Value proposition of barrel proof bourbons?

[EarthQuake]

Usually with this sort of thing what is the best "value" and what I actually want to drink never align. I would tend to agree that on balance of price, proof and all around intensity of flavor OGD114 is one of the best values out there, but I don't really want to sip young Beam no matter how good a value it is. It really just doesn't taste that good compared to things I typically like to drink. It's certainly better than most stuff in the price range, but that's sort of like being the smartest kid in special ed.

 

Similarly, a standard bottling of Four Roses may be a pretty good value, but the barrel proof store picks are in an entirely different league in my opinion. I have some difficulty recommending standard Four Roses (Small batch, yellow label), it just isn't that good. But the store picks tend to range from very good to phenomenal, and the better ones that I've had are up there with the limited edition unicorns that people lust after.

 

At the end of the day, I tend to buy more than I drink, so I've given up on trying to find the best value and try to focus on buying less bottles of things I really like. That, to me, is the best use of money.

[Guss West]

Is this the next plane of bourbon zen?   

I'm past the whir and stir of every new bottle. 

Give me fewer bottles of higher quality. 

 

Om.

[jvd99]

 Buying high quality instead of quantity is lesson learned with experience 

[jshleffar]

2 hours ago, jvd99 said:

 Buying high quality instead of quantity is lesson learned with experience 

Then we come across the zen I and many others have reached... Buying high quantity of high quality. Ok maybe Im mistaking slightly drunk for zen...