Yankee visiting Kentucky and TPS - What do I buy?

[CADMixes]

Hi folks. Boston native here traveling to Covington, KY on business. I'm staying about 10 minutes away from The Party Source and should have no trouble making time for a trip.

I've been trying to do my research on what to pick up while there but thought I'd see if anyone wanted to chime in. I'd be interested in anything that's not typically accessible in New England or anything that's exclusive to TPS--so for example it seems they stock 4R single barrels by recipe--I'd love to hear some thoughts on any of those. And then also any more common bottlings or mid-shelf things I can't buy at home--one that has me interested is Ancient Ancient Age.

Appreciate any perspective you can provide and thanks in advance!

[trumpstylz]

A Smith bowman 10 yr single barrel rye and 4 roses obsq or oesq (i havent had the party source bottling, but these are solid). Buffalo trace hand picked stuff would be good too. Also the weller antique TPS private bottle if you like wheaters.

[clingman71]

AAA 10 years old, Elmer T Lee

[ThomasH]

Anything you can't get back home!

Thomas

[callmeox]

Skip the TPS Weller Antique and hop over to Cork and Barrel for their Antique selection. OscarV turned me on to them and I agree that they rock.

Jay at TPS is agreat guy but his palate and mine don't align so I can't recommend any of his barrel picks. I have yet to try one that I liked better than the standard bottling.

YMMV

[Flyfish]

Anything you can't get back home!

Thomas

Which probably includes Very Old Barton--a handle. If you are flying, space is an issue so you might want to concentrate on the premium stuff. If you are driving, add in the great values like VOB and AAA that are not widely available.

[jburlowski]

If you like rye, definitely get the barrel-strength Bowman single barrel. The current TPS selected BT and EC12 are also good. They've got all the FR recipe single-barrels as well.

Their web site generally lists what's in stock but check the shelves for recent additions.

[Bourbon Boiler]

Try the two TPS-only BTEC collections. When I was there in June they had plenty of each.

[CADMixes]

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas, guys. I am flying but should have ample suitcase space and am hoping to fit three bottles or so. That Bowman rye looks extremely interesting.

Would be curious to hear more about Cork and Barrel because it's also quite close to my hotel. Their website is useless--what do they tend to have in the way of specials?

[Bourbon Boiler]

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas, guys. I am flying but should have ample suitcase space and am hoping to fit three bottles or so. That Bowman rye looks extremely interesting.

Would be curious to hear more about Cork and Barrel because it's also quite close to my hotel. Their website is useless--what do they tend to have in the way of specials?

I've not been there myself, but their single barrel selection and pricing is top notch from what I've heard. Be careful flying with multiple bottles. TSA isn't always careful in re-packing things.

[mark fleetwood]

Once you're at TPS, you'll probably find it very hard to buy just three bottles. In that case, there's a WalMart about 5 miles south in Ft Mitchell KY where you can pick up a cheap piece of luggage.

[jburlowski]

Try the two TPS-only BTEC collections. When I was there in June they had plenty of each.

Yeah, get the "wheat on rye" if it's still available. Unique and outstanding!

[CADMixes]

Well, the damage has been done. I ended up with some AAA 10 (hope it's a decent value pour, honestly I just kind of like the name), one of the Four Roses SBs, and one of the Bowman ryes. I was thrown because they had two bottlings at very, very different proofs. Ended up going with the 90 because I tend to mix all my ryes and a high-proof rye is sort of useless in a traditional Manhattan. In any event, I'm excited!

Things I put down: the one BTEC they seemed to still have (rye aged in a Chardonnay barrel I think?), Very Special Old Fitzgerald, Old Forester 100 proof.

Great store, and given what I saw of the area I like their chances with the distillery. Also special thanks to my cashier, who found a box that would fit in my suitcase and packed all three bottles perfectly.

Now to deal with the nagging fact that I have a few hours to kill and am not far from Cork 'n Bottle....

[clingman71]

Cork n bottle usually has some very nice barrel selection Elmer T Lees.