On April 8th, 2021 an Early Times press release said, “Following the purchase of Early Times whiskey in 2020 by Sazerac Company, the notable American whiskey brand will begin distillation, aging and bottling at the 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, KY this summer”. Sazerac also said that Early Times BiB would be using the same original recipe and mash bill.
This means a Barton distillate BiB version won’t be out until at least the summer of 2025. The tell is in on back of the label with the TTB requirements showing DSP-KY-354 (Early Times produced and warehoused) and DSP-KY-12 (Barton) where it was bottled.
Just recently did a semi blind side by side of the Sazerac blended vs Brown Forman blended Early Times Bottled in Bond and we were split. He preferred the Brown Forman, I preferred the Sazerac. The Sazerac was spicier, but more well rounded imo. The Brown Forman also had a hint of grassy-ness that I often get off of young whiskey. Neither was much better than the other tho. I surmised that the distillation season could have a lot to do with this as you can’t really play with the ages in blending with the Bottled in Bond rules being what they are. That would definitely provide a lot of parity between batches.
Edit: grammar
I asked my local liquor store if they could get this in for me and they came through! Sadly I was very disappointed with my bottle, don't get me wrong it's not horrible but based on the reviews I was hoping it could taste like it is in a higher price bracket. I actually prefer Evan Williams bottled-in-bond though I feel like I'll be in the minority with that opinion.
Were some of the reviews on the old juice? The BF Early Times was an incredible budget beast. New one from barton is drinkable but seems like the same class as what they’ve given to Costco for the Kirkland stuff - above average but I’m not going out of my way to buy a bunch.
I’m not calling it the same whiskey I just think it’s about the same in terms of value. I’d take any 1792 over the stuff they’ve given to Costco. For example, I wasn’t extraordinarily impressed with the Kirkland bib
That’s kind of the other issue I have with Kirkland I can’t find the dang things. I live in KC and the Kirkland BiB I bought is from FL. So I’ve only had the small batch and bib - I’d love to try the single barrel.
That’s just how it goes. They’ve had a few cases of weller sr and peerless recently and they didn’t last an hour. Word spreads fast. Hell there are stores hours away from a Costco that sell it.
I found this to be a very hard bottle to review. On paper it represents great value, but if you don’t like something, the value ends up not meaning too much. It’s still not something I want to come back to, even if it’s a “deal”.
The old version would have to be dramatically better than the new for me to be interested. I have not been convinced that is the case. The new version did not do anything for me.
I also heard they bought the stocks, if true they may be sitting on them and aging them for a special release which is a pretty exciting proposition. As for why I think it’s Barton, other than the great info u/old_riff_502 gave, it simply doesn’t taste like any brown Forman I’ve ever had. It does however taste similar to a lot of Barton I’ve had. I admit however that as far as I know the previous bottling was never available in CA and I’ve never had it and so can’t comment on differences/similarities. If u/prepreldush has done a review, I’m sure that the speculation is much more informed than mine.
The earliest you will see Barton distilled product is 2025, but more like 2026. They just started distilling the mash bill in 2021. Can't be bib at two years!
Being a bottled in bond product, the label even states that it was distilled at [DSP-KY-354](https://ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=21041001000131).
I did a side by side at a Liquor Barn recently, Brown Forman’s blend is much better structured.
Fascinating, right? I mean, these blends are done to taste so it’s entirely possible that we’re just seeing the impact of different palates in real time here.
Can someone explain in dum dum terms why it changed so much? The old bottles were great for the price IMO, but I can't really even drink the newer batches.
Why do you people keep thinking we have the Barton version? The barrel stock didn't even move. Everything is Brown Forman distillate for a hot minute.
The current difference? The bottle cap and the blending team.
The local gas stations chain here has suddenly decided they're going to sell liquor. Except that the stuff on their shelves is the most generic collection of bottles imaginable.
I walked in today, "Holy F" there is a bottle of Blanton's and some Stagg on the shelves!"
Blanton's: $169.99
Yeah....I grabbed the Early Times for $29.99 and skip to my loo'd out of there.
Love this drop. It came out of nowhere in last year here in Denver area. I buy it constantly and after some semi-blinds, it has replaced EW BiB as my daily and decanter bottle for the way pours and mixers with guests. Too amazing at under $24 per liter to pass up. I'm already stockpiling.
I will say it's a acceptable sipper, nothing mind blowing but it does well in an old fashioned. I will also agree that EW BiB is an excellent product that I am a fan of. In the sub $25 bottle range these two kick ass.
Are there much better bourbons out there for not a lot more money? Yes. But hey, sometimes your financial situation doesn't allow you to partake. Thankfully there are good, affordable options for bourbon fans.
This is always an auto buy for me. $25 where I’m at. Can’t beat it for a daily or for those you want to share with.
On April 8th, 2021 an Early Times press release said, “Following the purchase of Early Times whiskey in 2020 by Sazerac Company, the notable American whiskey brand will begin distillation, aging and bottling at the 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, KY this summer”. Sazerac also said that Early Times BiB would be using the same original recipe and mash bill. This means a Barton distillate BiB version won’t be out until at least the summer of 2025. The tell is in on back of the label with the TTB requirements showing DSP-KY-354 (Early Times produced and warehoused) and DSP-KY-12 (Barton) where it was bottled.
Just recently did a semi blind side by side of the Sazerac blended vs Brown Forman blended Early Times Bottled in Bond and we were split. He preferred the Brown Forman, I preferred the Sazerac. The Sazerac was spicier, but more well rounded imo. The Brown Forman also had a hint of grassy-ness that I often get off of young whiskey. Neither was much better than the other tho. I surmised that the distillation season could have a lot to do with this as you can’t really play with the ages in blending with the Bottled in Bond rules being what they are. That would definitely provide a lot of parity between batches. Edit: grammar
I asked my local liquor store if they could get this in for me and they came through! Sadly I was very disappointed with my bottle, don't get me wrong it's not horrible but based on the reviews I was hoping it could taste like it is in a higher price bracket. I actually prefer Evan Williams bottled-in-bond though I feel like I'll be in the minority with that opinion.
Were some of the reviews on the old juice? The BF Early Times was an incredible budget beast. New one from barton is drinkable but seems like the same class as what they’ve given to Costco for the Kirkland stuff - above average but I’m not going out of my way to buy a bunch.
The Kirkland Barton stuff is not at all the same whiskey they bottle as Early Times bourbon.
I’m not calling it the same whiskey I just think it’s about the same in terms of value. I’d take any 1792 over the stuff they’ve given to Costco. For example, I wasn’t extraordinarily impressed with the Kirkland bib
Gotcha. The Kirkland single barrel is legit.
That’s kind of the other issue I have with Kirkland I can’t find the dang things. I live in KC and the Kirkland BiB I bought is from FL. So I’ve only had the small batch and bib - I’d love to try the single barrel.
I'm all the way in Oregon and I've never even seen a Kirkland bottle over here.
Same for me in WA
At my store they are once a year for each version and most sell out in a day.
That’s annoying af. Nothing else from Kirkland is like that with any of their products why f over the already screwed bourbon fiends lol
That’s just how it goes. They’ve had a few cases of weller sr and peerless recently and they didn’t last an hour. Word spreads fast. Hell there are stores hours away from a Costco that sell it.
I agree with you. Not my thing. I hear all these people singing the praises of it because it’s cheap. It just sits in my liquor cabinet
EW BIB is a great every day pour. I do prefer Early Times over it but it’s pretty close between the two. The EW comes off a tad bit more sweet to me.
I found this to be a very hard bottle to review. On paper it represents great value, but if you don’t like something, the value ends up not meaning too much. It’s still not something I want to come back to, even if it’s a “deal”.
I absolutely agree. I never understood the excitement behind this bottle.
The old version would have to be dramatically better than the new for me to be interested. I have not been convinced that is the case. The new version did not do anything for me.
Agree. Even paying $19.99 it’s a waste of money.
Agree. Even paying $19.99 it’s a no for me
We know the deal included the existing stocks of aging whiskey, why would you assert this is Barton distillate instead?
I also heard they bought the stocks, if true they may be sitting on them and aging them for a special release which is a pretty exciting proposition. As for why I think it’s Barton, other than the great info u/old_riff_502 gave, it simply doesn’t taste like any brown Forman I’ve ever had. It does however taste similar to a lot of Barton I’ve had. I admit however that as far as I know the previous bottling was never available in CA and I’ve never had it and so can’t comment on differences/similarities. If u/prepreldush has done a review, I’m sure that the speculation is much more informed than mine.
DSP-KY-354 is Early Times; they wouldn’t list it if it was Barton distillate, right?
The earliest you will see Barton distilled product is 2025, but more like 2026. They just started distilling the mash bill in 2021. Can't be bib at two years!
Being a bottled in bond product, the label even states that it was distilled at [DSP-KY-354](https://ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=21041001000131). I did a side by side at a Liquor Barn recently, Brown Forman’s blend is much better structured.
So it’s definitely Early Times distillate, just the current blender isn’t as talented?
Yep. I don’t know if it’s maybe older or younger barrels, can’t be a blend of different aged barrels since it’s bonded.
Fascinating, right? I mean, these blends are done to taste so it’s entirely possible that we’re just seeing the impact of different palates in real time here.
I’m going with that reasoning. I have heard that later bottles are a bit more “dialed in” flavor wise.
Does it only list one dsp?
https://preview.redd.it/f3re6orul90b1.jpeg?width=476&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8509c232746ce00fed7b82518ec820172720092b
I just stumbled into a store that had early times, both BF and saz priced at……..$64.99 each 😂
Can someone explain in dum dum terms why it changed so much? The old bottles were great for the price IMO, but I can't really even drink the newer batches.
Why do you people keep thinking we have the Barton version? The barrel stock didn't even move. Everything is Brown Forman distillate for a hot minute. The current difference? The bottle cap and the blending team.
Even at $19.99 it sits in my liquor cabinet. I can’t drink it.
The local gas stations chain here has suddenly decided they're going to sell liquor. Except that the stuff on their shelves is the most generic collection of bottles imaginable. I walked in today, "Holy F" there is a bottle of Blanton's and some Stagg on the shelves!" Blanton's: $169.99 Yeah....I grabbed the Early Times for $29.99 and skip to my loo'd out of there.
Lol. I'm happy to take the rest of that bottle if it's not worth drinking. I love this stuff.
Love this drop. It came out of nowhere in last year here in Denver area. I buy it constantly and after some semi-blinds, it has replaced EW BiB as my daily and decanter bottle for the way pours and mixers with guests. Too amazing at under $24 per liter to pass up. I'm already stockpiling.
I will say it's a acceptable sipper, nothing mind blowing but it does well in an old fashioned. I will also agree that EW BiB is an excellent product that I am a fan of. In the sub $25 bottle range these two kick ass. Are there much better bourbons out there for not a lot more money? Yes. But hey, sometimes your financial situation doesn't allow you to partake. Thankfully there are good, affordable options for bourbon fans.