Five days ago TTB approved the new red label for Heaven Hills 12 year old expression. Will this label be available here in the U.S. market? I don't know but I can only hope. With labels and age statements rotating out of circulation over the last number of years, it's encouraging to think that a distillery just might put a decent proofed, aged stated bourbon on the market.....but what market is yet to be seen.
UPDATE 1/24/15: Rumor has it that this will be released here in the U.S. and will be (at least for the time being) a distillery only bottling. I've heard two timelines; this month or within the next few months. I have friends keeping an eye out so at the very least, I'll pick up some bottles in May while in KY picking barrels.
UPDATE 2/15: Expect to pay around $130 a bottle and it's available in the gift shop only. Moving on.
Well, this is exciting!
ReplyDeleteHow will it compare to EJ-12?
When do you suppose we'll see this on the shelves?
Thanks for posting!
Regards,
Dan
Dan, short answer is ..... don't know. It's possible this submission is for the continued distribution to the overseas market. Is it possible it will show up here? Certainly and wouldn't that be a nice addition. EC12 is at 94 proof while the red label sits a 101. I've recently become a fan of the EC Barrel Proof selections so at this point, keeping my fingers crossed that this shows up in the U.S. market.
ReplyDeleteGreg,
ReplyDeleteWe should start a phone/email/letter annoyance campaign to get HH to offer the EW101 Red Label on the domestic market.
You've got the blog... perhaps you can lead the charge!?
8^>
Best Regards,
Dan
Dan - I'll be emailing my contact at HH to see if the 12 year old will be offered here in the U.S. Will advise.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe EW-Bib is such a fantastic bourbon and great value, I'd be really interested to see how this red label is.
Thanks for your excellent blog.
Best,
Dan
PS. The next question I suppose is what is the difference, if any, between HH-bib and EW-bib? I could detect slightly more syrupy notes in the HH than the EW, but that was about the only difference. Although, to be honest, I think the EW-bib is better, I haven't a clue as to why.
8^>
Should be no difference. To my knowledge, HH only has one bourbon mashbill that would go into their namesake BIB or the EW BIB and both should be at least 4 years old.
ReplyDeleteI was offered a red labelled bottle of EW. I'm not sure if it's the same as this as I declined when I heard of the $129 price tag. If I go again I'll ask to take a look at it to see if it's the same as above.
ReplyDeleteYou may be talking about the William Heavenhill red label. I believe the gift shop has it for around that price.
DeleteEvan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond is simply superb.
ReplyDeleteUPDATE - I emailed Heaven Hill but never received a response. Guess we'll wait and see.
ReplyDeleteEW Red Label is now available exclusively at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, Ky for 129.99.
ReplyDeleteYup, I saw that. Shame it's so overpriced.
DeleteHH seems to suffer from a split personality disorder when it comes to their pricing.
ReplyDeleteI expected the red label to be higher than other normal 12 year old bourbons but $130 is extreme. The EC18 used to be around $35 here in VA.....when it returns, I suspect it will be closer to $80.
DeleteMy wife just got back from Louisville and brought me a bottle of the EW 12yr 101. She won't tell me what she spent. Still the $129.99?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure of the price but would assume the price is the same or a little more. I am sure your wife is a keeper buying you whiskey. Nice purchase.
DeleteI just purchased a bottle and it was same price, $129ish. I was happy to be able to sample prior to purchasing at that price. I typically spend under the $40-50 range but occasionally enjoy to jump out of my comfort zone.
ReplyDelete2267 Yen in Tokyo Japan or $18.73. You can bring back 5 liters of 140 proof or less in your checked bag. Pretty cheap whiskey to sell for $130 at their happy little store..
ReplyDeleteThe above statement is true. I'm shocked as to why they are over pricing it so much in the states. I live in Japan and drink it often. Very good value. Tasty bottle.
ReplyDeleteThey price it that way because they can and many will pay that price. Bourbon prices have escalated in retail and the secondary market pricing is just stupid.
DeleteLet's face it, bourbon is on the rise again... I have just recently visited the Evan Williams experience in down town Louisville. It's a great tour and as we all know, the 12 is only available there as well as in Japan. It's is most definelty a pricy bottle but, it is tasty. They realize how the market is changing, can't blame them, it's not 1999 when the 20yr pappy came out and you could buy it by the case.... We now live in an age where the distillers employ a new motto " cheap fish isn't good, and good fish isn't cheap"... The private sector is most agreeable expensive.
ReplyDeleteThe rise in prices in gift shop and retail stores is in part due to the secondary market where PVW15 is fetching $800 and 2015 GTS is $500. The days of getting these expressions at a reasonable costs are certainly over. For those of us that bought before the boom....we're sitting on some nice bottles bought on the cheap.
DeleteJust bought a bottle of the EW red label 12yr old here in Japan for 2500 yen, or about $20.
ReplyDeleteThat is just stupid for them to rip off Americans on their home turf.
Looking forward to opening this bottle after work tonight.