WTAS or ORVW 15?

[tsh3406]

Help me decide. I have found WTAS (3) locally for $74 per bottle, and found a shop with ORVW 15 labled bottles for the same price. Which would you buy? Both seem to be difficult, but not impossible, to come by.

Tim

[scratchline]

American Spirit is a brand new release and Old Rip 15 is discontinued for a while, so there is undoubtedly more AS to be had right now. That said, 75 for ORVW 15 is very dear. Usually priced in the 40 to 50 range.

-Mike

[OscarV]

Also that WTAS usally goes for $84 in KY and $93 in MI.

So $74 is a great price.

[gothbat]

People turn up ORVW 15's every now and then but I think you're less likely to find one of those and a WT:AS. From my own experience, I've unfortunately never found an ORVW 15 on the shelf whereas I have found WT:AS on the shelf and I've been to a lot of liquor stores! Then again, it could just be my location...

[OscarV]

I was under the impression that Old Rip Van Winkle 15yo was discontinued permanatly and is replaced by Pappy Van Winkle 15yo.

[NickAtMartinis]

American Spirit is a brand new release and Old Rip 15 is discontinued for a while, so there is undoubtedly more AS to be had right now. That said, 75 for ORVW 15 is very dear. Usually priced in the 40 to 50 range.

-Mike

I have three bottles of PVW15 coming my way but haven't run accross the old ORVW 15 bottles. I remember seeing a post by Julian asking why all the fussing about the ORVW15, the only difference is the bottle not the bourbon. True or not, I don't know. At the time, I'm sure it was but I'm not so sure now. During transition from OR to Pappy, did the 15 go from SW to Bernheim?

Speaking of which, just saw Bernheim Weated for $50. I thought the price was ridiculous!

[gothbat]

At the time, I'm sure it was but I'm not so sure now. During transition from OR to Pappy, did the 15 go from SW to Bernheim?

I believe it was all SW at the time but according to this thread this was not the case for last years release. I have no idea about this years release though, assuming there was one.

[NickAtMartinis]

I believe it was all SW at the time but according to this thread this was not the case for last years release. I have no idea about this years release though, assuming there was one.

To be honest, I hope it's Bernheim and not SW. I was drinking some PVW20 last week and while I really liked it, I thought it was a bit too sweet. Of course, I just had some Stagg so that probably was the problem.

[cowdery]

If it's actually Old Rip 15 and not Pappy 15, then it's most assuredly SW, but if it's Pappy 15 there might be a little Bernheim in there. Still, I'd say probably not. Either one is most likely all SW.

But as to the original question, you're talking apples and oranges. They are about as different as two well-aged bourbons can be, they're both superb, and they're both scarce and only going to get more scarce.

If it were me, I'd pick the Wild Turkey American Spirit, not because I think it's better, but because I own and have drunk a lot more old SW than I have old WT.

[NickAtMartinis]

I just finished a pour of PVW20 and the flavor is very one dimensional to me. I just opened this about 2-3 weeks ago and every time I've had a pour, I'm dissapointed. Last time, I thought it was due to my having drunk Stagg first, but this time I had the PVW20 first. I guess I just don't get, other than to see my 'buds have matured and have certainly acquired a taste for rye'd bourbon over wheated.

Here's to hoping my PVW15's are Bernheim.

[Old Lamplighter]

In re to WTAS, I understand it may be a yearly release from somewhere I read on here......or, did I just dream that thought? If so, will there be a different bottle next year that distinguishes it from this year's release? Just wondering whether I should plan to invest $90-100 every year for a new one, or, if I should get a 2-3 of the current bottle.....that is, if there will be no more releases of WTAS in the future.

(If I had to guess, WT is probably like most other distillers in that AS could be made once, twice, as many, or as few as they decide - and discontinue it whenever it pleases the 'corporate suits'.)

[TNbourbon]

In re to WTAS, I understand it may be a yearly release from somewhere I read on here...

Yes, you read that misinformation here. I don't know whether the plan got changed, or someone misunderstood something, but what's on the shelf is a one-off.

If you desire it, buy it.

[cowdery]

I may be the source of the misinformation, because I apparently misunderstood some early information I received. In fact, it is a one-off. That doesn''t mean, of course, that they won't do something similar in the future, but AS is a one-time, limited edition, just like Tribute.

[jinenjo]

Makes me even more eager to get my hands on the WTAS.

However, I'm still waiting for it to hit the California shelves, along with the RRR. After a call to Ed Ledger, I was informed it makes it to the distributors on Dec. 14th. Still over a week away!

Had I known it would take this long I would have ordered them from Binny's or something.

[bigtoys]

WTAS $99 around Chicago. Let us know the L.A. price.

[CrashRiley]

If it makes any difference, I seem to recall that there were only 1,200 bottles of WTAS bottled. I know that the Washington, D.C. market is due to get only 45 bottles, of which I'd say at least half are going to on-premise (i.e. bar/restaurant) accounts. I may be lucky to only get 3 bottles. No price given yet, my distributor doesn't even show it as being on order yet, but I'm sure that it's arriving soon, along with the Russell's Reserve Rye.

Tough call. I do remember the ORVW 15 year. Long gone from my store. Certainly the package and wood box for the WTAS are very attractive, and makes a nice gift. I've tried it, courtesy of a friend who brought a bottle back from Kentucky. Wonderful stuff, I'm really looking forward to it.

[TNbourbon]

...I seem to recall that there were only 1,200 bottles of WTAS bottled...

12,000, half of which are/were destined overseas.

[CrashRiley]

12,000, half of which are/were destined overseas.

Dang, looks like we're both wrong. I keep seeing 24,000 bottles listed, such as here:

http://www.drinkhacker.com/2007/11/10/review-wild-turkey-american-spirit/

I'm also running across some dissention as to the quality of this bottling. Malt Advocate made it a runner-up to Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2007 as their pick for Bourbon of the year, but I'm reading some serious Bourbon drinker's reports that it isn't worth the money, or isn't as good as the 101 Russell's Reserve, or any number of other dissentions.

All I know is, I tried it and I liked it. Who knows? If I tried it up against another Bourbon, I might find flaws in it. This, as I like to say, is why Baskin-Robbins has 31 flavors - something for everybody.

[TNbourbon]

Dang, looks like we're both wrong. I keep seeing 24,000 bottles listed, such as here:

http://www.drinkhacker.com/2007/11/10/review-wild-turkey-american-spirit/...

Yeah, once I get a good mistake going, I just keep at it --that's at least the second time I've confused the domestic distribution for the total production here...:skep:

I need a drink!:toast:

[TroyM]

Australia has been allocated 6000 of the 24000 bottles.