The post Woodford Reserve Very Fine Rare Bourbon appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>With the 2020 release, Woodford Reserve deviates a bit from the previous fourteen Master’s Collection releases by focusing on modern innovation in whiskey distilling.
Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection 2020
The fifteenth iteration of the Woodford Master’s Collection line is a lower proof oak bomb. Very Fine Rare Bourbon clocks in at just 90.4 Proof (45.2% ABV), but is a blend that includes bourbon aged a full 17 years. This combo of proof and age really lets the time in the barrel shine through.
Those 17-year barrels that are used in this special bourbon release were originally filled in 2003, when Woodford’s Master Distiller Chris Morris first started. In a way, this is an homage to him and his creations.
Very Fine Rare Bourbon in NC
North Carolina will see this bourbon start dropping soon. Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon costs $129.95 in NC, right as the distillery’s MSRP. It’s more affordable than Woodford’s crystalline Baccarat Edition.
Check with your local ABC store and see if they know when it will be dropping. You can also monitor the ABC Warehouse stock right here at NC Whiskey.
If all else fails, try watching websites like Mash & Grape that may find it in stock eventually and could ship to NC.
Related Products
Here are a few other great products that are similar to this Master’s Collection release, or that we otherwise endorse:
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]]>The post 2020 Durham ABC Lottery appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Durham County has officially opened registration for the 2020 Durham ABC Lottery. The Durham ABC uses their annual holiday lottery to distribute rare and allocated whiskeys that have been released through the year (mostly during the fall bourbon season). It is unclear at this time if the lottery is only open to Durham County residents or not.
Although Durham doesn’t usually offer a list of the bourbons available in the lottery, rumors abound and assumptions can be made. Some bourbons you can expect to find include bottles from the 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Stagg Jr., Weller products (Weller 12, Full Proof, CYPB, Single Barrel, and/or Antique 107), and limited E.H. Taylor releases like 18 Year Marriage. There’s a good chance we’ll also see Elmer T. Lee, Elijah Craig 18 and 23, and more. Of course, if you’re a lucky winner, you may also score something special from the Pappy Van Winkle Collection.
Here at NC Whiskey we keep a close eye on the NC Stock Page, and try to keep an up-to-date list of whiskey that has come through the warehouse. You can see our latest update here.
You can find the 2020 Durham ABC Lottery registration on their official website.
For updates on other NC ABC lotteries and whiskey news, sign up for our newsletter.
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]]>The post 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) In NC appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>It’s that time of year again. Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced more details around the 2020 release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. These rare, limited release whiskeys will drop in late September and early November across the country. They will come in limited quantities, especially in North Carolina. The 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) has a suggested retail price of $99 for each bottle.
2020 BTAC Details
The 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection will consist of the same five bottles it usually does… each a unique, distiller select version of other, usually more common Buffalo Trace Products. The collection contains both three bourbons and two rye whiskeys. Here are the details about each bottle in the 2020 release.
2020 George T. Stagg Bourbon
George T. Stagg is the proverbial big-brother to the slightly more common Stagg Jr. Bourbon fans were underwhelmed in 2019 by the lower proof, though tastings proved to be popular once bottles were opened. The 2020 George T. Stagg is bottled a whopping 130.4 Proof (65.2%ABV), blowing last year’s bottle out of the water.
GTS is a favorite among BTAC collectors, and often one of the easiest to track down. The whiskey is from Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Mash Bill #1 (75% Corn, 10% Rye, and 15% Barley), and aged for at least 15 years. 2020 George T. Stagg has an MSRP of $99.
2020 Eagle Rare 17 Year-Old Bourbon
In my personal opinion, Eagle Rare 10 Year is one of the best value bourbons on the market. The BTAC version, Eagle Rare 17 Year-Old, is a much more mature version. It’s a deliciously delicate pour.
Also from BT’s Mash Bill #1, Eagle Rare 17 is aged all on the first floor of Warehouse P at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort Kentucky. ER17 is bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), so the near two decades of aging takes center stage in the flavor. As with all of these, 2020 Eagle Rare 17 Year-Old has an MSRP of $99.
2020 William Larue Weller Bourbon
William Larue Weller (WLW) is the kingpin of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Original Wheated Mashbill line. The grandfather to great pours like Weller 12 and Antique 107. Distilled in 2008, the 2020 William Larue Weller is younger than some of the other BTAC pours, but rings in at 134.5 Proof (67.25% ABV), this year’s bottle is HOT. Again, look for a suggested retail price of $99.
2020 Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey
Uncut and unfiltered, Thomas H. Handy is a smoking rye whiskey full of pepper and warmth. Aged for about 16 years, this year’s Thomas H. Handy rye is bottled at 129 Proof (64.5% ABV). If you’re a fan of rye, this is one to keep an eye out for during the release season in late September and early November.
Thomas H. Handy is named after a bartender from Louisiana who first used rye in a Sazerac cocktail. We don’t necessarily recommend mixing this one, but drink it how you like I suppose. Like all of these BTACs, the 2020 Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye should retail at $99.
Thomas H Handy Sazerac
750ml
2020 Sazerac 18 Year-Old Rye Whiskey
The other rye whiskey in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is Sazerac 18 Year-Old. You’ve likely seen it’s 6-year-young little cousin (Baby Saz) on shelves somewhere. The 18-year expression of this classic rye goes down a little easier than the Handy. Bottled at 90 Proof (45% ABV), Sazerac 18 Year Rye is an enjoyable whiskey full of well aged leather and vanilla. And yep, you guessed it… the 2020 Sazerac 18-Year Rye Whiskey also has a suggested retail of $99.
Buying Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in NC
If you’re interested in finding the 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in North Carolina, start building relationships now. Your absolute best bet, especially in smaller towns around the state, is to start making friends with ABC store operators and employees. They may be able to tip you off to when 2020 BTAC is hitting shelves. Most boards won’t actually let this hit shelves, though.
Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is rare and allocated, so most boards will either distribute to loyal customers via a list, or hold a lottery to distribute. Ask around, but be nice. Remember, you aren’t entitled to any of these, and most ABC employees are just doing their jobs. Hunt kindly, be generous, and be kind.
Buying 2020 BTAC Online
The 2020 BTAC series will certainly land in online stores like Mash&Grape, or 1-877 Spirits, but you’ll pay a steep premium for the convenience. Throw the $99 MSRP out the window, demand is so high for these bourbons you’ll pay at least $450 for a George T. Stagg, and maybe $1,500 for an Eagle Rare 17.
Related Bourbons and Ryes
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]]>The post Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition in North Carolina appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>What is Woodford Reserve Baccarat?
Woodford Reserve Baccarat is a special bourbon release from Brown-Foreman’s Woodford Reserve Brand. The distillery takes barrels of their Woodford Reserve bourbon, hand selected by Master Distiller Chris Morris, and aged for at least three seasons in XO Cognac casks. This Cognac finished whiskey is an extremely rare and limited release. Bottled at 90.4 Proof (45.2% ABV), Woodford Reserve Baccarat promises a delicate but complex sweet flavor, full of French Oak, candy, and fruits.
Baccarat, of course, refers to the maker of the find crystal decanter that this special Woodford Reserve comes in. Baccarat has been producing the finest crystal in France since 1764. From glassware, to decorations, to chandeliers, their crystal is famous across the world. It’s only fitting that this XO Cognac finished bourbon would be stored in a fancy Baccarat crystal decanter. It’s also likely where a lot of the price tag comes from.
Is Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition Available in NC?
All signs point to some volume of Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition being available in NC in Fall of 2020… as early as September. However, this is an extremely limited edition bottling and the bottles will be few and far between. There’s no telling which ABC Boards will be distributing these bottles, or how. If it’s anything like Buffalo Tracy Distillery’s O.F.C. release, they’ll pop up randomly, placed in nice glass cases. Ask your local ABC Store or Board to keep an eye out for it. Let them know you’re willing to drop $2,139.99 (after tax) at their store if they get it.
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]]>The post Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel USA Release appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Earlier this year, Buffalo Trace Distillery announce that the fabled Blanton’s Gold version of their single barrel bourbon would be release in the United States for the first time. Now, they’ve also promised a domestic release of another special Blanton’s: Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel.
Blanton’s SFTB United States Release
Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel’s USA release was announced by Buffalo Trace Distillery on August 27, 2020 with a promise of the first drop coming this fall. As is true with the Blanton’s Gold Edition, the SFTB release will be a limited annual drop. Don’t expect to see this on the shelves every time you walk in. Instead, you can anticipate a release similar to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)– a handful of bottles, at best, released to limited stores.
Blanton’s SFTB is an uncut and unfiltered version of Blanton’s Single Barrel and Blanton’s Gold. Because it comes, well, “straight from the barrel”, the proof will vary depending on which barrel each bottle came from. If you’re a fan of high-proof, cask strength bourbons, this will be one for you to try. As a reminder, Blanton’s Original Single Barrel is 93 Proof (46.5% ABV), while Blanton’s Gold Edition clocks in a 103 Proof (51.5% ABV). Previous barrels of Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel have been over 130 Proof (65% ABV).
Buffalo Trace Distillery offers a suggested retail price of $150.
Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel in NC
Like other allocated bourbons, Blanton’s SFTB will be a highly sought after limited release in North Carolina. The State ABC Warehouse will distribute their cases across local ABC counties/towns on a lottery system, and those local ABC boards will in turn distribute them to their customers as they see fit.
If you’re incredibly lucky, and you know when bottles are being released, your local ABC might have them available on the shelf or visible behind the counter. Other ABC locations may distribute via a lottery system or raffle. Still others will only distribute allocated bourbon to those on a list.
We always recommend building relationships with your local ABC store employees and being a good patron of their other, non-allocated products. Be a good customer and a better friend.
Can You Buy Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Online?
Most heavily allocated bottles will be available from some online retailers, but usually not at retail pricing. If they are, they will likely sell out immediately. If you’re willing to pay a premium for the convenience and availability, NC Whiskey recommends checking out Bounty Hunter’s bourbon selection. I wouldn’t expect to see Blanton’s SFTB anywhere online for at least a few months, and when you do see them, expect prices above $300.
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]]>The post Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2020 – 150th Anniversary appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is an annual limited release that celebrates the birthday of the distillery’s founder, George Garvin Brown. Brown is credited as the first distiller to bottle in glass.
Old Forester has officially released the details of their 2020 Birthday Bourbon, to be released starting September 2, 2020. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2020 is set for release this fall in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the distillery. It joins E.H. Taylor 18 Year Marriage and Wild Turkey Master Keep BIB in the list of highly coveted 2020 bourbon releases.
2020 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Details
This years expression of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is aged 10 years, making it a little younger than some previous bottlings under the same name. It will be released at 98 Proof (49% ABV). The mash bill reflects Old Forester’s standard bourbon lineup at 72% Corn, 18% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley.
The batch consists of 95 barrels, all barreled on June 5th 2010, and hand selected by Old Forester’s Master Distiller and Master Taster. Each bottle has an MSRP of about $130.
Buy OF Birthday Bourbon 2020 Online
Keep an eye on your favorite online retailers. I usually recommend checking out Mash and Grape. Keep in mind that any online stores are likely to mark the price up significantly against the $130 MSRP.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is a highly allocated limited release, and finding it online will be extremely tricky. It won’t be available until September 2nd at the earliest, but even then it will trickle into stores and online retailers over the next month of so.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon in NC
Like all limited releases, your best bet on finding the 2020 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon in North Carolina is to buddy up with your local ABC store or board, and keep an eye on the NC ABC Warehouse.
As you hunt for whiskey throughout the state, ask ABC store employees how their store manages the distribution of limited releases. Put your name down for any lotteries you can, or schedule them on your calendar if you need to be there in person. Happy hunting!
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]]>The post Weller Single Barrel Officially In The Lineup appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Earlier this year we discussed rumors that Buffalo Trace Distillery was launching a new orange-label Weller to the William Larue lineup. Rumors are finally confirmed, and we’re expecting to see Weller Single Barrel in stores as early as summer 2020.
This new bourbon boasts hints of mint, cherries, and vanilla on the nose. The palate is said to burst with caramel and chocolate, with a peppery finish of cinnamon and coffee.
Weller Single Barrel has suggested retail price of $50.
Weller Single Barrel Orange Label
The Weller Single Barrel offering is a new 97 proof (48.5% ABV) version of Buffalo Trace’s Original Wheated Bourbon mashbill. The Weller Orange Label is the newest addition to a coveted line of wheated bourbons that includes Weller Special Reserve, Antique 107, and Weller 12, as well as other annual releases of Weller Full Proof and CYPB.
Weller SiB will be an annual release that offers fans of the mashbill an opportunity to try this favored bourbon in a unique pure form. Buffalo Trace has found success will a similar lineup of it’s high-rye mash bill in the Colonel E.H. Taylor vertical. E.H. Taylor Single Barrel has been a successful annual release for Buffalo Trace, and gives whiskey collectors a slightly easier prey than the highly coveted (and highly allocated) Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Weller Single Barrel In North Carolina
It’s already hard enough to find the more lasting versions of the Weller lineup in North Carolina ABC stores. NC and Buffalo Trace have had a tough time negotiating the appropriate allocations for the state. You’ll want to make sure you’re on good terms with your local ABC board, but there’s a good chance Weller Single Barrel will be held back for the most loyal patrons, or for a lottery. If you get your hands on one, will you send me a sample?
Where To Buy Weller SiB
If you’re lucky, you can get your hands on Weller Single Barrel in a local liquor store or ABC shop. Otherwise, you might have to win a lottery. The online retailers are always an option, but their prices can be inflated and it’s hard to get them to ship to NC. I recommend keeping an eye on Bounty Hunter and Sip Whiskey, or aggregated delivery sites like Saucey.com and Drizly.
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]]>The post Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series SE4 X PR5 appeared first on NC Whiskey.
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SE4 X PR5 is a denotation that refers to the wood staves used to flavor this Maker’s Mark custom batch. If you’re familiar with Maker’s Mark’s Private Selects, then you know a little bit about how their stave profiles work. The difference here is that we actually have two unique stave profiles, married together into one Maker’s Mark expression.
The two stave profiles, SE4 and PR5 are uniquely aged with help of the Independent Stave Co. and then married together to create a totally unique expression. At 112.5 Proof (56.25% ABV), Maker’s Mark promises “amplified notes of vanilla, baking spices, and creamy caramel.”
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020
The RC6 2019 Limited Release wasn’t too difficult to find. Unlike a lot of limited releases, it showed up in abundance on shelves, not hidden behind ABC store counters or reserved for lotteries. Hopefully we’ll see the same treatment in North Carolina for this 2019 version.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series SE4 X PR5 is a 2020 Limited Release developed to accentuate the classic vanilla and caramel notes that MM fans know and love. If you’re a fan of Maker’s Mark RC6 or Maker’s Mark 46, this is a must try release in 2020. At a humble MSRP of only $70, this will be worth searching for on shelves or through online retailers. Keep an eye on Bounty Hunter or others so you don’t miss it.
Bourbon Enthusiast x Maker’s Mark Private Select 2 (Winter Pick)
750ml
Bourbon Enthusiast x Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml
750ml
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]]>The post Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Bottled-In-Bond 17 Year Bourbon appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Wild Turkey is set to release their newest addition to the Master’s Keep line. 2020 boasts the fifth bottling in this series, Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Bottled-In-Bond is an exciting 17 year old expression of the Wild Turkey mash. It will be bottled at 100 Proof (50% ABV) and is said to have notes of dark cherries, vanilla, toasted oats, spice and hints of smoke. The MSRP is around $149.95, but it will sell in North Carolina ABC stores at $174.95.
This isn’t the first time a Master’s Keep release has come packaged with a 17-year age statement. The first edition, just called “Master’s Keep” was a 17 year bourbon aged in stone warehouses.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished In Port Barrels
Where to Buy Wild Turkey Master’s Keep BiB
The Master’s Keep releases from Wild Turkey aren’t typically the most rare finds. North Carolina boards will likely all see a few of these bottles at least. Some of the older expressions of this special release are still available on shelves in certain places (if you. know where to look).
In North Carolina, our usual advice applies. Shop loyal to a single ABC store if you can, and get to know the employees. If nothing else, they can probably give you a heads up on when these will start hitting shelves (likely by the end of May or early June 2020.
You can also keep an eye on online stores like Bounty Hunter, Drizly, and Saucey. They don’t all ship to NC, but they might ship to someone you know.
The Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Bottled-In-Bond 17 Year should be easy enough to find if you keep your ear to the ground and do some whiskey hunting. Any tips of your own? Leave them in the comments!
Similar Products to Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Bottled In Bond
 Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary Bourbon – $134.58 Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary Bourbon is a blend of 13 to 16 year old barrels hand selected by Eddie Russell to commemorate Wild Turkey’s 60 years in business. |
 Wild Turkey – $185.99 Our longest-aged whiskey. Perfectly balanced flavor; aged in both brick and wood rickhouses. Begins smooth and silky, with a caramel, vanilla sweetness, and finishes with savory spiciness and oak. |
 Wild Turkey 101 Proof Rye – $23.62 92 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST. Double Gold Medal 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.The aromas are spicy and somewhat raw with strong notes of cloves, old leather, and some lighter citrus tones. |
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]]>The post Colonel E.H. Taylor 18 Year Marriage appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>On May 5th, 2020, Buffalo Trace Distillery confirmed the release of their new E.H. Taylor 18 Year Marriage whiskey. This ambitious release is a marriage of whiskey made from three of Buffalo Trace’s top bourbon mashbills: one Wheated Bourbon (similar to their Weller line) and two high ryes. Aged 18 years, Buffalo Trace will be releasing these at a recommended MSRP of $69.99 starting in June 2020.
E.H. Taylor 18 Year Marriage in North Carolina
Buffalo Trace has indicated that their 18 Year Marriage bourbon will be an extremely limited release, which means it will be a rare find all over the world. If last year’s E.H. Taylor Amaranth (Grain of the Gods) is any indication, North Carolina ABC will get an extremely limited amount.
Typically, with allocated items like this, the state ABC will put cases and bottles up for Lottery, because there aren’t enough to go around to all the local ABC boards. If your local board is lucky enough to get a case (6 bottles for this bourbon), then it will be up to them to distribute as they see fit. For some boards, they may hold the bottles and distribute in a lottery. Others could put them on the shelf for a first-come/first-serve distribution. Still others will choose to hold them “in the back” for preferred customers. I don’t make the rules. It’s never a bad idea to become friends with your local store, though.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished In Port Barrels
Other Options for Acquisition
If you’re not in North Carolina, you might have better options. Online delivery options like Drizly and Saucey would be worth keeping an eye on. Some online stores like Chips Liquor already have a product listing up.
Read more about online ordering.
What is a Whiskey “Marriage”?
Most often in bourbon, you hear about Batches and Blends. A Batch of bourbon is two or more barrels that, after aging, are mixed together immediately before bottling. A Blend occurs when two types of whiskey are mixed together at the point of batching.
A Marriage is similar to this, but with some distinction. In the Whiskey world, a marriage usually occurs when two different whiskies are blended together in another barrel. In other words, the individual bourbons would do their normal aging in barrels, then mixed together and added to another barrel. This extra aging and oak adds extra character and helps the two (or three, in the case of the E.H. Taylor 18 Year Marriage) become one.
Similar Products
 E.h. Taylor Straight Rye – $88.74 This whiskey has a nose of dried fruit, black pepper and a touch of fresh dill. The flavor is both sweet and savory with a terrific balance of dark spices and subtle caramel overtones. 100 proof. |
 E.H. Taylor – $82.99 #2 of the EH Taylor Eponymous Collection! The nose is lightly toasted oak, with dried figs and butterscotch. Sweetness on the tongue remains balanced with tobacco and dark spices. |
 Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Bourbon – $62.99 95-100 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST,FIVE STARS-SPIRIT JOURNAL 2009. Medium bodied with lots of complex lively flavors. The finish is assertive and very long. |
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