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Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
August 27, 2020 (edited March 15, 2023)
AAA 10 STAR: I'd been reluctant to try this one since I compared the standard issue Ancient Age with the 36 Month Age Statement to the watered down bourbon at the end of a pour on the rocks. I was perusing the shelves and with nothing new that really moved the needle, I picked this one up from the bottom shelf. I love BT Mashbill #2, so I thought a little older (or so I thought, more on that later) and 10 proof points higher, it's worth a $17 flyer. How was it?...
NOSE: Rye Spice, Corn Dust, Leather, Honeycomb, Dry Brown Sugar, Cigar Box. Very nice and complex for a $17 bottle.
NEAT: You can definitely pick up on the BT Mashbill #2/Blanton's Lineage. Cherry Coke, Charred Oak, Vanilla, Leather, Cedar, Rye Spice. Warming Finish with building KY Hug. Black Pepper Tingle and Sweet Oak coat the palate. Again, very impressive for a $17 bottle.
SPLASH: A little water really turns up the Vanilla and Charred Oak.
VERDICT: This is labeled as KSB and that means minimum 2 years or minimum 4 with no age statement. I scoured the label for an age statement and found none so the reports I've seen of 6 years seemed plausible, but I figured at least 4. I did some reading once I got it home and kept seeing it referred to as 36 months. I thought they had to be confusing it with the standard issue AA so I scoured the bottle again. Still no age statement, and then as I was sitting it back on the counter, there it was. Oh, you sneaky Buffalo Trace Bastards. On the back of the neck label, sideways, underneath the Return for Deposit States, in the same font, "Aged 36 Months". So, in theory, this is the same Ancient Age that I gave a 2 rating (and was being generous at that) simply 10 proof points higher. How can it be more Ancient than regular Ancient if it's the same age? At first I was miffed (and still am a little) by the placement of the Age Statement. I mean, I know they are "technically" following the rules, but it seems they are doing it in the most dishonest way possible. Then I put that aside. As I was tasting this, the voice of Lloyd Benson (you young folks can google him) popped in my head and said, "I have had 3 year old Bourbon, and you Sir, are no 3 year old Bourbon". There may be some 3 year old booze in this mix, but I don't think there is much. What I found was a $17 Bourbon that left the first few $17 bourbons that I could think of in the dust. If memory serves (and I think it does) this is better than Beam White, Evan Williams (BIB, Black, and 1783), 4 Roses Yellow Label, Very Old Barton 86, and WT81. If indeed this is mostly 36 month old whiskey, I'm doubly impressed. For $17, this will be my new "well" bourbon. So close to a 4 based on a combination of taste and VFM, but being slightly miffed at the placement of the Age Statement, I'll round down.
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Great review. Found some of this a few years ago and was notably impressed. I too am miffed about the deceptive 3year statement although some bottles do not have it. Still have a significant stash at 22 a1.75. Not the most complex but great bottom shelf daily drinker stuff. Cheers!!
I like this mashbill so will be looking for this. Ive seen the standard AA but not interested in that
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington true. It is a little easier to find on the 1.75L
@BDanner sounds like the equivalent of itsy, bitsy t-Rex arms - but just one arm, growing out of the back of its neck.
@1901 Yeah, I love it when they just come out and just say what the composition is. If it's (e.g.) 35% 3YO, but also 55% 6YO and 10% 8YO, that's fine and there are plenty of good reasons for doing that. If it just darned fine 3YO, I'm good with that too.
fairly certain me and my friends cleared Pitt Co. out of this one entirely as soon as it started becoming rarer ~4/5 years ago. it is/was the gold standard for cheap drinking.
I swore I'd never buy another bottle of Templeton after their controversy. It wasn't so much that they were using a made up story, it's the BS they spouted after they were called out on it. Now, to be clear, I don't put this anywhere in that category. Technically, Sazerac put an Age Statement on the bottle as required.
I can see why you would be miffed. Why not just be open about it if there is some 3yr old in the mix I wonder? Over here a brand called Hyde got into a bit of controversy when their labels and website had lines like “Our master distillers use age-old traditions to make Hyde Irish Whiskey.”. The whiskey was 100% sourced and they did not have a distillery or one under construction. I remember too @dubz480 noting the deceptive marketing of Templeton. I know marketing material can include embellishment, but once I hear stories like that i tend to avoid the brand afterwards.