Single Barrel Batch #3 Has Arrived!

This is a bit of a good news bad news story and here is how it goes...

First the bad news, Our stellar Eagle Rare 10yr Single Barrel that arrived at our store in the first week of September was sold out before the first week of October (very quick). It was quite a memorable one with its fans coming in to buy a bottle and then, in most cases, coming back in hopes purchasing of more. The people that responded quickly were rewarded and with another bottle and, in some cases, even a handful of this very memorable selection. Since it sold out we have seen a good number of our faithful Bourbon fans that didn't act as quickly, go home empty handed and disappointed that we were so successful in selling it out because it meant that they weren't going to get their "back-up bottle".

In our defense, we did tell people that it would go quickly.

Here is the good news...

Single Barrel Batch #3 has arrived and is available for sale as you read this!

This time we switched it up a little and went with another delicious selection from the same Buffalo trace portfolio but instead of Eagle Rare 10yr we went with the Buffalo Trace 8 year (8 1/2 to be exact). The price is great at $34.99 and the Whiskey from this barrel was housed in building #4 which great collectors of bourbon will recognize as the house that most of the Pappy Van Winkle comes from. We didn't know this when we first tasted it but we did know immediately that there was something special about it's beautifully soft and elegant styling.

We made this selection with Bourbon season and fall time in New England in mind. It shows all of the stuffing that a good bourbon fan loves, Caramel and Toffee notes on the nose and big mid-palate presence highlighted by well balanced dark spice notes and a dark fruit finish that really holds your attention. The Fall personality really begins to show when you start to pick up on its complexity with of notes like Cinnamon, Nutmeg and soft earthy tones that will remind you of walking through dried fall leaves, it just feels like this time of year when you sip it. This is not a simple Bourbon and spending a bit of time with it is very rewarding. You will keep going back to it's styling and incredibly long finish that invites you back again and again.

We have begun to sell it over the past week or so and it is going quick so here is your forewarning.

Be Quick or be disappointed!

Just like our first two selections, this will sell out quickly. If this past week and a half is a good indicator, it will be gone as quickly as its predecessors. The response has been great and the feedback is equal to each of our other personally selected  Barrels. This past weekend we showed each of our previous picks along side of this newest one at our 74th Anniversary celebration and it was a very hot seller.

What will we do when this sells out? Good question!

We have Batch #4  in the works and it promises to up the ante for us. We tasted a good number of samples from different producers but the one that stole our hearts is from a small guy that has made a big mark with his brand. We are going to keep it under our hats for the moment but suffice it to say, it will not disappoint!

In the meantime, stop by to have a taste and see if you agree that the current Batch #3 is worth the hype. We think that you will agree that this needs to be in your own personal collection.

-Cheers

Bourbon, It's a mood thing...

Talking with Bourbon drinkers about their favorite small batch sippers soon makes you realize that it is all about your mood.

Do you remember the Boston song "More than a feeling"? That is just what Bourbon feels like and it seems that most every aficionado we talk to is in agreement. Bourbon collectors can have a dozen or more different bottles in their collection (some have many dozens) and most agree that each has its own time and mood.

They are described by their appreciators as reflective, coy, poetic, masculine, or feminine, flirtatious, pretentious, even melancholy and most aficionados know what their evenings choice will be based on who it is that they are sipping with or maybe how work went today. While most have their "go to" bottle that is an old reliable and not as contemplative, it just isn't as simple as the vodka that is picked off the shelf without much thought. Even old reliable is usually considered before imbibing.

Tonight's Whiskey is a thoughtful process that considers many factors. Price, producer, rarity, and alcohol level run through the head of the person scanning their collection. A good friend, a great cigar, today's news or even just being in a bad mood will influence the choice. It is a personal decision and while different people will categorize them in their own way, most start with "Tonight feels like..."

 Having the opportunity to sit with an avid collector and taste through a number of things through the evening is a sure way to flip the switch and understand what all the rage is about. Tasting the same selections on different days that include changes in mood or weather have a profound effect on our perception and it is always interesting to listen to others opinions as we taste to see how they match our own assessments.

Recently our newest Eagle Rare Single Barrel showed up at the store and as each of us on staff re-tasted the selection we made months ago while going through samples sent to us by the distillery, we were reminded of just how much we liked it and why this was "The one". Standing there and sipping together started the conversation and suddenly the chatter was started. Many descriptors about different aromas and tastes were flying around. Maple, Brown sugar, Vanilla and Caramel started the conversation. Golden Raisin, Roasted coffee, Orange zest and candied Ginger were added and we were all impressed not only with how much dimension it showed but also its drinkability. With a seemingly endless finish, this gem just kept inviting you back for another taste. Soon, the inevitable mood characteristics came up. Friendly, feminine and flirtatious were agreed on as what it feels like to drink this particular selection.

There must be something to it because people that have added it to their collections have come back for more and almost everyone describes it in the same "happy" way. The barrel has only been here for a little more than a week and more than half of the 240 bottles is gone. This cheerful Whiskey will likely be sold out before September is over so if you'd like to add it to your collection or know a collector that is looking for the next great thing, act now.

The eagle has landed!

With the interest in Bourbon building through the past decade we have been trying in vane to purchase our own single barrel of something great. Our name has been on "the list" at Eagle Rare for some time and for the first time this past October we finally climbed to the top of that list and a hard to find/get opportunity finally became available to us! The phone call was short...

"Hi Patrick, I understand that you have been trying to get your hands on a single barrel of Eagle Rare."

Yes, I said.

"We have a barrel of Distiller select 10 year available"

Send it! was my reply

Just like that the long awaited phone call and distillery confirmation were simultaneously taken care of. All that was left was the bottling and delivery...

Monday December 29,2014 we got a late Christmas present as our single barrel of Master Distiller Select Eagle Rare 10 year Bourbon arrived at the store. Only 150 bottles of this gem are available and a portion of that has already been put aside to fill pre-orders. Each bottle is hand numbered and will be sold on a first come first serve basis. Below are a few tasting notes from the sample we tasted and the specifics of the barrel that we purchased.

We are obviously very excited to get the 2015 new year started in such an exciting way and look forward to introducing more opportunities in the coming months that will be directly linked to this one of a kind barrel.(More on that as things develop).


Tasting notes:

The nose tells us immediately that this beautifully crafted whiskey is a high rye Bourbon showing lots of spice and grassy notes with underlying leather, almond and orange zest. Quite masculine but delicately balanced with honeyed notes, And that was just the nose! We stood looking at each other while we talked about the nose and soon realized that none of us had even tasted it yet and we were already chattering about all of its complexity.
Now the true test... As each of us tasted, the obvious came right out and that was that the nose did not lie. Spicy Rye right behind your lips with smokey and dry nutty flavors jumping right up. Through the mid palate the sweeter caramel and honeyed tones showed themselves with a nice faint bitter cocoa note at the finish. Orange peel, and warm caramelized apples hang on as the finish lingers.  The sense of classic Eagle Rare showed well and adding a drop or two of water expanded all of these flavors and broadened its profile.

We did very well with our purchase if we do say so ourselves!


Price: $39.99 750ml

Call to reserve yours today
(203) 259-4692

Happy New Year!

Barrel #	04-D-30-I-2-58-075
Fill Date	4/30/2004
Warehouse	I
Floor	2
Dump Date	12/8/2014
Age	10 years 7 months 8 days
Starting Gallons	53
Dumped Gallons	21.5
Entry Proof	125
Dumped Proof	131.9
Mash	1
Flavoring Grain	Rye