Newbie in Louisville needs your advice

[Nevill]

Hey all, I've been lurking here for about 2 weeks, I finally got registered and have a question for you all. I have been on assignment here in Louisville for the last 3 months and have just recently taken an interest in Bourbon. I have been a Jack drinker since I toured the distillery 3 years ago, and have made it through every offering the makers have to offer, black label, gentleman jack, and quite a few fine bottles of single barrel. I decided a few weeks ago I needed to try some of what Kentucky has to offer, and seem to have taken a liking for it, thanks to Buffalo Trace. I lurked here silently for a couple of weeks and just this week have started buying up some of the stuff you all seem to like to take back with me to California on the 24th, here is what I have so far, all 750ml's, all sitting before me awaiting the trip home -

Buffalo Trace

Four Roses Single Barrel

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Old Forrester B-day bourbon

Elijah Craig 12 year old

I missed out on a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle , I rushed back to Liquor Barn to grab up the only bottle they had, but I was too late. TSA guidelines state that I can only carry 5 liters home with me, so that leaves me 2 liters to go to hit my quota. I am looking for stuff that I cannot get back home in Northern California, such as the BT. I was home last weekend and did see we have a decent variety, but the stores out here blow ours away. I need your help on my last 2 choices, I believe I have them narrowed down to the following -

Eagle Rare

Van Winkle (which one?)

Bookers (didn't see any back home)

Ancient Ancient age

Pappy VW (if I can find it)

Stagg (also a long shot)

Elmer T Lee Single Barrel

Remember, I am new to this whole "unfiltered" whiskey thing, like I said, I have been a Jack man for several years, but I'm willing to broaden my hozizons. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Jim

[LeNell]

I'd go for the Van Winkle 12 year. It's so darn flavorful and close to the perfection of the Pappy 20. For a more robust style, go for the Eagle Rare 10 year SB.

[barturtle]

Hey welcome to the world of bourbon,

Anyway, I checked an online retailer to see what makes it to Cali, and found everthing on your to purchase list, save for one,

Ancient Ancient Age.

What I didn't find( and this was not an exhaustive search by any means)

No Very Old Barton

Heaven Hill

Van Winkle Rye

Old Fitzgerald 1849 8yr

Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12yr

Beam's Choice

Beam White Label 7yr

What I figure is you take home the stuff you really can't get, and your local liquor store can order anything thats already made it into the state quite easily.

Oh, and by the way I, personally, Would make one of the bottles the Ancient Ancient Age, and probably the second the Old Fitz 1849, but thats just me.

Best of luck in your bourbon travels,

Timothy

[robbyvirus]

As a Bay Area resident, I've never seen Rowan's Creek, Kentucky Pride, or Pure Kentucky on the shelves in California, while all are readily available in Kentucky, and I recommend them all. Of course, you can't go wrong with anything Van Winkle, so if that's an option you've got a tough decision....

[kitzg]

You've done a great job in your research! I, too, formerly drank Jack (note the "formerly").

I will say that I turned a very fussy and opinionated friend on to Eagle Rare Single Barrel and he thanks me every time I see him. I'd be surprised if Bookers is not in distribution in most states but I'd also be surprised if Eagle Rare SB is.

If you've not wandered into the Galt House Hotel on the riverfront you can easily sample a few more bourbons there. Here is what their web site says, "To browse the world’s largest selection of bourbon, try Jockey Silk's Bourbon Bar on the 2nd floor in the West Tower of The Galt House."

[Nevill]

I might just have to give that a try. A couple of us from work are hitting the trail again tomorrow, I brought my camera back from Cali so I could get some pics of Buffalo Trace and Four Roses, going to try to hit them all tomorrow. I have hit 5 of the big 6, but I want to get some good pics to match up to the bottles when I get home. Thanks everyone for the responses, Van Winkle should be added tonight and Eagle tomorrow.

[cowdery]

Get some Very Old Barton Bottled in Bond. Good for your mouth and your wallet.

[NorCalBoozer]

welcome! i live in norcal and you should be able to find Stagg at Beverages and More. Of 3 different stores I went to, all 3 had Stagg.

Also you should be able to find the Van Winkle line, and bookers relatively easily.

Eagle Rare 10 y.o. is around but I haven't seen the ER 17.

I guess i would pick the Elmer.

[Chaz7]

I'd go for the Van Winkle 12 year. It's so darn flavorful and close to the perfection of the Pappy 20. For a more robust style, go for the Eagle Rare 10 year SB.

I have to agree. The 20yr is next to, no, is perfection. But at half the price, the 12yr Lot B is incredible. But if money isn't an issue, and you want to impress friends, then yeah, the 20yr. Although I have not seen Ancient Ancient Age, I have read great things about it, it sounds like a great bargain, and it's regional; I'm pretty sure you won't find it in CA. So any regional release, regardless of taste would for me anyway have a uniqueness worthy of purchase. I'm the same way about food; when I travel, NO chains.

[bluesbassdad]

If space, expense or other considerations serve to limit Jim's acquisitions, I would register a mild dissent in the case of Kentucky Pride.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[wadewood]

As a Bay Area resident, I've never seen Rowan's Creek, Kentucky Pride, or Pure Kentucky on the shelves in California ....

These KBD brands are available in several places in Southern CA, including HiTimeWine.

[barturtle]

Yes, HiTimeWine was where I looked, hence I didn't list them, and as I said I found the rest on the list and assumed, that since we seem to sell out on product faster here in kentucky(is it all the people that come here sayin"hey, I don't remember seeing that back home"?) but whatever the case, most of these whiskies seem to be available in Cali. But, yes, if you don't think you'll be able to get them though your local store, or don't want to wait for them to be on order(though the wait will just make the flavor that much sweeter), then by all means pick them up while you can.

As Always,

Enjoy your whiskey travels,

Timothy

[Ken Weber]

Jim,

I will let others offer suggestions as to what you need to procure locally, however, i would like to invite you to tour the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Just head down I-64 East and take exit 53B. Travel about 5 miles to the Kentucky River and hang a left at the end of the bridge, we are about a mile down on your left. As good as Kentucky Bourbon is, a visit to a distillery is the icing on the cake.

Ken

[Nevill]

Ken, thank you for the invitation, but you are a little late, I've toured it twice! A beautiful place, I took a ton of pictures and you have the friendliest tour guides! Freddy was very knowledgeable and Gabriel was pretty funny. I love your namesake (B/T), in fact I plan on taking a 1.75 liter back to California with me, since I won't be able to buy any at home. You have officially bumped Jack Daniel's single barrel down to second place on my preferred spirits list! Congrats on the success and keep up the good work, oh, and PLEASE start selling the Trace back home in Sacramento!!

[bluesbassdad]

IIRC, Binny's or Sam's, if not both, will ship Buffalo Trace to CA. I know I included a couple of bottles in at least one of my orders when I lived in Long Beach.

Shipping from Chicago is not cheap, but in the case of B.T. it's probably worth what it costs.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Nevill]

Well, I picked up a 1.75 of the Trace last night, if it were just me that might last a while, but since I'll be sharing it with friends, it looks like I may have to import some before Christmas. Thanks to everyone for the help!

[Ken Weber]

Thanks for information. I will pass the note along to Freddie and Gabriel (Gab has already left to attend law school at Mississippi State). Anyway, the next time you are in town, lunch is on me!

We are working on getting BT into CA, however, it may take a couple more years. In the meantime, in addition to Binny's and Sam's in Chicago, you may want to try www.applejack.com (I believe they are in Denver).

Ken