Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 YO....opinions

[gr8erdane]

I'm thinking that I could stretch it a bit further with an atomizer or spray bottle that would just coat the inside of my mouth every time the feeling of nirvana dropped away. Talk about making a bottle last a long time....

[RedVette]

On a hunch I checked out Binny's to see if they had any, and they do, but I don't know whether it is the old or the new stuff. It is a moot point because I loaded up on seven very nice bourbons that are hard to find around here for less than a single bottle of 23yo. I know that this is the same "I can buy seven Pintos for the price of that Mercedes" arguement that always drives me nuts, but this isn't 7 Pintos.

AAA, BT, Eagle Rare 10yoSB, Elmer T Lee, OF BB spring 03, ORVW 10 107, Ridgemont 1792

I will chase down a glass this March, it is now a mission of mine, and I take these quests seriously

[gr8erdane]

Nice choices, quantity AND quality all. This last weekend I was privilaged to be able to sample Pappy 23 at a close friend's house. I knew he had a bottle but never even presumed to have him open it. I brought with me the Pappy 15 I got at Toddies and the remains of one of Randy's Lot B bottles I "cleaned off the table" at the Gazebo for him to try. After a couple of small pours of each (it was before noon so we had to go easy) he disappeared for a moment and returned with the little black velvet bag and proceeded to open it slowly. It was like a religious experience. I could hear Carly Simon's "Anticipation" playing in the back of my mind and when the cork finally seperated from the neck I was in ecstacy. The experience was thrilling and the bourbon did not disappoint. I just wish I could be better at describing tastes. All I can say is that I really enjoyed it immensely. But also that I enjoyed the Lot B and 15 years pretty much equally. You just can't go wrong with a Van Winkle.

[jvanwinkle]

If Binny's has any 23-year Pappy, it's going to be from the Frankfort bottling.

Lawrenceburg whiskey is long gone from stores.

Julian

[TNbourbon]

Lawrenceburg whiskey is long gone from stores.

Julian

Probably so re Binny's and the national retailers -- but I saw 2 Lawrenceburg Pappy 20s as recently as Monday at a Nashville store somewhat off the beaten path (I bought that store's last Lawerenceburg Pappy 23 in April). I'd already spent more than $300 there over the weekend, or I'd have gotten at least one of those too. But, they've been there awhile (and every time I'm there, I check -- they still say Lawrenceburg), so I'll go back another day.

Hope lives!

[butzchan]

Lawrenceburg whiskey is long gone from stores.

Julian

There are still a few bottles left in the stores.

[jace33]

IT is great and mild but distict !

[LeNell]

I haven't had the chance to try the Lawrenceburg to compare, but the new 23 went nicely with various forms of elk tenderloin recently that a restaurant friend of mine cooked up for us. He's been a good bourbon customer lately so we brought out the big gun of my one open 23. I personally prefer the 20. The 23 is heavier and woodier to me. Still very beautiful, but my buds just prefer the 20 if I had to choose. I've had lots of "trophy" hunters lookin' for the 23, and I always tell 'em to try out some of the other line first if they've never even had Van Winkle at all. I love 'em all!

[Bamber]

Got to try this in a local bar this weekend.....

Fantastic. It's hard tp assess a whisky from a single (and very expensive shot) but this really impressed me. Lots of influence from the wood but not overbearing, the honeycombe / , maple aromas one associates with the best Van Winkles is still there.

Much better than the 20YO (IMHO), and as good or better than the Old Rip 15YO.

[TNbourbon]

Well, I'd forgotten about this thread. I happen to have both Lawrenceburg (green-bottle) and Frankfort Pappy 23s open as I write, remnants of the Gazebo Van Winkle tasting after the Sampler in April -- and did a tasting comparison live one evening last month in the chat room.

It's a little early in the day for such things at the moment, but if I remember tonight, I'll give it another go and post my impressions.

[Bamber]

That would be interesting Tim. I've noticed you over at the whiskymag website recently. Not thinking of turning to Scotch are you

[jvanwinkle]

Bamber:

Just curious, in what bar did you find the 23-year? Thanks for your business. I imagine you paid dearly for it.

Julian VW

[TNbourbon]

...Not thinking of turning to Scotch are you

It's vice versa -- my interest in whisk(e)y began while toying with Scotch, and my interest in Scotch has barely survived by bourbon adventures. I've noticed some Scotch drinkers seem to think American whiskey -- namely, bourbon -- is beneath them. Boy, are they off the reservation! I attempt a little herding once in a while.

[TNbourbon]

Gonna try to be brief, since this isn't the "Tasting Notes" section:

Note:The earlier Lawrenceburg Pappy 23 bottling is of rye-flavored bourbon, while the latter, Frankfort bottling is a Stitzel-Weller 'wheatie'. They are different enough to illustrate that not even 23 years in oak will mask the effects of the differences between mashbills, yeasts, et al.

<ul type="square">[*]Color: The earlier Lawrenceburg bottling is noticeably darker -- something of a surprise. You'd think that 23 years in barrels wouldn't leave much room for variation. The Frankfort bottling is amber-gold, with the other showing a hint of cherry red.

[*]Nose: The Lawrenceburg Pappy 23 (Bottle #2505 out of about 3,000) has a much more immediately pungent nose, full of oak and maple. It nearly assaults your "smellers" when you stick your nose in the glass. The Frankfort (#859 out of ?) is more subtle, coming off with a more cotton-candy sense.

[*]Taste: The Frankfort is the drier of the two, with much oakiness and tannins reminiscent of unhusked walnuts. New leather is prominent, and it never quite sweetens. The Lawrenceburg bottling is both lighter and sweeter, ending with a flourish of black cherry/candied apple.

[*]Finish: Well -- I'll let you know when they stop! (I finally had to reach for the water bottle.) Long and drying. Another surprise -- there's a little more heat in the sweeter Lawrenceburg sip. But neither of them overwhelm you with alcohol.

[*]Overall impression: Obviously, I prefer the older (alas, harder to find) Lawrenceburg bottling , but that is not, in any way, a criticism of the more recent Frankfort effort. It, too, is fine bourbon -- just different. Those who prefer dry to sweet would undoubtedly choose it. Are they worth $200+ per bottle? I don't know, I didn't pay that -- I found one that had been on a shelf for several years still at its original price, and the other I purchased at the "employee discount" (aka, near wholesale) at the liquor store in which I sometimes work. They ARE undoubtedly higher-end, and scarcity plays a significant role in their price.

I'm not going to rush out and replace these bottle (which still have about 2/3-bottle between them), but I'm very glad I've had the opportunity to taste them. A treat!

[Bamber]

Hi Julian,

The name of the pub is "The Picture House Bar", on Whiteladies Road. They also have your 13YO rye there, but I've got plenty of that at home

[Bamber]

Great tasting notes as ever Tim. The one I had had a creamy white label, as far as I remember. I guess that must be the Frankfort bottling. If the other one is better it must be very good inded. Having said that I'm a big fan of the Weller 19YO, which did come to mind when I tried the 23YO, and I guess they're cousins is some resepct.

I'm always trying a bit of herding myself - often over at the whiskymag website. Obviously the chat is mainly Scotch but there are a few Bourbon fans over there too.

[AVB]

For those willing to drive in Maryland or southern Pennsylvania. Cranberry Liquors has the Frankfort PVWFR 23 for $180 but there is also a 10% coupon you can print out making it $162 plus tax out the door. Call first to make sure it is in stock, at those prices they run out once in a while.