Thoughts on my visit to WR & BT....

[indyrider]

On Friday, my supervisor, ie wife, gave me the day and eve off, and made a quick roadtrip from southwest OH, which turned into an eventful day starting at the WR distillery.

Loved the setting--1 1/2 lane road through the thoroughbred farms to a hamlet nestled in the wooded knolls. This place just eschews history and was very easy to take myself back over 100 yrs when Mr. Crow was figuring it all out. Loved the close up tour with my fave portion in the warehouse, where the sweet smell of the angels share envelopes you!

Moved on toward the BT distillery, but being a cyclist, had to say howdy to the folks at Capital Cycles. As in the ongoing search for dusties, I always stop in to the local bike shop to see what I cant live without. Wish I could have stayed for the local mtb race on sunday. I ride best on a bellyful of bouron juice!

Drove around historic Frankfort for a few before my scheduled HH tour. After arriving, the guide, Don, talked me out of the HH since the distillery is shut down until the fall. Fine, I'll be in the vicintiy for the KBF. Enjoyed the regular tour, especially enjoying the bottling aspect, where Blantons was on the line. A palatte of BTAC Handy was spotted ready to ship, although I wasnt able to talk anyone into a bottle or case :smiley_acbt: --see photo!

In the BT shop I had a taste with the tour group who were a lot of fun. Started with a bit of BT & ER. From there had a taste of the BT cream liqueur, which I just happen to be enjoying with my caffein this morning. AND finished off with a taste of the White Dog! The nose is like corn on the cob on the grill and on the tongue is X 10. Walked out with 2 bottles of the cream liqueur and white dog each!

From there I had three establishments to visit and found the JTS BIB and a Pappy 15. The last establishment, Capital Cellars, ended up being my final destination, and happily so. Within 5 minutes of the Capital Plaza Hotel, this was a diamond in the rough of a find. Bourbon and wine bar galore, which ended up as six hour tasting session. BTAC Saz & WLW, Rock Hill, Willett SB, and quite a few in between. Still recovering.......

By the way, I was lucky enough to find two ETL's, signed by the gent himself in June. And as the eve played out at CC, I met and enjoyed the locals, one of which had worked at BT for over a decade, which ended up in a personal invite to the Old Taylor party in late July :grin: Im hoping meet Elmer in the process and am looking forward to my next foray into bourbon country in a few days!.

I'll post more notes, when and if my memory serves.

[cowdery]

Don misled you. Your Heaven Hill tour never would have included the distillery, whether during shutdown or not, since the distillery is in Louisville and doesn't (generally) give tours. Heaven Hill has everything except the distillery in Bardstown, as well as a museum-class visitors center.

[indyrider]

Chuck,

Wasn't at Heaven Hill my friend...Let me clarify:

"HH" or "HH tour" = "Hard Hat (tour)" at Buffalo Trace!!!

BTW just received your book I ordered last week and am enjoying it so far.

Josh

[cowdery]

Ah, makes sense.

[mwanning]

I just got back from the Trail tour in July. I had downloaded a POI (Point of Interest) file for my GPS which had the Trail points on it - and a lot of them were wrong. So I decided to correct it - which brought on a lot Google Map and Google Earth work once I was home. If you go back to WR and BT in the fall, make a detour. You leave WR onto McCracken Pike. If turn left out of WR instead of right, you can take the backroads to Frankfort and BT. On McCracked Pike, just before you cross the Kentucky River is the ruins of the old Taylor Distiller and next to it is the old Old Crow distillery. Most of the Old Crow building appear to still be there, although they are gutting them to get the hundred year old heart Pine.

Of well, now I am forced to go back and take the extra tours of BT and WR just so I can see what I have missed. And I thought the BT tour was the best of all the tours I took, including MM. It was my 2nd MM tour and the guide was horrible. So I cannot wait to do a BT Hardhat.

Mike

long time bourbon drinker - new bourbon fanatic

[GregSVT]

So is that the BTAC Handy for this year's release in November or are they still sending out the stuff? It's become pretty rare around these parts.

I'm jealous of your tour. The BT distillery is definitely on my list of places to visit in my lifetime. Did you see any experimental barrels?

[indyrider]

Thats the Handy 09 slated for late Oct. distribution. Personally, I'm making room for the Stagg and Weller....

As for the experimental juice, I was able to enjoy a bit of the fine grain at a local establishment...Very sweet from the nose to finish, with not much to balance the sweetness. I saw a bottle of this on ebay last week for $115. In my opinion, I would put my cash toward the GTS and WLW!

[GregSVT]

I agree 100% but I liked the Handy as well. I plan to get 2 each of GTS and WLW and maybe a Handy.

I still know where there is a good amount of 2008 WLW though. :grin:

[indyrider]

Where? In your bunker :slappin:

[fishnbowljoe]

Where? In your bunker :slappin:

Like I've told Oscar a number of times, "You just ain't right." :slappin: Joe