Bourbon

[Yev Kassem 1027]

Aaron from Smoke Wagon joined the Bourbon Junkies on their livestream last night. He chatted with them for over two hours on a variety of topics. Great conversation for those Smoke Wagon fans out there. 
 

 

[Fud 9546]

On 2/14/2021 at 6:18 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

Sits on the shelf in Houston which is baffling. You'd think the Blanton's Boys would be all over this one. It's almost certainly older than Blanton's and a higher proof. 

It's a good nominee for a daily drinker. I always keep at least one on hand. 

I think they’re similar until the aftertaste- an average Blanton’s has a longer burn than the Bowman bottle I have 

[stork642 4498]

Sitting here listening to the hum of my generator crank out electricity and hoping I have enough fuel to get through the night while sipping on some Rare Bread.  Pretty sure I’m finishing this bottle tonight.  

[H_Boogie 80]

Sitting here listening to the hum of my generator crank out electricity and hoping I have enough fuel to get through the night while sipping on some Rare Bread.  Pretty sure I’m finishing this bottle tonight.  

Bottle killing at an alarming rate, even for me. We’ve been fortunate to maintain power more then most (until today at least), but when I woke up the other day cold and didn’t hear the pool pump running, I got up to start the fireplace for the family and got bundled up to go outside for a quick winterization or the pool equipment. Once bundled, the every smoke alarm started going batshit crazy, and then I realized my new 9V batteries from Amazon were individually wrapped. I moved my attention outside and did what could while fretting over the things I couldn’t address (underground floor system piping). The first whiskey of the day was poured into an Irish coffee at 8:57am that day, and the last was poured at 11:03pm. Living through history is a marathon.. not a sprint.


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[billfromlaketravis 11362]

Unlike you heathens, I’ve been pretty good. I knocked a couple extra pours of a 1792 BiB pick on Presidents’ Day because I knew there was no way in hell I working the next day.  But that’s it. 

Definitely rage drinking this weekend. 

[H_Boogie 80]

Suffers from a birthday hangover and claims holier than thou status lol


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[Fud 9546]

Noticed that the hotel restaurant has a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle, so I said what the hell, I'll treat myself. Never had anything from that line before. I thought it was delicious, probably the best pour I've ever had. So I ordered another. 

Wasn't cheap, but was worth it. 

I know it's not Pappy and there are other rare aged bottles that beat it, but that was some good shit 

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

Looked lonely on the shelf.  I adopted it.

[stork642 4498]

3 hours ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Looked lonely on the shelf.  I adopted it.

I’m adopted and love bourbon so this hits close to home.  You did what needed to be done.  

[billfromlaketravis 11362]

What a shitty week and I have to work tomorrow. Something high proof after quitting time is the only answer. 

[Eggo 3975]

What a week... Luckily my new finds keep pretty well. 

[NOMAAA 1696]

what a haul. 

[henrygandorf 29178]

47 minutes ago, Eggo said:

What a week... Luckily my new finds keep pretty well. 

 

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

14 hours ago, stork642 said:

I’m adopted and love bourbon so this hits close to home.  You did what needed to be done.  

I give I give

[henrygandorf 29178]

22 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

I give I give

speaking from experience, you're going to want to get him a friend.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

40 minutes ago, henrygandorf said:

speaking from experience, you're going to want to get him a friend.

They're like foster children... They come, and they go, but an extra play mate is always a good idea.  Tried to find his big brother, but nowhere to be found on the shelf.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

1 hour ago, Eggo said:

What a week... Luckily my new finds keep pretty well. 

Niiiiiiiiice....  and 2 Wellers I spy...

[NOMAAA 1696]

2 hours ago, Eggo said:

What a week... Luckily my new finds keep pretty well. 

whats the story here?  secondary or retail?

[Eggo 3975]

1 hour ago, NOMAAA said:

whats the story here?  secondary or retail?

Primarily retail, but I dipped into secondary for the BTACs. 

[NOMAAA 1696]

11 minutes ago, Eggo said:

Primarily retail, but I dipped into secondary for the BTACs. 

man thats great.  way to go.

[RichUT 1791]

Are those Stagg Jr’s all batch 15?

[smwhorn 481]

5 hours ago, Eggo said:

What a week... Luckily my new finds keep pretty well. 

I'm not liking you.  At all.  

[HouTex 1850]

Enjoying a triple shot of WT 101 after a shitty week that’s ending on a hopeful note.

[Smax 3800]

Never had the 12 year before, is this a buy?

[RichUT 1791]

That price is about $20 too high but it’s a pretty damn good bottle.

[achooloco 1065]

took me all of december/jan/feb until now to catch up on this thread, but while in austin hit up TW and found Redemption wheated. Been looking for it solely due to this thread (since the beginning of covid) and finally found it so had to get two. For my birthday I got Backbone bourbon so finishing that off tonight and then starting on the Redemption. Not sure if I like wheated styles, but y'all mention the style a lot so figure it was worth pursing (solely in the pursuit of knowledge, of course). I'm also enough of a neophyte to not know if I had enjoyed any yet, but since my birthday and while traveling I picked up:

backbone bourbon blended; Garrison bros SiBSP; Balcones Single Malt, then non-bourbons: Barrilito 3star, Taptatio 110 blanco, regular blanco, Diplomatico Mantuano

really need to figure out how to post pics, but thats for another (sober) day. Popping the Redemption now, hope y'all staying warm in Austin!

Edited February 20, 2021 by achooloco

[Fud 9546]

Grabbed redemption wheat per this thread’s recommendation, and also got my second makers Private selection, after really liking the first. This one is a TW. 

[billfromlaketravis 11362]

I promised high proof. 130+ proof Jack Rye tonight. 

Edited February 20, 2021 by billfromlaketravis

[Herbie Hancock 7307]

That price is about $20 too high but it’s a pretty damn good bottle.

I’m sorry but after all of the 13&14 year KC picks myself and BigD grabbed for $45 from 2017-2019 no way in hell I’m paying $79 for that. Or $59. Maybe $39. Maybe.

[RichUT 1791]

I’m sorry but after all of the 13&14 year KC picks myself and BigD grabbed for $45 from 2017-2019 no way in hell I’m paying $79 for that. Or $59. Maybe $39. Maybe.

So $60 is retail. If you find it at $40 then I’d hope you would buy it.

And if you are in the (very fortunate) position to be choosing between the 12 year and 13&14 year old single barrel picks, by all means choose the picks.

That said, KC12 compares favorably to other whiskeys that are readily available around the $60 price point. It’s in the conversation with WTRB, 1910/1920, ECBP, etc. It’s not the best, but it’s certainly not the worst, and we’re talking about a price band with a bunch of great options.

[Eggo 3975]

Good M&D for those looking to build a bar with a few easy to find bottles:

 

[henrygandorf 29178]

1 hour ago, Smax said:

Never had the 12 year before, is this a buy?

when searching for the kc 9+ year bottles, look out for the 120 proof vs 100.  i'm not generally a high proof guy, but i thought the 120 was a lot tastier.

[RichUT 1791]

The 100 is the small batch, which won #1 whiskey of the year from Breaking Bourbon. Now, all of those lists have an agenda of some sort so you have to recognize that. But it’s good stuff.

The 120 is a single barrel product, if I’m not mistaken.

[BigDHornfan 6541]

speaking from experience, you're going to want to get him a friend.

Yep, get a 1920 and make some 1915.

[Neonmoon 38127]

I like to play date my 1910 with 1870 

[Eggo 3975]

4 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

I like to play date my 1910 with 1870 

1890 was a good year. That's the year brown trout were introduced into the Firehole River in Yellowstone. /notaeuphemism

[Hank Kingsley 20708]

The KC 12 is good. At 100 proof it's not worth any more than retail IMO. 

There is a KC 12 Cask Strength that is intriguing but I haven't seen it on the shelf in Houston yet. 

[huge 3788]

6 hours ago, Hank Kingsley said:

The KC 12 is good. At 100 proof it's not worth any more than retail IMO. 

There is a KC 12 Cask Strength that is intriguing but I haven't seen it on the shelf in Houston yet. 

Yeah Ima want that one

[billfromlaketravis 11362]

Good day to sit by the fire at Whiskey Cake. 

[ISUCyclones 216]

Good day to sit by the fire at Whiskey Cake. 

Very nice, I had one a year or 2 ago and traded it away for a 16 ofbb + cash for kids birth year. Probably dumb

[billfromlaketravis 11362]

8 minutes ago, ISUCyclones said:

21 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Good day to sit by the fire at Whiskey Cake. 

Very nice, I had one a year or 2 ago and traded it away for a 16 ofbb + cash for kids birth year. Probably dumb

[ISUCyclones 216]

Ha, I figured.

I did get $400 plus the 16 ofbb for it so I cant be too mad

Edit: bought the bookers at retail

[billfromlaketravis 11362]

21 minutes ago, ISUCyclones said:

Ha, I figured.

I did get $400 plus the 16 ofbb for it so I cant be too mad

Edit: bought the bookers at retail

I’ll probably get flamed, but I liked the Knob Creek Longhorn Steakhouse Pick better than Booker’s 30. I left one one on the shelf. This decision haunts me. 
 

I would definitely buy a bottle of Booker’s 30 at retail, but I think you came out on top. 
 

Allegedly Booker’s 25 is better than 30. 

Edited February 20, 2021 by billfromlaketravis

[HouTex 1850]

After 9 holes of golf I’m really enjoying a generous pour of Benchmark No.8 right now. Under $20 for a handle. Lots of good bourbon out there. After a shitty week things are looking up here in Houston. Hope everyone is safe and warm out there.

[Hank Kingsley 20708]

5 minutes ago, HouTex said:

After 9 holes of golf I’m really enjoying a generous pour of Benchmark No.8 right now. Under $20 for a handle. Lots of good bourbon out there. After a shitty week things are looking up here in Houston. Hope everyone is safe and warm out there.

Golf and good value bourbon after this fucking week sounds like an amazing day. Salud. 

[billfromlaketravis 11362]

Jack Barrel Proof Rye grows on you. Really syrupy palette, but a nice finish. 

[stork642 4498]

Just put the generator up and I better not have to even think about using it again for six months when hurricane season rolls around.  I’m thinking I will have one of SP ER, SP Blantons, or OF 1920.  Pretty sure I’m going with OF for the higher proof after this week.  

[Herbie Hancock 7307]

Just get a natural gas generator and be done with the bullshit.

2015 Blanton’s SFTB in honor of my homie that had to narc on his own child

[ckhorn 208]

On 2/15/2021 at 1:49 PM, RichUT said:

The smooth word trips me up every.single.time. I see it. Is smooth really a characteristic that people actively look for in whiskey? I hear smooth and I lose almost all interest in trying whatever it's attached to. Don't get me wrong, I don't like harsh whiskey. But, I definitely want spicy and bold bourbons and I enjoy many of the physical responses (i.e., "the burn") that come with those pours. 

Am I misunderstanding the use of this term, or is it more of a personal preference sort of thing?

I would suggest any of the SAOS 7, 10, 11, 12 Ryes. All are terrific and hard to find. Step down to Redemption Rye 9-10-11yr BS. If rye and spice are your thing. The RRs are very close to the same chemistry as the SAOS only several hondos lower in price and can be found in most stores.

[Party_Taco 3674]

I have a love/hate relationship with the bourbon market... My eyes got HUGE when I walked in the door, but I quickly shot the guy behind the counter a sour as fuck look.





Despite there being quite a few bottles on my list behind the counter, I ended up only pulling the trigger on the Cigar Blend because:

1) I’ve never seen it on a shelf anywhere
2) Of all his overpriced hooch, it wasn’t that unreasonable.

Also snagged a handle of Old Charter for $29... hard to beat 8YO Buffalo Trace juice for that price.

This bottle is also sitting empty at our AirBnB and I kinda wish there was a sip left: