Please rate these Bourbons for me??

[BarItemsPlus1]

Hi all,

I would really appreciate it if I can get a rating from SB'ers on the products listed below, please feel free to include a VERY brief note too...

Please rate out of 5, being 5 for a top drop and 1 for leaving on the shelf or for when the in-laws drop by:grin:

Please note, price is not the consideration just the liquid.....

- Evan Williams 23yr old

- Elijah Craig 18yr old

- Evan Williams 12yr old Red

- Old Fitzgerald 12yr old

- Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr old

- Old Fitzgerald 1849 10yr old

- Rittenhouse Rye

- Evan Williams 1783

- Old Fitzgerald 100 Proof

[ratcheer]

The only one of those I have ever had is the Henry McKenna, which I would rate a 4. It is quite good, but not one of my top favorites. I have an open bottle of it, now.

Tim

[BarItemsPlus1]

Well Tim I will have to see what I can do about that....

When I come over I do plan on having a bit of a get together with some folk, hope you can make it! It will hopefully be for the sampler but if I don't get to that I would like to arrange something....?

Cheers!!

[barturtle]

Hmm, rating bourbons? I usually have no prob making a favs list but putting numbers on things is a bit more difficult. The two elder Evan Williams are export only so I've never had the pleasure, but I've had the rest, though some it has been a while.

EC 18: 3-3.5 never been a fav of mine, but I've always liked it

VSOF 12: 4 while it can be a little one dimensional it's always been a great dessert bourbon for me

McKenna: been too long, I can't recall. Must put it on a to try again list

1849: 3-4 though it's a 8yo(or was before it lost the age statement) that score keeps going up when you realize how good the price is.

Ritt Rye: 4 and I'll even give the 80 a 3 I'd give Beam rye a 2.5(after all any rye's better than no rye at all) and Old Overholt would get 3-3.5

1783: 2-3 there's always been a little something in this bottling that keeps me from going "Oh, Yeah!"

Old Fitz BIB:4 I like the youth here for some reason

I'm not sure why you're asking about all the HH prducts here but you may also like to consider Very Rare Old Heaven Hill 10yo BIB: 4 always something to leave KY with.

[BarItemsPlus1]

Umm..just asking for my own personal reference

I am most definately looking at other offerings/bottlings/labels/brands but for the moment I am mainly interested in these products....

Really appreciate the feedback, thankyou!

[PFC]

My two cents:

- Evan Williams 23yr old

5, Really amazing.(Remember I'm partial to over-aged bourbons).

- Elijah Craig 18yr old

2, Only had one bottle, it was way past its prime. Believe other bottlings may be better.

- Very Old Fitzgerald 12yr old

1, HH-version. Don't know if it was a bad bottle, but it was easily the worst bourbon I've ever tasted. Smelled like rotten wood.

- Old Fitzgerald 1849 8yr old

3, Very nice and tasty. Not overly complex.

/M

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

- Evan Williams 23yr old- Dunno. I wish it weren't so expensive.

- Elijah Craig 18yr old- Not sure. I have never bought a bottle. I really like it at my favorite bar. Maybe a 3.5 or a 4.

- Evan Williams 12yr old Red- I really like this. A solid 4, sometimes it is a 5. I like this better than the EW Single Barrels I have had.

- Old Fitzgerald 12yr old- Dunno.

- Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr old- Dunno. I want to try this.

- Old Fitzgerald 1849 10yr old- I had some of this (8 year old) tonight. It's a 3. Sometimes, not often, it is the perfect pour, I guess that would be a 5 on those days. I would rate it higher, but I've only had one bottle. I don't often visit this bottle.

- Rittenhouse Rye- Dunno. I really, really want to try this, but I have never seen it.

- Evan Williams 1783- Dunno.

- Old Fitzgerald 100 Proof- It's a 1. I didn't like it when we did this as the bottle of the month. I have only been back to it once or twice since then. I burned my throat so much that I couldn't enjoy the taste, which I thought was nice. But you have to swallow sometime...

Well, after having written such an unflattering review I had to go and taste it. Burn, but not as bad as I remembered. Added some water, now it is about 80 proof. Nice brown sugar sweetness, with a young rye taste. I just wish it was a lot older. A 2.

Ed

[1holegrouper]

I have had EC18 and would rate it a 4. It is very smooth but isn't a 5 due to lack of flavor depth. Nevertheless it is a very good bourbon.

[nor02lei]

- Evan Williams 23yr old: not tried

- Elijah Craig 18yr old: 5

- Evan Williams 12yr old Red: not tried, EC 12 Y 3

- Old Fitzgerald 12yr old: 1-2 (very woody)

- Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr old: not tried

- Old Fitzgerald 1849 10yr old: not tried

- Rittenhouse Rye: 80 proof 2, 100 proof not tried, 100 proof 10 Y 4 (taste per buck= 5)

- Evan Williams 1783: not tried

- Old Fitzgerald 100 Proof: not tried

[AVB]

5 - Evan Williams 23yr old - I really like this.

4 - Elijah Craig 18yr old - Drank 4 or 5 of these and they were all very good

? - Evan Williams 12yr old Red - Haven't had it

3.5 - Old Fitzgerald 12yr old - Has it's moments, but has been inconsistent for me.

2.5 - Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr old - Nothing special average pour.

? - Old Fitzgerald 1849 10yr old - Haven't had it

4 - Rittenhouse Rye - Bold, spicy and full of flavor just as a Rye should be

3 - Evan Williams 1783 - Just a tad bit better then an everyday pour

1.5 - Old Fitzgerald 100 Proof - Just doesn't do it for me

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Somewhat belatedly I discovered that there were questions about the 12yo version of Evan Williams. Here´s my 5 cents :

According to Mr. Murray, this is a 101 proof version of EC 12. To my knowledge it is Japan-only, although the bottles that have surfaced in Europe have not carried the usual steep price-tag associated with Nippon-exclusive Bourbons. Maybe a reflection of the humane price policy of HH?

The design is modelled on EW black label, with black replaced by red.

My main complaint when it comes to the current version of EC 12 (or at least the one who has been doing the rounds in Sweden) is not that it tastes bad. On the contrary, I really enjoy it. What I have against it is its one-dimensionality. No severe challenges to the tastebuds.

EW 12 rectifies this somewhat. It is slightly more complex and offers flavour development, as well. And yet, strangely, I think I prefer the EC 12, anyway.

The finish is akin to the EC 12, only more wild and unruly. Nose is the one department where I clearly side with EW 12 - it is deeper and more satisfying, perhaps more buttery corn than EC 12.

I hope this can be to some help.

[BarItemsPlus1]

Thankyou all indeed for the ratings, very much appreciated!!:thankyousign:

By the looks of things I better get in a few bottles(cases:drinking: ) of the EW 23yr old...would you believe I had a bottle of this and sold it:banghead: ....Oh well live and learn.

I am expecting some of these bottlings to come in within the next few weeks so I will post my personal findings.

Once again thanks every1 for taking the time to offer your findings:toast: Cheers!!

[TMH]

Troy,

I've had Louisville versions of:

OF 1849

OF 12

OF BIB 100

There is no comparison to newer versions. So when you ask to rate these bottles do you mean current or past? Several you list were made by SW, but now made by HH. IMHO HH bourbon fails miserably in comparison to the SW bourbon of the past. HH may have purchased the mashbill, but there is a hell of a lot more to bourbon than it's mashbill. My advice would be to avoid any non Louisville Old Fitz.

[camduncan]

Well, here goes - a pretty basic opinion....

Evan Williams 23yr old

- not tried

Elijah Craig 18yr old

- not bad - too woody/smokey to make my every day pour 3/5

Evan Williams 12yr old Red

- not tried

Old Fitzgerald 12yr old

- not tried

Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr old

- not tried

Old Fitzgerald 1849 10yr old

- one of my favourites. Light and easy to drink 4.5/5

Rittenhouse Rye

- a good no frills Rye. Definately better than JB, but not as good as ORVW 3.5/5

Evan Williams 1783

- not tried

Old Fitzgerald 100 Proof

- not tried

[camduncan]

Troy,

I've had Louisville versions of:

OF 1849

OF 12

OF BIB 100

There is no comparison to newer versions. So when you ask to rate these bottles do you mean current or past? Several you list were made by SW, but now made by HH. IMHO HH bourbon fails miserably in comparison to the SW bourbon of the past. HH may have purchased the mashbill, but there is a hell of a lot more to bourbon than it's mashbill. My advice would be to avoid any non Louisville Old Fitz.

Tim, sometimes this is easier said than done.....

Here in Australia (where Troy is also from,) we don't have any of these products. No one imports them into the country. :cry: (Hopefully Troy can change this in the near future)

Our bourbon market is pretty much strangled in Government red tape which allows JB & JD to have a monopoly and all the rest of the distilleries have a minor share.... if they can get their products onto our shores at all...(ask Ken Webber how hard it is to get BT's namesake bourbon into our market without it ending up costing the consumer more than a bottle of Bookers at AU $80 per bottle)

Personally I'd be more than happy to see any of these products make it Downunder to us - no matter what distillery they came from :cool:

[Mad Mac]

My two cents:

- Very Old Fitzgerald 12yr old

1, HH-version. Don't know if it was a bad bottle, but it was easily the worst bourbon I've ever tasted. Smelled like rotten wood.

/M

PFC - I have a friend who swears by VOF, but I couldn't agree with you more!

[brian12069]

IMO

-Evan Williams 23yr old (never had it)

- Elijah Craig 18yr old(been a while but didn't enjoy it at all)

- Evan Williams 12yr old Red(mmm, sounds good but haven't tried it)

- Old Fitzgerald 12yr old(VERY GOOD!...A+Bought it a couple weeks ago)

- Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr old(Nice!...very tastey)

- Old Fitzgerald 1849 10yr old(1849 is a bargain, under-rated)

- Rittenhouse Rye(haven't had it)

- Evan Williams 1783(good, another bargain at the price)

- Old Fitzgerald 100 Proof(great stuffA+...love Old Fitzgerald)