Bourbon From Europe

[pepcycle]

If you had your choice of any Europe-Only available product what would you choose?

Strictly Hypothetical. Like, If someone were coming from Germany and offered to bring a few bottles for exchange.

[jeff]

Maker's Mark Black label, 95 proof, because it's the only other form of Maker's Mark available. I have one, but I haven't opened it. Koji brought one to the Festival 2 years ago and I got a taste and I thought it was pretty good at that proof. Seemed a little rounder and more full-bodied.

*edit* This may only be available in Japan though

[rob]

Maker's Mark Black label, 95 proof, because it's the only other form of Maker's Mark available. I have one, but I haven't opened it. Koji brought one to the Festival 2 years ago and I got a taste and I thought it was pretty good at that proof. Seemed a little rounder and more full-bodied.

*edit* This may only be available in Japan though

The Black is meant for the Japanese market, true. But in Europe we can get the Gold Seal/Label, too. They are very pricey though. Case in point, I managed to get my hands on a bottle of I.W Harper 12 Yrs destined for Japan. Kind of cool, I have no idea what the back label says though...

[chasking]

Four Roses.

Bulleit is one of my favorites, and I haven't seen the single barrel special edition anywhere. I'd love to have access to the regular Four Roses bottling. I suspect it would become a regular pour.

[TNbourbon]

The WhiskyExchange has the Van Winkle Family Reserve 1985 (non-chill-filtered) rye, and the Vintage Bourbons from 1976, '80 and '83 by Even Kulsveen -- any of which would interest me for their under-$75 price tags.

[Dave_in_Canada]

I can buy Four Roses at the American border going INTO the U.S. It's the only time I've ever seen it for sale in a duty free. 1L for around $20. Good value.

[CrispyCritter]

But in Europe we can get the [Maker's Mark] Gold Seal/Label, too. They are very pricey though.

I'll have to check the price on it next time I'm over there, but I've seen the Maker's Mark Gold in a nearby Binny's. It's not on their website, though. How is it, compared to their regular offering, or, for that matter, one of the Van Winkle wheaters?

Binny's seems to have enough clout to get unusual bottlings and hand-picked casks from all sorts of places...

[rob]

Can't help you with tasting notes I'm afraid, but from what I've heard from the few people around Europe I know who appreciate bourbon, MM in particular, say that the Black seal is extraordinary and the Gold is not far behind. Perhaps you can get a miniature of it first? If it's as expensive as in Germany (where prices are normally really affordable), that's what I'd go for.

/Robert

[gr8erdane]

After checking the Whiskey Exchange, Tim and I as usual pretty much agree on his choices but I'd have to add Blanton's Straight from the Cask, Four Roses Black Label, and IW Harper President's Reserve.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

The WhiskyExchange has the Van Winkle Family Reserve 1985 (non-chill-filtered) rye,

This is definitely THE one to get. I will make sure that I can lay my hands on at least one bottle before it vanishes completely.

Recently introduced is a 14yo Eagle Rare, which I suspect is for the French market only. I have been eyeing this a lot - I think it is made for La Maison du Whisky which should make it synonomous with high quality.

Overall, the strength of Europe, in my view is the plethora of specialist shops which seem to be willing to stock "odd" items and, not the least, embrace the concept of mail order. Doesn´t seem to be as common in the US - all due to legal reasons, possibly.

[doubleblank]

Hey Dane.......lucky you.....I'm bringing one of the Blanton's barrel proofs I picked up this summer in London. I haven't opened one yet, so I'mm looking forward to it too.

We're in Mykonos later today and I'm always on the lookout for interesting bottles as we travel. I did find a Knob Creek in a round bottle in Amsterdam....it was pretty dusty and don't know when it arrived there. Lots of Four Roses and Wild Turkey 8 yo everywhere here.

Randy

[Bamber]

The WhiskyExchange has the Van Winkle Family Reserve 1985 (non-chill-filtered) rye, and the Vintage Bourbons from 1976, '80 and '83 by Even Kulsveen -- any of which would interest me for their under-$75 price tags.

I've done a couple of head to head comparisons between the VWFRR 1985 and the 13YO and there is very little difference IMO. Personally I slightly prefer the 13YO. They are both truly great whiskies mind.

The Vintage 1976 Bourbon is good but not worth the price tag IMHO.

[pepcycle]

I'm currently considering the following:

1. Evan Williams 23 Y/O

2. The infamous "Whiskey that you will never have"

3. Very Very Old Fitzgerald (pint)

4. Sherry Cask WT

5. Four Roses Super Premium

[Hedmans Brorsa]

The Vintage 1976 Bourbon is good but not worth the price tag IMHO.

I agree. Perfectly drinkable but somewhat tired. Too old is my, perhaps predictable, judgement. Have you tried the younger vintages and, if so, do they show more vigour?

Before anyone paints an all-too rosy picture of the Bourbon situation in Europe I have to stress that most bottlings mentioned in this thread are not Europe-only products. In fact, in most cases they aren´t even made for the European market - their presence on our ground being mostly the effect of ambitious shop owners.

[chasking]

I can buy Four Roses at the American border going INTO the U.S. It's the only time I've ever seen it for sale in a duty free. 1L for around $20. Good value.

My favorite (if that's the right word) Duty Free observation is that Paddy Irish whisky is available in the Duty Free shop at O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Now, Paddy is not sold in the U.S. So, aside from the irony of a product not available in the U.S. being sold here to people from elsewhere visiting the U.S., there is also the irony of having the stuff shipped all the way here to sell at the duty free store but not to the American market, which in Chicago at least has a prodigious thirst for Irish whiskey.

[Dave_in_Canada]

The selections at duty-free have always been a mystery to me as well!

[Bamber]

The Vintage 1976 Bourbon is good but not worth the price tag IMHO.

I agree. Perfectly drinkable but somewhat tired. Too old is my, perhaps predictable, judgement. Have you tried the younger vintages and, if so, do they show more vigour?

(snip)

I haven't but I am constantly considering it About the same price though.

[Bamber]

I can buy Four Roses at the American border going INTO the U.S. It's the only time I've ever seen it for sale in a duty free. 1L for around $20. Good value.

My favorite (if that's the right word) Duty Free observation is that Paddy Irish whisky is available in the Duty Free shop at O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Now, Paddy is not sold in the U.S. So, aside from the irony of a product not available in the U.S. being sold here to people from elsewhere visiting the U.S., there is also the irony of having the stuff shipped all the way here to sell at the duty free store but not to the American market, which in Chicago at least has a prodigious thirst for Irish whiskey.

They've probably found only jet-lagged people will buy the stuff

[brendaj]

2. The infamous "Whiskey that you will never have"

Gawd, I can't remember the name of that stuff...and it was so late in the evening, it's all a blur but, didn't he pass around a little?

Oh please, will you save me a sip?

[nor02lei]

The 1985 100 proof van Winkle rye is real good. I believe it is bottled 2000 and about 15 years old, with makes it 4 years younger than the today family reserve rye. But there is an even younger “13 years old†one to. It is the van Winkle Lottas Home 13 year’s rye with actually is as young as 13-14 years. For me that is a real hit. I had it last night and it is really god. Anybody ells having experience of that brand?

[doc_mcCabe]

My wish list from La Maison includes the 10 year Rittenhouse Rye bottled exclusively for them. They also stock Weller 19 and Evan Williams 23, but these two are very pricey.

Mark McCabe

[nor02lei]

I have never seen Weller 19 on there bourbonlist. Where on the homepage have you seen that and what is the price?

[TNbourbon]

My wish list from La Maison includes the 10 year Rittenhouse Rye bottled exclusively for them...

The remainder of a bottle may make an appearance in Bardstown next month. Quite wonderful stuff.

[doc_mcCabe]

My brother saw both the Weller 19 and the Evan Williams 23 at La Maison a few months back. I think they were each well over 150 euro.

Mark McCabe

[Hedmans Brorsa]

My brother saw both the Weller 19 and the Evan Williams 23 at La Maison a few months back. I think they were each well over 150 euro.

It has been in their catalogue but that was a couple of years ago. I got my first bottle of Stagg from them and, if I remember right, it was never on display on their web site. It might be that they hesitate to put them on display if the stock is severely limited.

But there is an even younger “13 years old†one to. It is the van Winkle Lottas Home 13 year’s rye with actually is as young as 13-14 years. For me that is a real hit. I had it last night and it is really god. Anybody ells having experience of that brand?

Never ´eard of this one before. Lottas home sounds like a pub to me. Do you mean that Julian has bottled something exclusively for Sweden in the same way he did for, was it Twisted Spoke?

Honestly, I have never tried the 13yo. When I was about to invest I found out on these very pages that it was at least 4 years older than 13, so I stuck to the 1985, which, of course is undescribably good. It´s the only rye I´ve had which can compete with the best of the Bourbons.