What bourbon did you pass on 2023

[steven s]

4 hours ago, 0895 said:

Too bad I don’t really like Jefferson’s Reserve.

 

Trey was at a small local bar pouring samples of 4 different Jeffersons bottles a week or 2 ago, and I really enjoyed the reserve. That is an insane price. I just bought a couple at 42 because off the price i found, but usually see it at 65ish.

[Anwalt]

18 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

   It does drink a tad hot, (kinda/sorta like Barton 1792 Full Proof), but really shines,  with with a splash and holds it's own over a large cube.    The problem with the large cube is that it fools me and I end up drinking it too quickly.    Truth be told, I only drink the higher proof whiskey over the large cube, when the ice is left over from a cocktail.   I can't bring myself to toss a perfectly good cube.    I usually just add a splash, and sip slowly...

 

 

Certain of You People (the guilty know who they are) helped take me from a babe-in-the-woods-raised-on-80-proof-Scotch-Irish-Whisk(e)y (aka "smooth") to "I'm Liking Some Proof Some Days".

 

I've always had the Larceny BP sans ice or water.  The prior versions could probably use some to smooth out the finish.  The C922...I do so like it neat.  I also like the JDSBBP (which really surprised me), WTRB, RR SiB, Dry Fly 9y wheat whiskey, Weller FP, and most ECBP's neat.  Bookers, Stagg Jr (or whatever they are calling it now), sometimes neat and sometimes with a bit of water or that big old cube, though I do pull some of those cubes out fairly quickly (I put them back in the special "eww, gross, do not touch" part of the freezer because I also dislike waste).  OF 1920 with a cube.  My Scotch/Irish drinking Old Man thinks I've gone even further off the deep end (which is saying something) and just shakes his head and wonders at the future of the family.

 

So is the large cube fooling you the bourbon equivalent of "LOL, OMG, like, this Moscow Mule/Mojito/Pina Colada/etc. tastes soooo good and has noooo kick <glug, glug, glug, thud>"?

[Skinsfan1311]

7 minutes ago, Anwalt said:

 

Certain of You People (the guilty know who they are) helped take me from a babe-in-the-woods-raised-on-80-proof-Scotch-Irish-Whisk(e)y (aka "smooth") to "I'm Liking Some Proof Some Days".

 

I've always had the Larceny BP sans ice or water.  The prior versions could probably use some to smooth out the finish.  The C922...I do so like it neat.  I also like the JDSBBP (which really surprised me), WTRB, RR SiB, Dry Fly 9y wheat whiskey, Weller FP, and most ECBP's neat.  Bookers, Stagg Jr (or whatever they are calling it now), sometimes neat and sometimes with a bit of water or that big old cube, though I do pull some of those cubes out fairly quickly (I put them back in the special "eww, gross, do not touch" part of the freezer because I also dislike waste).  OF 1920 with a cube.  My Scotch/Irish drinking Old Man thinks I've gone even further off the deep end (which is saying something) and just shakes his head and wonders at the future of the family.

 

So is the large cube fooling you the bourbon equivalent of "LOL, OMG, like, this Moscow Mule/Mojito/Pina Colada/etc. tastes soooo good and has noooo kick <glug, glug, glug, thud>"?

Yeah...I, somewhat, resemble that remark.   

 

My Mendoza line for ice, (or a splash), is ~ 120 proof.    It's not even a consideration at proofs below that line.     It also depends on my mood.  Do I want it to evolve, or am I trying to tame it?   

 

My initial foray into barrel proofers was Booker's, (back when it wasn't obscenely priced),  I really enjoyed Booker's, over a large cube, because it evolved so nicely. Same deal with a some of the Stagg Jr's.  The problem with going the "evolve" route, is that it hits a point where it can get overly diluted so I end up drinking it faster and (as you stated so succinctly), <glug, glug, thud!> 

[JGriff]

OF Birthday Bourbon $899.  Nice to see the bottle on a shelf however.  

[Kepler]

On 2/14/2023 at 8:41 AM, Anwalt said:

 

Certain of You People (the guilty know who they are) helped take me from a babe-in-the-woods-raised-on-80-proof-Scotch-Irish-Whisk(e)y (aka "smooth") to "I'm Liking Some Proof Some Days".

 

I've always had the Larceny BP sans ice or water.  The prior versions could probably use some to smooth out the finish.  The C922...I do so like it neat.  I also like the JDSBBP (which really surprised me), WTRB, RR SiB, Dry Fly 9y wheat whiskey, Weller FP, and most ECBP's neat.  Bookers, Stagg Jr (or whatever they are calling it now), sometimes neat and sometimes with a bit of water or that big old cube, though I do pull some of those cubes out fairly quickly (I put them back in the special "eww, gross, do not touch" part of the freezer because I also dislike waste).  OF 1920 with a cube.  My Scotch/Irish drinking Old Man thinks I've gone even further off the deep end (which is saying something) and just shakes his head and wonders at the future of the family.

 

So is the large cube fooling you the bourbon equivalent of "LOL, OMG, like, this Moscow Mule/Mojito/Pina Colada/etc. tastes soooo good and has noooo kick <glug, glug, glug, thud>"?

 

On 2/14/2023 at 9:02 AM, Skinsfan1311 said:

Yeah...I, somewhat, resemble that remark.   

 

My Mendoza line for ice, (or a splash), is ~ 120 proof.    It's not even a consideration at proofs below that line.     It also depends on my mood.  Do I want it to evolve, or am I trying to tame it?   

 

My initial foray into barrel proofers was Booker's, (back when it wasn't obscenely priced),  I really enjoyed Booker's, over a large cube, because it evolved so nicely. Same deal with a some of the Stagg Jr's.  The problem with going the "evolve" route, is that it hits a point where it can get overly diluted so I end up drinking it faster and (as you stated so succinctly), <glug, glug, thud!> 

 

This little conversation is enlightening! My sentiments exactly w.r.t. high proof whiskies and the use of an ice cube or a splash of water.

 

[JakeySnakes]

Passed on an EC BP C922 at $69.99 today. I haven't tried this batch yet, but have one in the cabinet on deck. I was on a quick in-and-out mission for a dinner bottle of wine, and was not ready to pull the trigger, but I may just go back and pick one up later this week.

[mbroo5880i]

1 hour ago, JakeySnakes said:

Passed on an EC BP C922 at $69.99 today. I haven't tried this batch yet, but have one in the cabinet on deck. I was on a quick in-and-out mission for a dinner bottle of wine, and was not ready to pull the trigger, but I may just go back and pick one up later this week.

 

We each have our own palates, preferences, and pocketbooks.  However, I would go back for this one.  Hopefully, it will still be there.  

 

I would love to find a backup to the one in my cabinet.  

[Davesnothere]

Yikes! This afternoon passed on Weller FP for $459 and Weller 12 for $349 at a little LS just across the state line. I got excited as they were just out on the shelf, not behind the counter, excited until I saw the price

[Kepler]

I passed on Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Private Select twice today, at around $75.  Warehouse A if you have to know.  Nothing against Warehouse A (because I've had multiple A's that were excellent) but the increase in price to $75 means that, for me,  stores are going to have to provide samples to prove that the flavor justifies the $15 to $20 upcharge over regular RRSiB.

 

I urge everyone to join me and not pay these increased prices for store picks unless the store provides a sample bottle that demonstrates why we should pay so much more.   Flippers and taters:  I'm looking at you.

 

 

[Kepler]

1 minute ago, Kepler said:

I passed on Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Private Select twice today, at around $75.  Warehouse A if you have to know.  Nothing against Warehouse A (because I've had multiple A's that were excellent) but the increase in price to $75 means that, for me,  stores are going to have to provide samples to prove that the flavor justifies the $15 to $20 upcharge over regular RRSiB.

 

I urge everyone to join me and not pay these increased prices for store picks unless the store provides a sample bottle that demonstrates why we should pay so much more.   Flippers and taters:  I'm looking at you.

 

 

 

Postscript....

 

 

[Skinsfan1311]

8 hours ago, Kepler said:

I passed on Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Private Select twice today, at around $75.  Warehouse A if you have to know.  Nothing against Warehouse A (because I've had multiple A's that were excellent) but the increase in price to $75 means that, for me,  stores are going to have to provide samples to prove that the flavor justifies the $15 to $20 upcharge over regular RRSiB.

 

I urge everyone to join me and not pay these increased prices for store picks unless the store provides a sample bottle that demonstrates why we should pay so much more.   Flippers and taters:  I'm looking at you.

 

 

That's an easy pass and with very rare exceptions, (VA ABC KC rye pick), that's exactly what I do.   My favorite LS has an open bottle of every pick and encourages you to try them.   The upcharge, (when they have them), are  nominal.   At one point, they were selling their JDSBBP pick for $5.00 less than the standard JDSBBP.  

[0895]

9 hours ago, Kepler said:

 

I urge everyone to join me and not pay these increased prices for store picks unless the store provides a sample bottle that demonstrates why 

 

 

I’ve been this way on most store picks for awhile now after getting burned a couple times.  It’s a combination of price increases and just too many bottles in storage

On the flip side, I’ve bought a few awesome bottles that I would have otherwise left behind because they were sampled to me.

[Skinsfan1311]

4 hours ago, 0895 said:

 

I’ve been this way on most store picks for awhile now after getting burned a couple times.  It’s a combination of price increases and just too many bottles in storage

On the flip side, I’ve bought a few awesome bottles that I would have otherwise left behind because they were sampled to me.

Exactly!

If they're not confident enough in their picks to make them available to try, then I'm not buying.

[IamMatt]

In CA, off-sale premises can only legally give samples with an "Instructional Tasting License" that limits spirits to three 1/4-oz tastings per person per day, requires a separate tasting area with barriers and "No Minors" signs, and restricts tasting to 10am-9pm.  The license is only $300 but most liquor stores I have been to say they do not do samples.  And I have not seen any stores with a designated tasting area that complies with the regulations. 

 

I think if I were a CA liquor store, I would definitely spring for the $300, and I think a small movable "tasting area" could be assembled.

[fosmith]

20 hours ago, IamMatt said:

In CA, off-sale premises can only legally give samples with an "Instructional Tasting License" that limits spirits to three 1/4-oz tastings per person per day, requires a separate tasting area with barriers and "No Minors" signs, and restricts tasting to 10am-9pm.  The license is only $300 but most liquor stores I have been to say they do not do samples.  And I have not seen any stores with a designated tasting area that complies with the regulations. 

 

I think if I were a CA liquor store, I would definitely spring for the $300, and I think a small movable "tasting area" could be assembled.

K&L has tasting areas in their stores and, according to the web site, The SF and Redwood City stores have spirits tastings scheduled.  Most of the tastings are wine flights though. 

[IamMatt]

I've only been to K&L once and I didn't notice the tasting area.  The "Instructional Tasting License" laws are more involved than I mentioned; here are some "highlights:"

 

Retailers may not conduct the events themselves; they must invite "authorized licensees"  (i.e., holders of manufacturing or supply licenses) to conduct them. The authorized licensee must be present at the tasting and serve the samples, unless the event has been previously advertised and the authorized licensee can’t attend.  The retailer can’t supply the alcohol for the event; it must be supplied by the authorized licensees or purchased from the retailer by the authorized licensees at the going rate.  Each tasting event can only have one product type and one authorized licensee, so a tasting event cannot include multiple suppliers.  

 

[Anwalt]

Ah, the bureaucrats.  Control freaks, down to the last detail.

[JakeySnakes]

On 2/20/2023 at 7:45 PM, JakeySnakes said:

Passed on an EC BP C922 at $69.99 today. I haven't tried this batch yet, but have one in the cabinet on deck. I was on a quick in-and-out mission for a dinner bottle of wine, and was not ready to pull the trigger, but I may just go back and pick one up later this week.

 

On 2/20/2023 at 9:22 PM, mbroo5880i said:

 

We each have our own palates, preferences, and pocketbooks.  However, I would go back for this one.  Hopefully, it will still be there.  

 

I would love to find a backup to the one in my cabinet.  

 

Finally made it back to the store last evening and they had one left on the shelf, so it came home with me.

[Jazzhead]

On 2/20/2023 at 7:45 PM, JakeySnakes said:

Passed on an EC BP C922 at $69.99 today. I haven't tried this batch yet, but have one in the cabinet on deck. I was on a quick in-and-out mission for a dinner bottle of wine, and was not ready to pull the trigger, but I may just go back and pick one up later this week.

I like those, but EC isn't my favorite for drinking neat at barrel proof (Bookers probably is).   But the EC single barrel picks at "regular" 92 proof I've had recently are stunningly good.  

[Cibsie]

On 2/28/2023 at 9:44 AM, Jazzhead said:

I like those, but EC isn't my favorite for drinking neat at barrel proof (Bookers probably is).   But the EC single barrel picks at "regular" 92 proof I've had recently are stunningly good.  

Interesting, regular EC small batch does nothing for me, but I haven't had a 92 proof single barrel yet.  If they're really that much better, I'm in if I see one.

[Jazzhead]

1 hour ago, Cibsie said:

Interesting, regular EC small batch does nothing for me, but I haven't had a 92 proof single barrel yet.  If they're really that much better, I'm in if I see one.

The one that's currently open has a 10-year age statement and is 94 proof, not 92.   It has a pineapple note that I especially like.    I wish I could find these "private barrels" more easily.   

[fosmith]

16 hours ago, Jazzhead said:

The one that's currently open has a 10-year age statement and is 94 proof, not 92.   It has a pineapple note that I especially like.    I wish I could find these "private barrels" more easily.   

I used to see the 94 proof EC store picks relatively often but I haven't seen them now for a year or so.  I think most of the store picks are now being bottled at cask strength. 

[PaulO]

I ran across Green River at the grocery store @ $30.  It's 90 proof and no age statement.  Label states made in Owensboro at DSP 10.  Given it's not another sourced NDP product makes it sort of interesting.  Reviews I've found seem ok, but that's real good for a start up.  I might wait for the next sale.

[Jazzhead]

On 2/13/2023 at 7:21 PM, 0895 said:

Too bad I don’t really like Jefferson’s Reserve.

 

Man, I'd buy the lot.  The Reserve is in that rare niche in the bourbon world. -  well-aged bourbon at an easy-drinking proof.  Meaning - great with food.

[Anwalt]

Bought so many Blanton's Gold's at 99 to 105 Euros that, even with ones going to friends, I simply have enough.  Bunker tummy is full, at least on those.  Daughter's jaw dropped when I passed one up at 99 Euros.  My shrink says it's a good sign.  My wife does not believe me.

 

<sigh>