The Vice Thread --- Whisk(e)y, other spirits, beer, wine, and cigars

[The San Diegan]

On 7/15/2024 at 4:56 AM, happycamper said:

Snag bottles of that Four Roses Small Batch Select. It's one of my absolute favorites at that price point, definitely the best of what you have pictured!

That is the favorite expression of a friend of mine as well, and I've often thought about adding it to the house bar menu for 4R drinkers, but keep putting it off bc I'm searching for an OSEO store pick. How would you score the SmBS (and how do you core their entry-level SmB?)? 🤔

[happycamper]

On 7/25/2024 at 12:18 PM, The San Diegan said:

That is the favorite expression of a friend of mine as well, and I've often thought about adding it to the house bar menu for 4R drinkers, but keep putting it off bc I'm searching for an OSEO store pick. How would you score the SmBS (and how do you core their entry-level SmB?)? 🤔

I'd put the SmBS as better than Wilderness Trail tbh. The top of the 45 to 50 dollar range, not as good as Rabbit Hole's Heidigger high rye whiskey but a cost tier below it. 

The small batch itself is awfully good for its price point too. I'd put it as better than vanilla maker's, not as good as maker's 46. A lot of people like their single barrel better than the small batch but I prefer the small batch. 

[The San Diegan]

On 7/25/2024 at 9:48 AM, happycamper said:

I'd put the SmBS as better than Wilderness Trail tbh. The top of the 45 to 50 dollar range, not as good as Rabbit Hole's Heidigger high rye whiskey but a cost tier below it. 

The small batch itself is awfully good for its price point too. I'd put it as better than vanilla maker's, not as good as maker's 46. A lot of people like their single barrel better than the small batch but I prefer the small batch. 

Well, you're citing whiskeys I may have heard of but have no familiar with personally tho IIRC may nearest TW has a store pick of the Wilderness Trail on the shelf. I'll ask my bourbon sherpa buddy if he has either of the whiskies on his.

I am coming around to think that distillers make sure their SmB entry-level whiskies have flavor profiles that punch above their weight so new customers will be more willing to explore their other offerings.

Speaking of MM, I've never tried it - any of it. I do, however, plan on picking up a bottle of cask strength to preserve my OWA, as every review I've seen by whiskeytubersouts them damn near on par with each other, and I can buy the MMCS all day long at $38. 

[happycamper]

On 7/25/2024 at 1:18 PM, The San Diegan said:

Well, you're citing whiskeys I may have heard of but have no familiar with personally tho IIRC may nearest TW has a store pick of the Wilderness Trail on the shelf. I'll ask my bourbon sherpa buddy if he has either of the whiskies on his.

They make 2 - a high wheat bourbon and a high rye bourbon. Their rye bourbon is unique, it uses a local to KY rye that is far less peppery and more floral. I prefer it to the wheated bourbon. 

On 7/25/2024 at 1:18 PM, The San Diegan said:

I am coming around to think that distillers make sure their SmB entry-level whiskies have flavor profiles that punch above their weight so new customers will be more willing to explore their other offerings.

Yeah, most likely. ALthough Four Roses has a base level, macro batch (?) entry that's cheap and sorta... forgettable. 

On 7/25/2024 at 1:18 PM, The San Diegan said:

Speaking of MM, I've never tried it - any of it. I do, however, plan on picking up a bottle of cask strength to preserve my OWA, as every review I've seen by whiskeytubersouts them damn near on par with each other, and I can buy the MMCS all day long at $38. 

WHAT? Crazy! Their cask strength is much better than their 45% stuff for me. I really like the maker's 46. delicate with a lot of extra caramel and butterscotch flavors from the french staves. 

[The San Diegan]

So another day, another Costco score:

6 

Warehouses G and H are their non-heated warehouses. My buddy has an open bottle from Warehouse G, Floor 6 from which I have had a pour and it is sublime. Hoping I'm similarly blessed with these. 🤞😬🤞

[SharkTanked]

This thread is the very definition of white privilege. 

The above post made in anticipation of the return of @Orange

[Bitteraztec]

BIL likes Elijah Craig Rye.  I am looking for recommendations as I want to bring him a quality bottle of rye (up to $100)

@happycamper @tailingpermit @The San Diegan @retrofade

[Mano]

On 8/18/2024 at 3:34 PM, Bitteraztec said:

BIL likes Elijah Craig Rye.  I am looking for recommendations as I want to bring him a quality bottle of rye (up to $100)

@happycamper @tailingpermit @The San Diegan @retrofade

How about 3 - 4 bottles of Elijah Craig Rye?

If you are looking for other ryes, some I like:

Jack Daniels Barrel Proof Rye

Knob Creek Rye

Pikesville Rye

Whistlepig Rye

Sagamore Rye

High West Rendezvous Rye

 

A few others that are over the $100 mark, but all these are pretty good.

 

 

[Bitteraztec]

On 8/18/2024 at 2:44 PM, Mano said:

How about 3 - 4 bottles of Elijah Craig Rye?

If you are looking for other ryes, some I like:

Jack Daniels Barrel Proof Rye

Knob Creek Rye

Pikesville Rye

Whistlepig Rye

Sagamore Rye

High West Rendezvous Rye

 

A few others that are over the $100 mark, but all these are pretty good.

 

 

I didn’t think about multiple bottles of what he actually likes

[tailingpermit]

On 8/18/2024 at 5:34 PM, Bitteraztec said:

BIL likes Elijah Craig Rye.  I am looking for recommendations as I want to bring him a quality bottle of rye (up to $100)

@happycamper @tailingpermit @The San Diegan @retrofade

Either one of these will do the trick and shouldn’t be hard to find.

[Chile_Ute]

On 8/18/2024 at 3:44 PM, Mano said:

How about 3 - 4 bottles of Elijah Craig Rye?

If you are looking for other ryes, some I like:

Jack Daniels Barrel Proof Rye

Knob Creek Rye

Pikesville Rye

Whistlepig Rye

Sagamore Rye

High West Rendezvous Rye

 

A few others that are over the $100 mark, but all these are pretty good.

 

 

I second High West Rye….maybe I like it for nostalgic reasons but I enjoy it because it’s different (and the fact it is solid AND from Utah adds value to me).

[retrofade]

On 8/18/2024 at 2:34 PM, Bitteraztec said:

BIL likes Elijah Craig Rye.  I am looking for recommendations as I want to bring him a quality bottle of rye (up to $100)

@happycamper @tailingpermit @The San Diegan @retrofade

I can't drink any longer, but Whistlepig is my answer. 

[happycamper]

On 8/18/2024 at 5:34 PM, Bitteraztec said:

BIL likes Elijah Craig Rye.  I am looking for recommendations as I want to bring him a quality bottle of rye (up to $100)

@happycamper @tailingpermit @The San Diegan @retrofade

Never had a better bottle of anything than Peerless rye. 

[retrofade]

On 7/14/2024 at 2:29 PM, AlpineSummer said:

That looks delicious. 

I use a ton of CBG these days for my neuropathy. 

[retrofade]

On 7/25/2024 at 9:18 AM, The San Diegan said:

That is the favorite expression of a friend of mine as well, and I've often thought about adding it to the house bar menu for 4R drinkers, but keep putting it off bc I'm searching for an OSEO store pick. How would you score the SmBS (and how do you core their entry-level SmB?)? 🤔

I always preferred the Single Barrel over their SBS. OESO and OBSO were my favorite mash bills, followed by OESF and OBSV. 

[The San Diegan]

On 8/18/2024 at 2:34 PM, Bitteraztec said:

BIL likes Elijah Craig Rye.  I am looking for recommendations as I want to bring him a quality bottle of rye (up to $100)

@happycamper @tailingpermit @The San Diegan @retrofade

If he's into high-proof, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye is legit. Chosen by Matt Porter (winner of the inaugural World's Best Whiskey Taster award) as last year's whiskey of the year. It's the best JD product I've had to date and 2nd- or 3rd best rye I've had ever. Readily available at MSRP ($70ish). 

If you're lucky enough to find one and want to give him a "trophy" rye, E.H. Taylor Rye just released and has been part of local drops. But unless you happen to score one at TW (or BevMo) at or near retail, you'll be hard-pressed to find it for its $80 MSRP.

I'll mull over some of the ryes my bourbon sherpa has brought over to see what else may be a good suggestion.

 

ETA: Here is one of the more memorable ryes I have tried this year, and the SRP is $90. Double-barreled, finished in French tawny port barrels, and has a rich and dynamic palette that will keep you engaged in the pour:

[The San Diegan]

On 8/19/2024 at 9:48 AM, retrofade said:

I always preferred the Single Barrel over their SBS. OESO and OBSO were my favorite mash bills, followed by OESF and OBSV. 

As luck would have it, when I dropped into my local TW on a drop-day looking for a birthday gift for a friend, they had a lone bottle of OBSF SiB BP coming in at 112.4 proof for $85. Never had it, but the recipe sounds delicious ("Minty, Fruity, Spicy, Full Body"). My bourbon sherpa buddy has OBSV (barrel proof) as well as another recipe, and we plan to do a 4R tasting on an upcoming Friday, warming up with their standard 100 proof OBSV, followed by each of the three barrel proof recipes at barrel proof, and capping it with last year's 135th anniversary LE.

Would be interesting to include the standard-release SBS as well tho to see how hot compares... 🤔 Just not sure I need to include it bad enough to buy it. 

[The San Diegan]

On 7/27/2024 at 3:31 PM, The San Diegan said:

So another day, another Costco score:

6 

Warehouses G and H are their non-heated warehouses. My buddy has an open bottle from Warehouse G, Floor 6 from which I have had a pour and it is sublime. Hoping I'm similarly blessed with these. 🤞😬🤞

Follow-up on the G7 OF SiB BS: dick slaps you across the face when first cracked, but after it was given a 20 minutes or so in the glass to think about what it had done, it opened up to a profile that was very Stagg(Jr.)-esque.

[retrofade]

On 8/19/2024 at 11:26 AM, The San Diegan said:

As luck would have it, when I dropped into my local TW on a drop-day looking for a birthday gift for a friend, they had a lone bottle of OBSF SiB BP coming in at 112.4 proof for $85. Never had it, but the recipe sounds delicious ("Minty, Fruity, Spicy, Full Body"). My bourbon sherpa buddy has OBSV (barrel proof) as well as another recipe, and we plan to do a 4R tasting on an upcoming Friday, warming up with their standard 100 proof OBSV, followed by each of the three barrel proof recipes at barrel proof, and capping it with last year's 135th anniversary LE.

Would be interesting to include the standard-release SBS as well tho to see how hot compares... 🤔 Just not sure I need to include it bad enough to buy it. 

Nice. I don't think I ever tried their OBSF mash. Sounds interesting from the description. 

[The San Diegan]

On 8/18/2024 at 9:24 PM, retrofade said:

I can't drink any longer, but Whistlepig is my answer. 

Whistlepig always looks tempting, but I've only ever met one person who thinks it drinks to its price. My impression - without ever having tasted the juice myself -  is that you're paying for the fancy packaging. Plus, isn't it sourced from Canada? 🤔