What bourbon did you pass up today? Fall/Winter 2014

[Jazz Nut]

Booker's 25th for $157

Parkers Promise of Hope for $137

Willette for $175

Debating about the Parkers though. Still kinda pricey but I've never had it.

What age is the Willett? I've gotten POH for $89-99 in the Minneapolis area. I've gone through one bottle (very quickly), it's enjoyable, flavorful, and very well balanced. I have two that I am bunkering, but not in a hurry to open.

Booker's 25th came and went quickly in Minneapolis, and wish I could have gotten one....

If you were dead set in buying one of the three, I'd get the POH. It's a classic bourbon (IMHO).

Ok, another possiblity---would this store entertain best offers?

[flahute]

Hard to say though with regional price variations. If I held out for PHC at $90 or less, I would never find one. Here in CA, even BevMo (which is usually the lowest price or close to it) has PHC8 at $120. Everything here in CA seems to be $10-20 more expensive. Lucky to find OGD114 for $29 ($33 at BevMo) here. Then I see posts from people in other parts of the country buying OGD114 for $16 or PHC for $80. So, I think it really depends on where you live.

I ended up really loving this one quite a bit and bunkered a number of bottles last year at $109. Pricey, but I couldn't find anything like it and thought it worthy enough at that price.

I surprisingly found another stash of it this past weekend for $99 at a store that's usually more expensive than most so I added another bottle. I'll probably grab another this weekend.

Still a bit pricey, but I'm thinking that two years from now it will seem like a very fair price.

[jasmorg1075]

What age is the Willett? I've gotten POH for $89-99 in the Minneapolis area. I've gone through one bottle (very quickly), it's enjoyable, flavorful, and very well balanced. I have two that I am bunkering, but not in a hurry to open.

Booker's 25th came and went quickly in Minneapolis, and wish I could have gotten one....

If you were dead set in buying one of the three, I'd get the POH. It's a classic bourbon (IMHO).

Ok, another possiblity---would this store entertain best offers?

Not sure of age on the Willett but I will find out tomorrow. Is there a particular age that is better? It's the bourbon, not the rye. They had other stuff like ETL for $39 and ETL Comm for $54 (I bought mine for $35), Michters 20 for $400, a whole shelf of JPS 21 and 25 (already own the 25), store selects of SAOS and FR.

I was thinking the same thing about best offers. I'd pay $100 for each of the Bookers and POH. Will see what they say. Went to about 20 stores today on work travel and this was by far the best selection of bourbon. It's weird though because they other stuff marked lower than I usually see in SA. FRSB was $33, etc. it was kind of shocking to see this selection and emotions almost got the better of me, guess NASA people don't drink bourbon .

[amg]

Not sure of age on the Willett but I will find out tomorrow. Is there a particular age that is better? It's the bourbon, not the rye.

These are vastly different by barrel since they're sourced from different places, but I can say that the older they are, the more expensive they are.

[GaryT]

Passed on some older WTKS (2002-2004 range, I don't remember exactly), and some WT 14yr Tradition. On the road, and my limited luggage space was already spoken for. Not bourbon, but also passed on their Saz Rye for $90 (not the 18yr, just the regular Saz Rye). Same place had the Stagg Jr. for $70 and the sticker said "George T Stagg", so clearly clueless

[KyleCBreese]

Passed on a full shelf of WT Diamond priced at $109. Just too pricey with mixed reviews.

[TunnelTiger]

Passed on the WT Diamond today as well. Even though it had been marked down from $159 to $119. Methinks it will be a dusty this time next year.

[ldugsjr1986]

Passed on the WT Diamond today as well. Even though it had been marked down from $159 to $119. Methinks it will be a dusty this time next year.

I've passed on this several times at $129.

I did get to try it at a Whiskey Festival and did think it was a good pour, but not that good. It didn't help that Mr. Russell himself was pouring the samples, so maybe he was just able talk it up real good ... either way, over priced for my wallet.

[mark fleetwood]

Michters Single Barrel 20 yr old bourbon.... just (hold on!) $454.99. I kid you not.

[Paddy]

Passed on Willett 7 and 9 rye, MMCS and WT Forgiven (still on sale and gathering dust at a liquor store near you).

[amg]

Passed on Angel's Envy Cask Strength @ $189 (is there something more special about this than the lack of added water?) and Woodford Pinot Noir-finished @ $99.

[tanstaafl2]

Passed on Angel's Envy Cask Strength @ $189 (is there something more special about this than the lack of added water?) and Woodford Pinot Noir-finished @ $99.

The Cask Strength has typically spent far more time in the port pipes than the regular stuff. Regular Angels Envy probably has 3-4 months of port finishing. Cask Strength are selected barrels that then remain in the port pipes much longer, upwards of 20-24 months I think. Which means the whiskey as a whole is generally a bit older as well.

I have looked for and bought it, which is always a challenge since it was not in Georgia in the past (Heard a rumor it was here this year but have yet to see it), and enjoyed it in the past but I am beginning to think my enthusiasm to look for it is being impacted by the "Willet XCF effect". If it were to fall in my lap I might buy it just to compare to past versions but I am less inclined to go through the significant effort required to find it even if it is now available in Georgia. Unfortunate because I do like it when I can get it.

[amg]

I think if it were $99 I wouldn't hesitate since the reviews have been pretty glowing, but at almost double that I can't seem to pull the trigger.

[Paddy]

Passed on more MMCS today. Appears that this stuff has flooded the local market beyond demand. That's saying something for KY, as most everything else somewhat limited never makes it to a shelf.

[flahute]

Have passed on WT Diamond numerous times for $119 and Rhetoric, also for $119. Just can't bring myself to pull the trigger.

[BigRich]

The Cask Strength has typically spent far more time in the port pipes than the regular stuff. Regular Angels Envy probably has 3-4 months of port finishing. Cask Strength are selected barrels that then remain in the port pipes much longer, upwards of 20-24 months I think. Which means the whiskey as a whole is generally a bit older as well.

I have looked for and bought it, which is always a challenge since it was not in Georgia in the past (Heard a rumor it was here this year but have yet to see it), and enjoyed it in the past but I am beginning to think my enthusiasm to look for it is being impacted by the "Willet XCF effect". If it were to fall in my lap I might buy it just to compare to past versions but I am less inclined to go through the significant effort required to find it even if it is now available in Georgia. Unfortunate because I do like it when I can get it.

The only trace I've seen in GA was the small sample bottle they sent Gary and I for review. Very nice whiskey but I personally couldn't drop the coin on a bottle.

[tanstaafl2]

Didn't buy any but saw some store select FR BP Single Barrel OBSK at $60, a barrel of Elmer T. Lee at $30 (which I thought was no longer possible! But kind of low stock so maybe it has been there awhile) and a BP Old Scout Bourbon and Rye (Note that the rye is 8yo, cask strength at 120+ pf and is just $46. Some orange bitters and it might make a good base for a poor man's XCF...).

Anybody in the Atlanta area who is interested and doesn't know where this is feel free to PM me.

[Mardbrown]

Didn't buy any but saw some store select FR BP Single Barrel OBSK at $60, a barrel of Elmer T. Lee at $30 (which I thought was no longer possible! But kind of low stock so maybe it has been there awhile) and a BP Old Scout Bourbon and Rye (Note that the rye is 8yo, cask strength at 120+ pf and is just $46. Some orange bitters and it might make a good base for a poor man's XCF...).

Anybody in the Atlanta area who is interested and doesn't know where this is feel free to PM me.

That store has some good stuff at pretty decent prices.

[tanstaafl2]

That store has some good stuff at pretty decent prices.

Yes, it is hit or miss in terms of what is in stock since it is a bit small but Herb & company have been enthusiastic barrel pickers of late with some decent selections. And one of the better places to go for bitters, shrubbs, flavored syrups and the like. The Decatur cocktail ethos having some influence I suppose.

[nd2005]

BMH Oregon crap at $140

[PaulO]

I saw my first WT Rare Breed 112 proof. I'll probably go back and grab one when I get bored.

[ryanc]

Didn't buy any but saw some store select FR BP Single Barrel OBSK at $60, a barrel of Elmer T. Lee at $30 (which I thought was no longer possible! But kind of low stock so maybe it has been there awhile) and a BP Old Scout Bourbon and Rye (Note that the rye is 8yo, cask strength at 120+ pf and is just $46. Some orange bitters and it might make a good base for a poor man's XCF...).

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Anybody in the Atlanta area who is interested and doesn't know where this is feel free to PM me.

My sister used to go to Emory...near that store. They have a pretty good selection.

[mbroo5880i]

Didn't buy any but saw some store select FR BP Single Barrel OBSK at $60, a barrel of Elmer T. Lee at $30 (which I thought was no longer possible! But kind of low stock so maybe it has been there awhile) and a BP Old Scout Bourbon and Rye (Note that the rye is 8yo, cask strength at 120+ pf and is just $46. Some orange bitters and it might make a good base for a poor man's XCF...).

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Anybody in the Atlanta area who is interested and doesn't know where this is feel free to PM me.

I would love to walk in and see a cache of ETL sitting on a barrel. I haven't seen any OS Rye BP so I would have walked out with that.

[big pete]

Some '13 OFBB for $199, '14 OFBB for $99, and ECBP for $149

[Mardbrown]

Yes sir bigpete. EASYPASS!!