OT: Bourbon/Whiskey

[RU_Planning]

King's County is using bought spirit. It may not necessarily be MGP, but it's not their own.

I'm not sure what the status of the Tuthilltown product is. They had a fire about a year or so back that turned back the clock on some of their operations.

Best thing to do, especially when selecting a craft spirit, is to pay close attention to the label. Note the difference between "produced by" and "bottled by". If a craft house is using their own spirit for 100% of their product the label will boldly proclaim it for all the world: "Distilled and bottled by XYZ, Springfield". If it says "bottled by" or if it says nothing at all about the origin of the spirit then they're buying on contract.

Thanks!

I have a bottle of Hudson's Baby Bourbon Whiskey and it says on the front of the label:

Made with 100% New York Corn
Aged 4 Years in American Oak
Handmade and Bottled by Tuthilltown Spirits, Gardiner, New York.

I thought I might have a Kings County bottle around still, but I don't. I did find something about their Bottled In Bond that would make me think that it would meet the criteria I am looking for (but I could be wrong).
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonli...action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=16034001000195
If I see in a store, I'll check if the label is there.

 

[applesktrack]

If you are ever in St Augustine the distillery there has good bourbon.

 

[RU4Real]

If you are ever in St Augustine the distillery there has good bourbon.

St. Augustine Distillery is a great story - they bought an old Florida Power & Light generating station and ice plant and completely rebuilt it.

They're also one of a growing number of distillers that are moving away from rye as part of their mash bill, opting for wheat as a tertiary grain, instead. It makes a smoother spirit that presents especially well when it's finished on wine oak.

 

[BHSPCRU]

Great suggestions in this thread! I had many of the ones listed. If you want to try one relatively local bourbon Social Still in Bethlehem, PA distilled a bourbon by the name of Freakshow which is truly amazing. I think it was limited release but their Vault bourbon is excellent also.

 

[RUbacker]

What's your favorite whiskey and what liquor store has the best selection?

As of this writing my favorite is High West's Campire found at Stew Leonard's (although it is not uncommon). One of the clerks said they had been allocated three bottle of Elmer T Lee and ran out the first day.

Pappy van winkle by far.

 

[RU4Real]

Pappy van winkle by far.

Pffft.

PVW is the most over-hyped product on the market.

 

[RUbacker]

Pffft.

PVW is the most over-hyped product on the market.

Oh ok. I like it but it is ve4y expensive but well worth it.

 

[OldManRiver1]

Anybody have this before?
Someone told me about it but I haven't been able to drop the buck$$$$ to get it yet.
From China of all places!!!

 

[RUinBoston]

I know a lot of folks consider it amateur hour, but I quite like the peaty/smokey stuff. There is an Irish whiskey called Connemara that might be my favorite.

 

[zappaa]

Sorry for my being naive, but what’s the criteria for liking a whisky?

Why not just drink Jack Daniels

 

[RUinBoston]

Sorry for my being naive, but what’s the criteria for liking a whisky?

Why not just drink Jack Daniels

I'm no whiskey snob, but Jack Daniels is way too sweet for me...kind of like the Pepsi of whisky.

 

[applesktrack]

Sorry for my being naive, but what’s the criteria for liking a whisky?

Why not just drink Jack Daniels

Its all whatever you like. I'll mix jack and jim all day long but for straight sipping whiskey I like Lagavulin 16 but I have been getting into nice bourbons like the St Augustine Port finished bourbon.

 

[AntiG]

Anybody have this before?
Someone told me about it but I haven't been able to drop the buck$$$$ to get it yet.
From China of all places!!!

From Taiwan, not China.

 

[OldManRiver1]

From Taiwan, not China.

Still....would not have guessed from that part of the world

 

[mildone_rivals]

At higher end liquor stores. Most don't like to carry because they don't move as fast as they want. This is what I've told.

I can understand that. It’s not super expensive stuff, but it’s also not dirt cheap.

The Wine Chataeu in Metuchen always seems to have all three. They also carry Aberlour 16 which is, I think, getting close to dirt cheap at about $80. If people like the Balvenie and Macallan, I think they would also like the Aberlour.

 

[RU_Planning]

Does it really matter when most of you are mixing it with grenadine and orange juice?

[laughing]

 

[AntiG]

Still....would not have guessed from that part of the world

The Taiwanese (and Japanese) produce some of the finest whiskies in the world, definitely give it a try, its great stuff - the Kavalan master distiller is currently the top-rated in the world, 2 of the last 3 years they have won top single malt whisky in the world at the World Whisky Awards (Yamazaki 18 Sherry Cask won it the year before them). The nice thing for them is due to the country being in a subtropical climate, the whisky ages with quickness so they can attain the richness of a 12 or 18 year old in less than 10 years. Taiwan also produces some other great whiskies and other liquors (they are also the world leader for Kaoliang liquor, which is made from sorghum, and there are a lot of aboriginal liquors as well) but they rarely get out of the region, only Kavalan is successful enough to go international.

 

[Scarletwoman]

I can understand that. It’s not super expensive stuff, but it’s also not dirt cheap.

The Wine Chataeu in Metuchen always seems to have all three. They also carry Aberlour 16 which is, I think, getting close to dirt cheap at about $80. If people like the Balvenie and Macallan, I think they would also like the Aberlour.

As does the wine chateau in Piscataway. They are the only ones that carries my 25 yr McCallan.

 

[JBL7979]

Damn how have I missed this thread for so long? I'm a big bourbon/rye drinker/collector. I was recently up to ~60 different bottles, but finished a handful while I was home for a few weeks
Top American Whiskey to buy if you're new to drinking and you want great value and to learn some flavors, in no order:
1. Henry McKenna Single Barrel - $30 - Standard offering
2. Almost any "MGP/LDI" rye, but Bulleit RYE is likely the easiest to find - $27 - standard rye offering
3. Heaven Hill or Evan Williams Bottled in Bond - $13 (yup, you read that right, aged 4 years and 100 proof for $13) - another standard style offering, but at a bit higher proof. More of a one trick pony and a little less complex than #1 but an amazing value
4. Wild Turkey 101 - $26 - Heavy hitter - super spicy and again not complex, but a great value drink
5. Old Grand Dad 114 - $27 - Spice bomb and very high proof, use as an introduction to barrel strength bourbons (people used to "smoothe" Scotch and not accustomed to 100 proof+ bourbon yet will loathe this - but it will grow on you)
6. High West Double Rye - $30 - my favorite PRODUCER, this is going to be a bit different than the standard MGP/LDI rye, even though its included in the flavor.

Things to avoid -
1. Anybody who starts by saying they only drink Pappy / Stagg / Port Finished nonsense - please, at that point, somebody is just trying to be impressive.
2. Anybody who tells you you have to spend at least X dollars to get a good drink - please. Rarity and aging do not ensure a good product.
3. The "big name" standards such as Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Makers Mark, Woodford. Each of these products are FINE in general, and some even have superior products in their own line, but they're never a good VALUE because you're paying more than usual for marketing. (JD Barrel Proof and Maker's Barrel Proof, while a bit overpriced, are two of my favorite pours)
4. Bourbon / Rye that isnt "straight" aka aged less than four years - YMMV big time, although... I actually really enjoy a lower aged rye
5. Most bottles that do not tell you where the product was DISTILLED (different than produced), especially for craft whiskeys. Many times this is some craft distillery overcharging for standard LDI/MGP offerings. Just. Buy. Bulleit Rye.

 

[Upstream]

Sorry for my being naive, but what’s the criteria for liking a whisky?

Why not just drink Jack Daniels

The real criteria is what you like. Typically the "higher end" whiskeys are less harsh and have more complex flavors (some of which is imparted by longer aging). But it doesn't really matter if you don't like it. For example, I prefer the flavor of bourbon or rye to scotch. Although I'll drink scotch, I'm not crazy about the peaty flavor. So a $100 bottle of scotch, as much as someone else will really enjoy it, would be wasted on me. It might be great scotch, but it is not what I prefer.

 

[DJ Spanky]

That Aberlour 16 sounds interesting - might look for a bottle of that.

As does the wine chateau in Piscataway. They are the only ones that carries my 25 yr McCallan.

Hoo-Hah! Feel free to bring that to my tailgate any time!

 

[JBL7979]

The real criteria is what you like. Typically the "higher end" whiskeys are less harsh and have more complex flavors (some of which is imparted by longer aging). But it doesn't really matter if you don't like it. For example, I prefer the flavor of bourbon or rye to scotch. Although I'll drink scotch, I'm not crazy about the peaty flavor. So a $100 bottle of scotch, as much as someone else will really enjoy it, would be wasted on me. It might be great scotch, but it is not what I prefer.

This is exactly right. As I said above, the best example is Wild Turkey 101. Harsh and a one trick pony, no doubt. Cheap. Cheezy labelling. Bad rep.
Guess what? It's a downright terrific whiskey, period. And as a guy who doesn't like scotch at all, I'd take it over that $100 bottle.

 

[mildone_rivals]

As does the wine chateau in Piscataway. They are the only ones that carries my 25 yr McCallan.

I think I've seen it at the Metuchen store as well. I have never had the 25. Before I bought my first bottle of Rare Cask, I tried it at a local bar/restaurant. And loved it. So the relatively inexpensive bottle (relative to the 25) was an easy decision.

I was thinking Catherine Lombardi might have the 25. If so, I will head there and give it a try one of these days.

 

[mildone_rivals]

That Aberlour 16 sounds interesting - might look for a bottle of that.

Hoo-Hah! Feel free to bring that to my tailgate any time!

You mooch. IIRC, I had the 18 at the tailgate you stopped in at. Although I could be mistaken, could've been the Balvenie or even the Aberlour.

But yeah, give the Aberlour 16 a try. The 12 is also astonishingly good for the price. But the 16 is well worth the extra $30, IMO.

 

[zappaa]

I understand the buzz, but I never understood actually liking the taste.
We used to drank Jack and hoot and holler to Waylon Jennings and Jerry Jeff Walker, but I never liked the taste, only the effect.
I guess that’s why I’m clean and sober for 25 years...I should have liked the taste and not the buzz so much...lol

 

[rudad02]

When I was Ironworking & drinking boilermakers it was Dewars Scotch. Many years ago lol.

 

[mildone_rivals]

I like single-malt scotch a lot more than bourbons. But I have some friends who love bourbon, some of whom are quite knowledgeable about it. They all seem to really like Eagle Rare, so I try to always have a couple bottles on hand. I actually have yet to try it.

 

[RU4Real]

I like single-malt scotch a lot more than bourbons. But I have some friends who love bourbon, some of whom are quite knowledgeable about it. They all seem to really like Eagle Rare, so I try to always have a couple bottles on hand. I actually have yet to try it.

Eagle Rare is good stuff - it's basically older Buffalo Trace (same mash bill). Buffalo Trace is more or less my go-to bourbon for every day drinking.

 

[mildone_rivals]

I understand the buzz, but I never understood actually liking the taste. We used to drank Jack and hoot and holler to Waylon Jennings and Jerry Jeff Walker, but I never liked the taste, only the effect. I guess that’s why I’m clean and sober for 25 years...I should have liked the taste and not the buzz so much...lol

My typical party kit in the first couple years of high school was a six pack of Molsen and two (roughly) half pint bottles of Southern Comfort. I'd drink that stuff fast then mooch beers or whatever off other people. Back then, I was more of what you'd call a consumer than a connoisseur. LOL

 

[AntiG]

Van Brunt Stillhouse in Red Hook Brooklyn makes some excellent whisky, single malt, bourbon, etc

 

[mildone_rivals]

Eagle Rare is good stuff - it's basically older Buffalo Trace (same mash bill). Buffalo Trace is more or less my go-to bourbon for every day drinking.

Actually, when I asked them about what bourbon they wanted to drink at my Halloween party, Buffalo Trace was mentioned right after Eagle Rare. I had Buffalo Trace in 2015, Eagle Rare in 2016. But I've since learned that Eagle Rare is pretty much what they get when they have the choice.

I'm almost positive you would like these particular friends, especially the two with whom I'm closest from that group. A lot. Alas they almost always work on Saturdays (they are on the younger side and work in the restaurant business). So getting them to a tailgate is next to impossible.

But I will figure something out.

 

[RU4Real]

Actually, when I asked them about what bourbon they wanted to drink at my Halloween party, Buffalo Trace was mentioned right after Eagle Rare. I had Buffalo Trace in 2015, Eagle Rare in 2016. But I've since learned that Eagle Rare is pretty much what they get when they have the choice.

I'm almost positive you would like these particular friends, especially the two with whom I'm closest from that group. A lot. Alas they almost always work on Saturdays (they are on the younger side and work in the restaurant business). So getting them to a tailgate is next to impossible.

But I will figure something out.

#TailgateLivesMatter

 

[DJ Spanky]

You mooch. IIRC, I had the 18 at the tailgate you stopped in at. Although I could be mistaken, could've been the Balvenie or even the Aberlour.

But yeah, give the Aberlour 16 a try. The 12 is also astonishingly good for the price. But the 16 is well worth the extra $30, IMO.

Yep, you had the 18! Your tailgate is now a required stop when I make my rounds! I've had the Aberlour 12 and agree it's very good: will definitely try to grab a bottle of the 16.

My typical party kit in the first couple years of high school was a six pack of Molsen and two (roughly) half pint bottles of Southern Comfort. I'd drink that stuff fast then mooch beers or whatever off other people. Back then, I was more of what you'd call a consumer than a connoisseur. LOL

Molsen Golden was my goto beer in college - I used to get half kegs of that, usually from Pino's, for my parties. And Southern Comfort and Coke was something else that was on my playbill.

 

[mildone_rivals]

#TailgateLivesMatter

I explained this to the owner of the bar/restaurant where they work. Several times. I've invited him to tailgates too. But these are pretty key employees and so far I have had little luck in convincing him. Saturdays are rough in that business.

 

[mildone_rivals]

And Southern Comfort and Coke was something else that was on my playbill.

But, but... coke is illegal!

 

[mildone_rivals]

Yep, you had the 18! Your tailgate is now a required stop when I make my rounds!

We might have to start asking you to make ratio when you visit. And no, sheep don't count towards the ratio.

 

[rudad02]

Van Brunt Stillhouse in Red Hook Brooklyn makes some excellent whisky, single malt, bourbon, etc

My mother's family lived on Van Brunt street. The men were all longshoremen. Good old Red Hook.

 

[RU4Real]

I explained this to the owner of the bar/restaurant where they work. Several times. I've invited him to tailgates too. But these are pretty key employees and so far I have had little luck in convincing him. Saturdays are rough in that business.

We have a Friday night game to open the season, although I suppose in the restaurant biz that's not really helpful.

 

[mildone_rivals]

We have a Friday night game to open the season, although I suppose in the restaurant biz that's not really helpful.

It might be a little better. I'll talk w/them.

 

[DJ Spanky]

We have a Friday night game to open the season, although I suppose in the restaurant biz that's not really helpful.

Not so far this year. Schedule currently has it as a Saturday game. Texas State on September 1st.