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Got into the Johnny Drum last Saturday Night :tu with a Coro!

The people at local store now say hello when I walk in like we are old friends :confused:

I really don't like any of you at all :sl

Rob :tf

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Four Roses small batch last night and some Padrons in the wings……. ;-)

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https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guid...h875319a3a/ios

other than this, I don't apple anymore. Not since my i5 started random dialing and talking during the night all by it self. fix was a vice and a 3 lb hammer

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sure wish I had better options up here.
very few to choose from Beam, Makers, Elijah (sometimes), Woodford, Buffalo ..nothing too fancy but hey..I'll take what I can get!
https://i.imgur.com/AXonnWy.jpg
750 ml.

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Lenny: Regular Makers Is My Everyday Go To!:D:tu:dr

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So much goodness here...... :D

Jay, I was drinking a lot in the summer too. :r Not much to do in the evenings...no concerts, no sporting events, no bars (for me anyway) what else but to sit at home with a cigar and a bourbon. I look at March 11 last year as the beginning of the "lockdown". On March 11 this year I'll post a pic of my empties for far.

Ben, can't go wrong with the KC picks. I even grabbed another 9 year pick because they're just a little less good. Sitting on 6 or 7 15 year picks, might have to try for double digits.:D

Damn, Lenny, the 750 Elijah Craig is like $25 around here. Ouch. But maybe $49 Canadian is around $25 USC? ;s

Rob, you've made this young man very proud. :al :salute:

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It's around $29-$35 around here. I don't mind paying that at all.

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Even better is if any stores near you do any single barrel store picks. I have one picked by a local group that blows the regular release out the door.

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Just picked up a 12 year single barrel last week, excellent use of $33 :tu

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Yes, I failed to mention the EC store picks are usually 5-10 bucks more than the regular. Well worth it, eh Ben? -(P

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1000% yes. I don't see any need to have a regular shelf EC around when I usually have about 3 store picks open, great approachable pour and probably my favorite way to start the evening (other than a really good BT pick)

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Yep, my favorite is a place called Maisano's in the next town over. Every one of his barrel picks that I've had has been great. His Elijah Craig one from about two years ago was around 135 proof and smoother than many 80-90 proof Bourbons I've had. If time travel is ever invented one of the things on my agenda would be to go back and grab about a dozen bottles of it.

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$50 kanuckistanian = $39.36 U.S. = mostly taxes.
In the 80's I visited at the Crown Royal Distilleries and a gallon of it equated to $4 bottled and delivered to our local gov controlled stores. the rest is all tax. A single bottle was around $25 and you got 4 bottles from a gallon...= around $96 tax per gallon. They wonder why people are makin their own?

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Some prices. Stores cannot bring in their own "Specials"
https://i.imgur.com/Vewu8oP.jpg
Makers $42.99 reg
https://i.imgur.com/ngq0ZNs.jpg
Woodford $25.99 reg
https://i.imgur.com/U7rcRpl.jpg
Woodford Double Oaked $69.99
Prices are the same where ever you go. All gov run pricing
Sucks to be me n liking bourbon but I still buy when I can.

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I am really liking Johnny Drum lately too. -(P

Picked up another bottle of EH Taylor Single Barrel today. Grabbed a few EHT Small Batch last week. Searching for a Barrel Proof, but that might be a while before I see those at MSRP.

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What Is The Difference Between A Store Pick & Regular Shelf? More Age?

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Was at the store yesterday looking for mid level stuff. Almost grabbed EC or some Buffalo. Was hoping for a local called Tatoosh, it’s water smooth! ;-)

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Basically the store sends someone to sample barrels; they pick the one that they like the most and have it bottled specifically for the store. Sometimes it's barrel strength, sometimes brought down to a specific proof.
At my B&M it's the owner that goes. He seems to shoot for a variety of mash bills throughout the year and usually has them bottled at barrel strength.

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Thanks, James!:tu

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The way I like to describe them (using some assumptions and made up numbers) is, using EC as an example, say a batch of blended shelf Elijah Craig requires 100 barrels to make. The blender knows what the target profile is, so they start dumping barrels and taste it. Maybe they think it needs a little more oak to hit the target profile so they add a few barrels that are higher aged (in EC's case up to 12 years). Maybe then they taste it and it needs a little more sweetness so they dump in a couple barrels they have tasted and know have a sweet note. Maybe they taste a barrel to add and it's got a funky peanut note to it, which does not fit into the target blended profile at all so they don't even add it. These barrels all started as the same whiskey recipe in them but the age and location in the warehouse has changed the bourbon so much and in such a variety of ways that you can't just pull one off the shelf and throw it in a shelf EC bottle, it won't taste like Elijah Craig.

Now, imagine somebody gets to come in and try these single barrels that may or may not have been on their way to being blended. If the chooser likes oak in their bourbon they may pick one that is aged longer, so buying that 12 year bottles is going to taste vastly different than a blend that is only usually made up of 10% 12-year bottles (again, made up numbers). The chooser could also be going for something "a little sweeter than normal EC" and pick the barrel that would have been used to sweeten up the batch, or maybe they are going for something that is in an EC bottle but tastes nothing like any EC you'll buy elsewhere, they're gonna pick that funky one-off

Some distilleries let you have input in the final proof but those are usually smaller ones (ex/ my group is doing a pick at Limestone Branch today and they let you choose between three proofs, I want to say 100 107 and 114). As far as I know Elijah Craig only lets you do 94 proof, but if I'm wrong I'd love to try a sample of a barrel proof pick :dr:dr

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Thanks, Ben!:tu. I Guess The Only Problem Comes When Your Tastes Differ From The "Pickers'".:D

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This becomes the quest. Finding store(s) where it seems like the "pickers" have similar tastes or palates. I've been lucky enough to find a couple of those and a couple local groups that have been doing barrel picks as well. I'd say I've had about 80% winners with those stores and groups. The one guy who has a connection at Whistlepig just gets some outrageously delicious barrels.

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https://i.imgur.com/EcGxeAR.jpg

Last nights pours. Now that the 1792 FP has been open awhile, I like it much better.

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Exactly, taste preference and access. Usually stores have a "pick team" of the same 3-4 managers/employees so figuring out what they like, or what their tasting process is like, is important. Usually you can just ask the liquor manager and they'll talk your ear off about how they pick for 30 minutes :r

Access is a different animal, it's not really talked about but I definitely believe there's a reason certain stores regularly get better barrels from certain distilleries. Tom definitely has the proof when it comes to Whistle Pig :tu

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And on the subject of store picks, I picked the right day to go to Sal's and grab their 9 year KC pick. They had the first A121 ECBPs I had seen.

https://i.imgur.com/Rfg4cEY.jpg

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Thanks For Your Info, My Friends!:tu. I'll Go To My Local Liquor Store Next Week & Inquire About Their Picker!:D

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Couple high proofers last night, including a store pick that's NOT from one of my favorite pickers. ;)

https://i.imgur.com/qQOzgY1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/INsBHnP.jpg

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Just picked up Barrel cask strength batch 16. I am thinking I probably shouldn't ever open it based upon what has happened to all the $75 to $100 bottles I posted in the beginning of this thread. If I still had all that Pappy and Hirsh I could probably buy a house.

Doubt I will be able to resist now, just like I couldn't then.

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Let us know how it is after you crack it open this weekend :r

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Finally was able to grab a Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof store pick from a local joint that does excellent picks. 130+ proof, I am curious to see how this one is. I'll definitely open it this weekend.

https://i.imgur.com/71AgsIQ.jpg

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Score at the local Saf#wey, 4 Roses small batch! :)

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Congrats Charlie! :al

Cracked the Jack Daniels store pick last night and it did not disappoint. Different than my usual wheelhouse in some ways, but delicious. Went back for a second full pour.

https://i.imgur.com/vzXqnyy.jpg

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Has nice color! Enjoy. :-)

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Yeah, I noticed that even more when I looked at the picture. I may have been slightly cockeyed last night. :al :r

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:emo2004 that's hard to believe

Rob :tf

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Even harder to believe when I ramp it up to 131.1 proof! :r

https://i.imgur.com/UEftdCO.jpg

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That"ll peel the paint off your innards

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JDBP SP are fantastic! Tom have you had the barrell proof rye?

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I have not, Andrew, I hear that may even be better?

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Heard great things about this, didn't feel like going out to buy one the one weekend they were available around here (pretty much everywhere sold out in a day, it was about a month after it landed in some of the other states and was getting great reviews). I finally got around to trying a sample from a friend and... dang. It's gotta be up there with the best ryes I've ever had. The one I tried was 134 proof and had a creamy banana taste to it, I eventually tracked down one that was a little lower proof (131.2 I think) and while this single barrel doesn't have that strong banana profile to it, it's really friggin good as well, I need to stop myself from drinking too much of it

Have you had a chance to try it?

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yes it is fantastic, keep an eye out for if you can. I can send you a sample sometime if you like too.

Yea i did, and i agree as it is one of my top ryes i have had. My buddy found one in Michigan for me and had some pours of some friends. Mine is 132.1 Proof. I have been looking for a back up but the price keeps going up on them. I might of missed the boat for a back up.

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I feel the same way, I would buy as many as I could if I could get them for under $100. I suspect that won't happen though :sad

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unless my state finds some and releases them im down to only secondary options and they are pushing 200+ now :bh

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I would be up for a sample trade, I am sure I have got some open bottles you might like to try. :tu

Andrew's take is spot on for this area , bottles going for 200 and higher on secondary here. I have some trade bait, maybe I'll give it a shot, especially based on Ben saying it's one of the best ryes he's had and Andrew's recommendation.

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Couple Booker's batches last night watching hockey, Country Ham and Blue Knight's.

https://i.imgur.com/duMooPZ.jpg

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Absolutely just let me know. I see you enjoying the bookers. I cant seem to get on board with those. County ham was good, but haven't been a fan of the others the last couple years. Old Foresters barrel strength and JDBP have been taking over my bar.

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I like both the OFPS (I think I have 4 store picks) and the JDSBBP I got is great too. Besides Booker's I really dig the Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs, Knob Creek SiB store picks, Whistlepig SiB picks and Stagg Jr, among others.

Let me know how many samples you'd like to trade (maybe up to 4 max?) and we can get the show on the road. :)

Last night a couple Leo's picks, Tumbling Dice Heavy Rye SiB and "Rick and Morty" Whistlepig 2 barrel blend.

https://i.imgur.com/ym53ZH8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0VUDCmg.jpg