What Bourbon Did You Purchase Today (Summer 2020)

[Not_That_Fancy]

17 minutes ago, Postal Grunt said:

While I was taking my routine "just in case there's something new" walk down the whiskey aisle at Costco this morning, I spied some 1792 SmB. It's been quite a while since I sampled some and couldn't recall ever buying a bottle so I took a bottle home with me for around $28. I opened it up this afternoon and it's not at all bad at that price. Yeah, I could buy another if they keep it in stock.

I’m patiently awaiting to find a bottle of “Port Finish”. I have every other bottle and want to do a taste test between all. I’m a big fan of the Full proof!

[GeeTen]

5 hours ago, GeeTen said:

Or 0.0% in the People's Republic of Massacusetts!  The price you see on the shelf tag is the price you pay OTD.  

 

 

OMG, I can't even spell the name of my home state!  But I do have a plausible excuse - came home early last evening after conducting a neighborhood wine tasting where we finished off a bottle of Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique that I brought for sh*ts and giggles.  SWMBO laughlingly mentioned that I went to bed awful early as I closed my eyes.  They enjoy our misery from over-indulgence, don't they?   She also said something about how I should know better at my advanced age, too . . . . .  

 

Edited July 9, 2020 by GeeTen

[kcgumbohead]

13 hours ago, GeeTen said:

 

OMG, I can't even spell the name of my home state!  But I do have a plausible excuse - came home early last evening after conducting a neighborhood wine tasting where we finished off a bottle of Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique that I brought for sh*ts and giggles.  SWMBO laughlingly mentioned that I went to bed awful early as I closed my eyes.  They enjoy our misery from over-indulgence, don't they?   She also said something about how I should know better at my advanced age, too . . . . .  

 

Don't advanced "rights and privileges" come with advanced age? At least I am hoping so as its the excuse I plan to give once I get there ( Its in view LOL!!)

[Kyjd75]

On 7/8/2020 at 1:53 PM, Special Reserve said:

 

As others have noted, I too am a big fan.  State minimum price in MI is $79.99 + 6% tax.  I've never seen one in the wild for the state price, always at least $10 or more above.  I've also never seen one in the wild I haven't purchased.  In MI it's a hard find.

Now that's a buy!!!  Congrats on a great find.

[silverc]

A few pickups this afternoon from VA ABC. The Maker's Mark is I guess the 2nd in their limited edition series after RC6 from last year. It's not all that imaginative with 10x MM46 staves, but I don't remember this being released in a 750ml size, especially outside KY. I remember it being a gift shop exclusive for a while in KY.

 

I'm not usually much of a Makers fan, but I did really like the RC6. Hopefully this one stands up too.

 

MM46 Cask $60

Tom's Town (MGP finished in french oak staves) $40

Pendergast (MGP - I think - finished in port casks) $45

Boondogler $24

 

 

[Radioyada]

Stopped by a store while running errands, and came away with a couple of surprises. The two on the right are the surprises, and the two on e left were given to me at no cost for me to try. Looking toward to opening the GTS and the Michter’s rye soon. 
 

 

[geclbxf]

Great surprises, Congrats!

[mbroo5880i]

I picked up a New Riff Single Barrel today. Not that it is anything special. However, my understanding is it is bottled at barrel strength.  The proof is 103.6 which I found interesting for a 4 year old bourbon.  The store had two other single barrels both around 111 proof.

 

I have had older barrel strength bourbons at lower proofs but nothing this young at this low of proof.  I assume barrel entry is 125 proof but don't  know for sure. 

[flahute]

41 minutes ago, mbroo5880i said:

I picked up a New Riff Single Barrel today. Not that it is anything special. However, my understanding is it is bottled at barrel strength.  The proof is 103.6 which I found interesting for a 4 year old bourbon.  The store had two other single barrels both around 111 proof.

 

I have had older barrel strength bourbons at lower proofs but nothing this young at this low of proof.  I assume barrel entry is 125 proof but don't  know for sure. 

At that low a proof at only 4 years of age it hasn’t had much time to lose proof due to being aged on the first floor of a rickhouse. It must be a low entry proof.

[mbroo5880i]

4 hours ago, flahute said:

At that low a proof at only 4 years of age it hasn’t had much time to lose proof due to being aged on the first floor of a rickhouse. It must be a low entry proof.

I gave it a go tonight and I continue to be impressed by their offerings.  I bought my bottle at Costco so it was just their standard single barrel.  It drinks above its age.  The price was right at $41.99.  I will sample again soon and, if my impression remains the same, I will pick up another bottle or two.  I just find it odd paying $40+ for a bottle with a label that reads distilled in Spring 2016 and enjoying it.

[camduncan]

Picked up a Blantons Gold today.  Retails here for AU $125 (approx US $85).  A bit expensive (for me) for an everyday pour, but I do like to break it out on weekends.

[flahute]

1 hour ago, mbroo5880i said:

I gave it a go tonight and I continue to be impressed by their offerings.  I bought my bottle at Costco so it was just their standard single barrel.  It drinks above its age.  The price was right at $41.99.  I will sample again soon and, if my impression remains the same, I will pick up another bottle or two.  I just find it odd paying $40+ for a bottle with a label that reads distilled in Spring 2016 and enjoying it.

Nice! Very happy to hear that you like it. I've tried two different single barrels from them and neither have been to my liking. Not sure if I'm just having bad luck because you and others here have been having some success with these.

[mbroo5880i]

1 hour ago, flahute said:

Nice! Very happy to hear that you like it. I've tried two different single barrels from them and neither have been to my liking. Not sure if I'm just having bad luck because you and others here have been having some success with these.

I always find it disappointing when others enjoy something that I don;t but, when it comes to bourbon, the disappointment is usually short as I can always find something that I do enjoy.

 

I have never really cared for BT or Dickel.  Both are reasonable value whiskeys but not in my wheelhouse.  I have been a little more fortunate with ER but find that hit or miss as well.

 

 

[Kepler]

3 hours ago, camduncan said:

Picked up a Blantons Gold today.  Retails here for AU $125 (approx US $85).  A bit expensive (for me) for an everyday pour, but I do like to break it out on weekends.

Nice choice.  Everyone deserves to treat themselves with a special bottle on occasion, even after reaching bourbon zen.

[Kepler]

9 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

I picked up a New Riff Single Barrel today. Not that it is anything special. However, my understanding is it is bottled at barrel strength.  The proof is 103.6 which I found interesting for a 4 year old bourbon.  The store had two other single barrels both around 111 proof.

 

I have had older barrel strength bourbons at lower proofs but nothing this young at this low of proof.  I assume barrel entry is 125 proof but don't  know for sure. 

 

3 hours ago, flahute said:

Nice! Very happy to hear that you like it. I've tried two different single barrels from them and neither have been to my liking. Not sure if I'm just having bad luck because you and others here have been having some success with these.

 

I assume at some point I will come across New Riff here in Texas, but I haven't yet.  So that I am well prepared to pull the trigger on a good bottling expression if the opportunity presents itself (and to also pass on average ones), does anyone have guidance on which expressions I should look for?  I've heard lots of varying degrees of opinions about New Riff, and since I've reached zen I am much more choosy about what I actually purchase, especially for anything priced higher than $50ish (which is the price I can buy RRSiB for). 

FYI, if the shoe fits, I'm also 100 percent totally fine to wait a couple of years on a good distillery if all they need is more time in the barrel (e.g., looking at you Peerless Rye)...

[Kepler]

On 7/8/2020 at 11:13 PM, Not_That_Fancy said:

I’m patiently awaiting to find a bottle of “Port Finish”. I have every other bottle and want to do a taste test between all. I’m a big fan of the Full proof!

That's the one Bartons I didn't care for.  I ended up blending it with Full Proof to improve mine.  I still have a little left that I will keep just for comparisons versus other port finished whiskies.

A lot of other folks really like the 1792 Port however, and I totally understand and support the need to complete the collection (I want a 12 Year myself).

Unsolicited opinion here, but personally if I'm looking for a finished bourbon I prefer Angel's Envy myself.  YRMV...

[Wedelstaedt]

1 hour ago, Kepler said:

That's the one Bartons I didn't care for.  I ended up blending it with Full Proof to improve mine.  I still have a little left that I will keep just for comparisons versus other port finished whiskies.

A lot of other folks really like the 1792 Port however, and I totally understand and support the need to complete the collection (I want a 12 Year myself).

Unsolicited opinion here, but personally if I'm looking for a finished bourbon I prefer Angel's Envy myself.  YRMV...

My 1792 Port Finish tasted like Welch's grape jelly infused with Bourbon. It was tasty, if your into that type of thing..........

 

Cheers

[0895]

6 hours ago, Kepler said:

That's the one Bartons I didn't care for.  I ended up blending it with Full Proof to improve mine.  I still have a little left that I will keep just for comparisons versus other port finished whiskies.

A lot of other folks really like the 1792 Port however, and I totally understand and support the need to complete the collection (I want a 12 Year myself).

Unsolicited opinion here, but personally if I'm looking for a finished bourbon I prefer Angel's Envy myself.  YRMV...

Im kinda on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

1792 port is one of my all time favorite port finished bourbons.

I loved it’s kinda dry weirdness.

Probably need to work on killing mine.

Its been open since the one and only release of it back in 2015.

 

AE is usually a last resort choice for me, after annoying the waitress for 5 minutes with “what else you got?”  

[geclbxf]

11 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

I gave it a go tonight and I continue to be impressed by their offerings.  I bought my bottle at Costco so it was just their standard single barrel.  It drinks above its age.  The price was right at $41.99.  I will sample again soon and, if my impression remains the same, I will pick up another bottle or two.  I just find it odd paying $40+ for a bottle with a label that reads distilled in Spring 2016 and enjoying it.

I have been impressed with New Riff since the beginning.   I think it punches much harder than 4 years should.   One of my fav stores in Indiana has a single barrel coming next week that they picked, and are claiming its one of their fav single barrels ever.   I cant wait to try it.

[JakeySnakes]

Picked up a big boy ER yesterday for $64. Time to transfer over to the smaller bottle for the cabinet top. These have been few and far between lately in my area. 750's have been creeping up to about $40 on avg, when available.

 

[BoilerinIL]

8 hours ago, Kepler said:

 

 

I assume at some point I will come across New Riff here in Texas, but I haven't yet.  So that I am well prepared to pull the trigger on a good bottling expression if the opportunity presents itself (and to also pass on average ones), does anyone have guidance on which expressions I should look for?  I've heard lots of varying degrees of opinions about New Riff, and since I've reached zen I am much more choosy about what I actually purchase, especially for anything priced higher than $50ish (which is the price I can buy RRSiB for). 

FYI, if the shoe fits, I'm also 100 percent totally fine to wait a couple of years on a good distillery if all they need is more time in the barrel (e.g., looking at you Peerless Rye)...

I prefer the New Riff SiB to the BIB and I prefer the Rye to the Bourbon. I liked the BIB Rye but the SiB's I've had are even better. I've had two SiB's from the distillery gift shop and I love that they are both good but, also, unique. Of course SiB's vary from barrel to barrel but if I tried these side by side I wouldn't have guessed they were the "same" product. I have a 3rd SiB Rye that I picked up at the distillery that I will be opening soon and looking forward to the comparison.

[Wrangler]

Well, it was yesterday but I brought home some Jim Beam white label, Jim Beam Devil's Cut, Knob Creek 9 and a liter of Evan Williams black label.  

Only the EW has been cracked open and I like it but it's not fantastic.

The two I'm really interested in are the Devil's Cut and the Knob Creek.  We'll see what I think of those soon enough.

 

[Tulse]

Found it rather cheap....

 

 

 

 

[flahute]

2 hours ago, Wrangler said:

Well, it was yesterday but I brought home some Jim Beam white label, Jim Beam Devil's Cut, Knob Creek 9 and a liter of Evan Williams black label.  

Only the EW has been cracked open and I like it but it's not fantastic.

The two I'm really interested in are the Devil's Cut and the Knob Creek.  We'll see what I think of those soon enough.

 

Where in WA are you?

[RudyTheKlown]

I got the ECBP B520 for $49.99, and an 11 year, 1 month, 11 day old KCSB.