What Bourbon Did You Purchase Summer 2024?

[IamMatt]

A local grocery store had 3 bottles of 1792 Full Proof in with the Small batch at $28.  I asked the manager to double-check the price and she told me yep, $28, so they came home with me.  An hour later at Costco, they had a bunch of Remus Repeal VII at $79 so I snagged one of those.  My wife was giving me the side-eye about then.

[flahute]

On 8/30/2024 at 1:35 PM, fosmith said:

These just arrived today via UPS, three store picks from Mission Wines and Spirits in Los Angeles.  Three different 8yo barrels from warehouse TY-K.  They were on sale for $49.99 plus tax and shipping, which came to $61 each delivered, which is cheaper than I have to pay for Rare Breed these days.  These are usually $75-$80 before tax in my area so it's been quite a while since I've bought any.  Looking forward to opening one tonight.  

Fantastic!

[Davesnothere]

I let myself buy into the hype of Camp Nelson F.  I could justify to myself paying around $15 or so more for a Kentucky Spirit, but when the price started to climb I swore off spending twice the cost of 101.

I picked this one up for $59, which is on the low side around here. 

Is it good? Yes. Is it very good? Yes

Is it three times better than 101? Hard no.

Oh well, I'll just chalk it up to irrational exuberance, and promise not to do it again. 

 

Edited September 3, 2024 by Davesnothere

[Thomm]

Two from the "Old" family. 

Edited September 5, 2024 by Thomm

[PaulO]

9 hours ago, Thomm said:

Two from the "Old" family. 

When it comes to bottles you can just walk into a store and buy - those are a couple of my favorites.  

[MyBrainOnWhiskey]

On 9/3/2024 at 12:08 PM, Davesnothere said:

I let myself buy into the hype of Camp Nelson F.  I could justify to myself paying around $15 or so more for a Kentucky Spirit, but when the price started to climb I swore off spending twice the cost of 101.

I picked this one up for $59, which is on the low side around here. 

Is it good? Yes. Is it very good? Yes

Is it three times better than 101? Hard no.

Oh well, I'll just chalk it up to irrational exuberance, and promise not to do it again. 

 

 

^ Your comments mirror my experience as well.  Very good, yes.  Also very sweet IMO.  It's definitely not 3x better than WT101, and also not better than WTRB.        

 

 

Edited September 5, 2024 by MyBrainOnWhiskey

[PaulO]

On 9/5/2024 at 7:43 PM, MyBrainOnWhiskey said:

 

^ Your comments mirror my experience as well.  Very good, yes.  Also very sweet IMO.  It's definitely not 3x better than WT101, and also not better than WTRB.        

 

 

I saw KY Spirit the other day and was surprised how it's in the $60s.  What you're getting is basically the single barrel version of WT 101.

[smokinjoe]

3 hours ago, PaulO said:

I saw KY Spirit the other day and was surprised how it's in the $60s.  What you're getting is basically the single barrel version of WT 101.

As I understand it, 101 is a mingling of 6-7 year old whiskies, with some 8 year old as well.  Kentucky Spirit is chosen from 8.5 to 9.5 year single barrel selections.  

[Kepler]

On 9/3/2024 at 11:08 AM, Davesnothere said:

I let myself buy into the hype of Camp Nelson F.  I could justify to myself paying around $15 or so more for a Kentucky Spirit, but when the price started to climb I swore off spending twice the cost of 101.

I picked this one up for $59, which is on the low side around here. 

Is it good? Yes. Is it very good? Yes

Is it three times better than 101? Hard no.

Oh well, I'll just chalk it up to irrational exuberance, and promise not to do it again. 

 

On 9/5/2024 at 6:43 PM, MyBrainOnWhiskey said:

^ Your comments mirror my experience as well.  Very good, yes.  Also very sweet IMO.  It's definitely not 3x better than WT101, and also not better than WTRB.       

 

 

Except this is not how pricing works.  95% of the bottles in your collection wouldn't be worth buying if you apply this criteria to everything.

 

 

[PaulO]

2 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

As I understand it, 101 is a mingling of 6-7 year old whiskies, with some 8 year old as well.  Kentucky Spirit is chosen from 8.5 to 9.5 year single barrel selections.  

Indeed, I've heard that too, and think it's accurate.

To add to it, WT 101 used to have an eight year age statement.

A person might be able to track down the age of a particular barrel of KY Spirit - for example, a store selection, and they have the empty barrel.  There is no age statement on the KY Spirit label.

 

Hey, I'm a big Turkey fan.  Price on KY Spirit just a bit of an outlier in their line.

[mbroo5880i]

On 8/31/2024 at 11:24 PM, IamMatt said:

A local grocery store had 3 bottles of 1792 Full Proof in with the Small batch at $28.  I asked the manager to double-check the price and she told me yep, $28, so they came home with me.  An hour later at Costco, they had a bunch of Remus Repeal VII at $79 so I snagged one of those.  My wife was giving me the side-eye about then.

 

Party on!  I always struggle with 1792 Full Proof.  It often takes me almost 1/2 bottle to find the sweet spot.  But, I would have been happy to pick up one or two @ $28.  I would have also grabbed the RR VII @ $79.  I have had 3 versions over the years and enjoyed each.  I believe the last one I bought was at Costco before Covid ant was in the low $70s.

 

Enjoy!

[mbroo5880i]

On 9/3/2024 at 12:08 PM, Davesnothere said:

I let myself buy into the hype of Camp Nelson F.  I could justify to myself paying around $15 or so more for a Kentucky Spirit, but when the price started to climb I swore off spending twice the cost of 101.

I picked this one up for $59, which is on the low side around here. 

Is it good? Yes. Is it very good? Yes

Is it three times better than 101? Hard no.

Oh well, I'll just chalk it up to irrational exuberance, and promise not to do it again. 

 

 

Think about it this way.  What would you have paid at a bar to try a pour?  Maybe $15-$20 for 2 oz.  You got a whole bottle for the price of 3 to 4 bar pours.  That's a bargain and it is something different.  

 

I am a notorious Cheap Bastard and I would have taken the plunge.

[mbroo5880i]

10 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

As I understand it, 101 is a mingling of 6-7 year old whiskies, with some 8 year old as well.  Kentucky Spirit is chosen from 8.5 to 9.5 year single barrel selections.  

 

That's good to know.  I assumed it was slightly older.  In the grand scheme of things, $59 for a 9 year old version of WT is not out of line with the market.  

 

I believe many would agree that WT has a lot of overlapping and competing products.  WTKS would be great as a single barrel, barrel strength offering.  

[mbroo5880i]

8 hours ago, Kepler said:

Except this is not how pricing works.  95% of the bottles in your collection wouldn't be worth buying if you apply this criteria to everything.

 

The truth!  I paid $36 for a 2-3 year old 93 proof bottle of rye today.  I passed on a 9 year old bottle of KC9 in the same store for a few bucks less.  Although, I have found a source of KC9 for $20.  

 

It's like a friend of mine who always gets the black and bleu steak at a nice restaurant.  While I prefer the perch tower at the same restaurant, I often get the special which is usually more expensive but different.  Sometimes its better, sometimes it isn't.  But, how would I know unless I tried?

Edited September 8, 2024 by mbroo5880i

[MyBrainOnWhiskey]

8 hours ago, Kepler said:

 

 

 

Except this is not how pricing works.  95% of the bottles in your collection wouldn't be worth buying if you apply this criteria to everything.

 

 

True ^, as it applies to pricing.  

 

The purchasing methodology of the consumer is a whole different story . 

[fishnbowljoe]

I was out and about today. Y’all know the deal. I bought a Weller SR. Hey, I had to replace the one I gave my son.

 

[flahute]

On 9/7/2024 at 7:14 AM, smokinjoe said:

As I understand it, 101 is a mingling of 6-7 year old whiskies, with some 8 year old as well.  Kentucky Spirit is chosen from 8.5 to 9.5 year single barrel selections.  

This is correct. When you do a barrel pick at WT you can choose if it's a Russel's Reserve pick or a WTKS pick. All of the barrels are in the age range you mentioned.

[Skinsfan1311]

On 9/7/2024 at 8:18 PM, mbroo5880i said:

 

Think about it this way.  What would you have paid at a bar to try a pour?  Maybe $15-$20 for 2 oz.  You got a whole bottle for the price of 3 to 4 bar pours.  That's a bargain and it is something different.  

 

I am a notorious Cheap Bastard and I would have taken the plunge.

I might be cheaper than you.    With rare exceptions, (the Garage Bar in Louisville), I can't bring myself to do it.     Maybe if it's something that I badly wanted to try, I might, so I'll "never say never" but this cheap bastard and his money are not easily parted.   

 

Truth is, I have so much whiskey at home, and rarely drink beer anymore, so when we're out, I'll blow the dust out of my wallet for beer when we're out, which is a cheaper than the whiskey version of "try before you buy" 

 

That said, I'll drop $$$ on a whiskey cocktail, because there are so many that require ingredients that I don't keep on hand.

[JCwhammie]

Found this handy Christmas bundle at Sam's. $44 for a handle of MM and 2 glasses? Yes please. 

I've been wanting a MM glass for a while, but most of the ones I had seen were too busy. These, without the leather, are exactly what I've wanted. 

[Davesnothere]

On 9/7/2024 at 11:20 AM, Kepler said:

 

 

 

Except this is not how pricing works.  95% of the bottles in your collection wouldn't be worth buying if you apply this criteria to everything.

 

 

Yea that's probably true, but making half drunk observations is part of the fun 

[FacePlant]

All this Turkey talk has me moving toward the bar for the RR10yr. Clearly the value leader and for me a full flavor leader also. Yes you can down talk the 90 proof but a blind will shatter that weak argument!   

[PaulO]

8 hours ago, FacePlant said:

All this Turkey talk has me moving toward the bar for the RR10yr. Clearly the value leader and for me a full flavor leader also. Yes you can down talk the 90 proof but a blind will shatter that weak argument!   

People fall all over themselves for 10 year 90 proof ER.  I think RR 10 year is a much tastier pour.  And no Mickey Mouse games.  

 

[kcgumbohead]

On 9/7/2024 at 12:20 PM, Kepler said:

 

 

 

Except this is not how pricing works.  95% of the bottles in your collection wouldn't be worth buying if you apply this criteria to everything.

 

 

 

On 9/3/2024 at 12:08 PM, Davesnothere said:

I let myself buy into the hype of Camp Nelson F.  I could justify to myself paying around $15 or so more for a Kentucky Spirit, but when the price started to climb I swore off spending twice the cost of 101.

I picked this one up for $59, which is on the low side around here. 

Is it good? Yes. Is it very good? Yes

Is it three times better than 101? Hard no.

Oh well, I'll just chalk it up to irrational exuberance, and promise not to do it again. 

 

 

On 9/5/2024 at 7:43 PM, MyBrainOnWhiskey said:

 

^ Your comments mirror my experience as well.  Very good, yes.  Also very sweet IMO.  It's definitely not 3x better than WT101, and also not better than WTRB.        

 

 

True, but WT set themselves up for this type of comparison by bottling at 101 and not providing any additional information that would differentiate it enough, beyond it being SB. A bit of detail that would allow a potential purchaser to consider whether it might be worth the increased ask over standard 101 is essential IMO.  Smokinjoe posted additional age compared to 101 but that's via an "understanding" vs information WT could VERY easily provide ON THE LABEL. They took away the stylish bottle and consumers are left with 101 @ 20ish and KS SB at 101 and ?????? what exactly that warrants the pricetag? I don't doubt the age range quoted in the previous posts and I don't doubt that some barrels may in fact justify the 3x upcharge, but how is a consumer going to make the decision to spend it if WT does virtually nothing to justify it with detailed label information differentiating it from standard (and already excellent ) 101? I'm certainly not doing it but maybe there is a WT crystal ball out there that will de-mystify and illustrate WTF is so special about that particular bottle/barrel beyond the SB designation which we all know is a roll of the dice to begin with.

[fishnbowljoe]

5 hours ago, PaulO said:

People fall all over themselves for 10 year 90 proof ER.  I think RR 10 year is a much tastier pour.  And no Mickey Mouse games.  

 

I have nothing bad to say about any WT products. Just not my cup of tea. I respect all the members of “the flock” and their preferences. I just prefer BT products. I don’t fall all over myself for ER, but I do really like it a lot. I kinda have to. My name is on the back of the bottle.      As far as Mickey Mouse is concerned, I heard Mickey likes Eagle Rare too.  

 

 

[Kepler]

4 hours ago, kcgumbohead said:

 

 

True, but WT set themselves up for this type of comparison by bottling at 101 and not providing any additional information that would differentiate it enough, beyond it being SB. A bit of detail that would allow a potential purchaser to consider whether it might be worth the increased ask over standard 101 is essential IMO.  Smokinjoe posted additional age compared to 101 but that's via an "understanding" vs information WT could VERY easily provide ON THE LABEL. They took away the stylish bottle and consumers are left with 101 @ 20ish and KS SB at 101 and ?????? what exactly that warrants the pricetag? I don't doubt the age range quoted in the previous posts and I don't doubt that some barrels may in fact justify the 3x upcharge, but how is a consumer going to make the decision to spend it if WT does virtually nothing to justify it with detailed label information differentiating it from standard (and already excellent ) 101? I'm certainly not doing it but maybe there is a WT crystal ball out there that will de-mystify and illustrate WTF is so special about that particular bottle/barrel beyond the SB designation which we all know is a roll of the dice to begin with.

 

I'm not saying you're wrong, but have you ever purchased a bottle of CEHT Small Batch?  CEHT Single Barrel?  How much did you pay compared to standard Buffalo Trace?  Both are NAS and the same product.

How about OWA?  How much did you pay compared to WSR? 

The only difference in those higher priced bottles is how much water they add.  Ever think about how much water costs them?  Not much.

 

There are many other examples out there.  But because Wild Turkey continues to offer a high quality, relatively high proof bourbon compared to everyone else for a true budget price (20-25 bucks), for some reason they seem to be penalized for it when considering their higher priced premium products.   It's like they are held to a different standard than their competition.

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2024 by Kepler
added ceht sib