What are you drinking....now?

pgprescott · November 2020

I used to be able to buy Blantons all day for 65-70 bucks. Now it’s 100? Hell it’s arguably not worth the 70. I have real issues paying a hundred for it. I have several bottles I bought at lower cost but have passed on several bottles recently at 100. 😕

pgprescott · November 2020

I have never been a proponent of unopened bottles on a shelf, but there are thousands of people out there with their vanity collections. Many don’t even know what the whiskey taste like. It’s a “beanie baby” moment in the bourbon market.

hoosier_egger · November 2020

TechsasJim · November 2020

pgprescott said:

I used to be able to buy Blantons all day for 65-70 bucks. Now it’s 100? Hell it’s arguably not worth the 70. I have real issues paying a hundred for it. I have several bottles I bought at lower cost but have passed on several bottles recently at 100. 😕

Holy smokes, here in Houston we don’t see Blantons regularly but it’s always $65. I wouldn’t pay $100 for It either, heck I don’t want to pay $65 yet I do.

For me, a great bourbon for ~$40 is Walking Stick. I like the $40-50 range but spend more on occasion if I’m feeling froggy.

pgprescott · November 2020

TechsasJim said:

pgprescott said:

I used to be able to buy Blantons all day for 65-70 bucks. Now it’s 100? Hell it’s arguably not worth the 70. I have real issues paying a hundred for it. I have several bottles I bought at lower cost but have passed on several bottles recently at 100. 😕

Holy smokes, here in Houston we don’t see Blantons regularly but it’s always $65. I wouldn’t pay $100 for It either, heck I don’t want to pay $65 yet I do.

For me, a great bourbon for ~$40 is Walking Stick. I like the $40-50 range but spend more on occasion if I’m feeling froggy.

Yeah, it’s not scotch which is generally aged much longer and sometimes different barrels. Bourbon is a generally lesser investment with noted exceptions. They are starting to do some different things with bourbon but with mixed reviews. I have some higher end bottles, not many, but generally keep in the 30-70 range. I agree that the 40-50 range has plenty to enjoy. Cheers!

Longtrain · November 2020

Bourbon Manhattan...while waiting for the BGE to get up to temp😊

pgprescott · November 2020

Longtrain said:

Bourbon Manhattan...while waiting for the BGE to get up to temp😊

Great pic. Enjoy.

Acn · November 2020

pgprescott said:

TechsasJim said:

Acn said:

It’s a day for the good stuff.

Holy smokes, I still have never been able to find a bottle.

You’re better off. Unless you can win a lottery and pay retail like he did, it’s simply not worth the aftermarket pricing. If you just want to be a show pony then knock yourself out. It’s not worth 300+ when you can drink as good or better for 50. Some of this rare stuff is just a vanity competition. I like fine things as much as the next guy but I feel at some point you are simply a sucker.

I 100% agree with this; if I had paid markup I would have been sorely disappointed, but at $130 I'm glad I was able to get a bottle.

Now, if I'm lucky enough to win a raffle opportunity this year, I'll take it to my local guy and see what he thinks I could get for it, and I suspect he'd be happy to facilitate a sale.

Papaljuice · November 2020

Leopoldstoch said:

Nice! I love AC! What did you have there?

MasterC · November 2020

Drinking cheap and eating good

Leopoldstoch · November 2020

Papaljuice said:

Leopoldstoch said:

Nice! I love AC! What did you have there?

I was in town for a day so I was trying all kinds of stuff!

The easy highlights were
5th Anniversary Grand Cru
Barrel Aged Adjunct Trail
Barrel Aged Sincerely Sorry

Ozzie_Isaac · November 2020

pgprescott said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

pgprescott said:

TechsasJim said:

Acn said:

It’s a day for the good stuff.

Holy smokes, I still have never been able to find a bottle.

You’re better off. Unless you can win a lottery and pay retail like he did, it’s simply not worth the aftermarket pricing. If you just want to be a show pony then knock yourself out. It’s not worth 300+ when you can drink as good or better for 50. Some of this rare stuff is just a vanity competition. I like fine things as much as the next guy but I feel at some point you are simply a sucker.

$119 I would be all over it. For $500 I would gladly try it once.

Yeah 1-150 is robbery but I’d bite due to rarity. 500 is solidly in the sucker zone. If suckers quit paying sucker prices they would moderate. People just convince themselves that it’s great because it’s rare and expensive. But hey, whatever makes one happy is fine with me.

$500 for an entire bottle to try and share with friends, may be for suckers, but I would try it. The current $2,499 price to get a bottle is way past my interest. I have tried to find a place serving it by the pour, but have had no luck. That would be my preferred way.

I guarantee there is much better for the price I am willing to pay, but sometimes it is about the experience more than the value.

Ozzie_Isaac · November 2020

pgprescott said:

I have never been a proponent of unopened bottles on a shelf, but there are thousands of people out there with their vanity collections. Many don’t even know what the whiskey taste like. It’s a “beanie baby” moment in the bourbon market.

I open and drink everything I get. I don't have space nor desire to just look at it. Wife actually gets upset when I don't drink the good stuff. Who am I to argue?

I have found some bourbons I like more than my single malts. The single barrel full proof stuff mostly. The cheaper stuff I find I need to use ice or water to mellow it out, which I find odd, since I don't with the stronger bourbons.

pgprescott · November 2020

Ozzie_Isaac said:

pgprescott said:

I have never been a proponent of unopened bottles on a shelf, but there are thousands of people out there with their vanity collections. Many don’t even know what the whiskey taste like. It’s a “beanie baby” moment in the bourbon market.

I open and drink everything I get. I don't have space nor desire to just look at it. Wife actually gets upset when I don't drink the good stuff. Who am I to argue?

I have found some bourbons I like more than my single malts. The single barrel full proof stuff mostly. The cheaper stuff I find I need to use ice or water to mellow it out, which I find odd, since I don't with the stronger bourbons.

My comments were not direct at you but rather my general opinions and nothing more.

I can easily see you drink your whiskey. There are many who just buy it and set in on a shelf. Drink what you like, I always say.

I enjoy scotch more than bourbon. I just feel it’s a superior spirit and is far more complex. To me it’s like gin and vodka. I’ll drink either, but gin is far more complex. As always, drink what YOU like. I like them all too much.

I’m not opposed to splurging on a bottle, I just feel that the bourbon market is in a stage of craziness. You obviously have a point at which you feel it’s crazy. Mine is much lower because I feel it’s already a big time sellers market. I’ve had some of the rare stuff and totally understand the idea of enjoy something that not everyone has enjoyed. I absolutely salute the bottles your wife produced and say kudos! I’d be more than happy to have any of them. I agree it’s not always about value, hell, bourbon above 50 is already overpriced and not the best value. I have a bunch of it. I also don’t feel that bourbon has as dynamic a range as say scotch or wine for instance. The range is too narrow from bottom to top IMO.

It’s not the whiskey you drink, it’s who you share it with that matters IMO. Enjoy! I know I would enjoy the Blantons and Weller. 🥃

Ozzie_Isaac · November 2020

@pgprescott you are definitely correct about dynamic range for Scotch. I am amazed at how different they taste based on distillery location. I am relatively new to Bourbon, so it is all exciting to me.

Funny you mention gin and vodka. I much prefer vodka. Might be I have never had good gin, but Vodka is my go too for clear liquor. I definitely have my preferred vodka too. Titos is not it either. I actually do not like Titos. It gives me wicked heartburn.

In the end share a glass with a friend and enjoy!

Steve28707 · November 2020

A good gin to try is Monkey 47

Ozzie_Isaac · November 2020

Steve28707 said:

A good gin to try is Monkey 47

Thank you, I will see if I can find a bottle.

fishlessman · November 2020

Botch said:

This caught my eye at the Class VI store last week, picked up a bottle on sale. After doing some research (conveniently printed on the back label) I learned this was a spiced wine made in a certain village in Germany, normally served warm at Christmastime (which is why I found it at the end of the aisle, under the Halloween decorations)
Research also indicated it's sometimes served over ice; since I'm not a fan of warm drinks that's how I'm sampling it. Very tasty and would be pretty good in the summer months, methinks.