I've been on a bourbon kick for awhile now. Just had some Woodford Reserve after a bowl of Mrs Cliff's chili last night. 1 or 2 large ice cubes, swish it around, and it's good to go. To my uneducated palate I can really tell the difference when the ice settles a bit.

do a taste test,

small glass, get 3,
one, ice
one, neat
one, splash,

use small pours so you don't get lit up right away and take a few between to sample the aftertaste,



I've drank it all 3 ways, prefer just a splash,

very hard to get here in Central VA, it sells out as fast as it is put out

quote:

very hard to get here in Central VA, it sells out as fast as it is put out

It must be the same here in St. Louis in that they limit you to one bottle per customer.

Everyone's taste is a little different, but I've been trying to branch out a little more on my whiskey over the last couple of years. I usually like to drink it neat.

Buffalo Trace is my new favorite, followed by:
Gentlemen Jack
Redemption Wheated Bourbon (picked this up last weekend because they were out of Buffalo Trace)
Bullet Rye
Jack Daniels No 27 Gold (bought at the JD distillery)
Tin Cup
Basil Hayden's
Lazy River


I've got some knob creek here too, but I'm not really impressed by it.


I need to hit the liquor store again this weekend to see if they restocked their Buffalo Trace

Most people are not aware of something call a "store pick" bottling of their favorite bourbon. Most distilleries offer this program to high volume stores and sometime clubs. They are either sent samples or allow to pick at the distiller from special barrels. These store picks, depending on the experiences of the person(s) doing the picking, are a nothing like the batch versions. I have had a few SPs. A small handful of Wellers 12 SP, Antique 107 SP and BT SP are only a few rung below their Buffalo Trace Antique Collection brethrens. SPs from Knob Creek, High West, Smooth Ambler and Woodford are equally spectacular. These bottles are usually denoted by gold sticker stating the barrel was hand picked. Some times they are denoted by metal medallions glued to the front or hanging around the neck of the bottles. Definitely keep that on your radar when you're shopping.

quote:

Originally posted by mr kablammo:
Some of those bottles may be worth real money. A search for the Ardbeg found a sale price of £1,200. Do some research please.

Here is a Ralfy video on collecting/investing whiskies.


https://youtu.be/dlRTPA8qvtc

This^^^

https://www.wine-searcher.com/...+islay+scotland/1978 $1,000+ retail for just one of those.

quote:

Originally posted by TAllen01:

quote:

Originally posted by mr kablammo:
Some of those bottles may be worth real money. A search for the Ardbeg found a sale price of £1,200. Do some research please.

Here is a Ralfy video on collecting/investing whiskies.


https://youtu.be/dlRTPA8qvtc

This^^^

https://www.wine-searcher.com/...+islay+scotland/1978 $1,000+ retail for just one of those.

Wow.

I believe that the OP will like/enjoy the bottle Henry McKenna bourbon that your dad purchased......I know that I sure would!!

For under $20 brands I like Jim Beam White, Evan Williams Black, and Benchmark. To me the sweet spot is low to mid $20s. You start to see a significant taste improvement. I like Jim Beam Extra Aged, Jim Beam Distillers Cut, Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey 101. For $30 I like Knob Creek. I don't think there is any real improvement as they get more expensive than that.

I’ve been a Buffalo Trace fan for years. Unfortunately PA Wine and Spirits at least locally hasn’t had it in stock for over a year. I enjoy it on the rocks.

quote:

Originally posted by h2oys:

quote:

very hard to get here in Central VA, it sells out as fast as it is put out

It must be the same here in St. Louis in that they limit you to one bottle per customer.

Does not exist here either, walk in to the ABC store here and all they do is shake their head.

h2oy...someone above mentioned conducting taste tests of different bourbons. I was at my bro's house in the summer and we set up several shot glasses and had a variety of bourbons to sample (I wanted to get away from Crown Royal Black Label simply because I no longer want to support Canada and their moronic politics).

So we had small pours of Basil Hayden's, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and one or two others. We would take a sip neat and record/remember how it was on the palate. We then (literally) added one drop of water, took a sip, another drop, took a sip. The change was VERY noticeable how a single drop of water changed the "texture" of the bourbon. In the end, Woodford Reserve barely shaved out Basil Hayden's for taste and smoothness.

Like others, I add an ice cube to my bourbon and enjoy it from an RTIC tumbler so it stays chilled. The thing about my ice "cube", however, is that it's a SOLID, crystal clear ice ball, which takes longer to melt. I got this kit from Walmart and it creates an ice ball that's as clear as a bell...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cry...n-Products/695955286

The next thing you need to do is pair that bourbon with a quality cigar. Might I recommend an Oliva Connecticut Reserve Torpedo. Hope that helps...enjoy!!

I'd pay to see that!





[/QUOTE]

I'll blow you for that Oban.[/QUOTE]

Well imagine my surprise finding this at of all places - WalMart

Damn. I’d buy every bottle st that price!

quote:

Originally posted by h2oys:
Well imagine my surprise finding this at of all places - WalMart

h2oys, it's showing up at more places in St. Louis. I have seen it as Schnucks also. I just wish I could find a bottle of Eagle Rare or Blantons to try.

I swear by big rocks.

These are very large, single ice cubes made for tumblers. You get all the cooling of a pile of ice but because the cube (or sphere) is huge with relatively little surface area, it doesn't melt and water down the whiskey the way a whole bunch of standard ice cubes will.

I've got some Bulliet 10 year in my glass at the moment. The glass is half gone; big rock is still about 2/3rds there. And this stuff is super delicious.

Buffalo trace is definitely one of the better ones to consume on ice. If you feel like branching out, try the Bulliet Rye. I find it on the smoother side, especially with ice, and it's in the same price range as Buffalo Trace.

WOW. $24 is cheap for Buffalo Trace.

Cliff, if you like Buffalo Trace you should check out some of the other bourbons from the BT distillery such as Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, and the insanely priced Pappy Van Winkle varieties.

h2oys, did you research the values of any of the other bottles? Are there other collectibles? Your father looked have good taste from the picture.

The Bernheim Wheat whiskey from Heaven Hill is a good value.

Our Wally World doesn't stock liquor at all. Foul!

I like 2 fingers of Makers, splash water, 2 cubes of ice (1 big 'un, if you have it).