FC/OT: Are you able to get Blanton’s?

ODShowtime

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As Dr John said, “Right Place, Wrong Time”..….except it was the right time.
Stumbled into the local PLCB store and lookee what I found! $79/each

I'm just a Makers Mark/Wild Turkey 101 kind of guy but congrats.

That's like me walking into my favorite record store and the owner is going through a fresh box of German or British records. Time to drop some cash!
 

s1uggo72

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Agree - at the normal retail price of about $50-$60, it's a great value. But, I wouldn't pay more than that (same for Van Winkle 12 when I used to get it at the same price point). There is so much out there now it's fun to explore and try new things, The other thing I'm keenly aware of is counterfeit stuff that is remarkably easy to pull off and when I see the rarest stuff possible in many of the downtown DC stores, I get skeptical.



Is this 'white' as in unaged? Newer distilleries in VA always have that available because it's quickest to get to market. I'll have to pick one of the national brands up one day but I wasn't a fan when I had the local stuff.
Well if it’s unaged it’s not a bourbon. If it’s white it’s moon shine
 

PSJimbo

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As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, and Buffalo Trace were available in PA this week. On Friday I queued up with about thirty fellow people to buy some at the Hamilton Ave. Fine Wine and Spirits store. (On Thursday there was a drop at the North Atherton store. The Blanton's was gone in about ten minutes. By the time it was my turn only Buffalo Trace was left. (The guy right in front of me in line got the last Eagle Rare.) I was able to buy a handle and a 750ml of Buffalo Trace. A good day!
 

WestSideLion

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Just bought a bottle of Blantons for $65 (including tax) this morning. The liquor store opened at 10 am and all 18 bottles on hand were sold out in 40 minutes.
That’s a reasonable price for Blanton’s. Forget the $150 or $200.

I despise the state-owned systems, but this is one benefit. When something is available (big if), the prices are regulated and reasonable.
 

Midnighter

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My everyday bourbon is Legent, and my occasional special bourbon is Rabbit Hole, and as far as the latter is concerned, I prefer it over Blanton's and Buffalo Trace. My top shelf has some Angel's Envy (sherry cask finish, not port cask) and Old Rip, but I would take Rabbit Hole over any of them on any day.

Dredging this up but Legent is now priced above Angel’s Envy in VA ($49.99 to $46.99).
 

Tgar

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My everyday bourbon is Legent, and my occasional special bourbon is Rabbit Hole, and as far as the latter is concerned, I prefer it over Blanton's and Buffalo Trace. My top shelf has some Angel's Envy (sherry cask finish, not port cask) and Old Rip, but I would take Rabbit Hole over any of them on any day.
Hey Bruce, while not Bourbon, Tgar routinely enjoys a pull of Green Spot ( Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey ) in a brandy snifter. This whiskey is finished in Malaga Sherry Casks and is oh so smooth.
 

nittanyfan333

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I’ve recently decided that I’m going to say eff the allocated game, and find a great bottle that’s available every day. Enter russels reserve single barrel and heaven hill BIB. Still have my remaining allocated bottles for special occasions and when I wanna feel special, but I’m on my every day drinkers most….. every day
 

Nitwit

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I’ve recently decided that I’m going to say eff the allocated game, and find a great bottle that’s available every day. Enter russels reserve single barrel and heaven hill BIB. Still have my remaining allocated bottles for special occasions and when I wanna feel special, but I’m on my every day drinkers most….. every day
I’m celebrating the basketball win with some Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond 100 proof over ice tonight. It goes for about $35 and is quite tasty. Cheers to coach Shrewsberry and the team. They played their hearts out and beat the Illinois team and the refs IMHO. It’s Funkalicious.
 
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@jayhimes

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I’ve recently decided that I’m going to say eff the allocated game, and find a great bottle that’s available every day. Enter russels reserve single barrel and heaven hill BIB. Still have my remaining allocated bottles for special occasions and when I wanna feel special, but I’m on my every day drinkers most….. every day
Yep. Good strategy. Four Roses Single Barrel was under $40 at Costco in West Palm today.
 

Sif

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I’ve recently decided that I’m going to say eff the allocated game, and find a great bottle that’s available every day. Enter russels reserve single barrel and heaven hill BIB. Still have my remaining allocated bottles for special occasions and when I wanna feel special, but I’m on my every day drinkers most….. every day
Love Russels
 

nittanyfan333

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Yep. Good strategy. Four Roses Single Barrel was under $40 at Costco in West Palm today.

we're an hour and a half from the closest Costco, unfortunately. I had the four roses small batch select that I recently finished and that was a really good pour. i might have to go get me another one of those.
 
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Connorpozlee

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Hey Bruce, while not Bourbon, Tgar routinely enjoys a pull of Green Spot ( Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey ) in a brandy snifter. This whiskey is finished in Malaga Sherry Casks and is oh so smooth.
Green Dot is some smooth drinking. Of those that I’ve had, I put it one spot behind Redbreast as Irish whiskeys go.
 

Tgar

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Green Dot is some smooth drinking. Of those that I’ve had, I put it one spot behind Redbreast as Irish whiskeys go.
A Tgar pro tip to enhance the experience if you do not have a Brandy snifter is to use a California style wine glass. Pour in two fingers, curl your palm around the bottom of the glass, let it warm a little to elevate the fumes, stuff your face into the top of the glass and take in a deep breath through your nose before taking that first sip.

Tgar has never sampled RedBreast but it is now on his list. Thanks.
 

PSU Mike

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Redbreast has always seemed to be a stretch at $65-ish, but everybody’s tastes are unique.
 
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Connorpozlee

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A Tgar pro tip to enhance the experience if you do not have a Brandy snifter is to use a California style wine glass. Pour in two fingers, curl your palm around the bottom of the glass, let it warm a little to elevate the fumes, stuff your face into the top of the glass and take in a deep breath through your nose before taking that first sip.

Tgar has never sampled RedBreast but it is now on his list. Thanks.
Wait, a glass? I’ve just been pouring it down my gullet.
 

BriarwoodBash

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I’m celebrating the basketball win with some Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond 100 proof over ice tonight. It goes for about $35 and is quite tasty. Cheers to coach Shrewsberry and the team. They played their hearts out and beat the Illinois team and the refs IMHO. It’s Funkalicious.
Thx. Always looking for value, especially in Rye for Manhattan’s. Been on a kick for a month or so to perfect my recipient to my taste. Templeton’s pretty good too but it’s at $49.
 

BriarwoodBash

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A Tgar pro tip to enhance the experience if you do not have a Brandy snifter is to use a California style wine glass. Pour in two fingers, curl your palm around the bottom of the glass, let it warm a little to elevate the fumes, stuff your face into the top of the glass and take in a deep breath through your nose before taking that first sip.

Tgar has never sampled RedBreast but it is now on his list. Thanks.
Redbreast is a Fav. It’s Irish, but to me it acts in part like a Scotch whisky with a hint of a bourbon. At the risk of involving the wrath of the board, I sometimes get discouraged by the lack of breadth in Bourbon. Scotch and Irish have so much more range. Still love it tho.
 
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BriarwoodBash

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Back to th OP, my son is able to find Blanton’s in Philly. I picked up an EH Taylor (one of 6 in PA on that day) last week. Tip from my son. First in line at 10:40 for an 11pm opening. Talk about feeling judged by on lookers going grocery shopping! Lol.
 

WestSideLion

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I've been into Booker's barrel proof lately. I can often find it on sale in the $100 a bottle range. It's better than paying considerably more than that for Blanton's or something else. The Little Book offerings are enjoyable too, albeit, closer to $200 a bottle.
 

Nitwit

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Thx. Always looking for value, especially in Rye for Manhattan’s. Been on a kick for a month or so to perfect my recipient to my taste. Templeton’s pretty good too but it’s at $49.
Here is a review I found online: Rittenhouse Rye is solid quintessential rye whiskey with a balanced blend of honey, licorice, anise, dill, oak, spice, bread, and fruit. It’s not spectacular or unique, but it carries itself well enough to sip neat or mix into a cocktail. Given what else is out there in the price range (Old Overhold Bonded, Old Forester Rye), it’s a pretty good option.
If you haven’t had any or much rye whiskey before, Rittenhouse Rye is a good rye whiskey to use as your introduction, or another stepping store to learn more about rye, because there’s a lot more rye whiskey out there…it just often happens to be more expensive.

Now if you’re looking for a more unique, intense, or complex experience, I recommend Pikesville Rye (also from Heaven Hill), which is 2 years older, 10 proof higher, and leaps and bounds more mature. This is assuming that you’re willing to pay an extra $20-30. I will say that Pikesville is a huge upgrade, but again everyone’s budget is different.
Fun fact, I picked Pikesville over Thomas Handy Sazerac in a head to head comparison, so that’s high praise. If you are looking to get into rye whiskey or need something on-hand for cocktails, then Rittenhouse is a great bottle to buy.

BTW: if you’re into Irish Whisky I would also suggest Powers Three Swallows. It’s a good bit cheaper than Green Spot and an excellent sipper and sells for around $40.
 
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LionJim

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I used to be a regular bourbon drinker, Woodford Reserve being my go-to poison, and still get gifted good bottles. (I don’t drink all that much anymore but am not a teetotaler.) I find that local distilleries make really good stuff. If local breweries can make first-rate beer (I only drink local now), it stands to reason that local distilleries can make first-rate whiskey.
 

wbcbus

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Had Blanton’s for the first time in years this week at Fleet Landing in Charleston, SC. I haven’t even really seen it on restaurant menus that I can recall in quite some time.
 
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rudedude

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Redbreast is a Fav. It’s Irish, but to me it acts in part like a Scotch whisky with a hint of a bourbon. At the risk of involving the wrath of the board, I sometimes get discouraged by the lack of breadth in Bourbon. Scotch and Irish have so much more range. Still love it tho.
Just tippled a few post dinner drams of Midelton Very Rare Barry Crockett Edition. Can be had via PLCB under the online tags of Spirits Program and Online Specials. Ain’t cheap but oh so smooth.
 

s1uggo72

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When did Four Roses change from a bad blended whiskey to a trendy bourbon?
not sure it ever was but....
In February 2002, the Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd. purchased the Four Roses Bourbon brand trademark and production facilities. The new acquisition was named the Four Roses Distillery LLC. Shortly thereafter, Four Roses was once again sold in the United States and quickly earned the reputation of being one of the most notable names in the Bourbon world.

 

s1uggo72

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Trust me, it was a god awful blended fuel in the 80s & 90s
I understand but according to the Web site it wasnt even sold in the US during that period of time....

Even though Four Roses was the top selling Bourbon in the U.S. in the 30s, 40s and 50s, Seagram made the decision to discontinue the sale of Four Roses’ Kentucky Straight Bourbon in the United States, and Four Roses was moved to the rapidly growing European and Asian markets where it quickly became and still is a top-selling Bourbon in both Europe and Japan today.

In 1966, a young man named Jim Rutledge, who would later become one of the world’s most legendary Master Distillers, joined Seagram in the Louisville Plant’s Research and Development Department. In 1975, he was transferred to Corporate Headquarters in New York until 1992, when Jim asked to return home to Kentucky to help with the Four Roses brand. In 1995, he replaced Ova Haney as the Master Distiller. For the next several years, Jim worked tirelessly to return the Four Roses brand back to the States – a dream that would become a reality in hands of a new owner.
 

manatree

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I understand but according to the Web site it wasnt even sold in the US during that period of time....

As I said, the Four Roses that was sold in the US in the 80s & 90s was not a straight bourbon, it was a blended whiskey, and a God awful one at that. It was the preferred rot gut of the neighborhood drunk when I was growing up.

I’m guessing that the reason it’s not featured on their website is that they are trying to forget that part of their past for marketing purposes.
 

Tgar

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As I said, the Four Roses that was sold in the US in the 80s & 90s was not a straight bourbon, it was a blended whiskey, and a God awful one at that. It was the preferred rot gut of the neighborhood drunk when I was growing up.

I’m guessing that the reason it’s not featured on their website is that they are trying to forget that part of their past for marketing purposes.
Boilo go too ingredient.
 
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s1uggo72

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As I said, the Four Roses that was sold in the US in the 80s & 90s was not a straight bourbon, it was a blended whiskey, and a God awful one at that. It was the preferred rot gut of the neighborhood drunk when I was growing up.

I’m guessing that the reason it’s not featured on their website is that they are trying to forget that part of their past for marketing purposes.
You are correct. Found this somewhere else

 
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From Atherton to Auburn

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I’ve recently decided that I’m going to say eff the allocated game, and find a great bottle that’s available every day. Enter russels reserve single barrel and heaven hill BIB. Still have my remaining allocated bottles for special occasions and when I wanna feel special, but I’m on my every day drinkers most….. every day
Rare Breed could go in that category as well IMO
 
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Midnighter

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You are correct. Found this somewhere else


Yeah, but not sold in the US at that time. Four Roses is a very desirable brand amongst bourbon snobs these days and was in its prime in the US.
 

nittanyfan333

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Rare Breed could go in that category as well IMO

My buddy is a rare breed guy but it’s a little hot for me right now. 12 percent doesn’t seem like much but I sit around the BIB level and haven’t increased my heat tolerance yet. It is a great pour but a little hot for me.