PVW 23yr "B" - two versions?

[spun_cookie]

I have two of these. The first is dipped in gold wax (taste great), the second is gold foil (have not opened yet). Anyone know if there is a diffrence and why they would have two versions of the cork cover?

[Virus_Of_Life]

I believe Julian tired of dealing with the wax and it's propensity for cracking. No difference as far as I know.

[doubleblank]

The wax one was probably bottled in April/May '07. He started using the foil capsule around September. He offered up Foil Capped Bottle No 1 to the auction at the Getz Museum. So it is from a lot that was dumped in September '07. Two different bottlings about 4 months apart.

Randy

[birdman1099]

I noticed that as well.

I just got 1 and was expecting the gold wax. I was a bit concerned until I opened it. seems fine to me.

Also,Can anyone help be decipher the number on the bottle B5228. What do these mean?? (sorry to highjack, Emerald)

[doubleblank]

The Dec 2005 release was labeled "AXXXX", with XXXX being the bottle number. I'd guess the 2007 releases are "BXXXX". The original release in 1999 was in a green glass bottle with only the "XXXX" bottle numbers.

Randy

[jvanwinkle]

We switched to the gold capsule last fall. The wax was not working out at BT. Plus, I got tired of using a pair of pliers to get into the bottles!!

There is no difference at all in the whiskey.

The letters on the labels just give us an idea as to when each bottle was bottled. "B" was last fall & this spring. There may have been a few B's left. Any more 2008 bottling will be C's.

Julian

[spun_cookie]

We switched to the gold capsule last fall. The wax was not working out at BT. Plus, I got tired of using a pair of pliers to get into the bottles!!

There is no difference at all in the whiskey.

The letters on the labels just give us an idea as to when each bottle was bottled. "B" was last fall & this spring. There may have been a few B's left. Any more 2008 bottling will be C's.

Julian

Thank you sir.

[HighTower]

At least we can be assured that it isn't going to change in taste like the change that came with gold foil Hirsch!

Scott

[birdman1099]

At least we can be assured that it isn't going to change in taste like the change that came with gold foil Hirsch!

Scott

That ws exactly my thought when I saw the "Foil" !!!!

This is not the case !!

[dunk50]

We switched to the gold capsule last fall. The wax was not working out at BT. Plus, I got tired of using a pair of pliers to get into the bottles!!

There is no difference at all in the whiskey.

The letters on the labels just give us an idea as to when each bottle was bottled. "B" was last fall & this spring. There may have been a few B's left. Any more 2008 bottling will be C's.

Julian

I am looking to identify a bottle of 23 year old Pappy van winkle Family Reserve. The bottle is labeled #229 but i do not find a letter designation. All it says is 04.6074.01 Bottled by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery Frankfort Kentucky. Any help would be appreciated.

[TNbourbon]

I am looking to identify a bottle of 23 year old Pappy van winkle Family Reserve. The bottle is labeled #229 but i do not find a letter designation. All it says is 04.6074.01 Bottled by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery Frankfort Kentucky. Any help would be appreciated.

A Frankfort Pappy 23 without letter prefix would be from the first bottling done at Buffalo Trace, in December 2003.

Frankly, it and the earlier ones bottled in Lawrenceburg are the only standard Pappy 23 bottlings I'd consider dropping the requisite cash for (and I have!). All since then have struck me as over-oaked.

[dunk50]

Thanks for the reply. As I am certain you can tell I am pretty new at this. I was hoping this was an older good bottle as I will open it for a very special occasion. To START a collection I am happy with the first bottle. Thanks again.

[OscarV]

A Frankfort Pappy 23 without letter prefix would be from the first bottling done at Buffalo Trace, in December 2003.

Frankly, it and the earlier ones bottled in Lawrenceburg are the only standard Pappy 23 bottlings I'd consider dropping the requisite cash for (and I have!). All since then have struck me as over-oaked.

Hey Tim, I just looked up a post by JVWIII which he stated that there was no difference in the whiskeys at all.

He was refering to "B" and "C" bottles.

Hit the link below.

I have heard that some 23's were to oaky but am I reading this right when he said they are the same?

If you or anyone can put down a definate list of the 23 release dates, bottle numbers and reviews it would be helpful.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?p=116129#post116129

[TNbourbon]

...If you or anyone can put down a definate list of the 23 release dates, bottle numbers and reviews it would be helpful...

Lawrenceburg: 1999 (rye recipe)

Frankfort, no prefix letter: Dec. 2003

Frankfort, "A": Dec. 2005 and Jan./Feb. 2006

Frankfort, "B": Spring 2007

Frankfort, "C": most recent (I didn't keep track of release dates, since it's gone out of my price range).

The last ones I tasted were from the Spring 2007 ones, singly from the barrel. They were excellent. But none of the other ones after the first two have seemed up to their standard, to me. I suspect when Julian says there is "no difference", he's saying they're the same mashbill from the same distillery at the same age toward, generally, the same taste profile. But no way, after 23 years, are two batches going to be exactly alike, any more than any two of those 2007 barrels were exactly alike.

[OscarV]

I have bottle #A209, what is your opinion of that one?

[TNbourbon]

I have bottle #A209, what is your opinion of that one?

Well, Oscar, you and I both know what opinions are worth:skep: ...

Still, I had it twice within months of release, from bottles poured by Julian -- so one presumes he thought they were representative -- and I thought it terribly over-oaked. Having already bought, poured and enjoyed examples of the previous editions, I didn't buy it, and haven't since.

But, who knows what a few years in the bottle, and a few days/weeks of aeration upon opening, will do to it? It may well be wonderful, Oscar, and I hope it is.

[OscarV]

-- and I thought it terribly over-oaked. .

I am espically glad to have two bottles of the SB.com 23's bunkered then.