A. H. Hirsch....

[tsh3406]

Looking at purchasing a bottle of Hirsch Reserve 16 yr bottled on '03. Anything I need to know about this bottling before making a decision? Your opinions of this bourbon?

Thanks,

Tim

[Vange]

Tim,

There is SO much info on the Hirsch line of bourbons here that a search will produce tons of stuff.

In a nutshell, to me, it's one of the best and will be missed when gone.

[ggilbertva]

Tim,

Not a favorite of mine...and it's expensive. There are other bourbon's I would purchase over the Hirsch. Remember, taste is subjective. If you have an opportunity to try this bourbon at a bar or something, do that first. I find the 3rd round of Hirsch to be somewhat metalic. To me, it's not a bad bourbon, just not in my top 5.

[cowdery]

Vange is right. Best bet is to do a search. We've talked about the Hirsch and the distillery where it was made, Michter's, quite a bit.

Put me down as one of the people who thinks this is an outstanding whiskey. Even though it's expensive, if I could afford to I would buy every bottle I could find.

[snakster]

I just opened one of my bottles this weekend. Simply outstanding (in my novice opinion). And $50 here in PA ain't that bad a price to pay (while supplies last).

[Vange]

$50?? Wow, I haven't found it for $50 in a few years now.

To put it into perspective, I liked AH Hirsch's taste and mystique so much that I went on bottle hunts both online and in person.

My Hirsch stash:

18 foil tops

4 blue wax

3 gold wax

1 black wax

3 20s

1 19

[darkluna]

I tried a gold foil awhile back and didn't care for it. I was able to have a pour from a blue-wax bottle and thought it was fantastic. I'd pay a fair price to find a blue-was bottle of my own.

[Empty Glass]

AHH is a top shelf bourbon that you will enjoy as I have.

[bluesbassdad]

Click here. If you skim the whole thread, you'll find a few members who agree with me. Most do not.

For more do an advanced search, key word: "hirsch", user name: "bluesbassdad".

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[jburlowski]

Put me down as one of the people who thinks this is an outstanding whiskey. Even though it's expensive, if I could afford to I would buy every bottle I could find.

What he said....

[JeffRenner]

$50 here in PA ain't that bad a price to pay (while supplies last).

And it's $122.10 state controlled minimum here in Michigan!

Glad I have one blue wax bottle in my cellar for some really special occasion. I bought it at Cork 'n' Bottle in Covington, Kentucky probably 10-11 years ago.

Jeff

[Grain Brain]

Sigh, I know where I can snag several of these... it's just the $100 price tag that's stopping me. I need to go ahead and grab one, try it, and see what to do from there.

[snakster]

The Hirsh has officially disappeared from PA. I say disappeared instead of sold out, because that is essentially what has happened. I was tracking the inventory on the PA LCB website. there was about 30 bottles state wide for a while. Then the next day, the listing of Hirsch disappeared completely. Not that the inventory was gone. The listing itself was gone. One store that is semi-close to me showed two bottles for weeks, I swung by on the way home yesterday and they were not there,

Now is it possible that all the bottles in the state sold out all at once in the same day? Yes I guess it's possible, but the inventory has been lingering for weeks. And even other closeout items or zero inventory items in PA still have the bottle listed, even if the inventory is zero. So my guess is the state pulled the remaining inventory for some reason. Maybe they sold it to some out of state dealer? Curious though.

(I realize I may be the only person even remotely interested in this "mystery". Where's Scooby and the gang when you need them?)

[jwrussell]

Sounds like you have some state officials who like bourbon.

[cowdery]

Many of us here are interested in all things Hirsch, no matter how obscure.

Considering the aggressive hunting practices of some of our members here (and I use that term approvingly), that someone Hoovered up all the remaining bottles in a couple of days doesn't surprise me at all.

[snakster]

Many of us here are interested in all things Hirsch, no matter how obscure.

Considering the aggressive hunting practices of some of our members here (and I use that term approvingly), that someone Hoovered up all the remaining bottles in a couple of days doesn't surprise me at all.

Not to be a contrarian, nor to doubt the dilligence of the fans, but I doubt an individual would be able to scoop up all of them statewide in a day. Granted, PA is not the biggest state in the union, but it ain't Rhode Island either. I've been pretty geeky about following the inventory, and they were going v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Then all of a sudden (in one day) boom, nothing. Something is rotten in Denmark (or Harrisburg, as the case may be). If I wasn't so inherently lazy, I'd dig deeper.

[Marina Blue]

Not to be a contrarian, nor to doubt the dilligence of the fans, but I doubt an individual would be able to scoop up all of them statewide in a day. Granted, PA is not the biggest state in the union, but it ain't Rhode Island either. I've been pretty geeky about following the inventory, and they were going v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Then all of a sudden (in one day) boom, nothing. Something is rotten in Denmark (or Harrisburg, as the case may be). If I wasn't so inherently lazy, I'd dig deeper.

A customer could go to one store and have inventory from other stores sent via Fed Ex or however they ship. It is unusual that all would disappear at once. Ask the store manager to do an inquirey on how to buy a bottle. You may get an answer.

Last time we conversed I did add two gold foils to my collection. I now have:

9 Red Wax - 20 yr olds

17 Blue Wax - 16 yr olds

2 gold foil - 16

Plan to open 1 per year until I run out. And I am referring to me, not the whiskey.

[snakster]

A customer could go to one store and have inventory from other stores sent via Fed Ex or however they ship. It is unusual that all would disappear at once. Ask the store manager to do an inquirey on how to buy a bottle. You may get an answer.

Last time we conversed I did add two gold foils to my collection. I now have:

9 Red Wax - 20 yr olds

17 Blue Wax - 16 yr olds

2 gold foil - 16

Plan to open 1 per year until I run out. And I am referring to me, not the whiskey.

Fortunately for me, I have stowed away 3 gold foils before the disappearance (and was able to hook up a fellow SB member too). When you ever decide to open up a wax top, give me a shout. I'd be more than happy to take a quick trip up the NE extension to put a taste....er, um FACE to a name.

[Marina Blue]

Fortunately for me, I have stowed away 3 gold foils before the disappearance (and was able to hook up a fellow SB member too). When you ever decide to open up a wax top, give me a shout. I'd be more than happy to take a quick trip up the NE extension to put a taste....er, um FACE to a name.

I'll keep that in mind.

[ggilbertva]

I had ordered a bottle of the Hirsch a number of months ago and it finally came in the local ABC. I have not made the effort to pick it up because as I stated in a previous thread, there are other bottles that I have purchased and would rather purchase over the Hirsch. VA is a little on the high side for prices so at $132 a bottle, I couldn't justify grabbing the bottle when I've been snatching up Pappy 15's and Dusty's for a whole lot less. I guess I'm in the minority also when it comes to the Hirsch....not a fav of mine.

[DemeraraDrinker]

I've looked at this stuff probably 30 times in my local liquor store. It is about $68. For a time, it was the most expensive bourbon on the shelf. I always wondered how good it is. From this thread, I would gather its pretty good.

But for $68, I can get 2.5 Basil Haydens or 1.75 Pappy Van Winkles. So I'll keep on waiting. I'll probably break down in another year or so.

[jwrussell]

Wow, that's a pretty darn good price from what I've seen.

[ACDetroit]

OK so I opened a Blue Wax 16 yr. tonight and it was in the Riedel Bourbon Glass for about 15 minutes.

Its autumn copper rust color is very deep. I can smell this stuff on the table right next to me (very sweet).

As I nose the glass the sweet of Toffee and caramel fill the air, light nougat and some slight citrus. The end of the nose has a clean mint to it, I getting nervous as this may be the most complex tasting I’ve ever had.

So I take the plunge and the fist sip is POW in you mouth, and the initial offering is sweet but you really get the oak…in a good way. I could not pull the oak out of the nose but it really comes out to say hello on the fist sip.

Round 2 and the second sip and now the oak has gone more to an actual char, very pleasant and tasty this is quickly mottled out by the sweet caramel and toffee again.

The finish is log and savory with cotton candy notes followed by the faintest of leather. I really don’t feel the burn on this bourbon it’s smooth and elegant. I’m glad I cleared the shelf :grin: .

SE Michigan, I’m bringing this to the first event!!

AC

[ACDetroit]

OK so I opened a Blue Wax 16 yr. tonight and it was in the Riedel Bourbon Glass for about 15 minutes.

Its autumn copper rust color is very deep. I can smell this stuff on the table right next to me (very sweet).

As I nose the glass the sweet of Toffee and caramel fill the air, light nougat and some slight citrus. The end of the nose has a clean mint to it, I getting nervous as this may be the most complex tasting I’ve ever had.

So I take the plunge and the fist sip is POW in you mouth, and the initial offering is sweet but you really get the oak…in a good way. I could not pull the oak out of the nose but it really comes out to say hello on the fist sip.

Round 2 and the second sip and now the oak has gone more to an actual char, very pleasant and tasty this is quickly mottled out by the sweet caramel and toffee again.

The finish is log and savory with cotton candy notes followed by the faintest of leather. I really don’t feel the burn on this bourbon it’s smooth and elegant. I’m glad I cleared the shelf :grin: .

SE Michigan, I’m bringing this to the first event!!

AC

[Gillman]

Great notes Tony, thanks, you brought back the last taste I had, which was at the Petrossian bar at Belagio's (Las Vegas) earlier this year. Probably the single best bourbon whiskey I've ever had.

Gary