Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 rye

[ErichPryde]

I could be completely off base here, but Julian did say that it was 13 year old whiskey that was being stored in a stainless steel tank, right? so saying that it is getting older and older- that you're basically buying 18 year old rye, and it's such a great deal- that's not exactly right, is it?

My understanding is that once you remove the whiskey from the oak barrels and put it in a stainless steel vat, it isn't technically aging anymore. Any changes will occur because of the amount of oxidation occuring in the whiskey. the greater amount you remove, the greater amount the surface area (which is oxidizing) accounts for the remainder, and therefore, the more the newer bottlings will change until you have to start the cycle over. Changes may and probably will occur, but they wouldn't be related to aging...?

ON this same note, because it IS being stored in stainless, wouldn't it be... somehow improper, false advertising, or even "against the rules" to call it 16, 17, 18. or 19 year old whiskey?

Someone please correct me if I am wrong here, but I thought that once the whiskey was out of the barrel and quit cycling in and out of the oak, it was done aging. calling it "19 year old rye" would be like saying that because it's been in a glass bottle for X years it's actually X + Y year old whiskey.

Sorry. I have no really good explanation of why we went back to A on the label.

Just wanted to keep you guys on your toes!!

All the bottlings from the last 6 years have been the rye we have stored in a SS tank to stop aging. It's really 19 years old whiskey. So you are getting a hell of a deal-for now.

Julian

[nor02lei]

I could be completely off base here, but Julian did say that it was 13 year old whiskey that was being stored in a stainless steel tank, right? so saying that it is getting older and older- that you're basically buying 18 year old rye, and it's such a great deal- that's not exactly right, is it?

My understanding is that once you remove the whiskey from the oak barrels and put it in a stainless steel vat, it isn't technically aging anymore. Any changes will occur because of the amount of oxidation occuring in the whiskey. the greater amount you remove, the greater amount the surface area (which is oxidizing) accounts for the remainder, and therefore, the more the newer bottlings will change until you have to start the cycle over. Changes may and probably will occur, but they wouldn't be related to aging...?

ON this same note, because it IS being stored in stainless, wouldn't it be... somehow improper, false advertising, or even "against the rules" to call it 16, 17, 18. or 19 year old whiskey?

Someone please correct me if I am wrong here, but I thought that once the whiskey was out of the barrel and quit cycling in and out of the oak, it was done aging. calling it "19 year old rye" would be like saying that because it's been in a glass bottle for X years it's actually X + Y year old whiskey.

[ErichPryde]

I think you are right in everything except the age of the whiskey when it was tanked on steel Erik. As I have heard it directly from Julian and from several posts here it was tanked at an age of 19, 5 years.

Leif

[tommyboy38]

Looking over a few of these posts, I think it's time to crack open a bottle of VWFRR. I've seen it in a few outlets but have only seen the 2007 "I" series bottling for some reason.

[cowdery]

The Van Winkle iterations that are described as 18- or 19-years-old were in wood that long. Then he put them in stainless steel. He also never changed the label. I don't believe anyone is counting time in stainless as 'aging,' although Julian was concerned about the affects of oxidation in stainless and speculated about using an inert gas as an air seal, but I don't know if he ever did it. Nothing has ever officially been claimed to be 18- or 19-years-old, but it was commonly known that some of the whiskey he bottled was that old. When Julian thought it was too old he sold it to KBD, who bottled it up as various very old ryes and in at least one case, Julian admitted that if he had known the whiskey was going to go that way with additional aging, he wouldn't have sold it.

[JamesW]

Thanks Chuck. I have to say drinking a "G" bottling that it certainly tastes like it has aged 18 yrs or so. I don't know if these bottlings are in fact that old but I am stunned by how good it is for certain.

[unclebunk]

Thanks Chuck. I have to say drinking a "G" bottling that it certainly tastes like it has aged 18 yrs or so. I don't know if these bottlings are in fact that old but I am stunned by how good it is for certain.

[ErichPryde]

The Van Winkle iterations that are described as 18- or 19-years-old were in wood that long. Then he put them in stainless steel. He also never changed the label. I don't believe anyone is counting time in stainless as 'aging,' although Julian was concerned about the affects of oxidation in stainless and speculated about using an inert gas as an air seal, but I don't know if he ever did it. Nothing has ever officially been claimed to be 18- or 19-years-old, but it was commonly known that some of the whiskey he bottled was that old. When Julian thought it was too old he sold it to KBD, who bottled it up as various very old ryes and in at least one case, Julian admitted that if he had known the whiskey was going to go that way with additional aging, he wouldn't have sold it.

yeah.... I mis-read something and stuck my foot deep into my mouth. this happens occasionally, and I cough up bits of shoe for the next couple of weeks thereafter typically. Eh, I figure it's good for me, not like I get a rubber intake very regularly anyway. :drinking:

[nor02lei]

I did have a side by side of an I and a K bottle a couple of weeks ago. They were quit different despite coming from the same tank. The I bottle had a better nose and a much chewier and sweeter taste, but was over woody in the finish. The K bottle was lighter in general and had a lot of citrus notes. The finish was long and appetising. I did like the K slightly better due to the nice finish.

Leif

[gblick]

I had to come and reread this thread, since I just picked up my very first bottle of VWFRR. It turns out that my bottle is somewhat of a dusty....D2883. It tastes very good!

[tommyboy38]

And I recently picked up a new "A" bottle and enjoye it as much as the other bottles i've tried recently.

[SMOWK]

And I recently picked up a new "A" bottle and enjoye it as much as the other bottles i've tried recently.

All 3 bottles that I've picked up in Maryland over the past year or so have an A on them. Have they really been on the shelf, or sitting around a warehouse, since 1999?

[BourbonJoe]

All 3 bottles that I've picked up in Maryland over the past year or so have an A on them. Have they really been on the shelf, or sitting around a warehouse, since 1999?

NO The lettering system started over again. Nice try Julian.

Joe :usflag:

[p_elliott]

NO The lettering system started over again. Nice try Julian.

Joe :usflag:

Be nice, Julian and Preston are the only ones that will talk directly to us.

[unclebunk]

My "I" bottles have been terrific, but I flew through all four of them and the bunker is now down to one!:bigeyes:

[tommyboy38]

The new "A" bottles aint so bad either!

[JamesW]

My "I" bottles have been terrific, but I flew through all four of them and the bunker is now down to one!:bigeyes:

Me too. I'm treading lightly on the 1/4 btle I have left as only one soldier remains to take its place. :bigeyes:

[JamesW]

(I have the "I" bottling--four to be exact--which should hold me a while.)

I guess it didn't hold long enough! At $42 I'd drink it fast too. Hopefully you can get more in your parts.

[unclebunk]

I guess it didn't hold long enough! At $42 I'd drink it fast too. Hopefully you can get more in your parts.

I tried to make the VWFRR a "special occasion" pour that I would only sip now and then but my plans were foiled by its superb quality. I just couldn't leave it alone and I really enjoyed pouring some for friends so that I could watch their expressions. To a person, everyone who sampled it loved it. I was even gifted an extra bottle when the first four disappeared but now I really will have to ration it because I don't see it around often.

[JamesW]

I tried to make the VWFRR a "special occasion" pour that I would only sip now and then but my plans were foiled by its superb quality. I just couldn't leave it alone and I really enjoyed pouring some for friends so that I could watch their expressions. To a person, everyone who sampled it loved it. I was even gifted an extra bottle when the first four disappeared but now I really will have to ration it because I don't see it around often.

Same here. I have one in the bunker and I cringe when I look at what's left of the one open on my bar.

[hectic1]

I picked up two bottles from the "A" bottling a couple weeks ago. I broke my "Rye" cherry earlier in the week and I can certainly understand why people enjoy this product so much. I found that my first sip was sort of underwhelming but as it sat in the glass for a little while it really opened up and had great flavor and a really long finish! :cool:

[SMOWK]

I keep my VWFRR that's open on the bar in a pappy 23 velvet bag. It makes it harder to get to, and most of my friends think it's not open...

[jinenjo]

Be nice, Julian and Preston are the only ones that will talk directly to us.

It's always a pleasure to see their posts here. If they're listening, I sure would like to know when a true 13 year-old rye is coming online. Will we have to wait until the stainless steel tanks are emptied first?

(If they're still listening. Thanks for everything.) :grin:

[Rughi]

It's always a pleasure to see their posts here. If they're listening, I sure would like to know when a true 13 year-old rye is coming online. Will we have to wait until the stainless steel tanks are emptied first?

(If they're still listening. Thanks for everything.) :grin:

Heck, I'd like to get things rolling with a fresh new, 12yo Olde Tyme Rye!

No more of that old stuff!

Roger

Waiter: Would monsieur care for another bottle of the Chateau Latour?

Steve: Ah yes - but no more 1966. Let's splurge! Bring us some fresh wine! The freshest you've got - this year! No more of this old stuff.

[spun_cookie]

Heck, I'd like to get things rolling with a fresh new, 12yo Olde Tyme Rye!

No more of that old stuff!

Roger

Waiter: Would monsieur care for another bottle of the Chateau Latour?

Steve: Ah yes - but no more 1966. Let's splurge! Bring us some fresh wine! The freshest you've got - this year! No more of this old stuff.

One of the best movies of all times....