Beautiful Kentucky Bourbon and Rye
March 7, 2017 4:06 AM Subscribe
What would be the best small-batch bottles of Kentucky bourbon and rye to seek out in the Bluegrass State?
I love me some Kentucky whiskey and as luck would have it my friend is on a working trip to the state to source casks for his own whisky making and maturation back here in Scotland. Seems like a good chance to get my hands on some obscure, small-batch, beautiful bottles while he visits the various distilleries. If you happen to be a bourbon or rye geek or have any local knowledge I'd be happy to hear of any suggestions outwith the big players or stuff I can usually get in the UK.
I love me some Kentucky whiskey and as luck would have it my friend is on a working trip to the state to source casks for his own whisky making and maturation back here in Scotland. Seems like a good chance to get my hands on some obscure, small-batch, beautiful bottles while he visits the various distilleries. If you happen to be a bourbon or rye geek or have any local knowledge I'd be happy to hear of any suggestions outwith the big players or stuff I can usually get in the UK.
I'm not sure how obscure it is, but Woodford Reserve is my favorite bourbon (as a Kentucky native, I know that bourbon, like champagne, has a technical definition that requires being produced in the region from whence it derives its name; in bourbon's case, that is Bourbon County, Kentucky. The irony is that Woodford Reserve gets its name from being distilled in a nearby county, Woodford County. Still, as someone who used to live in that part of Kentucky, as well, I know that Woodford and Bourbon Counties share the same rough geologic feature of being a limestone plateau in the center of the state. The local limestone water table is said to give true bourbon it's inimitable taste, as well as strengthen the bones of the famous thoroughbreds raised there. Geography/Mythology lesson over!).
posted by Slothrop at 4:30 AM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Slothrop at 4:30 AM on March 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I was given a bottle of gunpowder rye and really enjoy it. As an added bonus they are on not on this list of craft distillers that do not actually distill anything.
posted by phil at 5:13 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by phil at 5:13 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Wild Turkey 101 Rye. Only available at the gift shop at Wild Turkey.
Also Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength, again, only available at the Maker's Mark distillery gift shop.
I'll try to add more gift-shop-only releases as I think of them. Those are the real treasures and experiments that you want to taste.
posted by deezil at 5:37 AM on March 7, 2017
Also Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength, again, only available at the Maker's Mark distillery gift shop.
I'll try to add more gift-shop-only releases as I think of them. Those are the real treasures and experiments that you want to taste.
posted by deezil at 5:37 AM on March 7, 2017
I am partial to Weller's. If by a miracle you see the 12 year old, buy it. Otherwise I recommend the 107 (53 proof). The bourbon market has gone completely bonkers, though, so it may be impossible to find either.
Woodford reserve is good, but is easy to find, it will probably be in the duty free on your way home.
posted by mr vino at 5:49 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Woodford reserve is good, but is easy to find, it will probably be in the duty free on your way home.
posted by mr vino at 5:49 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Historical note: "Old" Bourbon County in ye olden days was huge, and encompassed what are now 34 counties in modern Kentucky. So most bourbon-producing places aren't in Bourbon County today, but used to be (so they still count).
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:39 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:39 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
" I know that bourbon, like champagne, has a technical definition that requires being produced in the region from whence it derives its name; in bourbon's case, that is Bourbon County, Kentucky."
A nice sentiment, but untrue. As long as it's made here in the US from a mash bill of 51%+ corn, aged in only new charred oak barrels, and bottled at no less than 80 proof then it's bourbon whiskey.
"Wild Turkey 101 Rye. Only available at the gift shop at Wild Turkey."
Also untrue. We stock it in our retail stores here in Louisiana.
My vote would be to drop by Willett and pick up something like their Family Estate Bottled Bourbon or their Exploratory Cask Finish (XCF) rye, if they have any available.
posted by komara at 6:43 AM on March 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
A nice sentiment, but untrue. As long as it's made here in the US from a mash bill of 51%+ corn, aged in only new charred oak barrels, and bottled at no less than 80 proof then it's bourbon whiskey.
"Wild Turkey 101 Rye. Only available at the gift shop at Wild Turkey."
Also untrue. We stock it in our retail stores here in Louisiana.
My vote would be to drop by Willett and pick up something like their Family Estate Bottled Bourbon or their Exploratory Cask Finish (XCF) rye, if they have any available.
posted by komara at 6:43 AM on March 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
The 'bourbon' name being legally restricted to Bourbon county is an urban legend; by US law any whisky can be called bourbon as long as it's made from a 51%-or-more corn mash distilled to no more than 160 proof and aged in new charred oak casks at no more than 125 proof (to be labeled 'straight' Bourbon it also has to be aged for at least two years). The only regionally-restricted label appellation in the US is Tennessee Whiskey, which can only be made (surprise surprise) in Tennessee.
To answer your actual question, I'd keep an eye out for WL Weller 12 Year. It's a very good mid-range (~$30 a bottle) bourbon that has become extremely hard to find in most of the US because of its close relation to Pappy Van Winkle; if you find it at all the price is usually jacked up to several hundred dollars. I'd imagine it's easier to find for normal prices closer to the source.
posted by Itaxpica at 6:48 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
To answer your actual question, I'd keep an eye out for WL Weller 12 Year. It's a very good mid-range (~$30 a bottle) bourbon that has become extremely hard to find in most of the US because of its close relation to Pappy Van Winkle; if you find it at all the price is usually jacked up to several hundred dollars. I'd imagine it's easier to find for normal prices closer to the source.
posted by Itaxpica at 6:48 AM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Orphan Barrel releases mentioned earlier were huge, huge releases and were very easy to find nationally. Which isn't to say that some weren't quite tasty, but I'd rather you be clear on the size of the releases.
Otherwise I'd nth some previous suggestions of the Willett gift shop releases, and the Makers Mark 64 CS. Really any of the gift shop only releases for any of the distillers would be interesting to pick up.
Another brand to look out for is Barrell, they've been putting out some fantastic stuff.
posted by nulledge at 8:51 AM on March 7, 2017
Otherwise I'd nth some previous suggestions of the Willett gift shop releases, and the Makers Mark 64 CS. Really any of the gift shop only releases for any of the distillers would be interesting to pick up.
Another brand to look out for is Barrell, they've been putting out some fantastic stuff.
posted by nulledge at 8:51 AM on March 7, 2017
nthing Willett gift shop releases. There are stories of randomly wandering into small liquor stores in obscure bits of Kentucky and finding dusty old bottles of cheap whiskey that's no longer produced in its current form -- things like Old Fitz B-in-B -- but you're not likely to be in those parts of the state.
(You're running into the 1 litre customs allowance, as I'm sure you know.)
posted by holgate at 9:46 AM on March 7, 2017
(You're running into the 1 litre customs allowance, as I'm sure you know.)
posted by holgate at 9:46 AM on March 7, 2017
AAA10Y is discontinued, so that's "cheap, dusty old bottle" territory.
posted by holgate at 1:46 PM on March 7, 2017
posted by holgate at 1:46 PM on March 7, 2017
komara, the 101 Proof Rye? When I was there last, it was still the only place to get it. Not doubting you, just saying they were going to keep that one there.
posted by deezil at 2:47 PM on March 7, 2017
posted by deezil at 2:47 PM on March 7, 2017
Deezil: I've got it at my store in AZ. There was a time a few years ago when rye (the grain) was in very short supply, and that plus the time it takes to produce straight whiskey made it mostly go away for a year or three. Wild Turkey's gift shop probably got their hands on some of it. Interestingly, even though they ostensibly produce the liquid in-house, the distillery still has to sell it to a distributor, and the gift shop has to buy it from the distributor. Not that that would make it any easier or harder for them to get, but it's an interesting fact.
Also, OP. Like folks said above, go to Willett. You'll find the rarest stuff you can get your hands on there.
posted by The Potate at 3:04 PM on March 7, 2017
Also, OP. Like folks said above, go to Willett. You'll find the rarest stuff you can get your hands on there.
posted by The Potate at 3:04 PM on March 7, 2017
Nthing Willett as well.
Although I had some Stagg Jr. while in Owensboro recently and it was amazing...
...once the ice cube marinated it a bit, because it was jet fuel right out of the bottle...
posted by Thistledown at 3:45 PM on March 7, 2017
Although I had some Stagg Jr. while in Owensboro recently and it was amazing...
...once the ice cube marinated it a bit, because it was jet fuel right out of the bottle...
posted by Thistledown at 3:45 PM on March 7, 2017
"komara, the 101 Proof Rye? When I was there last, it was still the only place to get it. Not doubting you, just saying they were going to keep that one there."
Yep. It's not regular shelf stock for us - special orders only - but we do sell it. Got some in just last month.
posted by komara at 7:16 AM on March 8, 2017
Yep. It's not regular shelf stock for us - special orders only - but we do sell it. Got some in just last month.
posted by komara at 7:16 AM on March 8, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dondiego87 at 4:15 AM on March 7, 2017