The finest bourbon I have tasted. Yet.

[Cruiser]

Thanks cantdog! Just got the news that our account was allocated 3 cases for next week's delivery. I'm gonna grab one of em and throw it in the wine cellar. That oughta hold me for a bit.

[sb]

Brown liquor, how come you taste soooo guuuuud?

[evasive_MT]

There was a rumor a few years ago that Beam was discontinuing OG114. I’m glad that wasn’t true. It’s one of my favorite <$40 bottles.

[mae5e0]

I know this is the finest, but I was not near impressed with the Yellowstone.

Sorry long time lurker, first time poster.

[klauss]

Buffalo Trace has been missing from the shelves around here for quite awhile. Recently popped back up for $25 (and only $27 for the liter). Had no idea it was so popular.

Joe Rogan effect

Picked this up in the Oregon liquor lotto a few weeks back for under $70. Apparently there’s a big scandal where state employees are accused of gaming the supply for personal use. My bourbon snob friend says the proof is off on this one and he’d dispose of it for me [emoji23]





https://www.opb.org/article/2023/02/...outputType=amp

[Cruiser]

Picked this up in the Oregon liquor lotto a few weeks back for under $70.





https://www.opb.org/article/2023/02/...outputType=amp

That's remarkably cheap. Our last wholesale cost was 66.66

[MontuckyFried]

Buffalo Trace has been missing from the shelves around here for quite awhile. Recently popped back up for $25 (and only $27 for the liter). Had no idea it was so popular.

Same here. Was talking to stocking manager at my local shop about that today as some guy came in looking for some BT while I was talking to him. He told me that word on the streets is that there's some current beef between BT and a big distributor (Republic National) as apparently the distributor owes BT some money. Like a LOT of money. Somewhere around $50MM for products they delivered and sold.

I think Buffalo Trace is shopping for a new distributor while a lawsuit's in progress.

[evasive_MT]

I think the thing with Buffalo Trace (the brand, not the company) is half the Pappy halo and half the fact that it has a name that’s perceived to be cooler than other labels - at least for novice buyers.

It’s fine for what it is, but I haven’t bought a bottle in years.

[Cruiser]

Sazerac dumped rndc in Colorado last year in favor of the local Budweiser distributor who, until that point, sold no other wine or spirits. It struck everyone here as a curious choice.

[snapt]

Curious thing has happened here in Idaho in the last few weeks since Saz is now distributing directly to the state. BT has always been fairly readily available but I haven’t seen a baby Saz in forever. Suddenly they came off the allocated list and are a normal shelf item in most stores. And then I picked up an Eagle Rare last week, hadn’t seen one since October. Today I walked into my podunk state store and snagged a Blantons. Dunno if it’s coincidence or not but I won’t complain.

Also they had a WhistlePig Boss Hog for 599, seems like a great deal considering secondary pricing.

[PB]

I vow to drink some Boss Hog before I die, but someone's gonna have to gift me.

[Falcon3]

Curious thing has happened here in Idaho in the last few weeks since Saz is now distributing directly to the state. BT has always been fairly readily available but I haven’t seen a baby Saz in forever. Suddenly they came off the allocated list and are a normal shelf item in most stores. And then I picked up an Eagle Rare last week, hadn’t seen one since October. Today I walked into my podunk state store and snagged a Blantons. Dunno if it’s coincidence or not but I won’t complain.

Also they had a WhistlePig Boss Hog for 599, seems like a great deal considering secondary pricing.

I was wondering if I would see Baby Saz come off the allocated shelf. I've been seeing way more of it lately too at ID stores. Different state and totally different distribution model, but I've been seeing a ton more Eagle Rare in WA also. Like 6 months ago you'd never see one on the shelves and now I can walk into 5 different Yokes/Rosauers in Spokane and pick one off the shelf for like $34 (plus our ridiculous 20% liquor tax PLUS our ridiculous $3.77 Liter Tax).

I'd really like to see more EH Taylor come around, especially if we could get it at the MSRP for the rest of the country. Stores are marking it at like $62 plus tax, IF they're not gouging (I've seen it for $100+t). You can get the small batch in CA all over the place for under $40.

[TNKen]

So, traded two Blantons ($60 each) and $200 for a 10 year Rip Van Winkle. Trading the RVW for three Stagg Jr.'s.

I have a good source for BT and a fairly decent price. Blantons, BT and Eagle Rare typically pop up when the Virginia stores across the street to a limited release about every two weeks. Take the office staff and make a run. They typically shelve about 10 Blantons, and about 30 BT and ER.

[Woodsy]

Boss Hogg is alright, but not worth those prices. Had it a few times @ my hotles.

BTY & Eagle Rare still around these parts ( ER in the rack right now) just prices have gone up, its like Weller 10 years ago

[Conundrum]

I've had three of the Boss Hogs (V-VII) at a buddy's and while good, no way I'd buy it at $600 a bottle to drink it.

[TNKen]

I have sworn off all of the cask flavored tastes-like-shit-that-isn't-bourbon stuff. I've picked up a couple at the Virginia releases, and haven't found a decent one yet.

No way in hell I'm dumping $600 on a fricking fig-infused alcoholic beverage. But I do like Fig-Newtons.

[ghosthop]

I have spent $0 on everything I’m about to mention, so ymmv.

Boss Hog is a lot of hype. I have sampled 2-6 and I don’t think they’re getting better. I enjoyed 2 and 3, and unlike the rest of the world thought 4 was overwhelming on the palate.

On the same scale as BH it’s worth checking if a fancy watering hole has any Booker’s Rye left. If less than $100 an ounce, that was one of the few whiskeys I have tasted that is worth the premium.

Ken, if you’re in Virginia do you ever get Catoctin Creek? I have tried all of their releases pre 2020 and am a big fan. Perhaps a bit plush for a Stagg drinker. Another Virginia favorite is Ragged Branch, which is one of the many VA distilleries Dave Pickerell was involved with.

[TNKen]

Haven't tried either variety of Catoctin Creek or Ragged Branch. Just looked on the ABC website, and the closest store with them is about an hour away.

Any particular varieties you like of either?

The Ragged Branch Secretariat Reserve Straight Bourbon that looked nice, but only distributed through the lottery. The Ragged Branch Straight Bourbon Wheated looked like a winner.

[ghosthop]

Wheated is the way with Ragged Branch, the Roundstone 92 is the sweet spot in the Catoctin lineup. Although if you find the Bonded Rabble Rouser, that was my go-to in a Manhattan for a while.

Neither is worth an hour detour but would make happy additions to your cabinet if you run into them.

[Toadman]

Joe Rogan effect

Picked this up in the Oregon liquor lotto a few weeks back for under $70. Apparently there’s a big scandal where state employees are accused of gaming the supply for personal use. My bourbon snob friend says the proof is off on this one and he’d dispose of it for me [emoji23]





https://www.opb.org/article/2023/02/...outputType=amp

Meh. 23 y.o Pappy's is where the money is.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news...c1671a83&ei=34

In Oregon, a criminal investigation is under way after an internal probe concluded several state liquor officials used their clout to obtain scarce bourbons, including the holy grail for bourbon fanatics: Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars on resale markets. That brand is so popular that it found itself at the center of criminal investigations in at least three other states, from Virginia to Pennsylvania to Kentucky.

The cases underscore how demand has reached a fever pitch. A limited number of Pappy Van Winkle 23-year, produced by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery of Frankfort, Kentucky, goes to each state. In 2022, Oregon received just 33 bottles.

“The average person cannot get good bottles," said Cody Walding, a bourbon aficionado from Houston who has been on the hunt for Buffalo Trace Distillery's five-bottle Antique Collection. He hasn't been able to find any despite making connections with liquor store managers. He believes he's years away from success.

“Like, to be able to get Pappy Van Winkle or Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, unless you’re basically best friends with a store manager, I don’t even think it’s possible to get those, " he said.

In a Los Angeles bar that Walding visited last week, one shot of Pappy 23-year cost $200.

[snapt]

Eagle Rare and Blantons in stock locally today. Granted, I don't exactly live in a market with demand for higher end whiskey, but it looks like BT self distributing to state controlled states is already benefiting consumers.

There's a Booker's Little Book Chapter 6 collecting dust at MSRP. Reviews aren't on par with the previous chapters being a malt/bourbon blend so I've held off. Anyone tried it?

[Flounder]

Question for the collective. We are heading out on a road trip that will include the bouton trail in Kentucky. As we were booking tours I noticed one of the brands at Heavens Hill is Old Fitzgerald. That triggered a memory of a bottle I got from my grandparents. Dug it out this afternoon and did some research online.

It’s a half pint 8 year old Very Old Fitzgerald made in 64 and bottled in 72. Didn’t realize it was made by Pappy Van Winkle when he was running Stitzel-Weller. 72 is when they broke things up and sold everything off. Seems like it’s a collectors item. What should I do with it?

1. Crack it open and drink it. Grandparents had 2 bottles, I got one and my brother got one. He drank his a few years ago and said it wasn’t that good. He doesn’t like wheated bourbons though so not sure I trust his assessment. Likely the only time I’ll ever taste something made by Pappy.

b. Sell it. Might get a few hundred to a couple of grand. Use proceeds to by good bourbon on our trip.

iii. Keep it as a cool item. Don’t really have a place to display but I’ll still have it and it’ll remind me of my grandparents.

[irul&ublo]

I’m seeing 4000+ on the innerwebz for pints

[Meadow Skipper]

https://www.lawhiskeysociety.com/pag...Old-Fitzgerald

[CantDog]

Wow. Definitely message me if you want to sell it Flounder. Also message if you want some KY recs, I lived in Louisville for 8 years.

I’d drink it—that feels like one id really miss if I sold. A great bottle to share with friends or special occasions.

Drinking a mini flight tonight—an 11+year old OESF and the Al Young 50th anniversary bottle—one of my favorite bourbons. Will be sad to see these bottles gone, but lots of wonderful drinks.


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