What bourbon are you drinking? Spring 2015!

[jeffrey r]

11 year 8 month OBSF, 117 proof. Excellent, complex bourbon. Followed up by Bourye, which I am growing very fond of.

[chooch714]

Had a couple pours of Basil Hayden at the cigar bar earlier this afternoon. Enjoying some OC101_now.

[dcbt]

After reading the Fitz thread today I'm having a Larceny pour tonight.

[Hop]

Topped the night off with ETL

[Ravensfire]

After some exceptional local beers, watching the last couple of innings of the Cards - Cubs game with a solid HHSS 2 pour. My wife just laughs everytime I pull out that bottle knowing the utterly satisfied look I get on my face with that first sip.

[fozzy71]

ETL after a few pours of Templeton Rye, quite a contrast but I like it.

[flahute]

In clearinghouse mode tonight. A pour of Beam SC 12yr has me down to one pour left. Then, the final pour of OF 1870. Not bad, but never great. It tastes a bit grainy tonight. Not sad to see it go.

[meadeweber]

its the same juice. its just regular bookers made with limited edition labels to attract more attention. which is why neither the sku nor price has changed.

[amg]

I'd have to say you may be wrong since the proof and age is different. http://www.bookersbourbon.com/batches/

[TunnelTiger]

WT Tradition didn't get opened last night because a bottle of SAOS 7 yr was an easier reach (I didn't have to bend down to the bottom shelf).

[T Comp]

Had the first pour from my bottle of Bookers 2015-01 "Big Man, Small Batch" with a little water added. Distinctively Beam. I quite enjoyed it.

2015-02s are on the shelves as well. Will have to pick one up to do a SbS.

[meadeweber]

EVERY batch of Bookers has a different proof and age, and this has been true since it first came out.

[dSculptor]

Poured me some RHF last night, damn was it good!! Today's line -up... hmmmm, maybe some GTS, and some PVW15....just for starters!

[typoerror]

i need to stop believing bad info. stupid local liquor store.

[dcbt]

i need to stop believing bad info. stupid local liquor store.

[typoerror]

you would expect the "bourbon guy" that has been working there for the last 20+ years would know...

the bookers thing was quite convincing since the sku on the normal, light wood packages and the 15-01 and 15-02 are the same as is their price. but as i read further i'm realizing he just didn't have/give me the full story.

[JDSmith619]

OESK was firing on all cylinders last night.

[Paul W]

Poured me some RHF last night, damn was it good!!

I was drinking RHF last night and pondering how it is both different from, but also like, Blanton's. I think I am going to do a SBS since I like them both and want to refine how they are different.

Similarities include:

1. Pretty bottle.

2. Kind of pricey

3. Top tier hand selected bourbons offered by BT (other than BTAC and PVW)

4. More on the mild-and-refined side of things, as opposed to the bold-and-in-your-face side

5. Really easy to drink, as in looking down at the glass and finding it empty without really remembering that you drank it all.

[kcgumbohead]

Was going to get off the OESO train last night but it found its way into the glass and it was a damn nice pour with just a couple drops of water.

[jeffrey r]

I was drinking RHF last night and pondering how it is both different from, but also like, Blanton's. I think I am going to do a SBS since I like them both and want to refine how they are different.

Similarities include:

1. Pretty bottle.

2. Kind of pricey

3. Top tier hand selected bourbons offered by BT (other than BTAC and PVW)

4. More on the mild-and-refined side of things, as opposed to the bold-and-in-your-face side

5. Really easy to drink, as in looking down at the glass and finding it empty without really remembering that you drank it all.

I'll differ a bit on your conclusions about the nuts and bolts of Blanton's and RHF. I really enjoy both, but I find RHF to be bolder, more complex, and generally preferable to Blanton's. I would agree with you that Blanton's is a bit "milder". The fact that RHF is cheaper is just a bonus. I always have plenty around of each, but I'd be more inclined to put Blanton's out for guests, due to its milder nature. It's a crowd-pleaser, and I think it is intended to be so.

I never had earlier releases of RHF, but the current releases have been terrific IMHO. I stocked up at $45, and then lo and behold, I came across a row of them at $39.99 this past week, but I had to pass them up as I have one open and six in the bunker already. Oh, and don't forget CEHT SB and BP as "top tier" BT bourbons.

[dcbt]

RHF always struck me as a bit "grassy' if you will. I still enjoy it but not enough to warrant a purchase in quite a while. ETL has been my go to from that mash bill. I'll order Blanton's if a restaurant has it, though, it never disappoints.

[TunnelTiger]

you would expect the "bourbon guy" that has been working there for the last 20+ years would know....

Someone like that knows, now telling you the whole story, that's another thing.

[flahute]

you would expect the "bourbon guy" that has been working there for the last 20+ years would know...

the bookers thing was quite convincing since the sku on the normal, light wood packages and the 15-01 and 15-02 are the same as is their price. but as i read further i'm realizing he just didn't have/give me the full story.

You were right in "general principle" that it's regular old Booker's. As others have already explained, Booker's varies from batch to batch (and it is a batch, not a single barrel, so they can control the profile as they see fit). Though there are differences from batch to batch, they are not significant. Beam has spent a lot of time and effort setting expectations for that brand profile so they aren't looking for a lot of variation from batch to batch. The more salient point is about the new batch naming system they started this year. When they first came out, some people tried to capitalize on it as a special release which it is not. Myself and others said "no, it's the same old Booker's, just with unique batch names now". What we meant was that it's the same process of creating a batch as before, not that it was always the exact same bourbon in the bottle from release to release.

[Flyfish]

Tended the roses this p.m. and then sat in the swing in/under(?) the pergola to enjoy a WLW12 neat. Then an EC12, just because of the "12," on the rocks. Goldfinches, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, and cardinals came to the feeder. Damn I love May!

[fishnbowljoe]

I've been going back and forth between JB BIB and HH 6 yr BIB lately. Not much left in either bottle. What next??? :grin: