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Achieving Bourbon Zen - A Mini Manifesto


humchan2k
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Anyone else notice that David Driscoll over at K&L Spirit Blog essentially just made the same post today as Bourbon Zen? There's something to this, even greater than I realized....I guess.

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Anyone else notice that David Driscoll over at K&L Spirit Blog essentially just made the same post today as Bourbon Zen? There's something to this, even greater than I realized....I guess.

Wait a sec... humchan2k is really David Driscoll?!

:drinking:

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Bourbon Zen.................. when I have bourbon in a glass.

It's hard to pursue what isn't available to you. If it's available in Ohio, it's located at some point farther than I'm willing to travel. Honestly, I'm fine with OGD BiB, WT101, Dickel #12, Bulleit, EWB, etc......... I will also purchase any Four Roses products except the yellow label.

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I've always liked Faulkner's take on it, "Bourbon, corn whisky, between Scotch and nothing I'll drink Scotch".

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Bourbon Zen is settlin' for whatcha got? Phooey! Bourbon Zen is not chasing after someone else's idea of delicious (Special Releases). Bourbon Zen is going to the source and finding your own satori. Private Selection is the natural alternative to Special Release hype (and ignominious strife) - it caters to the palates of discerning enthusiasts. I believe distilleries [and retailers] responsive to enthusiasts will continue to ramp-up private selection programs. Therein lies our salvation.

Edited by MauiSon
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I'd like to think I'm at peace with bourbon; content with what I have and can easily find. But then comes the Fall. So there's a great new Four Roses SmBtch LE, I hear. I MUST HAVE IT ... plus one for the bunker. What's that -- it's a "special year" for OFBB? Purchased one, thought it was great, and then sought out another because, you know, I'll never see it again. Soon it's time for the BTAC. GTS is a favorite so I must pull "all stops" to find at retail. I end up with 4 bottles of the GTS and 1 of the Eagle Rare. During the "hunt" I stumbled upon a PHC "Promise of Hope" and feel compelled to purchase. Likewise for an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. With all the expended funds, I'm quite sure my wife will kill me. These bottles ain't cheap. So even though it's now time for Pappy, I should play it cool and be content with what I have. Damn (I mean Hurrah!) I've secured 3 bottles of liquid Pappy gold. Not sure if this is Zen or if I should be committed, but I'm happy. And I'm swearing off any more purchases for at least 3 months. Unless, of course, I see something I just can't refuse.

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And I'm swearing off any more purchases for at least 3 months. Unless, of course, I see something I just can't refuse.

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I'd like to think I'm at peace with bourbon; content with what I have and can easily find. But then comes the Fall. So there's a great new Four Roses SmBtch LE, I hear. I MUST HAVE IT ... plus one for the bunker. What's that -- it's a "special year" for OFBB? Purchased one, thought it was great, and then sought out another because, you know, I'll never see it again. Soon it's time for the BTAC. GTS is a favorite so I must pull "all stops" to find at retail. I end up with 4 bottles of the GTS and 1 of the Eagle Rare. During the "hunt" I stumbled upon a PHC "Promise of Hope" and feel compelled to purchase. Likewise for an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. With all the expended funds, I'm quite sure my wife will kill me. These bottles ain't cheap. So even though it's now time for Pappy, I should play it cool and be content with what I have. Damn (I mean Hurrah!) I've secured 3 bottles of liquid Pappy gold. Not sure if this is Zen or if I should be committed, but I'm happy. And I'm swearing off any more purchases for at least 3 months. Unless, of course, I see something I just can't refuse.

:lol: I think you hit the nail on the head ...

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Today is the day my wife imposed Bourbon Zen on me. So I guess I've reached it.

Imposed zen is no zen. What is the opposite of "BINGSTEIN!" ? "Oh fuckstein", or "sonofabitchstein", or "bourbonblockedstein"? That's where you are my friend:grin: And this from a guy whose wife still hasn't found " the other bourbon cabinet" or the innocent looking boxes in the storage room or.....I'm living on borrowed time and soon it will be "I'mindeepshitstein" for me too!

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Imposed zen is no zen. What is the opposite of "BINGSTEIN!" ? "Oh fuckstein", or "sonofabitchstein", or "bourbonblockedstein"? That's where you are my friend:grin: And this from a guy whose wife still hasn't found " the other bourbon cabinet" or the innocent looking boxes in the storage room or.....I'm living on borrowed time and soon it will be "I'mindeepshitstein" for me too!

Too many bingsteins left me brokestein

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Bourbon Zen is settlin' for whatcha got? Phooey! Bourbon Zen is not chasing after someone else's idea of delicious (Special Releases). Bourbon Zen is going to the source and finding your own satori. Private Selection is the natural alternative to Special Release hype (and ignominious strife) - it caters to the palates of discerning enthusiasts. I believe distilleries [and retailers] responsive to enthusiasts will continue to ramp-up private selection programs. Therein lies our salvation.

I couldn't agree more. The private selections I have had have ranged from equal to the standard, to "OMG this is incredible! I can't believe this has the same label!" Having only purchased ~6 private selections in my bourbon journey, perhaps my sample size is too small, but my observations are that most of them fall in the latter camp (substantially better than the standard).

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I also agree with MauiSon, "therein lies our salvation". IMHO, Pvt Selection is one of the last & best secrets we have from the zombies chasing down the latest shiny object (PVW, BTAC, etc.). What makes it even more special is the price point is still very reasonable for most. And, it has so much diversity & selectivity to the point where the zombies cannot target 1, 2, or 3 particular bottles to hunt down with insatiable appetite. The exception would possibly be the LEs. However, even those it seems escape their attention for the most part as the Pappy & Antique fevers grip the growling, drooling masses each autumn.

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Bourbon is like rock and roll. It gets boring if you just listen/taste the same one or two over and over. You know every note or every nuance of it's taste

Songs fit the moment as does the right pour but you don't know what to pour if you haven't tasted it.

Have many open bottles at all price points. Know that price and scarcity doesn't guarantee a better experience. Choose wisely when you pour and you will find the peace you seek.

Don't fear a bit of strange, just know there may be a price to pay.

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Reading thru this a bit late....but had a gazebo experience at KBF this year similar to Yeti. Very open and kind folks willing to suggest a pour from the MANY options available. Snapped me out of a funk i'd been in whereby i was focused on the accumulation more than the consumption.

About a week after KBF was able to share my own knowledge and love for the product by bringing a 99 EWSB to a friends grill out. Was it expensive or super rare...nope, $27 bottle..but being able to share a bottle they'd never be able to find in their normal travels was a blast.

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I haven't yet found a whisky that wasn't improved by sharing it with friends.

Crown Royal Maple. Still tastes like sour Aunt Jemima. :cool:

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Humm... Attaining Zen by way of abandoning the search for great whiskey and settling for mediocre whiskey. I guess kharma really is a bitch. :skep:

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Humm... Attaining Zen by way of abandoning the search for great whiskey and settling for mediocre whiskey. I guess kharma really is a bitch. :skep:

Huh?

Oh, right...I forgot, you're the Witch Hunter. Forgot for a sec there.

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