Is this the VBT #73 bourbon?

[Vange]

I was at store yesterday and say these bottles. Mostly dusty, but I didnt think they were anything special. Also, I wonder if this was the VBT #73 bourbon that was described? Was I wrong?

[Rughi]

I wonder if this was the VBT #73 bourbon that was described? Was I wrong?

For those who don't memorize their Virtual Bourbon Tastings by number, I looked it up in the other forum - VBT #73 is Heaven Hill BIB 6 year old. It's the white label bottle with green lettering there between the Evan Williams and the black & gold label Heaven Hill.

I'd buy it for it's feisty young character, but it's probably not dusty even if the label still says DSP KY 31 (if you see it again, could you check on that?).

Roger

[Vange]

I can check for you. So ifs it DSP KY 31 you want me to grab some for you?

[Rughi]

I can check for you. So ifs it DSP KY 31 you want me to grab some for you?

No, thanks, I have a couple of bottles of this.

It's mainly a side point; in some of their bib's, Heaven Hill seemed to have been "using up old labels" on some BIB's with the old distillery's DSP for some time before printing new labels. HH BIB 6 year isn't available in my area, and I'm just curious whether those bottles are printed with DSP KY 1 on them.

Roger

[Gillman]

I did mean the 6 year old BIB but I see in the picture a black and gold Bonded HH which I believe has no age statement (thus minimum 4 years old) and is also very good. Possibly those bottles are somewhat older (hard to tell from the picture). Either is an excellent purchase.

Gary

[Rughi]

I see in the picture a black and gold Bonded HH which I believe has no age statement (thus minimum 4 years old) and is also very good.

Gary

I agree.

I wonder what that 4 year old would taste like straight from the barrel???

Roger

[Gillman]

I think it would be great! The 4 year Bonded is an excellent expression, it seems to have a lot of depth that does not over-emphasise the corn notes that can arise in some HH-branded bottlings (as opposed to EC 12 and 18, Mckenna SB 10 and the EWSB bottlings where these notes are not apparent). I seem to recall that a current black label HH is bonded and also 6 years aged, or maybe it is 6 years and not bonded. I'd like to compile a current, accurate list of all the HH-brand bourbons.

Gary

[NickAtMartinis]

I think it would be great! The 4 year Bonded is an excellent expression, it seems to have a lot of depth that does not over-emphasise the corn notes that can arise in some HH-branded bottlings (as opposed to EC 12 and 18, Mckenna SB 10 and the EWSB bottlings where these notes are not apparent). I seem to recall that a current black label HH is bonded and also 6 years aged, or maybe it is 6 years and not bonded. I'd like to compile a current, accurate list of all the HH-brand bourbons.

Gary

What does Bottled in Bond mean anyway? Does that mean it's barrel proof or something?

Also, is HH a wheater?

Thanks for the help.

Mark

[mozilla]

What does Bottled in Bond mean anyway? Does that mean it's barrel proof or something?

Also, is HH a wheater?

Thanks for the help.

Mark

Mark,

Bib is a set of regulations, a little more stringent than stright bourbon regulations. The quick rundown is: 4yrs old, one distilling season, 100 proof and the label should read where it was distilled and bottled.

Barrel proof is barrel proof.

HH has many different mash bills. the rest can be found with the search function.

[mozilla]

I'd like to compile a current, accurate list of all the HH-brand bourbons.

Gary

Gary,

BettyeJo was kind enough to take me on a tour of the HH bottling facility, the place is huge. Anyway, when she showed me the label books, I was shocked at how thick they were. Labels I had never even heard of. There were three Houston telephone book size folders full of domestic and export versions of every label. She told me that, they even have a hard tome keeping track of them. If you think about it: 50,200,375,750,1000,1750 ml.....thats six different labels alone, per every brand. Not to mention export, bottle neck rings, special stickers and so on.

[MissingKY]

I agree with Gary on the Old Heaven Hill BIB with no age statement...it's a great whiskey for the price. I've been paying seven bucks a fifth for it, and at that price and proof, you can't beat the value. To me, it definitely tastes older than the minimum four years. Not as good as the 10 y.o. VROHH BIB, but quite tasty.

As for the question about DSP numbers on the labels, I've got two right now, one of which has an '05 on the bottom of the bottle, the other of which is an '07. Both have DSP-KY-31 on their labels, not DSP-KY-1.

Ethan

[Gillman]

Many thanks all 'round. Not sure by the way the VROHH 10 is better than the no-age-expression bond. I'll have to try it again (and will have the chance soon!).

Gary

[barturtle]

Many thanks all 'round. Not sure by the way the VROHH 10 is better than the no-age-expression bond. I'll have to try it again (and will have the chance soon!).

Gary

Okay trying Evan Williams BIB (NAS) and VROHH 10yo BIB side by...interesting..the 10yo was bought at a time when is should be Bardstown distilled but the EW is likely Lville...however they both have similar things going on in the palate...the 10yo does have more wood, but the EW seems to have a bit fuller body. On the nose the EW seems to have a bit more youthful zest. Both are fine pours...I can think of some other upper shelf bottlings I would pass over for these; even if they were the same price.

Not sure which one is more readily available....both may not be seen in the same store for all I know, but if you find either I would think they are damn fine bargain bottlings.