Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Binny's is a chain in the Chicagoland area, Mark, you won't likely see it there. And it was this specific barrel, "Batch #3", that was so much better than any other 1792FP I've tried.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Gotcha!

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Grabbed a bottle of Stagg Jr at my navy package store for $47. Holly cow this is a great bourbon :)

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Hell of a find! Those are getting harder and harder to find these days, and I refuse to pay the $250-$300+ others want for them but I sure do love em :dr

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I grabbed a bottle of George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel to try. I've heard good things about it, at least for the higher proof offerings. The consensus (at least among the whiskey YT'ers I follow) seems to be that the ones below 100 proof aren't very interesting. This one's aged 9 years and at 103 proof, so we'll see...

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Hope it's good, James! :tu

Opened my last Maker's Mark FAE-02 last night...and promptly secured another this morning. :r

https://i.imgur.com/dWNz4EO.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

And today I lucked into 2 bottles of the new MM Finished Series that has been hard to find in Illinois...along with a couple other bottles I don't see in the store often.

https://i.imgur.com/W3IZraT.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Starting to build my collection. Hit up a local store and grabbed one of their Ezra Brooks Cask Strength store pick. It was between that or a George Remus store pick. Liked em both but the EB won out.

Tried a couple other stores but nothing interested me. Was on the way home and decided to stop at a smaller store I never knew was there. Only found it on google maps. Good selection. On a whim, asked if they had Blantons. Yup. As he was grabbing that from his secret stash, I asked if he had Eagle Rare. Yup. Paid a bit over msrp, but figured they’ll last me a while. And you can’t find them around here.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice pickups on the Blanton's and Eagle Rare, Bob. I used to luck into a Blanton's at MSRP a couple times a year, but i dont remember getting one for at least a year now.

This was my weekend pickup, I'm super stoked to try it after hearing lots of good things.

https://i.imgur.com/509Pvnh.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Let Us Know Your Tasting Notes, Tom!:D:dr

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Absolutely Greg, I'm planning on cracking this bad boy tomorrow night. :dr

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Good stuff all around, I just grabbed a Remus pick a couple weeks ago and really like it. Nice find on the secret stash, last time somebody let me in the back office to see what they had hidden I left empty handed, and also haven't been back :r

Where is mine?

My brother is having a bourbon and cigar bar at his wedding, asked me to help stock the bourbon. We ended up with 3 handles of Weller Special Reserve, five 750's of Buffalo Trace store picks and a bottle of Blanton's Gold. Should be a good time :al:al

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I had to trade way above MSRP to get this one, it immediately hit $280-300 on secondary here. It's almost like I hope I don't like it too much.... ;) :r

Nice! :noon

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I have liked the EB Cask Strength barrels I have tried, and the price is still reasonable on those and the Rebel CS picks. :tu

I have a Remus pick from one of the local groups but still haven't opened it. I'll have to rectify that soon.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Got word that our local group is getting access to a WFP pick, only catch is you have to buy a EB or Rebel pick to go with it. I always tend to go Rebel, I might switch things up this time, but neither are bottles I'm going to be mad I had to buy

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Ok, what’s the word on the MM special releases? Granted it was probably 15 years ago when I did the tour at the distillery, but they said back then they weren’t going to do special releases, single barrels, etc. That was back when those were just starting. Guess money wins out.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

That was always their thing... until everybody else started doing them. A few years ago they started doing 1-2 annual special releases, sometimes because the bourbon was aged differently/from a specific part of the warehouse and sometimes just because the batch tasted a little different. This years I think is just a stave finish, which is what they do for their single barrel program

Essentially, for the single barrels they still say that all makers tastes the same as all other makers because rotation, etc. but they let stores and groups "finish" a barrel with 10 different staves, I think there are 6 or 7 options, and you choose the recipe you want (ex/ 2x mocha staves, 4x toasted french and 4x cuvee). Makers then finished the barrel in your combo for a bit and sends you the barrel worth. It was their compromise since they don't think any barrel tastes unique enough to be different from a regular batch of Makers

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Thanks for the explanation. I’ll keep an eye out for them.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I'd gladly buy an Ezra or Rebel pick to get a WFP at a regular price, Ben. All I get here is ones offered on secondary for stupid money. :hn

Bob, Ben gave you the skinny on the MMs, better than I could have. I will say that the 2021 FAE-02 is my favorite Maker's of all time.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Did a little more hunting this afternoon. Went to a new to me store and got a bottle of MM cask strength. They didn’t have the special releases. Went back to the store I got my Blantons from last week and snagged a Weller 107. (Drinking some right now. Really enjoying it). Went to a third store, this one with a large selection. They had just gotten a big shipment of allocated stuff in. Baby Blantons and Eagle Rare, Weller 107 and SR, plus a lot more. Crazy prices though. $130 for the Weller. Umm, no. Left there after trying a couple of their store picks. The MM SRT, not good. Their Old Forester was super tasty, but at $130 a bottle wasn’t gonna happen.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I've had a couple pours of this the last week. It was a Christmas gift from Steph. I'm an all-around fan of whiskies so appreciate what they're trying to do, but I think some of the Bourbon sweetness gets lost. I don't know that a Bourbon purist would enjoy it too much.


https://i.imgur.com/BRFGcKW.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Cracked open the Weller when I got home. Oh man is that good.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I'm not a big fan of finished whiskey, James, so I've never bought any of the Starlight stuff. It's a huge market though, and all kinds of crazy finishes.

I really like the Weller 107 too, but won't pay the prices they ask around here Bob. I'd really like to get another Weller Full Proof (non store pick), but again secondary is crazy.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Last night's pours:

https://i.imgur.com/rJlaf4n.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Hac0cGh.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Making some Old Fashioneds with the JD BiB, and maple syrup aged in Pappy barrels.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Our big local chain put the JD BiB on sale for $29 all summer long Bob. It has to be one of the best sub $30 bottles out there.

I opened the newest Booker's (Charlie's Batch, 23-01) last night. First pour was just outstanding, has a lot of similarities to a couple of my favorite batches.

https://i.imgur.com/64jgNz8.jpg

Also opened a local groups' KC 9 year single barrel. They're always solid, this one isn't very unique but it is tasty.

https://i.imgur.com/1KrCibV.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

$29?!?! That’s a great deal.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice snag on the 107! I'd take that over anything else

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Promise to bring some good stuff to Shack including some Hazmat for Tom.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

You've always got some great bottles, Hugh, appreciate the opportunity to try some crazy stuff.... and Hazmat is right up my alley. Just killed this one over the weekend and I miss her already. :lr

https://i.imgur.com/6T1dRZ1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tyUdEbE.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Well, I said I was doing buying for now, but that didn’t last long. The owner at a local store hooked me up with a bottle of 1792 single barrel. Asked about Full Proof. Said he’s got a barrel coming, just doesn’t know when.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

At 145 proof, how "light" can that be?

The whiskey club in KC here has had a barrel of 1792 coming since last year and we cannot get anything better than "soon" as to when it will happen. They have been saying it was/is a bottling backup or at least that was the story around the first of the year.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Well, I decided to go hunting this evening. Tried some stores well out of my area. Got a Four Roses Single Barrel and a Coppercraft Straight Bourbon. Tried the Coppercraft. Wow! Like a peanut explosion when it hits the palate. I really like it.

Surprising how the most podunk looking store will actually have some nice stuff. Found Weller SR, but at $45 I’ll pass. Same with the Eagle Rare I found for $82. :fp

My last stop had Elijah Craig 18 for $250.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Seems like everything takes about a year now. I picked some turkey barrels last June, got them in a couple weeks ago, looked at the bottle and it says they were bottled in July so they were literally sitting there doing nothing for 10 months :sl

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

:D :lr

“Light whiskey” may have you picture a spirit on the lower-proof end of the boozy spectrum. However, the exact opposite is true. These are cask-strength spirits with high ABV. The “light” in the term does not refer to the proof. Rather, it references the flavor.

I've had some great and some good 1792 Full Proof single barrel picks. I'm not big on their lower proof offerings but never had a single barrel. Curious to hear what you think Bob.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Well, I’m still new to this whole bourbon thing, so my palate is still developing. I had the first pour last night. I got a lot of cherry notes. Not overly oakey. It was late last night and I rushed thru it. Had two cats looking at me, ready for bed. I’ll try to get a better impression soon. But I really liked it. Was completely different from the earlier Coppercraft pour I had.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

The 1792 sounds good, Bob, hopefully it will be even better now that it's open.

I tried my first Coppercraft pour at a tasting on Saturday. It was their Cask Strength, and I was not a fan. I had about 8-9 different pours, and the CC was by far the worst....I'm glad your experience with the straight bourbon was much better Bob.

I traded one of the MM BEP I picked up last week for another 2021 FAE-02, my favorite of the series. Though BEP is a strong second, might have to grab another if I find it at retail.

https://i.imgur.com/KsfT3Jb.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I read a few reviews on the CC yesterday. Seems people either like it or hate it, not much in between. Sorry to hear you were in the hate it category Tom.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Maybe it was just that expression, Bob, but I don't think I'll seek out any Coppercraft, just try it if it becomes available at another tasting or something. No worries, there's so many I DO like! :D

Went back to the 2023 MM again, it is really tasty.

https://i.imgur.com/WGxhTgW.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Picked up a bottle of Larceny Small Batch. Really like it. Sweet, cinnamon, easy drinking.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Went store hopping this afternoon, just to check a few. Amazing how the most shady looking stores may carry stuff you wouldn’t think. One place had the usual HTF’s on the shelf. Double or more than MSRP. Another place, that had me feeling like I could get shanked, had EH Taylor SB and 1792 FP plus others. They were on hold for other customers though. :fp Did overpay for another bottle of Eagle Rare, but the best price I’ve found. Needed another bottle as I’m drinking thru my first bottle.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

The Hunt is fun, Bob, though those independent stores with unicorns at quadruple MSRP can be a kick in the nuts.

I had a drink in memory of pnoon last night. It was so good I had another.

https://i.imgur.com/7QPaKn7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/JXIWDzu.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Also had a drink while out with some friends yesterday afternoon. First time trying a bourbon (rather than a rye) from Whistlepig, the 6 year Piggy Back Bourbon. I really love their ryes, but I am not a fan of the bourbon. :td

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

$80 for Weller SR? Talk about a kick in the nuts. That’s a $27 bottle.

I really need to find a bar with a nice selection to try a few pours before I buy another bottle.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Just poured some Russell's. So glad this one is still available for <$40.

https://i.imgur.com/M7JRw50.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

That’s one I’ve been eyeing James. What’s the flavor profile like?

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

It's pretty balanced. I get honey, vanilla, and chocolate-orange. One of the YT channels I watch says it best, if you like Wild Turkey you'll like Russel's Reserve.

My B&M used to do owner's picks of Russell's and they were always great. But apparently WT is no longer doing them, at least the same way they used to (in person, with the owner tasting several barrels to make their pick). Shame.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

A quick look at my current bar top makes me feel like a turkey fiend, I gotta get around to putting some of these away :r

https://i.postimg.cc/HsFCmLSN/PXL-20...-133344831.jpg

It took me a little bit to come around to Turkey but I'm getting there. I think the shelf 10 year is going to be getting a lot of talk in these coming years and will be hard to find or nonexistent, at least for desired lot codes

They still do picks, Bruce Russell pulled 40 barrels out and said open as many as you want when I went. Eddie and Jimmy were around too, mostly hanging out. Highly recommend :tu

https://i.postimg.cc/ht7cQmzg/PXL-20...-164212810.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Bob, that's crazy for Weller SR but you see that all over. I just grabbed one (limit 1) at Binny's for $29. Come to Shack this year and I'll bring it for you.

James, I've really been liking the Russell's as well, it's got that WT funk which is outstanding if you like that profile. Lots of picks drop around here, but if you can find it, that Russell's Reserve 13 Year is the best of the lot. :2

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Confusing...here's the message we got from the B&M: "This unfortunately will be our final Russell's Single Barrel selection as the Campari State manager has made it clear the only way for buying Russell's barrels moving forward is pure volume as it is now inconvenient to have store owners select in person since any store can easily sell a Russell's barrel even if just selected from samples. I love the Russell's family and I will be forever grateful for all the Bourbon passion and knowledge they have shared with me over the years on dozens of barrel selections on their property."