New Bourbon Thread: Bourbon Trail

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by tjsblue, Dec 2, 2019.

  1. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Hello isonomy you beautiful bitch
     
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  2. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Love seeing you guys get RR13s.
     
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  3. OZ2

    OZ2 Well-Known Member

    I literally had the guy that is the master mixer of Kentucky Owl, well, former one, talk to me and a bunch of our sales staff today.

    funny dude, made a bubble gum vodka joke at the end which was funny since we just got pushed to push some bubble gum vodka
     
    Leeroy Jenkins! likes this.
  4. OZ2

    OZ2 Well-Known Member

    (Not literally bubble gum vodka just all that nasty-ass flavored shit)
     
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  5. kentucky_dawg

    kentucky_dawg Fan of: Georgia
    Donor
    Georgia Bulldogs

    BrickTamland as he's typing this out
    [​IMG]
     
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  6. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Meh, I’d love to find one but I have so many bottles as it is. I’m not lacking for a good pour. I’m done with the Pokémon phase of whiskey.
     
  7. aisle seven

    aisle seven Well-Known Member
    Donor

    This man is in the OGD 114 phase of whiskey.
     
  8. Leeroy Jenkins!

    Leeroy Jenkins! Radicalized
    Donor

  9. g8r

    g8r Well-Known Member
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    Florida GatorsBoston Red Sox

    Not a bad place to be
     
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  10. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
    Donor
    Arkansas RazorbacksChicago CubsAvengersBarAndGrillSoutheastern Conference

    Oh best believe me selecting those foursquares opened the doors to the “super” allocation notification list. Because “it’s clear I’m not a secondary market seller.”
     
  11. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
    Donor

    They are so good too
     
  12. Leeroy Jenkins!

    Leeroy Jenkins! Radicalized
    Donor

    *Achievement Unlocked*
     
    Keef, CoastalOrange, g8r and 3 others like this.
  13. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
    Donor
    Arkansas RazorbacksChicago CubsAvengersBarAndGrillSoutheastern Conference

    Just adding to my foursquare collection. As long as we can keep these fake bourbon drinkers away from a good thing we’re ok.
     
    Keef likes this.
  14. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
    Donor

    My holy grail is find a 2006. I have most releases since the 2004 except for the Sherry finishes
     
    Keef likes this.
  15. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    EGBP and SWUU on the reg, that’s my floor.
     
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  16. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
    Donor
    Arkansas RazorbacksChicago CubsAvengersBarAndGrillSoutheastern Conference

    Lets not be cunty now. Not all of us have access to good stuff. I have to drive 1.5 hours to places that do. Thank you based local liquor store for continuing to keep my county dry with your political contributions. Even then it’sa 30 min drive to the liquor store.
     
  17. aisle seven

    aisle seven Well-Known Member
    Donor

    People here will definitely hook you up. Saw a bunch of SWUU at MSRP today.
     
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  18. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    I’ll be as “cunty” as I want, thank you very much.
     
  19. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
    Donor
    Arkansas RazorbacksChicago CubsAvengersBarAndGrillSoutheastern Conference

    Yes our MSRP is $95 for the swuu. Because they can mark it up and people will buy it.
     
  20. Aussie

    Aussie Si Je Puis
    Donor
    Florida GatorsDallas MavericksDallas Cowboys

    That would be killer to have those as your regulars.
     
  21. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
    Donor
    Arkansas RazorbacksChicago CubsAvengersBarAndGrillSoutheastern Conference

    I just want some caribou crossing. It’s only offered in little rock two times a year at one case allocation each time.
     
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  22. RockHardJawn39

    RockHardJawn39 #FranklinOUT
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsSan Francisco GiantsPhiladelphia 76'ersPhiladelphia FlyersLiverpoolWrexham AFC

    I have plenty. Send a label.
     
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  23. leroi

    leroi -
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksGrateful Dead

    I am out of town and picked up Templeton rye 10 yr and Restoration rye. Anyone tried these?
     
  24. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Picked up some Barrell Armida today to try. Has some good flavors in it, bottle is 112.46 proof.
     
  25. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Good flavor: whiskey

    Bad flavors: pears and regret
     
  26. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Bought another uncut the younger, undecided if I’ll drink this one or gift/sell.
     
  27. Leeroy Jenkins!

    Leeroy Jenkins! Radicalized
    Donor

    chug it
     
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  28. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    [​IMG]
     
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  29. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsNew York YankeesNew York KnicksNew York GiantsNew York IslandersNew York City Football ClubTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    So the first pick has arrived. This is the one that we did not commit to in any way, but that I said I would offer to anyone who was interested. I have yet to come up with a label for it, and frankly that depends on amount of interest. If anyone has any ideas let me know. I will put up a google form later to see who is interest, so I can tell him how many to allocate. No payment necessary yet. Price will be pretty steep as my cost would be around $108 with tax, so I will likely charge around $115 to cover other costs. We picked this as part of a big tasting of Barrell and Stellum. It is definitely a solid pour as I drank some last night and it is MGP juice. The reason that we didn't commit to it though is because we knew it would be pricey. Still waiting on the Stellum, but thinking that will be soon. Stay tuned for the spreadsheet to commit interest. (and no, that was not selected by Vintage Grapes. It was selected for Vintage Grapes by us.)

    IMG_4066 (1).jpg
     
  30. Gert B Frobe

    Gert B Frobe Well-Known Member
    TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesAtlanta BravesTampa Bay Buccaneers

    [​IMG]


    Anyone tried this? I can get it for $50, looks like most retail is 70 or so.
     
  31. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    I will be in for any and every TMB pick, including this one. I trust you (lovely) drunkards itt.
     
  32. Keef

    Keef Liked by Pierre Gasly
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAtlanta UnitedMilanUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamFormula 1

    :bzzzz:
     
  33. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    Also, I think all labels should include the monkey. Not creative enough to give good ideas but that would be my vote.
     
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  34. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Barrell of monkeys? Hello?
     
  35. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
    Donor

    bingo.
     
  36. Speirs

    Speirs Of Topmost Class
    Florida Gators

    Not bourbon but I opened a Yamazaki 12 and Nikka FTB. I prefer the Y12. That’s the extent of my Japanese whisky opinion.
     
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  37. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsNew York YankeesNew York KnicksNew York GiantsNew York IslandersNew York City Football ClubTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Lol, I was going to post this last night.
     
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  38. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Speaking of, has anyone tried Barrell Vantage yet?

    Looks like their newest line extension of blended finished distillate from Dickel, MGP, and KY (4R?) Generally a fan of all of their stuff, especially Dovetail and Seagrass. However given my dislike of their last finished blended bourbon-based product, Armida, I’m hesitant.

    Barrell Vantage
    IN-DEPTH REVIEW
    [​IMG]
    Barrell Vantage is a new ongoing release from Barrell Craft Spirits. According to the company, in order to create Vantage the team has “drawn on years of experience with three-part barrel finishing, used previously in Armida, Dovetail, and Seagrass. With Vantage, those same techniques were applied to the oak itself, using different char levels, toast levels, and oak origins to create a multidimensional blend. Each component whiskey in Vantage is finished separately, then systematically combined according to a blending process fueled in equal parts by a scientific approach, experience, creativity, and experimentation.” As noted in the press release, “this process focuses on the wood characteristics and the specific flavor contributions that each cask contributes to the blend.”

    While the product will not have batch designations and is intended to be relatively consistent, the bottles currently in the marketplace all originate from the first batch with the second batch expected to reach market sometime in October. Gray Label and Gold Label versions of Vantage are not confirmed yet, but according to company founder Joe Beatrice potential releases might be expected sometime in 2023.

    Peaches and orange peel combine with fresh dandelion to create a fruity-floral base. Crème brûlée and lightly toasted oak complement, offering dynamic interplay against the more fruit-forward backdrop. While a hint of heat is present, the scents lean into the lighter side of the flavor spectrum, making for an overall aroma that feels soft, light, and enjoyable.

    The aromas from the nose transfer well into the palate, maintaining a fruity-floral base with additional flavors layered in. Peach is most prominent, and it’s accented by a mixture of fig, nutmeg, crème brûlée, tempered oak, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. The whiskey’s buttery mouthfeel delivers the flavors gently and substantially, though it drinks lower than its proof suggests. It’s a dangerously delicious palate that doesn’t offer much initial shock value, instead playing the long game with a marriage of flavors that amplifies on the backend.

    Light nutmeg and a hint of fresh ginger set the finish in motion. Peaches, vanilla cream, and cinnamon graham cracker follow, held in place by an oak backbone. As the flavors fade, warming crème brûlée sweetness takes shape and increases with intensity. A touch of spice lingers. Its medium to long finish makes for a soothing end to a delicious, easy-drinking sip.

    Vantage shares similar roots with Dovetail, Seagrass, and Armida in the sense of blending finished whiskeys together to create a unique, ongoing product. Similar to Armida, but unlike Dovetail and Seagrass, Barrell Craft Spirits set out to build Vantage on a bourbon base. According to Beatrice, Vantage is a very intricate blend that is the result of approximately three years of experimentation, which includes about 2 years of more specific product development. In addition to variations in the finishing wood used, the base bourbons’ ages and mashbills were varied, resulting in a matrix that includes hundreds of variations. This included bourbons originating from different distillers in different states, and different finishing barrels, including barrels with 36 and 48 month air dried staves as well as different toast and char levels. While the approximate weighted age is estimated to be somewhere in the 5-8 year range, age was not a driving factor for the blend. The outcome of the company’s experimentation was a total of six components, or microblends, that were then married at varying percentages to create the final product.

    While on paper the individual components in Vantage aren’t exceptionally unique in and of themselves, the final product strays from familiar, in both the sense of bourbon’s typical range as well as what we have seen so far in the marketplace with respect to toasted oak finished bourbons. Beatrice noted this was the intent, as the company specifically set out to find new toasted finished bourbon territory that hadn’t been explored yet.

    The fruit and floral notes against the more traditional oak-driven flavors makes for a bourbon that isn’t necessarily bold or surprising at first sip, but in a strange sense is both indisputably unique and immediately familiar at the same time - like a person you just met but feel like you’ve been friends with forever. It asks to be poured again and again, finding a sweet spot between uniqueness, intensity, and drinkability.

    Barrell Craft Spirits has established themselves as one of bourbon and American whiskey’s most capable blenders, and Vantage showcases that quality like other releases before it. Coming together very cohesively, Vantage finds new ground in the bourbon flavor category, and given the variation in base components it’s surprising how well they come together. Vantage falls in line with Barrell’s pricing strategy and is priced similarly to Barrell Bourbon batches and other products such as Dovetail, Armida, and Seagrass. Given how well it comes together, the fact that it’s barrel proof, and most importantly that it combines a unique and meticulously curated blend of finished bourbons resulting from years of development, its price is better than fair.

    Barrell Vantage offers a new spin on toasted bourbon finishing with a flavor profile that finds new and exciting territory.

    Sourcing and blending whiskey has become increasingly common in the industry, and is sometimes met with reluctance from bourbon drinkers. While there is nothing inherently wrong with sourcing the base for products, many of the growing number of brands are simply similar to others on the shelf - distilled at the same place, same age, same mashbill, etc. Unlike many of the brands that may find and bottle whiskeys sourced from somewhere else, Barrell Craft Spirits has made a name for themselves by taking different component whiskeys and carefully blending them together to create products that are greater than the sum of their parts, making them American whiskey’s frontrunner when it comes to a practice that is more commonly associated with Scotch.

    Over time Barrell has added a wide range of finishes to their product portfolio, and then pulled those together in more complex blends. Vantage is a result of this, and a result of the longest experimentation process Barrell has undertaken to date. What’s most notable about the product is its drinkability in the sense that it isn’t necessarily a bold sip, instead offering a more nuanced flavor profile that gets you coming back for pour after pour. Its complexity is subtle, but layered and so well integrated that it highlights Barrell Craft Spirits' ability to blend at a level above most others in the American whiskey space.
     
  39. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsNew York YankeesNew York KnicksNew York GiantsNew York IslandersNew York City Football ClubTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Been making a dent in the Barrell pick and it is better than I remembered. I really like it, but I guess for that price I should.
     
  40. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsNew York YankeesNew York KnicksNew York GiantsNew York IslandersNew York City Football ClubTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Anyone want to design a label? If anyone can come up with a good one I will give you a free bottle.
     
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  41. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Happy Rosh Hashanah, you menchs. aisle seven revisiting this drunken making of yours, nice work.

    FA6CE5F2-B7BD-4EF9-942F-AFF20BB890A5.jpeg
     
  42. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
    Donor TMB OG

    same
     
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  43. Tangman

    Tangman Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina State WolfpackCharlotte HornetsWashington Football TeamEvertonBook Club

    I have what I imagine is a very similar bottle (barrel Z5S4) from a local group. Same exact age and close in proof. It's the lower rye MGP mashbill and I can attest that it's very good. Appreciate the offer, I'll be purchasing if offered.
     
    #22594 Tangman, Sep 25, 2022
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2022
    NYGator likes this.
  44. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
    Donor

    You have to pay double
     
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  45. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Lower rye mashbill mgp is great. Hope that they get the barrels back to 10-14 years again.
     
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  46. RockHardJawn39

    RockHardJawn39 #FranklinOUT
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsSan Francisco GiantsPhiladelphia 76'ersPhiladelphia FlyersLiverpoolWrexham AFC

    Baby saz, Ecbp c22, and ec toasted on the shelf in state college. Anyone want something?
     
  47. RockHardJawn39

    RockHardJawn39 #FranklinOUT
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsSan Francisco GiantsPhiladelphia 76'ersPhiladelphia FlyersLiverpoolWrexham AFC

    Leaving the store. Speak now or forever hold your peace
     
  48. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    I'm late but I'd take an EC Toasted in the future.
     
  49. RockHardJawn39

    RockHardJawn39 #FranklinOUT
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsSan Francisco GiantsPhiladelphia 76'ersPhiladelphia FlyersLiverpoolWrexham AFC

    Remind me Thursday when I get back in town
     
    CoastalOrange likes this.