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You are correct. Hopefully Campari leaves them alone to operate in a mostly independent manner. Things don't seem to be going to poorly with Wild Turkey since the Campari buyout.

I totally agree! 90% of the time I'm buying established brands and bottles I'm familiar with... Knob Creek 7-year Rye, Knob Creek 12 and 9 year, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Russell's, JDSBBS to name a few. In the past when I've tried "new brands" I've been largely disappointed, which has only served to steer me back to the legacy distillers. My last foray into "something new" has been a much better experience (Wilderness Trail, New Riff, and Sagamore Spirit) so I thought I would share. Tastes and preferences are individual, so YMMV.

I enjoy their standard bourbon as an easy price friendly sipper. I need to do a side by side, but for only a couple dollars more, I think I may prefer MM 101 more.

I believe they still operate WTr but sold a 70% stake to Campari. I believe Campari plans on buying the remaining 30% by 2031. They have been putting out some great stuff

There are too many new brands to keep track of, thanks!

Not sourced. Distilled, aged, and bottled by Wilderness Trail. The distillery is about 10 years old and has a great story. The two founders are pretty young and very passionate about bourbon and whiskey. Before the distillery they started a business selling yeast and fermentation products to distillers, which they still operate. Dr. Pat Heist, one of the two distillery founders, has a Ph.D from U of K. He studied micro-biology and plant pathology in field crops, a skillset that evidently lends itself to the art and practice of distilling and aging good whiskey. My main staples usually come from legacy distilleries (Jim Beam, Wild Turkey) and I normally tend to shy away from new(er) distilleries. However, I've been in an experimental mood and decided to give WT a try. I am highly impressed with their single barrel cask strength rye and am excited to explore more of their offerings.

Yes, 750 ml. I dunno why I keep being dyslexic about that....

I consider bottled in bond to be a good indicator of quality. Back in the day, before we had all these different variations and brand extensions - B.I.B. (with the green tax strip) was the high end product.

Is wilderness trail MGP sourced or something else?

When Costco first switched to sourcing from Barton, I bought all 3 expressions and did my best to compare them with the wife and/or friends. We preferred the standard 1792 SB a little to the Kirkland SB but they were pretty similar. We picked up a smoky note in the Kirkland that I had not found in the 1792. I didn't have a bottle of 1792 BIB available, but I compared the Kirkland BIB to Very Old Barton 100 and they were VERY similar. The Kirkland SiB was the standout and I preferred it twice in blinds over Smokewagon UCUF. I have since taken the opportunity to compare the Kirkland SB to other similar Barton offerings at bottle shares--Trader Joe's Full Proof, and 1792 Full Proof barrel picks. There is a definite similarity, but I usually find the Kirkland to be a little creamier and maybe sweeter, kind of similar to an OF 1920 profile.

I can't say much about whiskey bars, but last time I was in Nashville 5 years ago, it seemed like very bar on Broadway had great music. Seemed like everybody that came to Nashville to make it big and was only 8.5 or 9 on a scale of 10 was playing.

Thank you! I have said this before but have failed to follow through but if I see any of the 3 at my local Costco I will pick up one of each for scientific research purposes. I believe I would prefer the BIB and SiB over the SmB.

I have a bottle I picked up from a bottle share and I can't quite figure out what to make of it. Very off-profile and sometimes it hits and sometimes it misses for me.

Nothing too exciting, just killed a bottle of ET BIB. I keep forgetting how good it is til I go back to it. There was only one medium pour left in it so the question becomes, what shall I move on to? The mind boggles.

If they follow the pattern of the last 3 years, the BIB should come out next, followed by the SiB. I haven't their SB since it first came out 3 years ago. At that time I thought it was pretty darn close to "regular" 1792 SB. My brother bought some today so I may have to finagle a taste.

A, somewhat, rare weekday pour.

The GA goat prefers condoms. Just sayin'. It actually says "bleat." While one might presume this means "help", it really means the same as "bleep." I can only imagine the price and availability. If it is available and I can find it at 100 proof for $25, smack daddy will be all over it.

This. Nothing says bottom shelf more than 80 proof, Jeremiah Weed, or Ten High. Many of the bourbons they mention are actually stellar bottles compared to many of the tater faves.

I passed on a Kirklands (Barton) 92 proof for $18.99. Even thought 1 liter, I just wasn't feeling it. I might have picked up the BIB if it had been available.

My Walmart usually has MM, WT101, KC9, WR, WRDO, ECBP, AE, AE Rye and some of the low brands @PaulO mentioned. Most of the Crown is either locked up or has a tag requiring you to buy it up front. I assume the BT was a 750 ml? I have never seen ECBP or anything close to allocated at the local Walmart. Different areas of the country may differ but in general as @PaulO notes, Walmart is ok for picking up a low to mid shelf bottle on the quick if you are already there. I can usually find better selection and prices at a grocery store or a liquor store, both of which are within 1/2 mile of Walmart. I have read posts in the past where SB members occasionally find ER and some other interesting bottles. While my expectations are always as they usually only have standard stuff, like @fishnbowljoe I rarely pass by a liquor department.

I buy the Barton BIB pretty often. My criteria for bottom shelf is generally anything 40 ABV.

A nice pour of SB HH2. Helped my oldest son and his wife move to a new home over the past two days. My body is feeling it. But, the bourbon is helping relieve the aches.

I’m having a pour of HMc10, not bad but not great. Just not working for me tonight. I’m needing something different for a second pour.

Walmart used to have decent prices, albeit a limited selection, around here. They've become my only real source for BT at a price I don't consider robbery; it shows up occasionally.

I'll pile on and say nothing BIB is anywhere near bottom shelf. As PaulO said it's usually a blended whiskey you could also use as parts cleaner... most of those completely stomp the craft whiskeys I've had the (mis)fortune to try.