Saturday, November 2, 2013

Old Weller Antique - Spring 2013

It's hard to beat OWA.  The quality and price point make this expression a real bargain.  The upside of course is getting a single barrel to boot with the private barrel picks at the same retail price.  I mentioned in a previous post that Buffalo Trace contacted us prior to our arrival in April informing that the barrels would be about 6 1/2 years old; in previous years we were able to pick barrels that ranged from 7 1/2 to 8 years old.  I actually didn't mind the change as I saw this as an opportunity to pick up a run of OWA with significant age difference.

We picked two barrels; each with a profile different from the other.  The reduced age didn't hurt the drinking experience one bit.  In fact, many commented at the full flavor of the bourbon noting it did not present any youthfulness.

At bottling we were advised that one was short only yielding 72 bottles which was a real letdown.  The other barrel gave up 204 bottles.

OWA#17 (short barrel) - During the tasting I commented the bourbon was like velvet on the palate and so it was when cracking open the bottle and taking that first pour.  Smooth entry with flavor profile of brown sugar and loads of caramel.  Finish is moderate to long

OWA#18 - This pick was such an easy drinker that when shared with others, it disappears really quick.  Brown sugar again on the palate but with vanilla and baking spice that pops up about mid palate.  It's really sweet but not like white sugar; lots of candy shop qualities.  The finish is long with chocolate and a hint of ginger at the end.  Superb.

6 comments:

  1. i'm somewhat confused. is OWA a single barrel, or is it just your contacts at BT making it available to you as a single barrel?

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    1. The barrel picks are all single barrel including the OWA which is typically vatted. I guess I should have clarified.

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  2. I recently sourced an bottle from the OWA barrel program that was 6 yrs 9 mon. I thought it took on a very different profile in the nose compared to the standard OWA offering. Soft cherry notes dominated the nose. I enjoyed the change up quite a bit.

    Josh

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    1. In this case with the OWA, I believe that a single barrel is going to have advantages over the shelf offering. Assuming of course the SB that's picked is good. When buying the shelf offering, you are getting a whiskey that is mingled to achieve a specific flavor profile...what I call "shooting for the middle" The SB picks of OWA are outside the envelope expressions and while has typical OWA components, the drinking experience is quite a bit better (IMO). I've picked a number of OWA barrels and the profiles are all over the map from soft and approachable to spicy and aggressive. This is why I like picking barrels so much as we get a wide variety from a single mashbill.

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  3. How are you able to pick a barrel, (or get in a program that does so) Greg?
    The stores here in georgia have never offered a single barrel offering of OWA.

    Thanks

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    1. Excel - I belong to a club that buys barrels on a recurring basis. I don't believe GA at present supports distillery barrel programs so I think you're out of luck there. If GA allows importation of spirits, your best bet is to order from online retailers that do SB OWA's like Julio's Liquor in MA or Market Square Liquor in Tallahassee.

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