I need help from the experts!

[BBnknowNuthin]

I'm looking to buy a nice bottle of bourbon as a special gift for someone who drinks Blantons and EH Taylor as his daily choice.  What would be a good recommendation?  Trying to stay under $300, and have a month or so to locate if difficult to find.  Didn't want to go solely by price, but want something good that he'll be happy to own/drink.  Please help!

[B.B. Babington]

the sister sip to blantons is rock hill farms, about $55-$60, not easy to find but is out there.

[BBnknowNuthin]

Looking for something he wouldn't normally get himself.  Something special.

[PaulO]

Rock Hill Farms is the same mash bill and I think age as Blanton's.  It's 100 proof and they select for a slightly different profile.  Also, there are many different variations of EH Taylor including barrel proof and a rye whiskey.  

Blanton's has some export only bottlings (like Straight From The Barrel).  They don't sell those in the US.  I don't know how you'd get one of those.  It sure would be special.

Edited August 22, 2016 by PaulO

[dcbt]

22 minutes ago, BBnknowNuthin said:

Looking for something he wouldn't normally get himself.  Something special.

Define that.  Something really pricey, or something that's just hard to find?  What is his constraint when you say he normally wouldn't get it himself?  There aren't a lot of bourbons readily available that are more expensive than Blanton's.  Wild Turkey Diamond is a limited edition for $110 or so that is pretty easy to find still.  But other than that, prices are going to be in line with Blanton's.  Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, a Four Roses store pick, Stagg Jr, Rock Hill Farms (as mentioned by others) are all good bourbons that range from difficult to impossible to find (depending on distribution) that cost $50-75 or so.  For that matter, Weller 12 is a $20 bourbon that is nearly impossible to find in most places that he'd probably appreciate for that reason alone.  He'd probably love Elmer T Lee (same mash bill as Blanton's) but it's very hard to find (but only $30-40 if you do find it).

 

[BBnknowNuthin]

I would define special as not readily available in the DC/VA area, but something that he would enjoy drinking/having or be happy to receive as a gift.  He's a Marine and has truly earned it!

[tanstaafl2]

14 minutes ago, dcbt said:

Define that.  Something really pricey, or something that's just hard to find?  What is his constraint when you say he normally wouldn't get it himself?  There aren't a lot of bourbons readily available that are more expensive than Blanton's.  Wild Turkey Diamond is a limited edition for $110 or so that is pretty easy to find still.  But other than that, prices are going to be in line with Blanton's.  Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, a Four Roses store pick, Stagg Jr, Rock Hill Farms (as mentioned by others) are all good bourbons that range from difficult to impossible to find (depending on distribution) that cost $50-75 or so.  For that matter, Weller 12 is a $20 bourbon that is nearly impossible to find in most places that he'd probably appreciate for that reason alone.  He'd probably love Elmer T Lee (same mash bill as Blanton's) but it's very hard to find (but only $30-40 if you do find it).

 

 

That is the price they SHOULD be. There have been many reports of stores charging much more for many of these just because they are now either rare or perceived to be rare. Weller 12 going for $80 or more in some stores, Elmer T. Lee for $100 or more. Not worth the money to me.

 

If he likes Blanton's then the previously mentioned Blanton's Straight from the Barrel is a nice bottle. But it can typically be found only overseas and even then you may need some luck.

 

If he Likes Colonel EH Taylor then George Stagg (or maybe  Eagle Rare 17yo) might be the special bottle you see. But those are highly sought after, fairly rare and typically marked up well above retail price (and quite likely well above your stated price goal). You might have a chance of finding a CEHT Barrel Proof, kind of a limited release in the CEHT lineup, but even those can be hard to come by.

 

And if people here knew where they could find a bottle at close to retail price then odds are we would have bought them ourselves by now!

 

Sorry that I can't be much more help. Good luck!

[Paddy]

Don't kill yourself trying to run down a limited/special... get him a nice barrel proofer. 

 

If he doesn't like it at full proof, he'll be able to able to bring it down accordingly (and on his own terms).

 

As noted above, ECBP, Stagg Jr., Jack Daniels SB (BP) or a FR barrel proofer would all be a welcome addition to any of our bunkers! 

 

Best of luck!

[Flyfish]

Now, this concept may be just crazy but if your friend likes Blanton's why not just give Blanton's? Last month, I gave a bottle of Blanton's to friends who are normally Scotch drinkers but who appreciated a bourbon tasting we gave them. They said they loved it. They said they loved it. You can't always tell when friends are just trying to be polite. If your really think you have to spend $300 just get 6 bottles of Blanton's.

[B.B. Babington]

3 hours ago, BBnknowNuthin said:

I would define special as not readily available in the DC/VA area, but something that he would enjoy drinking/having or be happy to receive as a gift...

everything mentioned so far (including the overpriced Diamond) fit this bill just fine, they are special and not something you just walk in the store and pull off the shelf.

[B.B. Babington]

4 hours ago, PaulO said:

Rock Hill Farms is the same mash bill and I think age as Blanton's.  It's 100 proof and they select for a slightly different profile.  Also, there are many different variations of EH Taylor including barrel proof and a rye whiskey.  

Blanton's has some export only bottlings (like Straight From The Barrel).  They don't sell those in the US.

look again at PaulO's suggestions.  These are close in family/brand to what he drinks already, and when you go to find them and have a difficult time, you'll understand. 

[BBnknowNuthin]

Thank you so much to everyone! The point to this is in the effort and thought put into it, not just going in and buying 6 bottles of something he can buy himself up the street.

[BBnknowNuthin]

4 hours ago, tanstaafl2 said:

 

That is the price they SHOULD be. There have been many reports of stores charging much more for many of these just because they are now either rare or perceived to be rare. Weller 12 going for $80 or more in some stores, Elmer T. Lee for $100 or more. Not worth the money to me.

 

If he likes Blanton's then the previously mentioned Blanton's Straight from the Barrel is a nice bottle. But it can typically be found only overseas and even then you may need some luck.

 

If he Likes Colonel EH Taylor then George Stagg (or maybe  Eagle Rare 17yo) might be the special bottle you see. But those are highly sought after, fairly rare and typically marked up well above retail price (and quite likely well above your stated price goal). You might have a chance of finding a CEHT Barrel Proof, kind of a limited release in the CEHT lineup, but even those can be hard to come by.

 

And if people here knew where they could find a bottle at close to retail price then odds are we would have bought them ourselves by now!

 

Sorry that I can't be much more help. Good luck!

I found the CEHT Barrel Proof for $175, is that a good price or should I keep looking?

[B.B. Babington]

If we're talking Col E.H. Taylor barrel proof, I think that initially retails $69 in some areas but it sells super fast at that price.  Different vendors mark it up and the higher they price it, the longer they keep it.  So you're paying the convenience of finding it fast and shipped to door?  But then you might have to pay premium to get these.  You're in South Carolina?  Georgia or Tennessee might have better selections than South Carolina.   North Carolina ABC gets good stuff from time to time, they list EH Taylor barrel proof $69.95 and rye for $71.25, but actually finding them might be hard this time of year. 

[B.B. Babington]

Rock Hill Farms is the one you're most likely to run across without price gouging.  Personally, I like it much better than Blantons. 

[smokinjoe]

As Paul mentioned, you could consider going secondary market , or legit Euro retailer, to source a different iteration of Blanton's like "Straight From the Barrel (SFTB), Gold Label, Green Label.   Probably would keep you under your $300 limit, and delight the recipient.  

[Louisiana]

I think that's what some were saying earlier. Even if you do find them. They are probably there for a reason. Overpriced or not sought after. Anything that is sought after and at retail has been bought usually. Unless you have connections. In that case you might be able to secure something allocated at a descent price.

[BBnknowNuthin]

Also found EC Barrel Proof for $150.

[tanstaafl2]

15 hours ago, BBnknowNuthin said:

Also found EC Barrel Proof for $150.

 

Again you would be paying a significant premium in my opinion. It has sold in the recent past for perhaps $60 or less right off the shelf in the recent past although you would have to have a bit of luck to find it at that price before it sells out. When it first came out a few years ago it was more like $40! Personally I would be hard pressed to pay more than $75 even if it was intended as a gift. But that is my opinion. You would have to decide for yourself if $150 is a comfortable number for you.

[B.B. Babington]

I like EC barrel proof at $45. 

[B.B. Babington]

Why not go to the liquor store (that has good prices) and buy him a big sample pack of a bunch of different ones in the +$20 range for him to try back to back?  He might find that fun doing a bunch of taste comparisons. 

[garbanzobean]

On 8/22/2016 at 2:59 PM, BBnknowNuthin said:

I would define special as not readily available in the DC/VA area, but something that he would enjoy drinking/having or be happy to receive as a gift.  He's a Marine and has truly earned it!

Are you in the DC/VA area too?  If so, are you willing to come up to Maryland?  I may be able to help you find something special.

[BBnknowNuthin]

On August 23, 2016 at 7:15 PM, garbanzobean said:

Are you in the DC/VA area too?  If so, are you willing to come up to Maryland?  I may be able to help you find something special.

I'm in SC, but get to NC and Hampton Roads area occasionally, but not often.  

 

 

[Hop]

On 8/22/2016 at 8:02 PM, smokinjoe said:

As Paul mentioned, you could consider going secondary market , or legit Euro retailer, to source a different iteration of Blanton's like "Straight From the Barrel (SFTB), Gold Label, Green Label.   Probably would keep you under your $300 limit, and delight the recipient.  

This is the advice I would give as well.  I'm a big fan of Blanton's and really enjoy the couple of bottles of SFTB that I've sourced and received from Europe - as have friends I've shared them with

[squire]

Hundreds of dollars won't insure he will like it anymore than Blantons.  The same amount spent on a half dozen bottles of Blantons is something you know he will like.