George Dickel 10yo Special Barrel Reserve

[jeff]

I happened upon a bottle of this at a local liquor store and picked it up, with the intent of trading with someone who can appreciate it. I paid about $25 for it. Though the seal was intact, I found the cork to be leaking slightly when the bottle fell on its side in the car. Well, nothing to do now but open it up. I will say that my initial impressions of this expression are quite different than my feelings for good ol' #12. I find the 10yo slightly sweeter with lots of fruit, pears mostly, in the nose and a vanilla "woodiness" on the palate. It has a very, very smooth finish. I have to say that I actually enjoy the flavor of this whiskey, and I may never have experienced it if not for that leaky cork.

Now, for those of you more in the know on Tennessee Whiskey, what is the story on this bottling? I know it was part of the UD Bourbon Heritage series and has since been discontinued, and that it is obviously 10yo, but is there anything special or different about its production or stock? Will I ever see another bottle of it? Do any of you prefer this to regular Dickel?

I'm so confused

[Gillman]

I'll let others elucidate the history but I echo Jeff's thoughts on the quality and taste. This whiskey is much superior to the regular Dickel offerings, and quite special.

There is something in the current Elijah Craig 12 year old which is similar - not exactly, of course (e.g., the Craig lacks the fruity notes of the Dickel) but there is a certain similarity in the rich brandy-like finish and firm, well-knitted flavor,

Gary

[monte]

Hi folks - first post here, but let me first say thanks to our hosts and to everyone here for the wealth of information! Cheers to you all...

I was lucky enough to liberate a pair of dusty bottles of Dickel Special Barrel Reserve on Tuesday and yes, it's a really nice whiskey. I don't like modern Dickel much (I remember liking it 15 or more years ago), but the Special Barrel Reserve, along with the rest of the Heritage Collection, is quite nice whiskey. I'm getting into the lighter, more fruity, buttery and 'bright' whiskeys lately and this find made me very happy.

I can't add anything authoritative to the history of this whiskey, and I've only seen it once, but I do have a question about other members of the Heritage collection, especially Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve. I've seen three different packagings of this whiskey, one with a tall smooth bottle and a 'Louisville' distillery label, one with the modern, shorter and notched near the neck bottle with the 'Louisville' label and finally, the modern notched bottle with the 'Frankfort' distillery label.

The taller smooth bottle came with a tag outlining the Heritage collection, which was copyright 1998 by UDV, so I assume that this was bottled sometime around then, requiring the 13 year old whiskey to be from old Stitzel Weller stock. Is this a good assumption? And what of the more modern bottle shape with the Louisville and Frankfort labels - is the Louisville stuff old S-W stock and the Frankfort stuff more modern?

I'm really curious, as the two versions seem to behave slightly differently - they change in your glass differently and taste a tad bit different. The Louisville stuff seems to have more of a buttery menthol taste and less leather later on. Anyone else done a side by side? Note, my sample size is only one bottle each, so I may be full of BS, but I'd be curious to know the history and see if there really is any difference...

Thanks in advance!

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Unfortunately, I know very little about its history after the "Bourbon heritage collection". I seem to recall that I´ve read somewhere that the post-BHC version has a light-brown label and that it claims to be distilled "in or before" some year (I don´t remember which). Is this how your bottling looks like, Jeff?

I acquired my bottle (a BHC) in November last year, at a German whisky shop where it apparently had been collecting dust for a long time (it was the last one they had). Overall, my impression of it corresponds to Jeff´s. The Dickel character is clearly in attendance but it competes with a hefty fruit presence.

Is it better than good ol´ No. 12? Not sure, but it is, at least more exciting.

[jeff]

Actually, My bottle is one of the BHC bottles. I guess what I'm looking for is any information as to why this bottling is so much different and better, IMHO, than the standard GD#12? How large a batch was this expression? Is it just a dumping of any/all of their 10yo whiskey, or were the barrels specially picked for this label? How many years was it produced?

[Hedmans Brorsa]

It´s in cases like these that the distillery´s homepage should offer helpful information. As far as I can detect there´s is not a single mention of the barrel reserve, though. Is your bottle also a BHC, Gary?

Did this whiskey make its grand entrance with the BHC bottling or was it in existence before? It would be interesting to know. All I know for sure is that there must be at least two different bottlings since there´s no mention of "Distilled in or before" on the label of my bottle.

[Gillman]

Hi Hedmans, my bottle is BHC, yes.

The website actually does refer to the single barrel, in the FAQ the company states that there is no more single barrel available and hasn't been any for a while but they may release more in the future.

It truly is a very good whiskey (I only know the BHC), it has a certain, "old-fashioned" taste which some bourbons have too, e.g., as I have said Elijah Craig 12 year old but in the end it is quite unique. Still though, it has that "vitamins" flavour and for those who don't like that in the regular Dickel bottling they should stay away from the 10 year old single barrel because it isn't absent from that version. However it has malty depth and a fruit-like taste which add to and complement that flavor and the result is very pleasant.

Gary

P.S. For those on or with access to Florida's southern east coast, Albertson's (a chain of pharmacy and liquor stores) has had the BHC in stock, I saw a number of bottles at the store which is near Pembroke Pines.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

The website actually does refer to the single barrel, in the FAQ the company states that there is no more single barrel available and hasn't been any for a while but they may release more in the future.

There you go, I didn´t even notice that they had a FAQ . The moral is : never attempt things like this while at work.

Anyway, what is the deal with the Bourbon Heritage Collection? Seeing as the brands no longer are owned by the same company. VSOF, Proprietor´s and the Centennial still seems to be readily available. Old charter and the Dickel, on the other hand seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth (well, almost). Shouldn´t the name be, sort of, trademarked by United Distillers?

[cowdery]

The Bourbon Heritage Collection (BHC) was created by UDV in 1991, in imitation of their successful Classic Malts Collection (Glenkinchie, Oban, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Talisker, Lagavulin). It consisted of five expressions of UDV's American whiskies. The expressions were created expressly for the collection. They were: <ul type="square"> [*]George Dicket Special Barrel Reserve (10 yr./86 proof) [*]Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve (13 yr./90 proof) [*]I. W. Harper Gold Medal (15 yr./80 proof) [*]W.L. Weller Centennial (10 yr./100 proof) [*]Very Special Old Fitzgerald (12 yr./90 proof)

Chris Morris and Mike Veach were employed at UDV at the time and were very involved in creating and promoting the BHC.

Not coincidentally, the release of the BHC followed the release by the Jim Beam Brands Co. of the Small Batch Bourbons Collection (Booker's, Baker's, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek).

The boxed set of minis (below) was very simliar to one issued for the Classic Malts Collection when it was launched in 1988.

After UDV/Guinness merged with Grand Met to form Diageo, the company lost interest in American Whiskey and, eventually, the family was broken up. Diageo retained Dickel and Harper, Buffalo Trace got Charter and Weller, and Heaven Hill got Fitzgerald. Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill continue to make their BHC expressions but Diageo, to the best of my knowledge, does not.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Thanks for that picture! None of my BHC:s look like that - they all have the BHC-label on the bottleneck.

Were all these bottlings made exclusively for the BHC-collection or were they in existence before? I may be horribly wrong here but I think that "The six classic malts" (or at least some of them) were new introductions to the market. I´m pretty sure that the original Talisker, for instance, was an 8yo. Also, if I remember right Lagavulin was a 12yo (thank goodness we now have a 12yo again. The 16yo is indeed very good but slightly too old for its own good).

The forum is szzzloooow today. Of course, all you Americans are still out jogging so you haven´t noticed.

[bourbonv]

Chuck,

The U.D. people are remodeling the Dickel visitor's center and they asked me to help them find some things in the Archive at Stitzel-Weller. I spent about 4 hours with them and discussed several things. One of them was the Special Barrel Reserve and it is history. If you find a bottle, buy it because it will not be around much longer.

Mike Veach

[cowdery]

Were all these bottlings made exclusively for the BHC-collection

Yes.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Yes.

Well, I prefer the shortlived Patrick Moraz line-up from 1974. After he was kicked out it was downhill all the way.

On a more serious note, though. I actually tried my two Dickels (Barrel reserve & No. 12) side by side yesterday.

I have to say that the No. 12 stands up quite well. Certainly the BR is a bit more refined but if only the palate would count then I would go for the 12. There is a vanilla shield that needs to be penetrated but after that you enter Tennessee whisky heaven (Yes, Barrel Proof, there is such a thing. ).

Where the BR triumphs is on the nose and the finish. It is especially obvious on the latter but it doesn´t really comes as a surprise considering the fact that the 12 has a decidedly average finish.

I think it is those fruity strains that gives the BR the upper hand in the nosing department. The 12 is no slouch, however. It gave a dull impression yesterday but it is a 1 liter bottle nearing its end and I distinctly remember that the nose was more potent when it was new.

All in all, two examples of great American whiskey. IMHO, Tennesse whisk(e)y is unfairly maligned by a lot of people on this forum.

[musher]

Yes.

Well, I prefer the shortlived Patrick Moraz line-up from 1974. After he was kicked out it was downhill all the way.

He's Swedish, isn't he?

Does that mean you followed him through his Moody Blues years too?

[bluesbassdad]

Is it possible that I'm about to hijack an already-hijacked thread?

He's Swedish, isn't he?

He's Swiss, actually, but I'll give partial credit for the "Sw".

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Hedmans Brorsa]

He's Swiss, actually

Thanks! Skiing and a penchant for neutrality, apart, there are no obvious similarites between us and the Swiss.

Actually, a couple of years ago I received a catalogue from Sam´s. I was a bit curious when I realized it was the summer catalogue sent to me in (I think) October. Then I checked the address label and saw that it said Switzerland instead of Sweden. God knows how many Swiss post offices that one had passed through. I´m amazed that it eventually found its way to icy Sweden.

Does that mean you followed him through his Moody Blues years too?

Well, I had no idea that he had been in the M.B. They were, sort of, before my time and in all honesty, so were Yes, at least genre-wise. Back in ´74 I was just a little kiddo listening to primitive British rock like Slade. If someone had treated me to "Relayer" I probably wouldn´t even have recognised it as rock music.

To veer slightly on topic again (before I incur the wrath of Jeff ). How common is Dickel in the US? I have somehow gotten the impression that it is mostly a Southern drink. Wrong, or? It has, to my knowledge, never been available in Sweden.

[asnigro]

I've seen the Dickel "Special Barrel Select", the one in the BHC and then I've seen the Dickel Barrel Select to commemmorate the re-opening of the factory in 2004. Anyone have notes on these two versus each other?

I'm desperately attempting to find a bottle of either here in the Chicago area (for a special graduation from work coming in July to celebrate with some colleagues) with little luck so far.

[TNbourbon]

I've seen the Dickel "Special Barrel Select", the one in the BHC and then I've seen the Dickel Barrel Select to commemmorate the re-opening of the factory in 2004. Anyone have notes on these two versus each other?

I'm desperately attempting to find a bottle of either here in the Chicago area (for a special graduation from work coming in July to celebrate with some colleagues) with little luck so far.

Actually, the BHC bottling is "Special Barrel Reserve", a 10-year-old. There is no age statement on the Barrel Select. Both are 86 proof.

[asnigro]

Finally landed a bottle of the Special Reserve off of eBay. I will be opening it on the week of july 14th after a work ceremony. I cant wait.

I did hear this was being re-issued this summer along with the Barrel Select from a Dickel distribution rep.

[orange dickel]

Hello,

Any other bottles left in Malden? Waiting for GD Barrel Select Which comes out this July but would love a bottle of Special Reserve. Thanks

[TNbourbon]

...Waiting for GD Barrel Select Which comes out this July...

Actually, it's been out for a year or more, but apparently not distributed beyond Tennessee.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5251

[asnigro]

What a treat the Barrel Select was. I now regret sharing it with 2 other friends (J/K)! Well since we were in the city of brotherly love when I busted it out, I thought it un-American to hog.

As for my impressions, I like the #12 quite a bit, but as forementioned, the BS was sweeter and gave a great tingle on the lips and in your mouth. I wish there was a better way to get my hands on a bottle in the chicago area besides an eBay purchase! I want one on hand at my place at all times!

[CrispyCritter]

As for my impressions, I like the #12 quite a bit

I haven't had the good fortune to try the Barrel Select, but #12 is superb in its own right. What a shame that GD lives under the shadow of JD!