The finest bourbon I have tasted. Yet.

[bagtagley]

Local shop has the Jefferson 18. Got there with 5 minutes left on a store-wide 10% off sale, but couldn't bring myself to drop the hundred bones for a bottle. They said VA still hasn't yet dispersed its allotment of Pappy and GTS. He's probably full of shit, but I'm still holding out a little hope that my name will come up. Meantime, been sipping on a bottle of Russell's Reserve 10. Pretty Tasty.

Pappy hype has certainly gotten out of hand, but it's not without merit. it's good stuff, and cost-wise, is a bargain

[Tippster]

FINALLY found two bottles of the Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition. Snagged em up and another Rittenhouse BiB for good measure. I got to talking to the spirit's manager and used Cruiser's bash pappy strategy and the manager went in the back and pulled out a new Eagle Rare. Everything was going smooth until it rang up for $100!!

If it's the 17yo "Antique Collection" it's worth every penny and far better than "GTS or WL Weller, maybe a Saz/Handy." The 10yo should cost <$40.

[Cruiser]

Tipp's right insofar as the 17yo Eagle Rare is the most limited of all the releases in the Antique Collection or Pappy. Our shop purchased something like 6 whole barrels of whiskey from Buff Trace this year and we were only allocated 1 bottle of Eagle Rare 17yo. That should give you an idea of how difficult it is to get. $100 is a little steep since the SRP is something like $75 though. Dunno if it's the better value than the Stagg (this stuff is so subjective) since the Stagg is 18yo and cask strength whereas the Eagle Rare is 17yo and it's cut down to 90 proof.

[Tye 1on]

Tasted the brand new Wyoming Whiskey last night. Pretty good, but I'm more of a Crown than bourbon guy. First batch sold out faster than hell.

[iceman]

Pappy Van Winkle gets major free pub: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...0ab3_blog.html

[schwerty]

Tasted the brand new Wyoming Whiskey last night. Pretty good, but I'm more of a Crown than bourbon guy. First batch sold out faster than hell.

Heard 25 cases gone by 7:10am at the whole G. Other places were reserving cases. Next release is in April. Good to see a warm welcome. I've sampled a handful of times the past few wks....pretty bright but that is expected for such a young whiskey. Excellent potential! The 10-12 yr will be dynamite.

I had the chance to test a freshly opened bottle and one that was left open to breath for an hour. Big difference. Let it open up!

[ICEHOCEY77]

If it's the 17yo "Antique Collection" it's worth every penny and far better than "GTS or WL Weller, maybe a Saz/Handy." The 10yo should cost <$40.

Tipp's right insofar as the 17yo Eagle Rare is the most limited of all the releases in the Antique Collection or Pappy. Our shop purchased something like 6 whole barrels of whiskey from Buff Trace this year and we were only allocated 1 bottle of Eagle Rare 17yo. That should give you an idea of how difficult it is to get. $100 is a little steep since the SRP is something like $75 though. Dunno if it's the better value than the Stagg (this stuff is so subjective) since the Stagg is 18yo and cask strength whereas the Eagle Rare is 17yo and it's cut down to 90 proof.

Yeah the gist I get from reading review sites is the 17 ER is kind of the red-headed step-child of the group (along with the Handy), still find it hard to justify spending the extra bones on something when I know the SRP of it. Guess it might have evened out after getting the FR at a cheaper rate....but oh well, banking on getting some phone calls this week for the other bottles.

[mobygrape]

My local (state run) store has none of these which have been recently mentioned. Blantons is the top of the shelf there, but I have not (yet) tried it. May have to skip across the border and see what is out there.

[Max Archer]

Finally remembered that I'd been wanting to try Buffalo Trace while I was at BevMo today. Pretty good stuff, gotta be the best $20 bourbon I've tried so far.

Speaking of bourbons in general, there are some cool deals going on with the whole holiday thing coming up. Low prices and free stuff thrown in to boot. I picked up a bottle of Maker's Mark for like $18 at Safeway the other night and it came with some pretty nice wax-dipped glasses. I saw similar stuff for Gentleman Jack (is it any good, by the way?) and several other brands.

[ICEHOCEY77]

Pass on the Gent Jack. Not worth it, it was actually made for Women because the second charcoal filter pass basically takes the burn out of it. But solid on the BT, probably the best bang for buck you can get along with the regular Four Roses.

Also I fear Tip was right about that Eagle Rare bottle. All of Charlotte is dry, there were only two ABC stores that actually got it in the entire county. My upstate SC stores have been worthless and I think they probably got tipped off to the owner's friends.

Picked up some Elmer T Lee (tough to find around here) and Weller Antique this week. For some reason we don't get any Weller 12 in this neck of the woods.

[Arty50]

My local (state run) store has none of these which have been recently mentioned. Blantons is the top of the shelf there, but I have not (yet) tried it. May have to skip across the border and see what is out there.

Blantons is fucking good.

[BmillsSkier]

Pappy Van Winkle gets major free pub: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...0ab3_blog.html

Anyone see the Philadephia episode of The Layover last week? Bourdain just tipped off the last 15 people about it that weren't already looking for it.

[grskier]

OK, so, as much as Pappy's is something I'll always measure things against.. Just got two bottles for Christmas from my Mother.......
Tasting the first bottle now, Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel.

OH MY.. what a great sipper.
Corn and fruity texture up front with hints of a pepper and a nice long smooth finish. Incredibly silky for a 100 proof bourbon. i think I'll have to keep a bottle around!

The library is growing right now:
Old Van Winkle 10 Year
Old Van Winkle 12 Year
Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel
Bookers
Buffalo Trace (what I make bourbon ciders, etc with)
Kentucky Gentlemen (what I give guests who want to mix it with something overpowering, like coke)
Willet Pot Still Reserve (cool looking bottle)
Elmer T Lee (great everyday sipper)


Bottles that I'd like to add:
Eagle Rare 17 year
Jefferson's Presidential Reserve 18 year

[BmillsSkier]

Picked up some Black Maple Hill for Christmas today.

It's almost 12:30 right?

Love this stuff as a change up from my usual Woodford.

[bagtagley]

That bottle of Jefferson 18 was still on the shelf, taunting me, so I showed it who was boss and bought it. Fuck me, it's good.

My ORVW 12 came in a few days later. It's tasty, but pales in comparison to the Jefferson - not that I was surprised. Meathead put me on the list for Pappy 15, only to inform me months later that they can't get the 15 in VA. I guess the readily available, Stizel Weller Jefferson will have to be an acceptable substitute.

[ICEHOCEY77]

what batch number is it? Is it hand written or printed? Apparently there is a lot of hit and miss with those bottles, solid that you got a good one.

[Chugachjed]

Bleh, I'm super unimpressed with costco small batch. Maybe if I was mixing drinks it would be ok, but I'd take Wild Turkey 101 any day over the $20/liter costco stuff.

[grskier]

That bottle of Jefferson 18 was still on the shelf, taunting me, so I showed it who was boss and bought it. Fuck me, it's good.

My ORVW 12 came in a few days later. It's tasty, but pales in comparison to the Jefferson - not that I was surprised. Meathead put me on the list for Pappy 15, only to inform me months later that they can't get the 15 in VA. I guess the readily available, Stizel Weller Jefferson will have to be an acceptable substitute.

The 12 is a different bourbon all together than the Jeff... I think of it as my dessert sipper.... the jefferson's is one of the best though... not much can stand up to it.

[bagtagley]

what batch number is it? Is it hand written or printed? Apparently there is a lot of hit and miss with those bottles, solid that you got a good one.

Batch 6, stamped. Some of the complaints I've read sound like a corked or compromised bottle. Definitely no mustiness, dirt, etc. There's no doubt it's been on the oak for a while, but it's not past its prime and not overly woody, IMO. Not sure it's worth $100, but what the fuck, it's Christmas.

[ColoMike]

PSA. Cruiser's shop has a single barrel 10 yo Eagle Rare that is very, very nice!

[Cruiser]

Good to see you (twice ) yesterday Mike! And yeah, that's easily the best barrel of Eagle Rare that we have bought yet. For ~$25 I'm not sure how anyone can do a whole lot better.

I just took home some Pappy 13y Rye last night. Holy cow! What a great whiskey for the money. Crushes the 15y Pappy fo sho.

[Rontele]

Good to see you (twice ) yesterday Mike! And yeah, that's easily the best barrel of Eagle Rare that we have bought yet. For ~$25 I'm not sure how anyone can do a whole lot better.

I just took home some Pappy 13y Rye last night. Holy cow! What a great whiskey for the money. Crushes the 15y Pappy fo sho.

I have looked far and wide for the Pappy Rye and can never find it :-(

[TNKen]

First off, not the best by far. Picked up a bottle of Jim Beam Devil's Cut this weekend.

Not bad, not great, but definitely worth the effort. Full, heavy oak flavor.

Been a fan of Eagle Rare for many years. Always primo stuff.

[Cruiser]

I have looked far and wide for the Pappy Rye and can never find it :-(

No doubt. We didn't get a single bottle with out initial allocation. Had to call the supplier rep to request some and even then only got 2 bottles. My understanding is that there's a finite supply of it so they're rationing it pretty severely in order to make it last a little longer.

[crackboy]

Dang if only pa didn't have retarded liquor shipping laws

Been wanting to pick up some eagle rare
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