Early Times Japan Brown Label KSBW filtered in charred cococut?!? A mystery solved.

[Erk Russel Reserve]

The 80 proof Early Times KSBW Brown Bottle sold in Japan has a special rich taste and mouthfeel for an 80 proofer that I could not understand, until now.  Well, it seems that it is OF distillate filtered filtered twice (at least once) in charred coconut shells:. 

 

This was stated by Mike Veach in 2020.  You can see the bottle in his post (he may have been slightly misinformed by Lincoln Henderson, or misremembered, as it seems to be double filtered).  Should we call this the Lincoln Henderson Process?:

 

https://bourbonveach.com/2020/06/22/brand-history-early-times-bourbon/

 

Here is an pretty on point review as well:

 

http://tokyobourbonbible.blogspot.com/2016/03/early-times-brown-label.html

 

I have had two or three bottles of this export only product and I concur with the above review.  Happy to know there is something unique about this bottle, I thought I was a little off my rocker enjoying this NAS low proof 1000 yen bottle as much as I did.  Later on, once I had tasted OF, I could taste the family resemblance but there was something else that really improved the mouthfeel a great deal.  As this was one of the early bottles in my bourbon journey (as well as dusty WT), it may be raised my mouthfeel expectations too high. 

 

The old Asahi P Early Times site (https://web.archive.org/web/20170730223010/http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/enjoy/liquorworld/brand/earlytimes/product/index.html) had the following blurb :

ブラウンラベル
オークの香りとコクが際立つ繊細なバーボンウイスキー

マスターブレンダーが厳選した原酒をブレンド、濾過の工程を2度行うことで香りは強く、味はまろやかに。オークの香りとコクの深みが際立つ、華やかで繊細な味わいのバーボンです。

 

Which Google translates as:

Brown Label

Delicate bourbon whiskey with outstanding oak aroma and richness The unblended whiskey carefully selected by the master blender is blended and filtered twice to create a strong aroma and a mellow taste. A gorgeous and delicate bourbon with an oak aroma and depth of flavor.

 

I would love to try a higher proof version of this.  It doesn't meet the standards of KSBW, but finishes are all the rage these days.  Lincoln Henderson was likely a genius.

 

Cheers to you Mr. Henderson

Edited September 13, 2022 by Erk Russel Reserve
Corrected error

[fishnbowljoe]

Could you please post a picture or two of the bottle.  TIA

 

Biba! Joe

 

[GeeTen]

10 hours ago, Erk Russel Reserve said:

The old Asahi P Early Times site (https://web.archive.org/web/20170730223010/http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/enjoy/liquorworld/brand/earlytimes/product/index.html) had the following blurb :

ブラウンラベル
オークの香りとコクが際立つ繊細なバーボンウイスキー

マスターブレンダーが厳選した原酒をブレンド、濾過の工程を2度行うことで香りは強く、味はまろやかに。オークの香りとコクの深みが際立つ、華やかで繊細な味わいのバーボンです。

 

Which Google translates as:

Brown Label

Delicate bourbon whiskey with outstanding oak aroma and richness The unblended whiskey carefully selected by the master blender is blended and filtered twice to create a strong aroma and a mellow taste. A gorgeous and delicate bourbon with an oak aroma and depth of flavor.

 

And you trust Google to translate Japanese script for you?  Now if they had it in Kanji , I could probably tell you what it really says (NOT).  

 

[Erk Russel Reserve]

Here ya go! The bright yellow background does not do justice to the brown richness of the spirit. 

Edited September 13, 2022 by Erk Russel Reserve
Text added

[Erk Russel Reserve]

The one one the left. Likely the very same bottle Lincoln Henderson gave to Mr. Veach. 

[Erk Russel Reserve]

5 hours ago, GeeTen said:

And you trust Google to translate Japanese script for you?  Now if they had it in Kanji , I could probably tell you what it really says (NOT).  

 

Yeah google translate is a mess. The TokyoBourbonBible gent translated it as below. Presumably he can read Japanese: 

 

Asahi describes the Yellow Label as "a classic bourbon that continues to uphold tradition" with a "light flavor, sweet aroma and nice finish." Asahi also plays up the "charcoal filtered" aspect, but, as all bourbon is charcoal filtered, this isn't a real selling point.

Asahi describes the Brown Label as having a "profoundly complex flavor and a round finish suited to the Japanese palate." It is also described as a full-bodied bourbon with an oaky nose that still retains a florid and delicate flavor. Asahi also touts that the Brown Label is "double filtered," though it provides no additional information as to the type of filtering.

 

End Quote

 

Charred coconut filtration. Mystery solved.