Whiskey Clique

Gern Blansten

so no George Stagg release this year....not up to standards per the distillery

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/dining/drinks/buffalo-trace-george-t-stagg-shortage.html

bbiggs

Gern Blansten said:

so no George Stagg release this year....not up to standards per the distillery

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/dining/drinks/buffalo-trace-george-t-stagg-shortage.html

I heard of a shortage this year, but no release at all is disappointing news.  Bummer.

mca47

bbiggs said:

Gern Blansten said:

so no George Stagg release this year....not up to standards per the distillery

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/dining/drinks/buffalo-trace-george-t-stagg-shortage.html

I heard of a shortage this year, but no release at all is disappointing news.  Bummer.

Yeah, it is a bummer, but I also appreciate them willing to take a financial loss rather than put out a crappy product.
Actually, they should just put it out and call it "Stagg's Unwanted Step Child".  People would still line up and the aftermarket would still probably be at $800.

exploderball

Somebody in my local whiskey group posted this. Haha.

BRAIN0FJAY

SVRDhand13 said:

BRAIN0FJAY said:

SVRDhand13 said:

Anybody try the Old Elk stuff yet?

Not gonna lie- the cool bottle design is what originally made me interested lol.  

I'm reading pretty good reviews, but it seems like its a bit over priced.  

Our (now defunct) local whiskey society did a wheated whiskey pick; honestly, I voted against it.  It was good but I didn't think it was spectacular-enough to justify the cost.

They recently came out with port, cognac, and armagnac finishes; I think they retail for $90-100.  The armagnac is decent; I doubt I'd pay for a bottle though.  I would like to give the port a try and would likely buy a bottle if I came across it simply because I'm a fan of the port finishes.

What happened to your whiskey society? COVID? 

COVID was a big part; made things very tricky.  It got to the point where distilleries were mailing us samples and we’d hold our tastings at our offices, homes, etc.  It took a lot of the fun out of it.

Also, there were four of us doing the work - not a problem usually.  One guy was retired and was balls to the wall all the time.  The other three of us could not keep up with his free time vs. our full schedules when you throw in running a very active society, consuming jobs, wives / home life, etc.  

We had a good run.  We did six picks and had as many lined up before we mutually disbanded. 

A couple of us are working with a local business and a restaurant to do their picks.  This is in the infancy…plenty of details to work thru.  We shall see.

Bentleyspop

Got to try this today. It is the rare instance where the juice kept up with the packaging...

exploderball

Bentleyspop said:

Got to try this today. It is the rare instance where the juice kept up with the packaging...

Crazy. What is that?

tempo_n_groove

exploderball said:

Bentleyspop said:

Got to try this today. It is the rare instance where the juice kept up with the packaging...

Crazy. What is that?

13th century bourbon.  Colorado.

Can't get that one here...

Bentleyspop

It's that time of year again...

PJ_Soul

I only like Canadian rye whiskey, and Crown Royal and Canadian Club are the gold standards. My favourite drink in the world is a nice cold Crown and diet on ice. Yummmm. Although I have to admit, rye fucks me up pretty good and puts me on a dangerous fun ride, lol. I love the drink so much, and will often have at least a few, and suddenly I discover I'm just bombed and full of beans, lol. Like a drunk energizer bunny - I keep going and going and going. I have greeted the sunrise many a time while enjoying the Canadian rye, lol.

dankind

I like CC and club soda. If a slice of lime is around, that’s good, too. 

bbiggs

Bentleyspop said:

It's that time of year again...

I've enjoyed most of these that I've tried.  My shop got 3 bottles total and I missed unfortunately.  I did get a Blanton's Gold and the Jack Daniel's 10 year recently though.  Haven't cracked the JD 10 yet, but I'm very excited for this one.  JD was the first bourbon I ever had and it's a pretty cool bottle considering they haven't had a 10 year age statement on it in 100+ years.  97 proof is also a nice bump up.  I'll report back on how it tastes.

SVRDhand13

BRAIN0FJAY said:

SVRDhand13 said:

BRAIN0FJAY said:

SVRDhand13 said:

Anybody try the Old Elk stuff yet?

Not gonna lie- the cool bottle design is what originally made me interested lol.  

I'm reading pretty good reviews, but it seems like its a bit over priced.  

Our (now defunct) local whiskey society did a wheated whiskey pick; honestly, I voted against it.  It was good but I didn't think it was spectacular-enough to justify the cost.

They recently came out with port, cognac, and armagnac finishes; I think they retail for $90-100.  The armagnac is decent; I doubt I'd pay for a bottle though.  I would like to give the port a try and would likely buy a bottle if I came across it simply because I'm a fan of the port finishes.

What happened to your whiskey society? COVID? 

COVID was a big part; made things very tricky.  It got to the point where distilleries were mailing us samples and we’d hold our tastings at our offices, homes, etc.  It took a lot of the fun out of it.

Also, there were four of us doing the work - not a problem usually.  One guy was retired and was balls to the wall all the time.  The other three of us could not keep up with his free time vs. our full schedules when you throw in running a very active society, consuming jobs, wives / home life, etc.  

We had a good run.  We did six picks and had as many lined up before we mutually disbanded. 

A couple of us are working with a local business and a restaurant to do their picks.  This is in the infancy…plenty of details to work thru.  We shall see.

It's very cool you are doing picks! I have to do one of those one day.  Coolest thing I've done so far is drink straight from the bunghole (gross lol) at Bardstown Bourbon Company.  

I kinda had the same thing with a group of beer friends.  We had a few shares where everyone brought some cool bottles and had a great time.  After about two years a few people started bringing crazy expensive stuff and expecting everyone else to do the same.  And then people started talking shit about what others were bringing, even though it was good stuff.  Completely killed the good vibes from the first few shares.  I decided I was not going anymore and then COVID hit like a month later anyway.  

I'd love to start a whiskey society in my area but I feel the same thing would happen.  

Bentleyspop

bbiggs said:

Bentleyspop said:

It's that time of year again...

I've enjoyed most of these that I've tried.  My shop got 3 bottles total and I missed unfortunately.  I did get a Blanton's Gold and the Jack Daniel's 10 year recently though.  Haven't cracked the JD 10 yet, but I'm very excited for this one.  JD was the first bourbon I ever had and it's a pretty cool bottle considering they haven't had a 10 year age statement on it in 100+ years.  97 proof is also a nice bump up.  I'll report back on how it tastes.

Just so you know JD is not a bourbon. It is classified as Tennessee Whiskey. 

SVRDhand13

Bentleyspop said:

bbiggs said:

Bentleyspop said:

It's that time of year again...

I've enjoyed most of these that I've tried.  My shop got 3 bottles total and I missed unfortunately.  I did get a Blanton's Gold and the Jack Daniel's 10 year recently though.  Haven't cracked the JD 10 yet, but I'm very excited for this one.  JD was the first bourbon I ever had and it's a pretty cool bottle considering they haven't had a 10 year age statement on it in 100+ years.  97 proof is also a nice bump up.  I'll report back on how it tastes.

Just so you know JD is not a bourbon. It is classified as Tennessee Whiskey. 

Oh no, not this discussion lol.

It technically meets all the requirements of "bourbon", but it's branded as Tennessee Whiskey.  

bbiggs

LOL.  Whatever we would like to call JD, I am happy to have the 10 year version that they released. 

As an aside, George Dickel "Tennessee Whisky" (as they call it) is also "Bourbon Whisky" in their own words.  JD can call it whatever they want for marketing purposes, but it's bourbon.  Just semantics.

Bentleyspop

SVRDhand13 said:

Bentleyspop said:

bbiggs said:

Bentleyspop said:

It's that time of year again...

I've enjoyed most of these that I've tried.  My shop got 3 bottles total and I missed unfortunately.  I did get a Blanton's Gold and the Jack Daniel's 10 year recently though.  Haven't cracked the JD 10 yet, but I'm very excited for this one.  JD was the first bourbon I ever had and it's a pretty cool bottle considering they haven't had a 10 year age statement on it in 100+ years.  97 proof is also a nice bump up.  I'll report back on how it tastes.

Just so you know JD is not a bourbon. It is classified as Tennessee Whiskey. 

Oh no, not this discussion lol.

It technically meets all the requirements of "bourbon", but it's branded as Tennessee Whiskey.  

As I work in the liquor business I am often asked about the difference. We abide by what the manufacturer says.
Which is while the mash bill meets the requirements, it's the being made in Tennessee,  the specific filtering process, and the reusing of the barrels that makes the difference. Even JD says they are not a bourbon.
Its like those flavored "whiskeys" that come in at 70 proof. Technically they are classified as liqueurs. 
Potato potatoe

mcgruff10

dankind said:

I like CC and club soda. If a slice of lime is around, that’s good, too. 

This sounds like a drink I'd really enjoy.  

SVRDhand13

Bentleyspop said:

SVRDhand13 said:

Bentleyspop said:

bbiggs said:

Bentleyspop said:

It's that time of year again...

I've enjoyed most of these that I've tried.  My shop got 3 bottles total and I missed unfortunately.  I did get a Blanton's Gold and the Jack Daniel's 10 year recently though.  Haven't cracked the JD 10 yet, but I'm very excited for this one.  JD was the first bourbon I ever had and it's a pretty cool bottle considering they haven't had a 10 year age statement on it in 100+ years.  97 proof is also a nice bump up.  I'll report back on how it tastes.

Just so you know JD is not a bourbon. It is classified as Tennessee Whiskey. 

Oh no, not this discussion lol.

It technically meets all the requirements of "bourbon", but it's branded as Tennessee Whiskey.  

As I work in the liquor business I am often asked about the difference. We abide by what the manufacturer says.
Which is while the mash bill meets the requirements, it's the being made in Tennessee,  the specific filtering process, and the reusing of the barrels that makes the difference. Even JD says they are not a bourbon.
Its like those flavored "whiskeys" that come in at 70 proof. Technically they are classified as liqueurs. 
Potato potatoe

I like JD single barrel and barrel proof (haven't had a chance to try the other limited stuff) but I think they're being pretty lame about the distinction.  

But it's not nearly as bad as when Woodford named something Chocolate Malted Rye when it's not even a rye!!!

mca47

SVRDhand13 said:

Bentleyspop said:

SVRDhand13 said:

Bentleyspop said:

bbiggs said:

Bentleyspop said:

It's that time of year again...

I've enjoyed most of these that I've tried.  My shop got 3 bottles total and I missed unfortunately.  I did get a Blanton's Gold and the Jack Daniel's 10 year recently though.  Haven't cracked the JD 10 yet, but I'm very excited for this one.  JD was the first bourbon I ever had and it's a pretty cool bottle considering they haven't had a 10 year age statement on it in 100+ years.  97 proof is also a nice bump up.  I'll report back on how it tastes.

Just so you know JD is not a bourbon. It is classified as Tennessee Whiskey. 

Oh no, not this discussion lol.

It technically meets all the requirements of "bourbon", but it's branded as Tennessee Whiskey.  

As I work in the liquor business I am often asked about the difference. We abide by what the manufacturer says.
Which is while the mash bill meets the requirements, it's the being made in Tennessee,  the specific filtering process, and the reusing of the barrels that makes the difference. Even JD says they are not a bourbon.
Its like those flavored "whiskeys" that come in at 70 proof. Technically they are classified as liqueurs. 
Potato potatoe

I like JD single barrel and barrel proof (haven't had a chance to try the other limited stuff) but I think they're being pretty lame about the distinction.  

But it's not nearly as bad as when Woodford named something Chocolate Malted Rye when it's not even a rye!!!

Yeah, the JD SBBP is really good.  I am not a Jack fan, but was told the SBBP was great.  First sip I was like "goddamn!"