So it appears i may be looking for an expensive gift. If you had the choice of 15 or 20 yr pappy which would you choose?

I'd go with the 20

I prefer drinking the 15, but only by a small margin, and it's mostly because I like higher proof whiskey better in general, and for taste the sweet spot really seems to be in the 12-18yr range for Bourbons - at least to my tastes, so something about the 15 just works...

Pappy 20 is still delicious, especially old Stitzel Weller stock if that's what it is, but I'll take a 15 and a Lot B over a 20 all day long.

sweet karma, thanks man.

It was a bit of work, travel, and waiting in line, but probably worth it given the results.



I have yet try try any Van Winkle product, though I'll likely try one these this weekend. My wheater experience is really limited to Maker's and Weller products, and based on the best of those, I think I'll be fine. However, I figured it didn't really matter whether or not I like it, because these will be great trade bait if I don't. In fact, I got an offer already to trade a Lot B for a Birthday Bourbon, but I'd need cash considerations or a player to be named later to make that deal.

I'm really interested in the small barrel aging experiments. I'm thinking about doing the same, but with a cheaper source as a first trial. I was thinking Old Grandad 114 might be a good candidate as the proof approaches a BP offering, it's affordable, readily available here and could offer a good contrast between the beginning and ending product.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jigray3,

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
I prefer drinking the 15, but only by a small margin, and it's mostly because I like higher proof whiskey better in general, and for taste the sweet spot really seems to be in the 12-18yr range for Bourbons - at least to my tastes, so something about the 15 just works...

Pappy 20 is still delicious, especially old Stitzel Weller stock if that's what it is, but I'll take a 15 and a Lot B over a 20 all day long.

sweet karma, thanks man.

Haha thanks. And thanks for the trip to jamaica mon...

Managed to score a bottle of old forester birthday bourbon and four roses LE here in central Ohio in the same store. Just going in to look and walked out with these two....now if I can just find some pappy!

On, and to the poster who asked about bluegrass barrels. I've had one for a while. The leaking occurs if you keep them in a place that changes temperature/humidity a lot. Evaporation is also another factor. Neat accessory and if you stay on top of if, can produce some enjoyable pours

As i understand it u want the tempature changes as it helps the aging process. Am i wrong?

Deq

To make the label

http://www.bardstownwhiskeysoc...er/label-ec-2015.php

I think you may need to be a member of the Bardstown whiskey society

^ I agree about OGD114 being a good starter for an aging experiment. Knob Creek Single Barrel, too, at 120proof, though the OGD is a fair amount cheaper than KCSB. Barrel Strength is definitely where it's at, but I figure anything higher than 100proof is fine given the relatively short/compressed aging periods of the smaller barrels so for me the Weller 107 ought to work, too, and I figure any of them will end up higher than 90 in the end, which is fine. In a loose sense, the Weller107 ought to end up Lot B-ish, the OGD114 ought to end up Basil Hayden-ish and higher proof, and Knob Creek Single Barrel ought to end up better than anything Beam puts out when taken from 9yrs to a 12+ equivalent.

Nice score jigray. That bottle of 15 would always have a home here, and I'm willing to help if you need/want it.

@ Deqlyn,

as for temp changes benefiting the aging process, I believe so. as was explained to me some time back, (essentially, and age aside) the key difference between, say, Blanton's and Elmer (or Weller 107 vs Pappy15) is almost entirely the subtle environmental differences between this corner/rick/area of the aging warehouse vs the other, and that comes down to such and such warehouse getting a cool summer breeze in the evenings (or some such). it appears to be both one of the most nebulous and important aspects of flavor, in the end.

I had read that Blantons does not carry an age statement as it is stored metal sided warehouse H, the only steam heated warehouse fir bourbon, so it ages much more rapidly. An age statement on Blantons would therefore be comparing apples to oranges. Apparently aging of bourbon slows dramatically in cold temps.

One of the reasons why scotch takes longer to age in Scotland and one reason why it's more expensive than bourbon. Colder over there

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
It was a bit of work, travel, and waiting in line, but probably worth it given the results.



I have yet try try any Van Winkle product, though I'll likely try one these this weekend. My wheater experience is really limited to Maker's and Weller products, and based on the best of those, I think I'll be fine. However, I figured it didn't really matter whether or not I like it, because these will be great trade bait if I don't. In fact, I got an offer already to trade a Lot B for a Birthday Bourbon, but I'd need cash considerations or a player to be named later to make that deal.

I'm really interested in the small barrel aging experiments. I'm thinking about doing the same, but with a cheaper source as a first trial. I was thinking Old Grandad 114 might be a good candidate as the proof approaches a BP offering, it's affordable, readily available here and could offer a good contrast between the beginning and ending product.

if you need help with that, I am in the area and willing to sacrifice some of my liver to try it out,

surely we can get Shugart to help as well,


just sayin

Scored a bottle of sazerac rye 8 yr. No big deal but its been sold out

I think baby Saz needs to aerate. After being opened for a few weeks it will taste better IMHO

Has anyone bought a bottle of Elmer T Lee lately? I found a place that had them stacked 6 deep in a row behind the counter but at 49.99 a bottle. Earlier this year I got a bottle for 38, have they gone up or is it the store playing supply and demand.

Last bottle of Elmer I found was bought off craigslist for $50 and I was happy to find it. It's one of my favorites and, when I can find it in Louisville, it's close to $100.
My local place got in three bottles of 10yr and three bottles of 12yr Rip Van Winkle and sold all six for $500/each. Things are getting ridiculous

I got two bottles for 29.99 when it was released in the spring. They do two releases a year one fall one spring. Not sure if the fall was released or your seeing left over from the spring.

How much is Blantons in your area. At the prices your quoting you would be better off buying Blantons.

I'll check on the blantons, this must be fall release because I've never seen it in the store since I've started looking for it earlier this year.

Blanton's is $51.99 retail at my store (no tax on liquor in Taxachusetts if you can believe that!) minus my employee discount (heh, heh). Just got our monthly allotment of one (1) case on Monday. And I just finished my latest bottle ("S" top) last night. . . . . . hmmm.

HTH,
"Point Blank" Frank
8-)

Elmer T Lee is about to get its second release for the year here in a few weeks. In the spring, demand was pretty high initially so it was getting snapped up, but there was enough around that it wasn't hard to find to find after a few weeks, until the release sold out. $33.99 here.

Blantons will disappear from shelves here periodically, but then reappear a few weeks or months later. The wierd thing is the 375 ml bottles are $24.99, and the 750 ml bottles are $57.99. Strange.

Tried the 10 year Old Rip last night. Initial impression was good not great. Want to see what it's like after being open a week or two, but no way it's worth what people will pay for it so far.