Willett "Estate Bottled Old Bardstown" = Jim Beam "Bonded"

[Kyjd75]

A couple of months or so ago I purchased a bottle of Willett's "Estate Bottled Old Bardstown" bourbon.  As best I could determine from my internet research this is a sourced bourbon with no age statement (although I read various reports that it was actually 10 years old).  Anyway, I found it to be reasonably good, so I bought another this weekend, along with a bottle of Jim Beam Bonded (Beam's BIB).  Tried them side by side yesterday, and guess what?  They are identical in taste.  Absolutely the same.  This gives me a pretty good idea of where Willett sourced their bourbon for this label.

 

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by Kyjd75

[fosmith]

5 minutes ago, Kyjd75 said:

A couple of months or so ago I purchased a bottle of Willett's "Estate Bottled Old Bardstown" bourbon.  As best I could determine from my internet research this is a sourced bourbon with no age statement (although I read various reports that it was actually 10 years old).  Anyway, I found it to be reasonably good, so I bought another this weekend, along with a bottle of Jim Beam Bonded (Beam's BIB).  Tried them side by side yesterday, and guess what?  They are identical in taste.  Absolutely the same.  This gives me a pretty good idea of where Willett sourced their bourbon for this label.

A check of TW's web site shows the Bardstown at $33.50 and the Beam at $17.  For the same juice?  Things that make you go hmmm...

[Limegoldconvertible68]

Every experience I’ve had with NDP bourbon only reinforces my opinion that I shouldn’t buy anymore if it. 

[fosmith]

11 minutes ago, Limegoldconvertible68 said:

Every experience I’ve had with NDP bourbon only reinforces my opinion that I shouldn’t buy anymore if it. 

I've come to that conclusion as well.  NDP bourbons aren't bad per se but the value just isn't there compared to the majors.  One exception that comes to mind is Belle Meade Reserve cask strength.  At $60 it stands up to ECBP or Stagg Jr. IMO. 

[JCwhammie]

35 minutes ago, Limegoldconvertible68 said:

Every experience I’ve had with NDP bourbon only reinforces my opinion that I shouldn’t buy anymore if it. 

I dont buy many NDP bourbons anymore. Rye is a different story. MGP ryes can be fantastic. The only Barton rye I've had was EHT rye, which I enjoyed. I've heard great things about Barton's rye. 

[Kyjd75]

Willett does have a new version of "Old Bardstown" which is their actual product and not sourced.  Believe it is at least 4 years old.  Ultimately I suppose the sourced version will go away once current sourced stocks are exhausted.

[steven s]

recently picked up one of these round old bardstown 101s, as well as a willett distilled old bardstown BiB in the square bottle. will report back after I sample these two. Curious 

[PaulO]

I bought some Old Bardstown (sourced) in KY years ago.  It was horrible, tasted like bitter orange peel.  Imagine Evan Williams that went terribly wrong.  I paid upper mid shelf price for probably my worst bottle ever, big disappointment.

[PhantomLamb]

I thought all of Willett’s sourced bourbon was from Heaven Hill now? 
 

I believe they are using their own distillate in all of their current products.

[flahute]

4 hours ago, PhantomLamb said:

I thought all of Willett’s sourced bourbon was from Heaven Hill now? 
 

I believe they are using their own distillate in all of their current products.

They don't have a lot of sourced product left but what they do have comes from a variety of sources.

It is correct that all of their current KBD branded products are now their own and some of the WFE.

[mbroo5880i]

8 hours ago, PaulO said:

I bought some Old Bardstown (sourced) in KY years ago.  It was horrible, tasted like bitter orange peel.  Imagine Evan Williams that went terribly wrong.  I paid upper mid shelf price for probably my worst bottle ever, big disappointment.

I was fortunate enough to attend a KBD tasting at Vine & Table in Carmel with Drew Kulsveen several years ago.  If I were to guess, this might have been around 2013.  That was back when everything they bottled was sourced and they still had some excellent WFE Single Barrels coming out.   They poured several offerings from the KBD portfolio at the time - Noah's Mill, Johnny Drum, Willet Pot Still, Kentucky Vintage, and Rowan's Creek.  It was a release of a V&T WFE barrel select, which I bought.  While it was expensive for that time period, it was one of the best WFE's I ever purchased.  Old Bardstown might have been part of the pours too.  I don't recall.  The only one of the offerings other than the WFE that was even worth considering was Johnny Drum.  I saved a lot of money that night and over time as I have yet to buy any of the offerings that I tasted.  I do recall Drew being very nice.  

[PaulO]

Years ago, I tried Kentucky Vintage.  I thought it was OK, but very average, not worth the up charge.

I did repeat purchases of early WFE selection MGP rye barrels.  Those were nice.  Prices are crazy now.  I paid $35.

I'm not likely to cough it up for the new stuff.

 

I think Harry got a bottle of the OB I mentioned, couldn't give it away.