BOTM 04/25 John J. Bowman

[Kepler]

10 hours ago, MSB said:

I feel the same about finished bourbons and ryes. The ryes can be very good, looking at you Sagamore. The HW older releases I have enjoyed, not so much on the last 2-3 yrs. Part of that could be the price hike it has taken but I found it not as delicious as 4+ yrs ago or more. 

 

I cannot think of a finished bourbon I own. I am sure I have some but none are coming to mind. Other than the toasted or dbl barreled style which are finished but not with a "flavor"  of some kind being "blended" in from a non bourbon barrel.

 

As far as finished bourbons go, I have a High West American Prairie bourbon that was finished in Madeira casks that is pretty good.  I know somewhere deep in my bunker is an unopened Angel's Envy bourbon that I purchased years ago.  And I emptied a 1792 Port  back when it was still being sold.  I think I kept a 2 ounce sample of that 1792 somewhere for comparisons. 

 

Oh and I have a High Wire Jimmy Red Oloroso sherry finished bottle somewhere too.  Can't think of any other finished bourbons on hand.  I do have several finished ryes.

 

EDIT:  of course I just thought of the WT Master's Keep "Revival" that was finished in Oloroso sherry casks. It's excellent.  I probably forgot a couple others.

 

 

Edited April 24 by Kepler
added WTMK Revivial

[0895]

Picked up this store pick single barrel a couple weeks ago in Chicago.  This is the first time I recall seeing a 100p JJB pick.

Usually the picks I see are 90p red label.

None of them are what I would describe as common or plentiful.  I see maybe 1-2 per year.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 01:27 AM by 0895

[PaulO]

Isn't there an 80 proof Virginia Gentleman also still put out by Bowman.

[Jazz June]

5 hours ago, PaulO said:

Isn't there an 80 proof Virginia Gentleman also still put out by Bowman.

Sure is, last time I looked at it, it was aged 36 months. Dusty VGs are a different story, some of those are pretty good. 

[MSB]

On 4/23/2025 at 8:30 AM, MSB said:

 

I feel the same about finished bourbons and ryes. The ryes can be very good, looking at you Sagamore. The HW older releases I have enjoyed, not so much on the last 2-3 yrs. Part of that could be the price hike it has taken but I found it not as delicious as 4+ yrs ago or more. 

 

I cannot think of a finished bourbon I own. I am sure I have some but none are coming to mind. Other than the toasted or dbl barreled style which are finished but not with a "flavor"  of some kind being "blended" in from a non bourbon barrel.

I think I may have misspoken about the Sagamore. Correct me if I am wrong.

I love the Cask Strength Sagamore but I do not think it is a finished rye... is that correct?? I was looking at some btls today and did see anything saying it is finished, but, again I may be mistaken. 

 

Sorry for any confusion I might have created.

[MSB]

I believe I confused myself more than anything.

I have had only the cask Sagamore. Which I believe is just a rye whiskey. Sagamore has done some finished ryes but I have not had any of those. They also have some age stated whiskey that I would like to try. The price of some of their other offerings has been the reason for me not to try. I am struggling to keep my spending down on my whiskey purchases. It is easier for me to not spend money on btls I have not had. If I have had it and liked it, it is coming home if it is at what I considered a fair price.

 

My apologies for my blathering. This was more for me to clear my thoughts and try to get my mind right.

Edited yesterday at 12:34 AM by MSB
Apology.

[Kepler]

On 4/29/2025 at 7:01 PM, MSB said:

I think I may have misspoken about the Sagamore. Correct me if I am wrong.

I love the Cask Strength Sagamore but I do not think it is a finished rye... is that correct?? I was looking at some btls today and did see anything saying it is finished, but, again I may be mistaken. 

 

...

 

Correct.  Sagamore makes a lot of different finished ryes, but they say "Finish" right on the bottle. If it it doesn't say it, assume it's just a straight rye.  The Double Oak is finished in a second toasted barrel, so I consider that a finished rye as well.

 

Btw, I think Sagamore does finishing very well. I'm a huge fan of their Port and Sherry finished ryes.  Highly recommended.  Keep in the mind the Port one is rare and only comes out once per year I think.  But the Sherry finished one is very good and much more readily available.