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100% agree with flahute above. I can add, BT only makes the wheat mash bill (Weller/VW) a small proportion of their overall production (like one month out of the year). So as it is, until supply or demand changes, that stuff will be relatively scarce. Add to that, BT is always releasing variations on the different brands. It gets to be like all the different Pokémon. I used to be a big fan of OWA and W12, but since it's no longer available, have come around to the higher rye Bourbons of the other legacy distillers instead. My wheat fix is some version of MM.

Are they pricier than most other barrel proof whiskey's at that age....yes. Are they barrel proof with unique mash bills from one of my favorite distilleries....also yes. I am a huge Heaven Hill fan and love Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Henry McKenna, Old Fitz, Rittenhouse Rye, etc. I will take pretty much anything from Heaven Hill but Larceny Small Batch, which doesn't do it for me. When they announced they were doing a GTG series, I knew I had to have them and I was able to secure all 3 of the 2024 releases for MSRP. It look me a while to find the GTG Wheated bourbon, but I found the Traditional Bourbon and the Rye at MSRP with out any issue. Of the 3, the traditional (high rye) bourbon is by far my favorite, but the Rye is excellent as well (and I am picky with my ryes). The Wheated Bourbon isn't bad by any means, but the Traditional Bourbon and the Rye are both superior in my eyes. The traditional bourbon was so good, that I bought a back-up at that price knowing that the 2025 release will be a different proof point dependent on the bottles they picked. I will definitely pick up a bottle of the 2025 2nd edition GTG traditional bourbon when it hits the Texas market, but that might be a while yet. Value is subjective, but they were worth it to me. Many people, including myself have bought items like Blanton's SFTB at a similar age and almost double the price, yet don't blink an eye because it is Buffalo Trace. Don't get me wrong, I really like the flavor profile of most Blanton's SFTB, but miss the days I could have them shipped to my house for less than $100 a bottle shipped. Heck, even Old Forrester Barrel Strength Single Barrel and Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs are starting to approach the $100 mark in my area. But I digress.

@rzelinka, although you have not good experiences with single malts, and you might not like malt in general, there are big differences in taste between many different single malts. I recommended a few you might like as did @Kepler. We both like Glendronach, although he recommended the 15 year non-cask strength. The 12 year will also give you a good sample of what the Glendronach is all about. You mentioned American Single Malts. I enjoy many of them but the taste can drastically different between them. I would recommend trying a nice, unpeated, scotch to see what you think before thinking you do not like malt. However, your life will hardly be over if you stick to bourbon!

Could you provide the URLs for these places? It would be really helpful. I've only ordered on-line once, (for a bottle of Lagavaulin 16) costing way more than I needed to pay.. Won't do that again. But I am OK with checking an on-line place out to see what they offer. I have to wonder though if the "good stuff" is kept reserved only for walk-in customers. We shall see.

Condolences on your son’s passing. I cannot imagine your pain. In his honor, I will join you in raising a glass of Blanton’s to his memory. Smoke and Prayers.

You confirmed my suspicions. I will hold out for the 12 year. thank you for sharing

Today will be Blanton's SiB. My son passed on Feb 26 and I vowed to have a good pour on his birthday. May he be resting in peace.

I did a blind SBS between the two It's slightly better, but not $20.00 better. I bought two bottles and won't be replacing them until/unless WT comes to their senses and reduces the price. For $45.00 I can get a handle of WT101

So our resident retired major league umpire @rzelinka can't see the difference between Cooper's Craft and Coppercraft bourbon? Kinda like calling those balls and strikes, eh? Haha just kidding. I couldn't resist that.

Yes that's certainly a possibility, and absolutely nothing wrong or unusual about that at all. You might want to hold off and just try a single malt here or there at a bar and don't purchase a bottle yet.

Curious, how does it compare with the standard Wild Turkey 101?

I've only been drinking scotch for a few years, but I didn't think Glenfiddich was peated. Are you sure you aren't confusing "peat" with just the normal malt flavor that all scotches have (including non-peated)? Just wondering. Even non-peated scotch can have a malt flavor that just smells and tastes off-putting to a bourbon drinker. I would recommend the Glendronach 15 Year. It probably has the most "neutral" (for lack of a better term) malt note that I tried when I was first discovering single malts. It's a sherried whisky. I found it very approachable. Other bottles that you might find appealing are Balvenie Sweet Toast of American Oak 12 yr, Balvenie 12 Year Doublewood, or the Balvenie 12 Year "First Fill" Single Barrel. Or another good choice for a bourbon drinker is the Deanston Virgin Oak. I really like the caramel and vanilla notes that the ex-bourbon casks provide. It's a little rough around the edges from the young whisky (NAS) but it has familiar flavors for a bourbon drinker. Good luck!

I've seen that one for $70 but did not purchase it. I can't imagine that that young whisky could be as good as a Scotch single malt for the same money. For that money you could purchase a 12 year age stated Glendronach, GlenAllachie or Tamdhu.

WT101 8 year in the glass....

This is my all time favorite rye. Likely because it’s really not a rye in the traditional sense. Love this bourbon. My hat is off to you

I know when I’m drinking ETL the only thought I have is, “this is dang good!”

The first load of stuff (toys and decor) is loaded into the Suburban for donation tomorrow. One down and what feels like a hundred to go. ETL in the glass. I need something light that I don’t have to think about.

I just picked one up and so far am quite pleased with my initial impressions.

Happy Birthday, Joe

I like this one after a warm afternoon of yardwork.

I suspect you are right on in your assessment. I disliked the Bonded Rye, and while a Single Barrel will take on a different flavor profile, I would submit the mash bill is essentially the same. To your point that means it will be very rye forward. If that is the case, it would only be doable for me in an old fashioned or Manhattan. I'll keep an open mind.

While I do recommend this bottle and have owned several, it is quite rye forward. Brown forman does use a yeast that ranges from banana bread to sweet tarts, which may compliment/ mask the heavy rye influence. But don't be fooled the sib rye is very rye.

Taste better when sharing time with buddies and good whiskey