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Yuck! That is unconscionable! I assume they will drive this business into the ground in short order. ...Then wonder why...

Yesterday I went to my mom's for her mother's day celebration. She wanted tacos and margaritas, so not really whiskey related. But today for my wife's mother's day celebration I'm roasting a duck, making potatoes terrier, and a kale salad. This meal is being cooked while I sip on more then a couple pours of baby saz.

Some Four Roses Small Batch Select on a clear cube after planting some flowers for Mrssmokinjoe on Mother’s Day.

This is a nonissue for me. It will just wash through the markets in a matter of a few months. It’s a little less than a 7% reduction in volume, which on a $25 dollar of whiskey, would equate to an ~$1.70 reduction in pricing if played straight up. If I currently go to 15 nearby package stores, I’ll see that much, or more, variance between pricing on the same item from each store. For me personally, the differential has to be much more pronounced to impact my decision making. And, since there is the 3 tier system in alcoholic beverages, who is to say that the producer would be the sole beneficiary of the “shrinkflation” potential.

I wish I could find the old article where I read about the possible conversion to 700 ml bottles. Another thing that was discussed was that while there wouldn’t be a reduction in price, there could be at least some cost savings to consumers in the future. Less price adjustments for at least a little while. Six of one, half dozen of another.

Deconstructed pizza? Trendy!

A friend of mine ordered pizzas last night from a place he’s been ordering from for years. The owner retired and his kids took over. The pics show how he received his pizzas.

I also enjoy a smoked old fashioned. I am not a fan of scotch, primarily because I do not like the peated flavor.

Mother’s Day brunch with the wife. Pizzas are from a newer place in town. We will be going back!

Yup! Makes perfect sense. When bottling a brand that is marketed in the US as well as abroad, a distiller/NDP, etc. would realize a significant saving over time when using 'universal' materials; bottles, labels, tooling on the bottling line, over-pack (cartons, etc.). I don't blame our Bourbon producers for making this transition. I also, can't imagine that they haven't noted they'll be selling a somewhat smaller quantity; but, will almost certainly NOT adjust the price downward to compensate consumers for this difference. Why? ...When many consumers won't even notice, and those that do won't really have a choice, if their brand isn't available in 750's any longer. ...Other than going for the "family sized" jugs, if their brand offers that option. I'm actually a little bit surprised that this hasn't happened sooner. OTH, with the 'tariff' issue possibly having some impact on export decisions, there may be a reason to delay such a transition for a time. ???Who can say?

Not too much like peated scotch. With the scotch, the smoke taste is more integrated into the whisky. That said, I enjoy a smoked old fashioned -- a lot of it is presentation, but it adds some neat dynamics, particularly to the nose. However, the smoke impact is usually gone before I finish the drink (another difference from peated scotch) even if I trap as much smoke as possible between sips. I'd recommend trying it if you generally like a smoky flavor.

As y‘all know, most domestic bottles are 750 ml, and most export bottles are 700 ml. About the only thing that is consistent between the two bottle sizes is the distillate that goes in them. A change in bottle size means a different label, changes to the bottling line, and different packaging. IIRC, part of the thought going in to a possible change over to 700 ml bottles is savings of time and money. One bottle, one label, one box.

A friend had an 82 proof Dickel 15. He gave me a sample and it was outstanding. Amazing depth and concentration of flavor for only 82 proof.

If they would hang a 50ml 'airplane bottle' from the neck of a 700ml bottle, I would be perfectly happy with that.

“Shrinkflation “ - getting less for more. Not having to have a variable/two bottling lines makes sense. I understand it, I just don’t like it.

I would submit we should prepare to see many of our favorite bourbons, whiskeys move towards a 700ml bottle versus the 750ml bottle. I see this happening more and more these days. Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniels have done so with their higher end or aged offerings. At the same time, if bottles find their way to the European market, they have to be no more than 700ml. Now if the price comes down with it, so be it, but I don't expect to see this. This trend happens with other things too. Potato Chips, and Cereal brands have been doing this for years. Reducing the size of the offering but keeping the price the same. Just a sign of the times I suppose.

First let me say how I excited I was for this bourbon. If I could only chose one bourbon for my collection, it would be the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. What would be better than a Double Oaked? Well conventional wisdom would say a Double Double Oaked. In reality, this was not what I concluded. $200 later, it is not a bad bourbon. That said, in a blind tasting, I picked the standard Double Oaked over the Double Double. For the price, I could have bought 4 bottles of double oaked, or 3 bottles of a store pick double oaked. So in this instance, the fear of missing out, coupled with the marketing overcame me. It happens, I'll give myself some grace. I won't be replacing this one when it's a dead soldier. I share this for any who are contemplating this one. Even seeing it now being discounted to $150, it's still too much for what it is, at least if you ask me.

I would submit this is the way to go. If you're a fan of the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, the store picks won't dissappoint

I went to my local Total Wine to pick up a bottle of Old Forrester Single Barrel - Barrel Strength Rye and rather than just go in and pick up my bottle (Mistake or best decision of the day?) I went and looked around. In the case I noted a lone bottle of the Woodford Reserve Master's Collection - 119.5 there. Having really enjoyed a prior year's variety of the 121.2 proof, coupled with it being discounted (yes discounted from $150+) to $130, I grabbed it. My only complaint on this bourbon is the same complaint I had with these higher end offerings, they have moved to a 700ml bottle now. This is a trend we will see more of, I am all but certain of it. As with any bourbon, the profiles vary from year to year and this one is no different. I really loved the nose and the palate was quite good. It is much sweeter, closer to the double oaked. At $130, I feel it was a good buy. Of course one could also get 2 bottles of lower proof double oaked at that price.

I had been looking for the Double Barrel for some time now since it was released, having come up empty until yesterday when much to my surprise it was sitting up on the shelf at a local Total Wine. At $50-$55 it is about half what I am used to paying for Barrell varieties. Let me say this is an excellent bourbon at any age, let alone at 5 years of age. It's just another win for Barrell. Love what they are doing.

Last weekend I noted a lone bottle of the Old Forester Single Barrel Rye - Barrel Proof sitting on the shelf at a local Total Wine. I grabbed a back up bottle of EH Taylor Small Batch instead, went back for the rye and it was gone. I confess I was overcome by the fear of missing out and spent the next few days looking for it. Another Total Wine had these in inventory, but didn't have them out on the shelves (oh the games even the big chain liquor stores play sometimes...) In any event, I brought home my 129.3 proof rye, knowing I am not really a rye (unless it is in an old fashioned), but I am challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone for wheated bourbons. Finally after a nice mother's day dinner, I tried a pour neat (no way I was mixing this in an old fashioned). Simply, I really enjoyed this whiskey. It was not too hot, was loaded with flavor. Spicy as one would expect but also didn't drink like a 130 proof pour.

OGD 114. Never a bad choice!

While I hope you're wrong about this, Kepler, it's likely that you aren't. Even with the current level of 'over-supply' that apparently exists in well-aged stocks of Bourbon around the nation, the 8-year age statement means "at least 8-years", while the un-age-stated version doesn't have to be nearly that old. Logic suggests that the 'regular stuph' will be less-aged than it has been. That doesn't automatically mean 'less quality', or even that it will be 'different' than it has been; but, over time I have to imagine it will slip into a less dynamic profile. WT101 has always (to my taste buddies, anyway) been a brand that had in-your-face Bourbon character that many other brands in the same price range did not. I have already been reading (here and elsewhere) of some slight-to-moderate dissatisfaction with WT101 over the last couple years or so. I can't speak to that, since I haven't needed to buy any since about 2022, having stocked up at good prices then. That indicates to me some variability that I believe did not exist in this brand before this time. So, the bottlers at WT seem to have some leeway in keeping to the profile. Time will tell, as usual.