ISO Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon

ME68701

Man, I might need to go snag a couple of bottles of Blantons. I don't by it as regularly as I buy bottles like Makers Mark and Knob Creek, but the price is a big reason for that. I know I saw Blantons on the shelf recently, so I'm gonna go grab a couple bottles. It would suck if I suddenly got a taste for it and it was nowhere to be found.

tempo_n_groove

Boom...

JeremyV135

tempo_n_groove said:

Boom...

That rules!! Congrats!!!

buck502000

I am going to stock up on all the stuff listed above, it's not like it will go bad....

InBetweenIsMne

Blanton's was a bit of an industry secret for years, so to speak.

Going back a decade plus Pappy was much easier to find because not as many people were drinking bourbons. As the demand annoyingly skyrocketed many went to other quality offerings that were available. I know Blanton's was my go to for single barrel for some time, until the current company I work for didn't have distribution rights. Even now, I still will buy a bottle when I see it priced right. And it was a guy who worked for Sazerac and Barton Brands (parent company for Buffalo Trace) who helped me get started in the liquor industry. So I have a soft spot in my heart for Blanton's, as it was his recommendation to me.

But yes, Blanton's will become more scarce because production cannot keep up with demand, AND the current distributors are getting it into more and more retailers. Many saw the writing on the wall when you started seeing it in Jewel-Osco liquor sets; that's as mainstream for distribution as you can get next to Wal-mart or Target. You will see it on sale often as the price has been inflated by retailers in response to demand (see Pappy Van Winkle's retail pricing), so there is room for them to move their margin.

Long story short: Blanton's is a superior offering to many other crap whiskeys out in the market, and I say it is wise to invest in some bottles...but it will have a different flavor profile than the Van Winkle line because of the difference in mash bill.

mwplum

Horse2345 said:

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product/52811 Is that the right stuff?

That's it, hardly ever in BC. I picked up a bottle this morning from the Jericho store. Last year BCL brought in the gold edition. There are four types of Blanton's, the original which is currently here, the barrel proof, the gold label, and the weaker green label. I went to the distillery this year before the Lexington PJ show, was really neat as they take you into the room where they label the bottles among other really cool/historic places around Buffalo Trace.

I've been looking for the barrel proof one for awhile but have never seen it on the shelves anywhere in BC or WA. It's been described as something that would fit in well if they were to add a 6th bottle to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

InBetweenIsMne

OP, I am sorry i didn't offer you help on my original post. Even though this might be a little late for this year, what you can do is use the store locator that Pappy offers on their site.

Find the store(s) closest to you and see if they have it (they probably don't anymore), but a lot of those local retailers will put you on a list for next year or if you frequent them enough where they get to know you they will hold a bottle for you upon release. Just keep asking at your favorite beverage depot and ask them about other limited offerings. Once they know you and see that you are willing to support them with other things they are selling it tends to loosen them up on the Pappy.

I know so many retailers that will just roll their eyes when someone they have never seen before comes in asking for it and then leaves without purchasing anything.

I know it's not the quickest way but it will put you on the right track for some quality limited release stuff and eventually Pappy.

ME68701

mwplum said:

Horse2345 said:

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product/52811 Is that the right stuff?

That's it, hardly ever in BC. I picked up a bottle this morning from the Jericho store. Last year BCL brought in the gold edition. There are four types of Blanton's, the original which is currently here, the barrel proof, the gold label, and the weaker green label. I went to the distillery this year before the Lexington PJ show, was really neat as they take you into the room where they label the bottles among other really cool/historic places around Buffalo Trace.

I've been looking for the barrel proof one for awhile but have never seen it on the shelves anywhere in BC or WA. It's been described as something that would fit in well if they were to add a 6th bottle to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

When you say "green label" are you referring to the Special Reserve? I got a bottle of that about 12 years ago at a liquor store in Nassau Bahamas of all places. Only time I've ever seen it for sale.

mwplum

^^Yes, the green label is the special reserve. I just referred to it as the weaker one as it's 80 proof in contrast to the original (93 proof), gold (103 proof) and barrel (varies, but I know of one batch that was 130 proof).

From my understanding, only the Original is available in the USA, whereas the green, gold, and barrel are offered only internationally and in duty free stores. I'm not sure why they've done that, I guess to promote global recognition. There was a time when certain Four Roses were only offered in Asia and Europe too.

Did you like the special reserve?

ME68701

mwplum said:

^^Yes, the green label is the special reserve. I just referred to it as the weaker one as it's 80 proof in contrast to the original (93 proof), gold (103 proof) and barrel (varies, but I know of one batch that was 130 proof).

From my understanding, only the Original is available in the USA, whereas the green, gold, and barrel are offered only internationally and in duty free stores. I'm not sure why they've done that, I guess to promote global recognition. There was a time when certain Four Roses were only offered in Asia and Europe too.

Did you like the special reserve?

Its been a while since I polished off that bottle, but I can remember thinking it was slightly less appealing than the regular, but the lower proof can explain that. Not that it wasn't good, but if I had the choice I'd go regular all day. Its kinda like drinking Basil Haydens. It has good flavor to it, but if I'm drinking Bourbon I'd prefer something a little stronger.

If I were to see the Special Reserve again I'd probably pick up a bottle only because I recall it being only $30.

mwplum

Interesting, that's kind of what I would have expected. I too prefer my bourbon stronger, so I'd kind of written off the special reserve. The gold is pretty fantastic, if you happen to come across it. This is a pretty solid review of it:

http://breakingbourbon.com/blantons-gold-edition.html

on2legs

I feel so ashamed that I have no idea who pappy van winkle is...

mwplum

Don't be ashamed, feel glad that you've escaped the hype monster. Imagine Pappy as something that's as sought after as a Benny, but is probably as good as a Vault 3. There's a heck of a lot of good bourbons out there just as accessible and without the astronomical secondary market price tag.

ME68701

on2legs said:

I feel so ashamed that I have no idea who pappy van winkle is...

Are you a Bourbon guy? If not, I wouldn't necessarily expect you to know what it is. Even people who drink bourbon regularly haven't had a chance to try the Pappy. It's not something you see on the shelf at the store. I've been really into bourbon for about 13 years or so and I've never tried it or even had the opportunity to buy it (at retail). That should change by the end of next year. I'm #2 on the list at a liquor store across the border in Maryland. They got 9 bottles last month, so next year I should be golden.

ME68701

mwplum said:

Interesting, that's kind of what I would have expected. I too prefer my bourbon stronger, so I'd kind of written off the special reserve. The gold is pretty fantastic, if you happen to come across it. This is a pretty solid review of it:

http://breakingbourbon.com/blantons-gold-edition.html

Wow! I can't stop looking at the bottle. Beautiful!

HesCalledDyer

For those asking about Black Maple Hill, it's still being produced but the source changed a few years ago and it has become overpriced hype junk based on its name. It definitely was once a great bourbon sourced from Kentucky. It's now distilled in Oregon & comes in squat bottles and retails around $70-90. It even says "Oregon Straight Bourbon Whiskey" on the bottle. Stay away from that crap.
I paid $40 for my Kentucky bottle back in '07. It was then rumored to come from Stizel-Weller (distillery that produces Pappy & Buffalo Trace, among others). Whether that's actually true remains unknown, but it was a damn fine bottle of bourbon!

buck502000

I use to live down the road from here......

buck502000

Big swing and a miss on the lottery

JeremyV135

buck502000 said:

Big swing and a miss on the lottery

At least you were in the game. I stopped by my liquor store today and found out the owner, his son, and another employee bought the three bottles of Pappy they received.

mfc2006

JeremyV135 said:

buck502000 said:

Big swing and a miss on the lottery

At least you were in the game. I stopped by my liquor store today and found out the owner, his son, and another employee bought the three bottles of Pappy they received.

that sucks