Old Rip Van Winkle 10 (2014) - Brash Youthful "Almost" Pappy
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Old Rip Van Winkle 10 (2014 Release)
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Taste Score: 93
Category: American Straight Bourbon, High-Proof Wheated
Whisky Cabinet Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Old Rip Van Winkle 10 represents the raw youthful bloodline of the Van Winkle line. This would be a whisky that’s easy to write-off in one sip, but with that branding, few would. It takes time to build a relationship with Old Rip Van Winkle 10 and experience the uniquely charismatic and sharp flavours.
On the nose it’s so damn subtle for a 53.7% ABV whisky. You have to really wait for it, and let that subtle cherry, grainy, caramel sweetness come through. If you take too deep of a breath, you’ll lose it. As the whisky rests in the glass, you’ll get more vanilla, yeasty and acidic notes.
On the palate, the whisky stamps your tongue with beautifully soaked cherries, a thin layer of melted caramel, and some sharp seasoning (smoked paprika). The finish is warm, spicy, and settles on the tongue unhurried by life. It’s nicely balanced, unique, and flavourful.
So. Let’s talk the whisky cabinet rating. It’s a great drink! But it’s not all that available, and it often sells for significantly more over list-price. It’s very expensive when it is available. However, if you have a relationship with a liquor store in the United States, you are far more likely to get this compared to the Pappy 15 or older. It’s not a must have, and you certainly won’t want to buy it annually (unless you have the $$$s, in which case, awesome!), but if you’re a bourbon drinker, and you have an ‘in’, this is a good buy for a reasonable price.
Side-bar: When first tasting Van Winkle 12 Year Old and Rip Van Winkle 10 side-by-side, I knew I liked the 10 better. The nose of the 12 is supreme, but there’s less follow-through (disappointment makes for a harsh critic). The 10 is overly a better structured bourbon. When coming up with a taste score, that was a critical influencer. Distilleries, though, provide products for a broad range of consumers. The 10 is more of a classic bourbon with a strong start, middle, and finish. The 12 is all about the nose, and strong middle flavours. If the 12 had more of the punch through the middle and finish, it be a remarkable drink (hey Pappy 15!).
So anyway, I mixed a quarter ounce of the 10 and 12 together to see what happens. It was the 10 that shined through in the palate, and the nose from the 12 was muddled but still present (it receded quickly). The finish was beautiful, and so similar to the 10 alone. The 10 (compared to this mixture) was the better drink (phew!), and both were better than the 12 alone.
Whisky Cabinet Rating Explained:
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Not recommended
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ Good whisky, but not a ‘must-have’
★ ★ ☆ ☆ Your great regular rotation whisky that'll come and go
★ ★ ★ ☆ Excellent, a near must-have
★ ★ ★ ★ Extraordinary, memorable, and original
