The Last 900 Bottles of Hirsh 16 Yr

[drunkenjayhawk]

I personally make it a personal decision to eye anything Preiss does witha skeptical eye. That company has long been the importer of Springbank scotch and has long engaged in what scotch people call "Preiss gouging". I have an old Malt Advocate that lists Hirsch at 39 dollars a bottle then lol. But 1500 for what is considered by alot of people as middle of the road at best bourbon is insane. But I suspect he'll move a ton more in Japan and Europe than the states. And that might be what its truly aimed for. As a lot of American distillers have tons of pricier product that will never hit shelves here.

[Gillman]

I look at it another way. This merchant made available this historical whiskey for years, at very fair prices. In fact, the last (foil) release was issued for less money than the gold wax was selling for. Whiskey fans had ample opportunity to buy all that. Absent his interest in this 1974 distillate from a historic distillery, the whiskey may never have seen the light of day (it might e.g. have been vatted with something else, blended, re-distilled, etc.). Now, the last bottles will be sold in a fancy package for a fancy price. Lots of single malts are sold in such format, in crystal bottles and so forth. Well, those interested (not me) will still have the chance to buy some Hirsch bourbon, and I suspect it will be collectors mostly. I have no problem with that.

Gary

[Gillman]

With all this discussion, I thought I'd give a vbt-style taste note on gold foil:

Color: Dark gold with copperish highlights.

Nose: Vanilla, some wood (not old or heavy charred wood), something fruity, apple-like, peaches and cream. Little noticeable ethanol.

Taste: Medium-bodied, slightly sweet, some tang and wood bitter at the back end of the palate, some spearmint, characteristic of the Michter's recipes (it survived all the years in cask and the tank).

Aftertaste: A little char comes out, a pleasant coating on the mouth. Medicinal hints emerge.

Overall: A fine older whiskey, rye-leaning, it doesn't have the afterburners the gold wax and especially the blue wax had but it's pretty good.

Gary

[scopenut]

Hirsch 16 gold foil was the first "rare" bourbon I managed to find, at around $60/bottle a couple of years ago. I have a few in the bunker and have always found it to be pretty darn good. I don't get the metallic taste that many complain about. Lucky, who knows? I wouldn't spend >$100 on it, much less $1500, however.

-Kevin

[jburlowski]

I think the gold foil is an exceptional bourbon... by any standard.

I've had the oppportunity to try the blue wax and it was bettter... but only marginally so.

Pay the current (and increasing) high prices for Hirsch.. or not. But the sad thing is: this wonderful whiskey (in any expression or bottling) will never be made again.

[BourbonJoe]

I agree with you John. I don't know what they shipped to Australia but the stuff I got was excellent.

Joe :usflag:

[spun_cookie]

I think you are referring to my comments in this thread to the gold foil version of Hirsch bourbon. I just tried this again (I don't have any other version left, just the gold foil, part of one bottle). It is a dry whisky, not as full in taste as the earlier bottlings IMO. It's still pretty good though, but for the current price, it will have to be a personal decision..

Gary

That should have been Greg Gilbert's Gold... I looked at your name and had a brain hiccup... sorry.... I plan on having some of mine tonight again for a comparison...

[bluesbassdad]

Thanks, Chuck! I needed that. :grin:

I haven't had my June drink yet. Tonight I'm going to have a hit from my lone bottle of 20th century Hirsch 20 y/o. Heck, I may make it a double. :shocked:

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Gillman]

I'd be interested in a taste note, Dave, seeing as that whiskey is considered by many (including me) as possibly the best whiskey ever bottled.

Gary

[bluesbassdad]

I'd be interested in a taste note, Dave, seeing as that whiskey is considered by many (including me) as possibly the best whiskey ever bottled.

Gary

Gary,

I will give it a try.

There are at least three impediments.

1. My drastically reduced consumption (due to conflict with meds) has caused my baseline to shift in unpredictable ways. (Last month's BOTM, Ten High, was surprisingly enjoyable. A drink of RR 101 a few months back was too strong for me to drink until I diluted it to an estimated 80 proof.)
   
2. Even at my best my notes are more poetic than useful.
   
3. The bottle in question has been open for at least six years, possibly resulting in changes due to oxidation.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Gillman]

Understand, but I still think it will be worthwhile, if you are willing. I hope incidentally you will get over those medical issues you've referred to. All the best.

Gary

[jburlowski]

Gary,

1. Even at my best my notes are more poetic than useful.

Dave Morefield

So, what's wrong with a little poetry?

[spun_cookie]

Poured a glass of mine tonight. The nose has a light correlation to Greg Gilbert's, but not and pungent. As mine opens, it improves greatly...

Nose gets to a nice vanilla cram myth a maple touch. Definitely has an aluminum ting to it, but not overbearing.

The Taste is nice. Good whiskey taste - corn, vanilla sweet, with a range of leather, oak and light citrus

The finish has a quick tin taste that moves to a richer vanilla and corn.

It is very nice bourbon. I like the PVW 20 yr better for the same price, but a good $40-50 bourbon... I can't wait to read a review for a $1-2K price it will be... if ayone buys it.. I'll trade you 50 ml

[cowdery]

I just hope the people who buy them have the money to burn. I'd hate to think someone of modest means would go off the deep end, expecting a transcendent experience.

Then again, that's why we're here. Anyone thinking of investing that kind of money should do enough reasonable due diligence to find Straight Bourbon and become informed.

[spun_cookie]

I just hope the people who buy them have the money to burn. I'd hate to think someone of modest means would go off the deep end, expecting a transcendent experience.

Then again, that's why we're here. Anyone thinking of investing that kind of money should do enough reasonable due diligence to find Straight Bourbon and become informed.

I truly hope... My guess is anyone buying these will use them as trophies.... next to their Screaming Eagles, Opus One special bottles, and other over-prices spirits

[cowdery]

I truly hope... My guess is anyone buying these will use them as trophies.... next to their Screaming Eagles, Opus One special bottles, and other over-prices spirits

Then all is right with the world.

[dunk50]

Rookie here and have been following this thread intensely. Was just at a small local store and found the Hirsch 16 gold foil going for $83. I picked up one and an Old Forester Birthday edition for $37. They did have another bottle of Hirsch 16 but the manager did tell me that his next batch would be stocked at around a $140. Don't know if I should bite the bullet and grab the last one or not. This retirement stuff is tough!!:cool:

[jburlowski]

Rookie here and have been following this thread intensely. Was just at a small local store and found the Hirsch 16 gold foil going for $83. I picked up one and an Old Forester Birthday edition for $37. They did have another bottle of Hirsch 16 but the manager did tell me that his next batch would be stocked at around a $140. Don't know if I should bite the bullet and grab the last one or not. This retirement stuff is tough!!:cool:

Both are great buys at the price... try the AHH16 and decide whether you want to take the plunge at the higher price. and

[gothbat]

Don't know if I should bite the bullet and grab the last one or not.

Any time I see something that I'm curious about and don't buy it I usually think about it constantly and then after a while I finally decide that since I've thought about it so much I probably should just buy it. Needless to say it's extremely disappointing when you go back for it and its not there. If you're curious and can afford it then just buy it while you can still get it for the lower price, before someone else does! For this particular bottle, relative to some of the prices I've been hearing for this, it's not a bad deal; relative to my experience with this bourbon it's priced at more than twice what it's worth (imho) although I wouldn't expect to find it much cheaper.