Export Only Bourbons

[rccoulter]

My brother-in-law is in Japan for a year, and has agreed to do some shopping for me. Can anyone suggest a few export only must haves? I'll probably only be able to afford a bottle or two, so I want to make them count.

[jspero]

A lot of people here like Four Roses Single Barrel, which is (I believe) only available overseas and in KY (86 proof in Japan). I bought a bottle last time I was in Tokyo and was a little disappointed after the reviews here. I was very good, just not up to my preconceived expectations. I think I paid about $40 USD for it. You might also consider Wild Turkey 12yo and I.W. Harper from the Duty Free at the airport on the Japanese side. I think they were around $35 USD. I'll be picking those up in May on my next trip.

[bluesbassdad]

Mucho dittos on the WT 12y/o. Assuming you have a fondness for any of the WT lineup (a few of us here don't), especially the Kentucky Spirit, I all but guarantee you'll love the 12 y/o. It may be my all time favorite. (YMMV, of course.)

It's still possible to find the odd bottle in the U.S, or so they tell me, but it's no longer distributed here.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[TNbourbon]

Evan Williams 15yo (burgundy label).

[barturtle]

While I also recommend the WT 12, there are a myriad of products that go overseas that aren't offered in the states. I would browse through these site and see if anything interests you:

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/bourbon2/all.html

http://store.yahoo.co.jp/kawachi/20040830.html

While there's not much I can read there, there's just about enough for me to be able to ID the bottlings. Lots of older stuff and some at odd ages that we don't see much of here.

[RedVette]

You've gotta get one of these;

[BourbonJoe]

What am I lookin' at Rob?

Joe

[RedVette]

What am I lookin' at Rob?

Joe

Cousin Elvis Brand Bourbon

[gr8erdane]

Cousin Elvis Brand Bourbon

Please tell me the label isn't printed on velvet....

[Rughi]

I especially like "HEAVEN-HILL Old styleBlanton's" at:

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/bourbon2/549857/555421/

It's a 6-year BIB! You can't get this Heavalot BuffHill Trace product in the States.

[Virus_Of_Life]

Evan Williams 15yo (burgundy label).

Is that the reddish labeled bottle I've seen in some pictures? Or is there actually a burgundy AND red? Now wouldn't that be something! Either way, I love EW and can only imagine the others just get better, so how can someone in the states get a burgundy label?...

[Hedmans Brorsa]

You should definitely try Four Roses super premium and if you´re like me, not averse to a glass of Maker´s Mark, then both the black and gold seal are must haves. Ignore at your own peril!

As for the Cousin Elvis brand : over the years I´ve seen many like these named after famous Americans. Other examples are Davy Crockett and General Custer. All of them, if my memory serves me correct have been 12yo and 100 proof.

Assuming that they´re all bulk whiskey I have never been able to muster up anything that faintly resembles enthusiasm. I have therefore no tasting notes to offer.

[doubleblank]

Christian.......HH makes both an EW 12yo and an EW 15yo for the Export market. The 12yo has a bright red label, the 15yo has a darker, marroon/burgundy label.

If one is looking for something unusual, reasonably priced and good to drink, Tim's suggestion of this one hits all three. Other exports may be more exotic and rare....but also more expensive.

Randy

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

The 12 yo EW 100 proof is very drinkable and very affordable, at least here in Japan. I have had the 15 year old at my favorite bar a couple of times, but can't say much more than I liked it. Not that the 15 EW wasn't memorable, just my memory is bad.

Ed

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

The Olde St Nick line is very good. The ryes are a better deal than the older bourbons. Rare Perfection is also very good, pricy though.

Ed

[rccoulter]

Hey, you guys were supposed to make this easier, not harder! Now I've gone from wanting a bottle or two, to needing 5 to 10 bottles.

TNbourbon I am especially intrigued by the Evan Williams 15 (& 12).

I knew about the Four Roses bottlings, though am still not quite sure which I should/would opt for. Perhaps the Super-Duper Premium Platinum, or whatever it's called. From what I'm told, the single barrel is available in KY.

I've had the WT12 before, but wouldn't mind another bottle.

And how can I pass up a whiskey bottle with Elvis on it, regardless of what's inside.

As for the St. Nick line, any idea who produces them?

Oh and any idea how much it costs to ship a whole case of whiskey from Japan?

[TNbourbon]

...TNbourbon I am especially intrigued by the Evan Williams 15 (& 12)...

As for the St. Nick line, any idea who produces them?..

I have a standing request with Koji, our ubiquitous :cool: Japan swapping partner, to fill any untethered trade loose ends with the EW15yo. As Randy noted, it's less known than the 12yo, but a natural progression, age-wise, of the Evan Williams line. Extremely good balance of the HH trademark menthol and herbaceousness and wood. I have it listed in another thread among my 10 'best'.

Kentucky Bourbon Distillers -- Even and Drew Kulsveen -- bottle the Olde St. Nicks.

[cask_strength]

I tried the old st. nick two years ago. It had a black seal wax and it was the worst bourbon I've ever drunk. Don't kill me guys this is just my opinion.

I've read that only in Japan the maker's mark black seal is for sale. Is this right? I would buy a maker's mark in Japan or the wild turkey tribute for jimmy russell. (the bottle of my dreams)

chears barrelproof

[Hedmans Brorsa]

I knew about the Four Roses bottlings, though am still not quite sure which I should/would opt for. Perhaps the Super-Duper Premium Platinum, or whatever it's called. From what I'm told, the single barrel is available in KY.

My take on the Four Roses "internal competition" : to nose, I prefer the SB but the super premium wins on both the palate and the finish.

On the other hand, the super premium is almost certainly the more expensive of the two.

You can always sidestep the problem by getting both of them!

[jspero]

My take on the Four Roses "internal competition" : to nose, I prefer the SB but the super premium wins on both the palate and the finish.

On the other hand, the super premium is almost certainly the more expensive of the two.

You can always sidestep the problem by getting both of them!

When I was in Tokyo in October, the Four Roses Super Premium was about $70 USD in the couple of store I saw it.

Jay

[AVB]

For collecting and/or resale here in the states any of the super old bottlings would bring some decent returns. Cowboy 25, the Old St. Nicks, Martin Mills 24, and the very rare Heaven Hill 28 are never seen here along with a bunch of others.

[StraightBoston]

Maker's Mark Black Wax seems to be out of production, even in Japan. It's one of my favorites (but I never thought to bunker any when I was able to get it regularly in the duty-free.)

Add Evan Williams 23yo to the super-old list -- better still in the old "straight" bottle.

There are a wide variety of Blanton's not available stateside: Black, Green, Silver, Gold and Straight-from-the-cask labels.

I find the Four Roses Superpremium/Platinum (another duty-free find) to be *too* smooth -- i.e. not enough character. Certainly not worth the price vs. the single barrel.

[BourbonJoe]

How old is the MM Black Wax?

Joe

[StraightBoston]

Like regular Maker's -- no age statement. Higher proof (95) and noticeably darker than red seal, so you know it's a little older.

[Virus_Of_Life]

My best friend was going on a cruise and it didn't dawn on me until tonite, he may be leaving the country through an airport with a duty free shop. So I call and leave him a message telling him to check for export only bourbons! Sure enough I get a text message back that he and the wife are in Miami and they had WT Freedom, but only one bottle :frown: :shithappens: one is better than none right.?... Then I read further and he says his mother has a new found bourbon interest and wants the bottle!!! :smiley_acbt: :hot: :shithappens: He is joking I hope because this is a bunch of :horseshit: if he isn't!!!

Anyway pretty sure he's just messin with me, and I think my next trip to Oregon may involve WT Vertical tasting, is that what it's called? Would really like an 8 and 12 in the mix, but it will include the obvious 101, RR 101, RB, KS and I guess that would be a good time to open the Tribute! I got my work cut out for me in the next couple of months to get at least a bottle of 12!... Should be fun, I have always said I love regular 101 so much that it's hard for me to truly appreciate the others, but I'll give it my best!