Buffalo Trace 2009 Antique Collection..Which One?

[talisker10]

Spec's will have the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection for 2009 in stock today. I am going to buy one bottle. If it were you which one would you buy? I am leaning towards the Thomas H. Handy.

[sku]

They are all always very good. I would say, if there is one you have never tasted, buy that one. In terms of reviews, the Weller and Stagg seem to get the top ratings for this year with the Eagle Rare getting the lowest. For this year's crop, I have only tried the Weller, but it is, indeed, superb.

I have loved past Handys so it's hard for me to think you could go wrong with that one.

[talisker10]

Thanks, they are all new to me. I have recently discovered rye, so the Handy sounds very appealing, but John Hansell's review of the Wiliam Larue Weller makes it sound so yummy!

Wish I could buy one of each. Hopefully they won't sell out before I get down there on Saturday.

[Ganga]

I have to agree with SKU here. I just don't think you will go wrong. I had a hard time but the two of most interest to me were the GTS and the Saz 18. I've been getting into ryes this last year so I voted for that one.

[pkt77242]

I got the George T Stagg and the William Larue Weller this year. Both are really good, the WLW is better balance and more refined. The GTS has stronger and bolder flavors.
I have a slight preference for the WLW but that could be because I had never had it before while this is my 3rd GTS. I hope you enjoy whichever one you get.

Sean

[Drammed]

The Stagg gets most of the hype and it won the best bourbon this year so if you are going to taste or collect that would be my suggestion.

[RogerB]

I couldn't decide, so I got one of each.

They're all excellent, but I'd probably go with either the Stagg, the Handy, or the Weller.

[Drammed]

I couldn't decide, so I got one of each.

They're all excellent, but I'd probably go with either the Stagg, the Handy, or the Weller.

Lucky you. The BCLB is limiting people to 1 bottle period, regardless of what you choose and it is priced at $175CAD or $166.75 usd for that bottle!!!!!

[p_elliott]

I got one of each and 2 of the WLW. It should be worth it. Last years WLW was the best whiskey I've ever had.

[p_elliott]

I'm having the GTS tonight it taste like brown sugar, it's absolutely unbelievable. It's 141 proof so you take little bitty sips which probably just amplifies the sweetness.The nose at first is leather then brown sugar. I know I have not had a whiskey this sweet and I thought PVWFR 20 was sweet not in the ball park. You also get a lot of the warehouse/barrel on the nose as well.

[talisker10]

I bought the Weller as I figured my wife has best chance of liking that one as well. It's going to be a Christmas present so I will have to wait a couple of months to crack it open.

[talisker10]

We decided to go ahead and have an early Xmas present. Wow the Weller is just incredible! How can something that's 134 proof be this smooth and sippable? I get vanilla, caramel custard, coconut, hint of cherry, with a honey background. A little sweeter with a wee bit of water. I think even a die hard SMS fan would love this bourbon.

[RogerB]

I couldn't decide, so I got one of each.

They're all excellent, but I'd probably go with either the Stagg, the Handy, or the Weller.

Lucky you. The BCLB is limiting people to 1 bottle period, regardless of what you choose and it is priced at $175CAD or $166.75 usd for that bottle!!!!!

Yikes. I think I paid ~$60/bottle.

[RogerB]

We decided to go ahead and have an early Xmas present. Wow the Weller is just incredible! How can something that's 134 proof be this smooth and sippable? I get vanilla, caramel custard, coconut, hint of cherry, with a honey background. A little sweeter with a wee bit of water. I think even a die hard SMS fan would love this bourbon.

I found the Thomas H. Handy and George T. Stagg very sippable too, vs. some bourbons that were in the 100 to 107 range that had more burn.

[pkt77242]

We decided to go ahead and have an early Xmas present. Wow the Weller is just incredible! How can something that's 134 proof be this smooth and sippable? I get vanilla, caramel custard, coconut, hint of cherry, with a honey background. A little sweeter with a wee bit of water. I think even a die hard SMS fan would love this bourbon.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed it. A mighty fine bourbon.

Sean

[jhershauer]

We decided to go ahead and have an early Xmas present. Wow the Weller is just incredible! How can something that's 134 proof be this smooth and sippable? I get vanilla, caramel custard, coconut, hint of cherry, with a honey background. A little sweeter with a wee bit of water. I think even a die hard SMS fan would love this bourbon.

Totally agree. WLW 2009 is the best bourbon I've tried, and the most SMS-like. It seems like the fresh oak charring influence is slightly subdued in this one, which separates it from the other bourbons I've had, including GT Stagg 2008.

Jeff

[p_elliott]

The WLW 09 I get a lot of wood and little brown sugar in the nose. The taste I get brown sugar maybe a little cloves, if you do the the KY chew I get cinnamon. I don't get much wood in the taste.