Hypothetical question about 10 bourbons

[Vange]

They threw in a monkey wrench!! Since there are so many types of bourbons out there, they decided to go with an article on top shelf single barrel bourbons only.

These leaves room open for another bourbon article at a later date.

I guess my question is, is it easy to distinguish a single barrel bourbon from others? Meaning it's always on the label, etc.

I also might need some refined lists now.

Thanks everyone!

[AVB]

I gotta ask. How are you going to write an article on something you don't seem to know much about? It takes more then a few tastings and some reading to appreciate the the differences and nuances of bourbon IMO.

[kbuzbee]

AFAIK - yes, it's always on the label. Single barrel is only one component, though. What you will figure out quickly is the three main "high end" catagories may include any or all of the other two (well, kinda).

Single barrel may or may not be cask strength. - Kentucky Spirit is single barrel but not cask strength. Single barrel is NOT small batch.

Cask Strength may or may not be single barrel or small batch. - Rare Breed is cask strength but not single barrel. It is a mingling of 6, 8, and 12 year old bourbon.

Small batch, may or may not be cask strength but is not single barrel. Small batch varies tremendously between distilleries. So much so, it's almost meaningless - out of context.

(Almost?) all distilleries have single barrel offering and folks here each have their favorite. Mine is Kentucky Spirit. I find it smooth, but not TOO smooth. Plenty of characture. A very, VERY good Bourbon!

The one thing to remember about single barrel, every single barrel will be unique. Reviewing one barrel may or may not give your readers insight to the particular barrel they are able to find on the shelf. The master distillers do have a profile they are trying to match but they only have selection, not modification (mingling) to work with. They can age it more or move it to another area of the rickhouse, but that's about it. At the very least you should cite which barrel you are reviewing (it's on the label - Warehouse C Rick 9 barrel 6 or something similar). Any article on single barrel is, at best, a snapshot in time.

Ken

[Vange]

Thank you for the insight.

To respond to the otehr question, I won't be writing the article alone, but I am doing a lot of the legwork to get a nice list of 10 bourobs to use in the sampling. Others with the bourbon knowledge will be writing the majority of the article.

[kbuzbee]

I gotta ask. How are you going to write an article on something you don't seem to know much about? It takes more then a few tastings and some reading to appreciate the the differences and nuances of bourbon IMO.

Goes under the same theory that most teacher's colleges work under (Tim, do you agree??). You don't need to know the subject matter, all you need is teaching skills. My ex is a teacher. I always wondered how she could teach math when she couldn't do math (or science). and she wasn't even really interested in either one. (Geez, this is gonna be pulled over to the off topic area pretty quick, isn't it?)

I find I can teach anything but I have to be interested enough in it to actually learn about it first. I'd never have made it through teacher's college! And I think that is a huge problem today.

Ken

[kbuzbee]

Thank you for the insight.

To respond to the otehr question, I won't be writing the article alone, but I am doing a lot of the legwork to get a nice list of 10 bourobs to use in the sampling. Others with the bourbon knowledge will be writing the majority of the article.

That should help. I hope they know their stuff. Bourbon is a very complex subject and the folks most likely to be interested in what you write are right here (and not an easy crowd to impress). We are fortunate to have a couple very knowledgable people here who manage to keep the rest of us on track, so to speak. The bottom line (for me) is everyone's experience with something like taste, is, ultimately, unique to them. It may or may not follow what your article describes to them.

Good luck!

Ken

[Vange]

We'll try our best, unfortunately it's not some big great magazine. It's more a local magazine, but either way we want to write up a nice article. It's more of a showcase of top shelf bourbons rather than even a full length wordy article.

[kbuzbee]

I see. I'm sure it will be well received. Nice to see something going out to a wider (if smaller) audience. You are smart to use the expertice here to help with your "legwork". As I said earlier, several of the folks here are not just knowlegdable but also well respected in the field.

Post a link when it's published, I'd love to read it.

Ken

[Vange]

I plan on tapping some of the resources here when we get closer to writing the article. Maybe even for some text if possible for those willing to help. Believe me, we want the article to sound and look good.

The artcile is designed to make readers of this magazine, say wow, I never even heard of a lot of these bourbons AND/OR I didn't know wild turkey had a bourbon that tastes that good!

[RedVette]

This is a lot easier, there just aren't that many single barrels out there.

Blantons

Evan Williams SB

Elmer T Lee

Wild Turkey Heritage

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

Rock Hill Farms

Four Roses

Wathens

Elijah Craig 18

Eagle Rare 10

[TNbourbon]

...Goes under the same theory that most teacher's colleges work under (Tim, do you agree??). You don't need to know the subject matter, all you need is teaching skills...

You're asking the wrong person, Ken. I have a 160 IQ (or, so they tell me) and a degree in English -- my education degree was my SECOND major, because my small, private liberal arts college would not allow one to graduate without a major in an academic discipline. A better question to me (veering WAAAYYY off topic!) would be how the heck did someone supposedly bright spend his life in careers that offer so little money or advancement?

[gr8erdane]

The only other three I have or know of in addition to RedVette's list are:

Hancock's from BT

Henry McKenna from HH

and

Benchmark SB (no longer produced).

[kbuzbee]

Just to keep it in the thread, Kentucky Spirit (Oh, I said that already)

You're asking the wrong person, Ken. I have a 160 IQ (or, so they tell me) and a degree in English --

Don't get me wrong, Tim, I didn't expect you to represent this trend but I figured you'd have been exposed to it and have an opinion (whether concurring or dissenting)

A better question to me (veering WAAAYYY off topic!) would be how the heck did someone supposedly bright spend his life in careers that offer so little money or advancement?

Understood. When I was in high school I went through career analysis looking at what things paid and what I could probably handle (as far as getting AND paying for the schooling). Trying to maximize the area under the curve, so to speak. I ruled out the things that I perceived to be too hard/expensive (Doctor, Lawyer) and settled on something I'd expected to pay well but was much easier (Civil Engineering). Got my first job out of school staking oil rigs in the Gulf for big $$$. Moved from there to computer support then sales. Mostly pretty good money along the way. Never designed one highway or bridge.... Oh well.....

Ken

[RedVette]

I have never seen or tried any of them, but aren't the Black Maple Hills also single barrels?

[BourbonJoe]

Yes, Black Maple Hill's are single barrels.

Joe

[KYBlue]

Tonight's the night for my tasting. The lineup has changed a little:

Jeffersons Reserve 15

Elmer T. Lee*

Hirsch 16*

Pappy Van Winkle 15

Buffaloe Trace*

Basil Haydens

*1st pours for me

Being a novice, I really don't know what to expect... I really liked the Jeffersons Reserve when I had that early this year. Basil Haydens is frequently in my house, but most often I have Makers - which I like, but Basil Haydens I like a lot more.

Any predictions on what will emerge as tonights favorite?

[TNbourbon]

...Any predictions on what will emerge as tonight's favorite?

Don't know about a favorite, but I suspect your opinion of the Jefferson Reserve might fade a bit in that company.

[Vange]

If anyone is intested here are the 10 bourbons that are going to be featured in the "Top Shelf" article. Thanks to all for adding your input. I would like to say I was not the only person picking these, so if you don't like the list don't kill me for it!! Some were chosen almost just based on availability. I added a few notes to give some reasoning. Curious to hear any thoughts or opinions on the 10 chosen.

1) Baker's (small batch, readily available and young)

2) Blanton's Original (the ORIGNAL single barrel)

3) Booker's (small batch, but vastly different from Baker's)

4) Hirsch 16 (a piece of history)

5) Pappy 20 (one of the best and my favorite)

6) Elmer T Lee (unbeatable for the price)

7) Stagg (the hazmat label and its quality)

8) Wild Turkey Tribute (arguably best in the WT class)

9) Eagle Rare 17 (another great one)

10) Distillers Masterpiece Port finish (why this one? we needed a "WOW" type bourbon for the article in which readers would get a bit mystified by this selection, plus it has a very elegant and photogenic look)

[barturtle]

Scanning back though the thread I never found the name of the magazine.

[kbuzbee]

You have a good list there, Evangelos. Post a link when it's written?

Ken

[Vange]

Thank you, magazine is called the Good Life. Small local magazine at the New Jersey shore. Affiliated with a newspaper. It's fun to do it for them, I get very very very little money to do it. I did a tequila article already (I know more about those than bourbon, but like I said in other posts, I ramp up fast)

The magazine comes out in Spring 06. I'll post a link when it's posted.

[bluesbassdad]

I recognize that the selections that make for the ideal magazine article dedicated to a certain theme comprise a different set than one based on a consumer's criteria (flavor, value, availability, etc.).

On that basis I find your list admirable, with but one exception. I'm disappointed that no bottling from Heaven Hill made your list. After you mentioned an emphasis on single barrel bottlings (IIRC . . .or was it the "top shelf" angle that arrived late?), I assumed that Elijah Craig 18 y/o (my choice) or one of the Evan Williams Single Barrel vintage bottlings would be a slam dunk. The vintage angle would add a unique element to the article.

I might also quibble, albeit with less fervor, about your inclusion of Blanton's and Elmer T. Lee (from Buffalo Trace) while omitting their best (IMHO), Rock Hill Farms. (At the very least it photographs better than the Elmer T. Lee. )

Regardless, I look forward to seeing your article, and I'm honored that you considered our advice.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Vange]

Honestly I wanted EC 18 and RHF, but other powers wanted Baker's for familiarity and blanton's for aesthetics. (it's good too of course)

Elmer T Lee was added because it has a great following on this forum and is sub $30. Fits that great buy category.

I didn't think to try and pick distilleries rather than just picking 10 great bourbons. Maybe next time.

I have a feeling we'll be doing a followup article on bourbon. I'll make sure to add RHF and EC 18 on those! Perhaps a 4 Roses or Noah's Mill as well. We'll see how this one goes first!

One question, can someone verify if blanton's was indeed the FIRST single barrel bourbon?

[AVB]

Where did you find the Tribute as you were looking as late as Monday? You can PM me if you don't want to post.

8) Wild Turkey Tribute (arguably best in the WT class)

[Vange]

Emailed a fe guys diretly from ebay that sold it in the past. We made a deal. I have a friend in Hong Kong that I just sent a list to of bourbons to look out for. I hope he'll have good news for me soon!