***Official Bourbon Thread***

[Joruus]

I went to a local bourbon bar on Saturday and squealed like a little girl when I saw Pappy Van Winkle 20 year on the menu. $30 for a 3 finger glass. I spent 15 minutes trying to figure out how I could justify buying a glass to my wife when I just said "fuck it" and asked the waitress for it. Sadly they didn't have any.

[Moose Thompson]

Bourbon hunting has really gotten out of hand. Stores pulling bottles that used to be easy shelf buys. Blanton's and Buffalo Trace may as well be gold in my area. Never mind any Weller products, ABC has exclusive distribution and every store "just hasn't gotten any in"

Originally Posted by jcc522

My birthday is Thursday, a perfect excuse to go out and try to find some great bourbons to drink. My fiancee, bless her heart, told me she was going to try to get me a bottle of "that Pappy bourbon you were looking for" at New Year's(23yr). I let her google for about 2 minutes before her mind was blown at the scarcity and ~$1500 price tag.

How many bottles of 23 year would you buy today if someone offered them around $1500 per? haha
Insane how much things have gone up as hype has skyrocketed.

[AlexK79]

Buffalo Trace? Really? Wow.

I ran across some Weller (the original green label) near me not long ago and had to snag a bottle. It was like $30 which is a bit pricey as I think it's like an $18 bottle in Kentucky, but it pops up here (Chicago area) so rarely I couldn't resist. My wife brought me back a bottle of the Special Reserve when she went on a work trip to KY a few years back and god that stuff was great.

[mposey34]

BT is still readily available here but you can forget the Weller 12 or Weller Antique. Still lot of good ones out there though.

I did laugh at the guy at my local store when I asked how much they wanted for the bottle of Eagle Rare they had on the shelf and he said $55

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by mposey34

BT is still readily available here but you can forget the Weller 12 or Weller Antique. Still lot of good ones out there though.

I did laugh at the guy at my local store when I asked how much they wanted for the bottle of Eagle Rare they had on the shelf and he said $55

$55 for Eagle Rare? Christ.

It's so odd how things are super rare in certain markets and not in others.

Buffalo Trace may as well be Jack Daniels around here. (As far as availability, not quality.)

I usually have no trouble finding Blanton's either. I *love* Blanton's but I do find it to be a little overrated, just in the sense that it's typucally like a $55-$60 bottle and I've had plenty of bourbons in the $40-$45 range that are just as good.

[mposey34]

Originally Posted by AlexK79

$55 for Eagle Rare? Christ.

It's so odd how things are super rare in certain markets and not in others.

Buffalo Trace may as well be Jack Daniels around here. (As far as availability, not quality.)

I usually have no trouble finding Blanton's either. I *love* Blanton's but I do find it to be a little overrated, just in the sense that it's typucally like a $55-$60 bottle and I've had plenty of bourbons in the $40-$45 range that are just as good.

I kinda felt bad at laughing at the guy after the fact, but the store is known for jacking up prices and auctioning off rare bottles.

I feel the same way about Blanton's. I can find Four Roses single barrel easier that I can find Blanton's, it's cheaper than Blanton's, and I like it more than Blanton's

[Moose Thompson]

BT has gotten better here over the last 6 months, but today at ABC they had their store pick held behind the counter. Also, the manager had no idea what a store pick is. Which is fine, but why then are you holding it back making people ask about it?

$55 for Eagle Rare is outrageous. I really like it, but because it's a $20 bottle.

A small store got a Blanton's store pick in yesterday. 44 cases total. Held some back, but sold through 30-35 cases in about 4 hours. It's absolutely crazy to me. I picked up a bottle of the Maker's Mark Private Select and it's actually really tasty.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by mposey34

I kinda felt bad at laughing at the guy after the fact, but the store is known for jacking up prices and auctioning off rare bottles.

I feel the same way about Blanton's. I can find Four Roses single barrel easier that I can find Blanton's, it's cheaper than Blanton's, and I like it more than Blanton's

Four Roses Single Barrel was actually one of the ones that immediately sprang to mind. Fantastic and a great value around $44 or so. Angel's Envy as well, so good.

I snagged a bottle of Metallica's Blackened whiskey last weekend, eager to try it out. It was on sale for $41 and they were doing a one day extra 15% off so it was only around $34.

[mposey34]

I wasn't a big fan of Angel's Envy.

I have been enjoying some of the higher proof Old Foresters lately

[jmc419]

Clyde Mays Alabama Style Yellow Label has been my go lately.

[Spell On Me]

Just starting to get into bourbon over the holidays. I'm trying to get a baseline to work from so I started with Jim Beam. I usually drink it on the rocks, or if I'm in the mood a splash of ginger ale. Would you all agree that this is a good place to start?

On a separate note, I've been drinking Wild Turkey American Honey since they started making it. One of my favorite all time drinks. Seems pretty divisive though, people either love it or hate it.

[mposey34]

Originally Posted by Spell On Me

Just starting to get into bourbon over the holidays. I'm trying to get a baseline to work from so I started with Jim Beam. I usually drink it on the rocks, or if I'm in the mood a splash of ginger ale. Would you all agree that this is a good place to start?

On a separate note, I've been drinking Wild Turkey American Honey since they started making it. One of my favorite all time drinks. Seems pretty divisive though, people either love it or hate it.

I never liked Jim Beam and I love bourbon.

[Spell On Me]

I really have no basis for comparison. I just figured it was a good place to start. I'm sure there are much better bourbons out there, I just figured I'd start there and work my way up so I know the difference between average, good and really good.

[mposey34]

Originally Posted by Spell On Me

I really have no basis for comparison. I just figured it was a good place to start. I'm sure there are much better bourbons out there, I just figured I'd start there and work my way up so I know the difference between average, good and really good.

no doubt you have to start somewhere.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by Spell On Me

I really have no basis for comparison. I just figured it was a good place to start. I'm sure there are much better bourbons out there, I just figured I'd start there and work my way up so I know the difference between average, good and really good.

I think Jim Beam is a good place to start only in that the first time you try something decent, you're going to really notice how much better good bourbon is. :-)

I highly recommend Basil Hayden's as a good "entry level" quality bourbon. It's incredibly smooth and mild, a perfect one to start with sipping neat or on the rocks without any mixers.

Four Roses Small Batch and Elijah Craig as well.

[jmc419]

Originally Posted by Spell On Me

I really have no basis for comparison. I just figured it was a good place to start. I'm sure there are much better bourbons out there, I just figured I'd start there and work my way up so I know the difference between average, good and really good.

I'd recommend Makers Mark next. It's a little sweeter like Jim.

Maybe Bulleit brown label after that, less sweet and lower cost but still damn good.

Keep some bitters in the cabinet and shake a few drips in if you pickup a variety you don't like as much. (https://www.amazon.com/Angostura-Aro...gateway&sr=8-5)

I find that changing the temperature or adding a little water to the bourbon can heavily change the way my taste buds react. Get some of these too - https://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Silico...s%2C183&sr=8-5

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by jmc419

I'd recommend Makers Mark next. It's a little sweeter like Jim.

Maybe Bulleit brown label after that, less sweet and lower cost but still damn good.

Keep some bitters in the cabinet and shake a few drips in if you pickup a variety you don't like as much. (https://www.amazon.com/Angostura-Aro...gateway&sr=8-5)

I find that changing the temperature or adding a little water to the bourbon can heavily change the way my taste buds react. Get some of these too - https://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Silico...s%2C183&sr=8-5

Literally just a few drops of water can make a huge difference and let a bourbon really open up.

Bulleit is just so solid. It's my go-to at a bar if their whiskey selection isn't robust, as long I see Bulleit I know I'm OK.

[zajDmB1]

Originally Posted by jmc419

I'd recommend Makers Mark next. It's a little sweeter like Jim.

Maybe Bulleit brown label after that, less sweet and lower cost but still damn good.

Keep some bitters in the cabinet and shake a few drips in if you pickup a variety you don't like as much. (https://www.amazon.com/Angostura-Aro...gateway&sr=8-5)

I find that changing the temperature or adding a little water to the bourbon can heavily change the way my taste buds react. Get some of these too - https://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Silico...s%2C183&sr=8-5

I'm infinitely more of a scotch guy than bourbon, but/so I second Bulleit for a beginner.

[Spell On Me]

Thanks guys. I'm looking forward to the bourbon journey.

[Tiduwho]

How pointless are whiskey stones, honestly. Sounds like a good idea at first, and then you realize how stupid they are.

[Tiduwho]

As a large group we went to 45th parallel distillery by the WI - MN border for a tasting, and bought a barrel. Custom labels and damn is that good bourbon.

[Arby]

Originally Posted by Tiduwho

How pointless are whiskey stones, honestly. Sounds like a good idea at first, and then you realize how stupid they are.

What’s wrong with them? Sometimes I like a little chill to my drink without it being watered down

[laverwater]

Great thread. From what I heard (from my local store in Memphis), there was a Buffalo Trace shortage due to both Pappy's and Blanton's getting so much attention, and Sazerac/Buffalo Trace dumping a lot of their resources into Fireball. Buffalo Trace was also a steal at $20-22. At $30 or whatever it is now, not so much.

I can't imagine how hard it is to forecast demand when you're talking about a 4-8+ year lead time in making/aging these.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by Tiduwho

How pointless are whiskey stones, honestly. Sounds like a good idea at first, and then you realize how stupid they are.

I mean, they're good if you're drinking a whiskey that you enjoy a bit chilled but don't want to water it down. All depends on your taste and what you're drinking, IMO.

[mposey34]

found a bottle of Stagg Jr. yesterday and couldn't pass it up after doing so with the Stagg back in the fall.