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Decided to kick off the grilling season this afternoon. Threw together what I'll call the All-the-Fruit-in-the-Crisper Spritzer. Orange, lime, lemon and pomegranate juices with a little sugar, couple of ounces bourbon/rye, top with seltzer. Color coordinated with the Weber. And tasted good with chicken merguez sausage that's been in the freezer since Xmas.

Wish I could find those on sale for them there prices. I would definitely drink more WTRB and just might really enjoy the RR 10 at that price..(not that it is bad liquid)

Updated list: Baker’s 13 Colonel EH Taylor BP 2023 Elijah Craig BP x3 (B517, B518, B519) Elijah Craig BP PS x2 Four Roses LE SmB 2014 Four Roses LE SmB 2019 Four Roses LE SmB 2022 Four Roses LE SmB 2024 Four Roses PS x13 George T. Stagg 2019 Jack Daniels SiB BP PS x2 Jack Daniels SiB rye PS x2 Jim Beam Ducks Unlimited Decanter [1974] Kentucky Owl rye Batch 3 Knob Creek CS rye 2019 Knob Creek SiB PS x3 Knob Creek SiB rye PS KO Bare Knuckle High Rye CS PS Maker’s Mark PS x3 Michter’s Bottle Your Own Old Fitzgerald BiB 11yr Spring 2018 Old Forester 100 PS Old Forester BP PS x6 Old Grand-Dad 16 Parker’s Heritage Collection Heavy Char Bourbon Peerless SiB PS Peerless SiB rye PS x2 Peerless Double Oaked rye SiB PS Russell’s Reserve 15 Russell’s Reserve SiB PS x4 Sagamore Spirit PS Starlight Cigar Batch PS Starlight Cigar Batch rye PS x2 Starlight cognac finish rye PS Starlight rye PS Weller 12 Wilderness Trail rye PS Wild Turkey 8/101 [2010] Wild Turkey 12/101 [2006] Wild Turkey American Spirit Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17yr Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades Batch 1 Wild Turkey Master’s Keep One Willett Family Estate rye 9yr William Larue Weller 2017 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked PS

It should be noted that Wild Turkey 101's age statement came off in 1992, well before the bourbon boom. This was not a change due to the market forces of the last 10-15 years as most of the lamented lost age statements were. As some have noted, there could be incremental changes (more older whiskey, discounts by distributors/retailers) that would make the 8/101 more attractive without a need for a change in the MSRP, but I think the difference in the MSRPs ($28 versus $45) already leaves room for both the NAS 101 and the 8-year version. The products that really don't make sense to me are the 101 picks and Kentucky Spirit, because they are significantly more expensive with no increase in proof and little to no increase in age. Obviously there can be stand-out single barrels, but they are making it a tough sell. Also, it is unfortunate but likely true that the NAS 101 has sunk in quality as they prepared for the 8/101 and that the quality difference between the two may become more noticeable the longer the domestic 8/101 exists. All that said, I'm happy with the domestic re-introduction of the 8/101 and think $45 is within the realm of reasonable on price, but everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion!

Tell me you used to watch The Man Show without telling me you used to watch The Man Show.

Girls on trampolines!

Buddy of mine told me last week that an LS about an hour away from where I live was getting in a new Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Proof store pick this week. Yesterday I found myself nearby for work so wandered in on lunch break to see if it had arrived yet. No dice on the ECTBBP, but this beauty was sitting on the shelf all by itself for $88.

Mission success! Years long good relationships still pay off

From their website: CASK STRENGTH SOUTHERN BOURBON WHISKEY This Limited Release is our flagship Southern Bourbon Whiskey at cask strength, uncut for maximum flavor. With defined tasting notes, it has a nose that’s hazelnut, sweet Georgia corn, cherry syrup, smoked oak, sweet leather, and fresh-cut herbs. Aged to taste, not time. Each barrel was aged between 4-6 years Aged in Americus Ga, very good temp swings throughout the year.

This is my impression of "Distilled in Indiana" (MGP) whiskey. What comes off their stills is high quality, and they make something like ten different mash bills. A lot of their product is sold to other companies, who then do the aging and so on. The quality of warehouse, knowledge of staff, and what they're trying to do varies considerably. Well executed MGP can be fantastic. If people try to age it in a garage or bottle it too young - it's blah.

When I saw the 8 year was coming back, I had just assumed it would replace the NAS - the same way KC 9year lost the age statement for some time, but it eventually returned (back to what it was before). If I wait for sales, I can get WTRB <$40 and RR 10 year <~$30. I like the Turkey profile in general, so would be tempted to try a bottle of 70th Anniversary or new 8 year at MSRP. But repeat purchase is hard to say if the up charge is out of line, even with other WT products. In some ways I don't care how many limited or one off batches a legacy distiller puts out. Just do not mess with the quality of the flagship brand (WT101).

I wrote about the Rye in the Rye section. Excellent bottle. Both bottles are owned by my friend who loves both sweet and finished bourbon. This store pick Starlight Honey Barrel Bourbon is from Beverage King in Norwalk CT. It goes for about $67. It is nice if you like honey, and what a great honey flavor. Dense, rich, and floral. Really unique. My trouble with this bottle is it a more honey than bourbon. It is not balanced. If you like honey it is excellent. It is also aged in a honey barrel, not infused, so it is a legitimate (IMO) finished bourbon. It is just a lot of honey and more of a desert bourbon than anything. For that, I love it, but I'd have to be in the mood for it. Really nice bottle, but if you are looking for a balanced bourbon, it probably isn't your thing. I give it an 8/10 because of its uniqueness and price combo.

Had a starlight tasting. I'll discuss the bourbon in the appropriate thread, but the rye is excellent. I found the rye for a friend who had the honey barrel bourbon already and is generally not a huge rye fan. He loves this bottle. The Rye is finished in the honey barrels that held the bourbon, as I understand it. It is a store pick for First Fill Spirits in Saratoga Springs NY. Shout out to Holly and Charles - great bottle. Balanced. Sweet honey on the nose. On the palette, there is honey, and a deep floral honey, but it is not overpowering. There is also nice rye spice, but again, balanced, and you get nice rye/white pepper spice, but just enough. The finish is a good combo of both with a little more of the rye influence and a little less honey. Overall, great bottle. 8.5/10

yes, I agree with you. The presentation is cool when it's done right. It does of course alter the taste, nose of the drink. I would not smoke a bourbon, but do enjoy a smoked old fashioned.

Good pass. I bought a couple at ~ $45.00 and did a blind SBS against the standard WT101. The 8yr is a little better, but not $20.00 better. Unless they come to their senses and drop the price, I won't be replacing them...

While I don’t smoke cocktails or Bourbons at home, I’ve ordered a few smoked cocktails at restaurants/bars. Gives an interesting spin at times, while at other times, doesn’t do much for me. I think the successful smoked cocktails are crafted by those bartenders who know what they’re doing. The presentation can be cool, the results can be mixed, but I am generally positive on the idea.

I agree with this, aquavite. ...Especially if you are still exploring your own preferences. It's sorta like the question of whether or not some sauce our condiment will actually enhance whatever one starts with... or will it merely cover up some shortcoming . ...Or: worse; will it detract from the original dish (or dram)? Hmmmmm....

Good call. I do this sometimes with bottles I can't replace. When the bottle gets close to empty, I will "archive" off a sample to save for future comparisons to new bottles. Edit: I know I learned this process from others here on SB. Great ideas here just pass from one whiskey lover's generation to the next.

I hear you and you make some good points. But I think you are over thinking it. I also think you are underestimating how good a WT101 can be when the youngest whiskey in the batch is 8 years. Keep in mind, with market forces come into play in the future (that you rightly expressed in your post) there is a good chance that older whiskey will eventually find its way into WT8, just like it did in the old glut period. As long as Eddie Russell is in charge, I feel an 8 year minimum WT101 has the potential to become not just a good bottle, but the best $35-40 KSBW available on the market, ... not coincidentally, the same way NAS has been that product at $20 for quite some time now.

Good luck! I may have already missed it myself. Luckily I have the 12 from last year and the 10 from the year before that. I will have to pour some this weekend.

Thank you. The responses I've gotten on this leads me to spend my money elsewhere. I'll try a pour at a bar or if offered by someone, but I'm not spending the money they ask on an unknown... at least by me.

I'll be honest, I don't know about this. To me, this is like putting "A1 Steak Sauce" on a well grilled/charred steak. I'd much prefer to taste the original flavor of the bourbon. I'm just getting used to various bourbon tastes at present. I think I"m going to have to pass on this....

I finally was able to enjoy the Knob Creek 18 this week. It's much better than the Elijah Craig 18 which I should have passed on

Passed on the 8ry WT. Plenty on the shelf of my local priced at $49.99. Reminds me of the price of gasoline (.999999999). I would probably be a buyer at $40 or less, at least just to do a SBS. The family jug price of 101 was $47 so I'd need a damn good reason to switch over to the Age Stated for more than twice the coin. Great discussion on the other thread from those that have tried it and made their own comparison.

I'll have to ask some friends if it's still there, Bloomington used to have a bar near campus and they had a long menu of mixed drinks. Most of the stuff on the menu had vulgar names. As far as cocktails go, pretty sure it was garbage - combinations including cheap well liquor, schnapps, artificially colored triple sec...