The Black Tot Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 (edited) This is like picking a favorite child. I don't think there's much value in saying "I loved this bottle that there was only <200 of and you'll never get to try it", so what I'll say is: -There are barrel proof non-chill filtered whiskeys (and rums and single malts for that matter), and then there is everything else. I will always be a barrel proof customer and advocate. -One of the best things about BP bottles is that I always eyeball the splashes of water I put in them, and this randomness of downproofing tends to bring out a range of new flavor experiences that I wouldn't get if I had a drinking-proof bottle that was the same thing every time. It still surprises me how many people don't add water to stuff above 115-120 proof ! But I expect the same people always want to have the hottest hot sauce, etc. -While bottles don't make much sense to laud as individuals, I can rank producers and explain why: 1. BT - Stagg and WLW, 'nuff said. Starting in something like 2000, when this just wasn't done. The godfathers. (Edit - this award ACTUALLY goes to Booker's which was first released to the public in 19-get-down-88! Very impressive and I didn't know that. 2. Willett - A hard statement, and one which must be qualified. Their older bottlings, which aren't their distillate, were not only legendary in flavor, but also significantly helped grow the movement of barrel proof cask selections. Have to appreciate them for that. The fact that they're silly priced now, we're not yet sure if their new make can maintain their legacy, and that they're more interested now in wedding planning than getting beyond 50 barrels a day makes this an uncomfortable endorsement in 2017. 3. 4R - Sheer variety of flavors, availability (for those willing to drive), quality, and value for money is astounding. 4. SA - I almost made this #5 due to the deafening silence of their barrel selection program. A tragic sabbatical which I hope is over soon. 5. Beam - Booker's and KC120 (technically not barrel proof, but let's be real, it's damned close) - These whiskeys turned me into a Beam fan, which 3yrs ago I didn't think was on the cards. But I still ain't paying no 80 bucks for no Booker's unless they get it to at least 10yrs old. Conspicuously absent is WT, because I haven't yet had an OMG bottle of RRSB. I feel the same way about ECBP at present, and can't wait to be proved wrong by either or both ASAP. Edited November 3, 2017 by The Black Tot 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondarocks Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Of what I've had here are my rankings ECBP B517 RB 116.8 RB 112.8 1792 FP PS MM CS KC SiB 120 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinbrink Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 5 hours ago, The Black Tot said: This is like picking a favorite child. I don't think there's much value in saying "I loved this bottle that there was only <200 of and you'll never get to try it", so what I'll say is: -There are barrel proof non-chill filtered whiskeys (and rums and single malts for that matter), and then there is everything else. I will always be a barrel proof customer and advocate. -One of the best things about BP bottles is that I always eyeball the splashes of water I put in them, and this randomness of downproofing tends to bring out a range of new flavor experiences that I wouldn't get if I had a drinking-proof bottle that was the same thing every time. It still surprises me how many people don't add water to stuff above 115-120 proof ! But I expect the same people always want to have the hottest hot sauce, etc. -While bottles don't make much sense to laud as individuals, I can rank producers and explain why: 1. BT - Stagg and WLW, 'nuff said. Starting in something like 2000, when this just wasn't done. The godfathers. (Edit - this award ACTUALLY goes to Booker's which was first released to the public in 19-get-down-88! Very impressive and I didn't know that. 2. Willett - A hard statement, and one which must be qualified. Their older bottlings, which aren't their distillate, were not only legendary in flavor, but also significantly helped grow the movement of barrel proof cask selections. Have to appreciate them for that. The fact that they're silly priced now, we're not yet sure if their new make can maintain their legacy, and that they're more interested now in wedding planning than getting beyond 50 barrels a day makes this an uncomfortable endorsement in 2017. 3. 4R - Sheer variety of flavors, availability (for those willing to drive), quality, and value for money is astounding. 4. SA - I almost made this #5 due to the deafening silence of their barrel selection program. A tragic sabbatical which I hope is over soon. 5. Beam - Booker's and KC120 (technically not barrel proof, but let's be real, it's damned close) - These whiskeys turned me into a Beam fan, which 3yrs ago I didn't think was on the cards. But I still ain't paying no 80 bucks for no Booker's unless they get it to at least 10yrs old. Conspicuously absent is WT, because I haven't yet had an OMG bottle of RRSB. I feel the same way about ECBP at present, and can't wait to be proved wrong by either or both ASAP. I like this strategy though my rankings would be different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 17 hours ago, Charlutz said: My own list looks like everyone else’s: GTS, WLW, THH, Blanton’s SFTB, Stagg Jr., ECBP and Booker’s. But... where is the SAOS in this thread? Nobody? Not even the Sarah bottles? Well, I don't feel like nobody but maybe I am in for a rude awakening... 23 hours ago, tanstaafl2 said: I don't know that I would even want to try to rank them as each have had their own unique charms. I thought the very first batch of ECBP (don't recall the proof) was pretty darn remarkable and a rival for any of the others I have had. The 2 SB.com HHSS was also way up there. Various FR PS bottles as well as the various annual LE's from FR have been right up there as well. I also had a barrel pick from my store of Old Scout (Barrel #666, the Highway to Hell bottle!) that was pretty remarkable as well. The PHC Wheated was also pretty remarkable. GTS and WLW are pretty consistently excellent when I can find them although I haven't tried the newest GTS yet and I haven't even seen a WLW for the last couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlutz Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 14 minutes ago, tanstaafl2 said: Well, I don't feel like nobody but maybe I am in for a rude awakening... Sorry Bruce! Poor reading on my part. Even still, with all the love SAOS SB gets around here, I would’ve expected others to be there with you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Tot Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 2 minutes ago, Charlutz said: Sorry Bruce! Poor reading on my part. Even still, with all the love SAOS SB gets around here, I would’ve expected others to be there with you. I think it's mostly that they've been out of mind lately, as their single barrels have been out of sight. It's an honest omission. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinbrink Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 9 minutes ago, Charlutz said: Sorry Bruce! Poor reading on my part. Even still, with all the love SAOS SB gets around here, I would’ve expected others to be there with you. I always looked at them as a great value, but I definitely have not had one that beats the Beam/HH/WT barrel proofs. I tend to like them a bit more than Stagg Jr. and CEHT BP. 4R some are better some are worse, I don't see much point in adding LE's into the conversation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarthQuake Posted November 4, 2017 Author Share Posted November 4, 2017 SOAS is one that I want to try. Earlier this year it seemed to be everywhere but now that I'm interested in getting a bottle it seems to have disappeared. I'll probably pick up a Belle Meade barrel proof before the end of the year instead. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briankeith513 Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 1. William Larue Weller2. George Theodore Stagg3. Four Roses SMBLE 20164. Parker’s Heritage 115. Four Roses Elliot’s 6. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batch B/Blantons SFTB7. Old Forester 19208. Tie between various Four Roses Private Select Barrel proofs and Knob Creek 1209. Bulleit Barrel Proof Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarthQuake Posted April 12, 2018 Author Share Posted April 12, 2018 (edited) I've had a good few barrel proof bourbons recently, so here's my updated list: George T Stagg (2015 or 2016, can't remember, had at a bar) Stagg Jr Batch 7/8/9 CEHT BP 127 Four Roses Elliot's Select OESK 14 years Four Roses OBSK Ace store pick 115 9 years 3 months Four Roses Small Batch LE 2016 111 Numerous ~9 year FRPS (OESK, OESF, OESQ, OBSF) Bulleit Barrel Strength 10 year #5 Knotter Bros 10 year (MGP low rye) Knob Creek SB Ace store pick 12 years OF 1920 115 Bookers (multiple batches) WLW 2015 Wild Turkey Rare Breed Elijah Craig BP batch 12 136 Maker's Mark CS Barrel 08b George Dickel 128 Edited April 12, 2018 by EarthQuake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosmith Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Did a blind tasting of my 4 favorite (that I have) barrel proofers a few weeks ago with my wife. The line up was WLW 2017, Stagg Jr. batch 8 129.5p, ECBP C917, and Booker's 2016-3 'Toogie's invitation'. Her order of preference was ECBP, WLW, Stagg Jr. then Booker's My order of preference was WLW, ECBP, Stagg Jr. then Booker's. The Booker's was easiest to pick out followed by the WLW. I didn't guess right on the other two. The WLW had way more complexity than the others with sweet fruity notes of pear and peach that I've not found in any other bourbon. The Stagg Jr. is a caramel bomb on the nose and the ECBP had more spicy/woody flavors which I mistakenly attributed more to the Stagg. The Booker's, while very good, was outclassed in this group. Small sample size, I know, but, all in all, a very fun evening... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThirstyinOhio Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 1) George T. Stagg - Its my favorite bourbon of all time, specifically 2007/2011 2) Willett WFE 20+yr wheaters - 3) WLW 4) Other Willett WFE bourbons (some bottles wouldn't even make my top 50..but I'll just say on average they would be my 4th) 4) ECBP 5) SAOS, OKI,...MGP private barrel picks 6) Stagg Jr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0895 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 5 minutes ago, ThirstyinOhio said: You can't be all that thirsty....regardless of your screen name. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masset1982 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 7 minutes ago, ThirstyinOhio said: 1) George T. Stagg - Its my favorite bourbon of all time, specifically 2007/2011 2) Willett WFE 20+yr wheaters - 3) WLW 4) Other Willett WFE bourbons (some bottles wouldn't even make my top 50..but I'll just say on average they would be my 4th) 4) ECBP 5) SAOS, OKI,...MGP private barrel picks 6) Stagg Jr Literally drooling right now ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam777 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 3 hours ago, ThirstyinOhio said: 1) George T. Stagg - Its my favorite bourbon of all time, specifically 2007/2011 2) Willett WFE 20+yr wheaters - 3) WLW 4) Other Willett WFE bourbons (some bottles wouldn't even make my top 50..but I'll just say on average they would be my 4th) 4) ECBP 5) SAOS, OKI,...MGP private barrel picks 6) Stagg Jr I like the OKI in there. I’ve never seen it mentioned on this site. Hard to compare because some of their barrel proofs are only 97 proof. How did you acquire all those Staggs! Especially living in Ohio where the good stuff is hard to come by! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncork_it_already Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Going off of what I have tasted multiple times and not just a random pour in a bar: 1. George T. Stagg 2012 142.8 2. Stagg Jr Batch 5 129.7 3. Elijah Craig B517 122.2 4. Booker’s Oven Buster 2015-04 127.0 There’s a lot more in my collection I can’t wait to get to: GTS 2014, Stagg Jr. batch 1 & 6, ECBP batch 11, Little Book, SAOS SiB 10yr, EHTBP, WLW 2017, THH 2013 & 2017, FRBS OESV, Bulleit batch 2, and Blanton’s SFTB. I love high proof bourbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishnbowljoe Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 17 hours ago, uncork_it_already said: There’s a lot more in my collection I can’t wait to get to: Stagg Jr. batch 1 & 6, I love high proof bourbon. Just a heads up for ya'. The general consensus of Stagg Jr. Batch #1 is that it was a "hot mess" and not very good. It almost turned me off Stagg Jr altogether. If not for having a pour of Batch #3 at a bar, I'd have missed out on some good bourbons. IMHO, everything from Batch #3 on has been pretty good if not great. Biba! Joe 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Tot Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 22 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said: Just a heads up for ya'. The general consensus of Stagg Jr. Batch #1 is that it was a "hot mess" and not very good. It almost turned me off Stagg Jr altogether. If not for having a pour of Batch #3 at a bar, I'd have missed out on some good bourbons. IMHO, everything from Batch #3 on has been pretty good if not great. I still have 2 more batch 1's to survive, but I believe ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncork_it_already Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 On April 17, 2018 at 7:00 PM, fishnbowljoe said: Just a heads up for ya'. The general consensus of Stagg Jr. Batch #1 is that it was a "hot mess" and not very good. It almost turned me off Stagg Jr altogether. If not for having a pour of Batch #3 at a bar, I'd have missed out on some good bourbons. IMHO, everything from Batch #3 on has been pretty good if not great. Biba! Joe So I've heard. I've never read any reviews of it after its been uncorked for awhile. Hope it opens up after a bit of oxidation. Either way, not that in a rush to open it. Maybe i'll just leave it be for a decade and go at it then. It's gotta be at least 4 years already, no? I've really enjoyed the various batches I've tasted, and didn't notice an incredible difference between any (I believe I've tasted 4, maybe 5). Some were definitely better than others, but they all tasted like similar juice. So I wonder how different it could really be to batch 2 and 3, both of which I've tasted and enjoyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 8 minutes ago, uncork_it_already said: So I've heard. I've never read any reviews of it after its been uncorked for awhile. Hope it opens up after a bit of oxidation. Either way, not that in a rush to open it. Maybe i'll just leave it be for a decade and go at it then. It's gotta be at least 4 years already, no? I've really enjoyed the various batches I've tasted, and didn't notice an incredible difference between any (I believe I've tasted 4, maybe 5). Some were definitely better than others, but they all tasted like similar juice. So I wonder how different it could really be to batch 2 and 3, both of which I've tasted and enjoyed. ^^^^^Well, since you're wondering... open it up and find out. Personally, I found it to be hot as ****... an unbalanced, one dimensional, earthen hades! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncork_it_already Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Paddy said: ^^^^^Well, since you're wondering... open it up and find out. Personally, I found it to be hot as ****... an unbalanced, one dimensional, earthen hades! In time, I definitely will. Considering I still have a Stagg Jr I'm working on, there are other bottles I'd like to get to. Next barrel proof is either STFB or EHTBP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 I found the same with batch 1 of the EHT. Like Stagg Jr., subsequent batches have struck me more favorably, thank God! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB. Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Oh man there's some good ones out there. Honestly though I'm a fairly cheap date 1. EC b517 is the best to me 2. WTRB 3. KC120 2 & 3 are basically a tie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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