Two more tastings. . . .

Joined Sep 2003
9K Posts | 0+
Puerto Rico/NYC
Acting on a tip from my distinguished mentor in whiskey, none other than our own Hollow Point, I recently ordered a bottle of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel bourbon. My, my, my, but aren't we a bit obsessed with 'small batch' and 'single barrel' in this country? Okay, but let's hope our obsession doesn't bring the industry careening past the town of Good Quality in the process.

This 90 proof bourbon is from a bottle that is additionally labeled specially selected for Binny's by Joe C. I have to add right here that one should not sneer at such special bottlings, although it might be easy to do so at first glance. The best bottles of Booker's and Baker's I ever had were both from Sam's and labeled as being specially selected for Fred Rosen at Sam's by Booker Noe HIMSELF!!!

Then there is the Van Winkle Family Reserve 18 year old bourbon listed in my Top 25 as being from a special bottling for Park Avenue Liquor Shop. Well, hit me upside the head with a shovel and call me Billy Bob, but it's not all that 'special' if Binny's also has a 'special bottling' of Van Winkle Family Reserve 18 year old bourbon, is it? Well, yes and no. It might not be anything for the folks at Park Avenue to dress up in rooster outfits and start crowing over, but that doesn't mean it's not worth checking out either. What it also means is that there could STILL be subtle differences from barrel to barrel, depending on who got what barrel.

In addition, it could also mean that Van Winkle is experimenting with minor releases of an 'unofficial' product, an 18 year old bourbon which is NOT listed in their repertoire, and test marketing by special releases to certain distributors. Again, nothing for any one of the INDIVIDUALS to crow about, but doesn't mean it's not good stuff.

Having said all that, yes, I know I talk too much, but please try to remember what I said about blond hair.

So, my first tasting of this VERY inexpensive 'special bottling' of Elmer T. Lee was quite a surprise. Very sharp, spicy oak notes with a blast of fruit, probably berries, and ending with a little clover honey. An interesting combination of traditional and 'summertime' bourbon flavors, intriguing and with great possibilities.

The next whiskey I've tried over this weekend was Michter's Single Barrel US*1 Straight Rye Whiskey. And folks, just as the recent tasting of Old Potrero, it turns out that this is Michter's interpretation of the earliest American whiskey, which as we all know by now (RIGHT CLASS?!?!?!?!?!!!??? :D ) was rye, made from 100% rye grain.

Unlike the Old Potrero offering, this was aged a bit longer, at least three years according to the label, and in a new charred oak barrel as opposed to a plain oak barrel. It is also only 84.8 proof.

This tasting went remarkably well. I was expecting another 'wine' experience, and although there were wine type components in the flavor profile, the taste built with each sip and overall was quite pleasant with sweet oak, pears and orange marmalade being the predominant flavors. Very nice, and looking forward to another tasting of this unique product. Ahhhhhhhh, don't you just love niche marketing????
 
I'm always curious about those "special bottlings". A lot of things come to mind when ever one pops up. Barrel gone a-rye? Superstitious MD? Purchasing power of the retailer? Or just plain generousity on the distillery's behalf (not likely)?

Any rate - from what I gather, the Elmer T Lee is supposed to be good stuff right about now. As with any of these small batch single barrel styled offerings - they sort of go back and forth and so it's best to pursue them while they are hot. From what I hear Elmer recently selected whisky about 14 y/o for the current bottlings. Which makes it very attractive pricewise.
 
14 years old? I like the sound of that.

But you've given me a great idea.

NEW!!! THE BEST SMALL BATCH, SINGLE BARREL MASTER'S ELITE BOURBON!!!

Aged 25 years in the Master's own kitchen, in a barrel his cat used to sleep on before poor Ol' Joshua passed on to that Big Distillery in The Sky JUST PRIOR to this bottling!!! Hmmmmmmmmmm, aged forever, but sells for a song, the street corner drinker's delight, only . . .

FIFTEEN DOLLARS AMERICAN!!! Just rush on down to your local liquor store and ask for . . .

Distiller's Generosity, The Ultimate Bourbon!!!!

AH, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Distiller's Generosity, . . . :shock:

But of courrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssse. :wink: