Found a good bourbon on sale

Hollow Point is a big fan of this and has basically taught me quite a bit of what I know. I tried a bottle and didn't find it exciting enough, although it was quite nice. I'm willing to try another in the future, and for the price you paid, it's a steal. Was there any tax or was that your "walk-out" price?

It still sounds like your walk out price was as good as one can get. Personally, I have a big problem with Woodford Reserve, and believe me, I've TRIED to like it, but I just don't. To each his own, there's no right answer when it comes to your taste buds.

Oh, and it usually takes me until somewhere between my third and fifth tasting to decide, and watch out for bottle to bottle inconsistencies. Some bourbons taste the same bottle after bottle, year after year, like Knob Creek, but sometimes I'll get a bottle of Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve 10 year old 101 proof and go, WHAT HAPPENED to the bourbon I fell in love with two bottles ago, and then the next one will be great, etc. :dunno:

Yes, but they can occur with any type of bottling, since we're talking about agricultural products, crop variances, soil conditions, farms, climate, warehousing of the bourbon, etc. Many bourbons do show remarkable consistency, but any such product can also yield a bad or even exceptional bottle. Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve comes to mind as a bourbon I love but which has showed inconsistencies, while Knob Creek always tastes the same to me.

As far as single barrel bourbons, that can vary greatly with recipe, some of the abovementioned factors and the vintage. Sometimes the distillery is actually going for a different flavor from vintage to vintage, like they do at Evan Williams.

Chickenfried - If you are in the SF area and into bourbon or whisk(e)y in general then we should look each other up.

In particularly if you are into Elmer T. Lee Bourbon - I just helped a friend who has a market in SF select a barrel of ETL that was purchased and bottled. He is selling it for $19.95 / bottle but it is a special selection in that we tasted and picked the exact barrel to be bottled exclusively.

Here is a picture of the actual bottles - not very good with a camera as if the barrel above and glare I captured to perfection didn't already tell you this :roll:

You'll note the extra gold label towards the bottom of the front of the bottle - this identifies the exact barrel and states the special selection yaddy yahh. Truly a unique item I highly recommend for the price!

Anyone else in the area can check this guy's shop out too. A true diamond in the roughest of ruffs. If you do decide to drop by - shoot me a warning and I'll make sure the owner keeps an eye out for you - just to assure you aren't lumped in with the rest of the Civic Center debris. :wink:


Civic Center Market (at the corner of 9th and Market) in SF
415-863-8686
owner = Ed

PS he also got the biggest allocation of Buffalo Trace Antique / Sazerac Classic Collection in California. But that stuff is going fairly quickly...

EDIT: I'll also post my thoughts in a bit on the single barrel and taste differences but first I must take in catching Bloofington admitting that there is any inconsistency ever associated with bourbon other than single barrels!!! I already copied the text- so edit all you wish!
8)

:mrgreen:

Actually, it was a while back that I mentioned to you the inconsistencies with Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve. I've noticed some inconsistencies with Booker's a couple years ago too. I remember discussing this with you but I forget where.

Bloof - You forget where??? Have you been drinking - Again? :lol:

CF -

If the bottle you bought has an extra gold label at the bottom (not the standard Elmer T Lee) in gold writing - that would indicate that theirs was a special barrel purchase too (I'd assume) and for BevMo...

The barrel selection was a blast. We tasted about 15 samples -Elmer T Lee, Van Winkle 12, and Van Winkle 15. You select what suits your taste and a couple of months later they have it bottled exclusively for you and send you the empty barrel too if you wish.

On the way is also a Pappy Van Winkle 15 year old we selected, barrel and all.

Actually, on second thought it was a little over a year ago, and since I left "that other web site" on November 12, 2003 shortly before 0800 hours Eastern Time, it could have there or on e-mail.