Like many young people, when I was much younger, for a couple of decades I focussed on the effect and price of distilled spirits. I remember what brought about the change. A client that I helped sort out some complex health care benefits issues, was a marketing specialist at Wild Turkey Distillery, and as a thank you, gave me a gift box with some of their finer Bourbon. One taste of the good stuff, and I knew there was a real difference. The flavors become more complex and subtle with careful aging, the grain mixture makes a huge difference, even the aged product from year to year will vary depending on the weather and even the barrel.
Many distilleries make both high quality and low quality bourbon. The difference is often aging, how long and under what conditions. I often say that I wouldn't use Jim Beam to sanitize a bird cage, the same distillery also makes very high quality, well aged, single barrel and even better single barrel selects.
Buffalo Trace led the way in single barrel bourbon with Blanton's. Blanton's was developed to compete with single malt scotch, in the Asian market. There was a limited domestic market. When the single barrel market exploded, Buffalo Trace couldn't keep up with the demand, the production cycle is 7 to 10 years. Prices rose, and there is little incentive for them to increase production. At one time you could go to the distillery in Frankfort and buy Blanton's by the case for about $40 a bottle. Today it between $150 and $300 a bottle, if and when you can find it. Allegedly crimes have been committed trying to supply for the demand (one of my favorite retailers has been investigated for re-importing Blanton's without all of the correct paperwork.)
There are dozens of good single barrel bourbons on the market. Prices are about double what they were 10 years ago. Good stuff, to be savored in small sips.
Can you name the two primary types of stills in the photo?
Don't know the stills, but gin is the same for me as bourbon for you. I wouldn't touch Beefeaters to sanitize a bird cage. For me it's Hendericks. or Barr Hill, or the Botanists or Blue Coat, or Boodles, or..... though I do take a small stiffener of whiskey on ice on real cold nights.
ReplyDeleteNo ice needed for the good stuff
DeleteI know little about distilling but they very interesting machines to look at and imagine how they work. Actually one was explained to us when we toured a scotch distillery in Scotland, but I forget. We received a tiny amount of a high end scotch to taste and I didn't like it much. Don't feed caviar to pigs.
ReplyDeleteScotland uses mostly pot stills.
DeleteNot a clue about the types of stills and, although I’m not a bourbon drinker I did once go to a tasting of fine bourbons and the difference was obvious.
ReplyDeleteAh the good life.
DeleteI don't really know anything about stills and I probably know less about bourbon. I'll stick to wine and champagne.
ReplyDeleteI know little about wine
DeleteI don't drink alcohol so I know nothing about this!
ReplyDeleteStay healthy
DeleteDrinking is a very expensive hobby!
ReplyDeleteEspecially if you like the good stuff
DeleteTo answer your question...pot and column. Have you collected any or all of the Blanton's letters?
ReplyDeleteOnly a couple of them before it became unattainable
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