Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Went by my local base this morning to run some errands. I wasn't really looking to shop, but I popped into the liquor store as it's by the gas station ($2.43 a gallon? Hell yeah!). They had Old Grandad BIB and Jack Daniels Single Barrel BP on sale and well, I can't pass that up. :D

ETA: I've never been a Jack Daniel's fan. Not the Old #7, not Gentleman, none of them. But the Single Barrel BP is so damned good. I probably should have grabbed two while it was on sale.

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Middle of the pack for Booker's Storyteller, Bob. I'd rate it 3rd of 2023 after Charlie's and Mighty Fine, but still a solid drinker. Not like Apprentice. :(

James, I am a lot like you. Never was a big JD fan until I tried the single barrel BP. I've had a couple store picks that were even better, definitely worth looking out for.:tu

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Speak of the Devil, James. Binny's released a new Jack Daniels Barrel Proof single barrel yesterday. It was a no brainer to grab one. It's middle of the road as far as these picks go, which is still pretty darn tasty.

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

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Finally cracked this one open. Local store pick. Chocolate, maple syrup on the nose. Carries over to the taste, although definitely richer. Like dark chocolate. Lots of oak. Some tannins. Medium long finish. Should only get better.

https://i.imgur.com/2yWAqFAl.jpg

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Glad it's a good one, Bob, I've had really good luck with 1792 FP picks as well. I was thinking about opening my last one but then I bought the JDBSSB and opened that instead.

Last night another pour of the OF KR, really liking this one.

https://i.imgur.com/TeEfS3V.jpg

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Decided to have some fun, with a blind tasting of some Makers Mark stave finished bottles I have.
https://i.imgur.com/iFB06M3l.jpg

It’s a toss up between the BRT-02 and the store pick. The French oaked a distant third, which is odd as the store pick is a mix of a bunch of different French oak staves.

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Cool comparison, Bob. I had some of the French Oaked at a herf and enjoyed it, but those stave finished batches are great. FAE-02 from 2021 is my favorite. Love me a good store pick too.

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I found it pretty interesting, as I really like the French Oaked, and I didn’t really like the store pick at first tasting. But it’s really changed since opening it. Was a fun little experiment.

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Lots of good bourbon flowing around here, nice job everybody :al

No recent big scores, hoping to find a fun bottle or two at some point this month but I'm not a big customer at these stores anymore so I'm not expecting much. At least I'll get to sip something nice at the local pub that does a December whiskey/beer of the day. Last year the pricing for the good stuff was way too high, they came back down and this year have things like (1.5oz pours) 2013 ECBP for $15, Parkers or Old Fitz for $20, ER17 or GTS for $30. Their queso and burgers are amazing as well so it doesn't take much to convince the family to take a night out. They used to offer the pours to go as well but not this year :td

Enough about whiskey, how was the cigar? :banger

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Stellar, Brother. :ss

ER17 for $30? Yes please. :D

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Hit up a few stores this morning. Found the Booker’s 23-04 for msrp. Snagged a bottle of ER for a friend too.

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Glad you found the Booker's, Bob.

A couple months back I bought a Knob Creek single barrel that was almost 11 years aged, as most being dumped now are less than 10 years. So the guy offered to throw in a different 9 year pick for another $30, and I said "sure, why not?"

I opened the "throw in" last night, and the crazy thing is it's much better than the older one. A little less oak but a lot more brightness and sweet notes. Go figure.

https://i.imgur.com/e1bxdxD.jpg

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Gotta like that. Nice score Tom.

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Went to meet a friend to drop off the two bottles of ECBP C923 I had for him. Hit up a couple stores I hadn’t been to before. They’re in a smaller downriver area from Detroit. First place didn’t have a huge selection, but they had three bottles of JD SiBBP rye. 135.9 proof. Snagged one of those, especially since it was $25 cheaper than my usual store. Second store had a smaller selection too, but was shocked to see both Stagg Jr, Blantons Gold and WFP on the shelf. Prices were too steep though.

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Bob, stores around me have Weller CYOB, Pappy 15 year, William Larue Weller, etc...and they will continue to have them at the outrageous prices they're asking.

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The Stagg was $250. Didn’t ask about the rest.

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At that price, you didn't need to. :(

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Had a good two weeks of hunting. Two were from trades (Blantons), the rest at MSRP.

https://photos.smugmug.com/RandomUpl...833Dh68-XL.jpg

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Nice haul there!

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Boom goes the Weller, Tony! :banger:

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is that forester a texas only bottle?

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Yes, due to the presence of King Ranch in south Texas. I like it, found it to be a bit sweeter in the taste.

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Ugh. Local store has EC18 on the shelf for not much over msrp. And what’s everyone’s thoughts on JD Sinatra?

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I've been passing on EC18, msrp is too damn high these days and most bottles don't deliver but it's a single barrel and there are some good ones out there. JD Sinatra is an easy drinker but also an easy pass at the price. Makes for a good gift for somebody who doesn't drink a lot of bourbon, cool process of making it (they cut grooves in the staves to give more surface area when aging because "Sinatra liked the taste of oak") but the final product just isn't super special

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Thanks Ben, I passed on those. Did find a couple bottles today.

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

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Had a pour of Charlie’s Batch. Like it very much.

So the store I bought it from had a FB post about Bookers for $99 while supplies last. FYI, that’s msrp for Michigan. Normally they sell it for $159. :lr Stopped in as I was going by there. Excited to see this bottle, since I have the other 3 from this year. Shop owner proceeds to tell me that “corporate” hasn’t updated the price in their POS system. He starts grabbing other bottles to make up for the difference rang up. Tell him I don’t want those other bottles. Takes about 15 minutes for them to figure it out, reset their system, etc, before I get it for the $99. Had it not been the Charlie’s Batch, I would’ve walked out. Shady af. Same place has the most outrageous museum prices for other bottles. Stagg Jr, $449, Blantons and EHT SB for $169. You get the idea. I won’t be going back.

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Nice pickups with the ECBP and Charlie's, Bob. Ben steered you right on the Sinatra and the EC18.

So I bought this Maker's Mark gift set of 375s because it has the 2019 Private Selection which is delicious. Also included are the 2023 Private Se;ection and 23-01 Cask Strength.

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

I opened the Cask Strength to pair with a cigar. I can see why this sells for $29 for a 750ml, it isn't very good.

https://i.imgur.com/w0b6DcM.jpg

I drank about 1/2 oz before pouring the rest of the pour into the sink. I didn't drain pour the bottle, I'll keep it for guests who want to try it. If they all hate it..... :LOL:

Opened the 2023 PS just to get a better pour. It's better by far than the CS, but doesn't touch the 2019 PS. Last years' gift set that had 3 years of Private Selections was much better.

https://i.imgur.com/3BFDpxI.jpg

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I’ll have to look for that gift set around me.

Ok, what’s everyone’s thoughts on Bakers 7? Starting to see it show up around my area. One place had some that was 8 years old.

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Well shoot. Someone take away my credit card.

https://i.imgur.com/zfR54xOl.jpg

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

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Not sure I’ve tried the ‘new’ SiB Bakers, Bob. Interested to hear what you think. The ‘old’ small batch bottles were generally great, imo.

Stood around in the cold this morning waiting to spin the whiskey wheel. Passed time sharing a couple Montes & Coffee BCBS with Ben. Good times!

https://i.imgur.com/JtY5r8Xl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/mRNJ3anl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BufAq0zl.jpg

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I wish stores around me did lotteries/raffles for the really htf stuff. I like that atmosphere, standing around dreaming of what you’re going to pick if your number gets called.

Tried the Baker’s yesterday. Reminds me very much of Bookers. Really enjoyed it.

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Nice pickups, Bob and Peter!

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I tried to get Josh to give me a store pick but I got stuck with a shelfer single barrel. Not bad for hanging outside with a beer and cigar for an hour then inside for another 30. Hoping some other releases get announced for around christmas :tu

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Stopped by my local store this morning. Nothing new on the shelves, but the owner gave me the scoop on their Blantons SP. next week Wednesday. :wo

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Trying the Bakers 7 again this afternoon. Really enjoying it.

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Haven't had a pour of Bakers 7 in a while, I remember it being super nutty, not my style exactly but it could have been a one off bottle. I've heard the 13 is delicious, I tried a sample of Binny's pick from a couple years ago and it wasn't my jam either :td

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It’s definitely got that nuttiness, Ben. I’m still a newb at this. But I’d call this Bookers light. Similar flavor profile, but less proof.

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Yup, Baker's has that Beam peanut funk, just like many of the Booker's. I almost traded for one of the Binny's 13 Years, Ben made me glad I didn't.

Going to have my first taste of Duke soon, a good friend on another board sent me the Founders Reserve. I had never seen Duke in my area, of course later in the day I see a different variation in one of my regular stops. Anyone had any of their whiskeys?

https://i.imgur.com/2tPcZj4.jpg

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Never heard of that one, but 10 year KY bourbon can't be too bad :tu

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I am hoping so, my friend says he knows little to nothing about bourbon and he hopes I like it. :D He's a good man.

I got the Christmas call from Binny's for the first time. I'm pretty excited. My first Van Winkle.

https://i.imgur.com/rNWx0Uz.jpg

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I’m headed west on 94 in just about 15 minutes. :D

Awesome score.

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Have not tried a Duke before so interesting to see how it turns out.

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Fricking awesome

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You're always welcome Bob, if you get here before February we'll open it up!

I will definitely let you know, Jay.

We can open it in February unless Bob gets here before then!

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Can you pick me up on the way? :noon

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I'm putting out the peanuts and bourbon glasses. 3, correct? :D

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Dayum! My local B&M has an OF BP SP that just dropped. Too bad I just spent a bunch of money on a quick trip to PHX.

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So a Costco store in north Fort Worth that has a liquor store attached to it, had some good things this morning at opening. The store is about 20 minute away from my house, so not too close, especially with traffic. They had various cases of Pappys, BTAC, Blantons gold, ER and a few other HTF allocated bourbons. This wasn't announced ahead of time, so when word got out, people scrambled to get there. Within 45 minutes everything was gone. Costco had a corporate rep there to monitor everything. They kicked people out of line if they had purchased a bottle, gone out to the car, changed outfits and came back for more. They also took note of everyone's Costco cards to prevent people getting more than one bottle. They have done this at a north Dallas store, but pulled away because that store was known for bottles to be held back for friends of the managers/employees. Since it was Costco's, the prices were considerably lower that Specs or TW.

I, unfortunately, had to work.

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Know how you feel, Tony. I have done pretty well getting away at short notice, but watched on most of the year. Better for my thin wallet. Ive never seen unobtainable bottles released at our CostCo stores but they do have great prices on some solid bottles.

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Tony, what a great story right up until the end. Booooo! :r

Bob, did you take notice of the stats (floor, proof)? Love those OFBSSB when they're on.