Evan Williams Single Barrel 1996 Vintage

[mobourbon]

I received an invitation to the EWSB 1996 sneak unveiling at the Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville on Oct 8 at 8 PM. I'll be there! Any other Bardstown Bourbon Society members planning to be there? I just hope this is as good as the '95.

[camduncan]

Damm, we only just got the '95 bottles Downunder a few months ago I'm yet to grab one of these

[mobourbon]

Cam, we didn't get the '95's in PA until Feb. of this year. As a matter of fact, the bottles we received in the middle of Feb. were bottled in the beginning of Feb. So you have plenty of time before you get the '96's.

[BourbonJoe]

I got that invation too. Darn it Fred, I can't make that one either. Have a ball and let us know how it is.

Joe

[tmas]

I Was wondering if anyone has had an opportunity to taste the 1996. I notice it has just appeared in a local store. Tom V

[jeff]

I'm having my first drink of this right now. Barrel #27, barreled on 2/19/96, bottled on 11/18/05. The nose is quite fruity with a strong caramel foundation. The palate is classic HH bourbon with nice caramel and vanilla notes and just a hint of cinnamon on the back end. The finish is long and warm. This is a slight improvement on the 1995 release, which I thought was fantastic.

[mobourbon]

This is a slight improvement on the 1995 release, which I thought was fantastic.

Jeff, I also thought the '95 was fantastic. I especially liked the creamy vanilla taste. So I'll be looking forward to the '96! We won't get it here until Feb., though.

[fogfrog]

Here in Lenexa KS the Gift Sets are the 1995 which gives you a glass and a silver measuring cup for 25 bucks. I got one and think this is an awesome bourbon. Best I've had to date.

[ProofPositive]

In a related EWSB Vintage question, how does the '93 bottling compare to the '94 & '95 versions? I have read a lot on here about the '94 & '95 bottles respectively, but not much on previous years. I've read some quips from critics saying EWSB Vintage has gotten better every year. Maybe the last 2 years have been larger improvements or captivated more attention than seen before in the series. Is either or both a possibility?

[jeff]

Personally, I have enjoyed the '94-'96 releases more than the '92 or '93. The '91 vintage is my favorite of the series, though I haven't tried the '86 or '87

[RedVette]

I am having my first taste of '96 right now. Since I have not ever finished a whole bottle of EWSB, let alone multiple bottles, I don't have the flavor profile embedded in the noggin like I do some of the others. The 96 does seem to be a little lighter in character than some of the other years. In color and in taste, this just seems to be a fresher, friendlier pour. I'll do a vertical in the near future, my collection only goes back to 91, to see whether my first impressions are accurate.

[ProofPositive]

In your opinion, how does the '96 compare to the '95? Anyone else out there is welcome & respectfully requested to chime in as well. I still have not gotten around to getting a '95. Also, I know best to not wait too long if I want one of the gift sets with the glass & jigger. I have a '94 which is quite good and an unopened '93. It is in the brown box and I am thinking of trading/selling it....just running out of space in the vault!

[BourbonJoe]

Buy the '95 Proof. Most people prefer it to the 94, which was also good. We won't get the '96 in PA. until February.

Joe

[ProofPositive]

Buy the '95 Proof. Most people prefer it to the 94, which was also good. We won't get the '96 in PA. until February.

Joe

After reading back throught this thread last night, I realized that I had not yet seen a '96 in my neck of the woods. Well, I saw my first one today while out looking for dusty bottles. Guess I should have brought it home but figured I would soon be seeing more.

Here's a question that I would bet has been asked and answered several times over: Before the HH distillery burned in 1996 (exact date?), were a good number of the barrels designated to become EWSB 1996 already in the warehouse? In other words, will there be less 1996 than previous years due to the fire? If so, any idea how much less?

At present, around here it is pretty common to find 93 & 95 EWSB in just about any store you visit. The 94 bottle is also to be found but much less common than the previous mentioned. I just wonder if the 96 is going to be harder to find. If so, maybe I best go back and grab that one I saw today.

[barturtle]

Before the HH distillery burned in 1996 (exact date?), were a good number of the barrels designated to become EWSB 1996 already in the warehouse?

Someone else can probably give you more info, but here goes anyway:

November, 7 1996(so most of the year was gone and therefore they should have plenty of whiskey from that years' distillation, minus the following fact)

Approximately 14% of the total whiskey in storage was destroyed(of course that's not just that years' distillate, but many other years' as well, some of which other people had warehouse receipts on)

-source of both the above facts, The Evolution of the Bourbon Whiskey Industry in Kentucky, Sam K. Cecil

[gr8erdane]

From what I've been led to believe, they don't store all of one distillation in any one location but spread it out among the different rickhouses for aging. The whiskey destroyed by the fire would have been from numerous distillations and ages and used in all the different bottlings produced since then and there hasn't been any shortage up to now has there? They likely just pulled barrels from other rickhouses with the same age and profile to make up for those that were lost and held onto barrels that normally would have been harvested earlier for younger bottlings. If there were to be any shortages, I'm sure we would have noticed by now.

Of course some might say that their recent dropping of the 7 year statement from EW Black label is due to the fire but I am skeptical. I'm more inclined to believe they did it as a precaution against any FURTHER losses that would force them to meet demand for their flagship with younger whiskey. Easier to change the label now when they have plenty of time to get it approved than on the fly if the need ever arises. Of course that's only my own personal speculation.

[ProofPositive]

Personally, I have enjoyed the '94-'96 releases more than the '92 or '93. The '91 vintage is my favorite of the series, though I haven't tried the '86 or '87

Jeff,

Though I hate to admit it, I do peruse the ebay listings for any GTS and EWSB. Came across a 92 bottle tonite - uopened and signed by Parker Beam. The sell wants $49.99 on "Buy It Now". Just wondering if that is good, bad or ugly?

Wayne Brown

[ProofPositive]

From what I've been led to believe, they don't store all of one distillation in any one location but spread it out among the different rickhouses for aging. The whiskey destroyed by the fire would have been from numerous distillations and ages and used in all the different bottlings produced since then and there hasn't been any shortage up to now has there?

Thanks. That makes sense. No shortage that I have heard about and no need to worry about EWSB......at least for now.

[photogjunkie]

Each to his own, but I for one DID NOT enjoy the 1996 EWSB. I felt it was substandard in quality to the 1995 EWSB vintage in every way. Both bourbons were compared side-by-side with a bottle from each year. In the past I felt that the '94 was better than the '93 and the '95 was better than the '94, but the '96 IS NOT BETTER than the '95, in my opinion.

I will buy a couple bottles of the 1995 vintage to hold me over and wait for the 1997 to arrive.

[BourbonSteve]

I thought the '96 was pretty good. Until I put a bottle of RHF next ot it and tried it. The '96 smelled bad and wasn't touched again, no lie! I'm giving it away. I even tried it again 2 days later but there was no comparison and I've liked the '93 &'95 but I likely won't get them either. Sad but true.

[jburlowski]

Finally got around to opeing my bottle last night... very disappointing. Uninspired and insipid. IMHO, not worth the premium price.

[jspero]

Finally got around to opeing my bottle last night... very disappointing. Uninspired and insipid. IMHO, not worth the premium price.

I felt the same way about the '95 until last night. I tried it off and on for a few weeks and really didn't think it was all that great. Not bad, just not worth the extra price over, say, EW1783. Then I had some yesterday after a glass of WT Rye and I really liked it. I guess like anything, it depends on those random environmental factors before you try it (at least for me).

Jay

[pepcycle]

Try Heaven Hill 10 Y/O Bottled in Bond.

It may be just a tick below the single barrel in flavor, but its well worth the $12.

[ProofPositive]

Finally got around to opeing my bottle last night... very disappointing. Uninspired and insipid. IMHO, not worth the premium price.

Same for me with '95 & '94.....not worth it IMHO. The first and second pours of them were good but after that the taste went south. So, I'll pass on the '96 and any others that happen to cross my path.

[Nebraska]

For the last two months I've periodically been visiting my bottle of '95, I've really enjoyed it every time. A lot of other bourbons, my taste buds seem to vary on from time to time, but for some reason the '95 hits the spot every time.

I had the good fortune of finding EWSB on sale this week locally at a grocery store chain. I managed to purchase another '95, 2 92's and 3 93's. I'm looking forward to comparing. Unfortunately in my excitement of finding all those previous years, I forgot to pick up a '96, which is what I went for in the first place! Back to the grocery store.

I haven't seen a '94 in my travels yet, but hopefully one will pop up.

Mark/Nebraska