How does NAS Old Charter compare with AS

[FasterHorses]

The NAS comes across very fruity to me. Was the profile of trhe 8year pretty close to what’s in the bottle now? 

Also, the 101 doesnt seem similar to the “8” at all.  

[0895]

Not sure if this helps you or not, but here's what I can contribute:

 

Charter almost always has a strong caramel taste to it to me.

 

101 NAS is a caramel bomb to me, every time I try it.

 

Dusty charter I've tried (7, 8, 10, 12) always seems to have a representation of the caramel theme, but muted accordingly sometimes (depending on the proof).

 

Interestingly, I picked up one of the 2017 (laser code) 8 year age stated bottles of OC and it has light caramel with some fruit as you describe.  Some people think this was a labeling error and not actually 8 year whiskey.  I can't really decide, but it's just alright for 80p.

 

Last night I tried a 2018 bottle of eht small batch and was immediately hit with the caramel.  I put the glass down and said "that's old charter". Several friends immediately tried it and confirmed the taste profile.  We then compared it to a 7 and 8 year Dusty OC.

Just for fun, we then sbs'd it next to eht barrel proof (127.2).  The ehtbp had a more "Eagle Rare profile" (cherries, fruit, oak).

 

 

I guess the point is that old charter has historically been a lower shelf economy type bottle.  It still is.

Buffalo trace has a lot of barrels and can basically do whatever they want to batch a product.

So while caramel seems to be the dominant flavor profile in OC, it wouldn't surprise me to find some other flavors mixed in there from barrels that are not aging to fit profiles they want.

 

So like I said, the newest eht small batch from 2018 has a very strong old charter profile to it.

As far as I'm concerned they could have sold it as such.  If you're into it, I recommend you seek one out.

 

(pick of 2017 age stated bottle)

Edited May 13, 2018 by 0895

[FasterHorses]

Thank you for the thoughtful answer 0895. I get lots of caramel in the 101 but didn't detect any in my Charter 8. Incidentally a friend was sharing his 2017 bottle with the erroneous age statement. It was all fruit, almost an apple flavor, and although I enjoyed it more than say a WSR, i don't know that I'd go back for more. Id like to try it at 100 proof and see if thats more to my liking., so I'll pick up the EHT.  I may have to get around to doing a SBS with EHT and Charter 101 as well. From what I can recall, and its been a while since Ive had the EHT, but I remember it being lots smoother than the 101. 

 

 Do you think much was lost flavor wise when they dropped the OC8 age statement? 

[0895]

On 5/13/2018 at 9:05 PM, FasterHorses said:

Thank you for the thoughtful answer 0895. I get lots of caramel in the 101 but didn't detect any in my Charter 8. Incidentally a friend was sharing his 2017 bottle with the erroneous age statement. It was all fruit, almost an apple flavor, and although I enjoyed it more than say a WSR, i don't know that I'd go back for more. Id like to try it at 100 proof and see if thats more to my liking., so I'll pick up the EHT.  I may have to get around to doing a SBS with EHT and Charter 101 as well. From what I can recall, and its been a while since Ive had the EHT, but I remember it being lots smoother than the 101. 

 

 Do you think much was lost flavor wise when they dropped the OC8 age statement? 

 

This is the first bottle of EHT small batch I've had that really gave me that Old Charter taste profile.  At 100p and theoretically older?, it is a much better experience for that flavor profile.

 

I think the biggest problem for me with any Old Charter is the proof mutes the flavors (Dusty bottles included).  It has to be close to 90p or above for me to get much of anything from it.  Charter 101, while young, still gives me some pretty good flavors.  So the answer to your question isn't really straightforward... proof is slightly more important that age would be my answer.