Van Winkle 12 Year Special Reserve

[BourbonJoe]

Is the VWSR 12 year old (bourbon) worth 32 bucks a bottle? What say?

Joe

[TNbourbon]

Yes . I buy it at closer to $40 a bottle around here. Run, before it's gone or the price increases!

[camduncan]

I pay $120 AU (approx $91 US) per bottle, and to me it's worth every cent

[nysquire]

"lot B".... Nectar to some....This bourbon is priceless...

You won't find a better bourbon....Maybe as good......

but never better...

[bucky1]

Note worthy sidebar. I was in Louisville Thursday and there wasn't a bottle of VanWinkle to be had at Liquor Barn. Not a Lot B, Pappy 15 or Pappy 20. They said the distributor was out...in Kentucky!

So, I second the notion of buying the Lot B at $32 while you can.

Jon

[nysquire]

Very hard to keep any Van Winkles on the shelf here...

I gotta stop educating these bourbon drinkers up here....lol

[tsangster]

Purchased my second bottle since July 4 yesterday (the first didn't make it through the fireworks display). I was told by the store owner back in June that he could only purchase Van Winkle in the Fall and that he would not have more until September or October. I happened to drop in on 4 July to purchase beer and there sat 3 bottles of 12 YO "Lot B". If the third bottle is still there on my next visit I'll likely grab it too. $37 here but definitely worth the $.

[bobbyc]

It would seem the market is putting lots to bear on the entire VanWinkle lineup.

[Gillman]

Then too ORVW is more a bull than a bear these days, Bobby.

Gary

[ripvanfan]

I happened to be at Buffalo Trace today as they bottled a barrel of Lot B. Though the temptation was there to grab a case as it sat on a skid, I finally decided going to jail for tax evasion wasn't a viable option.

btw, ORVW was very scarce in Frankfort. I saw one bottle of lot b on the shelf and that was it. Ironically and luckily, I found the same amount of George T Stagg.

[schlep]

Recently ran across a couple of VWSR that were Lawrenceburg bottlings. Does anyone have any insight if these are SW distillations?

Also, has anyone done a side by side with the more recent Frankfort bottlings?

schlep

[Chaz7]

I am on my second bottle, and at $32.00 here, it is a standout. I actually prefer it to the PVW 15yr 107, which goes for $10 more. To me, in the Van Winkle family only the 20 yr is better. To clarify, I've had the 12yr Lot B, the 15yr, the 20yr, ORVW 10yr 107, and the 10yr 90 proof. And I love each and everyone of them.

[CrispyCritter]

I just popped open a bottle of the "Lot B" VWSR 12.

To me, it's starting to look like you can't go wrong with a Van Winkle bourbon, whatever its age. A big <font color="red">THANK YOU</font> to Julian and all the others who have made this possible!

I'm going to make it a Van Winkle Vertical tonight. After I finish this pour, I'm going to open up the Pappy Van Winkle 15, and then take a pour of my ORVW 15/107 to finish the night.

Edit:

Well, I've now had the PVW 15/107, and I'm now revisiting my ORVW 15/107. Both are superb, so tonight that makes 3-for-3 in the "stellar" category.

There's definitely a "family resemblance" between the three, with the ORVW having the spiciest, most intense palate. The PVW is a bit mellower, but there's nothing wrong with that, either! Truly, you can't go wrong with any of them.

[Chaz7]

All the bottles I mentioned from the Van Winkle family sit on my shelf; but I have yet to do a vertical. I have a brother-in-law in Atlanta who is just getting into bourbon (a stogie smokin' scotch sipper as well)coming in December for a visit whom I wanted to do a tasting with. But you make a compelling case for not waiting. As far as my preference, #1-20yr, 2. 12yr 3. 15yr 4. ORVW 10yr 107, and 5. the 10yr 90proof. I found in my quest the 23yr, but at $205.00, it still sits in the locked cabinet of the liquor store. I have yet to see the Rye.

[bobbyc]

I have yet to see the Rye.

Far be it from me to suggest ways for you to spend your money, but if I may, If you ever see the 12 year Old Tyme Rye, in the squat bottle, same as the 10 year 90 and a few others, buy it and don't look back. I can almost guarantee that you can get the purchase price back on any you find, as long as you pay something reasonable, along the lines of something less than a bottle of 12 year lot B costs. I'm good for one, any time.

[TNbourbon]

...If you ever see the 12 year Old Tyme Rye, in the squat bottle, same as the 10 year 90 and a few others, buy it and don't look back. I can almost guarantee that you can get the purchase price back on any you find, as long as you pay something reasonable, along the lines of something less than a bottle of 12 year lot B costs. I'm good for one, any time.

I'll second that. And a third, too, for that matter, if you can find that many.

[brian12069]

I'm trying my first sample of the 12 yr special reserve right now and I love this stuff...

[camduncan]

It's definately my favourite VW....after the 13yo Rye

[joe1974]

drinking a glass of the vwsr 12 yo lot b now. and yes it is worth $32.

i drink fine wines and bourbon, almost exclusively. when i consider how many bottles of wine i've been less impressed with at $30 - $50 each, and are gone in one sitting, this is well worth the money. i can enjoy this bottle for months, maybe more than a year.

if you pour yourself 2 oz drinks, you'll get roughly 12 - 13 drinks from that bottle. that equals less than $3.00 per drink, which is usually far less than a well bourbon at any bar.

so drink up and buy as many as you can. bourbon is still a good value when you consider what else you could be drinking.

[monte]

if you pour yourself 2 oz drinks, you'll get roughly 12 - 13 drinks from that bottle. that equals less than $3.00 per drink, which is usually far less than a well bourbon at any bar.

so drink up and buy as many as you can. bourbon is still a good value when you consider what else you could be drinking.

Absolutely. Bourbon is still relatively cheap. I know I've saved money by having a nice stash at home...

The only thing nicer is to invite some friendly folks over to sample the stash. Then you truly have something far superior to a bar...

Anyone here on SB.com who finds themselves near the Boston area is hereby invited to my place. PM me for particulars!

Cheers,

-monte-

[tmas]

Well Cameron, for sure it's all relative, "you gotta pay what you gotta pay"! Speaking of relativity, don't suppose you'd know what a bottle of Penfold's Grange goes for down under? Likely the USA flip side of a $91.00 bottle of VW lot B! Tom V

[camduncan]

I'm not sure which specific bottle you'd be after, but this is a good reference site - www.nicks.com.au

There's a whole section on Penfolds Grange under 'buy online' and if you do a search on Penfolds Grange, there's 6 pages of bottles.

[OscarV]

Is there any significance to the "Lot B" on the VW12yoSR?

Are there any other brands or bottles by Buffalo Trace that have the Lot B tag on them?

[gothbat]

It is my understanding that the "Lot B" is meaningless as there is no Lot A. As for other BT products saying "Lot B" I can't say for sure but I don't think so.

[CrispyCritter]

In spite of the lack of a "Lot A," Van Winkle Lot B (whether it's the old S-W version or the new Bernheim version) is nothing less than delicious.

Even so, in my (very humble in this case, as I'm not a master distiller) opinion, I think it would be nice to have more information on its provenance - even if it was nothing more than a DSP number.

Nevertheless, I'll say it again - I've never been disappointed by a Van Winkle whiskey.