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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 16, 2021 22:07:07 GMT -6
Hey jacobamerritt was it you talking about NM? I had one in my hand the other day and then saw the proof - 118? (Maybe it was 113)…put it back down. So does it drink as hot as its proof? |
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Post by jacobamerritt on Jun 16, 2021 23:42:28 GMT -6
Johnkenn - I dont think that was me, but I'm not a fan for the price point. Back about 10 years now, Noah's Mill was really good! Then it got popular and they changed what was in the bottle to keep up with demand : ( Honestly, thats what has happened with MOST stuff from Willett (Like Noahs Mill, Johnny Drum, Pot Still, Pure Kentucky etc). They were sourcing whiskey elsewhere while getting their operation going, and now that those reserves are running dry their own distillate just isn't as good.
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Post by jeremygillespie on Jun 17, 2021 3:54:09 GMT -6
I like the stuff! It’s maybe a 1 bottle every year sort of thing for me, it’s got a very specific spiced cinnamon thing going on, and if I’m in the mood for it, kinda hard to beat. It’s hot but not as crazy as something like the Stagg Jr that I have that is high proof and let’s you know it.
Nothing an ice cube can’t help out with if it’s a bit too much though!
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Post by jacobamerritt on Jun 17, 2021 10:23:50 GMT -6
I like the stuff! It’s maybe a 1 bottle every year sort of thing for me, it’s got a very specific spiced cinnamon thing going on, and if I’m in the mood for it, kinda hard to beat. It’s hot but not as crazy as something like the Stagg Jr that I have that is high proof and let’s you know it. Nothing an ice cube can’t help out with if it’s a bit too much though! That cinnamon thing is in nearly every Willett product. Thats a sign they're using their own distillate vs the old sourced stuff. |
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Post by Ward on Jun 17, 2021 10:28:35 GMT -6
I like the stuff! It’s maybe a 1 bottle every year sort of thing for me, it’s got a very specific spiced cinnamon thing going on, and if I’m in the mood for it, kinda hard to beat. It’s hot but not as crazy as something like the Stagg Jr that I have that is high proof and let’s you know it. Nothing an ice cube can’t help out with if it’s a bit too much though! That cinnamon thing is in nearly every Willett product. Thats a sign they're using their own distillate vs the old sourced stuff. Something they're putting in their mash? Temperature they're distilling at? Using new white oak barrels or chips? |
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Post by jacobamerritt on Jun 17, 2021 11:19:22 GMT -6
Something they're putting in their mash? Temperature they're distilling at? Using new white oak barrels or chips? All bourbon is using white oak barrels, and the vast majority all source those from the same cooperages. If I had to guess its a combo of mash bill recipe (bourbon distillers cant put anything in to flavor besides grain) and the yeast they use. The grain source itself can have a major impact as well. Kinda like how you can have two acoustic guitars that sound totally different depending on who made em - Canadian rye grains are much different than say Pennsylvania rye. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 17, 2021 22:00:26 GMT -6
All bourbon is using white oak barrels, and the vast majority all source those from the same cooperages. If I had to guess its a combo of mash bill recipe (bourbon distillers cant put anything in to flavor besides grain) and the yeast they use. The grain source itself can have a major impact as well. Kinda like how you can have two acoustic guitars that sound totally different depending on who made em - Canadian rye grains are much different than say Pennsylvania rye. I find Canadian grains to be pretty grassy tasting. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 26, 2022 21:16:46 GMT -6
Finally grabbed one of these and whoa - it’s fantastic. Funny - guess like anything you do a lot, the more you learn and change. I actually prefer higher proof, cask, full proofs these days. Going back to a 90 proof tastes watered down and boring.
This drinks way, way over the price I paid (which I’m sure was jacked up at $75.) Well in comparison to paying $300 on the secondary for a Weller Full Proof or Stagg Jr. This is the first time I’ve seen it in months, but I’d buy this again in a heartbeat.
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Post by jacobamerritt on Apr 27, 2022 11:04:10 GMT -6
Finally grabbed one of these and whoa - it’s fantastic. Funny - guess like anything you do a lot, the more you learn and change. I actually prefer higher proof, cask, full proofs these days. Going back to a 90 proof tastes watered down and boring. This drinks way, way over the price I paid (which I’m sure was jacked up at $75.) Well in comparison to paying $300 on the secondary for a Weller Full Proof or Stagg Jr. This is the first time I’ve seen it in months, but I’d buy this again in a heartbeat. I hear ya, I go through seasons. Lately Im more in the mood for lower proof stuff. I forget, have you tried any 1792 Full Proofs? |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 27, 2022 11:54:55 GMT -6
Finally grabbed one of these and whoa - it’s fantastic. Funny - guess like anything you do a lot, the more you learn and change. I actually prefer higher proof, cask, full proofs these days. Going back to a 90 proof tastes watered down and boring. This drinks way, way over the price I paid (which I’m sure was jacked up at $75.) Well in comparison to paying $300 on the secondary for a Weller Full Proof or Stagg Jr. This is the first time I’ve seen it in months, but I’d buy this again in a heartbeat. I hear ya, I go through seasons. Lately Im more in the mood for lower proof stuff. I forget, have you tried any 1792 Full Proofs? No - can’t ever find them here. Well, I think I’ve seen them on some of my secondary groups. |
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Post by raddistribution on May 3, 2022 6:48:48 GMT -6
Plenty of both up here on the shelves. With the full proof 1792 I prefer the regular small batch and the sweet wheat. By a lot. That price is crazy for Noah mills I feel like. Its way cheaper up here.
Funny personal story about Noahs mill. About 15 years ago at one of my first NAMMs, I had a late night dinner with a company for an important meeting at a pretty fancy place. At this time I had never had bourbon before and had absolutely no idea what any of the differences were. so trying to match everyone else and look like I know what I was talking about, I look down the whisky menu, order Noahs mill since it sounded classy and order it neat (since thats what men do... obviously). Every sip was followed by me internally screaming at myself to ACT NORMAL. This meal ended up being a hard lesson in not only whiskey but high proof whiskey at that.
I have had a bottle of it in my cabinet every single day since then. I've gone though countless bottles of whiskey over they years now but Noahs Mill is my constant and my control, I actually compare all new bourbons as if do I like it more or less than Noahs mill.
That being said, I am convinced without a doubt that Noahs Mill changed 2-3 years ago. And not a little single barrel to barrel change or batch to batch change (obviously those can vary to some degree) but this is like a completely different mash bill or distillery level of change. All bottles I had before this change were very similar to each other and now all of the bottles after that change are pretty similar to each other. The bottles from before this change are COMPLETELY different from the ones after though. like completely different bourbons in the same bottle.
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Post by Johnkenn on May 3, 2022 7:28:29 GMT -6
Plenty of both up here on the shelves. With the full proof 1792 I prefer the regular small batch and the sweet wheat. By a lot. That price is crazy for Noah mills I feel like. Its way cheaper up here. Funny personal story about Noahs mill. About 15 years ago at one of my first NAMMs, I had a late night dinner with a company for an important meeting at a pretty fancy place. At this time I had never had bourbon before and had absolutely no idea what any of the differences were. so trying to match everyone else and look like I know what I was talking about, I look down the whisky menu, order Noahs mill since it sounded classy and order it neat (since thats what men do... obviously). Every sip was followed by me internally screaming at myself to ACT NORMAL. This meal ended up being a hard lesson in not only whiskey but high proof whiskey at that. I have had a bottle of it in my cabinet every single day since then. I've gone though countless bottles of whiskey over they years now but Noahs Mill is my constant and my control, I actually compare all new bourbons as if do I like it more or less than Noahs mill. That being said, I am convinced without a doubt that Noahs Mill changed 2-3 years ago. And not a little single barrel to barrel change or batch to batch change (obviously those can vary to some degree) but this is like a completely different mash bill or distillery level of change. All bottles I had before this change were very similar to each other and now all of the bottles after that change are pretty similar to each other. The bottles from before this change are COMPLETELY different from the ones after though. like completely different bourbons in the same bottle. Wasn’t there some kerfluffel over whether Willet was outsourcing the distillate or whatever until lately? |
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Post by raddistribution on May 3, 2022 7:55:06 GMT -6
If thats the case then that would explain what I think as well. it just tastes and feels like a completely different company. its used to be a lot smoother and hide its proof pretty well. now you taste all 115 proof or so of it. not better or worse, just different.
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Post by jacobamerritt on May 3, 2022 11:35:35 GMT -6
Yes raddistribution, Willett is gradually switching over their products to their own distillate... And the reviews fairly consistently are not good. I used to love Willett products and now I don't even consider them. Last 3-4 Ive tried have been very cinnamony, taste young, and hot in not a very balanced way. If someone offered me a pour Id certainly give 'em another shot though. P.S. - You see Full Proof and Sweet Wheat on the shelf? Ive been hunting for a Sweet Wheat for awhile. Not willing to pay the secondary price as of late (around $120) |
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