BT Barrel Pick

[AUstinBrownWater]

I was selected for a single barrel pick of BT this Fall. Have never participated in a pick before and would welcome any advice in the process from anyone that has gone through it. 

[Richnimrod]

I am nobody's 'expert' in this; but, I have participated in many private selections over the last dozen or more years, so here's my advice.

Bring your own preferred water... both to cleanse your palate between tastes, and especially between options, and to hydrate.   Bring plenty.   Back in day we were usually offered over a half-dozen barrels to pick among.   ...Sometimes 10-or so!   Nowadays you're unlikely to get more than 4 in most cases.    So, be prepared to "walk away" if none of the barrels are exemplary; and be prepared to say so, if it's a fact.     Consider whether you'll b able to buy the selection (when bottled) at barrel proof.   Probably not, so consider watering the tastes to something close to 90-proof, as that's what you're going to get in the end.     Keep your palate totally clean for the day of the tasting (no spicy foods, no strongly seasoned foods).   No whisky until shortly before the event.   Bring a small flask of some well-known, and well-liked Bourbon ('off-the-shelf' Buffalo Trace would be a great choice!) to season your palate and to double check that you're tasting and sniffing in an expected and useful manner.   Do that seasoning taste/sniff about a half hour or so before the event, if you can.   DON'T RUSH! ...Don't skimp on the sniffing and post-taste evaluation of the finish!    Also look at the color, though for me that's less important than the aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and finish.   Also, pace yourself between tastes from different barrels.   You can wear out your palate to some extent, especially, if tasting at barrel proof.

That's my quick primer, for what it's worth.

Good Luck, and HAVE FUN!!!!   

Are your doing the picking at the distillery?  ...Or, more likely from sample bottled at your local mongers?  ...Or, even at a private residence (which is preferable to the liquor store)?

[AUstinBrownWater]

This is really helpful. Thank you for taking the time. Were picking at Buffalo Trace on site in early November

[Richnimrod]

3 hours ago, AUstinBrownWater said:

This is really helpful. Thank you for taking the time. Were picking at Buffalo Trace on site in early November

Well, early November being what it may be (cold? wet? neither?) it's hard to say how gratifying being there (maybe) in a rickhouse will feel.   

But.... Those times when I've done a barrel selection in a rickhouse were just about the most fun I've had with my clothes on.   I hope your experience is similar.

[flahute]

At BT you will get 3 barrels, maybe 4 max to taste from. It's in a dedicated barrel picking room in a rickhouse, but it's not like being in the middle of a rickhouse so I'm not sure if will get very cold on a cold day.

If it's still the same process as when I did it, they will have a hydrometer and will proof it to 90 for you. However, taste it at barrel strength to get a feel for it as is and like Rich said, add a bit of your own water to see how it takes it.

When BT proofs it down they do it in one fell swoop. There can be some water shock from adding it all so quickly. I did taste that but I also did my smaller additions of water to avoid shock and to see how it reacted. I made my decision based on that.

Do bring your own water bottle for that part.

[smokinjoe]

What a great opportunity!  Im sure you’ll enjoy the experience.  
 

I remember from your intro, that you’re not new to bourbon.  Which probably means you know what you like, and don’t like.  At the selection, trust your gut (palate), say your peace, and don’t be influenced by others.  Your vote, is your vote.  It’s as good as anyone else’s, War Eagle, even if it seems counter to everyone else’s!  

[mbroo5880i]

Keep telling them that you are having difficulty deciding so you need another sample.  

[PaulO]

Keep us informed how it goes.

I would love to participate in something like that.

[geclbxf]

On 6/20/2024 at 8:11 PM, flahute said:

At BT you will get 3 barrels, maybe 4 max to taste from. It's in a dedicated barrel picking room in a rickhouse, but it's not like being in the middle of a rickhouse so I'm not sure if will get very cold on a cold day.

If it's still the same process as when I did it, they will have a hydrometer and will proof it to 90 for you. However, taste it at barrel strength to get a feel for it as is and like Rich said, add a bit of your own water to see how it takes it.

When BT proofs it down they do it in one fell swoop. There can be some water shock from adding it all so quickly. I did taste that but I also did my smaller additions of water to avoid shock and to see how it reacted. I made my decision based on that.

Do bring your own water bottle for that part.

it's still the same!   They will rush you through unless you slow them down.   take lots of pictures and enjoy!   Last 3 BT picks, only one of them was standout - you get the feeling the barrels sit in there till someone picks them!

[geclbxf]

On 6/20/2024 at 9:15 PM, mbroo5880i said:

Keep telling them that you are having difficulty deciding so you need another sample.  

they will scowl at you!   The BT machine does not have much humor in my experience.

 

[flahute]

8 minutes ago, geclbxf said:

they will scowl at you!   The BT machine does not have much humor in my experience.

 

Oh they definitely do not!

[fishnbowljoe]

I had a great time!

 

[Kepler]

29 minutes ago, geclbxf said:

...

  Last 3 BT picks, only one of them was standout - you get the feeling the barrels sit in there till someone picks them!

 

Interesting that you say that, because of the BT store picks that I've bought through the years, the last really stellar one I purchased was in 2017.  Luckily I bought a lot of those (because they were so good ... so not "luck" really on my part, but rather good planning lol)

 

I have basically quit buying BT or ER10 store picks the past couple of years unless they happen to be the same price as the regular bottles (they aren't anymore in my experience).  Or unless I can taste a sample first (doesn't happen because they sell themselves so why would a store sacrifice a bottle they don't need to).

I don't find BT picks anything special anymore.

[Richnimrod]

12 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

I had a great time!

 

Thanx for posting this one, Joe!   Good to see Vosgar one more time!

[AUstinBrownWater]

On 6/22/2024 at 10:14 PM, geclbxf said:

it's still the same!   They will rush you through unless you slow them down.   take lots of pictures and enjoy!   Last 3 BT picks, only one of them was standout - you get the feeling the barrels sit in there till someone picks them!

This is the new Warehouse D experience that they've just launched so its done a little different per the information I received. Will let you all know how it goes.

 

 

Edited June 24, 2024 by AUstinBrownWater

[AUstinBrownWater]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aop0qSxD-f0

[fosmith]

On 6/22/2024 at 8:49 PM, Kepler said:

I have basically quit buying BT or ER10 store picks the past couple of years unless they happen to be the same price as the regular bottles (they aren't anymore in my experience).  Or unless I can taste a sample first (doesn't happen because they sell themselves so why would a store sacrifice a bottle they don't need to).

I don't find BT picks anything special anymore.

It's been three or four years but I've had a couple of really good BT store picks.  Interestingly, they were supermarket (Safeway, Lunardi's) picks, which you wouldn't expect to be great.  But, supermarkets usually don't up the price on picks, so there's that.  ER picks are pretty rare (pun intended) where I live so no experience with those.  

[ThirstyinOhio]

On 6/24/2024 at 11:56 AM, AUstinBrownWater said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aop0qSxD-f0

I've done a lot of barrel picks at BT but never in this new room setup.  I look forward to hearing your review of the process.

[AUstinBrownWater]

Update:  Made the trip up to BT for the pick in early November. Ive been to the distillery several times but never for a pick. Father and son trip. Took my dad. Couldn't be more pleased with the process. Our hosts were amazing and nothing felt rushed and they were open to any and every question.

 

The Warehouse D experience is different in that they start with 28 barrels to pick from with 4 that you'll actually taste.  28 barrels are not guaranteed unless you are early in their cycle as they dont reload the rick until almost all the barrels have been chosen. Just like the other barrel process there is a committee that determines if the barrel is "suitable" for the barrel pick process. They had just loaded the rick before our pick and all 28 barrels were available to choose. Every barrel on the rick was 8.5-9 years old. Was pretty excited to hear that.

 

You're given a map with the position of all the barrels and with their Number,Fill Date,Warehouse Floor, and Rick. Our hosts suggested picking from 4 different Warehouses and keeping the floor selection low if possible though he stated that some of the BTAC this year was pulled from a higher floor in Warehouse K. 

 

The tasting is blind with the bourbon in Glencairns and labeled A-D. You had as much time as you needed. No rushing. Two were eliminated and the blind tasted the last two. I consistently chose the same barrel through the two blind steps though all 4 were what I would consider superior pours vs a standard Buffalo Trace. Barrel chosen was from Warehouse O Floor 2. 

 

There was a 2 hour tour afterwards which was pretty amazing.Finished the tour with a tasting of several other single barrel offerings including W107 EHTSB and Blantons. 

 

Looking forward to receiving the bottled product  

[Richnimrod]

Sounds like you had a pinnacle experience at BT, AUstinBrownWater!    (Bonus: With Dad!)    I've always enjoyed my tastings/barrel selection processes here; but, this sounds even nicer.   

Enjoy that bottling, and hopefully you'll have enough bottles to do so for a very long time.