Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I don't think I was there that year but I've had a chance to try AY before, that and a few other LE's are much more rounded, complex, interesting than this 16yr pick but they're all blends of older stuff so I'm not surprised

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Got the call yesterday the bottle drop was this morning. Reserved my two and picked them up. One for me, one for a friend.

https://i.imgur.com/5CYCR8Kl.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice. Good to be in the know :) that is a killer deal. Haven’t tried the Single Barrel but love the small batch.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Great pickup, Bob, I hope it's a honey barrel. :dr

One of my favorite batches last night watching TUF.

https://i.imgur.com/SGUNSA1.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Yea, all my buying is finally paying off. :D The owner setup a WhatsApp group for his regular bourbon customers to let us know about things early or if he got HTF stuff in. This pick was going out on the floor, but we got the ability to reserve bottles first.

Now gotta figure out when to crack it open.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Went by my local AFB to see if they had anything interesting. They got a bunch of Still Austin stuff in for the first time, so I grabbed another bottle of the Cask Strength. They also had KC9 Single Barrel Reserve on sale, so I grabbed one of those along with a Larceny Barrel Proof. And they had WT101 1.75L for $32 and you know I'm not passing that up. :D

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Sounds like a productive trip, James. :tu

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Indeed! -(P

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Yeah, I'm set for the next couple of days. :D

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Good for a week. Nice pick ups!

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

https://i.postimg.cc/fTbL0Mnj/IMG-0108.jpg

That one on left is a Barrel Select. Nor Cal. Trip to Fremont.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice pickups, Dave!

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Was at a friends house for a summer pool party. When I left, decided to do some bourbon hunting before the stores closed. First store had a few bottles of MM 2021 wood finishing series. Whoa! Then I saw the price, $149. No thanks.

Next store had a few bottles that piqued my interest. Murray Hill Club Special Release ($200), but that’s out of my price range. Did snag the Bookers 2024-02 though. :tu

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Oh nice!!!! First I’ve heard of it being out. Let us know your thoughts :)

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Surprised me too. I was told Michigan wouldn’t see Bookers until sometime in June due to a distributor change. So when the shop owner mentioned Bookers, I was expecting the 2024-01.

As for this batch. I really like it. Had two pours. Very much regular Bookers profile, but there’s a sweetness there on both the nose and palate. The finish lasted a long time too. I was trying to take notes on the second pour, but at times I get tunnel vision. I kept picking up a notes that reminded me of a Hersheys bar, and kept focusing on that. So I said screw it and just drank it. :D

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Phone goes off this morning. Group text from the local B&M. ER10 store pick is in. Limit two. Yes please! Went by to pick them up and asked about Bookers and MI distribution. He’s like, I think I have some, want one? Bank account says no, but when do I listen to that?

https://i.imgur.com/E7TVahOl.jpg

Also saw this back out on display. Was able to grab it for a decent price.

https://i.imgur.com/nZydRb5l.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Sounds excellent. There comes a time where you just like it and it’s time to sit back and enjoy. I’m looking forward to trying this batch!

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I think you’ll like it. As you see from my post today, I bought a backup bottle.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Back up bottles are a good sign LOL. I will be looking at preemptive bottle purchases myself hah. Find a good enough price, get three bottles :)

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Very nice!!! And now you can do all of your vices at one. Drink, smoke, golf.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice pickups all around! Booker's have started showing up at allocated events the last few months, still something you have to line up for or get lucky on but I swear we had a couple years that we didn't see any batches.

I got a chance to try the new Wild Turkey Triumph, a pretty solid 10 year rye. I won't be a buyer at $275 but decent whiskey nonetheless

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I think it was the Mash and Drum on YouTube I saw recently review the WT Triumph. Had the same conclusion as you, Ben.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Yep. My palette isn't nuanced enough to be dropping $275 on a single bottle.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Some weekend pickups.

https://i.imgur.com/IPbQN4p.jpeg

Finally a Bookers release that is much better than average! In Florida it's really hit and miss on finding Bookers. Some stores are getting in multiple cases and some stores are getting one bottle per release, and they are gone in a flash! It's actually easier to find Little Book than the quarterly "batch" releases.

Im still undecided on the 2024 Makers, 2023 BEP and Cellar Aged were both better than this bottle!

The Michters BS Rye is 110.2 Proof and I found to be more enjoyable than most of the recent JD Rye BP single barrels.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Oh nice finds!!!! Summer is starting off to a roar.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Great pickups, Bob and Mike! I've got a 24-02 arriving tomorrow via UPS since it hasn't shown up in Illinois yet.


Yesterday, QT had a colonoscopy in the morning, so needed a ride to get her hair done in the afternoon. 90 minutes to kill so I hit the local liquor store with a bar to try a couple pours. They have the new Maker's Mark wood finished so I tried that. It's a definite buy if I find it at retail. (I liked it better than B EP, Mike). Also tried the Old Forester 1924 (Bottled in Bond). Good, but I won't seek it out. I finished off with a banger, a 8 year purple top Willett single barrel ("Honeymoon Hacienda") at 136 proof. Outstanding.

https://i.imgur.com/gyXCk07.png

https://i.imgur.com/sWQkRsL.png

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice bar!!! Wow, some great pours you can get. And seriously behind on finding 24-02 Bookers here. Looks like West Coast will lag this release.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Hope the new Booker's gets out there soon, Dave. :tu

I had to switch out a cable box yesterday, and the office is across the street from a grocery that I've found bottles at from time to time. They had the latest ECBP (B524) at the cheapest price I've found ECBP at in a few years. At %64 it was a no-brainer. At 11 years 2 months and 130.6 proof, it promised to be right in my wheelhouse.

It doesn't have the depth of flavor that a couple of my favorite batches have, but it's still a banger worth the price and more.

https://i.imgur.com/fS6dGD5.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice find, Tom!

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Honestly, James, I was more surprised by the price than by the find. :banger

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Got my first bottle of the latest Booker's from Kentucky yesterday (24-02, Beam House Batch). Hoping to crack it this weekend.

https://i.imgur.com/okR2J7wm.jpg

Stayed with the Beam/Booker's theme last night with some Little Book 3.

https://i.imgur.com/ed9AnLhm.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

First time at a local whisky bar. Very nice selection. Definitely go back. Fun to try things I don’t have.

https://i.postimg.cc/GmS97PMB/IMG-0120.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/SNdn8bCf/IMG-0123.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Dwz8Ppck/IMG-0124.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/JhD09ygp/IMG-0125.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Oh yeah. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the new Bookers.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Killed this bottle while smoking with friends.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...qM3Wgn7-X4.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Good times and a very nice bourbon.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Some really nice pours, Dave! Curious to your thoughts on the Barrell New Year (I like it)
:D and Booker's 23-02 Apprentice Batch (my least favorite Booker's ever).:(

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I was out and around and hit a couple of my usual spots. I was looking for some EC single barrel but couldn't find any. But I came home with a Penelope Barrel Strength, Ezra Brooks Cask Strength, Rebel Cask Strength, MM Cask Strength, and Russell's 10 Year.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Nice haul James. :tu

Revisited my JDSBBP bottles (regular and rye) this afternoon while watching soccer. Man I love both of them. But that rye, wow.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I’m with you on Apprentices Batch. It had more heat and less flavor than it should have had in my opinion. It lacked the sweetness I would have preferred to balance the heat. Seems out of balance on the blend. This batch probably needs a bit of ice and if I try it again, it will be over ice.

The Barrell New Year was definitely a star along with the Basil Hayden.

I am becoming a big fan of Barrell.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Some solid picks there, James!

I've got a new JDSBBP pick coming in today, absolutely love this stuff, Bob.

Yeah Dave, that Apprentice was pure pepper, Heat without flavor.

But those Barrell blends. Lotsa great stuff for sure.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Siri, remind me to never offer Dave or Tom a pour of the Apprentice Batch should either end up in SEMI. Definitely remind me to hide my backup bottle. :D

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Hahahaha well, I will bring my Little Book Ch 7 and your backup 24-02 and we will drink too much until they all taste the same LOL!

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Get a bunch of Little Book 7 and 24-02 in me, I might think Apprentice is ok. ;) :lr

Opened up the Pinhook honoring Issac Murphy this weekend. Sweet and complex, I like it.

https://i.imgur.com/hrOWsu5.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Picked up a couple new single barrels. First is a JD Barrel Proof at 128.1 from Grand Cathedral Liquors.

https://i.imgur.com/T4p4e1h.jpg

And a Pinhook at 116 proof from El Cerritos in Cali

https://i.imgur.com/BKwCl8M.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

This Little Booker Ch 7 just rings my beeeelllllel. Ring my bell.

Already drank one bottle and spares are hard to find.


https://i.postimg.cc/Vv2TxcfB/IMG-0215.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Dave, that Chapter 7 sounds interesting in that it has all 6 previous releases in the mix. I'll have to see if my store in Marengo has an open bottle.

Recent pickups at retail or less were Barrell 2021 New Year's and a Weller Full Proof.

https://i.imgur.com/w6kXKN6.jpg

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I found a bottle of Widow Jane 10 for a reasonable price, finally. The queue's grown, so it may be a bit before I open it. 99 problems but a whisky queue ain't one. :D

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

I’ve slowed my buying. Working on killing some bottles before I start restocking. Finished a Barrel Foundation yesterday. It’s decent, but not sure I’ll buy again anytime soon.

Re: The Bourbon Thread!!
 

Hooo eeeee a Weller Full Proof. Great bourbon and Barrell, well, I have become a fan.

Widow Jane is on my try list. Going to a Whisky Lounge next week and hope to try that along with more Barrell.