Bourbon Find of 2006

[Gillman]

Do you have a bourbon find of the year?

Mine is Old Weller 107 proof.

Gary

[CrispyCritter]

For me, it would have to be Hirsch 16 gold wax. It was quite a surprise to see that single wax top among a dozen or so foil tops...

[doubleblank]

Hands down.......its today's find of the original Pappy's, green glass from Lawrenceburg. One 23 and two 20's.

Randy

[gr8erdane]

I think we have a winner by knockout.....:toast:

[Hedmans Brorsa]

I didn´t know the Weller was discontinued, Gary. Or do you perhaps mean the one with SW whiskey in it?

I´m not sure what is meant by finds. Does it have to be something of ancient nature?

Anyway, I recently found in France an EWSB 1989 17yo, only 246 bottles made and a Blanton´s vintage 1998, 240 bottles made. This could possibly have something to do with the fact that La Maison du Whisky celebrates their 50th anniversary.

[OscarV]

This year's Find of '06 will have to be the Four Roses Single Barrel for European export.

It is different than the Kentucky/Japan version.

At 86 proof, in a different shaped bottle and label.

[Gillman]

All excellent choices.

By "find" I mean, something which the finder finds of interest and value to him, not necessarily something rare or discontinued.

(In colloquial English a "find" is something that is special in an unspecified way).

I think the Old Weller 107 (current bottling) is an excellent-tasting product but somehow I overlooked it before.

Gary

[Hedmans Brorsa]

By "find" I mean, something which the finder finds of interest and value to him, not necessarily something rare or discontined.Gary

OK, I Geddit.

This year's Find of '06 will have to be the Four Roses Single Barrel for European export.

It is different than the Kentucky/Japan version.

At 86 proof, in a different shaped bottle and label.

Aye, that one is good. It has a lovely nose.

The first Multi-quote for me and it worked!

[Big Chipper]

I think the Old Weller 107 (current bottling) is an excellent-tasting product

I concur...it's my daily pour. And it's cheap too...my ABC sells it for $16.95 and every other month the distributor reduces it to $13.95. Far and away the best bang for your buck bourbon.

[Vange]

I found a Hirsch 20 and then a few minutes later I went to another liquor store very close to the one I found the Hirsch 20 and found another!

[OscarV]

I found a Hirsch 20 and then a few minutes later I went to another liquor store very close to the one I found the Hirsch 20 and found another!

That is a hell of a find, times 2!

[camduncan]

This year has been pretty lean for me, so I've been limited to what I can find locally and have not been importing bottles.. In fact, I don't think i've purchased more than 4 or 5 bottles all year.:bigeyes:

I do enjoy the new (release to Australia this year) Hennry McKenna Bourbon :grin:

[BarItemsPlus1]

I will submit my 'true' find...As I haven't purchased it yet, I have only found it :grin:

[Jazzhead]

A month or so ago I went in a little shop in South Jersey and found three tax-stamped items - an Old Fitzgerald BIB, a Wild Turkey 101 Straight Rye (with a brown label and the surprising information that the product was distilled in Maryland - what could this be?) and a souvenier jug of Michters! So far I've only cracked open the Michter's, and this is very tasty, plummy stuff - I'm glad to have had a chance to check out this ghost!

[gothbat]

In terms of rarity my find would have to be the WTRB101 I found a few months ago. I know it’s not that rare but I’ve definitely missed this one and it’s the only one I’ve found in probably over a year. I’ve tried a lot of different bourbons this year, many more than previous years, and the one that stands out the most to me is VWSR12. That’s my find in terms of finding something I hadn’t tried before that I’ve come to really enjoy.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Definitely, the best find of those I have had time to sample is the Lottas´s Home 13yo rye. It´s sort of in the same vein as Twisted Spoke, i.e. made for a German pub/restaurant.

In reality, this is VWFRR with another label but the bottling in question, stems from the 90´s so it is closer to its original age compared to the current VWFRR.

Very tasty, indeed!

[Nebraska]

AAA 10 year old...a thoroughbred bourbon at a burger flipper's wage.

[Ambernecter]

I wandered into a bar in Islington London and saw Lot B, Pappy 20 + 23 and VWFRR 13 all on the same shelf.

Dave my good buddy ended the night saying "I think I'm a Van Winkle person!" It cost me a small fortune but the intro had to be made!

I think a friendship for life was forged between Dave and Pappy that night.

[TNbourbon]

Happened across 7 bottles of pre-issue Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit in an area store this weekend -- at it's original price, and I talked the counterman into a discount for taking all seven.

These were from Barrel #4, bottled 9-20-94. Kentucky Spirit was first issued in 1995, so these were from the first bottlings. All are in original boxes and carry original neck tags.

I've found a thing or two else this year, I suppose, but this one's fresh in my mind.

[BarItemsPlus1]

Happened across 7 bottles of pre-issue Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit in an area store this weekend -- at it's original price, and I talked the counterman into a discount for taking all seven.

These were from Barrel #4, bottled 9-20-94. Kentucky Spirit was first issued in 1995, so these were from the first bottlings. All are in original boxes and carry original neck tags.

I've found a thing or two else this year, I suppose, but this one's fresh in my mind.

Tim that stuff is Fantastic!!

I have a bottle Barrel #2, bottled 9-22-94, of which I save for times when I'm looking for something really nice to drink...goes great with Cohiba Esplendido or Montecristo No.2

I love it...and I hope the newer bottlings are as good.

[darkluna]

Happened across 7 bottles of pre-issue Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit in an area store this weekend -- at it's original price, and I talked the counterman into a discount for taking all seven.

These were from Barrel #4, bottled 9-20-94. Kentucky Spirit was first issued in 1995, so these were from the first bottlings. All are in original boxes and carry original neck tags.

I've found a thing or two else this year, I suppose, but this one's fresh in my mind.

Great find. Other than the fancier packaging, is there an attraction for earlier Kentucky Spirit over more recent bottlings?

[photogjunkie]

This past year was fantastic for finding those hidden gems. I guess you have to really be on the lookout...and I was. Too many bourbons to list, but my favorites have been:

Old Fitzgerald BIB 1.75L (3) DSP-16

Old Commonwealth (4)

Wild Turkey 12 Gold Foil (1)

Old Grand Dad 86 (9) National Distillers

Old Forester BIB 1.75L (1) (1981)

[smokinjoe]

Nice idea for this thread Gary.

Have found a handful of dusty corners and rarities out there this year, but my real find in 06 was actually RE-finding Buffalo Trace. Or, maybe it found me. I've written in earlier threads on how after a stellar start a few years ago, BT seemed to go south on me over quite a few bottles, with what was IMO a musty and dank taste. But, 06 saw several bottles purchased that were back to a more clean and crisp taste. :woohoo:

JOE

[TimmyBoston]

This is the first year I've been into real bourbon. So these are really the finds of my life. I discovered Black Maple Hill this year which I'm tremendously found of and I came across some ORVW 15 and a couple of bottles of WT 12 and 3 bottles of Tribute. All of which I've really enjoyed.

[TNbourbon]

Great find. Other than the fancier packaging, is there an attraction for earlier Kentucky Spirit over more recent bottlings?

Well, of course, since it was selected before release, Jimmy (who, according to the neck tag -- in case there was any doubt -- DID select them) had the run of every barrel in the warehouses at the time, with only Rare Breed then competing for premium barrels. There may well have been better barrels/years afterward, but never wider choice.

Also, I'd earlier happened across three of these in another store about 15 miles from this one a year or two ago, and the bourbon they poured was second probably only to the gold-foil 12yo among the WT products I've had. So, I know this is great bourbon from personal experience.