What Bourbon Did You Pass On Today (Fall 2020)

[Clay34]

I tried a bottle of Old Tub.  For ME, it was an also ran, it wasn't complete, no spice.  I bought it at $23.99 and it will be my last bottle.  I'm buying 1.75 OF100 right now for 38.99 - a $3 instant coupon = a 1.75 of a perfectly acceptable regular pour for $35.99.  Momma, I'm home, there is no where else I need to go.  Still love WT101 for a few dollars more. 

 

I look in my cabinet and tell myself that I really don't need any more $90 bottles.  I have a couple on the hit list.  Still would love to find an Old Fitz BiB, or even an Early Times BiB.  I've never seen an Elmer T. Lee in the wild and will buy it at a premium just to taste the goodness.   

 

Kid brought home an OGD BiB tonight and it's still good at $25/ bottle.  Like, I said - no more $90 plus bottles for a bit - Unless I find a Stagg???

Edited September 28, 2020 by Clay34

[mbroo5880i]

31 minutes ago, Clay34 said:

I tried a bottle of Old Tub.  For ME, it was an also rang, it wasn't complete, no spice.  I bought it at $23.99 and it will be my last bottle.  I'm buying 1.75 OF100 right now for 38.99 - a $3 instant coupon = a 1.75 of a perfectly acceptable regular pour for $35.99.  Momma, I'm home, there is no where else I need to go.  Still love WT101 for a few dollars more. 

 

I look in my cabinet and tell myself that I really don't need any more $90 bottles.  I have a couple on the hit list.  Still would love to find an Old Fitz BiB, or even an Early Times BiB.  I've never seen an Elmer T. Lee in the wild and will buy it at a premium just to taste the goodness.   

 

Kid brought home an OGD BiB tonight and it's still good at $25/ bottle.  Like, I said - no more $90 plus bottles for a bit - Unless I find a Stagg???

Right.  Buy what you like at a fair price unless you run across something unique or that you have always wanted to try.  I doubt I will ever pay $90 for anything other than PVW, Stagg or WLW.  However, never say never.

Edited September 28, 2020 by mbroo5880i

[PaulO]

Yep, I'm one and done on the Old Tub.  It wasn't horrible, just tasted like young Beam whiskey.  For the same price, there are even other Beam products I prefer.

[Sgtspitter101]

Passed on about 15-20 50ml blantons at 25 each. I had never seen one filled but i cannot give 25 dollars for a 50ml that will never be opened. Also passed on a blantons 750ml at 99.99 and a w107 at 109.99.

[FasterHorses]

On 9/27/2020 at 10:29 PM, Sgtspitter101 said:

Passed on about 15-20 50ml blantons at 25 each. I had never seen one filled but i cannot give 25 dollars for a 50ml that will never be opened. Also passed on a blantons 750ml at 99.99 and a w107 at 109.99.

If you get desperate enough youll open it.  At least at $9.99 you probably would. 

[BottledInBond]

On 9/27/2020 at 8:33 PM, Clay34 said:

I tried a bottle of Old Tub.  For ME, it was an also ran, it wasn't complete, no spice.  I bought it at $23.99 and it will be my last bottle.  I'm buying 1.75 OF100 right now for 38.99 - a $3 instant coupon = a 1.75 of a perfectly acceptable regular pour for $35.99.  Momma, I'm home, there is no where else I need to go.  Still love WT101 for a few dollars more. 

 

I look in my cabinet and tell myself that I really don't need any more $90 bottles.  I have a couple on the hit list.  Still would love to find an Old Fitz BiB, or even an Early Times BiB.  I've never seen an Elmer T. Lee in the wild and will buy it at a premium just to taste the goodness.   

 

Kid brought home an OGD BiB tonight and it's still good at $25/ bottle.  Like, I said - no more $90 plus bottles for a bit - Unless I find a Stagg???

I promise, there is nothing special you’re missing out on with Elmer Lee. This was historically an under the radar value brand, not heavily marketed and when I started drinking it, about $30 MSRP. It had a following as a cheap way to drink MB#2 single barrels. But, nothing very special about it. I would take RHF over it every time, as well as Blanton’s Gold or SFTB for sure. Even regular Blanton’s, but even then I won’t pay more than $60ish for a Blanton’s. In terms of what is in the glass, there is just better values out there, and least to me. 

[geclbxf]

6 hours ago, BottledInBond said:

I promise, there is nothing special you’re missing out on with Elmer Lee. This was historically an under the radar value brand, not heavily marketed and when I started drinking it, about $30 MSRP. It had a following as a cheap way to drink MB#2 single barrels. But, nothing very special about it. I would take RHF over it every time, as well as Blanton’s Gold or SFTB for sure. Even regular Blanton’s, but even then I won’t pay more than $60ish for a Blanton’s. In terms of what is in the glass, there is just better values out there, and least to me. 

I really agree - has the Blantons mystique with Taters, but with less supply = crazy fandom

[PaulO]

I totally agree.  I remember buying ETL for $25.  Even then, there were times I was sorry I didn't get something else.  Not that there was anything wrong with ETL.  It could be so boring and average.

[PhantomLamb]

1 hour ago, PaulO said:

I totally agree.  I remember buying ETL for $25.  Even then, there were times I was sorry I didn't get something else.  Not that there was anything wrong with ETL.  It could be so boring and average.

I feel like I've found the same with Blanton's and most other "in-demand" offerings from BT.  Not that they are bad, and personally I've never tried ETL, but just not even close to worth the hype.

[CardsandBourbon]

I passed on the 101 proof Maker's Mark.  Not sure that the extra 11 proof points are worth the extra $16.  Also passed on Cask Strength MM 46 @ $62.  Final big pass was KC SiB PS at nine years old & $58.  I remember when you could get 12-15 KC PS for $45.

[JCwhammie]

1 hour ago, CardsandBourbon said:

I passed on the 101 proof Maker's Mark.  Not sure that the extra 11 proof points are worth the extra $16.  

I 100% agree. MMCS is $35 here, which is $1 more than MM101. Since Makers rotates barrels and empties everything at basically the same age, in theory there should be very little variation in batch to batch testing. Hence the lack of need to buy 101 at that price. But people do love a different package, so it'll fly off the shelves in the short term. 

[BottledInBond]

6 minutes ago, JCwhammie said:

I 100% agree. MMCS is $35 here, which is $1 more than MM101. Since Makers rotates barrels and empties everything at basically the same age, in theory there should be very little variation in batch to batch testing. Hence the lack of need to buy 101 at that price. But people do love a different package, so it'll fly off the shelves in the short term. 

It says limited on the box it comes in though.....

[CardsandBourbon]

Ahh, the box.  That's why it's so much more expensive.

[fosmith]

5 hours ago, PaulO said:

I totally agree.  I remember buying ETL for $25.  Even then, there were times I was sorry I didn't get something else.  Not that there was anything wrong with ETL.  It could be so boring and average.

+1  Last time I bought ETL, it was a store pick sitting on the shelf for $35.  I was not impressed with it at all and have never bought another bottle.  That was about 6 - 7 yrs ago. 

[GeeTen]

23 minutes ago, fosmith said:

+1  Last time I bought ETL, it was a store pick sitting on the shelf for $35.  I was not impressed with it at all and have never bought another bottle.  That was about 6 - 7 yrs ago. 

 

Tried the ETL 100th Tribute?  Might change your mind, if only a little.  NOT, it's really good IMHO.  Loads of chocolate and caramel!  

[parksmart]

3 minutes ago, GeeTen said:

 

Tried the ETL 100th Tribute?  Might change your mind, if only a little.  NOT, it's really good IMHO.  Loads of chocolate and caramel!  

A divey bar I frequented pre-Covid had ETL regularly.  If there were nothing more allocated available, then I’d go with a pour or two of that.  
 

Last time I was in there before the COVID shutdown, they only had the ETL100.  Asked if I wanted to try it, cautioning me that it was $30 (more than 2x what they charge for the regular ETL).  Sure, why not?

 

So very glad I did.  Was definitely a great example of how damn good bourbon can be.  

[fosmith]

2 minutes ago, GeeTen said:

 

Tried the ETL 100th Tribute?  Might change your mind, if only a little.  NOT, it's really good IMHO.  Loads of chocolate and caramel!  

Hmm!  Maybe I'll just run down to the corner LS and grab a bottle.    Seriously, the only place I've ever seen it is in a lottery that a store I sometimes buy from is holding.  At least they aren't charging more than msrp if you win.  I'm sure it's a step up from the standard ETL, though...

[PaulO]

3 hours ago, GeeTen said:

 

Tried the ETL 100th Tribute?  Might change your mind, if only a little.  NOT, it's really good IMHO.  Loads of chocolate and caramel!  

Yes, an expensive bottle I'll never see should taste really good.

 

BT mashbill #2 has a lot of potential.  I used to buy AA 10 year, and sometimes RHF.

I just discovered on my own, regular ETL, not a store pick, often seemed so - so.  I wouldn't advise new people to go to heroic efforts to get one.  Back in the day, the $25 ETL often sat near store pick OWA and EC 12 year for similar price.

[FlounderinDC]

I passed on the latest Little Book at $159.00.  

[Sgtspitter101]

I passed on several bottles today. Some btac bottles ranging from 2200-4500 and a orvw10 somewhere in that same price range. Ceht single barrel for about 1000 bucks. This was at justins house of bourbon in lexington ky which i knew was taterville but i didnt understand how bad until i went myself. My hardest pass was a blantons green label for 300, but still 3x more than i would consider.

[Bob_Loblaw]

23 hours ago, GeeTen said:

 

Tried the ETL 100th Tribute?  Might change your mind, if only a little.  NOT, it's really good IMHO.  Loads of chocolate and caramel!  

Ohhh, this is probably the first "review" I have heard of this one.  Glad to hear it is a fantastic pour as the price was quite steep.  Gotta love the $100 tag on the 100th anniversary bottles.  Makes sense right?  Course that never seems to carry over to things like Bookers 30th . . .

[PhantomLamb]

14 hours ago, Sgtspitter101 said:

I passed on several bottles today. Some btac bottles ranging from 2200-4500 and a orvw10 somewhere in that same price range. Ceht single barrel for about 1000 bucks. This was at justins house of bourbon in lexington ky which i knew was taterville but i didnt understand how bad until i went myself. My hardest pass was a blantons green label for 300, but still 3x more than i would consider.

Green label is trash, not worth $40 if you ask me let alone $300!

[mbroo5880i]

Passed on Remus Repeal Reserve for $64.99. I am thinking I might pick it up if it is still there next time I go to the store.

[BigSkyDrams]

This is not my typical “passed on” post, where I point out something overpriced that I declined, but instead is one in the nature of debating which of a few options to go back for.
 

Basically, I passed on a RRSiB private selection for $72 and a WTMK Revival for $160. I’ve been loving my WT101 lately, and it occurred to me I need to put some top-shelf Turkey in the collection, so I started expanding my range beyond the usual couple stores I shop at, where I found the aforementioned. $160 would be the most I ever spent on a bottle of anything, so the Revival is a tough sell, but part of me wants to splurge and is leaning that direction. I’ve also never had the RRSiB, though I’ve had multiple bottles Rare Breed and Kentucky Spirit, which were great, and one of the RR10, which I found to be only mediocre compared to the other WT offerings I’d sampled (that may be why I never pulled the trigger on a RRSiB before).But after reading more about it, it sounds like the SiB is beloved in the general bourbon world, and in particular around here.

 

I’ll probably go back for one or the other, and they both had multiples so I’m not that concerned about immediately missing out, but I’m still on the fence as to which way to go with it. Any advice?

[Jazz June]

25 minutes ago, BigSkyDrams said:

This is not my typical “passed on” post, where I point out something overpriced that I declined, but instead is one in the nature of debating which of a few options to go back for.
 

Basically, I passed on a RRSiB private selection for $72 and a WTMK Revival for $160. I’ve been loving my WT101 lately, and it occurred to me I need to put some top-shelf Turkey in the collection, so I started expanding my range beyond the usual couple stores I shop at, where I found the aforementioned. $160 would be the most I ever spent on a bottle of anything, so the Revival is a tough sell, but part of me wants to splurge and is leaning that direction. I’ve also never had the RRSiB, though I’ve had multiple bottles Rare Breed and Kentucky Spirit, which were great, and one of the RR10, which I found to be only mediocre compared to the other WT offerings I’d sampled (that may be why I never pulled the trigger on a RRSiB before).But after reading more about it, it sounds like the SiB is beloved in the general bourbon world, and in particular around here.

 

I’ll probably go back for one or the other, and they both had multiples so I’m not that concerned about immediately missing out, but I’m still on the fence as to which way to go with it. Any advice?

I heartily endorse the RR SiB, although MSRP is $60 here. I have found the RR 10 good but pedestrian. The RR SiB is much better. The Revival is quite good also, but as a finished bourbon I’d want to know more what you like before recommending it. I will say I’m not a big fan of finished bourbons generally but the Revival is well done. At that kind of price it’s hard to call it a good value, but I didn’t regret buying it. $160 is only a hair above MSRP and is fair at least.