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Cool. I didn't know Dickel distilled their own rye. Dickel rye was always MGP rye, correct? When did they start making their own?

I just remember when a lot of us on here used to say that the old Baker's 7 yr "Small Batch" was not a good value at $45. The majority of bourbon enthusiasts passed on it, saying it was a victim of being the 'odd man out' in comparison to Knob Creek and Booker's (back when Booker's was $50). The old Baker's bottle became a shelf turd and we all saw dust collecting on those black wax tops. I'm somewhat guilty too, but for me the bottom line that made me wake up was always: anytime I ever drank Baker's 7 Small Batch, I always found it to be a damn good tasting bourbon. Absolutely every bit as good as KC or Booker's, but just different. Once I accepted that, then I started buying Baker's with no regrets whatsoever, price be damned.

I get that the new Baker's single barrel is kinda polarizing (I struggle with it myself, but for me I think it's probably due to a hangup I have in comparison to the old "Small Batch" bottle which I absolutely loved). Curious, what bourbons do you purchase repeatedly at around $60 that are better? Or maybe to be fair, maybe my question should be $40-60 that are better (since 40 was the old price that we loved)? I can only think of a couple myself but I'm probably missing something.

I know that was a good one. Sorry for your loss, but good work there.

Relaxing on a Saturday afternoon. Strange (and unplanned) sbs comparison this afternoon. First pour was MM PS from Lincoln Road. I had a hankering for a high-proof wheater so when my eyes scanned the bar, that bottle sounded good so I grabbed it. Tasted great. Wanted another pour of it. Someone then asked me about the Four Roses OBSK recipe, so I pulled out my open bottle and had a short pour. My current open OBSK is an older Spec's store pick bottled in 2015 at 8 yrs 1 month. It's very good, but nothing special for a 4R store pick. I put OBSK somewhere in the upper middle of a ranking of my preferred recipes. Good, but not nearly my favorite. For this totally unplanned (and quite nonsensical) barrel proof SiB store pick SBS between a wheater and a high rye bourbon, I give the win to the MMPS Lincoln Road pick. For whatever that's worth, hehe

I had not actually heard that about BCS -- I knew one of their chief brand guys left, but hadn't heard more details. Didn't know they listed the facility for sale. I'm a huge fan of their bourbon product so it would make me sad if they don't make it. Their business model (super-premium products offered continuously in very small individual batches) isn't really built to thrive during downturns in the market. These luxury brands need a solid lower priced 'flagship' product to hang their hat on. Barrell recently came out with their "Foundation" bourbon, which is a great offering, but I fear it might have been a too little/too late situation. Time will tell I guess.

Very nice snag - congrats on the pickup. Let us know how it tastes whenever you get around to opening it. But to me, TW Grand Reserve will only become "worth it" when you don't have to stand in line for 2 hours competing with other taters. They need to use "technology" more than they currently do (email or phone calls, Lol) and hold bottles for people so they can go pick up their bottles at their own convenience. I hate these tater events that promote lines. It's great for the store, but it sucks for the buying public.

Along those lines, today I pulled the trigger on a bottle of Barrell Vantage bourbon because it has been reduced by 20 bucks. The Vantage is one I've read good reviews on but never got around to purchasing it. The discount gave me a reason to finally try it. Similarly, I recently purchased a Stellum black Rye ("Fibanacci" blend) at a hefty discount.

I was GR for 2 years and got exactly zero bottles thru 5+ lotteries. I gave up after that. Took the bulk of my business elsewhere.

I hear ya. I had picked a couple after the change, and while OK, I stopped due to the price. But a couple months ago. I picked one up on a whim ($ burning a hole in my pocket…), and absolutely loved it. Went back and picked up more from the same barrel. The second and third bottle from this same barrel are terrific, too. For me, it has become a personal palate decision to overcome the price. I won’t consider another barrel at this time.

My last bottle of Baker's. I bought a few several years ago when I saw it discounted at $40. Now it's $60 and I won't be buying again at that price. It's pretty good but, to me, it's not worth $60. Notes: On the nose, I get pencil shavings, vanilla, baking spices, slight banana and apple, charcoal and leather. Very spicy on the palate with a surprisingly long finish.

Not a meme, but a cool t shirt.

TW Grand Reserve is officially worth it after today. 2 hours in line and would have had backup options of SFTB, M10, ETL.

Today I chaperoned a group of third graders on a field trip to Blue Spring Caverns. It's the longest navigable underground river in the country. We tried two times before, but got rained out. When it rains, caves get flooded. I was even skeptical we'd make it today, with the weather and all. In the end, we drove down to the Bedford area and they had a grand time. Wife and son are knocked out asleep. After pulling all that off, had to get something out of the bunker to open. The winner was Maker's 46 on an ice ball, and I got to watch some Forged In Fire. Now I switched over to Rittenhouse.

From what I've observed, the East and West coasts and the big cities get new releases well before us (if we ever see it).

Celebrating fRYEday with some delicious Dickel house distilled rye. Kinda wish I had some backups…

More WT101 while watching the Knicks-Pacers game. Knicks lead the series 3-2. This game is close and will probably end up that way.

Yesterday and today (THU & FRI 16 17 May) in the mid-Atlantic were wonderful outdoor weatherwise. THURS was a GOOD half day of casual yard work (no trees, no heavy lifting, etc.). I finished up with two (uh, three?) cans of Vienna Lager beer from Devils Backbone - an exquisite 5+% pilsner that reminds me of the beers I drank while in the Army in Bavaria, Germany. Pace yourself,, and you can drink them ALL DAY. Maybe. I skipped the power tools yesterday, of course, just in case . . . Today (FRI) , after refurbishing a chainsaw that's been sitting there for two years then trimming limbs along the driveway then putting two months' worth of hand tools sitting just inside the garage/shed door in their proper places THEN sweeping a winter's worth of crap off the floor, I celebrated that five hours' work (HECK! I'm in my late 70s. ANY movement is good!) by opening one of my favorite Summer whiskies - Bernheim 7 YR 90 proof wheat whiskey. Its light, straightforward cereal notes are not as complex as a good KSBW, but the absence of the corn mouthfeel lets me enjoy its limited palate flavors just like I enjoy Irish whiskies (one-note barley) or lowland scotches. There are no surprises and no AHA moments, but there sure is pure bliss. Yeah, I'm bragging about my work. SWMBO often says, "Well, what about THIS, THIS, THAT, THAT, THIS, . . ." when she asks what I am doing. HENCE, "BERNHEIM!!"

Fixin’ to fire up an end-of-week H. Upmann Classic Toro, with a BT on a cube back.

JEP BP... Upon opening - WTH, this is weird Down a third - beginning to like this Down to half - damn. I better get a backup (and did) Down to a third - I really need a backup of my backup (and did again) Last Pour right now - sh!+, this is my fav bottle this year!!!

Increased availability may not necessarily be a sign of the boom ending, but rather a result of increased production finally coming of age to catch up to the crazy demand that has built up over the past few decades.

Happy Birthday to you both! I will have a pour of some PHC 8 yr double char , no RBR in the house currently.

The Bourbon market is not in a bubble, it has been expanding relentlessly because there are more and more Bourbon drinkers that enjoy it. They have established a large consumer base and the market could plateau, and releases may become more obtainable IF suppliers allow their supply to catch up with demand (ahem...buffalo trace). We are not going to see a bust sort of situation though. Consolidation we could see. Plateaus we could see. Shifting tastes to adopt more tequila or rum is also very possible.

Yep - Barrell had a tough year in 2023. In November we did a barrel pick with them in their brand new blending and bottling facility - really nice space. I'm not sure if you saw/heard but late in the year they laid off most of their sales staff and then early this year that facility was listed for sale. It is now off the market so they must have found a cash injection but they are clearly struggling.

My immediate family is celebrating my son-in-law's birthday (yesterday), as well as mine (actually Sunday) this evening. We're going out for dinner, then back here, whereupon I'll uncork that bottle of Rare Breed Rye I picked up at the gift shop last weekend of April. It'll be offered around and likely partaken by most of us. So, we'll put a dent in the contents; but that signed bottle shall be kept no matter what.