Whiskey Clique

BIGDaddyWil

mca47 said:

BIGDaddyWil said:

dudeman said:

Over the last couple weeks, I have tried Maker's Mark, Four Roses Small Batch and Willet (whatever one is in the funky bottle).

Of those, I liked the Four Roses best. The other two are also perfectly fine but not quite as balanced and all-around enjoyable. I can easily see why Maker's Mark is so popular, though. It's pretty easy to drink neat and I think it would be really nice in an Old Fashioned. 

The Willet is really good and I will probably get a bottle to have on hand, mostly because the bottle itself looks so cool.

You can't go wrong with Four Roses, their single barrels are $50 all day long.  One of the best deals in bourbon.  I do like some Marker's Mark, especially the Maker's 46. I'm not a Willet fan, I prefer New Riff, Penelope, and Bardstown. 
 Local Michigan stuff to look for: Evernorth Spirits in Freeland (Bourbon Junkies from Youtube), New Holland Origin or anything from them, except the beer barrel bouron, and Detroit City Distillery.
My go to are Knob Creek, any of them, Wild Turkey 101 bourbon and rye and Jack Daniel's Barell proof rye.  Enjoy your journey!

New Holland puts out some amazing stuff!  I also agree, those Four Roses SB's for that price are pretty awesome, and Makers 46, esp the cask strength is great.

While I watch the Bourbon Junkies on YouTube, i've never actually purchased anything from them. 

I've had a few bottles from store picks, pretty good stuff.  They're not a distillery, they buy whiskey, age and blend.  Great artwork on their labels. I definitely recommend them.

dudeman

Got this one today. Excited to try it. 

Also got to try Elijah Craig Small Batch and Wild Turkey 101 today. Both of those I really enjoyed but they are very different from one another. Really liked the cinnamon kick of the Wild Turkey! Makes me want to try some of the Russell's Reserve and Rare Breed even more.

dudeman

Just about finished with my first bottle of Blanton's. I know it's ridiculously priced and difficult to find but I gotta say, I have really enjoyed this bottle. It gets a lot of things right. While I agree with those who say it isn't worth the secondary market prices, it is still very good and definitely better than a lot of the mid and upper-shelf bourbons I have tried. 

mca47

Scored a Russell's Reserve 13 Year yesterday.  Been wanting to get my hands on one for a long time, and I got lucky with Total Wine's Grand Reserve/Priority Access thing.  Gonna pop it this weekend.  Hahaha...maybe in a few years I can get a 15 year.

dudeman

mca47 said:

Scored a Russell's Reserve 13 Year yesterday.  Been wanting to get my hands on one for a long time, and I got lucky with Total Wine's Grand Reserve/Priority Access thing.  Gonna pop it this weekend.  Hahaha...maybe in a few years I can get a 15 year.

Nice! Curious about that one. Congrats!

BIGDaddyWil

mca47 said:

Scored a Russell's Reserve 13 Year yesterday.  Been wanting to get my hands on one for a long time, and I got lucky with Total Wine's Grand Reserve/Priority Access thing.  Gonna pop it this weekend.  Hahaha...maybe in a few years I can get a 15 year.

You lucky bastard! Amazing juice!  I was able to try a few ounces a couple years ago.

BIGDaddyWil

dudeman said:

Got this one today. Excited to try it. 

Also got to try Elijah Craig Small Batch and Wild Turkey 101 today. Both of those I really enjoyed but they are very different from one another. Really liked the cinnamon kick of the Wild Turkey! Makes me want to try some of the Russell's Reserve and Rare Breed even more.

You can't go wrong with Russell's Reserve or Rare Breed!  I also love Rare Breed Rye.

dudeman

BIGDaddyWil said:

dudeman said:

Got this one today. Excited to try it. 

Also got to try Elijah Craig Small Batch and Wild Turkey 101 today. Both of those I really enjoyed but they are very different from one another. Really liked the cinnamon kick of the Wild Turkey! Makes me want to try some of the Russell's Reserve and Rare Breed even more.

You can't go wrong with Russell's Reserve or Rare Breed!  I also love Rare Breed Rye.

Do you think there is a huge difference between Russell's Reserve 10 Year and the RR Ten Year Single Barrel? A store near me has both and the SB is about $20.00 more. Is it worth the upcharge?

Johnny Abruzzo

I saw Blanton's on a website for $149 - is that reasonable?

tempo_n_groove

Johnny Abruzzo said:

I saw Blanton's on a website for $149 - is that reasonable?

No.  Don't pay that.  These were $60 bottles all day long.  The Bourbon bros ruined it.  

If you want to try it once go ahead but I wouldn't bother.

Cliffy6745

I like Blanton's a lot. I think MSRP is around $80-$85 now, and I think that's reasonable

Johnny Abruzzo

Yeah that's what I thought. Cool thanks. I don't really need the fancy stuff. I think Jim Beam Black is awesome.

dudeman

tempo_n_groove said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

I saw Blanton's on a website for $149 - is that reasonable?

No.  Don't pay that.  These were $60 bottles all day long.  The Bourbon bros ruined it.  

If you want to try it once go ahead but I wouldn't bother.

Blanton's is pretty good stuff and worth trying but yeah, pricing has gotten out of hand. IMO, it is worth tracking down a pint or having a pour at a bar so you can find out for yourself. 

There are a lot of excellent bourbons these days that are much more affordable than Blanton's but it became very popular for a reason: it's good stuff. 

Johnny Abruzzo

dudeman said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

I saw Blanton's on a website for $149 - is that reasonable?

No.  Don't pay that.  These were $60 bottles all day long.  The Bourbon bros ruined it.  

If you want to try it once go ahead but I wouldn't bother.

Blanton's is pretty good stuff and worth trying but yeah, pricing has gotten out of hand. IMO, it is worth tracking down a pint or having a pour at a bar so you can find out for yourself. 

There are a lot of excellent bourbons these days that are much more affordable than Blanton's but it became very popular for a reason: it's good stuff. 

I had some in my whiskey tasting on a Disney cruise - yeah it was awesome. Just didn't know what the bottles should cost.

BIGDaddyWil

dudeman said:

BIGDaddyWil said:

dudeman said:

Got this one today. Excited to try it. 

Also got to try Elijah Craig Small Batch and Wild Turkey 101 today. Both of those I really enjoyed but they are very different from one another. Really liked the cinnamon kick of the Wild Turkey! Makes me want to try some of the Russell's Reserve and Rare Breed even more.

You can't go wrong with Russell's Reserve or Rare Breed!  I also love Rare Breed Rye.

Do you think there is a huge difference between Russell's Reserve 10 Year and the RR Ten Year Single Barrel? A store near me has both and the SB is about $20.00 more. Is it worth the upcharge?

Single barrel has a proof of 110 compared to 90 of the 10 year.  Personally, I like a higher proof point.  100-110 is my jam.  Single barrel's usually cost more. So yes, the upcharge is fine with me.  Russell's single barrel's are usually pretty damn good.

tempo_n_groove

dudeman said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

I saw Blanton's on a website for $149 - is that reasonable?

No.  Don't pay that.  These were $60 bottles all day long.  The Bourbon bros ruined it.  

If you want to try it once go ahead but I wouldn't bother.

Blanton's is pretty good stuff and worth trying but yeah, pricing has gotten out of hand. IMO, it is worth tracking down a pint or having a pour at a bar so you can find out for yourself. 

There are a lot of excellent bourbons these days that are much more affordable than Blanton's but it became very popular for a reason: it's good stuff. 

They decided to make fake scarcity which drove up the prices then the Bourbon bros would get the allocations and resell them.

I used to be able to get this stuff right off the shelves before "pappy" and "juice" became common terms, lol.

I am looking forward to the Midwinters night dram again this year.  Man I love that stuff.  I splurge and get me a bottle every year.

dudeman

BIGDaddyWil said:

dudeman said:

BIGDaddyWil said:

dudeman said:

Got this one today. Excited to try it. 

Also got to try Elijah Craig Small Batch and Wild Turkey 101 today. Both of those I really enjoyed but they are very different from one another. Really liked the cinnamon kick of the Wild Turkey! Makes me want to try some of the Russell's Reserve and Rare Breed even more.

You can't go wrong with Russell's Reserve or Rare Breed!  I also love Rare Breed Rye.

Do you think there is a huge difference between Russell's Reserve 10 Year and the RR Ten Year Single Barrel? A store near me has both and the SB is about $20.00 more. Is it worth the upcharge?

Single barrel has a proof of 110 compared to 90 of the 10 year.  Personally, I like a higher proof point.  100-110 is my jam.  Single barrel's usually cost more. So yes, the upcharge is fine with me.  Russell's single barrel's are usually pretty damn good.

Thank you. I'll be on the lookout for a Single Barrel. 

I had some friends over last week and ended up finishing a Sazerac Rye and a Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve. I don't think I'll buy those ones again so it's a good time to fill the empty shelf space with something different. 

dudeman

tempo_n_groove said:

dudeman said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

I saw Blanton's on a website for $149 - is that reasonable?

No.  Don't pay that.  These were $60 bottles all day long.  The Bourbon bros ruined it.  

If you want to try it once go ahead but I wouldn't bother.

Blanton's is pretty good stuff and worth trying but yeah, pricing has gotten out of hand. IMO, it is worth tracking down a pint or having a pour at a bar so you can find out for yourself. 

There are a lot of excellent bourbons these days that are much more affordable than Blanton's but it became very popular for a reason: it's good stuff. 

They decided to make fake scarcity which drove up the prices then the Bourbon bros would get the allocations and resell them.

I used to be able to get this stuff right off the shelves before "pappy" and "juice" became common terms, lol.

I am looking forward to the Midwinters night dram again this year.  Man I love that stuff.  I splurge and get me a bottle every year.

Yeah, it's pretty sad what has happened to the market with pricing and flipping. Seems to be the natural order of capitalism, I guess. PJ posters used to be available for reasonable prices until they weren't, too. I hope we see a return to some semblance of normal someday. 

As someone who is pretty new to the bourbon scene, I don't have memories of when some of these unicorn bottles were readily available for retail. It kind of makes me bummed out that I missed it. 

I've been able to find a few rarer bottles for decent prices but I don't expect that to happen again any time soon. I'd like to try Midwinter Nights Dram but I won't hold my breath for finding it in real life. Hope you can score one!

tempo_n_groove

dudeman said:

tempo_n_groove said:

dudeman said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

I saw Blanton's on a website for $149 - is that reasonable?

No.  Don't pay that.  These were $60 bottles all day long.  The Bourbon bros ruined it.  

If you want to try it once go ahead but I wouldn't bother.

Blanton's is pretty good stuff and worth trying but yeah, pricing has gotten out of hand. IMO, it is worth tracking down a pint or having a pour at a bar so you can find out for yourself. 

There are a lot of excellent bourbons these days that are much more affordable than Blanton's but it became very popular for a reason: it's good stuff. 

They decided to make fake scarcity which drove up the prices then the Bourbon bros would get the allocations and resell them.

I used to be able to get this stuff right off the shelves before "pappy" and "juice" became common terms, lol.

I am looking forward to the Midwinters night dram again this year.  Man I love that stuff.  I splurge and get me a bottle every year.

Yeah, it's pretty sad what has happened to the market with pricing and flipping. Seems to be the natural order of capitalism, I guess. PJ posters used to be available for reasonable prices until they weren't, too. I hope we see a return to some semblance of normal someday. 

As someone who is pretty new to the bourbon scene, I don't have memories of when some of these unicorn bottles were readily available for retail. It kind of makes me bummed out that I missed it. 

I've been able to find a few rarer bottles for decent prices but I don't expect that to happen again any time soon. I'd like to try Midwinter Nights Dram but I won't hold my breath for finding it in real life. Hope you can score one!

They make enough of it to go around and it doesnt get flipped which is nice.  I suggest making friends with your local spirit store and ask them for a bottle.  You'll be surprised at what they will sell u if u ask.

mca47

dudeman said:

BIGDaddyWil said:

dudeman said:

BIGDaddyWil said:

dudeman said:

Got this one today. Excited to try it. 

Also got to try Elijah Craig Small Batch and Wild Turkey 101 today. Both of those I really enjoyed but they are very different from one another. Really liked the cinnamon kick of the Wild Turkey! Makes me want to try some of the Russell's Reserve and Rare Breed even more.

You can't go wrong with Russell's Reserve or Rare Breed!  I also love Rare Breed Rye.

Do you think there is a huge difference between Russell's Reserve 10 Year and the RR Ten Year Single Barrel? A store near me has both and the SB is about $20.00 more. Is it worth the upcharge?

Single barrel has a proof of 110 compared to 90 of the 10 year.  Personally, I like a higher proof point.  100-110 is my jam.  Single barrel's usually cost more. So yes, the upcharge is fine with me.  Russell's single barrel's are usually pretty damn good.

Thank you. I'll be on the lookout for a Single Barrel. 

I had some friends over last week and ended up finishing a Sazerac Rye and a Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve. I don't think I'll buy those ones again so it's a good time to fill the empty shelf space with something different. 

The SBs are the way to go.  Yes, they cost more, but they are usually higher proof and more unique.