The liquor store I frequent (https://www.thewineguyli.com/) has an amazing selection of bourbons, and I usually spend a few minutes staring at their bourbon shelves each time I go into the store. They have a few guys there that do all the taste testing of select barrels they sell, and I usually talk to one of them before buying something new to try; the manager told me they will not put their name on a bottle (store pick) unless at least three of them agree it's worth selling a barrel of it.
Anyway, I haven't bought Blanton's in quite a while, because, IMHO, a regular bottle of Blanton's isn't worth the premium it sells for since John Wick started drinking it (the guys at the store agree); it's a good buy at ~$60 or so, but not worth more than that. With that said, they picked a barrel of Gold for their store, and did advise me that it was worth the Gold price, so I bought a bottle.
WOW! This is probably the best tasting bourbon under $200 that I've tried/bought...so I bought a second bottle to keep on hand once I polish this one off.

This weekend I went into the best bourbon liquor store I’ve ever been in, re. Allocated bourbons sitting on the shelves. Complete line of Van Winkle, every Weller expression, Handy, ER17, GTStagg and Stagg Jr, Blantons and ETL, OF birthday bourbon last year and this year, Makers Mark Private Selects and Limited Editions, EHT small batch and Barrel Proof, Heaven Hill G2G, ECBP, Little Book, and on and on. Prices were actually fairly reasonable for many of them and less than the online retailers. I grabbed a Weller 12 for $129 which seems pretty reasonable given our current times. I’ve only ever seen it on shelves once before, years ago for $190.

If you routinely drive up and down I75 through Atlanta, stop in at Holiday Bottle Shop, Juliette Rd, exit 186 (I think).

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That sounds amazing!!!

Nice score on the Weller 12.

definitely amazing and a destination for next time I need something in particular.

I did also get a bottle of HH Grain to Glass bourbon. ($100.) We drank it that night around the campfire at deer camp with some NY strips.

Solid, but not as good as any of the Barrel Proof Elijah Craigs that I have had. You can definitely tell it is a relative to EC, though. Tastes a lot like it but not as bombastic as the BPs and had a more dry, nutty, earthy kind of flavor, imo.

quote:

Originally posted by clang:
My house bourbon is usually Rebel 100. It's a 100 proof wheater. Very smooth with a sweet wheat profile, in the vein of Makers Mark, but better - and less expensive and higher proof.

If you are looking for a bourbon with a bite, this might not be your gig. Great straight up and mixes well too. We love whiskey Sours made with Rebel 100 and fresh squeezed Lime, Lemon and Orange juice.

I take a shot of bourbon almost every night before bed. Helps with my overnight glucose levels (Type 2). As such, I am always on the prowl for “cheap (but good) stuff” such as Buffalo Trace which usually runs about $24 in my area (before taxes)

A week ago, I found Rebel 100 6 Year at my local Costco for a very reasonable price ($19.99) along with “The Wiseman 90.8 proof” at $19.99 as well. I grabbed a bottle of each without ever having tasted or heard of either.

Very pleasantly surprised with the Rebel 6 Year, especially at that price point. Need to see if they have more, unfortunately they frequently will get a “niche” or non big name brand bourbon and then it is never seen again.

Of course, now that I have it I decided to search this thread as well as look at online reviews. I concur with the above, and every review I saw was favorable as well. Seems the going rate is in the $50-$70 range making Costco’s $19.99 price ($24 and change after WA taxes) a downright steal.

Haven’t tried The Wiseman” yet. No mention of it on SF that I found. Seems to get mixed, but mostly favorable reviews and runs in the $50 range, so another good Costco deal.


*ETA*

Just got back from a Costco run and the Wiseman is gone. They still had 24 bottles of Rebel 100 though, only have 18 now…

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 911Boss,

I used to purchase it and drink it when it was labeled Rebel Yell. It was that way for many, many years. Then the name wasn't "proper" with somebody, so it was changed to just Rebel. They no longer got my $$$.