Blades & Bourbon

[Horsewright]

Congratulations on your accomplishments. Not just the schooling but all you have accomplished. I hope the new chapter brings you and your family joy and comfort.

Dave, thanks for the photos and stories of Merle's visit to your ranch.

Ya bet!

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Congrats on your achievements strategy9 , best wishes and good luck in your future endeavor !
Enjoy your beautiful family and never give up on your goals.

Picture is from last night but tonight I'm finishing the bottle and will drink for you my friend !

 

[sgt1372]

Decided to kill some time in The City (San Francisco) after driving to Mt. View (near San Jose) for a medical appt earlier in the day the other day and found another place where I can drink some Van Winkle bourbon (in its various forms).

I've previously drank a couple of pours of Rip Van Winkle 10 at a couple of places, so decided to try a pour of Van Winkle 12 this side. Cost me $40 but that's still a heck of a lot less than a bottle would cost. I enjoyed it with a glass of Pliny the Elder DIPA and a not so great plate of chicken bites.

 

[RLB0414]

Decided to kill some time in The City (San Francisco) after driving to Mt. View (near San Jose) for a medical appt earlier in the day the other day and found another place where I can drink some Van Winkle bourbon (in its various forms).

I've previously drank a couple of pours of Rip Van Winkle 10 at a couple of places, so decided to try a pour of Van Winkle 12 this side. Cost me $40 but that's still a heck of a lot less than a bottle would cost. I enjoyed it with a glass of Pliny the Elder DIPA and a not so great plate of chicken bites.

Was it worth the $40.00?

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

I'd pay $40 for shot of Pappy, whatever impression they have around...
But for now, I'll go with one of my all time favorite everyday sippers, this-one from Indiana - High West
They had the new release of just Bourbon for $30+ in my local TW...

... alone with the slightly higher shelf - the Prairie Bourbon, also a blend, for about the same money:

I got one of those smocking your drink gimmicks but even it's working fine, I wasn't impressed with the taste of just Oak chips
that came with the box... maybe I need to try different flavors.

 

[sgt1372]

Was it worth the $40.00?

I thought so.

It was a very enjoyable 2oz pour and a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a bottle for $1.2K or more for a bottle.

 

[Chronovore]

I thought so.

It was a very enjoyable 2oz pour and a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a bottle for $1.2K or more for a bottle.

Considering the general markup of drinks out versus buying a bottle, $40 for 2oz off a $1000+ bottle seems reasonable. Given the 0% chance of me spending over a grand for a bottle of any liquor, I might be tempted if I was out and already prepared to drop $25 on a glass of something else.

 

[sgt1372]

Pinhook just reported that their Bourbon War Vertical 7 won a Double Gold Medal at this year's San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

I'm collecting this series and, so far, have collected bottles for Vertical 3-7 but the series will continue for 5 more years until Vertical 12; total of 10 years.

I should also note that A LOT of whiskies are awarded Double Gold Medals, so I don't know how "big" a deal it really is but, if you take a look at the list in the following article, there are some very good bourbons listed as Double Gold winners this year, many of which I have in my collection:

List of 2023 SFWSC Double Gold Winners

I'm particularly pleased that Eagle Rare 10 is on the list. I've still got 6 unopened bottles (that I bought for only $40/bottle) of that.

The "bargain" bottle on the Double Gold list is "Heaven Hill (7 yr) Bottled in Bond" which is still widely available and still be had for $50-60/bottle

 

[gooeytek]

Old pic.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Forum's Pron...

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

 

[sgt1372]

Stopped by a LLS in Livermore just to look around and found 5 bottles of Eagle Rare 10 for $60 each.

Told the clerk that I wanted to buy another and he said they had some more at their sister store in Pleasanton (the next town over). So, I drove over there and found 3 more bottles but they only cost $50/bottle there. WTF?

Asked the clerk why they were priced differently and he said each store does its own pricing. Weird. Anyway bought all that they had at both stores which I've added to the 6 that I are in my wine rack that I previously purchased for $40 each. So, the average price for the 14 bottles is $49.29/bottle.

That makes a case of 12 in my wine rack and 2 on the shelf that I can actually drink now.

OBTW, Eagle Rare 10 also won a Double Gold Medal at the SF World Spirits Competition this year.

 

[l1ranger]

Considering the general markup of drinks out versus buying a bottle, $40 for 2oz off a $1000+ bottle seems reasonable. Given the 0% chance of me spending over a grand for a bottle of any liquor, I might be tempted if I was out and already prepared to drop $25 on a glass of something else.

its only $1,000 if you're buying it marked up and desperate enough to pay it. if you can find it MSRP, its $80, and very much worth it.
I was fortunate to get a bottle of the 12 yr lot be several years back and a bottle of the 13 year rye last year. if you find the rye, get it. one of the best whiskey's I've had. I believe it was $120.

 

[Chronovore]

its only $1,000 if you're buying it marked up and desperate enough to pay it. if you can find it MSRP, its $80, and very much worth it.
I was fortunate to get a bottle of the 12 yr lot be several years back and a bottle of the 13 year rye last year. if you find the rye, get it. one of the best whiskey's I've had. I believe it was $120.

At a 10x markup, I'd pass anyway.

 

[gooeytek]

Booze & Blades Thursday. Found a bottle of VAT69 from the 60's

 

[sgt1372]

Booze & Blades Thursday. Found a bottle of VAT69 from the 60's

How does it taste?

 

[Prester John]

Stopped by a LLS in Livermore just to look around and found 5 bottles of Eagle Rare 10 for $60 each.

Told the clerk that I wanted to buy another and he said they had some more at their sister store in Pleasanton (the next town over). So, I drove over there and found 3 more bottles but they only cost $50/bottle there. WTF?

Asked the clerk why they were priced differently and he said each store does its own pricing. Weird. Anyway bought all that they had at both stores which I've added to the 6 that I are in my wine rack that I previously purchased for $40 each. So, the average price for the 14 bottles is $49.29/bottle.

That makes a case of 12 in my wine rack and 2 on the shelf that I can actually drink now.

OBTW, Eagle Rare 10 also won a Double Gold Medal at the SF World Spirits Competition this year.

Last time I bought some a few months ago, I paid $31, but the store limited us to one bottle per customer. Good stuff.

 

[Frank Morris]

Stopped by a LLS in Livermore just to look around and found 5 bottles of Eagle Rare 10 for $60 each.

Told the clerk that I wanted to buy another and he said they had some more at their sister store in Pleasanton (the next town over). So, I drove over there and found 3 more bottles but they only cost $50/bottle there. WTF?

Asked the clerk why they were priced differently and he said each store does its own pricing. Weird. Anyway bought all that they had at both stores which I've added to the 6 that I are in my wine rack that I previously purchased for $40 each. So, the average price for the 14 bottles is $49.29/bottle.

That makes a case of 12 in my wine rack and 2 on the shelf that I can actually drink now.

OBTW, Eagle Rare 10 also won a Double Gold Medal at the SF World Spirits Competition this year.

Now I know why I can never find it. Im not even a big Bourbon drinker but sure would like to try it with all the Hype.

Next time leave 1 bottle on the shelf for others!

 

[trevitrace]

Stopped by a LLS in Livermore just to look around and found 5 bottles of Eagle Rare 10 for $60 each.

Told the clerk that I wanted to buy another and he said they had some more at their sister store in Pleasanton (the next town over). So, I drove over there and found 3 more bottles but they only cost $50/bottle there. WTF?

Asked the clerk why they were priced differently and he said each store does its own pricing. Weird. Anyway bought all that they had at both stores which I've added to the 6 that I are in my wine rack that I previously purchased for $40 each. So, the average price for the 14 bottles is $49.29/bottle.

That makes a case of 12 in my wine rack and 2 on the shelf that I can actually drink now.

OBTW, Eagle Rare 10 also won a Double Gold Medal at the SF World Spirits Competition this year.

So you're the guy that clears the shelves. Thanks a load.

 

[gooeytek]

How does it taste?

Very mellow, nice. No mistaking that it's a Scotch if no one told me what it was, but it's very smooth. There was also a bottle of J&B from '68 and Seagram's from '57