Bourbon

[NOLEimit 5]

10 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I need a ruling on Angels Envy Finished Rye  in rum barrels. Is it worth $82? 

Love the stuff, for dessert.  To me it tastes just like an oatmeal cookie

[Bozo_Casanova 26,432]

Note to those new to this thread: people who like Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 LOOOOOOOOVE Mashbill #1. You’re like oh hey friend I got some Elijah Craig want to drink some and they’re all “they had Old Charter and you didn’t buy the store out?”

[BigDHornfan 6,545]

1 hour ago, thestud said:

 

 

Unbunch yours first Frances. Those are MY preferences, but I know of more that others have recommended to me that I’ve not yet tried, hence why I asked if you required more options or if that would suffice.

 

 

[After irth 1,243]

34 minutes ago, thestud said:

 

 

It’s funny you say that, because the 3 bottles I have the most of in my bunker are ER10, Blanton’s, and OWA and I love them all dearly. But he was asking for whiskeys at a certain price point and EC ain’t in that ballpark.

 

 

Where I am, EC is most definitely in that price point. ER10, on the other hand, is not. I thought all your other pics were spot-on. 

I’m a BT fanboy as well. Not because of any loyalty, but only because I found that’s where my taste-buds led me most of the time once I started paying attention to producers, mash-bills, etc.  

Weller Special Reserve remains a personal favorite, and it has been since 1991. Not always readily available, but cheap when I do find it. I do love having Larceny around as a back-up. 

Other daily drinkers for me are Buffalo Trace and Evan Williams Single Barrel.

I could probably be happy as hell to subsist on those 3-4 mentioned labels for the rest of time. My only variance being the accidental stumbling-upon a rare bottle “in the wild”.  

Was interested to hear what you like to drink based on your comment, but you’re probably the grump at the bar that everyone avoids. 

Cheers, though!

Edited July 28, 2019 by After irth
We are a surly bunch, aren’t we?

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

12 hours ago, BigDHornfan said:

It’s very good. It’s sweet, drink it after a good steak. It’s like dessert.

I get a ton of butterscotch on the nose.

At $82, get it. It’s $90 in DFW.

PM me if you want a sample.

I better taste it at a bar first. The sweet and dessert stuff has me a little worried.

How does it compare to Midwinter's Night Dram?

[BigDHornfan 6,545]

2 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I better taste it at a bar first. The sweet and dessert stuff has me a little worried.

How does it compare to Midwinter's Night Dram?

The MWND is much more spicy than the AE.  It's a lot more your traditional rye with a bit of sweetness to it compared to the AE's level of sweet.  

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

25 minutes ago, BigDHornfan said:

The MWND is much more spicy than the AE.  It's a lot more your traditional rye with a bit of sweetness to it compared to the AE's level of sweet.  

Hmmm, I definitely better try it a bar. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,432]

 

 

It’s funny you say that, because the 3 bottles I have the most of in my bunker are ER10, Blanton’s, and OWA and I love them all dearly. But he was asking for whiskeys at a certain price point and EC ain’t in that ballpark.

Hey I dig the passion, man. Everybody should drink what they love when they want, and branch out when they want.

 

I do see regular Craig at that price though.

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

I'm not sure what Heaven Hill could have done differently with the Elijah Craig Store Pick program. I would have released it at 100 proof, but Heaven Hill stuck with 94 proof. I guess they figured if the the proof were any higher they'd be drifting into EC Barrel Proof territory. 

If the EC Store Picks were 100 proof they'd be flying off the shelves. 

[huge 3,793]

Hmmm, I definitely better try it a bar. 

AE finished Rye is good but I haven’t bought a second bottle.

[After irth 1,243]

2 hours ago, thestud said:

 

I’m still capable of finding ER10 out the door for under $30 on a regular basis. Haven’t ever seen EC for cheaper than $39 but it’s usually higher.

I’m the grump everywhere. The bar is probably the least grumpy you’ll find me because if I’m at the bar that means I’m sans kids and/or wife.
 

 

Regarding the EC and ER pricing:  just goes to show the vagaries of different regions and their pricing based on availability, etc.  

This crazy market of brown liquor.  So odd. 

[ColoradoHorn 7]

ER is readily available in Colorado.

[Neonmoon 38,129]

6 minutes ago, ColoradoHorn said:

ER is readily available in Colorado.

Colorado, where the bourbon flows like wine 

Edited July 28, 2019 by Neonmoon

[Chewbacca 7,766]

ER is readily available in Colorado.

Not in the stores i frequent. Haven't seen it in the shelves in probably close to a year on the south side of Denver.

[Whiskyteer 51]

6 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I'm not sure what Heaven Hill could have done differently with the Elijah Craig Store Pick program. I would have released it at 100 proof, but Heaven Hill stuck with 94 proof. I guess they figured if the the proof were any higher they'd be drifting into EC Barrel Proof territory. 

If the EC Store Picks were 100 proof they'd be flying off the shelves. 

Well if you haven’t heard, HH will be releasing barrel picks of their 92pf wheater Larceny.  Expect to see them released around bourbon season.

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

5 minutes ago, Whiskyteer said:

Well if you haven’t heard, HH will be releasing barrel picks of their 92pf wheater Larceny.  Expect to see them released around bourbon season.

I’ll probably buy it, but another missed opportunity for Heaven Hill to do something special and instead opting for meh. 

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

12 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

2 hours ago, ColoradoHorn said:

ER is readily available in Colorado.

Not in the stores i frequent. Haven't seen it in the shelves in probably close to a year on the south side of Denver.

Ask, we were passing thru Denver in march and stopped in a liquor store. We struck up a conversion with the chick working the counter, and she produced bottles of Weller, Eagle Rare, and Buffalo Trace. She said they kept it off the shelves cause people were buying it up, and re selling it at a higher price, and that pissed them off.

[Whiskyteer 51]

1 minute ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I’ll probably buy it, but another missed opportunity for Heaven Hill to do something special and instead opting for meh. 

Where were you when HH was releasing McKenna single barrels back in 2012-2014?   

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

3 hours ago, ColoradoHorn said:

ER is readily available in Colorado.

I'm vacationing in Vail in a couple weeks. Any liquor store recs in Vail or on the drive there?

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

53 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Ask, we were passing thru Denver in march and stopped in a liquor store. We struck up a conversion with the chick working the counter, and she produced bottles of Weller, Eagle Rare, and Buffalo Trace. She said they kept it off the shelves cause people were buying it up, and re selling it at a higher price, and that pissed them off.

Please PM in the name of the store. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

53 minutes ago, Whiskyteer said:

Where were you when HH was releasing McKenna single barrels back in 2012-2014?   

McKenna once sat on the shelves at the Total Wine near my office. How times have changed. 

[Chewbacca 7,766]

I'm vacationing in Vail in a couple weeks. Any liquor store recs in Vail or on the drive there?

Beaver Liquors in Beaver Creek is the only one i know up there.

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

32 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Please PM in the name of the store. 

It was just a liquor store in Denver we hit heading up to Breck in March.  Sorry can't remember the name.  

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

1 minute ago, Chewbacca said:

35 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I'm vacationing in Vail in a couple weeks. Any liquor store recs in Vail or on the drive there?

Beaver Liquors in Beaver Creek is the only one i know up there.

There's a liquor stare at Lionshead Village I believe.  I'd just stop somewhere in Denver on the way out of town.  If you're flying int to Denver that is.

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

I MIGHT be going to Louisville - Bourbon Trail for a bachelor party in February or March. I can't do it it if it's In March, I have rodeo. 

The plan would be to fly to Louisville and haul my treasures back in a rental car. 

[Chewbacca 7,766]

There's a liquor stare at Lionshead Village I believe.  I'd just stop somewhere in Denver on the way out of town.  If you're flying int to Denver that is.

Yeah, if you're stopping on the way up, Applejack is where you stop.

[Chewbacca 7,766]

I have never even come close to finding anything remotely decent at Applejack in Wheat Ridge. Is there a secret handshake I don’t know about?? Argonaut on the other hand is money. Always more store picks than you can shake a stick at, and I’ve found some very hard to find bottles there as well.
 

Applejack is huge and has a great selection for most things. But bourbon is tough to come by everywhere. Haven't been to Argonaut in a long time.

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

So Argonaut or Applejacks fellas? Eagle Rare 10 would be a nice treat in the mountains. But some Rare Breed would work just fine. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

1 hour ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I MIGHT be going to Louisville - Bourbon Trail for a bachelor party in February or March. I can't do it it if it's In March, I have rodeo. 

The plan would be to fly to Louisville and haul my treasures back in a rental car. 

I received wife approval tonight. It might be on. Just gotta present a strong case for February. 

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

49 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

So Argonaut or Applejacks fellas? Eagle Rare 10 would be a nice treat in the mountains. But some Rare Breed would work just fine. 

Yes to both.  I pretty much always find Rare Breed on the shelf.

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

17 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Yes to both.  I pretty much always find Rare Breed on the shelf.

If you don't have Rare Breed, you don't have much in my opinion. 

[Bert Orange 1,120]

Anyone here have open a 2015 WLW or recall trying it?  I sampled one and it was, off. Like super oaky/woody. Not at all like the profile of WLW I’m used to. Trying to decide if the bottle is bad or if it’s just that way. 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Bert Orange

[huge 3,793]

FYI in Denver I bought a bottle of ER10 at Washington Liquor Store in March.  It was sitting on the shelf and there were multiple.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,432]

Anyone here have open a 2015 WLW or recall trying it?  I sampled one and it was, off. Like super oaky/woody. Not at all like the profile of WLW I’m used to. Trying to decide if the bottle is bad or if it’s just that way. 

I don’t recall having that experience, but maybe you got a weird barrel or maybe that year was especially oaky.

 

That being said- in general, bourbon does not improve in the barrel after 8-10 years under normal circumstances for most palates, but that’s also variable by the mashbill, conditions, etc. Most wheaters don’t peak past 8, because they lose the syrupyness over time that characterizes wheat bourbon and what they gain, over time, is wood spice and salty dryness. And a year in Kentucky is worth 2-3 years of aging in Scotland. That’s why it’s generally true that higher rye bourbon gets better in the barrel a bit longer than wheat, because aging leans into the rye profile. There are other variables, too. For example, a barrel made from the top of an oak tree tastes better for wheat (according to studies at BT) and older wood at the bottom is better for rye, and so on.

 

So you take WLW, which at 13-14 years old is a bit of a high wire act- keeping enough of the sweetness while imparting complexity without a grainy mouthfeel or so much tobacco that you smother the dates and figs. Same deal for the PVW line. A barrel will be more or less of all things, and all barrels will be different, and it gets harder to balance the older the whiskey.

[Whiskyteer 51]

14 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

14 hours ago, thestud said:

I have never even come close to finding anything remotely decent at Applejack in Wheat Ridge. Is there a secret handshake I don’t know about?? Argonaut on the other hand is money. Always more store picks than you can shake a stick at, and I’ve found some very hard to find bottles there as well.
 

Read more  

Applejack is huge and has a great selection for most things. But bourbon is tough to come by everywhere. Haven't been to Argonaut in a long time.

My personal ranking:  Davidson’s, Argonaut and lastly Applejacks.  It’s hard to find any rare bourbon in Denver as it’s a whiskey town.  Years ago, I found a 2016 SAOS rye sitting on the bottom shelf at Applejacks.   I was also able to grab Argonaut’s SAOS bourbon store pick before they stop releasing them.  As far as store picks, Davidson’s has the best inventory on hand. 

[ColoradoHorn 7]

16 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I'm vacationing in Vail in a couple weeks. Any liquor store recs in Vail or on the drive there?

Beaver Liquors in Beaver Creek used to be pretty good.  Haven't been in two years though.

[ColoradoHorn 7]

16 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

McKenna once sat on the shelves at the Total Wine near my office. How times have changed. 

Power's liquormart had Mckenna and Weller on shelves plus Eagle Rare.  Cheaper than most liquor stores due to no City sales tax.  Breckenridge liquor store had Weller on the shelves, but wanted 39.95 for 750ml

[ColoradoHorn 7]

26 minutes ago, Whiskyteer said:

My personal ranking:  Davidson’s, Argonaut and lastly Applejacks.  It’s hard to find any rare bourbon in Denver as it’s a whiskey town.  Years ago, I found a 2016 SAOS rye sitting on the bottom shelf at Applejacks.   I was also able to grab Argonaut’s SAOS bourbon store pick before they stop releasing them.  As far as store picks, Davidson’s has the best inventory on hand. 

DIA Liquors has a large selection of Bourbon's on hand.  He keeps all allocated behind the counter just have to ask.  All he had last month was a Blade and bow Rye.

[Party_Taco 3,722]

SCORE!

They had two but couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger ok both given how hard we went last weekend.

Will probably open it soon and haul ass back for the other if it holds up...

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

25 minutes ago, Party_Taco said:

SCORE!

They had two but couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger ok both given how hard we went last weekend.

Will probably open it soon and haul ass back for the other if it holds up...

I passed because of the rum finishing. I’m not sure I’m into it. 

Enjoy. 

Edited July 29, 2019 by billfromlaketravis

[Party_Taco 3,722]

Bah well I’m glad I just snagged the one then. Will keep an open mind though as I do enjoy the Angel’s Envy Rum Cask as a change of pace...

[Party_Taco 3,722]

Update...

Solid meh - Front end ain’t too bad if a bit heavy on the sweetness, but it is entirely lacking in character and depth thereafter.

This is going to the bottom shelf with the Kentucky Owl, but I’ll be pushing the other half on this as an “easy drinker”.

[After irth 1,243]

23 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I received wife approval tonight. It might be on. Just gotta present a strong case for February. 

The last weekend of Feb is Bourbon Classic. Seems to get bigger every year. 

Anyone here ever been?

[burns_312 353]

On ‎7‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 7:09 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

I'm vacationing in Vail in a couple weeks. Any liquor store recs in Vail or on the drive there?

Antlers Liquor and Wine Cellar in Frisco had ER a couple weeks ago when we were there.  It's easily accessible off I70 at the main Frisco exit.

Douchebag brother in law knocked it over and busted bottle after I'd had one drink out of it.  Sent his ass back for more.

Edited July 30, 2019 by burns_312

[huge 3,793]

15 hours ago, Party_Taco said:

Update...

Solid meh - Front end ain’t too bad if a bit heavy on the sweetness, but it is entirely lacking in character and depth thereafter.

This is going to the bottom shelf with the Kentucky Owl, but I’ll be pushing the other half on this as an “easy drinker”.

If you dont want your KO I will take it off your hands or trade something else expensive for it.

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

I  might be shifting alliances from Wild Turkey to Knob Creek. KC continues to knock it out of the park. The Rye Single Barrel Store Pick was really good. That's on top of course of the excellent Bourbon Single Barrel Store Pick Program. 

What's a good Wild Turkey product comp to Knob Creek 25th Anniversary? 

Edited July 31, 2019 by billfromlaketravis

[BigDHornfan 6,545]

Bill,

Try the Masters Keep Decades.

Picking up the Masters Keep Cornerstone Rye tomorrow. Looking forward to that.

 

Also got the first W12 of the year today. Finally dropped around DFW today.

So awesome when you score one at retail.

 

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

21 minutes ago, BigDHornfan said:

Bill,

Try the Masters Keep Decades.

Picking up the Masters Keep Cornerstone Rye tomorrow. Looking forward to that.

 

Also got the first W12 of the year today. Finally dropped around DFW today.

So awesome when you score one at retail.

 

I'll give it a shot. I have an extra bottle of Knob Creek 25 so it's not an either or sort of thing. 

[Constant 6,723]

41 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I  might be shifting alliances from Wild Turkey to Knob Creek. KC continues to knock it out of the park. The Rye Single Barrel Store Pick was really good. That's on top of course of the excellent Bourbon Single Barrel Store Pick Program. 

What's a good Wild Turkey product comp to Knob Creek 25th Anniversary? 

These two lines of products are definitely at the top of my list. I could literally drink Rare Breed and KC Single Barrel for the rest of my days and be happy. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by Constant

[billfromlaketravis 11,445]

I took a deeper dive on the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. It looks like it basically makes a reverse C from Louisville to Jim Beam in Clermont. Along the way are the following: Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey,  Four Roses, Heaven Hill, and finally Jim Beam. 

I'm sure the night life is pretty decent in Louisville, but my focus would be on the gift shops at Michter's and Old Forester.