What Bourbon did you Purchase (Fall 2022)

[markandrex]

12 hours ago, Kepler said:

 

Insider sample?

 

That’s what it looks like to me.  My friend works for Beam Suntory but I’m treating it as a “don’t ask, don’t tell” for all parties involved.

[mal00768]

In laws are visiting for the weekend and they brought me a bottle of EHT SmB. Good stuff.

Edited January 14, 2023 by mal00768

[mbroo5880i]

21 hours ago, Clueby said:

This week's pickups. I guess this should have gone in the rye thread but 2 of them have bourbon in them. The McK10 was thanks to another sb'r.

 

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on the Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye.  It took me a while to warm up to it.  However, I really like it even though it is different from the spicy "kick your ass" ryes that I typically enjoy.  Cheap Bastard will be looking for one on sale.

[Clueby]

1 hour ago, mbroo5880i said:

 

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on the Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye.  It took me a while to warm up to it.  However, I really like it even though it is different from the spicy "kick your ass" ryes that I typically enjoy.  Cheap Bastard will be looking for one on sale.

It was part of a tasting and I liked it enough to buy the bottle. Was a little pricey at $65ish. Yeah wasn't a typical spicy rye. A little sweeter and "warmer". 

[Skinsfan1311]

Hit a Va ABC and bought a bottle of WTRB. 

First one I've seen in a long time.

 

[JT3NSB]

Solid Wyoming Whiskey….From their early MGP to current offerings, I really like what they do…

[anthony. g.]

just picked this up from my local Costco here in the UK. they had a few cases when i was in before Christmas and i almost picked one up then. 

will open at weekend and if its to my liking ill go back and get a backup.

 

[Skinsfan1311]

Picked these up the other day.

I've read good things about the AAA 10 Star, but have never seen it anywhere. For $29.99, I figured, "Why not?" 

The WT101 rye and WTRB are states that needed replacing.  All reasonably priced at a Va ABC store.  The salesperson told me that the AA used to be allocated, with a limit of 1 per person.  She said that they recently "unallocated" it. 

Edited January 17, 2023 by Skinsfan1311

[wadewood]

3 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Picked these up the other day.

I've read good things about the AAA 10 Star, but have never seen it anywhere. For $29.99, I figured, "Why not?" 

The WT101 rye and WTRB are states that needed replacing.  All reasonably priced at a Va ABC store.  The salesperson told me that the AA used to be allocated, with a limit of 1 per person.  She said that they recently "unallocated" it. 

The 10 star is just too young. It changed from 4 years old to 36 months old at some point in past 4 years.  The 36 month statement is on the neck tag.  The last good 4 year dirt cheap for me is Tom Moore BiB.  $22 for a 1.75 liter bottle in Texas, but I don't think it's widely sold outside of Texas.  And in Texas I'm probably the largest consumer.

[Jazz June]

9 minutes ago, wadewood said:

The 10 star is just too young. It changed from 4 years old to 36 months old at some point in past 4 years.  The 36 month statement is on the neck tag.  The last good 4 year dirt cheap for me is Tom Moore BiB.  $22 for a 1.75 liter bottle in Texas, but I don't think it's widely sold outside of Texas.  And in Texas I'm probably the largest consumer.

 

In Virginia, most handles that cheap are 80 proof and/or blends. Oddly, one exception is Old Taylor, which is also allocated because of its sharing a name with the EH Taylor releases. Very Old Barton 86 handles are $24 and a decent whiskey. They used to be allocated here as well, but no longer. The cheapest handle of bonded bourbon is JTS Brown at $33.50. Control states are good when you can find the high end stuff, but terrible for stuff that retailers in other states often discount or compete on price on.

[Skinsfan1311]

14 minutes ago, wadewood said:

The 10 star is just too young. It changed from 4 years old to 36 months old at some point in past 4 years.  The 36 month statement is on the neck tag.  The last good 4 year dirt cheap for me is Tom Moore BiB.  $22 for a 1.75 liter bottle in Texas, but I don't think it's widely sold outside of Texas.  And in Texas I'm probably the largest consumer.

I cracked it and had a small pour.

I like it and it's much better than I thought it would be. Maybe because I had low expectations? 

 

[Skinsfan1311]

5 minutes ago, Jazz June said:

 

In Virginia, most handles that cheap are 80 proof and/or blends. Oddly, one exception is Old Taylor, which is also allocated because of its sharing a name with the EH Taylor releases. Very Old Barton 86 handles are $24 and a decent whiskey. They used to be allocated here as well, but no longer. The cheapest handle of bonded bourbon is JTS Brown at $33.50. Control states are good when you can find the high end stuff, but terrible for stuff that retailers in other states often discount or compete on price on.

I've reached for the JTS Brown, a couple of times over the years when traveling to/through Va.  For whatever reason,  I keep putting it back.

Ive found that the VA ABC stores have decent pricing on pretty much everything that I like, especially compared to MD where prices are all over the place and alcohol is taxed at 9%.

[Jazz June]

1 minute ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

I've reached for the JTS Brown, a couple of times over the years when traveling to/through Va.  For whatever reason,  I keep putting it back.

Ive found that the VA ABC stores have decent pricing on pretty much everything that I like, especially compared to MD where prices are all over the place and alcohol is taxed at 9%.

 

The fact that the JTS Brown handle is made of plastic doesn't help with the sale, does it? Virginia also carries JW Dant BiB handles, but both are far less common than Evan Williams BiB. Also make sure you don't end up with the 80 proof JTS Brown handle on accident.

 

As for prices, yes we have you beat on taxes, but a number of products I casually look at in Maryland stores such as Wild Turkey 101 are typically below Virginia MSRP. Also, Maryland has big box liquor stores like Total Wine, who have some prices that absolutely crush VA ABC. Handle of Maker's Mark, $43 versus $63. Handle of Wild Turkey 101 $38 versus $52. I used to think there were some benefits of VA ABC that at least somewhat balanced out it being a control state, but the demolition derby causing release emails and lotteries with half of the state entered have eliminated those. I think the only bourbon I bought in Virginia last year was when I picked up the barrel pick a group I'm in did.

[mbroo5880i]

On 1/14/2023 at 10:28 PM, Clueby said:

It was part of a tasting and I liked it enough to buy the bottle. Was a little pricey at $65ish. Yeah wasn't a typical spicy rye. A little sweeter and "warmer". 

 

Interesting.  How would you compare it to the Alberta Cask Strength Rye?  A local store has both on the shelf next to each other.  The Hard Truth Sweet Rye is $63.99 and the Albert Cask Strength is $69.99 so pretty close in price.  I would like to add on to the bunker.

[IamMatt]

12 hours ago, Jazz June said:

In Virginia, most handles that cheap are 80 proof and/or blends.

Curious.  In CA, we regularly have handles of WT101, EC SB, Larceny SB, KC 9-yr just off the top of my head (and a peek in my cabinet).

[Jazz June]

1 hour ago, IamMatt said:

Curious.  In CA, we regularly have handles of WT101, EC SB, Larceny SB, KC 9-yr just off the top of my head (and a peek in my cabinet).

We have handles of those things, they are just way more expensive. A handle of KC is $70.

[Skinsfan1311]

15 hours ago, Jazz June said:

 

The fact that the JTS Brown handle is made of plastic doesn't help with the sale, does it? Virginia also carries JW Dant BiB handles, but both are far less common than Evan Williams BiB. Also make sure you don't end up with the 80 proof JTS Brown handle on accident.

 

As for prices, yes we have you beat on taxes, but a number of products I casually look at in Maryland stores such as Wild Turkey 101 are typically below Virginia MSRP. Also, Maryland has big box liquor stores like Total Wine, who have some prices that absolutely crush VA ABC. Handle of Maker's Mark, $43 versus $63. Handle of Wild Turkey 101 $38 versus $52. I used to think there were some benefits of VA ABC that at least somewhat balanced out it being a control state, but the demolition derby causing release emails and lotteries with half of the state entered have eliminated those. I think the only bourbon I bought in Virginia last year was when I picked up the barrel pick a group I'm in did.

Agreed.

The # 1 thing to take away from all of this is, to know your prices.    They vary so widely.   

I'll buy some things, that are priced fairly at the ABC store.   

Most of the time, (if there's time), I go to the package store on the Naval base, (or the Coast Guard store),  with my Mom and take advantage of  the, (sometimes), great pricing and tax free purchases.    You never know what's going to be on sale and what's available.  I've seen handles of WT101 for $33.00, 750ml of BT, WR, for $19.95.    What makes it fun, is that they stock stuff that's not available locally, in the ABC stores.   You never know what they'll have, which makes it kind of like a treasure hunt.   

Edited January 18, 2023 by Skinsfan1311

[IamMatt]

3 hours ago, Jazz June said:

We have handles of those things, they are just way more expensive. A handle of KC is $70.

TW sells them for $60; I'm a pretty aggressive bargain hunter so I wait til Costco has them on special for $50. 

[Bourserker]

I bought this the other day based on the little bit I could find about it that seemed all positive.   When I was rung up it turns out I got it at at deep discount, so I went back and grabbed another one.

[Jazz June]

1 hour ago, Bourserker said:

I bought this the other day based on the little bit I could find about it that seemed all positive.   When I was rung up it turns out I got it at at deep discount, so I went back and grabbed another one.

 

These are single barrels from a lot of MGP distillate, aged in Kelvin barrels primarily (or entirely) at KO here in Virginia. My group selected one from among twelve or so early on in their distribution (a few stores beat us to the punch, but I believe we were the first private group). Virginia ABC got some as well. Ours is great and there were a few more very good ones among our choices. I believe those barrels are just about all gone now though. We are going back soon to select again from a new lot of MGP distilled barrels. ABC has them at $73, but I know at least one DC store has their pick on sale for $58.

[Bourserker]

1 hour ago, Jazz June said:

 

These are single barrels from a lot of MGP distillate, aged in Kelvin barrels primarily (or entirely) at KO here in Virginia. My group selected one from among twelve or so early on in their distribution (a few stores beat us to the punch, but I believe we were the first private group). Virginia ABC got some as well. Ours is great and there were a few more very good ones among our choices. I believe those barrels are just about all gone now though. We are going back soon to select again from a new lot of MGP distilled barrels. ABC has them at $73, but I know at least one DC store has their pick on sale for $58.

Thanks for the info, it's consistent with the tidbits I found online.  I'll also note that the label is transparent about what's in the bottle, which is cool.  It states it was distilled in IN and gives the mashbill (75%/21%/4% corn/rye/malted barley).  I'm glad I heard about it (from watching Bourbon Judge) as they seem to have all but about dried up in the VA ABC stores.  So I was glad to have snagged a couple and at a good price.

 

That's interesting to hear there are some more barrels.  I wonder if they'll be releasing more of this and if so will it be older...I  guess we'll see.

[Jazz June]

9 hours ago, Bourserker said:

Thanks for the info, it's consistent with the tidbits I found online.  I'll also note that the label is transparent about what's in the bottle, which is cool.  It states it was distilled in IN and gives the mashbill (75%/21%/4% corn/rye/malted barley).  I'm glad I heard about it (from watching Bourbon Judge) as they seem to have all but about dried up in the VA ABC stores.  So I was glad to have snagged a couple and at a good price.

 

That's interesting to hear there are some more barrels.  I wonder if they'll be releasing more of this and if so will it be older...I  guess we'll see.

A few from this lot got up to 7 years before being bottled and they may have held a handful for longer aging, but definitely no significant amount. If they did I imagine they will be special releases at the distillery to their club/members. Their own distillate now has some decent age on it as well. I think the next lot of MGP barrels is also 6 years old but I’ll know more after the pick of course.

[Jazzhead]

Two pickups this week,  both very worthy additions:  Barrell Vantage,  which is a blend of bourbons finished in New oak barrels made of different woods,  and Sagamore Rye 6-year Barrel Select.   This one's also a blend, of different MGP mashbills.

[WhiskeyBlender]

On 1/15/2023 at 7:35 PM, JT3NSB said:

Solid Wyoming Whiskey….From their early MGP to current offerings, I really like what they do…

@JT3NSB Wow, I'm thrilled to hear you're enjoying Wyoming Whiskey! As an FYI, we've never sourced MGP Bourbon. All of the whiskey since day 1 has been fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled in Kirby, WY, and all the grains used come from a local farmer. There were some early issues with the distillate, but we've long since taken care of those problems.

 

That said, if you like last year's WY state only release, Powder River, you'll probably like this year's version of the WY state-only release even more. The age of the barrels that I chose for it are all over 7 years old, so we're continually getting older stock in it. 

 

Cheers, and I love that photo! 

Nancy

[JT3NSB]

Passing through Cheyenne Wyoming today.  Stopped at a random store near the interstate.  Town and Country liquors has 1.75 BT pick. Limit of 3. I picked up all three allowed.  No clue on them and the store people were no help.  Good retail price around 43.00 per.