Btac 2014

[smknjoe]

They are all very different styles. Since I like to try new things I would go with one that I haven't tried. You can't lose with any of them.

[bin31z]

FR will be new every year and the rest won't change too much. I never had WLW before but it's hard to say no to a stagg. Hard decision...

[amg]

If someone offered one of the three of those to me I'd probably go for the WLW since the odds of finding another GTS or FRSmBLE are slightly better than finding another WLW.

[Old Dusty]

WLW don't think twice or sleep on it. The Hazmat Weller is lights out!

[big pete]

Arggg.... Missed the BTAC release at one of my go-to's by 10min. Looks like I struck out this year

[Paddy]

I'd go with WLW as well. No doubt, it and the Saz are the hardest to find. I'd estimate 1 WLW for every 10 GTS in KY this year. Maybe Eric can chime in with a better approximation.

[flahute]

I'd go with WLW as well. No doubt, it and the Saz are the hardest to find. I'd estimate 1 WLW for every 10 GTS in KY this year. Maybe Eric can chime in with a better approximation.

[bicktrav]

I would also go WLW.

[jwacky]

I'd go WLW. Love the four roses small batch LEs but the private selections are perfectly fine 'consolation' bottles. Stagg of course is great, but I don't think there's an equal to WLW.

[GaryT]

As much as I love this GTS, I'd also go WLW. It is harder to find, and this year in particular is very good.

[sak]

I was traveling for Thanksgiving and stopped in at a random liquor store to grab a bottle of jäger to give to my uncle as payment for taking me deer hunting. I grabbed my Jäger and decided to take a quick browse through the bourbons. I didn't see anything special until I was walking to the counter. I looked up and saw a bright, almost blinding, light. It was a locked case calling my name. I looked in the case and there sat a bottle of William Larue Weller, Sazerac 18 yr, and Thomas H Handy. All for $69.99 each. I grabbed them all and chalked it up to a Thanksgiving miracle.

[gooneygoogoo]

I was traveling for Thanksgiving and stopped in at a random liquor store to grab a bottle of jäger to give to my uncle as payment for taking me deer hunting. I grabbed my Jäger and decided to take a quick browse through the bourbons. I didn't see anything special until I was walking to the counter. I looked up and saw a bright, almost blinding, light. It was a locked case calling my name. I looked in the case and there sat a bottle of William Larue Weller, Sazerac 18 yr, and Thomas H Handy. All for $69.99 each. I grabbed them all and chalked it up to a Thanksgiving miracle.

Wow! That is sweet man. Congrats

[flahute]

Update to my previous post. Stagg is my favorite of the BTACs and is what I was focused on this year. Given the release numbers, this should have been the easiest on to find. After all my hustling and relationship building was said and done, I ended up with 2 WLWs, 2 Handys, and 1 ER17. Never had a shot at a Stagg. Strange, but I'm not complaining, especially given the positive reviews on this years Weller.

[bicktrav]

This year's Stagg is just sublime. I read a nasty review of Handy, which said something to the effect of, "Anyone who tells you this year's Handy is good doesn't know what he is talking about." Apparently I have no idea what I'm talking about because I thought it was very good. Not on par with Stagg, but a really nice release. Haven't tried WLW yet, but hear really good things. Had ER 17 the other night and found it fine, but not the same caliber as the rest of the collection. Have Saz 18 but haven't cracked it yet. Incidentally, that review that said Handy was terrible crowned ER 17 the best of the collection. To each his/her own.

[GaryT]

Update to my previous post. Stagg is my favorite of the BTACs and is what I was focused on this year. Given the release numbers, this should have been the easiest on to find. After all my hustling and relationship building was said and done, I ended up with 2 WLWs, 2 Handys, and 1 ER17. Never had a shot at a Stagg. Strange, but I'm not complaining, especially given the positive reviews on this years Weller.

I think both the GTS and WLW are very good this year, although to be honest - I can't recall a year I tried one and thought "Meh - that's not good" Great scores - enjoy!

[jwacky]

This year's Stagg is just sublime. I read a nasty review of Handy, which said something to the effect of, "Anyone who tells you this year's Handy is good doesn't know what he is talking about." Apparently I have no idea what I'm talking about because I thought it was very good. Not on par with Stagg, but a really nice release. Haven't tried WLW yet, but hear really good things. Had ER 17 the other night and found it fine, but not the same caliber as the rest of the collection. Have Saz 18 but haven't cracked it yet. Incidentally, that review that said Handy was terrible crowned ER 17 the best of the collection. To each his/her own.

The problem now is that people will take these general consensus type opinions and use them as their own, even though they may never try the whiskeys themselves. A year or two from now people will be talking about how the 2014 Handy sucked and people will listen, even though no '14 Handys were consumed in forming the opinion. I see it happen all the the time. To each their own as you said, of course, but I also thought this years Handy was great.

[bicktrav]

The problem now is that people will take these general consensus type opinions and use them as their own, even though they may never try the whiskeys themselves. A year or two from now people will be talking about how the 2014 Handy sucked and people will listen, even though no '14 Handys were consumed in forming the opinion. I see it happen all the the time. To each their own as you said, of course, but I also thought this years Handy was great.

Yeah, it's really amazing how people think the opinions of reviewers (who often have no qualifications beyond a blog) matter more than their own. Such a ridiculous phenomenon.

[TunnelTiger]

Yeah, it's really amazing how people think the opinions of reviewers (who often have no qualifications beyond a blog) matter more than their own. Such a ridiculous phenomenon.

[bjhowell]

I'm fine with dolts following some opinion they see on the web and using it as thier own rather than actually tasting and forming their own. Hopefully more will believe some of the random bad reviews and bottles like the 2014 Handy will be a little easier to find so i can drink more of them.

[CaskStrength77]

I had heard the list was very long at Spec's and was mostly based on how big a spender you were. I don't begrudge them that model, those are their sugar daddies. But there's little hope even for the $10K/yr spender at Spec's downtown.

This is what I've heard as well. I had an "inside" connection, but wasn't sure if he was pulling my leg or not. Seems like he was, if it's long gone. Oh well...

I ended up with a GTS this year as a wedding gift from my wife, but struck out otherwise.

[Hop]

Was able to get the only bottle of WLW available at a lottery event in SC tonight. Paid a premium at $135 but it's the only bottle I got this year.

[bicktrav]

Was able to get the only bottle of WLW available at a lottery event in SC tonight. Paid a premium at $135 but it's the only bottle I got this year.

$135 is within reason for BTAC. Nice score!

[Senor Harvey]

Was able to get the only bottle of WLW available at a lottery event in SC tonight. Paid a premium at $135 but it's the only bottle I got this year.

Congratulations.

I, personally, would be happy to pay $135 for a bottle of BTAC WLW.

[GerryM]

I feel lucky to pick up a bottle of Saz 18 thru my stores annual lottery. Could have picked a GTS instead but Saz 18 I've really wanted to try and its been impossible to find in these parts. Gotta give a shout out to Redstone Liquors in Stoneham. They try to do it right by spreading the wealth as best they can as fair as they can. Good guys with fair prices and a great selection. No, I have no affiliation and this was not a paid endorsement, not to say I couldn't be bought for the right bottle!

[HOF44]

I generally try to get GTS, ER17, and a WLW. Those are my favorites. I've landed the GTS and ER17, but looks like I'm striking out on the WLW this year.