Just got back from Japan on Friday. Brought home a bottle of Suntory Hibiki 12 year, Suntory Royal, and Nikka Super. Had a pour of the 12 year while I was there and it was delicious

4/20/2015 8:03:54 AM

Quote :

"i'm going to myrtle in about a month so i'm gonna try scouring little package stores in BFE on the way down and see what treasures they might have"

let me know what you find out there. i'll be doing the same around the same time.

4/20/2015 9:48:24 AM

i'll go ahead and tell you owen's liquor (just past the outlets if you're coming from north myrtle) had a nice selection but the prices weren't great. for example, a bottle of forged oak was $200 but only $73 in cherry grove. that's where i found the elmer t lee, albeit for $50

4/20/2015 5:53:15 PM

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/04/21/401318542/at-last-kentucky-authorities-bust-ring-behind-great-bourbon-heist

4/22/2015 11:04:22 AM

picked up a bottle of high west's new bourye release last night. never had the original so won't be able to compare the two, but looking forward to trying it out this weekend!

5/1/2015 11:28:17 AM

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/05/04/401001273/bourbon-empire-reveals-the-smoke-and-mirrors-of-american-whiskey

5/5/2015 5:00:56 PM

this thread has had some ridiculous content over the pages (didn't I read a post about using stagg jr for a manhattan?) but just wanted to say thanks to TWW for helping me finally score a bottle of ECBP.

5/13/2015 9:10:32 PM

where'd you find it? release #7 or #8?

5/14/2015 6:17:54 AM

a manhattan sounds like a good use of Stagg Jr, considering that it's strong enough to be watered down considerably and isn't the most pleasant bourbon to begin with.

better yet, just don't buy Stagg Jr.

5/14/2015 12:14:09 PM

i made a manhattan with bourye last night. that shit was tasty. used some cherry bark vanilla bitters and went light on the vermouth (cocchi). i will be making another this weekend

the bourye is pretty solid, but not so spectacular that i'll not mix it if i get the inkling.

5/15/2015 11:02:57 AM

where did you get those bitters? they sound like they'd make a delicious manhattan.

5/15/2015 3:32:03 PM

enjoy your stagg jr any way you like it; as a rule I wouldn't waste a barrel proof whiskey by making a cocktail with it. I like your second point - just don't buy stagg jr (although I've heard the second release was better than the first)

I got ECBP at the Roseboro store. It was a long drive from RTP but I'm glad I did it. He has around 15 bottles left at this point. According to this, http://bourbonr.com/blog/elijah-craig-barrel-proof-release-7/, he's got release #6.

[Edited on May 15, 2015 at 3:43 PM. Reason : release #]

5/15/2015 3:41:50 PM

You guys do bring up a good point. I would like to hear what everyone prefers in a Manhattan. I'm really only interested in hearing about things that are NC abc store regulars.

I always ask for Bulleit Rye if I can, but am interested in hearing what you guys like.

5/15/2015 4:26:10 PM

I definitely prefer a rye whiskey in a manhattan. not sure what is available in NC nowadays, but Rittenhouse, high West, and Bulleit are my usuals.

my #1 rule for making a good manhattan is to use fresh vermouth. you wouldn't store a bottle of wine in your fridge for weeks after opening and expect it to be drinkable; Vermouth and Lillet aren't any different. If your vermouth isn't palatable straight, then don't expect it to magically make a tasty cocktail. I tend to buy small bottles of vermouth for this reason, even though they cost a little more by volume. Noilly Prat and Cinzano are what I typically buy; one of these days I'll splurge on a bottle of Carpano Antica.

Luxardo cherries are my preference for the garnish, but the tend to disappear from the fridge faster than my drinks are made.

I would like some recommendations on different kinds of bitters.

5/15/2015 4:48:47 PM

I've been trying different ryes, but I'll probably come back to Rittenhouse. Haven't found one that makes a better Manhattan yet (though I've only tried a few). I had a really good one at a restuarant made with one of the High West variants, but I've not ponied up for my own bottle yet as it's a little pricey.

Carpano Antica is totally worthwhile, btw. I couldn't find it in a small bottle, but it's been proving reasonably shelf stable. It won't last forever in the fridge but it lasts way longer than normal wine would.

I too would like some interesting bitters advice. I've currently got Angostura, and the Cherry and Lemon varieties from Fee Brothers. I don't love the lemon in a manhattan but the cherry is solid.

5/15/2015 11:21:06 PM

So I stopped at the package store in bennettsville and you'd think I'd unearthed a lost tomb because the dust was so thick you could barely read some of the labels. Unfortunately, that's probably because the selection was shitty. Place in Conway was even worse

5/16/2015 4:55:53 PM

I've been making my Manhattan with rittenhouse rye, or occasionally with a 50:50 ritttenhouse:bourbon blend. Ritttenhouse had been hard to find but lately its at most durham county abc stores.

On that note I just found my first maker mark cask strength on the shelf in NC. PM me if you want to pick up a bottle. They had both the 375s and 750 ml, both from 2015 releases.

[Edited on May 16, 2015 at 6:06 PM. Reason : Typo]

5/16/2015 6:05:45 PM

occasionally I like to make a variation of a manhattan with lillet rouge. Lillet comes off a little sweeter than vermouth, so you can get by with a stronger proof bourbon. I sometimes garnish this drink with a slice of candied ginger and a lemon or lime twist instead of a cherry to balance out the sweetness.

5/16/2015 10:57:21 PM

Spooner, what did you pay for the bourye if you don't mind my asking? I saw it for $45 in myrtle and was debating grabbing either that or Noah's mill

5/17/2015 5:19:56 PM

I snagged some Stranahans, Breckenridge, and Caribbean rum cask Angel's Envy down in SC last week

5/17/2015 11:28:47 PM

^^ lawd, i paid $70 for mine! that's a great price.

and eleusis, here's a link to the cherry bark vanilla bitters: http://bittercube.com/products/
i think you can order them from amazon for a little cheaper. i bought a 5oz bottle at a local liquor store for less the $20 they have on their website.

another type of bitters that make a good manhattan are the black walnut bitters, i think they're from fee brothers?

5/18/2015 9:02:21 AM

Potted a mint plant over the weekend and I'm looking forward to some Juleps in a couple months when the weather turns scorching. Anyone out there who has a preference/suggestion about a good bourbon to use as the Julep base?

5/18/2015 9:11:44 AM

Picked up a bottle of Noah's mill and old Weller antique in south myrtle today. Never seen Noah's anywhere else and the Weller was only 23 bucks. Trying the NM right now and it is damn delicious, and really opened up with a bit of water.

5/18/2015 7:41:57 PM

Noah's Mill is pretty good. They make a cheaper variation called Rowan Creek that is excellent for the price point.

5/18/2015 8:59:55 PM

Yeah I saw that too for $36. I read a quick review on modern thirst and it basically said it was Noah's not as complex cousin, so I splurged on NM for $50

5/18/2015 10:15:50 PM

last time I bought it, the price was closer to $25. I don't think I'd jump at $36 for it over a $50 bottle of Noah's Mill.

5/19/2015 3:45:30 PM

I'm out in Denver for work this week and thinking about bringing back some High West offerings. Sounds like a few people on this board have tried their stuff - any suggestions?

I've got a Double Rye bottle already (on the bar back in NC) that I picked up here a few months ago. I like it but I think it's a little flat on the flavor profile.

5/21/2015 3:29:49 PM

big ups for Bourye here in this thread. American Prairie Reserve is one of my all-time favorites.

5/21/2015 4:27:50 PM

anyone had the pleasure of having Green Spot or Yellow Spot Irish Whiskey? have a friend there now and may see about grabbing a bottle if possible.



also last thing... any decent ABC stores around the Wrightsville Beach area?

5/21/2015 5:03:47 PM

Quote :

"another type of bitters that make a good manhattan are the black walnut bitters, i think they're from fee brothers?"

Think you're right. And they are damn good.

Earlier this week I had a very interesting variation on a manhattan that used them, actually. It was the Jefferson Hotel's 120th Anniversary cocktail, and it consisted of Copper Fox rye, Carpano Antico, Cocchi Americano, Broadbent Madiera ('96 vintage) and black walnut bitters. Absolutely freaking delicous, and if I hadn't had to drive, I would have kept ordering them even at $12 each.

5/22/2015 2:07:46 AM

just put in a reserve request for either a bottle of EH Taylor Single Barrel, Sazerac Rye 6 year, or EH Taylor Cured Oak.

Should know after 11 if I got one.

5/27/2015 10:21:09 AM

Did you hear back yet? I have yet to

5/27/2015 11:54:28 AM

not yet

the email came in at 9:30 and i replied at 9:34. Still probably too late

5/27/2015 2:06:21 PM

Yeah I think it was sent at 9:15 but I didn't get it till around 9:40, replied at 9:44. I'm hoping maybe that 11am thing was just the deadline and they'll notify people later today or tomorrow

5/27/2015 2:18:09 PM

yeah, hope so too. fingers crossed.

5/27/2015 2:20:16 PM

did you ever hear back?

5/28/2015 7:54:04 AM

just received this...

Quote :

"Specialty Bourbons Follow-Up We have received an overwhelming amount of emails regarding the "Specialty Bourbons" message sent out yesterday. We are organizing all of the responses now by time stamp. If you have made the list for a reserved bottle you will be contacted by the end of business on Friday. If you do not hear from us, you did not make the list. Thank you for your patience while we sort through all of the responses!"

5/28/2015 9:16:05 AM

Yep got the same thing. Still alive!

5/28/2015 9:25:14 AM

i'd be curious to know how many requests they received.

which bottle did you pick as #1?

5/28/2015 9:54:03 AM

The cured oak. I'm not a big rye fan and I've got the others

5/28/2015 10:24:34 AM

I'm hooked on Woodford Reserve Double Oaked right now. That shit is tasty.

6/7/2015 10:16:37 PM

Found some bottles of batch 8 ECBP

6/7/2015 10:55:47 PM

I've been lurking on this thread lately because I've been getting more into bourbon over the past six months. I also recently found some ecbp batch #8. I happened to stop in Randleman and they had two bottles on the shelf. The guy at the counter said someone had requested they bring some in. I seemed to remember some in this thread having trouble finding it so I got a bottle. Its good stuff.

6/20/2015 9:38:12 PM

tried Colonel Taylor Cured Oak at a restaurant Wednesday night. it was great! i paid $30 for a pour that was about 3oz (not to be exact, but was definitely larger than many 2oz pours I've gotten at bars/restaurants in the past - took me over an hour of sipping to finish it off). for me to try it, it was worth that price, but i'm not gonna ever pay that again or miss it, just wanted to try it once. $30 for 3oz equates to about a $330 bottle, and i've seen it going for much more than that on the secondary market. it's getting to be like beanie babies!

6/26/2015 10:24:26 AM

I don't think this has been brought up in this thread but Elijah Craig is slowly losing it's 12 year old age statement. I was in the ABC store yesterday and noticed the entire stock of the standard .75 bottles had all new labeling and the only mention of 12 years aged was in small print on the back label. A quick internet search shows this started back in April, but it's the first i've noticed it. Speculation is that they've got the small print on the back and will slowly remove that once people are used to the new label before going completely no age.

kind of sad. there goes any sort of budget aged small batch bourbon under $40.

7/3/2015 10:07:56 AM

Quote :

"kind of sad. there goes any sort of budget aged small batch bourbon under $40. "

What about McKenna?

7/3/2015 11:01:29 AM

Ok, I wasn't trying to insinuate it was the very last one. Just that options are more limited

7/3/2015 1:40:13 PM

If you say so

7/3/2015 1:44:42 PM

Sippin on some old weller antique from buffalo trace tonight. Its from the same wheat mash bill as the pappys. I like it a lot. Its bottled at 107 proof but its still pretty easy to drink neat.

7/3/2015 10:00:30 PM

^good to know, only seen the special reserve and 12 year... still trying to get a bottle of 12 year.

Oh hey, this is awesome, so glad it's local to Denver, if you're ever in the area pick up some Laws.

https://drinkdistiller.com/#!/spirits/a-d-laws-secale-straight-rye-whiskey



[Edited on July 9, 2015 at 10:05 PM. Reason : ,]

7/9/2015 10:04:52 PM