The Bar Has Been Set High

[doubleblank]

I have been reflecting on the many limited releases, special "in recognition of", single barrel special selections, etc bottlings that have been made in the last 5 years or so. Some by distilleries....some by individuals or retailers/bars. And the bar has been set very high by the best. Tonight I thought I'd like to rank them.......YMMV.

Top Tier

WT Tribute 15yo

FR Rutledge SB 40yrs of service bottling

StraightBourbon.com Pappy 23 SB's Barrels 1 and 2

Second Tier

Straightbourbon.com Pappy 23 SB Barrel C

Van Blankle

Willett's 22yo rye bottlings

Kentucky Barrel Society Weller 12yo bottlings of SW whiskey

BTAC Annual Releases (some are top tier......some are OK....this is an average)

On The Bubble/TBD

Rittenhouse 21yo Rye

Parker Beam special bottlings

BT SB done in 2004 by members here

I know there are others I have missed.......but the point is, if you're going to do a special release or single barrel and want to impress us at SB.com, you'd better bring your best game. IOW, if you want to charge us more than $50, be ready for rejection. I reserve the right to amend this list.

Randy

[Nebraska]

I won't hesitate in saying that you're off in your Van Blankle rating. It in my opinion at the very least belongs in the top tier. I've had a limited number of bourbons that have exceeded my expectations and continued by taking my taste buds to the next level and the V.B. is definitely one of them.

One of the most remarkable bourbons that i have had the privilege to taste.

[BourbonJoe]

Since the Van Blankle was gone by Friday night, I didn't get any. But because it was kicked in one night suggests that it is indeed in the top tier. Maybe I'll get to try it next year.

Joe :usflag:

[luv2hunt]

OK....I'll admit it.....with Randy B's permission, I stole the bottle of VanBlankle when it had one drink left in it! I gave it to Randy Goode (Rancastle) when he arrived the next day :bigeyes::bigeyes: That's why they call me the Bad Girl!!

[doubleblank]

Thanks Mark and yes Joe, the Van Blankle will continue to make Gazebo appearances untill it runs dry. I was hoping others would add whiskeys that I forgot to mention. Since I posted, I've thought of LeNells Rye and it would definitely make the list somewhere......probably tier two for me.

Randy

[Virus_Of_Life]

Hey Randy, not sure it belongs any higher than OTB, but that Weller Centennial from, I can't recall the name of the place (bottle barn?) in Santa Rosa was very good.

[doubleblank]

Yep Christian, that was good. I only had that one taste so it would be hard to place higher than OTB.

Randy

[gr8erdane]

No Dawn, that's not the real reason we call you the Bad Girl....but I'm not telling. You guys have to find out yourself!

[luv2hunt]

Dane!!! :blush::blush::blush:

[BourbonJoe]

No Dawn, that's not the real reason we call you the Bad Girl....but I'm not telling. You guys have to find out yourself!

Aw C'mon Dane.

Joe :usflag:

[luv2hunt]

He's just joking Joe

[jinenjo]

Yep Christian, that was good. I only had that one taste so it would be hard to place higher than OTB.

Randy

I need to drool vicarioiusly some more. What's the OTB?

[barturtle]

I need to drool vicarioiusly some more. What's the OTB?

On The Bubble

[jinenjo]

Yeah, but what's that? Some kind of Bourbon?

[Rughi]

Yeah, but what's that? Some kind of Bourbon?

Lear,

Reread the first post and I think it'll make sense for you. Then come over and pick up your Willett's Young Bourbon.

Roger

[Nebraska]

I'm going to add one to the 2nd tier. Dougdog's newest 4 year old.

This is a bottle that you have to recognize before you taste as it being a 4 YEAR old, but going in with that...it's thoroughbred. I have never tasted such a young bourbon that has the character that this does.

Well done Doug!

[gr8erdane]

I am? I mean of course I am! Dawn is the epitome of the sweet innocent little Indiana girl next door. She just likes to act naughty from time to time to see me blush when we all get together. Let's just say she gets the job done and leave it at that....

[RedVette]

Interesting that none of the BT Experimentals bottlings made your list. I've never tasted any of them, so this isn't any way a criticism, I just find it curious that none of them made the grade, and yet the BTAC's consistantly make it to the top.

The SW 12 year old is the best that I have tasted on this list, but unfortunately the entire top tier are strangers to me. Some day.

[libertybar]

Since I posted, I've thought of LeNells Rye and it would definitely make the list somewhere......probably tier two for me.

Well, last night a friend and I (who has bit into so many of the great whiskeys that are mentioned here) tasted through a few ryes:

The second year Red Hook Rye

Thomas Handy (newer bottling)

Vintage 23

and ... something else which shamefully I forget unfortunately what it was.

I have to say, we both agreed that the Thomas Handy was the winner.

The Handy had just a tad more body and linger than the Red Hook, and was more memorable than the Vintage 23.

Anyway - not to get pedantic, but the Thomas Handy won the day by a nose - or it's nose, as the case may be.

[Tracy Hightower]

Interesting that none of the BT Experimentals bottlings made your list. I've never tasted any of them, so this isn't any way a criticism, I just find it curious that none of them made the grade, and yet the BTAC's consistantly make it to the top.

The SW 12 year old is the best that I have tasted on this list, but unfortunately the entire top tier are strangers to me. Some day.

Speaking of the BTEC, Someone on e-bay has the entire collection for sale. The price was well below issue price so I upped the bid by over 200 to a little over the issue price and was high bidder for all of 3 minutes. Someone wants it badly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320219275760