LCBO Bourbons

[dbk]

You guys convinced me to have another try. I got Pappy Van Winkle Reserve 20 YO

That's not quite an LCBO bourbon now, is it?

Have not had the Pappy 20, but I do have the 15, which is immense. The Van Winkle bourbons, having wheat rather than rye as the "small" grain, are not typical of the genre these days—the large majority are ryed, not wheated—but they are spectacular when done right. If you like it, you might also want to try the aged and higher proof Wellers (e.g., Old Weller Antique 100º), especially the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's William Larue Weller. It drinks like cognac.

Let us know how it goes!

[mfurman]

You guys convinced me to have another try. I got Pappy Van Winkle Reserve 20 YO

That's not quite an LCBO bourbon now, is it?

Have not had the Pappy 20, but I do have the 15, which is immense. The Van Winkle bourbons, having wheat rather than rye as the "small" grain, are not typical of the genre these days—the large majority are ryed, not wheated—but they are spectacular when done right. If you like it, you might also want to try the aged and higher proof Wellers (e.g., Old Weller Antique 100º), especially the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's William Larue Weller. It drinks like cognac.

Let us know how it goes!

Thank you for your encouragement. You did indeed make me even go back and taste Eagle Rare 10 again
Pappy was of course not picked up at LCBO and I will have to wait a few days for it
I missed (again) George T. Stagg last year but I will speak with a few stores in my upcoming trip to California and should secure it this Fall.

[dbk]

I missed (again) George T. Stagg last year but I will speak with a few stores in my upcoming trip to California and should secure it this Fall.

Best of luck with that one, fine sir! I am always happy to find another bottle of Stagg has graced my collection.

[dbk]

For those of you still treading lightly on the bourbon front, you might want to consider a bottle of Blanton's Special Reserve, just released from the LCBO this week. Blanton's is the original single barrel bourbon; it's currently made by Buffalo Trace using their high rye mash bill—the only Buffalo Trace bourbon using this mash bill currently available at the LCBO. At 40% ABV, it's lower proof than is typical of bourbon, and is apparently "ideal for those new to single barrel bourbons", whatever that means.

Many who recoil from bourbon do so because of its rougher character, but Blanton's Special Reserve is plenty smooth and, while there's no age statement, it is decently mature. There's oak and bananas on the nose, and a sweet nuttiness on the palate, with a lightly spicy finish. Definitely a good introductory bourbon, one that may get you hooked on the "bigger" stuff down the line. Plus, the bottle is so fancy, you can put it on display.

[Smithford]

Blanton's is delicious bourbon. But it's regrettable that the LCBO decided to list the Special Reserve rather than the Straight From the Barrel bottling that they brought in a few years ago. It's a formidably high proof bourbon with a fiery depth of flavor which rivals some of the BTAC releases. Definitely not for those "new to single barrel bourbon."

The state of bourbon availability at the LCBO is often quite depressing. It does seem to go in cycles though and perhaps the past few months have been less depressing than usual. I'm always thankful that I'm not a tequila lover. The tequila selection at the LCBO is dire!

[mfurman]

I know that it is not LCBO bourbon and I apologize for being off topic but I have finally got George T. Stagg and wanted to share this happy find (only $69.9) with you. It is all dbk's fault, by the way

[dbk]

Blanton's is delicious bourbon. But it's regrettable that the LCBO decided to list the Special Reserve rather than the Straight From the Barrel bottling that they brought in a few years ago. It's a formidably high proof bourbon with a fiery depth of flavor which rivals some of the BTAC releases. Definitely not for those "new to single barrel bourbon."

The state of bourbon availability at the LCBO is often quite depressing. It does seem to go in cycles though and perhaps the past few months have been less depressing than usual. I'm always thankful that I'm not a tequila lover. The tequila selection at the LCBO is dire!

Welcome, Smithford! I agree completely. I would have liked to have seen a more formidable Blanton's choice, but as I said, it might still suit those who are more bourbon shy. And the LCBO selection, while it has improved recently, is still pretty meagre.

[dbk]

I know that it is not LCBO bourbon and I apologize for being off topic but I have finally got George T. Stagg and wanted to share this happy find (only $69.9) with you. It is all dbk's fault, by the way

Congrats, and good price that! A word of advice: if you're going to taste it undiluted, do make sure to take small sips at first. It does qualify as "hazardous material" by American aviation standards, after all.

[CK_]

I had the pleasure of trying a Blanton's single barrel over Christmas. The host of the Christmas party received it as a gift many years ago and opened it for us to try. It had a pleasant, but strong, spiciness and had a banana nose like dbk mentioned. I'm interested in trying the new release from the lcbo to see how they compare. Here are a couple photos I took of the bottle.

[dbk]

I had the pleasure of trying a Blanton's single barrel over Christmas. The host of the Christmas party received it as a gift many years ago and opened it for us to try. It had a pleasant, but strong, spiciness and had a banana nose like dbk mentioned. I'm interested in trying the new release from the lcbo to see how they compare. Here are a couple photos I took of the bottle.

Nice! Do you remember what expression—Original Single Barrel, Gold, etc.—it was?

[CK_]

I had the pleasure of trying a Blanton's single barrel over Christmas. The host of the Christmas party received it as a gift many years ago and opened it for us to try. It had a pleasant, but strong, spiciness and had a banana nose like dbk mentioned. I'm interested in trying the new release from the lcbo to see how they compare. Here are a couple photos I took of the bottle.

Nice! Do you remember what expression—Original Single Barrel, Gold, etc.—it was?

From looking at the choices on Blanton's website, I'm pretty sure it was the Original Single Barrel expression.

[Smithford]

From looking at the choices on Blanton's website, I'm pretty sure it was the Original Single Barrel expression.

I concur. The proof is in the proof.

[dbk]

From looking at the choices on Blanton's website, I'm pretty sure it was the Original Single Barrel expression.

I concur. The proof is in the proof.

Ah yes. Don't know how I missed that!

[portwood]

New and/or re-listings:

Basil Hayden Straight Bourbon
Blanton's original
Blanton's special reserve
Old Rip Van Winkle 12
Knob Creek single barrel

[Card Player]

They looked up Blanton's Original for me at the lcbo....4000 bottles in warehouse waiting to be released. Seems the the quay and missisauga got a case last week.

[Pudge72]

Getting myself a bottle of Booker's Small Batch tommorrow at Mississauga (Elmcreek) as they appear to have picked up another case over the past week. A 1.4 "Binny/Pudge Ratio" seems pretty acceptable, and keeps a slot open for another cross border bottle at a future date!

The Van Winkle Lot B may be a bottle that I keep in mind for future acquisition.

[Card Player]

Picked up Blanton's Original last night. Very good. Had it along with Elijah Craig 12 and Maker's Mark. All 3 are good...best value probably the Elijah Craig.

[Megawatt]

Enjoying my first glass of Knob Creek Single Barrel. First sip was STRONG. After the ice cube melted it started to get really complex. The finish is really long and sweet. Good value, considering the price of other bourbons.

[bebdo]

Megawatt, I had it exactly how you did - with a ice cube. At 60% its too hot to sip directly, but drop one ice cube in there - wait a few minutes and then its really enjoyable. I would put this in the same company as Booker's. Was at my cousins last week in Buffalo area and had picked this up - polished up quite a bit one night! . Didn't know it was available here - saw it at on the LCBO site last night and picked up a bottle this evening. I've read Malt Advocate say watered down it tastes like regular KC9yr - but I had picked up a 50ml in of the regular KC in the US and it didn't make an impression on me.
Anyone want to pick this up be careful - I almost picked up the wrong one this evening. The regular 9 yr is 50% - the single barrel is 60% and it about $10 more (~$55)

[Card Player]

I picked up the Knob Creek Single Barrel today. Had it tonight neat, uncut. I seem to enjoy the heat more than most. Very flavourful, tons of vanilla and more nutty than Booker's but not as fruity. I would agree it's in the same ballpark as Booker's as a top tier bourbon.

[Smithford]

I've read Malt Advocate say watered down it tastes like regular KC9yr - but I had picked up a 50ml in of the regular KC in the US and it didn't make an impression on me.

My impression is exactly the same as John Hansell's.

The regular KC had been my go-to bourbon off and on over the years, so I'm pretty familiar with it. At one time it was priced within a dollar of Maker's, so at 50% the KC was pretty good value, back when there were fewer bourbons on the LCBO shelves. The price of KC has crept up over the years, and perhaps I've had too much of it, so it's no longer on the top of my list.

The Single Barrel is just a stronger version of the regular bottling. That telltale yeasty-sourdough hint is there on the mid-palate. I'm too lazy to do the math on whether the higher proof is worth the extra $9. It probably is. I'm sure there were marketing meetings and conference calls at both Beam and the LCBO to ensure it was priced exactly right.

It's very tasty, just not all that exciting for me personally.

Makers 46 was pretty much the same experience. Not sure why Beam keeps doing that.

[portwood]

I'm too lazy to do the math on whether the higher proof is worth the extra $9. It probably is. I'm sure there were marketing meetings and conference calls at both Beam and the LCBO to ensure it was priced exactly right.

Accountant to the rescue:
the regular 9yo @50ABV sells for $45.95
the single barrel is 59.2% and sells for $54.95. The 50% equivalent would be ~$49.75

So, yes, the single barrel is "priced exactly right" in favour of the bottom line for both the producer and retailer.

Edit: Ooops: Used the wrong bottle size in my calculation. see correction by MrTH below

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Accountant to the rescue:
the regular 9yo @50ABV sells for $45.95
the single barrel is 59.2% and sells for $54.95. The 50% equivalent would be ~$49.75

I come up with $46.41. That's pretty close to a wash, if value per unit of alcohol is your sole criterion. (You'd have to figure in the cost of schlepping to your local LCBO over the long term to be perfectly fair.) I can't say I ever think that way...it's more about whether intensity of flavor and body is worth the extra money. Generally speaking, I do, but reasonable persons may disagree, and I can't speak to this particular case, anyway.

[portwood]

Accountant to the rescue:
the regular 9yo @50ABV sells for $45.95
the single barrel is 59.2% and sells for $54.95. The 50% equivalent would be ~$49.75

I come up with $46.41. That's pretty close to a wash, if value per unit of alcohol is your sole criterion. (You'd have to figure in the cost of schlepping to your local LCBO over the long term to be perfectly fair.) I can't say I ever think that way...it's more about whether intensity of flavor and body is worth the extra money. Generally speaking, I do, but reasonable persons may disagree, and I can't speak to this particular case, anyway.

I'm sorry, you are correct.

[Card Player]

Seems to me the KC single barrel is worth the extra money. The added heat and harder notes makes the dram an elevated experience to me when I am in the mood for it. I do also enjoy KC small batch 50% and other bourbons around 40-45% like Buffalo Trace, Blanton's Single Barrel, Elijah Craig 12yo, Basil Hayden 8yo....I guess to me it's like comparing apples to oranges when looking at cask strength (or close to it) uncut whiskies and regular whiskies.