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Nice post. I too, am a Lou’s fan. I’ve been regularly traveling 4-6 times per year to Chicago for the past 36 years. I can count on one hand where at least one meal during a trip wasn’t at Lou’s. Mostly Elk Gove Village location, but some Schaumburg. Love it. Wish we had one here, in Atlanta. Regardless, lots of good pizza joints in Chicago, like Giordano’s. Interestingly, we have a Nancy’s here, though I haven’t been to it or those in Chicago. For Hot Dogs, I enjoy Portillo’s when I’m on my own in Chicago, and just want to zip in and zip out. When I’m with my boss, we typically hit one of the local joints. Teddy’s Red Hots in Darien is a favorite. So much great food in Chicago.

I certainly have noticed better availability of certain bourbons in my area that had been missing from shelves for extended periods. Great to see. I almost get giddy when I see BT, ER, and others almost every week somewhere in my monger circuit, which previously had been obtainable for so long.

I visited a Wegman's yesterday with the intention of picking up an Old Forester Stateman, but left instead with a Johnny Walker Swing. Nice to know that superb blend is still around. In addition to the nifty swingin' bottle, it's got that easy-sipping sweet thing going with just a hint of smoke that makes it, IMO, the poor man's Johnny Walker Blue. Next time for the Statesman.

I have the Still Austin Cask Strength store pick from Total Wine, it was so so. Could be the variety. Uncle Nearest was recommended to me, maybe I try a sample first which won't be hard to find locally. Thank you for the feedback

Can't really say I'm a fan of Garrison Brothers,. The last bottle I had was very slow going. I even had trouble blending it to my taste. The Still Austin/Uncle Nearest blend is mainly about salvaging the Uncle Nearest, which reeks of youthful Dickel and needs some of the rye heft of the SA.

Sipping on McKenna Bottled in Bond as I type this. My variety is very good

Those BT products are, as always it seems, unobtainium in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Saz Rye is about the only BT product I see in any quantity around here. And the bottom line is I do not care. BT has used up its good will in this consumer's eyes, and there are better alternatives from Wild Turkey, Old Forester and, especially these days, Barton. Barton juice has improved so doggone much.

I prefer Garrison Brothers over Still Austin. That aside, the infinity mixture is intriguing

Screwing around with a blend of Still Austin cask strength and Uncle Nearest 1856. Still need to get the proportions right, but this combination has promise.

This was a good one, but my favorite MM is still the 101...

You're welcome and you almost can't go wrong with Sagamore.

Damn Joe Where did the cigar smokers go?

On a hot day in South Texas, a St.Arnold's Lawnmower hits the spot!

My wife bought me a bartesian cocktail machine last Christmas. It makes pretty good cocktails from a pod. That said, each month they offer different drinks. June is a watermelon margarita. Not for me, but my wife will love them.

Years ago, my dad would drink Glenfidich, I could never get beyond the peated taste, still can't. Are all Scotch Whiskey's peated?

I bought Sagamore Double Oak and Peerless Double Oaked Rye over the weekend. I don't ordinarily like ryes but the sagamore was very good. The peerless was exceptional too. My go to bourbon if I could only have one would be Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Thank you for the suggestions.

Then you will probably love the Cigar Blend. If you like sweeter whiskey, I can highly recommend Sagamore double-oaked rye and Woodford Reserve double-oaked too. They're not my cup of tea, because I find heavily oaked whiskey a little cloying and sweet, but my sons, and friends friends love it.

thank you for the great feedback. I tend to like the sweeter bourbons, and finished offerings. This may be worth finding. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts

I have 1/2 a bottle of the CB that was gifted to me. According to the label it's "Batch 391" and weighs in ~ 110proof. I'm not a big fan of finished whiskey, and it's a tad on the sweet side for my liking but, when paired with a cigar, it really sings. I guess that's the point of the blend. I do appreciate that the barrels that it was finished in don't overwhelm the base whiskey. @Anwalt gave an apt description.

I enjoyed the Barrel Strength, even more so at much less than the secondary market pricing which can be crazy

I picked up a Barrel Strength a couple months ago. I found it to be delicious. Considerably better than the 2 or 3 other btls I had. Enjoy!

Yes, I whole heartedly agree with your comments. Great post indeed. Anytime we can talk about food and in particular Chicago staples, I am always excited for the dialog given much of my life was spent there. I also agree with your sentiments about telling someone they did wrong by selecting one pizza place over another. Both are largely considered institutions in Chicago, and therefore why not give them both a try. You'll never find complete alignment on one over the other. For what it is worth, they are both very different. In the same way, I would never tell someone not to put ketchup on their Chicago style hot dog. Rather I share with them what most Chicagoan's define as a true Chicago Style experience. At the end of the day, you are paying, you should enjoy it the way you like it

Come to Boston! I have 7 or 8 Cigar Blends - all recommended by Nancy Foley herself. That will be some tasting . . . . . .

I found it for $99. Not terrible. Bought it with the Barrel Strength variety as well. Not easy to find these so I was happy to add them