Going Hunting

[fishnbowljoe]

I'm new to SB. Since going to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival last September, I've started to collect and try different bourbons. My stash isn't great by any means but it's a start. I've gleaned through a few threads/posts. One thing I picked up on, is to go out and check my local liquor stores. I hit a couple on the way home from work Thursday and Friday. Today I'm going to check out a couple more stores. One, I haven't been too, and one that's 20 miles away and I know has some very good bourbons. I contacted them and the owners son goes to Kentucky every year to hand pick their bourbons. He's going to be there till four o'clock today. He said come on up and we'll take a look and talk bourbon. I'm starting to make list of all the bourbons that I find. I hope to compare brands and prices, and come up with a plan to start my bourbon adventure. So in conclusion, wish me good hunting. I will post later on what I find and when I get my lists together. Have a good one! Joe

[spun_cookie]

Have a blast man... half the fun is the huntin' ....

[TBoner]

Good luck, Joe.

I lived in Rockford several years ago, but I wasn't much of a bourbon man at the time. I do wonder what dusty bottles might be lurking on the west side of the river. That side of town is exactly the kind of area - old, once high-income, now-depressed - where dusties lurk. One interesting factor there is that liquor is sold at the grocery store, the pharmacy, etc...meaning dusties could be almost anywhere. In these parts, liquor stores are all packed together in the wet parts of town. Makes hunting easy, and poaching even easier.

Anyway, let us know how the hunting goes.

[ggilbertva]

Joe,

Good luck in your hunting...I have to say, it's addictive. Half the fun is being on the hunt and the other half is finding that rare bottle. Let us know what treasures you find.

[fishnbowljoe]

Didn't find any dusties. But did find 2 good liquor stores. The first one I went to was a fairly new place owned by a husband and wife. They had a decent selection and the store itself was very nice. We talked for a while and I took some notes on what he had. I didn't buy any bourbon there but did buy a bottle of Forty Creek Barrel Select Canadian Whisky. It's supposed to be better than Canadian Club Reserve and Crown Royal Reserve. I had to try it since CC and Crown were my whiskies of choice for many a year. I also scored a mini bottle of Bulleit bourbon. (I'm collecting bourbon minis) The other store I had been to before, so I knew they had a good selection of bourbons. The owners son was there and talked to me quite a while about bourbon. He suggested W. L. Weller 12 year old. He even took me in the back room and let me taste the difference between my normal Maker's Mark and the 7 and 12 year old Weller. He goes to Buffalo Trace every year to pick out their own barrels for bottling. He's very knowledgeable about all their products. He even took me into their basement and showed me some of their private stash. He had a 15 year old bottle of Weller, (labeled as 12 year old) and two bottles of the Buffalo Trace Experimental Whiskey. Man was that impressive. I ended up buying the 12 year old Wellers and a bottle of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel. On the way home. we had to stop at the grocery store. I bought a replacement bottle of Knob Creek and a bottle of 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. I think I'm set for the next two or three months. Talk about a great day. The only problem I have, is that I don't know which of my new bourbons to try tonight. Wellers, Elmer T. Lee or 1792. Any suggestions? Thanks to one and all. Joe

[jinenjo]

Hey Joe,

Beware of the DUSTY hunting bug. It'll attack your gas tank, your wallet, and the empty space in your home!!!

I'll look forward to your posts on some things you might find. The Collectibles section is one of my favorites.

A useful tip would be to try Google or Yahoo maps and search liquor business listings in your area. Better yet, and sadly the case, is to search in neighborhoods that are less than ideal for anybody to live in. The old, family run liquor retailers that used to serve the bourbon drinking public tend to have some gems still on the shelf.

P.s. Try the Elmer or Weller, or both!

Cheers!

[Mattythebeer]

hey Joe, have you yet tried that ridgmemont reserve? i picked up a bottle of it today and am now itching to give it a taste, even though i'd planned to save it for an outing next weekend. never had it before and sort of wondering about my latest pickup...

[fishnbowljoe]

Yeah, I tried it. I like it. It's gone. I haven't bought a replacement yet because I'm trying to empty some of the one's I have open. To me it's not a super duper great bourbon, but it's still a very good one. Hope you like it. I have to be careful. I haven't bought anything in a couple of weeks and I'm starting to get the itch. Joe

[Mattythebeer]

mozilla also just offered a good recomendation for this one, i'm looking forward to sampeling it.

a couple weekends ago my liquer cabinet took a decent hit, a bottle of capt. morgans, my goldschalger, johnny Walker Red, knobs Creek i think something else and a bottle of wine were casualties of a camping trip. i've replaced the KC already, but am also trying to 'be carefull' i'm in 'starving artist' mode right now and this 1792 might be my last treat to myself for a bit. well a few weeks anyhow...

[chilidawg7]

Hey Joe -

Where did you get that Maker's dispenser on the far left side of the first picture? That looks cool!