What bourbon did you purchase today (Spring 2021)

[fishnbowljoe]

Ain’t it amazing how things have changed over the years?

 

I used to be able to walk into a number of stores and actually be greeted. At times I’d even be greeted with something along the lines of, “Hey, we just got some ETL in. They’re all back on the shelf.” There are only a couple of stores left in my area that seem to even care any more. A surprising number of places have turned into tater stores. One guy owns three or four tater stores and they keep much of “the good stuff” for friends, family, and customers who want to pay double, triple, and even quadruple msrp. One of these stores even has a “Club” you can join. If you’re a member of their club, you can buy “the good stuff” discounted to only two or three times msrp. Two or three other area stores are of the type that everything they have is out on the shelf, so what you see is what you get. Their selections and pricing are just so-so.

 

Yes, the times they are a changing. I just hope I’m still around for the next glut.

 

Biba! Joe

[mbroo5880i]

In my area, one of the major liquor chains has three stores within 5 miles of one another.  Every time I walk into one of the stores, an employee always greats me and asks if they can help.  They never try to sell me anything and if I ask a question when looking for something they are usually helpful.  I visit one of the stores more frequently since it is one of their "barrel select" stores and often they will point me to a competitor if they don't have what I am looking for.   I was once looking for FRSiB and the manager pointed me to a nearby grocery store.  Another time, he told me when they normally receive shipments of OFSiB.  He then suggested that I might check a competitor who sometimes has some in stock.

 

I never ask for rare or allocated items.  This chain sets back bottles of these items for various charity events or high dollar customers.  I am good with that.  Once I asked and they rustled up a bottle of WLW.  I didn't ask for it by name.  I just mentioned that I could not attend a charity event because I had to work.  They know I shop there and that I not a flipper.

 

My experience at TW has been different than others.  I have been in a TW maybe 10 or so times over the years.  We just got our first in Indy last year so my other experiences were in Florida and Kentucky.  The two times I have been in the Indy TW, it has been super packed.  I didn't have to worry about any sales pitches.  The guys on the bourbon aisle were so busy they didn't even know I was there.  I am like a bourbon Ninja.  I sneak in and out.   

 

 

 

 

[jnewberg]

On 6/2/2021 at 9:38 PM, WhiskeyBlender said:

Please let me know what you think about it, @jnewberg. I've tried to make it a little different from standard Cigar Blend offerings, and I want to know if I'm on the right track for the Michigan-only version. 

 

Cheers!

Nancy

Putting it up against 2 of my faves this past year… Discovery 3 and 4… Tough to pick a favorite… 3 has those MGP spices and dense finish… 4 is quite bright red fruit with a great sweetness… CB41 is dark chocolate and cherries with a hint of caramel in there as well… I would love to compare this CB with other batches () but it was worth every penny and I can’t wait to let it breathe and see what else I can pick out of this bottle later on… I can see smoking a cigar with this… Only have dip and edibles at the house so I can’t give smoking notes with it… Wonderful job Nancy, hope the move to Holland, MI means I see more Cigar Blends in Grand Rapids. 

[PaulO]

TW Indy is far from my home, so I rarely go.  I intend to visit in the future, to cherry pick good deals on brands from legacy distillers that I like.  I make a point to go when they are not busy, like early in the middle of the week.

Personally, my only bad experience there was buying one bottle of Mallet Bourbon.  I could not locate the age statement.  Sales associate said he thought it was 4 years.  I get home and look with a magnifying glass.  In tiny hard to read cursive fake handwriting - 2 years.  One and done, not a drain pour, more like MM mixed with vodka.

Even when they are not real busy, I always see plenty of clown customers at TW.  It's a peeve of mine when people talk loudly or play with there phones and block the aisle.  It's like they don't know a damn thing.  They keep having to check with someone else who's not there.  At the same time, the TW staff are feeding them b.s. about Spirits Direct. 

[geclbxf]

Purchased a Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery #5 Saturday at the distillery.   WOW - are they hitting their stride.   I loved #4, but somehow I may like 5 better.   All my 4 is gone - so no SBS for me, but this blend is fantastic on the chocolate, cherry, winter and earth notes.   Very nice bourbon that I will save for a fall night around the fire pit.

I continue to be impressed with this group.  

[fishnbowljoe]

Delayed shopping until today. Of course I stopped at the liquor store. Was just gonna browse, but spotted an EW 1783. Yes, one came home with me.  
 

I’m gonna take a chance with this one. I figured for $17.99, why not. Better than taking a flyer on a $60.00 bottle.

 

Biba! Joe

 

[Kepler]

On 6/11/2021 at 8:20 PM, geclbxf said:

Good for you!   Let us know how it is.

 

On 6/12/2021 at 1:19 PM, JCwhammie said:

I'm happy someone on here found this. I look forward to your impressions of it, Kepler! 

 

Done.  It's cracked open as of 30 minutes ago.  Initial brief impressions over in the "What did you open" thread.  

[JakeySnakes]

While I understand the opinions some share regarding this bottle, I have yet to try it, and found it at retail at an out-of-the-way shop I just happened to stop in, and thought "why not?". 

 

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

On 6/13/2021 at 7:18 AM, geclbxf said:

Purchased a Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery #5 Saturday at the distillery.   WOW - are they hitting their stride.   

I got to try some of the #5 at BBC .  Agree. They did a really nice job of blending in that 17 year Dickel.  I never would have known.  Looking forward to picking a bottle of this one up.

 

Ben

 

[Skinsfan1311]

Latest haul. Took a field trip to the package store with Mom.

It's been a hectic week and I'm too lazy to separate the scotch,  from the bourbon and rye in the pic.

I've always been curious to try the Baby Hudson, but too cheap to pay full price. Snagged them for $37.95 OTD. I think they just renamed it, hence the sale price. It's actually pretty good. 

 

[mbroo5880i]

One of the local chains is offering MM101 for $29.99 at their barrel select stores.  One just happens to be close to me.  I stopped in and grabbed two.  

[Adam777]

Picked up some bottles today. Looks like a new design of the RY10 or maybe it’s bc it’s been a couple years since of bought it. And $20 more at $79.99. Luckily the Blanton’s was at retail, $54.99. A couple store picks followed. I had to bust open both and I’m really enjoying them. $39.99 for the EW was decent and $49.99 for the WTKS was solid considering the first pour was awesome. Can’t wait to see when it has opened up. Cheers!

[BigRich]

12 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

 

I've always been curious to try the Baby Hudson, but too cheap to pay full price. Snagged them for $37.95 OTD. I think they just renamed it, hence the sale price. It's actually pretty good. 

 

 

I hope you enjoy it.  I've tried it several times over the years.  It's always been cinnamon sweet with heavy corn/cornbread notes.  I wouldn't guess it was a bourbon drinking it blind.  It's almost like a funky cordial.  Not my wheel house. 

[0895]

Hello FedEx, so happy to see you today!

 

 

[Skinsfan1311]

5 hours ago, BigRich said:

I hope you enjoy it.  I've tried it several times over the years.  It's always been cinnamon sweet with heavy corn/cornbread notes.  I wouldn't guess it was a bourbon drinking it blind.  It's almost like a funky cordial.  Not my wheel house. 

That about sums it up.

I would have never guessed bourbon either. It's almost scotch-like.

I enjoy the corn forward flavor, and will revisit this one from time to time as a change of pace, (or when I run out of Mellow Corn)

These bottles will probably last me for many years...

[markandrex]

I ran out to grab some bagels today.  The shop is in an end of town I don’t visit often.  I decided to check the store next door.  I was surprised to run into Elmer T and friends.

 

[GeeTen]

JPM Cigar Blend Batch #45.  Had to get down on my knees to beg for the honor to purchase this bottle, crawl through piles of broken glass on the floor to grovel before the omnipotent liquor store owner to get her.   

 

Looking forward to succinct comments on this one vs. my other Cigar Blend Batch #31!  

 

Edited June 16, 2021 by GeeTen

[bayouredd]

On 6/15/2021 at 6:58 PM, markandrex said:

I ran out to grab some bagels today.  The shop is in an end of town I don’t visit often.  I decided to check the store next door.  I was surprised to run into Elmer T and friends.

 

 

3 - 2 count, here's the pitch, he hangs the curveball, that's deep, back, back, It's gone!!! Grand Slam, Baby!!!

 

 

 

21 hours ago, GeeTen said:

JPM Cigar Blend Batch #45.  Had to get down on my knees to beg for the honor to purchase this bottle, crawl through piles of broken glass on the floor to grovel before the omnipotent liquor store owner to get her.   

 

Looking forward to succinct comments on this one vs. my other Cigar Blend Batch #31!  

 

 

# 10 back to pass, he's being pressured & Hit, down he... NO, he escapes and scrambles around the end, just look at that footwork, he spins and dashes... Gee #10 Touchdown!!!

[WhiskeyBlender]

On 6/12/2021 at 7:43 PM, jnewberg said:

Putting it up against 2 of my faves this past year… Discovery 3 and 4… Tough to pick a favorite… 3 has those MGP spices and dense finish… 4 is quite bright red fruit with a great sweetness… CB41 is dark chocolate and cherries with a hint of caramel in there as well… I would love to compare this CB with other batches () but it was worth every penny and I can’t wait to let it breathe and see what else I can pick out of this bottle later on… I can see smoking a cigar with this… Only have dip and edibles at the house so I can’t give smoking notes with it… Wonderful job Nancy, hope the move to Holland, MI means I see more Cigar Blends in Grand Rapids. 

Many thanks @jnewberg! If you happen to find the "standard" Cigar Blend expressions, I think you'll find that they're somewhat different from the Michigan state-only expression. With Michigan state, I tried to keep the prunes in syrup, tobacco, and old leather essence of CB while giving it a "Michigan fruit" note. I'm a huge fan of Montmorency cherries from MI, especially when distilled into a kirsch/cherry brandy, so I wanted to see if I could somehow express those Michigan fruity notes into CB. At any rate, I should have the next batch of Michigan-only CB ready here soon, perhaps later this month or sometime in July. It is going to be an on-going thing. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

[mbroo5880i]

On 6/16/2021 at 4:35 PM, GeeTen said:

JPM Cigar Blend Batch #45.  Had to get down on my knees to beg for the honor to purchase this bottle, crawl through piles of broken glass on the floor to grovel before the omnipotent liquor store owner to get her.   

 

Looking forward to succinct comments on this one vs. my other Cigar Blend Batch #31!  

 

I have often said I want to be GeeTen when I grow up but having to crawl through broken glass has me rethinking that.  

[ThomasGazelle]

Walked out with these three today as gifts for friends.  Prices were a bit more than what o would pay in Kentucky but still not too bad.

[fishnbowljoe]

I didn’t buy any bourbon today, but I did buy something to haul it in.

 

BOURBON MOBILE 3!

 

Biba! Joe

 

[mbroo5880i]

43 minutes ago, fishnbowljoe said:

I didn’t buy any bourbon today, but I did buy something to haul it in.

 

BOURBON MOBILE 3!

 

Biba! Joe

 

 

Very nice!  Congratulations!  

[FacePlant]

Local had two Maker's stave experiment barrels. Yeah, I know what they're called.  One of the two took my breath on sip 1 & 2. It was the damnest  high rye taste and totally unbelievable for a wheater. Spice 11 on a scale of 10 with the distinctive spearmint tingle finish. To be honest I'm not sure how much I'll like it, but it was so unique I had to pick it up to revisit several more times. Looks like the mocha is out?

 

Edited June 19, 2021 by FacePlant

[mbroo5880i]

If Cheap Bastard bought something you know it had to on sale or at a great price.  I walked out today with OGDBIB @ $15.99 and OF100 @ $17.99.  Local chain is having a 20% off sale and you can stack it on top of other discounts and sales.  

 

I plan to hit another store in the chain tomorrow looking for more bottles.  I just love bourbon sales!