Bourbon guys (5 Viewers)

[[icon]]

Thanks.  I could have bought the 10 year from him but I didn't think it was that great of a deal.. except that #### is impossible to find around here.  That being said, I don't NEED it.. So, I should buy $400 of other awesome bourbons instead.

If you gave me $400 and you really liked that flavor profile (Buffalo Trace Wheated mashbill), I would suggest purchasing a 1.75L of Weller 12yr and a 1.75L of a good Old Weller Antique 107pf Private Barrel selection. Both could be had for less than $400 on secondary (or less than $100 retail), would provide 5x the volume of whiskey (3.5L) and would give you a good foray into both flavor profiles... 

Weller 12yr: Essentially the same exact thing as Lot B... certain barrels are cherry picked for Lot B. The rest become Weller 12. Weller has become hard as hell to find, but it regularly available on the secondary market for $90 750ml / $170 1.75L ($35 750ml / $50 1.75L retail if you can find it). 

Old Weller Antique 107pf. The same base "juice" bottled at the same nice 107 proof as the 10yr Old Rip Van Winkle product, just generally bottled at about 6-7 years old instead of 10yrs. Store picks are cherry picked barrels selected for having the best flavor profile, and they trend a bit older (7-8yrs typically).  These store picks are increasing in popularity, but generally can be found on secondary for $50-60 750ml / $120-140 1.75L. ($25 750ml / $50 1.75L retail if your local stores stock them). 

 

 

[ditka...mike ditka]

@icon - just went down to grab a package thinking it was something I ordered for my fiancé for valentines but it was even better, my Weller 12 year sample!  Thank you so much, I look forward to trying it either this weekend or next.  Ill post updates!

 

[DocHolliday]

Tried Angel's Envy yesterday.  Really good and smooth with a sweet, bold taste.  Not sure of the price so I cannot compare it with Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, or Four Roses value wise.  Definitely will buy in the future just to put in the bourbon rotation.  

Even though my drink is bourbon, my friend had me try Michter's small batch whiskey.  He said that it tasted similar to bourbon and he was correct.  I was impressed and will add this to my purchase list.  Not sure of the price so it is tough to compare it value wise to my other favorite "bourbons". 

This taste testing was going on at a busy SB party so I was not able to truly compare these drinks to anything else.  Anyone else have experience with these?

 

[MarvinTScamper]

Recently order two fully automated 30gallon copper stills.  One pot still, one with a 10 window vodka/gin column.  I'm going to be making my own booze.

Vodka/Gin/Brandy/Bourbon/Whisky - obviously the brown liquor needs time in barrels so it won't be ready for 2+ years.  The equipment/liscensing/legaleze all cost about 50k, and that's before I'll ever add a drop of water to the still.

Wish me luck.

 

[Ilov80s]

Recently order two fully automated 30gallon copper stills.  One pot still, one with a 10 window vodka/gin column.  I'm going to be making my own booze.

Vodka/Gin/Brandy/Bourbon/Whisky - obviously the brown liquor needs time in barrels so it won't be ready for 2+ years.  The equipment/liscensing/legaleze all cost about 50k, and that's before I'll ever add a drop of water to the still.

Wish me luck.

Good luck, that's a major endeavor. Looking to turn this into a full time career? 

 

[MarvinTScamper]

Good luck, that's a major endeavor. Looking to turn this into a full time career? 

I'd say I'm in to try and make it a stand alone success over time.  Maybe a family business.  I won't be walking from my career, but I hope to retire in the next 10.  I can this at that point, hopefully. 

 

[[icon]]

Recently order two fully automated 30gallon copper stills.  One pot still, one with a 10 window vodka/gin column.  I'm going to be making my own booze.

Vodka/Gin/Brandy/Bourbon/Whisky - obviously the brown liquor needs time in barrels so it won't be ready for 2+ years.  The equipment/liscensing/legaleze all cost about 50k, and that's before I'll ever add a drop of water to the still.

Wish me luck.

Very cool. Didn't realize there was that level of up front investment. Please keep updating with posts/pics. 

 

[Poke_4_Life]

I'd say I'm in to try and make it a stand alone success over time.  Maybe a family business.  I won't be walking from my career, but I hope to retire in the next 10.  I can this at that point, hopefully. 

Are you adopting?

 

[MarvinTScamper]

Very cool. Didn't realize there was that level of up front investment. Please keep updating with posts/pics. 

and the 50k is my HALF...well 51% anyway.

 

[berndog]

I won a bottle of Woodruff Reserve Double Oak.  Hard to beat free bourbon and this is a tasty, smooth pour. 

 

[kutta]

I won a bottle of Woodruff Reserve Double Oak.  Hard to beat free bourbon and this is a tasty, smooth pour. 

I really like that stuff. Super smooth.

 

[kutta]

Tried Angel's Envy yesterday.  Really good and smooth with a sweet, bold taste.  Not sure of the price so I cannot compare it with Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, or Four Roses value wise.  Definitely will buy in the future just to put in the bourbon rotation.  

Even though my drink is bourbon, my friend had me try Michter's small batch whiskey.  He said that it tasted similar to bourbon and he was correct.  I was impressed and will add this to my purchase list.  Not sure of the price so it is tough to compare it value wise to my other favorite "bourbons". 

This taste testing was going on at a busy SB party so I was not able to truly compare these drinks to anything else.  Anyone else have experience with these?

I think the Angel's Envy Rye is way better than the bourbon. I think it's almost twice the price, but man, it's great.

 

[Ilov80s]

I have determined that a Brown Derby is best made with 4 Roses. 

 

[MarvinTScamper]

Very cool. Didn't realize there was that level of up front investment. Please keep updating with posts/pics. 

I was at a Duluth, MN distillery called Vikre.   They had 6 1000 gallon mash tuns, 2 stills, one copper pot still for whiskey/rye, one stainless copper columned for clear.   It's at least $1M worth of equipment.  They've only been around 3 years.

I will be spending a LOT more, if I pull this off.

G

 

[VA703]

I cant find eagle rare or buffalo trace anymore. sucks.. so now I need a new go-to

last couple weeks I have been going with angels envy, bulleit and knob creek. looking for something in the ER & BT price range that's comparable

 

[Poke_4_Life]

I cant find eagle rare or buffalo trace anymore. sucks.. so now I need a new go-to

last couple weeks I have been going with angels envy, bulleit and knob creek. looking for something in the ER & BT price range that's comparable

I usually have trouble finding this but lately been finding ER and BT regularly.  Also have a Blanton's in my stock now also.  No chance finding any of the really expensive stuff here in Oklahoma.  Just doesn't seem to happen.  My liquor store is getting to know me a little though , maybe they will set something back for me.

 

[VA703]

local abc got their shipment in yesterday. 22 bottles sold in a day I picked up the last 2 today 

 

[Buzzbait]

I cant find eagle rare or buffalo trace anymore. sucks.. so now I need a new go-to

last couple weeks I have been going with angels envy, bulleit and knob creek. looking for something in the ER & BT price range that's comparable

Tell me about it. First it was Elmer T Lee and now ER has fallen to the same demise. They still have labeled shelf space for both but I haven't seen a bottle of either for a LONG time.  

 

[Buzzbait]

As a valentines day present my wife bought tix to a bourbon tasting at the end of the month. Should be fun! 

Bourbon Trail tasting

 

[Megla]

As a valentines day present my wife bought tix to a bourbon tasting at the end of the month. Should be fun! 

Bourbon Trail tasting

Sweet

Sometimes your SO really does know you, when I got home yesterday my wife got me a 175 of ER for Valentines Day, so many brownie points its not even funny 

 

[[icon]]

As a valentines day present my wife bought tix to a bourbon tasting at the end of the month. Should be fun! 

Bourbon Trail tasting

That's a cool ### gift 

So is the 1.75 of ER for @Megla. Anyone paying attention know that's his Jam.

 

[[icon]]

local abc got their shipment in yesterday. 22 bottles sold in a day I picked up the last 2 today 

Of WHAT?! :(

Eagle Rare is EVERYWHERE around here... I could buy 25 bottles after work at $30/pop if I wanted. hell I DID buy one on my lunch break for a friend. That sucks it's getting hard to find some places. 

 

[VA703]

Of WHAT?! :(

Eagle Rare is EVERYWHERE around here... I could buy 25 bottles after work at $30/pop if I wanted. hell I DID buy one on my lunch break for a friend. That sucks it's getting hard to find some places. 

Oh yeah. Buffalo trace

 

[[icon]]

Oh yeah. Buffalo trace

Jesus. Buffalo Trace is flooding the market here, too. Distributors force stores to buy barrels of to in order to get Pappy / Antique Collection... so stores are always sitting on tons of private barrel selection BT. I can't imagine that being hard to find, too :(

 

[VA703]

Jesus. Buffalo Trace is flooding the market here, too. Distributors force stores to buy barrels of to in order to get Pappy / Antique Collection... so stores are always sitting on tons of private barrel selection BT. I can't imagine that being hard to find, too :(

Ive never seen/heard of the private barrel bt 

 

[[icon]]

Ive never seen/heard of the private barrel bt 

Most of Buffalo Trace distillery's products are available as part of a Single Barrel Select program where groups (usually restaurants or liquor stores... but sometimes bourbon clubs) can go in and sample multiple barrels of a product, then pick one barrel and purchase the entire contents with special "single barrel select" label indicating it's a bottle from that barrel.

Here is the label from our first ER barrel pick last spring with the 155th Airlift Squadron based out of Memphis. Sound out the "Latin" for the squadron's unofficial slogan.  We'll be picking another at Buffalo Trace distillery in 4 weeks, on March 13th.

Generally speaking Single Barrel Select picks tend to be "honey barrels" and a little more tasty than the standard product. 

Spoiler for "latin" slogan:

Spoiler

Raggedy A#s Militia

 

[VA703]

Awesome.  Thanks for the spoiler I was stuck on the titty part

 

[DaBeers]

Of WHAT?! :(

Eagle Rare is EVERYWHERE around here... I could buy 25 bottles after work at $30/pop if I wanted. hell I DID buy one on my lunch break for a friend. That sucks it's getting hard to find some places. 

Yeah, me too.  Liquor store, grocery store, Sam's Club ($27 / bottle).   Buffalo Trace too....I am missing something?   

 

[Don Quixote]

local abc got their shipment in yesterday. 22 bottles sold in a day I picked up the last 2 today 

Are you in Virginia?  If so, how do you find out about shipments?

 

[VA703]

Are you in Virginia?  If so, how do you find out about shipments?

I just ask the guy working apparently it's every Tuesday for the ines I've check. imI'm the northern Virginia area

 

[DaBeers]

While I am here:  how do most of you enjoy your bourbon - rocks or straight?    Being a novice to higher quality (over quantity) I tend to drink on the rocks, but trying to build up to straight.   

Recommendations appreciated

 

[VA703]

While I am here:  how do most of you enjoy your bourbon - rocks or straight?    Being a novice to higher quality (over quantity) I tend to drink on the rocks, but trying to build up to straight.   

Recommendations appreciated

Either way works for me. I usually o with a couple cubes and let them melt s bit seems to open the bourbon up.  If I have a cheaper bourbon I'll have a boilermaker with a nice hoppy beer

 

[[icon]]

2017 Bourbon Country trip offically booked.... 

Group of 7 guys (5 military, plus myself and another buddy) will be picking a barrel of ER on Monday March 13th. 3 of us (civilian buddy, pilot buddy, and myself) are heading up Friday to make a long weekend of it. Tentative plans are:

FRI: Depart memphis at 3-4ish and head to Bardstown (arriving around 9 or 10pm). Room booked at General Nelson Inn in the heart of town, short walk from all the bars/dining there. 

SAT: Wake up and be at Willett by open at 9:30am. Check gift shop out for limited WFE releases (will likely by limit of 2 of whatever they have) then touring the distillery. Next drop by Heaven Hill to check for any good limited releases, maybe do the tasting, then head down to Markers Mark for the tour/tasting/gift shop (prob grab some Makers 46 cask strength and dip it there). Stop by Willett one more time on the way back through Bardstown. 

From there head up to Louisville and The Brown Hotel to check in, then likely hit Doc Crows for dinner/whiskey, definitely hitting Haymarket, and basically pub crawling downtown Louisville for the night.

SUN: Wake up and maybe tour Michters or Evan Williams experience, then heading over to Woodford Reserve to tour it, then into Frankfort to meet up with the other 4 guys for a night on the town. Never been to Frankfort before. 

MON: Head over to Buffalo Trace for our 2+ hour hard hat tour, Barrel Pick, then Luncheon onsite. Leaving there we will swing back through bardstown for one last top at Willett before heading back to Memphis and hopefully home by dinner. 

 
 

 

[Christo]

Gotta have the Wilbur Sundae at Doc Crows 

 

[Ron Swanson]

Heading up that way at the end of March.  Is it viable to hit 5-7 a day?  Looking at the following two groupings:

Day 1 Stay in Frankfort or Versailles

[SIZE=11pt]Buffalo Trace[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Wild Turkey[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Woodford Reserve[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Four Roses[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Town Branch/Kentucky Ale[/SIZE]

Day 2 Stay in Bardstown

[SIZE=11pt]Makers[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig and Evan Williams)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Stitzel-Weller (near Louisville)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Barton’s 1792[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Willett[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Jim Beam[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Limestone Branch[/SIZE]

 

[[icon]]

Gotta have the Wilbur Sundae at Doc Crows 

Never had it but the brisket tacos are my go to, there. Killer flavor/value. 

 

[[icon]]

My friends own 

http://ryeonmarket.com and http://www.galaxiebar.com in Louisville.

You should check them out if you get a chance. 

Interesting spots! Only couple blocks down from my must-hit haymarket. I'll pitch it to the guys. ?? Thanks for the heads up 

 

[[icon]]

Heading up that way at the end of March.  Is it viable to hit 5-7 a day?  Looking at the following two groupings:

Day 1 Stay in Frankfort or Versailles

[SIZE=11pt]Buffalo Trace[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Wild Turkey[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Woodford Reserve[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Four Roses[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Town Branch/Kentucky Ale[/SIZE]

Day 2 Stay in Bardstown

[SIZE=11pt]Makers[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig and Evan Williams)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Stitzel-Weller (near Louisville)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Barton’s 1792[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Willett[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Jim Beam[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Limestone Branch[/SIZE]

Are you planning on TOURING all these? Just doing tastings and or hitting gift shops? 

A tour will usually run 45-90 minutes.. and they generally don't just run when you walk up... usually on the hour type affairs. Not to mention a lot are very repetitive. Factoring in driving distance and limited hours of operation (most places have VERY limited hours on Sunday), I think 2-3 tours are viable per day... maybe could hit 4 places (2 tours and two gift shops) but you'd be moving. 

You MUST do buffalo trace hard hat tour. Its 2hrs long and books well in advance. Do it. 

You MUST tour Willett and hit Their gift shop. 

You SHOULD tour Makers, and dip a bottle or two in the gift shop. 

Four Roses is okay... prettyish grounds. Niceish gift shop. Expect to walk away thinking "that was Neat I guess"

Skip the heaven hill tour.. maybe do tasting... should hit gift shop. 

Wild turkey is meh IMO. Nice tasting room. Boring whiskey and tiny sample tasting.

Bartons is massive industrial scale and interesting for that reason. 

Havent toured beam or woodford... hitting woodford this trip. 

Don't underestimate distances on roads. If you need more help planning I'm happy to help 

 

[Ron Swanson]

Awesome.  Thanks icon. That helps to thin the list a lot!  I've got to do Makers.. got a "golden ticket" that my barrel from several years ago is ready.

Is Uber prevalent up there or should I hire one of the tour busses?

 

[Dentist]

mark

 

[[icon]]

Awesome.  Thanks icon. That helps to thin the list a lot!  I've got to do Makers.. got a "golden ticket" that my barrel from several years ago is ready.

Is Uber prevalent up there or should I hire one of the tour busses?

Uber is nonexistent outside Louisville / Frankfort and POSSIBLY within bardstown.... but the distilleries are in the middle of BFE generally so even IF you find an uber to take you there, you won't get one to come take you back. 

The busses are $$$. Like $1000 a day. Ridiculous. 

We drive ourselves. Sounds bad but honestly you don't drink much at tastings... if you hit 3-4 tastings of 1-2oz per tasting over 6-8 hours.... eh. You're sober. If you want to get blasted, be prepared to shell out $$$ for transport. 

Below is what I'd suggest for a 2 day tour. The days are not in order, but I'd say the distilleries are in order of preference. You MAY need to re-order based on tour time availability... you'll want to plan ahead.. ESPECIALLY for BT Hard hat tour. 

Day 1 around Bardstown : Makers (tour/tasting/shop) / Willett (tour/tasting/shop) / Heaven Hill (tasting/shop) / Beam (tour/tasting/shop) and maybe 4 Roses Bottling Cox Creek facility if you have time. Independent Stave makes the barrels and is "nearby". If that interests you, skip 4R Cox Creek and hit Ind. Stave. 

Day 2 around Frankfort :  Buffalo Trace Hard Hat tour (Tour/tasting/shop) / Woodford Reserve (Tour/Tasting/Shop) and maybe Four Roses (Shop only is okay, Tour is okay) if you have time. Wild Turkey tasting if you're moving fast and have time. 

Just my .02... others may differ. 
 

 

[L5UT1ger]

https://whiskeyid.com/jim-beam-distillers-masterpiece-18yr-port-finished-2000/

I recently found an unopened bottle of this. Like an idiot, i threw away the box it came in prior to looking into what it was. I have it sitting on my bar with no idea what to do with it.

 

[Megla]

You know what goes great with a nice fire in the pit and an Ashton VSG in the ash tray, yea it's going to be a nice long 3 day weekend

 

[Slapdash]

Buffalo Trace also impossible to find around Charlotte area (good thing I'm stocked up).  The knock-on impact of bars raising the price of a pour is really annoying though.  SAD!

 

[Ron Swanson]

Huge help [icon].  Thanks a million!

 

[[icon]]

https://whiskeyid.com/jim-beam-distillers-masterpiece-18yr-port-finished-2000/

I recently found an unopened bottle of this. Like an idiot, i threw away the box it came in prior to looking into what it was. I have it sitting on my bar with no idea what to do with it.

If you choose to sell, I'm happy to help you find value. box isnt a big concern. Do not break the seal unless you're sure you want to drink it 

 

[Galileo]

A little novelty item:  "Free" Skull Head Whiskey glasses... still got to pay shipping.  

 

[L5UT1ger]

If you choose to sell, I'm happy to help you find value. box isnt a big concern. Do not break the seal unless you're sure you want to drink it 

It still has the plastic on the top. im undecided what to do. assuming its like 4-500 dollars, thats fun, but not all that mind blowing. Might be cooler to save it and drink it at my daughter's wedding or something. Thank you for offering to help!

 

[Harry Manback]

Just got some Blanton's...wow move over Buffalo Trace, new favorte.

Also picked up some Bookers, haven't tried it yet but yikes. It's like 130 proof, any thoughts on this vs Blanton's?

 

[Megla]

Just got some Blanton's...wow move over Buffalo Trace, new favorte.

Also picked up some Bookers, haven't tried it yet but yikes. It's like 130 proof, any thoughts on this vs Blanton's?

Bookers is a much better sip IMHO, not a fan of Blantons at all