mill tip is a good one.  I've sampled at bars and liked, but wasn't aware of the age statement/wax trick.  I'll keep an eye out for that, and might know where one is already...

Just keep in mind that just because a NM is wax top doesn't mean it was age stated. They took away the age statement before the wax so seeing a wax top is just the hint for further inspection. 

 

On the VOB yeah the bottles are the same you're really just looking for the age statement. I remember those as better but it's been a while now. Along the same lines from Barton, if you like 1792 it was offered as an 8 year age stated a few years ago and you might come across that. I saw some in MN within the last year. 

 

If you like rye yoh you might still see some Willett 6/7/8 year MGP ryes around and those are awesome, as are the SAOS rye if you see those. 

 

 

[Louisiana]

 

FWIW. Store picks usually have the ages on the bottles around LA, TX, or MS. Usually 8-12 year range. When it was barreled & when it was bottled. FR, KC120, 1792FP, & numerous others. I'll usually buy at least one bottle from a private barrel & taste test it. Forrest Gump always pops in my head. My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

 

I've had great young & old whiskey. I've had terrible young & old whiskey. You just really never know until you've tasted it!

 

Cheers,

Jeff

 

 

[kevinbrink]

I'll add a few recently departed bottles, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 is pretty Oak forward, of course there are all of the single barrels and store picks that people rave about but I tend to find those less oak forward than the standard 10 yr.  Ezra Brooks 12yr Single Barrel is another that hasn't been seen much lately, it is a Heaven Hill produced Luxco bottled product kind of a ever so slightly higher proof EC12. Jim Beam Black 8yr is another one you would probably see around, it's not my favorite Beam product but it's a pretty good bang for the buck.  One really under the radar bottle is Old Williamsburg 101 which I don't think is really around anymore but some of the older bottles had a 7yr age statement on back, taste wise it reminds me of when all of the stuff Willett/KBD put out was consistently good, probably because it is similarly a blend of glut era KSBW. Lastly while its been a while since they bottled anything I cared for I dig the old Jefferson's ryes even the 10 yr which was Canadian (same source as Whistle Pig, Masterson's, Etc.). I do a decent bit of dusty hunting and as overpopulated as New Jersey is I still find some good stuff on the shelves.

[CardsandBourbon]

Not that they dusty but if you like the older, more woody pours keep you eye peeled for KC SiB store selections.  A lot of them I've seen recently are in the 12 - 14 year range and they sound like they would be exactly what you're looking for.

[gurgalunas]

Nice info- thanks for the responses.  I'm in central IL for the weekend and plan to do some shopping.  

 

On the KCSB- I do frequently like the store picks.  Most places will keep a bottle of their store picks behind the counter for sampling.  Just gotta know to ask...  I've just bought the ones I liked rather than watch the ages, but am now curious what I have at home- didn't check it.

[Jawja Boy]

I'm definitely gonna have to start nosing around some of the older, hole in the wall stores around here.  I may not find anything, but some of the places are mainly popular with the Seagram's gin and McCormick vodka crowd so it's worth looking.  Also gonna peek into a few places in Nassau this November that are off the tourist beat.