Our ongoing observations about whether the boom has peaked

[ThirstyinOhio]

While doing a Knob Creek barrel pick (now barrel proof instead of just 120!), our guide mentioned that they now run 5 days a week vs 7 like they were doing for the last several years as inventory is building up too fast.

[mbroo5880i]

On 1/27/2025 at 6:14 PM, ThirstyinOhio said:

While doing a Knob Creek barrel pick (now barrel proof instead of just 120!), our guide mentioned that they now run 5 days a week vs 7 like they were doing for the last several years as inventory is building up too fast.

 

What?  How can there be too much Knob Creek?  Say it ain't so.

[mbroo5880i]

On 1/27/2025 at 6:14 PM, ThirstyinOhio said:

While doing a Knob Creek barrel pick (now barrel proof instead of just 120!), our guide mentioned that they now run 5 days a week vs 7 like they were doing for the last several years as inventory is building up too fast.

 

Hey, wait.  Back track.  They are going to bottle at barrel proof not 120?  What?  Have they ever done that?

[fishnbowljoe]

On 1/27/2025 at 5:14 PM, ThirstyinOhio said:

While doing a Knob Creek barrel pick (now barrel proof instead of just 120!), our guide mentioned that they now run 5 days a week vs 7 like they were doing for the last several years as inventory is building up too fast.

Same schedule at both plants?

[fosmith]

13 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

 

Hey, wait.  Back track.  They are going to bottle at barrel proof not 120?  What?  Have they ever done that?

The Knob Creek 25th Anniversary releases from 2017 were at cask strength, most all in the low 120s.   

[yobber76]

On 8/15/2024 at 8:11 AM, VWIndy said:

If you are going to try some tequila I would recommend that you try the additive free tequila.  They are adding vanilla and all kinds of junk to some tequilas (e.g. Casamigos).

A good additive free tequila is G4 or Fortaleza.  Getting harder to find the Fortaleza  now that it has been discovered.  The prices are going up as taters hoard it (Sound familiar).

Cheers

 

There are tons of great sipping tequilas in all varieties. A great source of information is the Tequila Matchmaker online.

Tequila Ocho, G4, Forteleza, Cascahuin, El Tesoro,  all great distillers. As others have said, look for additive free, 100% agave, as your standards.

There are many barrel strength Blancos that are wonderful, though more expensive and harder to find. The Anejos and Extra Anejos are as interesting and varied

as the Scotch and Bourbon industry.

 

Sipping grade Rums another great area to look into. 

 

"Oh so much to do, so little liver left!!"

[ThirstyinOhio]

17 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Same schedule at both plants?

He made it sound like it was for both plants

[Jazz June]

I was told the new still at Booker Noe was designed so it can be run at half or one quarter capacity, so I think they saw the slow down coming for a while.

[Kepler]

22 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

What?  How can there be too much Knob Creek?  Say it ain't so.

 

Well you know what that means.  We must not be drinking enough bourbon.  Time to get to work!

 

[mal00768]

Bring back $40 15 year old SiB pretty please!

[Kepler]

On 1/31/2025 at 7:27 PM, mal00768 said:

Bring back $40 15 year old SiB pretty please!

 

I just can't help but think about the Wolf!

 

 

 

 

Edited February 2 by Kepler

[flahute]

On 1/30/2025 at 5:46 PM, mbroo5880i said:

 

Hey, wait.  Back track.  They are going to bottle at barrel proof not 120?  What?  Have they ever done that?

Not for the single barrel program - this is new.

[Kepler]

On 1/30/2025 at 7:46 PM, mbroo5880i said:

Hey, wait.  Back track.  They are going to bottle at barrel proof not 120?  What?  Have they ever done that?

 

9 hours ago, flahute said:

Not for the single barrel program - this is new.

 

This doesn't move the needle for me.  Personally, I'm not that crazy about the 120 proof, and if they go up to barrel proof, I'm even less excited about it.  If I'm in the mood to go all out (full "blitzkrieg" beast mode) then I'll just choose Booker's.  

With KC at 120 proof, I find myself wanting to add water more times than not (or an ice cube. which is a last resort for me -- I basically hate ice in my whiskey).

If I had my druthers, they would reduce the proof of the KC single barrel down to about 110 or 115, which is ideal for my taste buds. 

 

I've long believed that Wild Turkey's decision to bottle their premium Russell's Reserve SiB at 110 proof NCF was a very wise choice...

 

 

 

[ThirstyinOhio]

Another sign of the bust....my group was recently approached by a distillery (I won't name them) who wants to meet with us, do a tasting of their recent products, and discuss why we along with other groups who supported them early on are no longer interested in doing barrel picks....

[VWIndy]

I was talking with a liquor store owner here in Indianapolis and he told me that a brand ambassador for a bourbon distillery called him for the first time in 6 years for a lunch appt.:}. 

Sounds like they are struggling to sell product and having to beat the bushes for the first time in many years.  

As my dear old dad use to say “ The sun shines on every dogs butt once in a while;  Don’t ever count on it but enjoy when it happens"

 

[smokinjoe]

11 minutes ago, VWIndy said:

I was talking with a liquor store owner here in Indianapolis and he told me that a brand ambassador for a bourbon distillery called him for the first time in 6 years for a lunch appt.:}. 

Sounds like they are struggling to sell product and having to beat the bushes for the first time in many years.  

As my dear old dad use to say “ The sun shines on every dogs butt once in a while;  Don’t ever count on it but enjoy when it happens"

 

Or…

https://clip.cafe/hoosiers-1986/sun-dont-shine-on-the-same-dogs-ass-everyday/

 

 

[flahute]

We will know it's really over when Julian approaches SB again asking if we want a barrel of PVW23yr.

[mbroo5880i]

On 2/6/2025 at 5:33 PM, flahute said:

We will know it's really over when Julian approaches SB again asking if we want a barrel of PVW23yr.

 

He knows where we are!  

 

 

[flahute]

42 minutes ago, mbroo5880i said:

 

He knows where we are!  

 

 

Yes he does!

[mbroo5880i]

4 minutes ago, flahute said:

Yes he does!

 

Not that we are Pappy whores but we probably would be willing to name it "Julian's Pick."  Just sayin'.  

[Kepler]

On 2/3/2025 at 11:41 PM, Kepler said:

This doesn't move the needle for me.  Personally, I'm not that crazy about the 120 proof, and if they go up to barrel proof, I'm even less excited about it.  If I'm in the mood to go all out (full "blitzkrieg" beast mode) then I'll just choose Booker's.  

With KC at 120 proof, I find myself wanting to add water more times than not (or an ice cube. which is a last resort for me -- I basically hate ice in my whiskey).

If I had my druthers, they would reduce the proof of the KC single barrel down to about 110 or 115, which is ideal for my taste buds. 

...

 

I should clarify what I meant.  I love the KC SiB whiskey.  I just don't love that it's at 120 proof.  110 or 115 would be perfect for me.  But since Beam has Booker's at 107 proof I understand why they chose a higher proof for the KC SiB.

 

[Kepler]

37 minutes ago, Kepler said:

 

I should clarify what I meant.  I love the KC SiB whiskey.  I just don't love that it's at 120 proof.  110 or 115 would be perfect for me.  But since Beam has Booker's at 107 proof I understand why they chose a higher proof for the KC SiB.

 

 

Baker's at 107, not bookers

[0895]

2 hours ago, Kepler said:

 

Baker's at 107, not bookers

It’s ok buddy.

We’ve all been there.

Do you want to blame it on age or whiskey consumption tonight?

[Kepler]

28 minutes ago, 0895 said:

It’s ok buddy.

We’ve all been there.

Do you want to blame it on age or whiskey consumption tonight?

 

Lol!   

Definitely old age because I had just poured and barely even started sipping!

[JCwhammie]

On 2/3/2025 at 11:41 PM, Kepler said:

 

 

This doesn't move the needle for me.  Personally, I'm not that crazy about the 120 proof, and if they go up to barrel proof, I'm even less excited about it.  If I'm in the mood to go all out (full "blitzkrieg" beast mode) then I'll just choose Booker's.  

With KC at 120 proof, I find myself wanting to add water more times than not (or an ice cube. which is a last resort for me -- I basically hate ice in my whiskey).

If I had my druthers, they would reduce the proof of the KC single barrel down to about 110 or 115, which is ideal for my taste buds. 

 

I've long believed that Wild Turkey's decision to bottle their premium Russell's Reserve SiB at 110 proof NCF was a very wise choice...

 

 

 

 

I generally agree that KC tastes better to me a little lower than 120. But the reason I like it at that proof is I can put some on a big cube of ice. For the most part KC SIB and ECBP (only sometimes) are the only pours that I put on ice.