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gwrtheyrn posted:Weller and blantons are both wheated options but it's not really available at normal prices. Blantons is (retail) at the lower end of your budget after WASLT, but you'll probably have a hard time finding it. I've seen it a couple times at various places, but it's not consistently available. Weller is cheaper but also just as unavailable, and I've only ever seen weller special reserve and not regular weller. I have no real recommendations for specifically wheated bourbons because the "best" ones are all impossible to find at normal prices. Total wine has a makers barrel select and an MGP wheated bourbon from Redemption, but I haven't tried either of them. Blanton's isn't wheated, it's a "high rye" mashbill. Still a great gift for a bourbon lover. EH Taylor is also solid if you can find it
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Mar 12, 2019 02:43
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Vox Nihili posted:Blanton's isn't wheated, it's a "high rye" mashbill. Still a great gift for a bourbon lover. EH Taylor is also solid if you can find it Oops, my mistake. Still pretty difficult to find around here though. EH taylor straight rye is definitely available here since i've seen it at costco and various safeway/qfcs.
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Mar 12, 2019 02:46
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Booker's is $100 these days and is a pretty good bottle of bourbon.
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Mar 12, 2019 02:59
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Some of the higher end Jefferson's are tasty and in the $100 range. Old Forrester 1920 for around $70 is a winner too. Weller 12 if you can find it, but good luck with that one.
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Mar 12, 2019 03:22
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I can't really think of any "easily available" bourbons at all in the $75+ price range - they all seem to be limited releases. High West's Bourye is pretty tasty and widely available, I might suggest that.
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Mar 12, 2019 04:29
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Thanks to all the Goons who have helped! My wife hasn't been directly exposed to SA yet (probably a reason she's still my wife  ) and she'll be impressed by the intelligence and helpfulness of the responses.Errant Gin Monks posted:A bottle of Old Weller Antique would be a good gift for a maker's drinker. I have a few bottles and can check the stores around me. They usually stock in Wednesday. I'll leave the choice to her but this sounds solid. One question though, as you're a local -- good liquor stores in Seattle? I'm in West Seattle but am in First Hill/Capital Hill a lot of the time. Down to Tukwila or up to North Seattle wouldn't be a problem for an occasional trip but no desire to drive to Everett for a bottle of something that I'm not able to drink.  .
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Mar 12, 2019 18:32
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Admiralty Flag posted:Thanks to all the Goons who have helped! My wife hasn't been directly exposed to SA yet (probably a reason she's still my wife Ha! Nah I moved from the area years ago, sorry about the avatar confusion. I find it everywhere in Ohio. But if you need a bottle let me know via PM.
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Mar 13, 2019 01:44
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What's the going rate for EH Taylor? I see a bunch of people have it in their collections but I have yet to try it. One of the small shops near me has a couple bottles for $55 - Worth it? They had Bookers as well but I don't think it was anywhere near $100 as mentioned above. They also had Oban Little Bay marked down to $40 from $90, but I have no clue about scotch.
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Mar 13, 2019 03:18
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emotive posted:What's the going rate for EH Taylor? I see a bunch of people have it in their collections but I have yet to try it. One of the small shops near me has a couple bottles for $55 - Worth it? They had Bookers as well but I don't think it was anywhere near $100 as mentioned above. Which EHT? I think it’s great. The Small Batch and Rye are my favorite. You should buy a bottle.
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Mar 13, 2019 03:34
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emotive posted:What's the going rate for EH Taylor? I see a bunch of people have it in their collections but I have yet to try it. One of the small shops near me has a couple bottles for $55 - Worth it? They had Bookers as well but I don't think it was anywhere near $100 as mentioned above. Small Batch ranges from $40-$55. It's the only one I've has--quite enjoyable but not a huge, mind-blowing whiskey or anything. I like it @ $40, especially for gifts. Single Barrel seems to be in the $50-$70 range. Haven't had it. Supposedly it's a bit older. Straight Rye seems to be in the $70-$90 range. Would love to try it but not willing to shell out quite that much. I haven't seen the Full Proof on shelves but would be eager to try it. Probably around $80-$100. There are a ton of other ultra-special EH Taylor releases ranging from "Four Grain" to "Tornado Surviving" that you'll never, ever see, each of which command seemingly absurd prices.
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Mar 13, 2019 06:46
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emotive posted:
Oban 14 is still the best offering in their line-up, but any Oban OB for $40 seems worth it.
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Mar 13, 2019 07:07
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personally I don't buy non-age-statement scotch whisky anymore out of principle, and I don't think anyone should. However, $40 is probably a very good deal for what it is.
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Mar 13, 2019 07:45
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What principle is that?
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Mar 13, 2019 08:20
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Quarter Cask is a better whisky than the 10. I’ll keep buying it as long as it’s tasty and relatively inexpensive.
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Mar 13, 2019 08:34
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I’d throw maker’s mark cask strength into the recommendation pile, as well as the maker’s mark private select. I really enjoy the CS, and it’s about the only cask strength wheater you can actually find these days. High west midwinter’s night dram is supposed to be really good and it comes in right around $100. It’s not super available but I’ve seen it around quite a bit in my neck of the woods. It’s a limited release and pretty unique. Angels envy rum finished Rye is another that comes in right around $100. It’s most likely overpriced for what it is, but for someone that likes ‘smooth’ or ‘easy drinking’ whisky, angels envy can be a crowd pleaser. Otherwise there are some limited edition stuff you might be able to find, but I have no experience with them. Woodford reserve master’s collection, Jim beam distillers edition, wild turkey revival(they have a couple I forget) , etc. those are usually on that $100-$150 range and while they may not be ‘worth’ it, they can be great gifts cause the bottles are generally fancy and it’s something they’d likely not buy for themselves.
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Mar 13, 2019 18:31
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spankmeister posted:personally I don't buy non-age-statement scotch whisky anymore out of principle, and I don't think anyone should. However, $40 is probably a very good deal for what it is. I've found that very young peated malt can be quite good (though the bottle Im thinking of admittedly does have an age statement--3 years).
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Mar 13, 2019 22:39
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emotive posted:They also had Oban Little Bay marked down to $40 from $90, but I have no clue about scotch. I would absolutely jump on a bottle. I’ve always enjoyed Little Bay. I haven’t had it in a few years. Like a previous poster said, any Oban bottle going for $40 is worth picking up.
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Mar 15, 2019 19:18
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I just got back from a trip to Europe, which included a few days in Edinburgh, a truly stunning city. The Scotch Whiskey Experience next to the castle is neat, if a bit hokey, but worth a visit. Part of the tour/tasting takes place in this gigantic collection. Generally, I could take or leave scotch and prefer bourbon. Except when it comes to Islays. I want to drink all the Islays.
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Mar 18, 2019 20:21
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Someone on my bookface posted wedding photos taken in that collection
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Mar 18, 2019 22:17
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My boss and I trade whiskey samples back and forth, and lately we’ve been doing them blind. The last one I tried was just an absolute butterscotch bomb of a bourbon. It ended up being a woodford Reserve double oaked store pick. Has anyone had a regular bottle of the double oaked? Did you get that same butterscotch flavor? It was really unique and now I want a bottle. Couldn’t drink it every night, but man, it was a total dessert whiskey.
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Mar 23, 2019 20:57
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I've been drinking Rare Breed recently (cask strength Wild Turkey). It's no ECBP or Stagg Jr, but for $38 it gets the job done almost as well and at (approximately) half the price. Basically a big old funky cinnamon bomb.
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Mar 23, 2019 22:35
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Lately my go to old fashioned whiskey is Old Overholt rye. $20 for a liter so very affordable but makes a tasty cocktail. Just the right amount of spice, not as pronounced as Rittenhouse.
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Mar 24, 2019 00:07
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DoctaFun posted:My boss and I trade whiskey samples back and forth, and lately we’ve been doing them blind. I had the regular DO at a Woodford tasting and remember it having a butterscotch flavor. The strongest butterscotch I’ve experienced was actually the Forty Creek Copper Pot (Canadian whiskey).
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Mar 24, 2019 04:07
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Picked up the last bottle of Henry McKenna 10 year BIB (Apparently 2019's Best Whiskey). It's ok. I like Stagg Jr. better.
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Mar 27, 2019 13:22
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Now that we know that Minnick's taste buds are broken who will we go to for bourbon recommendations. In all seriousness though, the McKenna was a single barrel so unless you got barrel 4976 you're not drinking the award winning bourbon. Heaven Hill could have cherry picked the best possible barrel for the competition.
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Mar 27, 2019 15:16
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I think that's why we should be wary of single barrel recommendations. Maybe less so from people you know, but definitely "official" recommendations like this.
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Mar 27, 2019 16:05
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Residency Evil posted:Picked up the last bottle of Henry McKenna 10 year BIB (Apparently 2019's Best Whiskey). McKenna was generally pretty good for like $25 but everyone has bumped up prices now and it's hit-or-miss at $35. In my experience, it tends to have pretty pronounced barrel notes (I had a bottle that tasted strongly like those cedar planks they sometimes cook salmon on), but there's enough variation that you really never know what you'll get. I always assumed that they used off-profile barrels that were otherwise intended for Elijah Craig.
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Mar 27, 2019 17:13
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Vox Nihili posted:McKenna was generally pretty good for like $25 but everyone has bumped up prices now and it's hit-or-miss at $35. In my experience, it tends to have pretty pronounced barrel notes (I had a bottle that tasted strongly like those cedar planks they sometimes cook salmon on), but there's enough variation that you really never know what you'll get. I always assumed that they used off-profile barrels that were otherwise intended for Elijah Craig. ECBP and store-picked EC small batch bottles from groups I know always have blown McKenna out of the water in my opinion
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Mar 27, 2019 17:35
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I've noticed a ton of variation bottle to bottle, but always found it to be reasonable at $30. Worst case, you get about what you expect for $30 bourbon, but occasionally you get a really great bottle. I agree though - it usually is kind of woody, though I don't mind.
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Mar 27, 2019 20:18
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The big benefit of McKenna being named world's best whiskey is that it'll keep people focused on that and away from my everyday favorite of OF 1920.
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Mar 27, 2019 20:43
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I sure wish I could find McKenna single barrel (I think this is the same as McKenna BiB?) at $35 or $45 in Southern California.
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Mar 27, 2019 21:12
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I've had 3 McKenna BiBs in recent memory; one terrible, one alright and one pretty great. Even for a single barrel brand the consistency doesn't seem to be there. But having another one again won't be an issue for awhile.
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Mar 27, 2019 22:19
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Yeah, the variance for McKenna is significant. If they just went ahead and said they don't even check the barrels before bottling, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. In other news, I am now in love with Islay scotches, but the sticker shock coming from bourbon is a bit rough. I think my favorite from what I've tried at bars is Ardbeg Uigeadail, but at $85 a bottle, oof. Laphroaig Quarter Cask is a runner-up, with Ardbeg 10 probably being the best value. What is everyone's go-to Islay?
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Mar 27, 2019 22:53
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Lagavulin 16 is my everyday Scotch. Uhh, not that I have an everyday Scotch.
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Mar 28, 2019 00:06
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Laphroaig 10 was on sale this weekend at Costco. Thirty something bucks a bottle. Good value imo
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Mar 28, 2019 00:20
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Mandalay posted:Laphroaig 10 was on sale this weekend at Costco. Thirty something bucks a bottle. Good value imo Yeah, Laphroaig is the best value Islay, and as a bonus their cask strength and special release bottles are also regularly quite available in the $60-$90 range. Lagavulin 12 (full strength annual release) is the Islay I've enjoyed the most overall, but the price is pretty stupid. For whatever reason I have a very strong aversion for Ardbeg, I get a a plasticky note from the peat that repulses me. I've only had the 10, though.
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Mar 28, 2019 00:29
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Laphroaig 10 is excellent too. I’ve tried Lagavulin 16, and while it’s good, I found it to be a bit too mellow. How does the 8 year compare?
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Mar 28, 2019 02:33
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All of you Islay fans should try Longrow if you get the chance.
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Mar 28, 2019 23:57
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It's good op
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Mar 29, 2019 00:03
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And also Kilkerran if you like the Sprinkbank ‘funky’ house style.
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Mar 29, 2019 01:59
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