current Lot B and W12

[steven s]

As I value the info that I glean from this forum, I have to ask, in all seriousness, what you folks think about the current (last few years') releases of ORVW12, or Lot B, and W12. I have been sipping recent versions of them both recently, and have thoughts. Anyone getting different tasting notes from these? 

[Richnimrod]

8 hours ago, steven s said:

As I value the info that I glean from this forum, I have to ask, in all seriousness, what you folks think about the current (last few years') releases of ORVW12, or Lot B, and W12. I have been sipping recent versions of them both recently, and have thoughts. Anyone getting different tasting notes from these? 

As I haven't had any of the ones you asked about, I can't offer much here.    These offerings NEVER appear hereabouts, and I wouldn't likely give what would be asked to buy any of 'em.   I certainly wouldn't pay the prices likely  asked on the secondary markets.     

I will say, Old Rip used to always be a 10-year-old, I believe.    If it's gone to 12-years, I have to imagine it's really escalated in price, as well.

[GeeTen]

47 minutes ago, Richnimrod said:

   

I will say, Old Rip used to always be a 10-year-old, I believe.    If it's gone to 12-years, I have to imagine it's really escalated in price, as well.

 

Hey @Richnimrod, my bottle of 2023 ORVW10 still says "Aged 10 Years" and "10 Summers Old" on the label.  Is it an older bottle?

 

 

 

I know the 2023 Eagle Rare 17 is really 19yrs old.  Did they put 12yr Weller in the Old Rip, too? 

 

That would be super kewl! 

 

Edited March 13, 2024 by GeeTen

[Richnimrod]

I haven't a clue.   Maybe they did...?   Fishnbowljoe might know.    Distilleries, of course, often blend some older stuff into batches to achieve a desired flavor profile, as we all know.   But, the wheated stuff that BT has (and keeps for Mr. Van Winkle) is a little more tightly controlled, I imagine.   Still, who can say, right?      I am fairly sure Old Rip has always been a 10; but, I haven't seen any 'new' ones in many years; so, I can't say a 12-year Old Rip didn't come out.   I would assume some interweb research will confirm or deny the existence of an Old Rip-12.

[fishnbowljoe]

Weller and Pappy are both from the same wheated mashbill. At one time it was rumored that barrels for Julian were aged in certain warehouses, and/or on specific floors. From what I heard, that is not true. It is my understanding that when wheated barrels come of age, Julian gets his pick for his Van Winkle products.  This was as of a number of years ago. Also and FWIW, the Van Winkle    Lot b is 12 years old. 

[steven s]

i, the OP, have contributed to the confusion. Old Rip Van Winkle is 10 yrs old, and Van Winkle special reserve, lot B, is 12 yrs old.

 

ORVW12 was an inaccurate acronym.

 

I'm not getting much difference in the current Lot B and the W12, despite repeated comparisons. 

 

 

[fishnbowljoe]

1 hour ago, steven s said:

i, the OP, have contributed to the confusion. Old Rip Van Winkle is 10 yrs old, and Van Winkle special reserve, lot B, is 12 yrs old.

 

ORVW12 was an inaccurate acronym.

 

I'm not getting much difference in the current Lot B and the W12, despite repeated comparisons. 

 

 

Most folks make mistakes @steven s, but not me.  ️️ But seriously…….. 

I was in an Army band from 1975-1980. We played every kind of music imaginable. One light, satirical song we played at occasional concerts was Variations On A Theme. I don’t remember the actual song it was based on, but it was the basic song, followed by a march version, a waltz version, a German oompah band version, a Hispanic cha cha version, then back to the original song. Always fun and well received. IMHO, Weller and Pappy are kinda variations on a theme. All good and well received.

[GeeTen]

4 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Most folks make mistakes @steven s, but not me.  ️️ But seriously…….. 

 

 

Hey @fishnbowljoe & @steven s, I don't make mistakes either - I'm (was) an Engineer!  

 

[0895]

10 hours ago, steven s said:

 

 

I'm not getting much difference in the current Lot B and the W12, despite repeated comparisons. 

 

 

Because there isn’t much difference as far as I’m aware.

Both are 12 year BT distilled wheated barrel blends (“Weller”).

 

The W12 is 90p

and Lot B is 90.4p , I believe?

 

Some lore will say that the Van Winkles are “better” barrels and/or chosen by the family personally, etc.

But as you notice, in the glass, the current of both offerings are arguably undifferentiated.

 

There’s very little reason currently to buy Lot B over W12 solely for the purpose of drinking it.

[Richnimrod]

8 hours ago, GeeTen said:

 

Hey @fishnbowljoe & @steven s, I don't make mistakes either - I'm (was) an Engineer!  

 

Oh, JEEEEEZ!   I recall, back when we used to tease the engineers at work.   We'd ask 'em a stupid, unanswerable question, and watch as they struggled to come up with an answer.   They universally thought, that if they spoke about it long enough, they'd eventually come to an acceptable answer.    After all, THEY WERE ENGINEERS!   We had many, many enjoyable hours watching most of 'em squirm around.   A few caught on and gave it right back to us.   Those ones, we respected.   The rest...?

[GeeTen]

28 minutes ago, Richnimrod said:

Oh, JEEEEEZ!   I recall, back when we used to tease the engineers at work.   We'd ask 'em a stupid, unanswerable question, and watch as they struggled to come up with an answer.   They universally thought, that if they spoke about it long enough, they'd eventually come to an acceptable answer.    After all, THEY WERE ENGINEERS!   We had many, many enjoyable hours watching most of 'em squirm around.   A few caught on and gave it right back to us.   Those ones, we respected.   The rest...?

 

Sounds like my Oral Exam for my Ph.D. - from the Construction faculty guys "Why are manholes round???"  I saw them laughing at me after 15 minutes of babbling, trying to find the answer.  Guess they did that to all the guys and gals in the Transportation Division. 

 

 

[Clueby]

1 hour ago, GeeTen said:

 

Sounds like my Oral Exam for my Ph.D. - from the Construction faculty guys "Why are manholes round???"  I saw them laughing at me after 15 minutes of babbling, trying to find the answer.  Guess they did that to all the guys and gals in the Transportation Division. 

 

 

A round lid can never fall thru opening!!

[GeeTen]

4 hours ago, Clueby said:

A round lid can never fall thru opening!!

 

Unless, of course, the frame is rusted out!  Kinda' like a bad cork . . .  

 

Edited March 16, 2024 by GeeTen