The TRUTH About Early Times Bottled-in-Bond | Brown Forman Early Times vs Sazerac Early Times
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- Опубликовано: 24 май 2023
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📽 📽 IN THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: Older Plastic Cap Brown Forman Early Times (100 proof, $20-30) vs New Metal Cap Sazerac Early Times (100 proof, $20-30). There has been much conversation in the whiskey community as a whole as to the changes that have happened with the Early Times Bottled-in-Bond product. Many say the new Sazerac version isn't nearly as good as the older Brown Forman bottlings, but that hasn't lined up with our personal experience when we've single-blinded them or when we've double-blinded others. We wanted to double-blind ourselves and see how these compared when they popped up against each other in a tasting for the channel. The results are quite interesting.
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Yes, we need that Early Times/Bourbon Junkies collaboration
I support this collab!!
I just want to watch the collab to see the disdain on Sean's face.
I don't need Him to tell me it's good juice 🤔
I've been waiting for this exact video. It was almost like people just wanted to say the black cap was better because you cant find them anymore.....
Lol
Agreed
There are 3 different bottlings NOT 2. The second one is the one that wins in blinds not the first or third which is the two everyone is talking about all the time.
There’s definitely some of that at play to be sure.
I always appreciate a good blind but I really like that you make price a big factor in the rating. I don't think enough whiskey reviewers really give the price point it's due. Good Whiskey is Good Whiskey but is it worth the price point? It can be really disappointing to make a purchase and you know you won't buy it again when it's empty simply because it wasn't worth the spend. And everyone knows that feeling, we have all been there. ET BIB, is one of my go to mixers simply because it's good, especially for the price. Thanks again for a solid review.
You get us. Agree wholeheartedly with all of that, Joe. That's why we say we're a real world channel for the real world whiskey consumer. Granted, everyone has their own personal sensibilities when it comes to budget, but at the end of the day something has to be worth the price tag for you to be truly happy with it (at least in our book). Cheers and thanks for watching!
That’s how I feel too, Josh. I don’t drink often enough to waste my time drinking stuff I do not like.
Loved this episode and match up, guys! Agree 100% that the Saz juice is fantastic. I couldn't care less if there is a barely perceivable difference (to me) in the two. THANKS!
So much joy on the reveal. It’s been a long journey.
Praline is butter, brown sugar and pecans
Just found a bottle of Early Times yesterday. Weird to hear from the shopkeeper that it was allocated now. I like that it was a whole liter though 😎
This is the most ridiculous thing -early times allocated. Never mind, I live in Ky where I can get whatever whenever if I look enough.Early times never impressed me. Blame RUclips for why you can’t find anything. It seems sheeple have to be told what they should like.
Hell YES to the collab...
I've enjoyed your channel for some time now and decided today to subscribe. I looked at this specific one today because I have recently tried this test. I did not do a blind test. My tastes of bourbon cannot pick all of the flavors you guys can. I just know what I like and don't like. Maybe the most I've paid for bourbon is approaching $100 but I found it to be a waste of money. I usually stick to 30 to 40 dollar brands but found the value of Early Times the kicker so I often am buying that. I cannot say that I can tell the difference in these 2 but that's just me. Thanks to you both for your videos and I will look forward to them! 😃
100% agree, have done blinds myself (not double blind) a few times, and changed my favorite each time...IMO there's minimal difference and to me it's silly to try and hunt down the black caps. And in general, for a 1 Liter bottle, that equates to a $15 750ml bottle! ...so worth it!
I have 6 bottles of the Early Times BIB with black cap and 2 with the blue cap. I like them both, but feel that the black cap tastes better to me. 🥃
Something to ponder...people keep saying the new blue cap sazerac owned bottle taste different than the black cap Brown Foreman bottles....but no one seems to understand there is no difference. These bottles are 4 year old bourbon. Sazerac purchased Early Times in in 2020. That means Sazerac if they started barreling their new juice in 2020,then it is still not come to market. It is still aging until next year to be '4 years old' casks. Since 2020 Sazerac is still using up all the Brown Foreman casks (which will probably last and still be gone through 2024-5 until they are all gone). Yet people are not seeming to realize this. Which means that it is still the original 'black cap' juice in a now blue cap bottle. No one has yet to taste a sazerac produced juice bottling because there is non yet,it is all still aging that 4 years. If anyone says there is a diffence in taste of the blue and black cap they are tricking themselves. It is still ALL brown Foreman juice backstock being bottled and used up. It is a case of that pesky ol math mathing and time length of 4 years not yet reached.
Heck ya! Blind Bourbon Junkies would be fun. WT 101, Evan Williams and Old Forester 100
Thanks for the comparison. Would never have even considered Early Times without the utube videos. And watching a beautiful woman sip whisky is always a pleasure.
Yes, SEND it to them - so many are fooled by a preference when they know what it is before tasting. I thank you for your videos, and blind tasting approach, as it has shown us over and over that your approach is the best way to figure out what you really like, regardless of price and brand.
Love this channel! Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I love this debate! I remember when you put the Sazerac version in a recent blind sample flight - I recall the holiday spices - clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, chestnuts - for the price, it's hard to beat! Great video as always!
This is a great video. Cheers.
Definitely one of my favorite videos of y'all's! I would love to see that blind matchup on the Bourbon Junkies LOL Cheers y'all and Keep rocking 🥃
Loved the show. I’ve only had the Saz version and it’s a decent everyday drinker. They are selling them here for $12.
I would love to see a collab between the Junkies and the Stuff! Salute from NYC🥃💯
Thanks for only distributing the bottom shelf Early Times Bourbon to Massachusetts! I emailed the distillery after hearing so many people rant and rave about Early Times BiB and was told the upsetting news! This bottling should be in all 50 states. If Uncle Nearest is in all 50 states, there should be Early Times BiB eveywhere too. Don't get me started with the alternative in Coopers Craft we also don't get.😢
Great video, just popped a bottle of Sazerac ET last night, enjoyed very much. Been hunting a black plastic cap ET, but your video convinced me I can stop that search and be happy with what I have-cheers!
We've sent this blind to over two dozen folks now as we had a few extra bottles of each and the Sazerac blue cap bottle is undefeated so far!
Love that you got fired up lol! I’ve yet to find Early Times at all near me. Would like to try it.
This is my basic go-to. At $19.95 for a liter and no tax in OR. It is a solid all-arounder.
Actually, as of about two weeks ago, it’s $22.95. Still, an unbelievable value. I was reluctant at first about buying something that cheap, the guy at the liquor store had to talk me into it. I’m glad he did.
@@MrMBBM Boooo on the price increase! Still a great deal.
Order it online
What you are tasting are both Brown Formans whiskey, so the differences between batches from the same distillery. They purchased the remaining inventory and barrels for this product.
For sure. Just different batches and blending of the same stock. That’s why we’ve been so confused at the categorical “the Brown Forman bottles are better” opinion so prevalent out there. Appreciate you watching and commenting man!
Loved it. I have not tried the Brown Forman, but i have a bottle of the Sazerac. Another tip add to the blind would be Cooper's Craft Barrel Reserve.
Good call! Total agreement there.
Really enjoying your blind sample segments. Very cool concept to grab those from the massive sample pile.
Thanks Shem! The blinds can be brutal but they’re also really revealing. Appreciate you tuning in!
Great to see the enthusiasm over everyday 20 bucks whiskey.
I would love to see that video with Bourbon Junkies and @Brewzel.
Every Early Times BiB video I see I comment that the Sazerac blenders have finally gotten the profile dialed in. The comparison that must be made is when the Sazerac distillate comes online in a few years. Different still, master distiller, warehouses and all should make for a great comparison.
Given how similar the Barton profile is to Brown Forman, and Barton already contract distilling for so many people, I'd guess they can get the distillate pretty close without much effort. It's the barrels that might be the bigger issue. Brown Forman owning their own cooperage gives them a lot more control of the wood than Sazerac has.
"Simmer Down Now" 😂 Great video❤
Thanks for this review! It is refreshing to hear that there are whiskeytubers that prefer the Sazerac version to the Brown Forman version as it's always been one sided (at least from the videos I have seen). The Early Times BiB is hard to find in my area but I will sure be on the lookout for it!
Appreciate the
comparison!
Early Times is a “Best Buy” in bourbon no matter the distiller/owner.
For those that wonder or care...The alleged semi-official word is that actual Saz Early Times BIB will be shipped out June of 2025. Tankards of ETBIB are still arriving from BF to be bottled by Saz.. allegedly.😶😁
On a different note.. I'd like to see tasting channels like this one remind newbies from time to time that tasting one drink raw(without getting your palate ready with a first taste) will drastically affect how you perceive the second one you try.
Yes I want the Early Times challenge 😊
Great video. I would pay to watch a live video with you guys and the Bourbon Junkies. It's a win/win for everyone, especially the Junkies, since this experience would definitely improve their whiskey tasting skills.
I was very interested in this video. I've been trying to find the black cap. If I do, I'm going to get 1 of each and try it. I love the banter and vibe of your channel. 🤔👍👍🥃
Thanks for the kind words!
Right on! Similar to choosing Old Forrester 1920 over 1910. Everyone's palate is different and so are their preferences. To each his own,they are all good.
Great episode, as usual. Long time listener, first time commenter. 😊 I'll have to assume different batches from what I have. The bottles of Saz/Brown Foreman I have are opposite. The Brown Foreman tastes older, darker more caramel. The Saz is more fruit forward and slightly sharp. Before you ask this tasting was done blind to cut out potential bias. Makes me want to grab a metal cap when I see it next. Cheers!!!
Batch variance is definitely a thing. It's a good reason to try any bottle you buy, and if you love it, go back and grab another bottle or two from the same store so that you know it's likely from the same batch. That's exactly what we've done with the Sazerac Early Times bottles that we like more.
Early Times by Sazerac is my go to BIB. I live in Cincinnati OH but can get these regularly in Covington KY. Also 1L bottles for about $25 is heard to beat. I buy in 3s whenever I snag them.😁
Love this!! Sean specifically said damn you sazerac. He swore up and down that sazerac ruined early times. Our group loved both in a blind but picked sazerac!!! Spot on with the fruity description. That's how our group separated the 2. Period and over with. LOL!!!!
Have never had the old bottle, but i love the new one. Especially for the price. Cheers!
The BJ's did do a blind on these some time back. They knew it was those two products up front though. They filled three glasses, two with one product and one glass with the other. They both picked out the old Barton juice fairly straight away.
Edit: I should mention I never had the old Barton version since it was never distributed around here until it switched over to Sazerac. I've had the new Sazerac version though and I liked it very much.
I think a lot of that depends on how much your palate lines up with the junkies. they said the saz one lost the red fruit note, but i never even got an ounce of red fruit on the original.
@@LeatherDaddy97 great point. I noticed over the last couple years that my palate is quite a bit off from the BJ’s, hit or miss with Mash and Drum, but bang on with Fred Minnick and ADHD.
The only really fair way to do this blind is not one to one, it's with say 3 of each and arranging them on two sides as to what you think they are. I doubt most people can place them correctly.
It's a triangle test, and is the most accepted way to do blind tasting in a professional environment.
I remember that video! Definitely a good one. If they tasted the bottles we have of each, it's almost impossible to imagine that they'd pick the Brown Forman over the Sazerac bottling, but our palates do differ from theirs a bit.
I would love to see a live blind collaboration! I watch all of your videos and those of the Bourbon Junkies. That would be great!
I just found this BIB Early Times and it's so good especially at the 11.99 price point I paid, cheers
Love the idea of Bourbon Junkies and Stuff & Whiskey Blind Challenge
100% agree. Allocated here in Illinois so I grab a bottle everytime I see one. Plus its 1L.
Definitely would be a great show.
Hell yeah! Need to go live together. That would be one heck of a blind!!
Hell yeah! Great idea!!
Yes!!! Early Times blind with Bourbon Junkies / Stuff and Whiskey live stream! Make it happen!!
I think you have been the first review I've seen that picked the Saz version over BF.
I've had both versions, but drank them too far apart to really be able to compare. Regardless, I've enjoyed them both and try to keep an open and a spare on my shelf of the metal top.
I would say that BF, with both Coopers Craft 100 and Old Forester 100 have 2 solid products in the lineup and makes you question did ET become redundant for them.......makes one think. Another few months and the memories will continue to fade about the BF product. Great review!
I never had the "old juice", but I've had the newer Sazerac bottling and I can say that it's one o the best $30 whiskies I own. I always keep a backup. Brown sugar/caramel, vanilla, and a tropical like note that I can't really put my finger on. Honestly though, it hasn't been long enough for Sazerac to have produced it's own version of ET BiB, so it's most likely still Forman juice.
Good Call. The sale was in 2020 and production, distribution and warehousing began for Sazerac in 2021. Look for their version to come out next year.
This is one of my all time favorite mixers. I have a strong preference for BiB for making drinks. Anything less gets too watered down and more may blow out a drink not to mention cost too much. I'm assuming you are adjusting the price for the size of the bottles. I pay $25 for a liter which is ~$20 for 0.75 liters. I really don't worry about what ever small difference there is between the two bottlings. Correct me if I'm wrong but the conventional wisdom says it's still all Brown Forman juice, Saz is just bottling it. When Saz starts bottling their own juice it might be a different story.
Sazerac is not only bottling it but blending it, and blending can make a HUGE difference. And correct on the price correction for 750ml vs 1L. Great eye!
Would love to see that with the Bourbon Junkies
I finally found a Sazerac bottle in SC, and also saw it in several places on my recent trip. I think all of the bottles I saw were the Sazerac bottle.
These days the Sazerac bottlings have far more prevalent shelf presence. The Brown Forman bottlings are dwindling.
I like how the get out of my face comment came right after the buffalo trace episode. Some people really need that advice
Agreed, I enjoy the Sazerac version too! I think the Bourbon Junkies do like sweeter flavors.
I prefer the Brown Forman! Nothing wrong with Sazerac; good stuff; you like what you like!
The blind would be awesome. Keep up the great videos.
Do it with....The 2 Early times...Buffalo Trace....Eagle Rare....and another good BottleNBond....or whatever else makes sense to you guys.
I did a head to head of Saz ET BiB and Coopers Craft 100. The CC100 won the day for me.
Would love to see a blind with you and the Junkies. Would be highly entertaining.
Fully agree with your assessment- let people keep searching for the BF Early Times, the Sazerac is better.
I'm with you man! Sazerac ET does it for me. I thought I was the crazy one!
I'm a firm believer that there is just a ton of bottle variation in products of this tier. They can try to get a batch close to the last batch, but if it's not exactly right, how many extra barrels are they realistically going to add to get it closer? Plus, now often are they batching and how often are they bottling? They might batch once or twice a year, and bottle from those vats or totes as needed. How long are the batches sitting before bottling? If they are dumping the barrels and then proofing and bottling right away, the blend could taste quite different from the first bottle to the last bottle of the batch. Especially if they aren't bottling the entire batch at once.
In a more expensive product that has less total bottles, it might make more sense to take the extra time to get things exact. But at this price point and where 99% of your customers will never taste two batches head to head, why spend the extra money to bother.
100% agreed, and well said. Getting batches as close as possible takes a ton of skill and a ton of luck. They're likely not making the investment in a product like this.
YES! Blind with Bourbon Junkies GO!
The gauntlet has been laid. Josh is fired up, love it! Erin is trying to be the calming presence and Josh is here for none of it! Haha!! 😂
#voiceofreason #firedup
This is definitely one of my favorite videos for sure! Haha!!
I definitely choose the Sazerac version as well
Is it true that Early Times BiB is now allocated in many states? I’ve got only the new bottling. I finished the black cap one a long time ago.
Not here in Nashville-it’s everywhere-but some places out there try to act like it’s allocated when it’s really just opportunistic stores trying to take advantage of consumers.
Wish i could find them anywhere around me
Only ET BiB I've ever had has been Sazerac; didn't even know it changed from BF until recently. Distinction becoming increasingly irrelevant since BF no longer makes it and the vids I've seen with commentators extolling superiority of BF are mildly irritating -- why laud something that nobody can find? -- but as Josh notes, people have different tastes and opinions. I like the Saz ET BiB and it really punches above it's weight, IMO.
Really enjoy that you blind your tastings. Has inspired my GF and I to get some sample bottles and do it but our format will be a little different: neat, with some water (neither one of us are high proofers), and in a Manhattan. Should be fun and we're excited to begin. Thanks for the inspriation!
They are really similar. I think its often a lot of people making a big deal out of something small. We are talking about a liter of good whiskey for 25 bucks either way.
The real test will be when Barton or whichever Sazerac owned distillery starts bottling their own stock under the Early Times BiB label.
Thank you for turning me on to ET. It is an absolute caramel bomb and is delicious. As an ECBP homer ET has a similar palate with a tad less punch.
I assume Sazerac bought Early Times from BF and changed the cap. Your video didn't go into what else Saz may have changed. Is it the same stuff? Did Saz move the barrels higher up in the rick house? Totally looking forward to a collab with the Junkies. Throwdown baby!
Same whiskey, but the crew at Sazerac (presumably 1792 Barton) are blending the whiskey for these bottlings now compared to Brown Forman blending and bottling them before. It's really just batch variance at play, but there's a common thought out there that the older Brown Forman bottlings are markedly better, but we haven't seen that play out at all in our experience.
Amen Bro
Absolutely hit up the BJ’s #teamdan
What batch do you have on the “new” ET BiB? L21 L22 or L23?
(In 3 different blinds with 3 different friends, my ET BiB L23 beat out the L21 and L22 all 3 times. The L22 always ranked last, it’s boo boo compared to the older L21 and newest L23). Cheers! 👍
No clue that batch numbers were on the bottles. We've had three different liters in recent months and two of the bottles are gone, so not sure which batches those were. The last one we have it L22. Not sure which batch this sample came out of TBH but we'll keep our eyes peeled for batch numbers in the future.
early times bib is my daily. where can I buy a brown foreman bottle of it?
Not sure but we wouldn’t worry about it. It’s all Brown Forman distillate still. We’ve tried half a dozen bottles of Brown Forman-bottled and half a dozen bottles of Sazerac-bottled Early Times and have had great and just okay bottles of each. It’s just batch variance. Even sent out blinds of each to 30+ people and all agreed the Sazerac bottle was better.
I have wanted to try this comparison. Neither are available in my corner of the world.
Distribution is a bummer sometimes for sure.
GET FIRED UP JOSH!!! Love it.
WHISKEY CHEERS 😎
Nice blind, makes me feel better about knowing I’ll never find the BF. And yes, sounds like a good video to do!
You two were in the zone today well in a zone! Haha!! Preach Josh!
I have found my preference to be above 100 as well. There are always exceptions of course, but found my sweet spot to be in and around 115. 110 is my sipping proof, 120+ is my sit and think proof.
Bananas have layers?! Haha!! But yes I get what you are saying. There are different types of banana flavor. Just sounds funny. 😆
great comparison video! keep it up guys! (on a sidenote, someone needs to lose the attitude today)
I am lost on this one. Did one buy out the other or do they both currently make an Early Times?
Brown Forman owned the label previously and Sazerac bought the label with all of Brown Forman's whiskey stocks. Same whiskey, but different blending team at play.
@@stuffandwhiskey thanks
Best value in ALL of bourbon……PERIOD! It’s (around me) around $25 for a FULL LITER….yes, 1/3 MORE than the normal 750ml bottles almost everyone sells their bourbons in!
I bought a full CASE of the black cap bottles when I found out that Saz bought them.
I’ve never seen either in Florida
Distribution is a bummer sometimes.
Alright you send us 5 (with two of them being the different ETs) and we'll send you 5 (with two of them being the different ETs) and we'll do it on a. Tuesday night!
Let’s go!!! Been meaning to message you but been bonkers busy. Will put something fun together for you guys.
I want this!!!!!!
I like fruity AND dark flavors. But I can't find Early Times BiB, just the "Kentucky whisky" version. If I ever do, it sounds like I'll enjoy either the Sazerac or Brown-Forman version. 🙂
Yes, yes, yes!!! Bourbon Junkie’s challange.
Yes we need the blind with the bourbon junkies. I had a question for you guys. Will you ship the samples to Hawaii? I live here and would love to join in if you would for the lives. If not no worries. Love you guys.
We've never tried to ship anything to Hawaii, but knowing what we know about shipping rates, it would likely be pretty cost prohibitive. If you want to email us at stuffandwhiskey at gmail dot com with an address we could use for a shipping estimate we can check into it further.
The stuff in the Saz bottle is the same as the Brown Foreman, correct? Its the same stuff distilled at BF that Saz bought. Saz hasn't bottled any of their own distillate yet, so the difference in flavor is due to a different colored cap?
The difference is the blender
@@connieharris6553 100% just the blender
I doubt this is still true. They would have run through most of the old distillate by now and are blending in most of their own.
@@red5standingby419 Then it wouldn't qualify as bottled-in-bond.
@@red5standingby419what do you mean run through it, bottled in bond has to be at least 4 years old. That means 2024 is the earliest we're going to see the conversion.
If Erin wants to get a banana note, pick up a bottle of Howler Head. If you don't get bananas from that, you need your nose checked by a doctor. It's only 80 proof and the banana is so strong it would almost be considered a flavored whiskey. I like it occasionally, but it's not my favorite. Where I buy it I pay about $26 for a bottle, but I'm sure y'all can get it cheaper. If you can get the bourbon junkies to accept your challenge, I hope you include Evan Williams Bottled in Bond. It's my daily drinker and I'd love to see how it holds up against Early Times.
So, I posted that comment after I watched the video on Saturday. Yesterday, on Sunday, RUclips put your video from two years ago up as a suggestion for me. It was a blind comparison between Early Times Bottled in Bond and Evan Williams Bottled in Bond. You both liked the Early Times better, but I still have my reservations. I really like the Evan Williams, but maybe I'll give the Early Times a try...
Correct me if I'm wrong - but since the takeover happened three years ago, and this stuff is aged 4 years - it will still be leftover BF stock for another year. Or am I overlooking something?
Nope you're spot on. Same whiskey, but different blenders.
@@stuffandwhiskey I wouldn't expect the blender to make much of a difference in a whiskey produced on this scale. It doesn't even claim to be "small batch (not that the moniker even means much).
Yes, mix it up with the junkies!
Blind: BF ET/SaET, Old Forester 100, Evan Williams BIB, and maybe an Old Grandad BIB.
How about Cooper's Craft 100, which is another BF product?
@@xiamengbaby I totally forgot about Benchmark Bonded too.
Lol- i never get banana on bourbons either !!
I get bananas fairly often, but most people don't, it seems.
Same Juice....