What Bourbon Did You Purchase Today (Winter 2021)

[flahute]

Reloaded some staples - a handle of WT101 and some OF100. Also snagged the OF100 Rye which I have not seen in a looooong time. KC12 keeps showing up so I snagged another. The big catch was the PHC Heavy Char Wheat Whiskey at barrel proof.

[PaulO]

10 hours ago, Quiganomics said:

I've been on the hunt for the last few days coming up empty. You would think with WI's reputation when it comes to drinking the distilleries would be flooding us in juice. Not to mention in the last year, I haven't seen a single bottle of:

EH Taylor

Elmer T Lee

Weller

Blantons

Blue Run

Kentucky Owl

Stagg Jr

George T Stagg

Eagle Rare

Old Fitz

 

I know these aren't the easiest to find regardless but I've put thousands of miles driving around the state looking.....the struggle is real.  

 

Blue Run, I don't know about.

Kentucky Owl, I see fairly regularly at several grocery stores (go figure).  I'm just not too interested in expensive NDP stuff.

The others, all BT/Sazerac brands (except for Old Fitz).  I don't see any of those at all for years.  A store might get the odd one now and then.  It's sure not going on the shelf.  The fix is in.  Thank goodness I tried those before things got crazy.  At today's jacked up MSRP, I wouldn't even buy them if offered.  Good news is - there are many other great bottles you can just buy, and reasonable, even good value.

If you have to scratch that itch, satisfy your curiosity, maybe there is a bar or restaurant with those on the menu.  On premise accounts (bars and restaurants) gobble up a big portion of those brands that interest you.  That's where they are, not liquor stores.

 

[Kepler]

Just reading some of the anxious posts upthread about searching for scarce bottles.  If I had to search far and wide for mediocre bourbons like BT and WSR I think I would just throw my hands up with a white flag and give up.  I'd just be forced to switch to bottles like WT101, Maker's & Knob Creek and be content.  Not such a bad situation if you think about it

 

[fishnbowljoe]

29 minutes ago, PaulO said:

 On premise accounts (bars and restaurants) gobble up a big portion of those brands that interest you.  That's where they are, not liquor stores.

 

Paulo is correct. Case in point: We had a huge place here with bars, restaurants and a convention center. Speculation has it the owner must have had a lot of pull with the local liquor distributors. He had a huge locked, lighted cabinet with a whole bunch of Pappy, BTAC, and other LE’s, in the middle of the building. It was his “trophy case”. The owner closed the place and had it remodeled. Until our new Hard Rock Casino is completed, it will be the temporary home of our Hard Rock Casino. The rich get richer. Funny story here.  The proper license’s for the temporary casino were delayed a while. Not too long ago, the owner had a slight run in with the law. It seems there was a man in a car trespassing in his driveway. The owner shot at him.

 

Biba! Joe 

[0895]

11 hours ago, Quiganomics said:

I've been on the hunt for the last few days coming up empty. You would think with WI's reputation when it comes to drinking the distilleries would be flooding us in juice. Not to mention in the last year, I haven't seen a single bottle of:

EH Taylor

Elmer T Lee

Weller

Blantons

Blue Run

Kentucky Owl

Stagg Jr

George T Stagg

Eagle Rare

Old Fitz

 

I know these aren't the easiest to find regardless but I've put thousands of miles driving around the state looking.....the struggle is real.  

 

 

Last few days?

Respectfully,  your expectations are way too high.   You likely didn’t even cross paths with deliveries.

Even one year is a bit generous (in today’s state of things) for finding all those items on your list.

 
Pick a store and focus your relationship.

Even then, expect that WI could just be a low allocation state and not get much.  It can be a tough pill to swallow, but you ultimately might have to move.

 

You can also look into mail order if WI allows it.  Bring your checkbook.

[PJMac]

Picked up two. 
 

Bardstown Fusion #6. Really liked #5 and interested to crack this one, as it’s the first bottle to have their own distillate. 
 

Second is another Barrell, this one is Batch 29. 6 year age statement, but it has considerable 15 year in it. From what I’ve seen and read about the Kentucky portion is the 6-8 year wheated, and the Indiana component is the up to 15 year - which I’m assuming is MGP. This makes it very close, but even a little more mature version of the Willettt Rate blend of Indiana Rye/Kentucky Bourbon blend that is knock your socks of good. Very similar in proof too. We shall see. 
 

clearly been on a little blend kick lately.
 

 

[GeeTen]

Stumbled into 2 SiB WFPs today.  "Be vewy, vewy quiet".  $69.99 ea. OTD.   

 

 

[mal00768]

1 hour ago, PJMac said:

Picked up two. 
 

Bardstown Fusion #6. Really liked #5 and interested to crack this one, as it’s the first bottle to have their own distillate. 
 

Second is another Barrell, this one is Batch 29. 6 year age statement, but it has considerable 15 year in it. From what I’ve seen and read about the Kentucky portion is the 6-8 year wheated, and the Indiana component is the up to 15 year - which I’m assuming is MGP. This makes it very close, but even a little more mature version of the Willettt Rate blend of Indiana Rye/Kentucky Bourbon blend that is knock your socks of good. Very similar in proof too. We shall see. 
 

clearly been on a little blend kick lately.
 

 

15 year mgp in the blend? It’s curious that they don’t highlight that component on the label. 

[Bob_Loblaw]

On 1/19/2022 at 1:51 AM, apt43bear said:

I’ve been on the fence on whether to get this as well. Been seeing it around but haven’t been able to pull the trigger yet.  Might just give it a chance 

It's very good.  I didn't love the price either, but am glad I stocked up when they were around.  If I saw more at MSRP I would probably buy again.  

[mal00768]

On 1/19/2022 at 2:51 AM, apt43bear said:

I’ve been on the fence on whether to get this as well. Been seeing it around but haven’t been able to pull the trigger yet.  Might just give it a chance 

Buy it. 

[PJMac]

2 hours ago, mal00768 said:

15 year mgp in the blend? It’s curious that they don’t highlight that component on the label. 

It was in a video on YT, with an interview with the head sales guy at Barrell, he went on to note that the 15 year component wasn’t light in the blend. Barrell usually doesn’t state the oldest, or breakdown, on the bottle like Bardstown. They simply list a minimum age statement. The only bottle of Barrell that I have (of 4), that is straight up age states is the 15 Year Grey Label. Seagrass, Batch 29, and Batch 30 simply list distillery locations and minimum age. 

[mal00768]

5 minutes ago, PJMac said:

It was in a video on YT, with an interview with the head sales guy at Barrell, he went on to note that the 15 year component wasn’t light in the blend. Barrell usually doesn’t state the oldest, or breakdown, on the bottle like Bardstown. They simply list a minimum age statement. The only bottle of Barrell that I have (of 4), that is straight up age states is the 15 Year Grey Label. Seagrass, Batch 29, and Batch 30 simply list distillery locations and minimum age. 

Looks like they highlight the components on their web page as well.

 

https://www.barrellbourbon.com/batch29

 

Thanks, I learned something. I prefer the Bardstown labels. 

[flahute]

14 hours ago, Kepler said:

Just reading some of the anxious posts upthread about searching for scarce bottles.  If I had to search far and wide for mediocre bourbons like BT and WSR I think I would just throw my hands up with a white flag and give up.  I'd just be forced to switch to bottles like WT101, Maker's & Knob Creek and be content.  Not such a bad situation if you think about it

 

This is me. I don't actively seek out any BT product except for Stagg Jr (which my local holds for me). If I see BT or ER on the shelf (which is rare now) I usually pass.

I'm very content with that which I do not need to chase.

[FasterHorses]

Went to look for a washing machine..but 

bakers @ $45 got me kind of off task. Had a couple places where this older HW had sat unbought for years and it looked like they were getting very low so i pulled the trigger this time. Then i walked in to a place with a new barrel of WFP! 

[mbroo5880i]

11 minutes ago, FasterHorses said:

Went to look for a washing machine..but 

bakers @ $45 got me kind of off task. Had a couple places where this older HW had sat unbought for years and it looked like they were getting very low so i pulled the trigger this time. Then i walked in to a place with a new barrel of WFP! 

 

This is like the flipside of @PJMac who was just trekking around with no real agenda and ended up in a jewelry store.  Presumably you still went looking for a washing machine otherwise, similar to @Harry in WashDC, you might be advised to keep these in your car trunk.

Edited January 23, 2022 by mbroo5880i

[FasterHorses]

44 minutes ago, mbroo5880i said:

 

This is like the flipside of @PJMac who was just trekking around with no real agenda and ended up in a jewelry store.  Presumably you still went looking for a washing machine otherwise, similar to @Harry in WashDC, you might be advised to keep these in your car trunk.

I came back and reported on the washing machine I found but forgot to mention all the groceries. 

[fishnbowljoe]

1 hour ago, FasterHorses said:

Went to look for a washing machine..but 

 

Hmmm, I’ll have to remember that one.

 

Biba! Joe

[Harry in WashDC]

23 hours ago, Kepler said:

Just reading some of the anxious posts upthread about searching for scarce bottles.  If I had to search far and wide for mediocre bourbons like BT and WSR I think I would just throw my hands up with a white flag and give up.  I'd just be forced to switch to bottles like WT101, Maker's & Knob Creek and be content.  Not such a bad situation if you think about it

 

Huh.  I just thought about this and how it fits with me.  Huh.  WithOUT conscientiously weighing options, I arrived here, too.  Just tonight while checking the SF-GB score while watching Death in Paradise, I noted that my partially full trash can OGDBIB bottle shares space and remaining substance with a WT 101KSBW.  Huh. Not a bad situation at all.  INDEED, I have doc appts on Mon and Tues and have already scheduled curbside pickups of a couple LEs but mostly basic shelters.  Warm tummy feelings are already happening.

 

edit — shelters not shelters.  Auto spell correct is messing with my life.

Edited January 23, 2022 by Harry in WashDC
Shelfers shelfers shelfers dammit quit trying to fix the obvious.

[apt43bear]

15 hours ago, Bob_Loblaw said:

It's very good.  I didn't love the price either, but am glad I stocked up when they were around.  If I saw more at MSRP I would probably buy again.  

I’m convinced!! Just ordered two bottles for pick up at msrp.  Looking forward to trying it soon

[G L Tirebiter]

Grabbed a bottle of Jacob's Pardon Small Batch Whiskey Recipe #2.   Not a bourbon but looked interesting with a high proof .

Edited January 23, 2022 by G L Tirebiter

[Bob_Loblaw]

12 hours ago, apt43bear said:

I’m convinced!! Just ordered two bottles for pick up at msrp.  Looking forward to trying it soon

If you don’t like it feel free to PM me for disposal address.

[PJMac]

When you find one at retail; you buy it. At least in my neck of the woods. 

[PaulO]

1 hour ago, PJMac said:

When you find one at retail; you buy it. At least in my neck of the woods. 

That one comes and goes around here, disappears for spans of time.  It also has prices all over the place.  Sometimes it's in the glass case with the expensive stuff.  That's how distribution goes.

Meanwhile, our friends in the sportsman's paradise say it's always well stocked in stores and not expensive. 

[fishnbowljoe]

Baby Saz has been kind of an “odd duck” in my area for years. Back in 2009, I found a store that had a private pick for around $26.00 or so. It was pretty good, and I ended up buying several bottles over the course of a few months. That ps spoiled me. The first regular Baby Saz I bought wasn’t near the same, and I never bought another. It’s been the same situation here as what @PaulO stated above. It disappeared at times, and the price also went up to as much as $42.99. A couple of years ago it started showing up regularly again, and the price dropped. It’s now normally $28.99- $32.99 at most stores. One store near me had it on sale for $24.99. I was sorely tempted, but ended up passing. It’s shopping day tomorrow, so who knows. Might have to take a detour.

 

Biba! Joe

[PJMac]

7 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Baby Saz has been kind of an “odd duck” in my area for years. Back in 2009, I found a store that had a private pick for around $26.00 or so. It was pretty good, and I ended up buying several bottles over the course of a few months. That ps spoiled me. The first regular Baby Saz I bought wasn’t near the same, and I never bought another. It’s been the same situation here as what @PaulO stated above. It disappeared at times, and the price also went up to as much as $42.99. A couple of years ago it started showing up regularly again, and the price dropped. It’s now normally $28.99- $32.99 at most stores. One store near me had it on sale for $24.99. I was sorely tempted, but ended up passing. It’s shopping day tomorrow, so who knows. Might have to take a detour.

 

Biba! Joe

 

Sounds about right...I do know the day that I was down at BT, Sazerac was the store release. So, I'm guessing "allocated". Heck, even normal BT is now, even though it's easily found around me - seems par for the course on the distribution. What gets me, is around me, it's not uncommon to see it at bottle shops for $60, which is unfortunate; happy to find it for $30.