February 7th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
Larceny Barrel Proof.
Premier League tomorrow morning. Laundry. Church Sunday. A nap. That will do it.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:20 PM ^
I see that is 128 proof. Does it have a harsh bite or can you drink it neat? Would like to try some of the barrel proofs and wondering which ones aren't over the top. Thanks ?.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:40 PM ^
I commented on one of your posts further down, but Elijah Craig barrel proof is awesome. I drink it neat. 122 proof
February 7th, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
Thanks!!! The liquor Dept. manager at the local Meijer highly recommends it. Guess I will have to get a bottle for my birthday next month.?
February 7th, 2020 at 10:15 PM ^
I only drink my bourbon neat. it is not overpowering.
Elijah Craig and Larceny are from the same distillery. EC Barrel proof is 12 years old and is very good juice, but it will cost you almost $20 more than the Larceny. Larceny Barrel proof literally just dropped in stores for the first time this month. It has an MSRP of $49. As long as they don't jack up the price, save yourself $20 and get the Larceny.
February 8th, 2020 at 12:03 AM ^
Thanks, I will be checking them out soon.??
February 7th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
Drinking Reclassified Double IPA from Ascension Brewing Company in Novi. Top notch!
February 7th, 2020 at 9:04 PM ^
Rye whiskey on ice...have an event tomorrow morning followed by studying Saturday, Church Sunday and more studying
February 7th, 2020 at 9:06 PM ^
What brand of Rye? I am a huge Whiskey / Bourbonaphile.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:13 PM ^
Kirkland...it's good and the price is awesome. ?
February 7th, 2020 at 9:37 PM ^
I should try to get a recommendation list from you. Wife is taking me to Louisville for my 30th and we are going to visit some distilleries but I am trying to compile a list of hard to find bourbons to try at some of the bars/tasting rooms down there
February 7th, 2020 at 10:23 PM ^
For sure places to visit are Buffalo Trace, Willett, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, and Woodford. Angel's Envy is supposed to be a great tour as well. Some will require reservations, but most do not. Also, most will charge for a tour and tasting. The only place that doesn't (to my knowledge) is Buffalo Trace.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to try any hard to find bourbons at the tastings at the distilleries. Heaven Hill was the only one that had an exclusive bourbon as a part of their tasting lineup. You can find most anything at the major bars or restaurants, but they are pricy (they know tourists are there for the bourbon). But, I don't mind paying up for a quality bourbon that I know I probably have zero chance finding back home in NC.
Also, I didn't have much luck at in the liquor stores in the "Bourbon Trail" area. Didn't find any exclusive / hard to find juice, and if I did, it was close to double MSRP. I hope you have better luck than me.
Have a blast! It really is a fun time and beautiful country.
February 8th, 2020 at 8:04 AM ^
Thanks for all the info. As of right now we are planning on touring Old Forrester (I want to see the barrels made) and Bulleit as I have heard that is a great tour as well. You're the 4th person who has recommended Woodford though so I may have to add it. Out of curiosity, did you find going to several tours worth it? I kind of think once I've seen one or two then most will be pretty similar after that. And if that's the case I'd rather save my money to sample bourbons I've never had at bars instead of spending it on tours.
February 8th, 2020 at 9:11 AM ^
Very good point. Yes...you are correct. After you have been to 2-3 distilleries, you have been to them all. very similar experiences. Think of brewery tours. Same equipment. Similar processes.
I wouldn't skip Woodford. Just absolutely freaking beautiful driving out there and by far the prettiest distillery.
I wouldn't skip Willett either. First, they make fantastic bourbon and Rye....and their Distillery is family owned and operated. It feels like going back in time a bit.
Buffalo Trace is great, but it is by far the most "commercialized" of all the distilleries and has a Bourbon Disneyland feel. That isn't a bad thing. But it doesn't have the charm of Woodford or Willett.
Also, hit TripAdvisor and the internet to find the best bourbon bars in the area. Have a blast man. It really is a lot of fun.
February 8th, 2020 at 12:03 PM ^
Awesome tips, thank you! I've been doing a lot of reading about bars, liquor stores, tasting rooms, etc to find places to visit and maybe sample some things that are hard to find around home. I think maybe I'll swap Woodford with bulleit. Still want to see the barrel making process at Old Forrester
February 7th, 2020 at 10:29 PM ^
Amazing Bourbons to try that are worth the $:
Elmer T. Lee
Anything by E.H. Taylor
Bookers
Stagg Jr.
Rhetoric
Rock Hill Farms
Angel's Envy Cask Strength
Dickel Bottled in Bond (Blue Label)
Old Fitzgerald 15 year
Willett Rye
Willett Bourbon
Plenty of others, but these you simply cannot go wrong with. As far as availability / rare...most of these on the list are incredibly difficult to find....so try them on vacation. Its a blast.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:47 PM ^
you. are. the. man.
February 8th, 2020 at 1:38 AM ^
1 part Bookers, 18 parts water. Good golly
February 8th, 2020 at 9:04 AM ^
LOL...so true. Stagg Jr and Bookers will put hair on your chest.
I always tell people looking to get into bourbon, that you really have two categories of what quality bourbon tastes like.
1. Robust flavor (almost always Barrel Proof) but some burn and bite.
2. Smooth, oily and little to no burn or bite...but less flavor that the category above.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:59 PM ^
Midwinters night dram
Little book 2
pikesville
michters rye in that order
no ice as it binds the flavors, good bottled water added a few drops at a time though if its too hot.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:58 PM ^
Good selection.
I went with High West's Bourye and then a whistlepig 10 store pick tonight.
February 8th, 2020 at 9:28 AM ^
Solid ones too! I have a bottle of Midwinters Night Dram I have yet to open. What are your thoughts on it?
February 8th, 2020 at 9:57 AM ^
I know you weren't asking for my opinion but I like the MWND and think it's worth the money. I love rye and finished ryes are no exception. Very similar profile to the whistlepig 12 old worlds that I've had, just higher proof than the whistlepig.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
Listen man...I refuse no opinion on liquor / alcohol from a Hillbilly. Straight from the horses mouth in my book. LOL. Thanks for your thoughts. I love the bottle so much it is just sitting on my bar for display at the moment.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:07 PM ^
Old fashioned and then a hopslam after the first daddy daughter dance. Then cutting up a tree for future woodwork tomorrow
February 7th, 2020 at 9:09 PM ^
One of the worst manhattans ever.
It’s down on ice with a lemon wedge. And I think there’s a touch of soda.
on the other hand the younger couple next to me are making out profusely and I’m pretty sure the girl is cheating on her boyfriend based on text messages sent. I’ll keep you posted though
February 7th, 2020 at 9:15 PM ^
Is thete such a thing as a bad Manhattan?
February 7th, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^
Yes. I’m drinking it.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:36 PM ^
Update: older lady next to me by herself ordered 7 oysters and a bottle of sparking wine.
My next drink is a bartenders choice. Ended up being espresso martini.
more to come
February 7th, 2020 at 9:56 PM ^
Girl from make out coupe got up to use the rest room (presumably). Guy put hand fully down pants to make an adjustment. Can’t say I blame him but could have been a bit more discrete.
Martini is gone. Thinking about a 16 year lagavulin next
February 7th, 2020 at 10:15 PM ^
not sure where you're drinking, but can you wear a 'go-pro' next time and live feed it here?
February 7th, 2020 at 9:46 PM ^
Yes, Staten Island.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:11 PM ^
Freshly spritzed soda stream w/ some post hockey (8-4 Moar goals please!!) nachos. Double header tomorrow at Crisler (try to say only nice things to Izzo) then back to Yost for the sweep. Sunday will be some culture with a U of M dance performance at Power.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:21 AM ^
I like your style
February 7th, 2020 at 9:13 PM ^
Just popped an ‘07 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard into the decanter. Will be grilling some prime rib caps in about an hour or so.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:14 PM ^
Having a couple hopslams (ok probably just one to be safe) and a few juicy bangers tonight before heading into the mountains in the morning (from Denver) to ski. A storm dumped some historic snow in the past ~24 hours so it should be a great day as long as traffic and road conditions cooperate. Wish me luck!
February 8th, 2020 at 9:06 AM ^
Luckkyyyyy
February 9th, 2020 at 8:40 PM ^
love me juicy bangers braj.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:18 PM ^
Henry McKenna 10 yr bourbon, neat
February 7th, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^
Sipping on some Mammoth Distillery Whiskey neat. Tomorrow we are having friends over for dinner, looking to open a bottle of Elijah Craig for the occasion.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:35 PM ^
Elijah Craig has been my favorite lately. I got the barrel proof for a Christmas gift and have been trying to make it last
February 7th, 2020 at 9:38 PM ^
Mine is a Christmas gift also. Just the small batch 94 proof. How do you like the barrel proof? Is it pretty harsh? Would like to try some after I finish the one I just got.?
February 7th, 2020 at 9:43 PM ^
It's awesome. I still have quite a bit left but have been forcing myself to only have a glass each weekend.
Edit: is it harsh? I'd say obviously harsher than the small batch Elijah Craig, but I honestly love the barrel proof and drink it neat. I would guess if it was too harsh for your taste then a drop of water or an ice cube would make a favorable difference
February 7th, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^
Awesome, have a great weekend!!
GO BLUE ??
Beat staee!!!!
February 7th, 2020 at 9:27 PM ^
funeral tomorrow morning for a sweet, sweet woman who passed away. she was elderly, a prayer warrior, but had a rough last 12 months.
hoops in the afternoon for some of the kids.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:31 PM ^
Jim Beam Fire
Finding a new normalcy after some life changes and a non-terminal but life long diagnosis.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:33 PM ^
Michther's in the glass. Going to take my daughter to my school's conference wrestling tournament for a bit tomorrow and cheer on some of my players. Parents' anniversary is Sunday so doing family stuff for that.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:40 PM ^
Bottle Logic, Astronautica Exotica...rum barrel aged stout with mucho coconut and a couple other adjuncts. Much better tonight than months back where it was an unbalanced mess. Watching Illinois blow it against Maryland...and my almost 3-week old likely soon waking up from a not nearly long enough nap to once again need mom to feed.
Goddammit tomorrow would be a great win but I'm skepitcal as all hell. In my mind we need to let Cassius get his and not allow the easy dump off alley-oops to Tillman and wide open kickout 3s. Let him score 40 on hopefully a not-as-efficient outing as last time...make it come on 38+ shots and limit Tillman to 10, and the other chumps to single digits.
Franz needs to finish on his great cuts and looks he gets close to the rack. Make a few 3s too please. I hope Simpson is ready to ball. We will see. I fear too much is on his platter. Teske...wake up. Slow it down, take your time, pass the ball out of inefficient situations. Johns...man up and just play, don't overthink anything. Livers! No one handed dunks! Just do you and D up.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:41 PM ^
Bottle of Intercept Cabernet
February 7th, 2020 at 9:43 PM ^
Vanilla crown and Faygo cream soda. Softball tourney tomorrow, bowling on Sunday.