Diamonds

I like 46 but when I had angels envy(finished rye)..that stuff is remarkable.

 

So how does everyone feel about blended whiskys?

I think crown and its many varieties( especially XO and reserve) are pretty darn good sippers

They are usually low proof and lack depth. However, they make great mixers!

Yikes =

Of the “under 25.00” they did a decent job. I agree with Buffalo Trace, Old Grandad 114, WT101, and Evan Williams Single barrel.

Of the “under 50”, rare breed is the clear winner with 1792 Full proof lagging. However, some full proof picks have been great. On the converse side, Johnny Drum is undrinkable.

Then, things spiral out of control at “under 100”. They post a picture of Henry McKenna. That’s a 30-50 dollar bottle. Would fit better under the 50-heading. They post a picture of bookers 30th... retails for 199.00 and secondary is 425.00. Weller 12 is a 35.00 bottle that has a secondary value of 150.00 to which... neither value fulfilled the category (given there is an “under-50” category.

And finally, at “100+” they post a picture of Elmer T Lee that retails for 39.99. And, the rest are mostly unicorns. To which... one could argue “cost more than 100 considering their secondary value”. However, that is just not how the article is slated.

that this is lonnnnnng

Nice build

https://gearpatrol.com/2020/01/21/the-best-bourbons-to-buy-at-every-price-point/

yikes

Cutting my losses

M&P 9mm VTAC

Dawson Suppressor height sights

Storm Lake threaded Barrel (TiN coating)

Apex trigger system (full system)

ESP Flared Magwell

Taran Tactical Mag extended base

stippled back strap

1300.00 invested

950.00 OBO

Do you source most of these in Kentucky, or around Ohio?

 

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I may only get 5% of my stuff in Ohio.

So what are you enjoying on a regular basis?

I typically try to drink heaven hill products.

Elijah Craig Barrel proof

William HeavenHill 12, 14, 16

Older Parker’s Heritage stuff

The newer Old Fitzgerald Decanters 11, 13, 14, 15

Old Ezra 7 year barrel proof

And then... of course... Willett bottles that is sourced Heaven Hill product.

Ok, Bob. We've met, I "know" you and you I, and I have been tasting and reviewing (as an amateur) bourbon awhile now, but you have me intrigued.

 

Let's set this up. I'm ALL for learning more and open to the idea that I am not, have not, and will not, be an authority on bourbon and would always like to learn more. The day you stop learning is the day you die, right? I have a lot to learn yet.

Sounds like a plan. Let’s do a Zfriday night just in case we drink too much!

Do they run a proprietary mag? It looks like a fun shooter and the price is not terrible. I only did a quick look into them. Threaded barrel is great. The pistol thing just isn't a world I have played in. Need these damn ATF grey areas to go away. Let us have SBR's and suppressors without the paperwork.

Proprietary mags. But only cost 20.00

I have the pistol w/tailhook. Fantastic. Shoots like a rifle.

Here’s some education.

“Corn forward” is a term used to describe a bourbon where it is noticeably too young when bottled and other desired tastes/attributes have not had time to develop.

Thus... Blantons didn’t taste like it was corn-forward in 2016 because they were likely bottling it when it was 7-8 years old. Today, they may be bottling it at 5-6 years because of the demand. And... it would not be as mature or complex. It’s true.... it tastes more like fresh buttery popcorn today than it did back then when it had spice and oak notes.

Suggestions for what to use for a build? I might be swayed to make a poor financial decision here...

buy a dedicated lower that takes 9mm mags.

I would say most of us are trending toward an amateur palate ..well at least me

If that’s true then we really need to take a session and sip things like Weller, Blantons, oki, Blaum, Belle Meade, and distinguish/discuss what it is that we are tasting (before we start cracking 500-1500 dollar bottles).

Mainly for the fact that you have to be able to know what you are “experiencing”.

Warning: the byproduct may be a snobby palate where you say “Blantons is low proof corn-forward garbage”.

I need to get to Rayners more this year and compete.

I also need to sell my uzi.

I also need to buy an M60.

I look at it like food, could i sit there and eat PBJ all the time, sure, but there are times when i want a nice steak. Same with bourbon. Not sure ill get to a point when my daily drinker is $300+ bottles but who knows. I feel I'm in a good position with the under $100 range and now looking to expand.

 

I'll have to keep an eye out for those that you listed. A willett 6ish year doesn't make your $100-350 list?

I’m not a huge fan of Willett’s own (bourbon) distillate.

I think we are saying the same thing.

At the ~$600 bottle that you are saying is 95% of as good as you can get, you've already been at the flat part of the curve for a while.

I want to know where the knee is... not actually expecting you to answer, that's just where I personally want to live if my budget allows it.

I think you were also saying basically the same thing about the daily drinker $50~$100 bottles; maybe a slightly different price point, but in the same ballpark.

Kind of, because... my palate isn’t as developed as others. As my palate develops even more I may raise the bar. I have friends that refuse stuff that I’d happily gobble up and their reasoning is that it’s “boring” compared to some crazy bottle.... which is just one of many crazy bottles they own. Maybe a little of it is for the rarity. But, they are consistent in what taste profile they chase (Bernheim rye, Bernheim wheated bourbon).

Also keep in mind. I’d be happier drinking the 1200 dollar bottle than I would the 600 dollar bottle (because I have the two in my head) and I’d be willing to pay the 1200 if I could find it for sale.

In that case^^^ the 1200 bottle is Willett #761 and the 600 dollar bottle is 2019 King of Kentucky.

I'm not going to say that you were definitely the one I was thinking of when I wrote this... but you were definitely in the top 2.

Welp, My whole thing is this... at a certain point there are going to be bourbons that just don’t “scratch the itch” anymore. And like I said, it typically happens when 2 things occur.

Thing 1: you get to knowing your palate and you begin to be able to say “this tastes like ______” when you sip. This takes 2-3 years in my experience.

Thing 2: after thing one has occurred, you taste a whiskey that blows your mind and have sensory overload via body and intensity. At this point you will begin to dislike basic stuff.

The positive caveat here is that you can get “daily drinkers” (cheaper alternatives) to 400+ dollar bottles. They may not be on the shelf, but... you can get them for 50-100 bucks on secondary. They will help ease the pain of not having the life-changing bourbon budget.

In reality now. I can say... that I have tasted bottles in every price category (0-100, 100-350, 350-800, 800-2000, 2000-5000, 5000-10,000, 10,000+) and there is a huge difference when you leave a category for the next (assume you have an expert progressing you with the right/worthy bottles). But, it all goes back to “thing 1”. Your palate has to be at a point where it’s possible to note the differences.

Final note, the bottles I’ve tasted that were 10k+ are out if my league. And, I could be “almost as happy” for about 1200. I would say that split (1200-10,000) has more to do with rarity than taste/quality difference. And, to the 1200... I can show you bottles that cost 550-600 that are 95/100ths of the 1200 dollar bottle.

Bottle example breakdown:

10,000+ = Older “rare/epic” Willett stuff (iron fist, Doug’s Green ink, red hook rye, velvet glove)

5,000-10,000 = Older “epic” Willett bottles (typically wheated Bernheim) (Aged truth, C43a, c5d, b58, etc)

2,000-5,000 = high end Willett from the B/C barrel family, Van winkle green glass, Stitzel Weller Van winkles, Michters 20yr.

800-2000 = certain BTAC depending on source (example: 2009 William Larue Weller). Older high aged KBD bottlings, and, a slew of Willett bottlings where the juice was sourced from Brown Forman and Heaven Hill. Bookers Rye. Also, pappy 15.

350-800 = 2019 King of Kentucky, Russell’s Reserve 2002, some of the more-basic Willett 12-14 year offerings. 2017 GTS. Any WLW that fits the price category. Some of the jap release Wild Turkey high end bottlings.

100-350 = Four Roses small batch LE, Blaum brothers Old Fangled Knotters picks and batches (MGP), Blantons SFTB, Smooth ambler picks (MGP).

0-100 = Chattanooga Whiskey Single barrel barrel proof (MGP), Jack Daniels Barrel proof picks, Old Weller antique picks, Knob creek picks (some are 13-15 years old, for 43.99!!!), Russell’s Reserve picks. Four roses barrel strength picks,

Don’t you shit talk Blanton’s...

I feel like Aladdin when I sing “I can show you the worrrrrrld”.

But only when your palate is ready. In order to take the leap you would need to begin to think that Blantons/ER/ElmerTLee lack body/taste/strength. If you ever end up feeling that way please let me know.

Again, I want to combat the whole “no whiskey is worth 400 bucks” thing. Over time your palate will become developed to the point where you crave higher-end complex bourbons and or bourbons that hit those higher end notes.

So, for the guys drinking EHT, eagle rare, Blantons, etc... just you wait...

Man, it doesn't get anymore downtown than that! Awesome new-build unit...really cool to see what downtown is doing.

 

I'll share with a friend from FL whose looking at relo'ing.

Thanks Clay!

My buddy is selling (or renting, 1650.00/month) his condo.

Pics don't do it justice.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/106-N-High-St-APT-402-Columbus-OH-43215/87886914_zpid/