thought this was a neat list...
http://recenteats.blogspot.com/p/the-complete-list-of-american-whiskey.html

[Edited on July 10, 2015 at 10:30 AM. Reason : 18]

7/10/2015 10:30:36 AM

Snagged a bottle of Jeffersons Ocean at the Ocean Isle ABC store. Was pretty excited. They also had Rhetoric but I couldn't pull the trigger on it. Its a cool story with the "lost barrels" and all but for $90 was pretty steep.

Selection there was very impressive.

7/10/2015 11:49:45 AM

^How much did that Ocean run you? They have it here in Richmond but I just assumed it would be pricey and didn't ask...

7/14/2015 1:31:17 AM

I saw a bottle in the mid $70s in Charleston.

7/14/2015 9:10:25 AM

After tax it was about $85.

7/14/2015 9:40:05 AM

heading to Louisville tomorrow

7/15/2015 4:52:35 PM

We're heading there over Labor Day. I expect a full report

7/15/2015 10:04:24 PM

had a really good time. This trip was less Bourbon intensive as we were there for a 3 day music festival on the waterfront.

Buffalo Trace distillery is awesome. The whole place has a gothic feel to it. the smells are amazing, the tour guides are insightful and friendly, and the tasting pours were generous. Only Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare for sale at the gift shop.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience was average. $12 for a tour, but the building is first rate. the tasting rooms are themed. Got to see the old saloon styled room and the 60's era bar room. the pours were so small i thought they might evaporate right in front of us -_-

We didn't get a chance to go out on Bardstown Rd. (Virginia Highlands) which was described to us as the "craft beer hipster area" of Louisville. But we hit up several cool spots in Downtown Louisville, 2 of which were showcased on Esquire's Best Bars show this summer. Haymarket whiskey bar was awesome. Super divey with an extensive selection, awesome bartenders, and a real good vibe. We went Thursday evening and kind of had the place to ourselves. Spoke to the owner at length, had some good pours and a great time. Sunday night we went back and it was service industry night. still a good time, just not the time and place to talk bourbon.

Sidebar was the other cocktail bar we went to. really friendly staff, nice modern bar. A little more pricey than Haymarket but the cocktails were strong. Had a table there instead of the bar, but our waiter was pretty knowledgeable and offered some good suggestions.

O'Sheas - typical irish bar, good vibe, friendly staff. just enjoyed a few beers there.
Breweries - BBC and Against the Grain. BBC was below average. Against the Grain had some great food and awesome beers on tap. Had this barrel aged amber called Truffle Shuffle. Tasted like a sea-salt caramel. Amazing, best beer i've had in months by far. Also great food.

If you are downtown avoid Stevie Rays. It's a chain bar disguised as a local music joint. $4 PBR and bartender didn't even know what a Kentucky Mule was.

7/21/2015 2:06:43 PM

picked up some Willett pot still reserve and Noah's Mill in Isle of Palms.

7/24/2015 4:03:06 PM

Anyone tried stranahan's? I keep hearing positive things about it but I usually reserve $50+ for stuff I know will be good

7/27/2015 6:25:47 AM

not a fan. every bottle tastes different, and some of them just plain aren't good. It tastes a lot more like a scotch than a bourbon.

7/27/2015 9:23:05 AM

^^ i've liked the few bottles of it i've had. haven't found them to vary tremendously, but i may have been lucky. i don't find it to taste like either scotch or bourbon necessarily. probably worth trying at a bar/restaurant first though.

7/29/2015 12:22:30 PM

I highly recommend old forester signature 100 proof. Really smooth and surprisingly complex for only being about 23 bucks

7/29/2015 5:24:18 PM

Quote :

"Anyone tried stranahan's? I keep hearing positive things about it but I usually reserve $50+ for stuff I know will be good"

I liked it a lot, quite a bit different than bourbon (not that high % corn), not really like a scotch (not smokey or peat, nor single malt) maybe like a scotch blend. Has some spice to it but mostly caramel, slight vanilla & leather, rich and full bodied.

Picked up some new stuff this week:
A.D. Laws Secale Rye - very nice for 95% rye
Booker's 2015-01 Big Man Small Batch signed by Fred Noe

[Edited on August 1, 2015 at 2:45 PM. Reason : /]

8/1/2015 2:43:52 PM

http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/The-Menu/Dessert-Specialty-Drinks/Whiskeys-and-Ryes

If you could have your pick on the list, which would they be? Headed to tampa on thursday and eating at Berns on Saturday night.

8/24/2015 4:06:57 PM

Honestly the steal of that list is Elijah Craig barrel proof for nine bucks. It's honestly one of the best bourbons I've ever had. Besides that, I've heard good things about the single oak projects as well as any of the four roses and the bookers 25th. Is the black maple hill age stated? If not that's a complete rip off

8/24/2015 5:00:47 PM

^ thanks for the info.

No age on it at least on the online menu

8/24/2015 5:59:58 PM

I plan on having at least 4-5 plus they have a Buffalo flight for the oak projects

Quote :

"Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Flight 1oz each of Cask Strength, $8.00 per .5oz. selection (minimum of 3 selections) (13th Release Barrels 11, 13, 43, 45, 75, 77, 107, 109, 139, 141, 171 & 173) (14th Release Barrels 2, 12, 34, 44, 66, 76, 98, 108, 130, 140, 162 & 172) Per .5oz $8.00"

8/24/2015 6:01:37 PM

My parents live in Versailles, KY so the couple of times I've visited we have done bourbon tours. It's pretty cool. Went to Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, and Four Roses last time I was there. Kind of cool to be in the heart of bourbon country. Very picturesque out there too, nothing but horse farms and distilleries where they live.

8/24/2015 8:23:41 PM

The wife and I are going to Lexington over Labor Day for some distillery tours and just to hang out. Super excited to check out the selection of bourbons and stuff I can only dream about in NC

8/24/2015 8:27:59 PM

Agreed on the Elijah Craig barrel proof for $9 being a good one to try. I have bottles of the Kavalan Ex-Bourbon and the Four Roses 2014 Limited Edition, and they are both phenomenal. The Old Forester Birthday is consistently a great release, although I haven't tried the 2014.

8/24/2015 9:19:44 PM

Four Roses limited edition is always great. That High West Midwinters Night Dram is pretty good too.

The black maple hill is a rip off indeed! Lawd.

8/25/2015 4:25:03 PM

Kentucky owl dropping next week, really hoping to find one when I go up next Friday.

8/27/2015 2:13:38 PM

Quote :

"The wife and I are going to Lexington over Labor Day for some distillery tours and just to hang out. Super excited to check out the selection of bourbons and stuff I can only dream about in NC"

don't expect anything super rare during the tours. You'll have to check out some bars to find that stuff.

8/27/2015 2:29:35 PM

I like my Black Maple Hill. I think I made my multi bottle purchase about 5 years ago, but I have not been disappointed. I got a case of 6 for about $40 a piece.

I haven't bought a bottle in the past 5 years, but I do know that the new bottles aren't that good.

8/27/2015 3:38:44 PM

hell i haven't even seen a bottle in years.

8/27/2015 3:52:28 PM

stopped by the Georgia World of Beverage on exit 61 off 85 and picked up three bottles (all i could fit into my bag before the flight)

Widow Jane
Stranahan's
Rowan's Creek

will stop there next time i'm down for work

8/27/2015 7:39:37 PM

Quote :

"don't expect anything super rare during the tours. You'll have to check out some bars to find that stuff."

I meant more at places like liquor barn, and not even super rare, just stuff you can't buy in NC. I have heard that four roses, heaven hill and Willet have a nice gift selection though

8/27/2015 10:08:58 PM

I really enjoyed Buffalo Trace. Liquor Burn is key.

we had a private plane i think with 30 people everyone had at least 3 bottles per person.

got some bourbon cream. great with root beer

8/27/2015 10:22:29 PM

there are a lot of bourbons marked down at the NC ABC's for September.

9/1/2015 11:00:52 AM

I saw that, seemed like half the bourbons were on sale, including eagle rare and four roses single barrel

9/2/2015 8:08:14 PM

Sweet. Time to go shopping for a decent bottle to take on vacation.

9/3/2015 7:10:09 AM

Whatever branding supports my demo.

9/3/2015 9:49:05 AM

So far in Kentucky scored a bottle of Kentucky owl and IW Harper 15

9/5/2015 5:14:42 PM

wow, you know there is a bourbon shortage when Meck. Co ABC sends out a "specialty and rare" reservation email and it's for Blanton's and Buffalo Trace.

9/11/2015 9:16:25 AM

Lol, I got that. I was excited until I saw the actual product.

9/11/2015 12:58:52 PM

Anyone interested in a michters 10 year rye?

[Edited on September 30, 2015 at 11:29 AM. Reason : N]

9/30/2015 11:28:51 AM

that's something i could be into

9/30/2015 1:23:03 PM

Just picked up two bottles of Weller 12 in a trade

[Edited on October 5, 2015 at 2:53 PM. Reason : ]

10/5/2015 2:53:34 PM

has anyone had medley brothers? was at a party this past weekend with the grandson of one of the founders and had their 102 proof / the wathens label / 12 year - preferred the wathens over the others by a fair amount but all very drinkable

10/5/2015 3:24:36 PM

Pappy Van Winkle is a 7 year wait right now in Wake County. I'm on the list for a bunch of different counties in NC so hopefully one pulls through sooner than that.

10/9/2015 5:22:55 PM

I found a pretty nice bar in Austin while I was there, and tried a few tasty things:

- GTS 2014
- William Larue Weller
- Pappy 20-Year
- Thomas H. Handy Sazerac
- Eagle Rare 17-Year
- Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection: Oats & Corn
- Sazerac 6-Year

The Pappy was awesome, and legitimately different than anything else I've had. I think the WLW was the best (needed some water to open up). I wouldn't pay secondary market prices for any of them though.

There was also a liquor store we went to that was stocked up with High West offerings, all of the Weller stuff, and a bunch of other things I've never seen in NC. I brought home a bottle of Saz 6 & E. H. Taylor Rye.

Apparently TX has a better selection than anywhere I went to in Kentucky last year.

10/9/2015 5:43:54 PM

Anyone seen old forester birthday bourbon or four roses limited edition anywhere? It's on the price list for NC this quarter but I haven't been able to track any down

10/19/2015 8:13:53 PM

nope. nothing. my guess is it'll be a part of Meck ABC's limited edition entry which should happen any day now.

10/20/2015 9:03:49 AM

Nothing rare or special, but my latest "compare bottles in the $25 to $30 range" entrant will be Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage (2006 bottling). So far in that range (what I'd consider to be "good everyday" stuff) still think the faves are Four Roses Small Batch and Eagle Rare 10 but we'll see how this one stacks up.

10/29/2015 2:04:02 AM

^ i've been seeing the '06 model out for a while now, seems like it must be a little younger than previous versions since they typically wouldn't hit the shelves until december/january in prior years. used be a full 10 years old, but maybe this one is slightly less? still a good one though i'm sure!

10/29/2015 1:46:51 PM

Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread, but the CV ABC store moved across the street to a much bigger location. Hopefully they will start bringing in some good bourbon and whiskey. Has anyone been to the new store and found any good or rare bourbons?

10/29/2015 2:35:23 PM

I'm getting antsy waiting for the pappy to arrive. Should be here anytime

10/29/2015 3:30:28 PM

^do you have a hookup this year or are you banking on the local lotteries?

10/29/2015 4:49:25 PM

Nah no hookup, just hoping to get lucky

10/29/2015 5:29:16 PM