Hirsch 16 year gold foil

[Pete]

I stopped in a local liquor store a a few towns over from where I work today, and came across a bottle of AH Hirsch 16 year, for $70. Also picked up a bottle ORVW 15 yr.

Opened the Hirsch last night, and have to say.... it was nice, but it wasn't $70 nice. Kind of mellow, nothing really jumping out at me. I was surprised because I heard great things about this one. So I was a little disappointed... but glad I tried it since whatever stock is left, is all there is. Not something I'd buy again, though. Am I missing something on this?

Looking forward to trying the Van Winkle 15. I love the Pappy 20 year.

Pete

[scopenut]

Hi Pete,

You're not alone, you can find many posts on the list from people who are disappointed in the Hirsch gold foil. I'm not one of them, I really enjoy the depth of flavors. One person's mellow is another's smooth as silk, I guess. I think it's a great bourbon.

Kevin

[cowdery]

I'm very fond of the Hirsch 16 year-old. Part of the question is, what makes any bourbon worth $70? To me, I taste characteristics in the Hirsch that I just can't find in any contemporary bourbon. That's what makes it worth it for me.

[Pete]

I'm very fond of the Hirsch 16 year-old. Part of the question is, what makes any bourbon worth $70? To me, I taste characteristics in the Hirsch that I just can't find in any contemporary bourbon. That's what makes it worth it for me.

Hey Chuck, can you describe what you are tasting in the Hirsch? Next pour, it'll give me something to look for. My bourbon palate is immature... I'm a newbie.

By the way-- I'm in the middle of your book, and really enjoying it. I just finished the Beam chapter last night, and it made my head spin... I think I need a diagram to follow that family tree of 10 son distiller families!

Pete

[NorCalBoozer]

Opened the Hirsch last night, and have to say.... it was nice, but it wasn't $70 nice. Kind of mellow, nothing really jumping out at me. I was surprised because I heard great things about this one. So I was a little disappointed... but glad I tried it since whatever stock is left, is all there is. Not something I'd buy again, though. Am I missing something on this?

Pete

Pete, I also was finding that the gold foils seemed uneventful. It did seem as I got more into the bottle, that it really changed.

I always open a bottle of gold foil then think "hmmm this isn't as great as I remember" then once I get further into it, it really breaks open. This bourbon is much more "elegant" than most, in the sense that there are not one or two flavors that punch you out. It is very rich and balanced.

You might try leaving a pour out for 30 minutes or more and see if it helps. I could be crazy on this, but it's really what has been my experience.

Greg

[DrinkyBanjo]

I agree that the further down in the bottle I go the more I enjoy it. I don't know if that is because I'm beginning to understand or appreciate the contents or if something scientific is happening to the bourbon.

[BourbonJoe]

This afternoon I had a pour of Hirsch Gold Foil 16. I got cherries on the finish today. I really enjoyed this pour.

Joe :usflag:

[nor02lei]

It has been a lot of talking of different Hirsch versions. My basic point on this is that its 1974 Michters stock from the same steel containers in all of them. But never the less, here is one version more. It’s not even a Hirsch; it is Boones Knoll but with the same 74 Michters inside. As you can see the shape of the bottle is very lock alike beside the only Hirsch I have drunk. When it comes to the bourbon inside as I remember it really shoed of the high rye content. At the time (some years ago) I thought it tasted almost like something right in between bourbon and rye and I thought it was a bit on the woody side as well, witch have had the impact on me that I haven’t been so angus about tasting the 20 years old.

Leif

[bluesbassdad]

Leif,

That's a lovely setting in the photo of the Boone's Knoll bottle.

Do you realize that the Hirsch 16 y/o available here (at least during the last five years) is in a very differently shaped bottle? That's also true of the 20 y/o.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[nor02lei]

Leif,

That's a lovely setting in the photo of the Boone's Knoll bottle.

Do you realize that the Hirsch 16 y/o available here (at least during the last five years) is in a very differently shaped bottle? That's also true of the 20 y/o.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

Dave,

The Hirsch on the photo have not been sold here in Europe ether in some years. The one that are sold today is the same bottle as on your photo.

Leif

[scopenut]

From the Hirsch website, a picture of the 24yo rye. Notice that it's closer ,but still different to the ones Leif has shown.

Kevin

[NorCalBoozer]

That Hirsch looks like a typical SM scotch type bottle. Very cool.

Greg

[cowdery]

Hey Chuck, can you describe what you are tasting in the Hirsch? Next pour, it'll give me something to look for. My bourbon palate is immature... I'm a newbie.

It has a sweetness that others have described correctly as caramel corn or Cracker Jack, enough char to give it depth and richness but not sootiness, and a little bit of that wintergreen taste that tingles on the tongue. It's that last that I don't find in anything made today, but which I find in the older Stitzel-Weller whiskies and in the Hirsch.

Some whiskeys just don't reward careful tasting and some do. To me, the Hirsch does.

I had tasted all of the Hirschs at various times, usually in settings like the gazebo which, as much fun as it is, isn't the greatest environment for tasting something seriously.

About a year ago I was able to enjoy a good drink of the 16 gold foil in a bar, really liked it, and decided to spring for a bottle, which I finally opened last week. I still like it quite a lot. I find it very well balanced, just a bourbon of the highest order.

For those of us who can't buy a $70 bottle of anything casually, I think there's always a risk that we'll be disappointed simply because there is no way it can be three or four times better than a truly excellent cheap bourbon like Weller 12. We're hoping for an orgasmic experience. I've tasted enough bourbon to know that the orgasim-in-a-bottle doesn't exist, but when I get a hold of something that tastes very, very good it makes me happy.

[Nebraska]

I have that bottle of 21 yo Hirsch rye sitting in my cabinet. I like it, but not enough to spend another $110-$130. I'm glad I bought it, but there are enough other ryes with character that are a MUCH better value. Neat bottle, very good rye (you'll note I didn't say great).

[DrinkyBanjo]

Chuck/Mark

I don't know about you guys but I do enjoy the fact when I'm 'treating' myself with something a little more expensive. I know taste is really whats important but after a hard day when you really earned one something of the top order is sometimes necessary.

[Nebraska]

I'm going to have to agree wholeheartedly. Generally when I do get that Hirsch bottle down, I have the mind set that I want something extra special, that I want to treat myself. And as Chuck said, it makes me very happy:cool: .

[TimmyBoston]

I have a bottle of the Gold Foil and I absolutely love it. But I've read much discussion on the topic but does anyone have a definative answer about the difference betweeen the gold foil and blue wax, if any?

Thanks

[CrispyCritter]

I really think I ought to bunker one or two bottles of the gold foil Hirsch while I can. I certainly liked the one that I had - and I have a gold wax bottle waiting to be opened (maybe as a H2H vs. the gold foil?).

[bluesbassdad]

My advice (which I guarantee is worth every penny it costs) is to save the gold wax until you've nearly finished your last bottle of the gold foil bottling. If you open the GW bottle while you have a supply of the GF on hand, you might end up like me, almost regretting the purchase. IMO it's better to end on a high note, and even as much as you like the GF, I'd bet you'll like the GW better.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[cowdery]

By all means, if you have access to the Hirsch 16 gold foil, and you can afford it, buy all of it that you can.