Help needed in finding a special gift for law school graduation.

[Threschen]

Hi everyone,

My fiance is graduating from law school. He's worked so hard for so long for this, and I really want to get him a special and unique bourbon - something rare that he can't just pick up in any liquor store. I would love some specific help on specialty bottlings or premium bourbons... like I said, something special and unique. To give you a sense of his taste, I've heard him tell people his favorite is Elijah Craig, but I know he's up for trying anything new that's recommended to him by those in the know!

Thanks in advance for your help! It means so much to me!

[WsmataU]

She's a Keeper!

Elijah Craig 18 year is a nice bourbon, but fairly common. I'd suggest trying to track down a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 20 yr. It has a nice velvet sleeve that makes for an impressive presentation, plus it is fantastic bourbon!

You might find other recommendations on where to search, if you tell us where you will be looking (city).

[nivto]

The Party Source has a private barrel pick of Elijah Craig 18 year old for ~$40 that is supposed to be excellent. I think that would be a nice gift if he's an Elijah Craig fan. They ship to most states and also carry other premium bourbon offerings if you're looking for something pricier.

[nivto]

^^^ http://www.thepartysource.com/whiskey/shop_whiskey.php?Id=30

what state do you live in? some can be pretty bad when it comes to shipping, but ordering online might be a good way to go about getting a special bottle for him, unless you know a store in your area to go to...

[Parkersback]

You might consider picking up one of the Parker's Heritage whiskeys. Elijah Craig is made by the Heaven Hill distillery, and the Parker's Heritage series of whiskeys are (arguably) the top of the line whiskeys that Heaven Hill makes. Bottles of this will run you anywhere between $90-$175 depending on where you buy them, and which release.

There is a current release of a Parker's 10 year old "wheated" whiskey that has gotten very good reviews--I have not yet had it--that can be had for under $80 if you can find it.

[LikeItWasSodaPop]

It'd also be helpful to know a budget / price range.

[trumpstylz]

The Party Source has a private barrel pick of Elijah Craig 18 year old for ~$40 that is supposed to be excellent. I think that would be a nice gift if he's an Elijah Craig fan. They ship to most states and also carry other premium bourbon offerings if you're looking for something pricier.

I second the party source hand picked elijah craig 18 yr single barrel. If you said she likes elijah craig, i would stick to that lineup.

I also know binny's in the chicagoland area used to have their own handpicked versions of it, but I dont think they've had them for a while (but i havent actually checked in a while either).

[B.B. Babington]

you were smart coming here for ideas. if he's already drinking elijah, he has good taste.

[IowaJeff]

You can still get the parker's heritage 27 year old bourbon a few places online. It will probably run you 175-225 but it is definitely one of a kind and cool to think that it was put in a barrel when he was a wee baby. Plus if he likes the oaky flavor of elijah craig he probably will like it.

[theDon]

A nice bottle of premium Benchmark bourbon is a great gift for a lawyer to be.

[Threschen]

Thank you all so much!!! I could tell in reading the posts when I stumbled onto this site that you all really knew what you were talking about and also were genuinely interested in sharing what you're passionate about with others - really cool forum! We live in South Bend, IN; however, we've got a liquor store here that told me they'd be willing to try to special order something once I made a choice. They couldn't give advice claiming they were wine people themselves. I don't really have a price range though should probably stay below $300 for sure but, of course, would be happy if it didn't happen to cost that much! I just really want to make his graduation something truly memorable! The whole standard graduation gift of a leather briefcase or something just isn't really his style!

[proof and age]

Is he at Notre Dame?

[trumpstylz]

you were smart coming here for ideas. if he's already drinking elijah, he has good taste.

Haha, i referred to he was a she.

[LikeItWasSodaPop]

If the OP is talking a $300 budget, I'd suggest she condider buying a couple, maybe 3 bottles. Could get 3 great bottles and still be way under that budget. And when you're helping someone expand their palate, providing a few that are different in terms of age/proof/mashbill, etc., you can really accelerate their progress. One bottle that's "special" just sits waiting for a special occasion. And it will always taste "special" b/c it was bought by the amazing wonderful girlfriend for law school graduation. Whereas buying a few inspires tasting and discussion. Even knocking the budget down by $100 to $200, she still can get 3 great bottles, and do really well.

Since this person sounds like a serious bourbon drinker, the biggest gift might be turning him onto this forum!

To respond to trumpstylz below, Binny's EC 18 is still available at various stores. Some have just the regular 18 but it's not all gone. The most recent SB bottling is, I think, really good, and at under $50, it's helped me get a sense of what a "wood bomb" bourbon tastes like.

In terms of helping her make a final decision, I would think the best thing we can do is point her to either (a) a good local store or ( a good online store that ships to IN. If Party Source does, then that seems like a no-brainer. I've just never ordered from them.

[fishnbowljoe]

Binny's Southloop store isn't that far. It's worth the drive. Try to get one of their bottles of Elijah Craig 18 as a regular gift, and something else for a special gift. Just my two cents. Please let us know what you decide. Cheers! Joe

[B.B. Babington]

Try to get one of their bottles of Elijah Craig 18 as a regular gift...

[LikeItWasSodaPop]

This thread reminds me of a local food chat site here in Chicago (lthforum.com -- it fucking RULES). Chicago visitors routinely post to ask for local restaurant recommendations. Usually these queries are pretty lazy (LOOKING FOR RESTAURANTS NEAR MY LAME TOURIST HOTEL), and they check back in to respond to requests for more detailed info once or twice (usually making it quite clear that they haven't bothered to use the search function or do any independent research at all). Still, forum participants respond in droves ... selflessly doling out free advice and insight.

With precious few exceptions, the OP never returns to discuss where they went to eat, what they ate, or even let the posters know whether they followed the forum's advice at all. When they do, they're like, "Oh, we decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory because it was close to our hotel." It always sort of pisses me off, seeing people's time be utterly wasted, especially when said people are genuinely trying to help. I see the threads taper off ... a month after the person's visit, people post, asking for replies ... and it just slowly disappears off the forum. Pathetic.

I'm not saying that happened here, but I'm basically betting that happened here. Or I'm hoping OP subscribed to her thread and will respond to my passive-aggressive guilt trip (i.e. OP, at least tell us what you bought ... it's the least you can do for the dozen plus people who gave you free advice).

[RyanL]

^^^^Meh, maybe it's something I've never really thought much about but that personally doesn't bother me. Some people probably post on lots of various forums a few times to get the info they want and move on. Other people find a couple forums relating to things they are heavily involved/interested in and they only post on those and form relationships with other posters, be it online only or IRL as well. I just take it as that's just how the internet works WRT forums and don't think any more about it. I guess that is where we differ but I just don't see any good reason to get upset about something so trivial, it does me no good.

[OscarV]

How about a leather breifcase with their initials on the opening clips?

Why did you ask this question on a bourbon forum?

[callmeox]

How about a leather breifcase with their initials on the opening clips?

Why did you ask this question on a bourbon forum?

The OP is looking to give bourbon as a gift.

Check out the first post, it is all there.

[SMOWK]

I haven't been paying much attention to this thread, so I'm sorry if this has been mentioned before. I think a great gift would be to REALLY TRY to seek out a store with a good selection and buy as many different bottles as you can afford. Who could complain about what you got, if you bought literally everything?