New Stitzel-Weller Barrel Has Arrived
Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 06:27PM 
I'm definitely one for hyperbole, but I'm not a person who uses it unless I am seriously excited. I have never lied about my enthusiasm for the intention of selling a bottle, so I want you all to know that I am speaking the straight truth when I say that our new batch of Jefferson's is the best Stitzel-Weller whiskey I have ever tasted. Our staff just tasted the new batch and we stood there, dumbfounded, just staring at each other. It's so much better than the last two barrels I'm not sure how I'm going to explain it when people ask why. It's just luck, I guess. To clarify, we do not get to taste these before they arrive. We buy them because of the integrity of the source, certain in the fact that they will be high quality whiskies. However, getting a barrel that really hits the high notes - sweet grains, creamy corn, vanilla and chocolate, grassy on the finish - can really make one's day. I know that, given the fact that this is Van Winkle whiskey, many of you will be tempted to store this bottle away, saving it for a rainy day, but in this case I would advise you against it. You all need to taste this right away, then worry about saving extra bottles. I will admit, I was not a huge fan of our last two barrels. They were good, but not fantastic in my opinion. This new batch is Bourbon perfection, however. I'm simply stunned at how good this whiskey is. My highest recommendation, if that means anything.
-David Driscoll
Reader Comments (4)
And how do I go about getting a bottle of this in Arizona?
You can't unfortunately. You can pick it up at our LA store, or you can have someone you know pick it up and ship it to you privately. That's all we can do until AZ changes state laws
I notice you referred to this K&L JPS 18 as a, "new batch," and the previous K&L JPS 18 as, "two barrels." So to clarify, this latest K&L JPS 18--"new batch"--was the result of a batch/vatting? Or no? And was the previous K&L JPS 18--the "two barrels" version--bottled from single barrels, one barrel at-a-time, or were the two barrels vatted together and then bottled?
David,
I am a recent convert to bourbon and would be very interested in getting a taste of Stitzel-Weller bourbon that I read so much about. I hope you are able to get another sample similar to this on in the future.
Greg G.