Pull the Trigger on Vintage Bourbon 17?

[felthove]

Saw this bottle today in Seattle for $53. Pretty steep but it seems rare in our state. Is this one worth picking up? Is it similar to any particular style or brand ? That info may help me guess as to whether I will like it or not (I'm not particularly fond of overly charred bourbon). Thanks!

[OscarV]

Yes the Vintage 17yo is definitely worth $53.00.

They were in Europe for a while before the US releases. I think they might have been different.

Then released here in the Spring of 2006.

Also in the group was a 21yo and a 23yo, the 17yo being the best, regardless of the lower price.

I drank my 17 and 21, my 23 is still unopened.

They were put out by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who buys bourbon from distilleries and then makes up a name and a story for marketing.

The Vintage 17 is the best KBD has to offer.

If you are into ratings, Malt Advocat magazine gave the 17 a 92, the 21 a 82 and the 23 a 84.

[spun_cookie]

Good stuff for a good price... As I understand though the 21 and 23 are very similar for more $$$

[ggilbertva]

I had a bottle of the Vintage 17 year and I really like it. I also tried the 21 and 23 year which I felt were not as good. I think the 23 year just had too much time in wood. $53 for the V17? Yes, that's a good price....get it.

[B1bomber]

Definitely worth it. I put Vintage 17 in my top 3 bourbons, right up there with Pappy Van Winkle 20 and A.H. Hirsch 16.

The others from Vintage, 21 and 23, are not nearly as good and yet are more expensive. The 17 is an absolute gem. It's hard to find here (north New Jersey) but has been similarly priced when I've been able to find it.

Saw this bottle today in Seattle for $53. Pretty steep but it seems rare in our state. Is this one worth picking up? Is it similar to any particular style or brand ? That info may help me guess as to whether I will like it or not (I'm not particularly fond of overly charred bourbon). Thanks!

[felthove]

Alright -- I'm going to go back to the store tomorrow (just don't have time today) and hopefully there will still be some there. Stupid me, I sent out an APB announcement to the board yesterday that it was available. I'm happy for fellow SB.com'ers but I may have shot myself in the foot!

[T47]

Don't worry, I just called and they have 9 bottles. I have a buddy stopping buy tomorrow to pick one up for me as well. Thanks for the scoop!

:toast:

[thanson]

Does anyone know the origins of this bourbon? I just got around to trying this last night. To me, it tasted like a slightly less woody EC18. From the first whiff, it smelled like HH bourbon. Maybe I've just drinking too much HH lately and have it on the brain.

[Vange]

To me Vintage 17 is nothing like EC18 which I find overly smoky and sooty.

Vintage 17 is easily one of the easiest drinking bourbons I have had to date.

The more I get into bourbon the more I realize my optimal aging seems to be from 15-17 years with Pappy 20 and 23 as obvious exceptions.

[felthove]

Just to let you all know, I never ended up buying the bourbon (against my better judgement). I felt a little guilty and took my wife out to dinner instead. In my mind that sort of made up for all the other times recently I've spent my extra cash on bourbon (okay, myself).

I'm itching to pick up another bottle of WT RB, however. I had some last night and there's only one pour left in the bottle. I find it amazingly intense and spicy and darn complex. For $35 I can buy it without guilt along with some flowers for the bride and still stay below the cost of the Vintage 17.:grin:

[jburlowski]

Just to let you all know, I never ended up buying the bourbon (against my better judgement). I felt a little guilty and took my wife out to dinner instead. :grin:

Probably beats any investment you'll ever make on any bourbon.

[bigtoys]

Just saw the KBD Vintage bottles at Binny's Express (a mini store, but pretty well stocked with spirits, beer, wine, cigars) in Glencoe. I thought I saw 3 different ones, but I was in a rush and didn't get the ages. One was definitely rye. Guess I'll be stopping back in. They had 1 bottle of Pappy 20 in a case; no Lot B that I was hunting for. When the salesman saw me looking at the bourbon/scotch, he recommended Woodford first. After some discussion, he did recommend the KBD Vintage.I got two other bourbons, but that's for another thread--don't want to go off topic.

[Barrel_Proof]

Vintage 17 is the standout of the three, IMHO. It comes from the same stocks as the 21, while the 23 is of different origin. I put away several bottles after a group of us sampled all three at the house last year.

[libertybar]

Saw this bottle today in Seattle for $53. Pretty steep but it seems rare in our state. Is this one worth picking up? Is it similar to any particular style or brand ? That info may help me guess as to whether I will like it or not (I'm not particularly fond of overly charred bourbon). Thanks!

Hey there, felthove.

Here at Liberty (on 15th Ave/Capitol Hill), we are happy to have a bottle of the 17yr bourbon, and 23yr rye. In terms of what at least the 17 year is similar to - I'd say the Pappy Van Winkle 15 year, but with more oak? It really is an outstanding whiskey, and I'd be happy to pour you a taste if you'd like to see what it's like.

Both their whiskeys and yes are outstanding. Truly outstanding in my opinion.

Probably beats any investment you'll ever make on any bourbon.

That and the Pappy 15, I do believe.

Great stuff, really.

Here at Liberty, we love our bourbon/rye, and have 30+ bottles at any one time depending on what we can get our hands on. Stop on by anytime and taste anything that you may not be familiar with.

[NickAtMartinis]

I just purchased a bottle of Vintage 17 today. If it turns out being some good stuff, I will go back to the three I left on the shelf.

[bigtoys]

I, too, have a bottle of Vintage 17 waiting to be opened.Bought it 'cuz of this thread. Will let you all know how I like it, hopefully soon.

[NickAtMartinis]

Here at Liberty (on 15th Ave/Capitol Hill), we are happy to have a bottle of the 17yr bourbon, and 23yr rye. In terms of what at least the 17 year is similar to - I'd say the Pappy Van Winkle 15 year, but with more oak?.

With respect to you and your opinion, I totally disagree. The PVW 15 is a wheated bourbon. The Vintage 17 is chock full of rye. Two totally different set of aromas and flavors appear in these two bourbons. It's like comparing white wine to red.

Anyone who enjoys a high rye bourbon will really like the Vintage 17.

[Markoturbo]

The 17 is really good, I have 7 bunkered, not Pappy 15 but disappearing just as fast now from shelves, Mark

[felthove]

Finally pulled the trigger on this stuff today. Will taste it tonight and get back. Looking forward to the big rye flavors!

[OscarV]

Finally pulled the trigger on this stuff today. Will taste it tonight and get back. Looking forward to the big rye flavors!

So what did you pay for that?

If you don't mind me being nosy.

Does the bottom give the year the bottle was made?

[felthove]

I paid $53. I haven't looked at the bottom yet and it's out in my car. I will get back later.

I also paid $40 for a Bakers, $24 for OGD 114, $29 for ETL and $14 for EW 1783. We buy through the state in WA so prices are a bit inflated it seems. Some bottles here are much cheaper, however, like Rittenhouse Rye BIB for around $15.

Ron

[chilidawg7]

http://www.internetwines.com/rws34464.html

found it for $56.25 at the above site. (plus shipping)

they also have the 21 and 23 y.o. varieties available.

thought some folks may be interested.

[felthove]

Well, to put a happy ending on this thread I picked up the bourbon, tried it today and love it. For those of you that dig a high rye bourbon this one's for you. For those uninitiated, think of a more intense and slightly woodier version of knob creek mixed with OGD 114 (with less sweetness).

Oh -- Oscar, I checked the bottom of the bottle for date and didn't see anything.

[OscarV]

sounds like you got a good bottle.