OT: Bourbon Hounds

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Went to the liquor store today because they were showing to have some Eagle Rare and McKenna BIB in stock... And holy crap. What was sitting on the shelf...

View attachment 19510

$50. Batch 15. I will make this bottle last a decade.

 

[BirminghamDAWG]

Went to the liquor store today because they were showing to have some Eagle Rare and McKenna BIB in stock... And holy crap. What was sitting on the shelf...

View attachment 19510

$50. Batch 15. I will make this bottle last a decade.

Man I miss Mississippi liquor stores. The Blanton’s and Weller antique are hard to come by in Alabama. That Stagg Jr is top notch.

 

[NTDawg]

Where?

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

And by weller at that. Damn.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

Nice collection!

I've got Blantons, Buffalo Trace, Jefferson's very small batch, and Hudson Baby at home.

 

[G-Dawg]

Bought some Larceny small batch in Madison Co. and it was very very smooth. Had some Buffalo Trace at a benefit Emeril had in New Orleans. Can't find it near me.

 

[DawgInThe256]

I've got a bottle of Weller 12 Year that will still have at least one drop when I die.

 

[AlCoDog]

Currently reading “Pappyland” by Wright Thompson. Yes, he is as Ole Miss as it gets, but if you love bourbon, it’s a great book and easy read.

 

[Drebin]

I went to the local liquor store to restock my Makers 46 and they had Eagle Rare on the shelf. I almost passed out in disbelief. Then I picked it up and saw the price they had on it - 71.99, and I almost passed out aGAIN. I can drive into Memphis and get it for under 40 bucks all day.

 

[cfree3434]

Went to the liquor store today because they were showing to have some Eagle Rare and McKenna BIB in stock... And holy crap. What was sitting on the shelf...

View attachment 19510

$50. Batch 15. I will make this bottle last a decade.

Man, that’s a score there. I hope to find a stagg in the wild one day.

 

[ckDOG]

Eagle Rare @ that 35-40 price is money.

I went to the local liquor store to restock my Makers 46 and they had Eagle Rare on the shelf. I almost passed out in disbelief. Then I picked it up and saw the price they had on it - 71.99, and I almost passed out aGAIN. I can drive into Memphis and get it for under 40 bucks all day.

I'm no expert by any means, but I haven't found a better bourbon at that price. Maybe the Dickel Bottled in Bond. It's pretty solid for around 40 bucks also.

 

[Drebin]

I'm no expert by any means, but I haven't found a better bourbon at that price. Maybe the Dickel Bottled in Bond. It's pretty solid for around 40 bucks also.

Eagle Rare is excellent. By far my favorite for the price. It's not a bad mixer but it's also very good neat.

A friend bought me a bottle of Blackened (the Metallica Bourbon) and holy **** that was good. It's pretty hard to find but the price point is about the same as Eagle Rare. That bottle lasted about three days.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

When I was in Texas you had to either pay 4-5 times retail for allocated items, join a rewards program that requires spending $500-700 to get points for a bottle of something even a little hard to get, or enter a lottery at the store. It was impossible.

But now I live in the land of socialist liquor. Apparently Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia are states that actually own the liquor stores. Well here in Idaho, it's first come, first serve. No markups and no gimmicks. Also, it just doesn't seem like there are that many people into bourbon. I walked in the store yesterday and picked up a the Stagg Jr, McKenna BiB, an Eagle Rare, and a liter of Buffalo Trace for $160 total.

Buffalo Trace is just sitting around like bottled water. 750 ML is $20. It's just become my mixer/daily drinker. Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and Taylor have been somewhat available, but not just sitting on shelves all the time. I saw McKenna on the shelf before Christmas and didn't grab it went to get it yesterday and somehow found the Stag Jr sitting on the shelf.

It's wild. They do an annual lottery for the really rare stuff like Pappy, Birthday Bourbon, etc a few times a year and apparently you usually win something if you sign up. I'm still hoping to get a bottle of Old Fitzgerald, Eagle Rare 17 year,1792 Full Proof, Weller 12 year, and the next Larceny Barrel Proof release.

Last year in Texas I spent $600 on Larceny, Rum, and wine at the Liquor King to get enough points for my bottle of Barrel Proof Larceny at $70. Maybe socialism ain't so bad.****

Oh if you like rye this is the place... Every version of whistlepig under the son is available everyday.

 

[Drebin]

When I was in Texas you had to either pay 4-5 times retail for allocated items, join a rewards program that requires spending $500-700 to get points for a bottle of something even a little hard to get, or enter a lottery at the store. It was impossible.

But now I live in the land of socialist liquor. Apparently Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia are states that actually own the liquor stores. Well here in Idaho, it's first come, first serve. No markups and no gimmicks. Also, it just doesn't seem like there are that many people into bourbon. I walked in the store yesterday and picked up a the Stagg Jr, McKenna BiB, an Eagle Rare, and a liter of Buffalo Trace for $160 total.

Buffalo Trace is just sitting around like bottled water. 750 ML is $20. It's just become my mixer/daily drinker. Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and Taylor have been somewhat available, but not just sitting on shelves all the time. I saw McKenna on the shelf before Christmas and didn't grab it went to get it yesterday and somehow found the Stag Jr sitting on the shelf.

It's wild. They do an annual lottery for the really rare stuff like Pappy, Birthday Bourbon, etc a few times a year and apparently you usually win something if you sign up. I'm still hoping to get a bottle of Old Fitzgerald, Eagle Rare 17 year,1792 Full Proof, Weller 12 year, and the next Larceny Barrel Proof release.

Last year in Texas I spent $600 on Larceny, Rum, and wine at the Liquor King to get enough points for my bottle of Barrel Proof Larceny at $70. Maybe socialism ain't so bad.****

Oh if you like rye this is the place... Every version of whistlepig under the son is available everyday.

That settles it....I'm moving to Idaho.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I'm no expert by any means, but I haven't found a better bourbon at that price. Maybe the Dickel Bottled in Bond. It's pretty solid for around 40 bucks also.

If you like Eagle Rare, try to find EH Taylor Small Batch. About the same price point and my new favorite. A little harder to find than ER, but whoa it's worth it.

 

[cfree3434]

When I was in Texas you had to either pay 4-5 times retail for allocated items, join a rewards program that requires spending $500-700 to get points for a bottle of something even a little hard to get, or enter a lottery at the store. It was impossible.

But now I live in the land of socialist liquor. Apparently Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia are states that actually own the liquor stores. Well here in Idaho, it's first come, first serve. No markups and no gimmicks. Also, it just doesn't seem like there are that many people into bourbon. I walked in the store yesterday and picked up a the Stagg Jr, McKenna BiB, an Eagle Rare, and a liter of Buffalo Trace for $160 total.

Buffalo Trace is just sitting around like bottled water. 750 ML is $20. It's just become my mixer/daily drinker. Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and Taylor have been somewhat available, but not just sitting on shelves all the time. I saw McKenna on the shelf before Christmas and didn't grab it went to get it yesterday and somehow found the Stag Jr sitting on the shelf.

It's wild. They do an annual lottery for the really rare stuff like Pappy, Birthday Bourbon, etc a few times a year and apparently you usually win something if you sign up. I'm still hoping to get a bottle of Old Fitzgerald, Eagle Rare 17 year,1792 Full Proof, Weller 12 year, and the next Larceny Barrel Proof release.

Last year in Texas I spent $600 on Larceny, Rum, and wine at the Liquor King to get enough points for my bottle of Barrel Proof Larceny at $70. Maybe socialism ain't so bad.****

Oh if you like rye this is the place... Every version of whistlepig under the son is available everyday.

Be still, my heart.

 

[Cooterpoot]

I've got a store that puts back Eagle Rare for me. They were doing Buffalo Trace too but I'm not as high on it as some here. It's basically Old Charter to me.

 

[Drebin]

I've got a store that puts back Eagle Rare for me. They were doing Buffalo Trace too but I'm not as high on it as some here. It's basically Old Charter to me.

I have a guy that puts it back for me and texts me when he gets it. The problem is that he can't get it. It's bizarre. Just across the state line I can find it just about anytime I want.

I'm with you on the Buffalo Trace. To me, it's like Gainesville, FL: o-ver-rat-ed.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I like almost any low rye or wheated bourbon, but it has to be in the 90 proof range minimum to enjoy it neat or on the rocks. Someone told me that Old Charter 8 tastes like you poured a little bit of water and dropped a werther's original in Buffalo Trace. Not sure about the werther's flavor, but it looks like the same mash bill ahead s let less and cut a little more. I have never tried it though.

Everytime I buy a lower proof whiskey and I am feel like someone put vodka in it... just kinda tastes like a chemical or rubbing alcohol or something... Probably in my own head. Mixed would be fine, but on it's own I like to taste the barrel.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

I have a guy that puts it back for me and texts me when he gets it. The problem is that he can't get it. It's bizarre. Just across the state line I can find it just about anytime I want.

I'm with you on the Buffalo Trace. To me, it's like Gainesville, FL: o-ver-rat-ed.

Always tasted like they left a trace of the buffalo in the bottle to me.

 

[ckDOG]

I do miss me some Spec's and the tequila and beer sections.

When I was in Texas you had to either pay 4-5 times retail for allocated items, join a rewards program that requires spending $500-700 to get points for a bottle of something even a little hard to get, or enter a lottery at the store. It was impossible.

But now I live in the land of socialist liquor. Apparently Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia are states that actually own the liquor stores. Well here in Idaho, it's first come, first serve. No markups and no gimmicks. Also, it just doesn't seem like there are that many people into bourbon. I walked in the store yesterday and picked up a the Stagg Jr, McKenna BiB, an Eagle Rare, and a liter of Buffalo Trace for $160 total.

Buffalo Trace is just sitting around like bottled water. 750 ML is $20. It's just become my mixer/daily drinker. Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and Taylor have been somewhat available, but not just sitting on shelves all the time. I saw McKenna on the shelf before Christmas and didn't grab it went to get it yesterday and somehow found the Stag Jr sitting on the shelf.

It's wild. They do an annual lottery for the really rare stuff like Pappy, Birthday Bourbon, etc a few times a year and apparently you usually win something if you sign up. I'm still hoping to get a bottle of Old Fitzgerald, Eagle Rare 17 year,1792 Full Proof, Weller 12 year, and the next Larceny Barrel Proof release.

Last year in Texas I spent $600 on Larceny, Rum, and wine at the Liquor King to get enough points for my bottle of Barrel Proof Larceny at $70. Maybe socialism ain't so bad.****

Oh if you like rye this is the place... Every version of whistlepig under the son is available everyday.

Didn't hurt that I lived 1 block from the warehouse, either.

 

[Cooterpoot]

I like almost any low rye or wheated bourbon, but it has to be in the 90 proof range minimum to enjoy it neat or on the rocks. Someone told me that Old Charter 8 tastes like you poured a little bit of water and dropped a werther's original in Buffalo Trace. Not sure about the werther's flavor, but it looks like the same mash bill ahead s let less and cut a little more. I have never tried it though.

Everytime I buy a lower proof whiskey and I am feel like someone put vodka in it... just kinda tastes like a chemical or rubbing alcohol or something... Probably in my own head. Mixed would be fine, but on it's own I like to taste the barrel.

Yeah, being the same company, Old Charter took a hit with Buffalo Trace growing. No more 10 and 12 year old Old Charter. The 10 year was a solid drink. The 12 was too sweet for me.
I think that Trace distillery doesn't like to really pin down their true barrel time too.

 

[cfree3434]

Well, if any of y’all get tired of your Buffalo trace, just send it to me.

I’m new to bourbon (been going about 3 months) and had been looking for some BT and ended up finding some in Memphis and it’s about gone.

 

[MS-halfstep]

Nice score. I'm awaiting my email that says I won Pappy23 in our lottery any day now.

Although not the most variety where I am, but Eagle Rare, Weller SR, and Buffalo Trace are all stocked 10+ deep on the shelves every time I walk in the store.

 

[BiscuitEater]

O

Apparently Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia are states that actually own the liquor stores. Well here in Idaho, it's first come, first serve.

Virginia has a set markup which results in controlled prices BUT less good stuff! Seems BTrace severely limits how much they ship to the state!

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Not an issue here. Buffalo Trace must have a secret distillery here. Just stopped by the one next to the grocery store.

View attachment 19522

View attachment 19523

I swear if I had known about this it would have been cheaper to fly out here and ship it back to myself these last few years.

 

[Rockydawg]

Found Buffalo Trace once in the Lakeland Quarter right before Christmas. Haven't seen it since.

 

[Villagedawg]

Did they have the eagle rare? I haven’t been able to find it in a couple of months.

 

[Villagedawg]

I buy Buffalo Trace at the Hwy 12 liquor store in Starkville like it’s jack Daniel. Always available.

 

[hatfieldms]

Grabbed a bottle of EH Taylor the other day. Got it and a bottle of eagle rare for 90 bucks

 

[WeHollaAtYa]

If you can find the single barrel Taylor, grab it! It is night and day better than the small batch. The price jumps from $39 to $69 in LA - but again, more than worth it.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Night and day? That's interesting. I will have to try to get one someday. Every review I have ever seen has them pretty close to even, with many giving the small batch a slight edge because of consistency. I mean small batch is just 10-20 single barrels mixed together.

I could see one single barrel here being a little better or a little worse, but overall it's going to be pretty close I would think.. Unless you are lucky enough to get a bottle out of the special warehouse 3, 4th floor, next to the fire escape location.** That's the one they use for competitive tasting events.***




Speaking of single barrel. I broke open the Blanton's last night. I have never actually owned a bottle before, just tasted others. Well last night I poured a big heaping glass over a big clear cube, just the way I like it.

It's smooth for sure. But maybe too smooth. I have been drinking a lot lately and started tasting lots of different notes in other bourbons. Blanton's was just kind of mild and citrus leaning compared to what I was expecting. There definitely was a mild finish.

I followed it up with Eagle Rare and could tell a huge difference. More of a sweetness / vanilla and a lot more kick at the end. Maybe the extra age of ER and less rye?

Anyway, I can see the appeal to Blanton's. I drank that sucker fast because it was so smooth. Just not my Jam at $60 per bottle. I will keep it on hand for guests for sure though.

View attachment 19525

 

[cfree3434]

Night and day? That's interesting. I will have to try to get one someday. Every review I have ever seen has them pretty close to even, with many giving the small batch a slight edge because of consistency. I mean small batch is just 10-20 single barrels mixed together.

I could see one single barrel here being a little better or a little worse, but overall it's going to be pretty close I would think.. Unless you are lucky enough to get a bottle out of the special warehouse 3, 4th floor, next to the fire escape location.** That's the one they use for competitive tasting events.***




Speaking of single barrel. I broke open the Blanton's last night. I have never actually owned a bottle before, just tasted others. Well last night I poured a big heaping glass over a big clear cube, just the way I like it.

It's smooth for sure. But maybe too smooth. I have been drinking a lot lately and started tasting lots of different notes in other bourbons. Blanton's was just kind of mild and citrus leaning compared to what I was expecting. There definitely was a mild finish.

I followed it up with Eagle Rare and could tell a huge difference. More of a sweetness / vanilla and a lot more kick at the end. Maybe the extra age of ER and less rye?

Anyway, I can see the appeal to Blanton's. I drank that sucker fast because it was so smooth. Just not my Jam at $60 per bottle. I will keep it on hand for guests for sure though.

View attachment 19525

Good synopsis on the Blanton’s. I liked the taste but wasn’t pleased with the finish. Felt like it was lacking. Had a pour at a bar and then followed it with a pour of Jefferson’s ocean and I thought the ocean was better.

 

[NOATLDAWG]

He's so ole miss, he went to Mizzou

 

[NOATLDAWG]

Uh, if you can find Taylor SB for $69, GRAB ALL YOU CAN!!! Here in ATL, that would sell easily for $300+ per bottle. (speaking of, I will definitely pay you to pick up a bottle for me!!)

 

[hatfieldms]

I went to two Germantown liquor stores today and there was plenty of Buffalo Trace

 

[hatfieldms]

Picked up a bottle of Blade and Bow today. Another one that I really like a lot

 

[MS-halfstep]

Picked up a bottle of Blade and Bow today. Another one that I really like a lot

Mmm, yum. I'm nursing a bottle in my collection as it is not available anywhere near my vicinity

 

[msubrave]

I got an unopened bottle of blade and bow I got from the distillery in 2016.