Japanese top three...

[FlashPuppy]

Alright, I have a buddy who will be travelling to Japan in the next few weeks for buisness. He has graciously alloted me three spots for bringing back liquor. So, what would you all ask for in my situation? This also includes duty free stores.

I was thinking about perhaps some cool Wild Turkey export only releases? I think duty free at least has Wild Turkey 12, right? Thanks for your input guys (and gals).

Edit: I know that there is an open thread already, but I wanted to see what everyone would specifically ask for.

[gothbat]

I hope this isn’t considered spamming but I’ve seen this guys store on ebay. He’s got some interesting looking bottles, some are 25 years old (I’ve never heard of, although I wouldn’t be surprised if they existed, a domestically available bourbon that is older than 23 years old.). I’m not sure how put off you should be by his prices especially since Ed (Edward_call_me_Ed) iirc has reported that this guys prices do not reflect the shelf price but you may want to consider asking your friend to keep an eye out for some of his offerings, assuming they are cheaper in a brick and mortar store than he lists them for. Old Man Winter and Very Olde St. Nick look particularly intriguing to me. Hope your friend comes back with some good stuff for you.

[Virus_Of_Life]

Jeremy, first off I'd say you probably wouldn't want to waste your money or time on some of those non-distiller bottlers of 25 years, I have read somewhere they tend to be just too woody for most.

As far as WT goes, it seems you've found a few Split Label 12 year, so I wouldn't ask for another 12. I have gone through 1 bottle (have 2 more) of the export only 12 from a Korean duty free store and although it is good, the domestic 12 of ~10 years ago is better. I have written somewhere that I find the export only to be too "tight" and I know that might seem a weird description, but I found it to need both air and a bit of water to open up - it was then great but really no different than what you have found. I'm sure the 17 year is probably long gone over there, but worth keeping an eye out for if your friend is willing to keep a list or something; mine unfortunately was not. Any others would be great to try such as Heritage or Freedom, but what is truly available and where I do not know.

What I would really like to try given the opportunity would be one of the older Evan Williams; either 12 or 15year. I believe one is a red label and the other is a maroon/burgundy label, being a lover of just good ole $14/1.75L black label EW I'd really like to see what a more premium aged version would taste like, but not necessarily 23 years.

Another would be one of the Four Roses, maybe the Platinum or the Single Barrel. I've had the SB and it is a wonderful, seemingly unlike anything else bottled, bourbon; and it is available in Kentucky as well as overseas. Given what little I know about FR, the SB is the only one that isn't a blend of their different yeast distilled bourbons; therefore it'd be neat to try something that was a blend of there different yeast bourbons...

I think when you visited Dawn I read something about trying the Blanton's gold? Depending on your thoughts of it, that or any of the other Export only Blanton's might be worth trying.

Whatever you get, you've got a good friend willing to bring you somethign that all of us bourbon lovers would like to try so congratulations on that!

Just my thoughts...

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

I was thinking about perhaps some cool Wild Turkey export only releases? I think duty free at least has Wild Turkey 12, right? Thanks for your input guys (and gals).

Edit: I know that there is an open thread already, but I wanted to see what everyone would specifically ask for.

Wild Turkey 12 is simply wonderful. I am drinking some now. However, Duty Free wouldn't sell to me in October because I was going to the States. Get it at a regular liquor store and put it in the checked baggage.

Virus, I don't want this to sound harsh, but I gotta say something. If the old domestic bottling was better, well, so what? Get what you can get. Don't pass great bourbon by just because there was once something better.

Any others would be great to try such as Heritage or Freedom, but what is truly available and where I do not know.

What I would really like to try given the opportunity would be one of the older Evan Williams; either 12 or 15 year. I believe one is a red label and the other is a maroon/burgundy label, being a lover of just good ole $14/1.75L black label EW I'd really like to see what a more premium aged version would taste like, but not necessarily 23 years.

Another would be one of the Four Roses, maybe the Platinum or the Single Barrel. I've had the SB and it is a wonderful, seemingly unlike anything else bottled, bourbon; and it is available in Kentucky as well as overseas. Given what little I know about FR, the SB is the only one that isn't a blend of their different yeast distilled bourbons; therefore it'd be neat to try something that was a blend of there different yeast bourbons...

I think when you visited Dawn I read something about trying the Blanton's gold? Depending on your thoughts of it, that or any of the other Export only Blanton's might be worth trying.

Whatever you get, you've got a good friend willing to bring you something that all of us bourbon lovers would like to try so congratulations on that!

Just my thoughts...

I second the Evan Williams, both 12 and 15. I haven't had a bottle of the 15 but liked it a lot in the bar. The 12 is one of my all time favorites. None of the EWSBs that I have tried are as good, IMHO.

I have never had the Four Roses Platinum. Too pricey. The Black Label is nice, but, not a favorite of mine. I have only ever had the Kentucky release of the Single Barrel which is 100 proof. The Japanese release is 86 proof.

Blanton's. :bowdown: I really like the Straight from the Barrel that I have on the go at the moment. But if BT Earthy/musty notes bother you, then you would be taking a risk here. I love this stuff.

Ed

[TNbourbon]

First off, I'd stay away from the 'collectible' bottlings. Why waste your money on bottles you'd hesitate to open?

From the limited Japanese bottlings I've had (thanks, Koji!:toast:), I'd pick:

• Wild Turkey 12yo (Ed's right -- get it when/while you can)
  
• Evan Williams 15yo (to me, the 12yo pales by comparison, so get two bottles unless you're just dying to try the 12)
  
• Fighting Cock 15yo (to see what age does to low-dollar bourbon)
  

Keep in mind, I'm sure there are things I'd find to replace one or more of this list if I were to see the actual selections available.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

This is a topic that seems to crop up every once in a while. In other words: I may have written this before.

I would particularly ask for Four Roses bottlings. The Super Premium (for some reason labelled as 'Platinum' on the FR website) is very good. Better still is the FRSB, 86 proof. I do not normally count the latter as a Japanese bottling, since it is available here in Europe.

Whether Harper, President´s reserve is for the Nippon market or not, I cannot say. The fact that it is more or less invisible in Europe, North America and Australia points to the land of the rising sun. What I do know, for sure, is that it is delicious. Especially the nose, which is one of the best in the business.

I´ve only had one bottle of EW 12yo. I wasn´t overwhelmed. It was good but nothing special. The EWSB is, in my opinion, vastly superior.

[luv2hunt]

Leave the Blantons Straight from the cask on the shelf.....you tried it at my house! It's awful!

I've had three bottles of Blanton's Gold.....all wonderful....you tasted it at my house also

And I'd also get the Four Roses Super Premium....two of them! Then bring one to my house and let me taste it!!!!

Dawn

[Virus_Of_Life]

Wild Turkey 12 is simply wonderful. I am drinking some now. However, Duty Free wouldn't sell to me in October because I was going to the States. Get it at a regular liquor store and put it in the checked baggage.

Virus, I don't want this to sound harsh, but I gotta say something. If the old domestic bottling was better, well, so what? Get what you can get. Don't pass great bourbon by just because there was once something better.

Wild Turkey 12yo (Ed's right -- get it when/while you can)

Not that I feel I have to explain myself, but apparently sometimes it is necessary! If he only gets 3 places in the return luggage of a friend and he's found 4 or 5 bottles of this great stuff locally (with a decent chance of finding more) why not try something else great which he hasn't tried?!? Am I the only one who sees my logic in that? I guess maybe so, anyway I was not trying to insult the export version by any means.

[kykid]

if your lookin for a ollector bottle makers mark seems to apprieciate over time. if looking to drink it i wouldent have a clue

[FlashPuppy]

if your lookin for a ollector bottle makers mark seems to apprieciate over time. if looking to drink it i wouldent have a clue

I tend to be more of a drinker than a collector. I have opened many o' valuable bottles for tasting.

[HighTower]

Personally I would go for Wild Turkey Heritage, only because I've been trying to get one for over 12 months. I believe it is still available in Japan.

Wild Turkey Master Distiller Selection would be another one to keep his eyes peeled for...a 14 year old 107 proof Japan only release.

Scott

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Not that I feel I have to explain myself, but apparently sometimes it is necessary! If he only gets 3 places in the return luggage of a friend and he's found 4 or 5 bottles of this great stuff locally (with a decent chance of finding more) why not try something else great which he hasn't tried?!? Am I the only one who sees my logic in that? I guess maybe so, anyway I was not trying to insult the export version by any means.

Hi Christian,

I didn't know that he had 4-5 with a chance at more. Your logic is impecable.

Ed

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Personally I would go for Wild Turkey Heritage, only because I've been trying to get one for over 12 months. I believe it is still available in Japan.

Wild Turkey Master Distiller Selection would be another one to keep his eyes peeled for...a 14 year old 107 proof Japan only release.

Scott

I saw some of this on the shelf last month, but didn't get it. Friday I decided to get a bottle for the holidays. Apparently, I wasn't the only one to have this thought, as it was all gone. I think I will stop by another store today to try my luck.

Ed

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Evan Williams 15yo (to me, the 12yo pales by comparison, so get two bottles unless you're just dying to try the 12)

I knew that you prefered the 15 to the 12. I didn't know you thought the 12 pales in comparison. I have never seen the 15 on the shelves around here. I will have to order a bottle. That is something I have never done from a Japanese site. There is always something I don't understand in the ordering procedure.

Ed

[Virus_Of_Life]

Hi Christian,

I didn't know that he had 4-5 with a chance at more. Your logic is impecable.

Ed

Just been watching his posts in the Collectibles, and there seems to always be some lingering here and there here in California.

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Leave the Blantons Straight from the cask on the shelf.....you tried it at my house! It's awful!

I've had three bottles of Blanton's Gold.....all wonderful....you tasted it at my house also

And I'd also get the Four Roses Super Premium....two of them! Then bring one to my house and let me taste it!!!!

Dawn

I think the Straight from the barrel varies quite a bit from bottle to bottle. The first one I had seemed corked. The second a bit earthy at first, later it still earthy but wonderful. The one I have open now is wonderful!

I have been disappointed in the Gold, not because I didn't like it, but because it didn't reach my high expectations of it. The price of the Gold can vary from shop to shop ranging up to over one hundered bucks. Some places it is quite reasonable.

Ed

[FlashPuppy]

Just been watching his posts in the Collectibles, and there seems to always be some lingering here and there here in California.

Well, stupid me, now thinking about it there is a duty free store just 15 minutes from me on the Mexico border....

Needless to say, the GF and I will be going to Mexico tomorrow. If in-fact they do have the WT12, I will have an almost unlimited supply for anyone wanting some...

I think the Straight from the barrel varies quite a bit from bottle to bottle. The first one I had seemed corked. The second a bit earthy at first, later it still earthy but wonderful. The one I have open now is wonderful!

Ed

Ed, all that I know about the barrel proof Blantons was that I did not like it. Enough to the point where I will not purchase it ever. I literally had to "choke" my glass of it down...

[jspero]

I would recommend Four Roses SB and Olde St. Nick 15/107. Both are VERY good and not "collector" bottles. They were both in the 4000 yen (~$40 USD) range when I was over there last summer.

Jay

[nor02lei]

I would bay Old St Nick winter rye if I got the chance to travel to Japan. One of my all time favourites and I think it’s not that expansive ether.

Leif