What are you drinking tonight? (Spring '07)

[cowdery]

Chuck,

FYI - the label(s) on the bottle I asked about looks / reads as follows:

Neck label:

(Front) AAA, 750ml

(Back) UPC 80244 00753

Main label (top to bottom):

10 Star

Ancient Ancient Age

Full 90 Proof

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

"Matured in charred white oak barrels for extra bouguet and flavor"

Distilled and bottled by Ancient Age Distilling Co., Frankfort, KY

There is no age statement.

Now I'm even more curious...

~tp

According to the web site, Ten Star is a six year old although, curiously, the web site illustrates the description with a photograph of the ten year old, so obviously the folks at Buffalo Trace are equally confused.

These anomolies evolve primarily due to distributor preferences, so the Ten Star is a 90 proof six-year-old while the ten-year-old is 86 proof and both are considered "Ancient Ancient Age."

[CrispyCritter]

I'm starting out with Four Roses Single Barrel, and then I think I'll go ahead and open my VWFRR "G" bottle and have a pour from it. Beyond that, I haven't decided yet.

[ggilbertva]

Tonight I hooked up with Scratchline in D.C. and had some samples of:

Old Charter 7 year

WT 8 year

J.W. Dant

Old Fitz BIB

we then went to dinner at Bourbon Rest. in D.C. and had a BMH 16 year.

[tango-papa]

According to the web site, Ten Star is a six year old although, curiously, the web site illustrates the description with a photograph of the ten year old, so obviously the folks at Buffalo Trace are equally confused.

These anomolies evolve primarily due to distributor preferences, so the Ten Star is a 90 proof six-year-old while the ten-year-old is 86 proof and both are considered "Ancient Ancient Age."

I had checked the BT website as well, and was left scratching my head.

Appreciate the reply as always...

I look forward to being able to stock-up with KY only-ish bottlings, as you did recently, someday soon. It's unfortunate (for me) that I wasn't older when I actually lived in KY for 2 years in my youth - my dad (now retired Military) was assigned at Fort Knox... Oooh to have known then what I know now!

'Course, I would've had a bit-o-trouble buying as I was a little under-age...

~tp

[OscarV]

Actually last night, out of town guests in yesterday. They are into wine heavy, I've never had a bad bottle of wine that they uncork.

After dinner we got into my bourbons.

I had open,

Booker's

Noah's Mill

Old Charter 12yo

Black Maple Hill 14 yo

And I opened up my,

Pappy Van Winkle 15yo

Four Roses Single Barrell

We did not get to the Booker's (they had it before), or Noah's Mill (I discouraged it).

Of the other 4, OC, BMH, PVW, FRSB, the Four Roses was the hit of the night.

This was the first time for me and now I see what all the fuss is about. I have read about the floral tones in the nose, yeah they are there, very nice, and the warm spice went so well with it.

[ggilbertva]

Old Fitzgerald BIB (DSP16). Absolutely wonderful. I did something I almost never do....3 pours in one evening....

[darkluna]

I'm trying once again to get into this bottle of Very Special Old Fitzgerald (the current version) and not having any luck. Very underwhelming. Not entirely unpleasant, just nothing about it makes me want to reach for the bottle very often.

[jwrussell]

Another pour of Baker's, really liking this and really starting to recognize the relation to Knob Creek. Followed by a pour of ER 17. Bad idea. Should have gone with KC or another pour of Bakers. Just way to mellow of a bourbon to follow the Baker's.

[cowdery]

In fairly quick succession, I had some Wild Turkey 101, some Four Roses Single Barrel, and some Old Fitzgerald from a Monticello decanter, undated but likely from the 1960s.

As noted elsewhere, the Four Roses is most remarkable for its balance. It is very easy and pleasant to drink, very enjoyable, but with no rough edges some might find it slightly bland.

I continue to be disappointed with the current Wild Turkey 101, which I think has descended from a true premium to a still good but fairly ordinary standard, with some rough edges and a lot of growing up to do.

The Fitzgerald, bottled in a milkglass decanter with a cork-lined milkglass stopper, shows some damage but even with that it is a delight, rich and complex.

[Bob O.]

OW 107 as a warm up for the GTS. I assumed the GTS was a 2006 release but based on the 141.2 proof I find it is the Autum 2005 release. It is definitely amazing the drinkability of such a high proof offering. Next time will experiment cutting it. Good stuff!

[OscarV]

I'm trying once again to get into this bottle of Very Special Old Fitzgerald (the current version) and not having any luck. Very underwhelming. Not entirely unpleasant, just nothing about it makes me want to reach for the bottle very often.

Last year around Thanksgiving I opened my VSOF and had the same reaction as you described. I to was under-whelmed.

So later on when the "good" egg-nog came out I used the VSOF to mix with it, and in the words of Special Agent Dale Cooper, of Twin Peaks when describing pancakes, ham and maple syrup... "BAMM taste sensation!"

Wheaters are funny like that, I like them, but I don't think they are as complex as rye type bourbons.

But the next time I am in KY I am going to pick up a couple more bottles of VSOF for the holidaze.

[Nebraska]

I did a little re-stocking of the cabinet today. Tonight, a little Eagle Rare 101, 10 year old. A very inviting pour on a somewhat chilly night.

[TBoner]

ND Old Taylor (see Tasting forum).

Knob Creek.

Now S-W Old Fitz BIB.

[gothbat]

...some Old Fitzgerald from a Monticello decanter, undated but likely from the 1960s.

I have nothing to really base it on except Wild Turkey 101 but I always assumed decanters were different every year. Do you know if SW followed this practice or if they released the same one several times in different years? If the former then the whiskey was made in 1962 and bottled in (yup, you guessed it...) 1968, I'm not sure what seasons though.

As for me, some Old Weller Antique 107 tonight; it hit's the spot, as usual.

[whiskeyhatch]

Old Overholt. Tastes young (and is). Good body. Lots of flavor. This one is now my favorite bottom shelf. (IMHO, this is bottom shelf in price only.)

[Hyperspace]

KC 100

WT 101

Aldebaran whiskey :grin:

[tmas]

I continue to be disappointed with the current Wild Turkey 101, which I think has descended from a true premium to a still good but fairly ordinary standard, with some rough edges and a lot of growing up to do.

Chuck,

Any way to tell the current bottling of WT 101 from the previous ones, other than by taste? Tom V

[snakster]

Tonight shall be Thomas Handy Rye on an ice cube or two. Had some neat the other day right after a pour of Hirsch 16. Talk about two disparate tastes. Both very good, just in different ways (obviously). I am curious to see how the Handy tastes with some ice now.

[jwrussell]

Last night was the first pour out of my newly aquired bottle of '06 Stagg. Neat for the first couple of sips....whew, powerful! Added some water to it to tame it down some. Will try it with an icecube (or two) next time to compare the difference the ice makes.

I followed that a little later with a pour of Knob Creek over just a tad bit of ice. Amazing how subdued this seemed following the Stagg.

[cowdery]

Chuck,

Any way to tell the current bottling of WT 101 from the previous ones, other than by taste? Tom V

I don't drink it often enough to know how recent is this disappointing profile, but my guess is not very. The decline of WT101 probably parallels the rise of RR and the other premium expressions. I have no reason to believe the bottle I have is an anomaly. To clarify, I don't find it bad, and maybe my taste memory is defective, but I recall WT101 being more mature than what I have here.

[ggilbertva]

It's been a dry week for me but last night I managed to slip in a small pour of Old Fitz BIB. Wonderful.

[darkluna]

I definitely prefer the 2006 Stagg with a wee bit of water in it. It seems to call for it much more than previous years. Haven't tried ice yet, I like mine room temperature.

Last night was the first pour out of my newly aquired bottle of '06 Stagg. Neat for the first couple of sips....whew, powerful! Added some water to it to tame it down some. Will try it with an icecube (or two) next time to compare the difference the ice makes.

But last night called for Manhattans. AAA 10yr, Martin & Rossi (4:1) and a dash of orange bitters.

[ggilbertva]

Finished up a business meeting tonight with another pour of Old Fitz BIB.

[Old Lamplighter]

After another day at the races.....Pimlico, it is Rock Hill Farms for me this evening with perhaps a little room for small pour of OC Prop Rsrv before hitting the hay.

[mgilbertva]

Finished up a business meeting tonight with another pour of Old Fitz BIB.

Yum. Love that Stizel toffee-nut and fruit. I did that same, but that followed my first dram, Old Forester BIB from the early 80s. Creamy with warm, rich maple. Life is good...