New Parker's Is 27-year-old Bourbon.

[doubleblank]

I just reread the August 17, 2007 HH press release regarding the Parker Heritage Collection. It essentially says that over the course of several years HH plans to annually release these special editions which will represent all of the major styles of American Whiskey. Each release will be in this unique packaging with appropriate label changes to reflect what's in each bottle. It didn't say the order of releases, or what's coming next, etc. It's a rather lengthy press release on HH's website.

Randy

[MikeK]

On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of attending a tasting in Boston MA of all places with Craig Beam. He poured Evan Williams SB, Elijah Craig 12 and 18, Bernheim, Rittenhouse BIB, and...... the new Parkers 27yo.

I had several glasses and just recently recovered enough clarity to report on it. First off, I must disclose my personal tastes and my thoughts on the first edition. I prefer Bourbon up to 15-18 years old at most. After that they are too woody for me. Last years Parker was only 12 years old? It tasted like an ash tray to me. I had it twice and hated it both times. Far too much ash and char somehow.

This years offering at twice the age is quite surprising. Based on a blind taste I would have pegged it at 20 years old. It is slightly sweet and quite pleasant. The wood is there but very controlled and not overbearing. Interestingly, I feel the flavor has more similarity to a 25-30 year old sherried scotch than an extra aged bourbon. The finish does get quite dry and here is where the age shows. Again, I am not a fan of old bourbon, but I found it to be quite good. If I was at home under controlled conditions, I would give more involved notes, but I don't want to try to BS you with impressions after having all the other bourbons mentioned.

Craig claimed these barrels were not planned but fell off the radar and once found were devoted to this purpose. We asked if they were found on a low warehouse floor to account for the gentle aging. He claimed they were 5 or so floors up. Hmmm.

Cheers,

[Vange]

Nice review Mike. Well done.

[Gillman]

Just on the point of woodiness, age and warehouse location, a Triple A just purchased, a selection of Party Source, is even-flavored despite some 10 years in the Frankfort warehouses. Unlike some samples in past years, there is no astringency or burn factor, just a smooth bourbon palate that reminds me of Blanton or ETL but a little lighter. I assume the barrels for this one were 'slow-aged' although one can never tell and it surprises me that the barrels for the new Parker's were from 5 stories up and still could be relatively unwooded. Once again it all comes down to the specific barrel. But I'm happy with the Triple A, an excellent recommendation from Jay Erisman of Party Source. By the way it has no earthy taste whatever. It is lighter than the darker, tobacco-like Triple A I recall from 10 years ago and more, but that was then, this is now..

Gary

[ACDetroit]

I just received a call on this bottling and can buy it for $184.00. If anyone needs one let me know I can get a few and have already picked up enough to cover some of the Michigan guys.

Great review Mike, I can not wait to get mine home to try it out for myself.

Cheers!

Tony

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I also purchsed a AAA 10yo on my recent trip to the Festival. I agree with Gary. It has some of the flavors in Blanton's but no earthiness or mustiness at all. Slight sweetness a la ETL. I like it. $18 for a 1 liter.

The Parker's Heritage 27yo was $206 in Bardstown, before the 15% discount making it about $175 there.

Randy

[cowdery]

Guthrie (Toddy's) told me his price was $185. He didn't mention if that was before or after the SB discount.

Mike's impressions are pretty similar to my own. I think HH made a mistake in the way they described it, saying it "drinks more like our 18-year-old Elijah Craig Single Barrel, drawn from the top floors, or even some of our 15-year-old export bourbons." If it "drinks like" those much cheaper offerings, why spend $200?

But I think they could have said that while the lower warehouse location prevented the whiskey from becoming too woody, the extra-long aging gives it unique depth and richness, which I think is the case.