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If you can fit it in, Castle and Key has incredibly beautiful grounds so even if you don't have time for a tour it's worth seeing. An added bonus is that just a short drive down the road is a great restaurant called The Stave that you can hit for lunch. https://kentuckyprojects.wixsite.com/thestaveky/about Woodford Reserve is only 5 minutes away from there.

Even though I'm generally a Turkey and Roses guy these days GTS remains my singular favorite bourbon. I've never had a bad one. I'd give it another chance from a different bottle.

Exactly this. And good to see you around again.

Who isn’t! Liquid beauty.

Yes! And I’m a big Chihuly fan! I’ll try to figure out how to get it in the schedule.

Entrance to gift shop.

I keep seeing how beautiful MM is! It looks like they have a 9:40 tour on Sundays but it would wrap up at 11 then we have a 3 hour drive to the airport. We could make that work. I will just need to extend our rental car for an extra hour. We just have to be at the airport by 3pm.

Is the restaurant at BBC open for dinner? It looked to only be available for lunch. I actually had a reservation there before the blending tour but switched it to Willett after he sent me a TikTok to “add to the list of we ever go”. I can definitely look at adding a tour at Willett. Maybe do that one Friday afternoon and just pop over to Preservation for a tasting if time allows? There are just so many options and I’m trying to keep it a total surprise. So I’m trying to avoid bringing it up very often to him.

A solid stand by for sure

How was the 7 year Old Fitzgerald?

Is it hard to find for you?

I thought the same which is why I am going to sample again.

Agree. Saw EHT SmB and SP of BLANTON'S each over priced and each paired up with something undesirable and expensive yesterday. Easy pass for me.

What I'm gathering from the discussion is, the people that had enjoyed it in the past will decline to purchase at newer (crazy IMHO) prices. The last one I bought was $25. It's an easy drinking 90 proofer, nothing stands out to make it worth the mad money. I don't drink labels.

It makes me wonder if the GTS could've had a bad cork, was stored on its' side, or had been open so long it oxidized. If you're interested in the hard to find stuff - most of it goes to on premise accounts (high end restaurants and bars). Consider how much they must spend on multiple cases of common stuff (well liquor) every month - puts them at the front of the line when the LE bottles come around.

Package deal @ MSRP is not bad, given those should both be pretty good. Package deal is bad when they couple a desirable bottle with something not wanted (overpriced craft nonsense etc.)

Ah. The company (formerly Cadbury Schweppes) was split in 2008, becoming Keurig Dr Pepper in the US. I wonder if that is when the product lineup changed? The brand is owned by Coca Cola in many other parts of the world.

You are a wonderful wife! He is a lucky man. My only comment/suggestion would be to try to fit a visit to Loretto/Makers Mark in. It is an iconic facility and some great choices in the gift shop.

Two of my favorite things. Session IPAs(for safety) and surfing.

One recommendation I can offer is to try the restaurant at Bardstown Bourbon Company for either lunch or dinner (reservations recommended). They serve fine fare, and offer 'flights' of their brands. If you and he are both Bourbon lovers each could order a different flight and share 'em back & forth to taste more different offerings without getting blotto. A caution: allow more time on the roads than you think will be required. As you seem to be aware, being rushed spoils the quality of the whole experience. ...And, the extra allotment of time will give you flexibility about how long or short visits are at the various gift shops. I haven't been to the Bulleit gift shop in a long time; but, my experience there was unimpressive. But, as I said it's been a long while, it may be way better now than it was when they were first open (when I went). Lastly, a tour of the Willett Distillery (quite near B'town, as you probably know), if it can be squeezed, in beyond just lunch at their bar is a nice tour, although their gift shop isn't that special, IMO.

I attended a dinner last night and the restaurant had an awesome group of bourbons. I was able to try William Laurie Weller, George T Stagg and Eagle Rare 17. Just amazing to see them all at the same place and priced as fairly as one can expect in a higher end restaurant. Of the three, the William Larue Weller was my favorite. My least favorite was George T Stagg. I have to believe there was just something wrong with the bottle as it as not good. It had a strong moldy fruit taste to me. To say I was shocked and disappointed, would be an understatement. If I were to make a decision on buying a bottle based on that tasting, I would not do so. I will look for another opportunity to try it again before I come to a conclusion on adding one to my collection. Eagle Rare 17 was also very good. I see one of these in my future.

Well like most young kids, he doesn’t like the smell or taste. I’m sure that will change in time.

AFAIK, the LCC is the 'final answer' here; but, it's everybody above the consumer really. My understanding is that when The State of Michigan 'orders' liquor, they receive a MSRP for each item; allowing retailers, the State, and (of course) themselves healthy profits. Then the LCC decides based upon that number, and market trends, where to set the retail price as a 'base' (retailers are free to charge that price or exceed it - but never sell below it). AFAIK, the LCC always sets it at or usually slightly above the MSRP (If they didn't they would be derelict in the mission to not only 'control'; but, ensure the State treasury a decent return on investment). However, in deference to retailers profit margins they will frequently set some prices rather higher. This much? I have no idea. Quite likely the distiller (BT) has quoted Michigan a considerably higher MSRP than in those golden days of years ago. ...As well as charged a significantly higher wholesale price to The State. So, I guess one could say that everybody up the supply chain from the retailer, to the distributor, to the MLCC, to the distiller is demanding their pound of flesh from the consumer. When any liquor becomes as sought-after as so many are today the cost will inevitably go skyward. It's always the entity least able to do so that bears the cost of escalating market demand - the consumer. ...Because of the "Golden Rules". ...Them that's got the gold makes the rules.

I just had to share this. We had a get together of our bourbon/cigar group tonight. One members wife made t shirts for us.

A perfect summary.