Bourbon year end 2019 - State of the State.

[Vosgar]

19 minutes ago, flahute said:

Are you trying to say you've achieved bourbon zen? An enviable position if true.

If I haven't reached bourbon zen, I'm damn close. Plenty of goodies stashed away  

[Jazz June]

Here are my thoughts, organized by brand owners and then distilleries:

 

Beam-Suntory

 

Jim Beam

 

Little Book 2019 The Road Home was a home run for me. $125 was a series price increase, but it delivered and I bought multiple bottles. This year was a big year of change for the Beam lineup. Baker's is going from a small batch to a single barrel product and a 13 year SiB LE was introduced. Knob Creek line extensions Double Barreled Rye and Quarter Oak don't seem to have hit, with the rye already on closeout at VA ABC. Knob Creek 12 was introduced, which I am assuming will be a regular annual release. Basil Hayden 10 released again and much harder to get here in VA this year and I saw it marked up in the $100-120 range in Maryland. My bottles of these last two remain untried. Supposedly the 9 year statement is coming back to the Knob SmB, but I have not seen it yet. I came across more KC SiB picks in the 12-14 age range these last few months, so these have not run dry yet, although it certainly seems like they have to soon. Some other releases that didn't seem to catch on were Basil Hayden Caribbean Reserve and Legent.

 

All in all, a pretty good year for Beam I think. Some misses, but also multiple hits. The Little Book is the best thing I have ever had from them. I do wonder why Booker's isn't getting more attention. Price keeps going up and age down. We have Baker's 13, Basil Hayden 10, and Knob 12. Where is the fall Bookers LE with a higher age statement? I would think Booker's 10yr would sell like crazy, even at the inevitable stupid price point they would ask for. Also, as a personal (and silly) wish, do something good with Old Crow! It's a travesty what has happened to this brand.

 

Maker's Mark

 

Maker's Mark introduced (re-introduced?) a 101 proof expression, first at duty free only and now also at the distillery I believe. The PS bottles seem to be everywhere, with even Virginia ABC getting 5 picks of them. The new LE Wood Finishing Series has been well received, but I have yet to crack mine (this is a disturbing theme in this write-up, but I have been focused on killing off the wounded soldiers first). Maker's continues to do the decorative aspect well, with a nice looking holiday bottle and bespoke gift offering.

 

I've had some interesting PS picks and the Wood Finishing sounds along these lines. So good job on adding a likely annual LE people like, but the perennial question: when will we get a Maker's Mark product with some age on it? Aged wheaters are the tateriest releases, not sure why Maker's refuses to take advantage (although in a way, I respect that - not going for the easy cash grab that they don't believe in).

 

Brown-Forman

 

Old Forester

 

New products include Old Forester rye and Cooper's Craft Barrel Reserve. I bought and liked the rye, haven't tried the Cooper's Craft brand yet, although I have a mini of the 80 proof stuff to taste sometime. Continued King of Kentucky for a second year, which seems to be getting a fair bit of praise although I understand it to be a Kentucky release only, so I'll never see it. Old Forester Birthday is down in age and up in proof. Online reviews seem mostly good, although those here were disappointed. A second batch of Old Forester 1910 was released, again popular online. I broke down and bought one, but it remains closed.

 

All in all, Old Forester is doing pretty well on regular releases, with the rye being one of the best normal new releases of the last few years. Birthday maybe down, King of Kentucky a good but very limited LE. All in all, Old Forester is trucking along. Not my favorite, but plenty drinkable.

 

Woodford Reserve

 

Introduced a wheat whiskey this year. I have not purchased it yet, but early indications are positive. Year 2 of the Batch Proof seems to continue the conclusion that it's good, but $130 is too much. My bottle of the Master's Collection Chocolate Malted Rye bourbon remains sealed and I have not seen too much chatter about it. I think there was some super exclusive Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition, but the fact that I'm not even sure speaks to how limited it was if it does exist.

 

Woodford Reserve continues to cast about for something to do beyond its standard bourbon (which I like for what it is). I found the rye and the malt whiskey disappointing, but maybe the wheat can break the streak. The Batch Proof seems to be a good annual release but the price is tough if you look at value versus buying it because it is "limited." Somehow I still have never tried the Double Oaked and most of the Woodford private selections seem pedestrian.

 

Campari - Wild Turkey

 

Master's Keep Cornerstone marks Wild Turkey's first special release rye - I haven't cracked it yet

 

The 101 got a lot of love this year and Rare Breed is picking up acclaim. Label changes for the Kentucky Spirit and RR SiB private selections. The WB Saffell whiskey barons release got good reviews, but Virginia didn't seem to carry it after they had to put the first two on clearance to get rid of them. If anyone knows where I can online order one from...

 

Coming up in 2020 is Rare Breed rye, which I have high expectations for. I've heard rumors of the 81 rye being discontinued and the RR SiB rye going to private pick only, but not much to back these rumors up. Turkey continues to do its thing and release some great whiskey that doesn't attract too much attention to make it overly expensive/hard to get. Even the Cornerstone, after a lot of online hype, doesn't seem too hard to find with some dedication. I'm dubious that this will continue with the 17 year BiB Master's Keep in 2020, but I will be looking for that one.

 

Heaven Hill

 

Not a good year for Heaven Hill. Killing the 6 year BiB, only to return with a 7yr at triple the price wasn't a good look. Virgin 7yr went NAS. McKenna hype and prices/availability have gone way overboard. This year's Parker's doesn't seem to be getting much love. Elijah Craig barrel proof is a bright spot with pretty good availability and is still one of my favorites. I'm excited for Larceny barrel proof and early views are positive. Let's hope for a better 2020.

 

Kirin - Four Roses

 

Four Roses introduced the SmB Select, which I like, but not sure it really finds a unique space in the lineup. The 2019 SmB LE seems to be getting raves. The standard SiB and PS SiBs still seem to be in decline (up in price, down in quality), although I did complete the set of ten recipes with a Christmas gift OESF. The regular SmB remains a household favorite for us. I'd love to try the LE SmB, but other than that, let's hope the Bulleit hangover ends soon and Four Roses can pump up the private selection program and maybe bring back a second LE or something else new (maybe just increase SmB Select to more states?).

 

Sazerac

 

Barton

 

Ups and downs for Barton. The downs were VOB BiB going to 100 (although this is really sentimental, I haven't tried them side by side to see if there is a difference) and a warehouse collapse. On the positive, the Full Proof won Murray's whiskey of the year and 1792 Aged 12 Years was introduced as a reasonably priced LE. I've tasted the breadth of the 1792 line and find it pretty good, although the Full Proof isn't worth the hype (but it is good). More 1792 picks (SiB, BiB, and Full Proof) seem to be floating around and there should be potential there to get some good barrels. Barton is often a rumored source for NDPs, so it sure seems like they have the whiskey.

 

Buffalo Trace

 

And the best/worst for last. BT remains the king of the LE/high end releases and the chief problem child of impossible to find whiskies. Weller Full Proof was introduced. I tried a pick at a restaurant and it was good, but have no hope of seeing a bottle on a shelf (Virginia ABC can't even keep Weller SR on hand for more than an hour or two). OWA doubled in price. While the new price doesn't seem totally unreasonable given the demand, it sure is a shock to those accustomed to the old price. I bought a new cork/gold capsule version for $40 and will probably still be a buyer at the new price, but I won't see it so this will remain theoretical. Weller SiB coming in 2020 is a fun idea, but again Weller = not available so what's the use in getting excited. Elmer T Lee 100th is a nice gesture, so I can forgive the somewhat pointless nature of such a release. People are lining up hours before store open for regular ETL, so I will continue to work down the ones I bought 3+ years ago. The Taylor LE line continues to be hyped beyond reason. No idea if Amaranth is actually any good. Old Charter Oak is another silly (in that it is a limited from BT so it just ends up on secondary for unreasonable $) experimental and limited line that I have never seen in a store or bar. There was a BTEC release this year. Same insanity, half the whiskey. And of course, BTAC and Van Winkle remain the silliest of the silly, despite mostly being pretty good whiskey.

 

On the plus side, Eagle Rare 10 is still age stated, reasonably priced, and reasonably available. I will be interested to see the results of their attempt to bring up Benchmark. Buffalo Trace bourbon continues to be a solid $27 bottle that Virginians cannot act rationally about (posting how today is a good day b/c they scored a bottle). CEHT SmB and Sazerac rye are also solid for the MSRP, but much harder to find than they probably should be. I finished a bottle of CEHT SiB that is possibly the weirdest bottle of whiskey I have ever consumed and managed to find a few more to replace it. All in all, I like BT and respect their drive for innovation and quality, but it's hard to really be a hardcore fan when you can't actually buy any of their products.

 

Bonus section: craft

 

New Riff, Wilderness Trail, and Willett's self-distilled rye are all quite good at 4 years old. I am excited for all of these as they continue to get some age on them. They have turned my opinion of craft around quite a bit. New Riff and Wilderness Trail already have decent availability and high but not insane prices. I doubt WFE releases will ever calm down unless the bubble really goes bust.

[The Black Tot]

18 minutes ago, Jazz June said:

Maker's Mark

Aged wheaters are the tateriest releases, not sure why Maker's refuses to take advantage (although in a way, I respect that - not going for the easy cash grab that they don't believe in).

 

Fun read, JJ. Steve is really onto something with this annual thread.

 

Regarding the above, I'm mindful that MM is still owned by Beam Suntory, so I'm not sure the absence of a cash grab concept is outside of their belief system - particularly after the trajectory of all the $100-$350 Beam limiteds that seem to be breeding like rabbits on Viagra. 

 

They've probably been too busy raising prices in Clermont to get around to raising prices in Loretto. Perhaps they'll find some time in 2020.

[flahute]

Great stuff JJ! Thank you for validating many of my points while adding in many of your own. I'll have a detailed reply later this week when I have time.

[Bob_Loblaw]

This is a great thread.

[Jazz June]

On 1/7/2020 at 12:08 AM, The Black Tot said:

 

Fun read, JJ. Steve is really onto something with this annual thread.

 

Regarding the above, I'm mindful that MM is still owned by Beam Suntory, so I'm not sure the absence of a cash grab concept is outside of their belief system - particularly after the trajectory of all the $100-$350 Beam limiteds that seem to be breeding like rabbits on Viagra. 

 

They've probably been too busy raising prices in Clermont to get around to raising prices in Loretto. Perhaps they'll find some time in 2020.

 

Of course Maker's Mark is owned by Beam, but they haven't pushed out a high-ish age stated Maker's Mark and they have had plenty of time to do it (it's a pretty obvious line extension). I said they don't believe in such a product because Maker's Mark has always gone for uniformity in aging, with their rotation of barrels. While longer aging isn't necessarily incompatible with that concept, I think it still clashes with the general philosophy.

 

Obviously their old approach of only making one product has gone by the wayside, so it's not like the corporate people aren't having an influence on the brand. Why the line has been held on the age statement issue, I do not know. The brand has not experienced crazy price increases, despite the current environment. I find the PS to be priced a little high, but it's not ridiculous. And this year's new Wood Finishing Series LE clocked in at $60. So, for whatever reason, Maker's has not moved to cash in with some of the tactics being used by other distilleries (even their corporate brethren as you point out). They are of course trying to make money and I don't have any special insight into their thinking, just speculation. But that's part of what makes this kind of thread fun right?

[Old Dusty]

Am I losing it or did Maker’s clear a label thru TTB for a 12 yr age stated bottling?  I swear SKU linked that in a  tweet some time ago. Maybe I was dreaming. 

[flahute]

17 minutes ago, Old Dusty said:

Am I losing it or did Maker’s clear a label thru TTB for a 12 yr age stated bottling?  I swear SKU linked that in a  tweet some time ago. Maybe I was dreaming. 

Not that I'm aware of but if true I'd being doing backflips and handstands in celebration.

[Old Dusty]

here is a 2015 thread Where it’s discussed but no specific sources cited