How do I drink "undrinkable" whiskey?

[Ken Weber]

I have to agree with you here. You need to realize that while Buffalo Trace is 9 - 11 years old, the Blanton's is only about 7 - 8 years old. I truly believe the extra couple of years in the wood sets BT apart. I say this knowing full well that Blanton's sells for twice the price of BT!

Ken

[Ken Weber]

Guys, I am going to tread very carefully around this one. We have been making Old Charter for several years now (our master distiller, Gary Gayheart, was making Charter 30 years ago). Some of the great old brands have been purchased from the original owners and are now being produced at other distilleries. This is not to say they are better or worse, just that they are different.

Distillation techniques differ from distillery to distillery. Yeast strains vary and aging warehouse conditions are different. If we were to make Jack Daniel's at Buffalo Trace, the taste difference would be noticeable.

Ken

[wrbriggs]

We have been making Old Charter for several years now (our master distiller, Gary Gayheart, was making Charter 30 years ago)

I think you mean to say Old Fitzgerald, right? I love the Old Charter... it's the Very Special Old Fitzgerald that I just can't seem to force down.

[TNbourbon]

No, he means OC -- Heaven Hill now owns Old Fitzgerald. I think Ken is very (professionally, politely and quite appropriately -- I have no such compunction, being a common imbiber!) tacitly and tactfully implying that VSOF might not live up to its brand name because of its change of ownership/distiller/location. On the other hand, OC has at least the continuity of a common distiller through its changes.

[wrbriggs]

Ah, thanks for the interpretation. I'm a bit slow sometimes, and I'm terrible at "reading between the lines", as it were.

Almost all of my favorite bourbons seem to be coming out of Buffalo Trace (with the exception of EC12 and EWSB '94). I don't think I've tried a BT bottling that I haven't liked yet!

[bobbyc]

I don't think I've tried a BT bottling that I haven't liked yet!

Have you tried Eagle Rare Single Barrel? That one does it for me, in the context above.

Seriously though, I believe it replaced the Benchmark Single Barrel, I wonder if it is substantially the same or did they create a different profile.

[wrbriggs]

Have you tried Eagle Rare Single Barrel? That one does it for me, in the context above.

Actually, I really enjoyed ERSB, perhaps even more than the standard Eagle Rare 10yr. It's also one of the few bourbons that my wife will drink, which is nice. They've just started stocking it on the shelves of some local state liquor outlets; prior to that, it was special-order only. It seems like a pretty good introductory bourbon, I may even give it as a X-mas gift to people I know who like whiskey.

[TNbourbon]

Have you tried Eagle Rare Single Barrel? That one does it for me, in the context above.

Actually, I really enjoyed ERSB, perhaps even more than the standard Eagle Rare 10yr. It's also one of the few bourbons that my wife will drink, which is nice. They've just started stocking it on the shelves of some local state liquor outlets; prior to that, it was special-order only. It seems like a pretty good introductory bourbon, I may even give it as a X-mas gift to people I know who like whiskey.

This is an example of some of the earlier discussion in this thread -- everybody has different tastes. I, too, disagree with Bobby about ERSB, but I agree with his astute selections many more times, including his love for Stagg, which I think is the best bourbon I've ever had.

[bobbyc]

I don't care much for AAA either, I actually like a regular bottling, say 90 or 100 proof of Ancient Age better. Then you don't like EC12, an easy favorite for me. As you say personal preference.

[HHBOURBONMAN]

Having been away for the holidays, I have missed a bit of this discussion. Might be a dead thread, but I feel a bit compelled to weigh in here...Let's be a bit more even handed here, gents, and perhaps put ourselves in the real rough and tumble world of spirits. Some of the brands that are being talked about here are brands that were divested by Diageo in 1999 to three different companies. You are dealing with a three tier distribution system in which it sometimes takes a long time for a bottle to get through the pipeline. Therefore, the provenance of some of these bottlings will vary widely. I think it's a bit disingenuous to talk in sweeping generalities about continuity with ex-Diageo brands that are, in reality, coming from several different sources.

Look, the fact of the matter is with limited production Bourbons such as these, if you don't like a bottle, I suggest you go somewhere else to purchase another bottle or wait awhile. We don't dump barrels for these whiskeys but a few times a year, so there will certainly be variation from one "small batch" to the next...

[wrbriggs]

Having been away for the holidays, I have missed a bit of this discussion. Might be a dead thread, but I feel a bit compelled to weigh in here...Let's be a bit more even handed here, gents, and perhaps put ourselves in the real rough and tumble world of spirits. Some of the brands that are being talked about here are brands that were divested by Diageo in 1999 to three different companies. You are dealing with a three tier distribution system in which it sometimes takes a long time for a bottle to get through the pipeline. Therefore, the provenance of some of these bottlings will vary widely. I think it's a bit disingenuous to talk in sweeping generalities about continuity with ex-Diageo brands that are, in reality, coming from several different sources.

Look, the fact of the matter is with limited production Bourbons such as these, if you don't like a bottle, I suggest you go somewhere else to purchase another bottle or wait awhile. We don't dump barrels for these whiskeys but a few times a year, so there will certainly be variation from one "small batch" to the next...

I can definitely appreciate that there will be some variability between batches. However, at almost $30 per bottle, it's not something I'd really want to take a gamble on a second time, when I can get EWSB, EC12, Elmert T. Lee or Bulleit for closer to $20. I'm hoping that the bottle will grow on me, and I'm still soldiering through it. It took me almost 3/4 of a bottle of Woodford Reserve for me to go from disliking it to greatly enjoying it, maybe the same thing will happen here. I usually greatly enjoy Heaven Hill bourbon, all the way from Evan Williams black label to EC18.

I'm still a bit split on wheaters, so maybe that's the problem. I find Maker's Mark ok, but nothing special. I have developed a definite fondness for Weller Special Reserve, but it's taken me 1/2 a bottle to do so. I found it a bit harsh initially, but now I really enjoy it, and identify the "harshness" as more of an oak flavor. Hard to beat it for $13.

I will keep trying! I really do want to like VSOF, so I'll keep working through the bottle.