Bourbon talk

[forestdepth]

I'm a big four roses guy and it is usually my go to but this bourbon hype and shortage is killing me. I called 12 liquor stores in my city last night and none said they had Weller 12 year and said they can't keep it in stock & will not reserve it. I'd be one thing if it was a super rare bottle, but wow.

Anybody else seeing this?

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I'm a big four roses guy and it is usually my go to but this bourbon hype and shortage is killing me. I called 12 liquor stores in my city last night and none said they had Weller 12 year and said they can't keep it in stock & will not reserve it. I'd be one thing if it was a super rare bottle, but wow.

Anybody else seeing this?

 

[TBone.sixpack]

Not necessarily seeing that as I am fairly stocked at the moment. But have you tried Woodford Reserve Double Oaked?

I took it to a lake weekend along with Blanton's and Basil and everyone keep going back for the Double Oaked. Pretty damn good.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I just don’t get the bourbon thing. “It’s got a smooth finish”. Bull ****. It sucks going down like every other bourbon ever. I enjoy a decent mixed drink, I even like Vodka on the rocks. I’ve bought several bottle of what’s supposed to be good bourbon and they all taste the same. Like fire. Give me a old fashioned or a mint julep with something like knob creek and I’m good.

 

[JungRebel]

Trust me, it's the fifth year of drinking mostly bourbon that makes it go down neatly. I prefer bourbon simply because it does the job quick without being loaded with sugar.

 

[msu]

That appears to be the common situation for Weller everywhere. Can't get in my neck of the woods of LA and my co-workers in IN ha e the same issues.

 

[Bucky Dog]

Yeah I jumped over to the bourbon train about 5 years ago and it can be like any spirit that it is an acquired taste. With that said, I drink my bourbon with some rocks as I am not a neat guy. Most all experts say a little ice helps open up the flavors.

I am a Woodford fan and that is my go to and it is very affordable at $36-38 per bottle. I do like the double oaked as well now but it runs closer to $50.

I love me soem Four Roses as well and keep a small batch and single barrel on hand, along with Blantons and Basil.

A new bourbon that just came outblast last month and is in limited distribution at the moment is Heaven’s Door. It is partly Owens by Bob Dylan and they currently make a Tennessee Bourbon, Double Barrel Whisky and a Rye. I am not really a rye drinker but it is a really good one. I brought home the other two from Nashville when we went up for the Super Regional. They run $50 and $70 for the rye.

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

+1

It is truly the 5th that's the charm. For me it was the 5th year of college...of course the bourbon was partly responsible for a 5th year of college being necessary.

 

[JungRebel]

It's true about the ice, especially if you are like me and can only go for the low shelf stuff at the moment. Letting a little ice melt down makes the whole operation smoother because of temperature and dilution. I also prefer Scotch to anything when I can get it. No ice in Scotch but the water truly does open up the flavors.

 

[Raiderdawg.sixpack]

Weller

I'm a big four roses guy and it is usually my go to but this bourbon hype and shortage is killing me. I called 12 liquor stores in my city last night and none said they had Weller 12 year and said they can't keep it in stock & will not reserve it. I'd be one thing if it was a super rare bottle, but wow.

Anybody else seeing this?

I talked to some folks from Buffalo Trace (BT) about a month ago when I was in Frankfort. A few years ago when the bourbon craze started, people realized that a mix of Weller 12 and Old Antique is an almost exact mash bill and flavor profile as Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year. So the combo is Poor man's Pappy. Demand goes way up. Because Weller 12 was obviously put in the barrel 12 years prior, BT did not anticipate the demands post-bourbon craze. So they don't have enough supply for the demand. Even with that, BT may keep production levels the same, so they can drive the price up from the suggested retail in the $20s for a 5th.

Staff at Buffalo Trace told me it is almost as hard for them to get Weller 12 as it is Pappy. For perspective, the restaurant called Bourbon in Frankfort only got 2 bottles of 12 year for the entire year. The main Marriott on the Bourbon Trail in Louisville had 3 of the 4 Wellers (Weller 12, Special Reserve and Old Antique) priced at $25 - $40 per shot due to supply shortage and demand.

Even the Weller Special Reserve is getting hard to find. Five years ago, they had displays full of it around Atlanta. Now its limited, behind the shelf 1 per customer kind of thing. Randomly, I did find ~15 bottles of it on the shelf in Lubbock Texas last week for $19.99 a 5th. I suspect all of Buffalo Trace's bourbons except for Ancient Age will end up limited.

 

[engdawg04]

Eagle Rare is a good one. It’s made by Buffalo Trace. Really smooth and easy to sip

 

[MaxwellSmart]

I kind of lost my taste for the wheated bourbons a few years ago. Woodford Reserve has been my go to for a while and I still get it for around $30-$32 a bottle. I too like mine on the rocks. As far as mixing a drink goes, I'm really liking the Jack Daniel's Tenn Rye and there is always Wild Turkey 101 for "tying one on."

 

[Dawgybag]

Eagle Rare is a good one. It’s made by Buffalo Trace. Really smooth and easy to sip

I second this. I’m more of a scotch and rye man, but the Eagle Rare is a very solid bourbon.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Must be a regional thing. Weller 12 is at my place.

 

[forestdepth]

Must be a regional thing. Weller 12 is at my place.

Really? What are they charging for it? Would you ship it? I'm in Tennessee.

 

[Seinfeld]

Not seeing any kind of shortage in Arkansas. If you can't find what you're looking for, Knob Creek single barrel, Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, and Angel's Envy are all good choices without getting too crazy. For the money, I'm going to say that Angel's Envy is about the best bargain out there. It's excellent while very affordable

 

[turkish]

Now I know I’m a connoisseur, I picked out Eagle Rare as a personal fave about 10 years ago. If it’s a SPS fave, too, that’s some serious validation.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I’ll check next time I go.

 

[MaroonCrusader]

Old Charter 10 year for mixed drinks...eagle rare, basil, or colonel taylor on the rocks.

 

[BertleTheTurtle]

Yeah I’ve been lucky enough to put together a decent collection and Weller 12 is next to impossible to get unless you have a good relationship with your local store. I don’t buy that Uncle Ruckus’s store has this on the shelf. Maybe Weller Special Reserve. I have a couple of bottles of Weller 12 bunkered away but would need a good trade to let go of one of them. Are you in Memphis?

 

[CSpringsDawg]

Jefferson’s very small batch or their voyage 13

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I have 2 just under $30 bourbons that I really like. Heny McKenna Botted-in-bond single barrel 10 year and Larceny (a few dollars less). The Henry McKenna was pretty hard to find at first but has really seemed to be more available lately. They both happen to be from Heaven's Hill distillery which I found out after I decided I liked each one. The are 100 and 92 proof so don't lose much with ice.

 

[III.sixpack]

I am a huge Weller and Eagle Rare fan; but both have been hard to find in Starkville. So, other than my old Fav Gentleman Jack, I tried a relatively new bourbon, Larceny. On the rocks, it is outstanding. Trust me on this.

 

[BiscuitEater]

July 4th Bourbon Tragedy ..

I'm a big four roses guy and it is usually my go to but this bourbon hype and shortage is killing me.

THIS will not help the price point for Bourbon ..
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – This wasn't supposed to happen – thousands more bourbon barrels tumbled to the ground at a Kentucky distillery Wednesday while many celebrated the July 4 holiday, some with bourbon libations.

But it did. Despite attempts to shore up Barton 1792 Distillery's seven-story warehouse in Bardstown, Kentucky, after half of its wooden-structure collapsed June 22, the rest of the rackhouse imploded Wednesday.

The initial collapse of Warehouse 30 sent about half of the 18,000 or so barrels crashing to the ground, many shattering upon impact. The remaining barrels and what was left of the warehouse structure fell Wednesday.

 

[cowbell88]

Actually had some Pappy 10 year on Tuesday night. I’m a beer guy, especially in the summer time, so having that burbon neat was much hotter than I could have ever expected. Burned for an hour after I finished a one finger pour. If I hadn’t had to drive home, I would have had another pour over the rocks to taste the difference. If I get to try it again, I hope it’s at least cold outside.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I just don’t get the bourbon thing. “It’s got a smooth finish”. Bull ****. It sucks going down like every other bourbon ever. I enjoy a decent mixed drink, I even like Vodka on the rocks. I’ve bought several bottle of what’s supposed to be good bourbon and they all taste the same. Like fire. Give me a old fashioned or a mint julep with something like knob creek and I’m good.

Concur, blindfold 3/4 of these fanboys and they wouldn't be able to tell difference between a bottle of Kentucky Tavern and whatever the current flavor of the month is. They just think it's cool to "live the lifestyle" with Bo Bounds. Same with craft beer.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

there was a really good article on this problem about a year ago in one of the national papers. The bourbon craze has really put a hurt on the distilleries and they are having trouble keeping up with the demand. My go to is usually Maker's Mark but I also like 4 Roses Single Barrel or Small Batch. I also like the WL Weller 12 year even though it's been a while since I've had it. i don't typically notice if it's not in the stores around Jackson and Vicksburg where I go. I can usually find what i'm looking for between the stores I usually frequent. Woodford Reserve and Buffalo Trace are also usually easy to find and fine bourbon on the rocks. I will usually drink on the rocks but will occasionally do neat if my reflux isn't acting up too much. I enjoyed a couple of old fashioneds last night for the 4th. To me the only thing better than a bourbon is a good scotch, but bourbon is usually cheaper and smoother. Just difference in flavors. Bourbon is usually sweeter where scotch has that dry smokiness to it. I can't stand bourbon and coke. I always shake my head when i see a good bourbon being mixed with a coke. just wasting it. get a jim beam if you are going to do that.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

I haven't had Eagle Rare but i'll definitely check it out next time I go to the store.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

not sure why they didn't move the rest of the barrels after the first collapse. Unless it was just too unsafe to move things you had to think the rest of the building was structurally unsound. it's a shame to have 18000 barrels wasted.

 

[BertleTheTurtle]

I just don’t get the bourbon thing. “It’s got a smooth finish”. Bull ****. It sucks going down like every other bourbon ever. I enjoy a decent mixed drink, I even like Vodka on the rocks. I’ve bought several bottle of what’s supposed to be good bourbon and they all taste the same. Like fire. Give me a old fashioned or a mint julep with something like knob creek and I’m good.

Maybe the worst take of all time. My guess is that you aren't willing to spend the money on a proper bottle of bourbon and so you're drinking young, cheap **** and probably deserve to have it feel like fire.

 

[DawgInThe256]

I haven't tried the Henry McKenna yet, but I second the Larceny recommendation. Henry McKenna just won Best Bourbon at the SF World Spirits Competition, so there's concern that it may become hard to find.

https://www.fredminnick.com/2018/04/19/best-bourbon-or-bourbon-pride-san-francisco/

 

[Raiderdawg.sixpack]

not sure why they didn't move the rest of the barrels after the first collapse. Unless it was just too unsafe to move things you had to think the rest of the building was structurally unsound. it's a shame to have 18000 barrels wasted.

I got the impression from talking to people in the industry that they are going to keep production of the name bourbons level, even after the losses as a means to drive prices up. Especially true at Buffalo Trace - I was told at the distillery they are going to hold back release of Blanton to drive the price up to a ~$100. I had a chance to buy Elmer T. Lee, but it sold out in 12 minutes at one place at the suggested retail price and another store had it at $100. I'm not paying that much for a $30 bourbon, but someone did - it sold out at $100 in about a week.

And if people can find Weller 12 year on the shelf (not the special reserve), you may want to buy & sell it online. It is getting over a $100 for a bourbon with a suggested retail price in the $20s.

 

[Dawgsnsaints]

I have 2 just under $30 bourbons that I really like. Heny McKenna Botted-in-bond single barrel 10 year and Larceny (a few dollars less). The Henry McKenna was pretty hard to find at first but has really seemed to be more available lately. They both happen to be from Heaven's Hill distillery which I found out after I decided I liked each one. The are 100 and 92 proof so don't lose much with ice.

The McKenna and larceny are my "go too's. I really enjoy the Weller Special Reserve and it used to be fairly easy to find in my area but now it is difficult.

 

[fishwater99]

Marker's Mark is my go to here in CO, especially since I can get a 5th for $21 or a 1.75 for $43.

 

[johnson86-1]

Concur, blindfold 3/4 of these fanboys and they wouldn't be able to tell difference between a bottle of Kentucky Tavern and whatever the current flavor of the month is. They just think it's cool to "live the lifestyle" with Bo Bounds. Same with craft beer.

Yea, no. Not even close. Maybe that's true when you get to a modest quality bourbon, but there is a noticeable difference between a kt or Jim beam and good bourbons that will be immediately obvious to anybody who has been drinking bourbon a while. .

 

[HumpDawgy]

[h=2]Bourbon talk[/h]

I'm more of a whiskey guy.***

 

[forestdepth]

I have 2 just under $30 bourbons that I really like. Heny McKenna Botted-in-bond single barrel 10 year and Larceny (a few dollars less). The Henry McKenna was pretty hard to find at first but has really seemed to be more available lately. They both happen to be from Heaven's Hill distillery which I found out after I decided I liked each one. The are 100 and 92 proof so don't lose much with ice.

Good taste. McKenna is a good value right now. But when it comes to a wheater, I think Weller SR is light years ahead of Larceny.