Bourbon

[achooloco 1,072]

2 hours ago, RichUT said:

They are both solid and worth owning. I think the 10 year bourbon is slightly better than the 12 year Rye, but you can’t go wrong with either.

 

2 hours ago, Neonmoon said:

The Bourbon was sourced from 4Roses and some Barton. I know 10 year old 4Roses is delicious. The Rye is sourced from MGP which makes outstanding rye. Bulleit is owned by Diageo, but they’ve been sourcing the good stuff for decades so they have great connections obviously and good product. 
 

 

Welp, know where I’ll be tomorrow then. Thanks!

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

Rice Fine Wines Knob Creek SiB tonight. 9.5 years old. Pretty darned good. Drinks smooth for 120 proof. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

Via a tip from a friend I was able to track down some Smoke Wagon Uncut/Unfiltered. Really elegant bottle, I hope the juice is just as good. I wonder if Kurt Russell and his Wyatt Earp mustache drinks this stuff? If not, he definitely should.

I also picked a bottle of Bowman SiB. This stuff is getting way too hard to find at Total Wine.  

Edited August 1, 2020 by billfromlaketravis

[RichUT 1,832]

Scored these two whilst out and about this morning.

[BigDHornfan 6,549]

Scored these two whilst out and about this morning.

Heard really good things about the Bardstown

[HouTex 1,887]

Except for some .375 bottles, Weller SR is out at GG on Woodway. GG had a bunch a week or two ago. Crazy times.

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

I have a bit a back lot to get through, but it would probably be a good idea to pick up a handle of Weller Special Reserve soon. 

[Yev Kassem 1,031]

Got an unexpected call from my local Twin Liquors this afternoon. They’ve started an allocated list and I got the call for a Stagg Jr (batch 13). 

I already have one bottle of this batch, but needed another because it’s the tits. 

[stork642 4,498]

I picked up a liter of Weller SR yesterday and there was another one still in the shelf.  Guess I’ll be going back on Monday to get it if it’s still there.  Are y’all saying that Weller SR will be more difficult to come by in the future?

[BigDHornfan 6,549]

Revisiting the 19 4R LE tonight with maybe the best damn cigar I’ve ever smoked.
Patoro Belicoso. Damn.

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

14 hours ago, stork642 said:

I picked up a liter of Weller SR yesterday and there was another one still in the shelf.  Guess I’ll be going back on Monday to get it if it’s still there.  Are y’all saying that Weller SR will be more difficult to come by in the future?

I’d say it depends on the city and the store. It’s very feast or famine in Houston.

[Party_Taco 3,742]

OUSux - awaiting your Old Tub review... wondering if my palette was tainted from all the Weller SB the other night.

[ousuxndallas 65]

OUSux - awaiting your Old Tub review... wondering if my palette was tainted from all the Weller SB the other night.

That's like number 8 on the list of bottles for me to try. I'll open it once college football starts....

[Party_Taco 3,742]

I revisited just now, and I will serve a qualifier that I’ve been drinking on the boat all day, BUT... I added a rock to the Old Tub and think that’s the move. It’s too hot to drink neat, but with a cube it’s basically just a higher proof Beam with a bit more linger.

As someone who drank Beam by the gallon in college, that’s no longer my thing, but I can understand why some would enjoy it, especially at that price point.

[ousuxndallas 65]

Cracked a Russell's Reserve store pick private barrel. Damn good. A little heat, but man way more flavor than the lower proof stuff I've been drinking.

[H_Boogie 80]

Does anyone know the mash bill or story behind the Kelsey Creek SB from Goody? It’s actually pretty good, but it just has a Spec’s job written all over it. I had to buy it based on it being in the same bottle as RHF and Caribou.


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[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

43 minutes ago, ousuxndallas said:

Cracked a Russell's Reserve store pick private barrel. Damn good. A little heat, but man way more flavor than the lower proof stuff I've been drinking.

My nominee as the best shelfer. Spec’s always has two rows deep of of store picks. 
 

I think Wild Turkey does a pretty good job of listening to their customers. Rare Breed Rye being a recent example. So I think they’ll bring back the Russell’s Reserve Rye SiB Store picks eventually. But 4 years is a long time to go without it. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

3 hours ago, Party_Taco said:

I revisited just now, and I will serve a qualifier that I’ve been drinking on the boat all day, BUT... I added a rock to the Old Tub and think that’s the move. It’s too hot to drink neat, but with a cube it’s basically just a higher proof Beam with a bit more linger.

As someone who drank Beam by the gallon in college, that’s no longer my thing, but I can understand why some would enjoy it, especially at that price point.

I hated the recent relaunch of Jim Beam Single Barrel. Black Label is nothing special. White Label is putrid. Everybody likes Distiller’s Cut and they just make less and less of it.

I hope Old Tub is good, but I could see it tasting exactly like Beam Bonded. 

I love Knob Creek and Booker’s, but I’m going to stay away from the flagship label. 

[Steelhorn 0]

12 hours ago, H_Boogie said:

Does anyone know the mash bill or story behind the Kelsey Creek SB from Goody? It’s actually pretty good, but it just has a Spec’s job written all over it. I had to buy it based on it being in the same bottle as RHF and Caribou.


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Thought it was a Sazerac product.

[Duke Silver 191]

Picked up an EC SiB today. Is this a small batch offering that is specifically picked by barrel?  
 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

15 minutes ago, Duke Silver said:

Picked up an EC SiB today. Is this a small batch offering that is specifically picked by barrel?  
 

Looks like a store pick single barrel. It should be good. Just added one to my Total Wine cart. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

It is with a heavy heart that I reveal I caught a bad single barrel of Larceny 92 proof at Spec's. The barrel serial number is 6515659 barreled on 4/15/2013. It's perfectly drinkable, but it is straight nightmare hangover fuel. I'm talking the day after a Kentucky Derby Party level hangover. Proceed with caution. 

Edited August 3, 2020 by billfromlaketravis

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

39 minutes ago, Duke Silver said:

Picked up an EC SiB today. Is this a small batch offering that is specifically picked by barrel?  
 

Is there a age statement on it? The Houston Bourbon Society/Spec's pick had an age statement printed on the top line of the store pick sticker. 

[Smax 3,800]

My score today

[smwhorn 482]

Was recommended to purchase and consume Heaven Hill Bottled In Bond.  

Anyone?  Anyone?

[Yev Kassem 1,031]

12 minutes ago, Smax said:

My score today

I think you’ll enjoy that Old Scout pick. I have one from Debs Liquor in Austin and it’s really good. They moved back to sourcing MGP instead of Dickel, so that’s a great development. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

6 minutes ago, smwhorn said:

Was recommended to purchase and consume Heaven Hill Bottled In Bond.  

Anyone?  Anyone?

I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t like it either. Just buy one to give it a try. 

[TxTower 652]

It is with a heavy heart that I reveal I caught a bad single barrel of Larceny 92 proof at Spec's. The barrel serial number is 6515659 barreled on 4/15/2013. It's perfectly drinkable, but it is straight nightmare hangover fuel. I'm talking the day after a Kentucky Derby Party level hangover. Proceed with caution. 

I experienced the same thing with an EC Specs store pick. I tasted against two other EC store picks and the one from Specs was a burner compared to the other two.

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

5 minutes ago, Yev Kassem said:

I think you’ll enjoy that Old Scout pick. I have one from Debs Liquor in Austin and it’s really good. They moved back to sourcing MGP instead of Dickel, so that’s a great development. 

I assume “Distilled in Indiana” is clearly printed on the back of the new Old Scout bottle? 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

1 minute ago, TxTower said:

I experienced the same thing with an EC Specs store pick. I tasted against two other EC store picks and the one from Specs was a burner compared to the other two.

Who knows maybe I had a minor bug or something? I spent most of the next day in bed. I drink high proof stuff all the time and I never have that kind of hangover. 

Probably a Heaven Hill thing, it’s happened with subpar McKenna 10 SiBs as well. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,507]

2 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

It is with a heavy heart that I reveal I caught a bad single barrel of Larceny 92 proof at Spec's. The barrel serial number is 6515659 barreled on 4/15/2013. It's perfectly drinkable, but it is straight nightmare hangover fuel. I'm talking the day after a Kentucky Derby Party level hangover. Proceed with caution. 

I touched on this earlier in the thread this is part of why I don’t like Single Barrel bourbon. It’s just too much of a crapshoot. A truly bad barrel is rare, but a truly great one is just as rare. And a very good blend is always better than all but the best single barrels. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

3 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I touched on this earlier in the thread this is part of why I don’t like Single Barrel bourbon. It’s just too much of a crapshoot. A truly bad barrel is rare, but a truly great one is just as rare. And a very good blend is always better than all but the best single barrels. 

I still prefer single barrels, but I understand the “batch to taste” viewpoint championed by the Noe and Samuel Families. 
 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,507]

2 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I still prefer single barrels, but I understand the “batch to taste” viewpoint championed by the Noe and Samuel Families. 
 

I’m not familiar with that. Explain?

[Smax 3,800]

I assume “Distilled in Indiana” is clearly printed on the back of the new Old Scout bottle? 

Yes

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

3 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I’m not familiar with that. Explain?

When asked about single barrels of Booker’s, Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe said they’ll never do it because his father Booker Noe believed in blending barrels/batches to achieve the correct/consistent taste he wanted. I’ve heard they were friends, but Booker thought Elmer T. Lee was crazy for starting Blanton’s. 

The Samuels Family started Maker’s Mark and they obviously like blending batches as well. Maker’s and Jim Beam are very much related so you can see where the thinking comes from. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,507]

19 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

When asked about single barrels of Booker’s, Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe said they’ll never do it because his father Booker Noe believed in blending barrels/batches to achieve the correct/consistent taste he wanted. I’ve heard they were friends, but Booker thought Elmer T. Lee was crazy for starting Blanton’s. 

The Samuels Family started Maker’s Mark and they obviously like blending batches as well. Maker’s and Jim Beam are very much related so you can see where the thinking comes from. 

Well obviously I agree. Look,  I always have Rock Hill Farms, Elmer T Lee and Blanton’s on hand, because they are always good, and always interesting. I’m not opposed to single barrel on principle, I’m just not impressed in practice with most single barrel product. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

1 minute ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Well obviously I agree. Look,  I always have Rock Hill Farms, Elmer T Lee and Blanton’s on hand, because they are always good, and always interesting. I’m not opposed to single barrel on principle, I’m just not impressed in practice with most single barrel product. 

It’s ironic that Fred Noe’s legacy will probably be the beloved Knob Creek 120 proof Single Barrels. 

Heaven Hill has fixed McKenna 10. I’m not sure they’ve fixed Larceny, and it’s so popular they might not want to. Elijah Craig 94 proof Single Barrel picks are reliably good. 

[Duke Silver 191]

4 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Is there a age statement on it? The Houston Bourbon Society/Spec's pick had an age statement printed on the top line of the store pick sticker. 

No age statement on the bottle but a very tasty bourbon. 

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

2 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I assume “Distilled in Indiana” is clearly printed on the back of the new Old Scout bottle? 

It should't be by now. They should be barreling their own bourbon.

[Neonmoon 38,129]

1 hour ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

It should't be by now. They should be barreling their own bourbon.

Maybe their own bourbon didn’t sell that great

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

8 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

Maybe their own bourbon didn’t sell that great

Could be, I've only had one bottle and that was a few years ago when I knew they were Indiana sourcing.

Their vodka is one of my favorites. I know vodka should really be tasteless, but theirs had this oh so sub-tle hint of butterscotch that was really nice over a couple cubes. Thought it was my imagination, but the next time I had it the flavor was still there.

[Smax 3,800]

Whats the consensus on Black Maple Hill bourbon, worth $75 ?

[Bert Orange 1,120]

13 hours ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

It should't be by now. They should be barreling their own bourbon.

Yeah, they abandoned that failed experiment. It wasn’t good. 

[Bert Orange 1,120]

15 hours ago, Smax said:

My score today

That NASA pick is straight fire. Good pour. I’ve killed two now. 

[Bert Orange 1,120]

Mail from last Fryeday.
 

 

[ERhine 1,894]

Whats the consensus on Black Maple Hill bourbon, worth $75 ?

RIP Red Label BMH.

[Longhornfan1024 1,707]

TW Arboretum had W12, OA, ER, and Blanton's as if 20 minutes ago.

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[TxTower 652]

I touched on this earlier in the thread this is part of why I don’t like Single Barrel bourbon. It’s just too much of a crapshoot. A truly bad barrel is rare, but a truly great one is just as rare. And a very good blend is always better than all but the best single barrels. 

After having multiple single barrels and store picks over the last few years, I’d have to agree with you to a point. Some great, some meh and few stinkers. For the average bourbon drinker I think this is sound advice. No need to play single barrel roulette when you can get consistent quality from what’s on the shelf. However it is fun to try SBs and come up with the occasional gem. I’m finding better results with some distillers than others and of course it’s always good to try before you buy if the retailer allows it. Getting to taste can take out a lot of the guess work (although COViD has recently put a damper on this practice).

Anyway, always appreciate your take on things Bozo.

[Longhornfan1024 1,707]

It was a productive drive into the office this morning.  I managed to snag a Weller 12, Buffalo Trace TW Single Barrel Select, and Elijah Craig TL Single Barrel Select (10yr).  At $30 a piece for the SBSs, I'm happy to take the gamble that I get something better than the norm for each of those bourbons. 

[billfromlaketravis 11,520]

5 hours ago, Bert Orange said:

That NASA pick is straight fire. Good pour. I’ve killed two now. 

Probably a dumb question, but how does the NASA's Old Scout pick compare to Total Wine's pick?