Page 1 of 1

Henry Clay Rare Bourbon

Unread postPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 1:17 pm
by Bushy
Any information on a bottle of 1980 Henery Clay Rare Bourbon numbered 218/2400? It was a gift.

Re: Henry Clay Rare Bourbon

Unread postPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:32 pm
by bourbonv
Actually the Henry Clay came out as part of United Distillers Rare Bourbon Collection in 1996. It is some Stitzel-Weller wheat recipe bourbon bottled under the old Henry Clay label. Excellent whiskey even if it was not originally made for the Henry Clay label. I do believe there is a review of the product in the reviews section, if you want to know more about the taste.

Re: Henry Clay Rare Bourbon

Unread postPosted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:28 pm
by OscarV
What about the Joseph Finch that came out with the Henry Clay, is it also S-W whiskey?

Re: Henry Clay Rare Bourbon

Unread postPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:28 am
by bourbonv
No, Finch was a traditional bourbon, probably made at either Bernheim or Ancient Age for Schenley.

Re: Henry Clay Rare Bourbon

Unread postPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:32 pm
by delaware_phoenix
I presume that traditional bourbon means corn+rye+malted barley and that using wheat instead of rye isn't traditional? When was the first recipe/brand to use wheat instead of rye? Do we know? Or is it a more modern thing?

Sorry, I think I just asked 14 questions.

Re: Henry Clay Rare Bourbon

Unread postPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:16 pm
by bourbonv
I have seen mash bills from the late 18th or early 19th century that state use rye or wheat as the second grain, so it is not anything new. The modern wheated bourbons though all come from a single line created by the Stitzel family before prohibition and became used by the Stitzel-Weller distillery after prohibition. Maker's Mark is included here because they did get the recipe and yeast for their whiskey from the Stitzel-Weller distillery.