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Yeah...we've been to a ton of distilleries and done a few "elevated" experiences so on our next visit, we'll pick and choose carefully to avoid that kind of stuff. We're taking a short trip to Nashville this December and we're checking JD distillery off the bucket list...

Thankfully I too visited the majors many years prior to the recent craze that results in lines and overflowing parking lots. Quality distillery experiences are available but you need to look a layer or 2 deeper. many of the upstarts have now been around long enough to learn their craft and become good at it. Chattanooga, Old Dominick and Liepers Fork in TN, all cool experiences with quality whiskey to match. In KY, I've never had an issue at Wilderness Trace and I've been going there since their stuff turned just 4 yrs old, no hoards of people, just a good old fashioned distillery experience like it used to be. New Riff, again a very nice experience with loads of distillery exclusives and no lines. Many of these spots are more affordable than what the big legacy places charge as well. Copper & Kings in Louisville if you want to explore brandy ( and they did a killer bourbon sourced from HH&Barton as well). Starlight, 20 min from Louisville was another pleasant stop, its been a couple of years but I've no reason to expect much has changed. There are good experiences to be had and Its been fun to seek them out.

Am I not able to load the article? I just see a string of photos with a caption/blurb for each.

The proliferation of brand specific "whiskey clubs" , I just got another email today for yet another new one. This reads to me as a last gasp desperation drive to squeeze whatever juice is left (i'm guessing not much). Sign up for ( insert ridiculous dollar amount) and get "exclusive" bottles shipped to your door "X" times per year along with distillery exclusive "events" and your very own secret little orphan Annie decoder ring. I like most here enjoy several brands/distilleries and will not tie myself to only one, or more if your really thirsty and have THAT MUCH disposable income as each offer several bottles/year, way more that I consume or would want to. I realize the number of subscriptions could in no way float a distillery that was on the ropes, but these "enthusiast programs" just seem to me to be a way to keep as many dollars as possible from a given consumer under a particular distilleries umbrella. Now I have a bunker and I LOVE to visit and shop and taste distillery exclusives, but I do it once a year at the distilleries, sometimes I find a gem, many times its a taste and done, thanks but no. One or 2 of these offers is one thing but its becoming a regular thing and the bottles I see listed, while they may be of limited quantity, I just don't care for, often they sound like experiments a given distillery is looking to offload, I certainly wouldn't want them showing up as full 750s when I don't know for certain that I'll enjoy them. If a given bottling is not there when I'm on site in April or available via a LBS or e-commerce site, then I don't need it, hell in most cases these days if I can't taste it and decide if its worthy pre-purchase then I don't need it. The distillery "events" sound cool but again how many folks are close enough for that to be an actual perk? I'm now starting to get follow up emails with "revised" pricing tiers, maybe whatever board member/marketer cooked up this idea missed the mark? I guess I am just old enough and Zen enough that these advances smell off to me, especially given the timing but then again I guess they are popping up BECAUSE of the timing. Growing inventories and other concerns leading to "opportunities" for the lucky few who jump at the chance to sign up, FOMO anyone? In the end It just feels symptomatic of the end of what we know has been an unsustainable run up of pricing, decreased availability and the loss of some treasured labels/expressions and age statements. The pendulum is a swingin back from a long journey and these subscription clubs seem to re-enforce that for this enthusiast.

I know, right? We didn't see any of that silliness in 2017 or 2019, except for a few old-timers waiting around at the HH Visitor center in 2019. No offense intended to the fellow SB'ers that sit in lines but that kind of thing puts a damper on the distillery experience. Imagine pulling up to the distillery for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, only to pull into full lots and crowds. I have no doubt a lot of those in line are just going to flip bottles anyway. I'm glad that we visited when we did. I'll never go back....

We used to have Medley Bros., but I haven't seen it in years. Have you ever noticed the name "Medley" is also on the Mellow Corn label.

Seriously, what do those people really get for all their trouble. Don't they know there are places called liquor stores, and some grocery stores that also sell booze.

Chattanooga and I very much enjoy what I have from Leiper's Fork and Old Dominick (both TN distilleries that make bourbon in addition to TN whiskey) On the rye side of life, I like Old Potrero from the bay areas of SF and Woodinville from the northwest but they are pricey (SBCS rye). The Leopold 3 chamber rye was quite good and I am VERY much looking forward to more 3 chamber rye as the next few years unfold (check out Iron City Distilling). Starlight has gone a bit quite since all the fanfare a few years back but I've had several very solid releases from them as well. So many distilleries these days its become near impossible to track/try them all, but its good fun trying!!

Out and about today. I just had to take a pic.

Man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. JTSB was plentiful last time I was in Eugene years ago. The bottom shelfer "Medley Bros" is another great HH contract-distilled value bottling.

These days there is bourbon from all over the US, and I am wondering what bourbon people find to be the best from outside of Kentucky. Which are your favorites? 2 of mine: Widow Jane (partly Kentucky Corn I believe) Garrison Brothers Balmorhea

Like the ammo when I pour for self... When serving to snobs that don't deserve your top pours i.e. Romeo & Boo Li Et...

I can tell you what Thursday tasting shall be: Michters 20, Bomberger Precision Fine Grain, and Shenks & Bomberger 2025. The Michters rep for Puerto Rico invited me and a few others for a nice time. Sounds like good clean fun.

I keep coming back to this one. With a no-to-little bourbon month approaching, I've hit some of the staples.

Traveler fans???

For WSR?

Boo-lay.

I'm a big fan of JTS Brown.

An article about the lines at BT for the daily output of visitor center bottles. When I visited the bourbon trail about 12 years ago, there were none of these lines. https://www.courier-journal.com/picture-gallery/life/food/spirits/bourbon/2025/07/15/people-wait-in-line-at-buffalo-trace-distillery-in-kentucky/84523639007/

JTS Brown is sold in Oregon? Not fair. Sipping on a pour now and really liking it. Had to participate in a multi-state smuggling operation (well, trade) to get a couple of bottles.

Roast peanuts and baseball go together like soup and sandwich. Dating myself...

Yes it's super solid for sure. I loaded up big time back in 2018 when I heard they were going away and not coming back. I found the receipt in this box and it's hard to comprehend that I only paid $16.89 for this bottle!

I'm down to the last one of those, haven't opened it. So sad they keep making some others like Double Oak and Devil's Cut, yet this one and Bonded went by the wayside...so much better.

Another one for the recycle bin. I'm going to miss this one....

I wanted to have a pour or two while watching the All Star game. Plus it's already past time to open a new bottle for the heart of baseball season anyway. My usual "baseball pour" is Old Tub BiB (I like the peanut note when I'm watching baseball). I thought I'd change things up a little this year. Play ball!