Whiskey Clique

dudeman · September 3

Is anyone still drinking bourbon these days?

I've been newly introduced to good bourbon and find myself getting sucked down the rabbit hole. So far, I have found Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, a few of the Heaven's Door varieties and a Town Branch store pick from my local shop. All were reasonably priced.

I have liked everything I tried but for different reasons. The Heaven's Door Refuge rye is very nice after a long day of yard work and the Revival makes excellent Old Fashioneds.

The Town Branch was recommended by the store clerk and he gave me a trial pour. I immediately liked the smoothness and character of that one so I grabbed a bottle.

The Buffalo Trace, Blanton's and Eagle Rare were all bought due to the hype surrounding them. I was lucky enough to find them for msrp and got them while I could. I've only tried the BT out of those and I thought it was very good. It isn't as complex and satisfying as the Town Branch, though. Excited to try the others to see if the hype matches my tastes, even though I am still developing that part.

Any other recommendations for ones to try that are considered particularly good in the $50-$100 range are most welcome.

tempo_n_groove · September 4

dudeman said:

Is anyone still drinking bourbon these days?

I've been newly introduced to good bourbon and find myself getting sucked down the rabbit hole. So far, I have found Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, a few of the Heaven's Door varieties and a Town Branch store pick from my local shop. All were reasonably priced.

I have liked everything I tried but for different reasons. The Heaven's Door Refuge rye is very nice after a long day of yard work and the Revival makes excellent Old Fashioneds.

The Town Branch was recommended by the store clerk and he gave me a trial pour. I immediately liked the smoothness and character of that one so I grabbed a bottle.

The Buffalo Trace, Blanton's and Eagle Rare were all bought due to the hype surrounding them. I was lucky enough to find them for msrp and got them while I could. I've only tried the BT out of those and I thought it was very good. It isn't as complex and satisfying as the Town Branch, though. Excited to try the others to see if the hype matches my tastes, even though I am still developing that part.

Any other recommendations for ones to try that are considered particularly good in the $50-$100 range are most welcome.

I don't chase much since all the stores "allocations" are priced too high.

Blantons used to be $30 a bottle. I used to drink it then, now I don't care. BT and Eagle rare are good and not overpriced.

Daily drinkers I liked Dickel Bottled in Bond, McKenna, Knob Creek 12 yo and Basil Haydens rye. Not the toasted rye the regular.

See if your store has "store picks". They do a run off of the tasters notes. Usually get some pretty tasty bourbons that would be much more expensive. My local did an Angels Envy and it was amazing.

Happy hunting.

Once a year I do buy myself a bottle of High West Midwinters Dram. Last years was exceptional and they made a bunch of it so it isn't overpriced.

Cliffy6745 · September 4

Everything is more expensive than it used to be. Blanton's MSRP is $65+ so I have no problem paying something in that range these days for that, especially now that is more available again

Hawkshore · September 4

I find the Weller green label to be good value, not sure what it goes for in the US, but in Canada its about $50.

dudeman · September 4

tempo_n_groove said:

dudeman said:

Is anyone still drinking bourbon these days?

I've been newly introduced to good bourbon and find myself getting sucked down the rabbit hole. So far, I have found Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, a few of the Heaven's Door varieties and a Town Branch store pick from my local shop. All were reasonably priced.

I have liked everything I tried but for different reasons. The Heaven's Door Refuge rye is very nice after a long day of yard work and the Revival makes excellent Old Fashioneds.

The Town Branch was recommended by the store clerk and he gave me a trial pour. I immediately liked the smoothness and character of that one so I grabbed a bottle.

The Buffalo Trace, Blanton's and Eagle Rare were all bought due to the hype surrounding them. I was lucky enough to find them for msrp and got them while I could. I've only tried the BT out of those and I thought it was very good. It isn't as complex and satisfying as the Town Branch, though. Excited to try the others to see if the hype matches my tastes, even though I am still developing that part.

Any other recommendations for ones to try that are considered particularly good in the $50-$100 range are most welcome.

I don't chase much since all the stores "allocations" are priced too high.

Blantons used to be $30 a bottle. I used to drink it then, now I don't care. BT and Eagle rare are good and not overpriced.

Daily drinkers I liked Dickel Bottled in Bond, McKenna, Knob Creek 12 yo and Basil Haydens rye. Not the toasted rye the regular.

See if your store has "store picks". They do a run off of the tasters notes. Usually get some pretty tasty bourbons that would be much more expensive. My local did an Angels Envy and it was amazing.

Happy hunting.

Once a year I do buy myself a bottle of High West Midwinters Dram. Last years was exceptional and they made a bunch of it so it isn't overpriced.

Yeah, a lot of bottles seem way out of line cost wise. I am lucky to have a couple good spots nearby that seem honest and reasonable.

One place I stopped yesterday didn't have any Buffalo Trace when I asked but the clerk offered me the last bottle of Eagle Rare they had. It was $45.00 and I got a bottle of Blanton's for $63.50.

Mostly, I just want to have a few things on hand for when my drinking friends and relatives visit. I am not really a drinker but I do have an appreciation for good spirits when the occasion arises. I think I might have 3-5 drinks in a year.

dudeman · September 4

Cliffy6745 said:

Everything is more expensive than it used to be. Blanton's MSRP is $65+ so I have no problem paying something in that range these days for that, especially now that is more available again

I'm excited to try this, mostly because of the hype. Also, it's what John Wick drinks so there's that, too.

dudeman · September 4

Hawkshore said:

I find the Weller green label to be good value, not sure what it goes for in the US, but in Canada its about $50.

Have yet to see any Weller on a store shelf yet but I'm on the lookout. Seems like all of the varieties are well liked.

mca47 · September 4

My pace at finding bottles has definitely slowed. I'm also still at a ~2 oz per week drinker so that hasn't changed much. I have been drinking more American Single Malts of late. I'm part of Westward's club so I get those releases (if you've ever sat on Westward, literally everything they produce is amazing). Westland also good as is Cedar Ridge.

dudeman · September 4

Anyone have any thoughts on Sazerac Rye?

markymark550 · September 5

dudeman said:

tempo_n_groove said:

dudeman said:

Is anyone still drinking bourbon these days?

I've been newly introduced to good bourbon and find myself getting sucked down the rabbit hole. So far, I have found Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, a few of the Heaven's Door varieties and a Town Branch store pick from my local shop. All were reasonably priced.

I have liked everything I tried but for different reasons. The Heaven's Door Refuge rye is very nice after a long day of yard work and the Revival makes excellent Old Fashioneds.

The Town Branch was recommended by the store clerk and he gave me a trial pour. I immediately liked the smoothness and character of that one so I grabbed a bottle.

The Buffalo Trace, Blanton's and Eagle Rare were all bought due to the hype surrounding them. I was lucky enough to find them for msrp and got them while I could. I've only tried the BT out of those and I thought it was very good. It isn't as complex and satisfying as the Town Branch, though. Excited to try the others to see if the hype matches my tastes, even though I am still developing that part.

Any other recommendations for ones to try that are considered particularly good in the $50-$100 range are most welcome.

I don't chase much since all the stores "allocations" are priced too high.

Blantons used to be $30 a bottle. I used to drink it then, now I don't care. BT and Eagle rare are good and not overpriced.

Daily drinkers I liked Dickel Bottled in Bond, McKenna, Knob Creek 12 yo and Basil Haydens rye. Not the toasted rye the regular.

See if your store has "store picks". They do a run off of the tasters notes. Usually get some pretty tasty bourbons that would be much more expensive. My local did an Angels Envy and it was amazing.

Happy hunting.

Once a year I do buy myself a bottle of High West Midwinters Dram. Last years was exceptional and they made a bunch of it so it isn't overpriced.

Yeah, a lot of bottles seem way out of line cost wise. I am lucky to have a couple good spots nearby that seem honest and reasonable.

One place I stopped yesterday didn't have any Buffalo Trace when I asked but the clerk offered me the last bottle of Eagle Rare they had. It was $45.00 and I got a bottle of Blanton's for $63.50.

Mostly, I just want to have a few things on hand for when my drinking friends and relatives visit. I am not really a drinker but I do have an appreciation for good spirits when the occasion arises. I think I might have 3-5 drinks in a year.

$45 for Eagle Rare is a steal...at least around here. All BT products are hard to find here and when you do, the price has been inflated. If you can find ER here, you're likely going to pay upwards of $70 for it.

markymark550 · September 5

mca47 said:

My pace at finding bottles has definitely slowed. I'm also still at a ~2 oz per week drinker so that hasn't changed much. I have been drinking more American Single Malts of late. I'm part of Westward's club so I get those releases (if you've ever sat on Westward, literally everything they produce is amazing). Westland also good as is Cedar Ridge.

I've had the original Westward and thought it was really good. I would definitely try their other offerings, given the chance.

dudeman · September 5

markymark550 said:

dudeman said:

tempo_n_groove said:

dudeman said:

Is anyone still drinking bourbon these days?

I've been newly introduced to good bourbon and find myself getting sucked down the rabbit hole. So far, I have found Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, a few of the Heaven's Door varieties and a Town Branch store pick from my local shop. All were reasonably priced.

I have liked everything I tried but for different reasons. The Heaven's Door Refuge rye is very nice after a long day of yard work and the Revival makes excellent Old Fashioneds.

The Town Branch was recommended by the store clerk and he gave me a trial pour. I immediately liked the smoothness and character of that one so I grabbed a bottle.

The Buffalo Trace, Blanton's and Eagle Rare were all bought due to the hype surrounding them. I was lucky enough to find them for msrp and got them while I could. I've only tried the BT out of those and I thought it was very good. It isn't as complex and satisfying as the Town Branch, though. Excited to try the others to see if the hype matches my tastes, even though I am still developing that part.

Any other recommendations for ones to try that are considered particularly good in the $50-$100 range are most welcome.

I don't chase much since all the stores "allocations" are priced too high.

Blantons used to be $30 a bottle. I used to drink it then, now I don't care. BT and Eagle rare are good and not overpriced.

Daily drinkers I liked Dickel Bottled in Bond, McKenna, Knob Creek 12 yo and Basil Haydens rye. Not the toasted rye the regular.

See if your store has "store picks". They do a run off of the tasters notes. Usually get some pretty tasty bourbons that would be much more expensive. My local did an Angels Envy and it was amazing.

Happy hunting.

Once a year I do buy myself a bottle of High West Midwinters Dram. Last years was exceptional and they made a bunch of it so it isn't overpriced.

Yeah, a lot of bottles seem way out of line cost wise. I am lucky to have a couple good spots nearby that seem honest and reasonable.

One place I stopped yesterday didn't have any Buffalo Trace when I asked but the clerk offered me the last bottle of Eagle Rare they had. It was $45.00 and I got a bottle of Blanton's for $63.50.

Mostly, I just want to have a few things on hand for when my drinking friends and relatives visit. I am not really a drinker but I do have an appreciation for good spirits when the occasion arises. I think I might have 3-5 drinks in a year.

$45 for Eagle Rare is a steal...at least around here. All BT products are hard to find here and when you do, the price has been inflated. If you can find ER here, you're likely going to pay upwards of $70 for it.

I was excited to find it, especially for that price. The store it came from doesn't seem to be a hot spot for the good stuff. More like somewhere people stop on their way home from work to get a couple 40s of malt liquor and a pack of cigarettes. Dust on everything, most food products likely past their expiration date, cleanliness not a priority.....

The clerk hooked me up with a couple bottles for really good deals though! I'll stop in there from time to time to see what they have.

mca47 · September 5

dudeman said:

Anyone have any thoughts on Sazerac Rye?

Mixer at best. Not offensive, just boring.
If you want to try some ryes that are readily available and not too expensive, here are some to look out for:
Sagamore (they make a lot of good ones, but their Double Oak is one of my favorites)
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel proof
Peerless Double Oak
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye
Barrell Seagrass
Pikesville
Willett (anything older than the 4 year can be pricey)

dudeman · September 5

mca47 said:

dudeman said:

Anyone have any thoughts on Sazerac Rye?

Mixer at best. Not offensive, just boring.
If you want to try some ryes that are readily available and not too expensive, here are some to look out for:
Sagamore (they make a lot of good ones, but their Double Oak is one of my favorites)
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel proof
Peerless Double Oak
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye
Barrell Seagrass
Pikesville
Willett (anything older than the 4 year can be pricey)

Great! Thank you. Still a beginner and the only rye I've had so far is Heaven's Door Refuge. I like it quite a lot but have nothing to compare it with.

Both Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond and Sazerac were lower-cost recommendations from a more experienced friend. I'll be on the lookout for the ones you mentioned too.

tempo_n_groove · 1:27AM

dudeman said:

Anyone have any thoughts on Sazerac Rye?

The antique collection is good.

dudeman · 6:34AM

tempo_n_groove said:

dudeman said:

Anyone have any thoughts on Sazerac Rye?

The antique collection is good.

Haven't found that one but I tried the regular "Baby Saz" tonight. Had it neat and thought it was just OK. Still quite inexperienced but I 100% preferred the Heaven's Door rye over this one. I could definitely see it being good in a mixed drink but I don't know if I will drink any more of it neat, at least not until I get a good feel of what ryes should be like.

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