Bourbon & Rye | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Bourbon & Rye

I have recently started drinking bourbon. One of the reasons is that Buffalo Trace is hard to get in Central Florida so of course I had to have it. I had to travel to CT for a funeral so I looked for it in my travels. I couldn't get it at BWI airport so had to settle for Bulleit. It was okay. When I got to Hartford I found it pretty easy to get and at a decent price. $8 at The Republic in Bloomfield and $9 at The First and Last in Hartford. Much better than the $15 in BWI but of course that is an airport. I have also tried Woodford which was good so I bought a small bottle of Woodford Reserve.

Buffalo Trace was good but I have no idea why it is hard to get in Florida. Anyone else have trouble finding it? I was also told that Rittenhouse Rye is good. Any thoughts on that?
 
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HCCForever said:
I have recently starting drinking bourbon. One of the reasons is that Buffalo Trace is hard to get in Central Florida so of course I had to have it. I had to travel to CT for a funeral so I looked for it in my travels. I couldn't get it at BWI airport so had to settle for Bulleit. It was okay. When I got to Hartford I found it pretty easy to get and at a decent price. $8 at The Republic in Bloomfield and $9 at The First and Last in Hartford. Much better than the $15 in BWI but of course that is an airport. I have also tried Woodford which was good so I bought a small bottle of Woodford Reserve.

Buffalo Trace was good but I have no idea why it is hard to get in Florida. Anyone else have trouble finding it. I was also told that Rittenhouse Rye is good. Any thoughts on that?
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BT is one of the dumbest " allocated " bottles around. Its a good bourbon for the MSRP, $26.99 or so. The Eagle Rare I feel is better, YMMV. Its the same mash bill, but aged an additional 2-4 years. Also a good bottle but allocated sadly. Rittenhouse makes a fantastic cocktail ( old fashioned ) but I found it pretty rough neat.
 
Deepelm said:
BT is one of the dumbest " allocated " bottles around. Its a good bourbon for the MSRP, $26.99 or so. The Eagle Rare I feel is better, YMMV. Its the same mash bill, but aged an additional 2-4 years. Also a good bottle but allocated sadly. Rittenhouse makes a fantastic cocktail ( old fashioned ) but I found it pretty rough neat.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I started working at a liquor store on the weekends since my wife was out of town for a month to help her sister. My intention was to quit but I enjoy talking to the customers and getting their thoughts on cocktails. Some people treat me like a bartender telling me their tales of woe.

One thing I cannot understand is the attraction of White Claw. I bought a WC Surge yesterday and thought it was okay but at 220 calories it has more calories than a beer. I prefer the beer.
 
HCCForever said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I started working at a liquor store on the weekends since my wife was out of town for a month to help her sister. My intention was to quit but I enjoy talking to the customers and getting their thoughts on cocktails. Some people treat me like a bartender telling me their tales of woe.

One thing I cannot understand is the attraction of White Claw. I bought a WC Surge yesterday and thought it was okay but at 220 calories it has more calories than a beer. I prefer the beer.
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Never had any of the ready to drink stuff like White Claw. I work PT at a store on Saturdays myself. Its a fun little gig once a week that pays for my bottles. Plus the 20% discount is sweet. Talk to your customers about what is good and not. They will be one of your best resources.
 
HCCForever said:
I have recently started drinking bourbon. One of the reasons is that Buffalo Trace is hard to get in Central Florida so of course I had to have it. I had to travel to CT for a funeral so I looked for it in my travels. I couldn't get it at BWI airport so had to settle for Bulleit. It was okay. When I got to Hartford I found it pretty easy to get and at a decent price. $8 at The Republic in Bloomfield and $9 at The First and Last in Hartford. Much better than the $15 in BWI but of course that is an airport. I have also tried Woodford which was good so I bought a small bottle of Woodford Reserve.

Buffalo Trace was good but I have no idea why it is hard to get in Florida. Anyone else have trouble finding it? I was also told that Rittenhouse Rye is good. Any thoughts on that?
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The reason is that people are morons. Buffalo Trace (the distillery) makes the most sought after bourbons in the world. Namely the Pappy and VanWinkle bourbons and the "Buffalo Trace Antique Collection" (BTAC), which comes out every year. Somehow, because they make those legitimately great bottles, people decided to buy up ordinary bottles they make. It started with Colonel E.H. Taylor barrel proof, then Stagg Jr. and CEHT single barrel, then Elmer T Lee and Blantons, then Colonel E.H. Taylor Bottled in Bond, then Eagle Rare, and now the absolute worst and cheapest bourbon they make (which is still good) Buffalo Trace. There is no reason other than that people are stupid. The distillery actually prices all of them fairly, and stores mark them up because idiots will buy them.

Eagle Rare and CEHT BiB were both good values before at $30 and $40. Blanton's was a so-so value at $50. Just buy something from Wild Turkey, Knob Creek or dozens of others on the shelf. Happened to Henry McKenna from Heaven Hill too, it was a great value at $30, now at $50+ it's not. It won an award, and the taters came in and bought it up. Same stuff that sat on shelves before that.
 
My godson's wedding is 4th of July weekend, and in addition to giving $, I wanted to put together a sampling of some Western PA wine and spirits for him and bride. He's a bourbon fan and I found this intriguing. Bought a bottle for him and one for me. I just opened mine. Still not a bourbon fan, but I'm excited to try this in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned to see how the smoke comes through (it's Highlands peat, not Islay). It's a bit rough for me straight - an uncomfortable burn - but while young, it's got complexity and character.

Screenshot 2022-06-18 16.49.24.png
 
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storrsroars said:
My godson's wedding is 4th of July weekend, and in addition to giving $, I wanted to put together a sampling of some Western PA wine and spirits for him and bride. He's a bourbon fan and I found this intriguing. Bought a bottle for him and one for me. I just opened mine. Still not a bourbon fan, but I'm excited to try this in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned to see how the smoke comes through (it's Highlands peat, not Islay). It's a bit rough for me straight - an uncomfortable burn - but while young, it's got complexity and character.

View attachment 77010
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I’d give that a try. The main purveyor of that style is High West Campfire.
 
HuskyHawk said:
I’d give that a try. The main purveyor of that style is High West Campfire.
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Was just looking at their site - seems that's an actual blend of bourbon, rye and scotch. This is more like Kings County, where it's just bourbon, but with peated barley. While I've never had Kings County, the reviews on that seem to indicate a better, more complex whiskey than this one is. I'm going to look for that when I pass thru NY in a couple weeks.
 
Has anyone tried the Metallica bourbon Blackened? Had it recently and thought it was good for 90 proof (I rarely drink anything under 100 proof because it tastes too watered down).

Blue Note was another one I had recently and liked.
 
HuskyHawk said:
That should be nice.
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Its an absolute banger. Wish I had a back up for later. I kept a bit in the glass for Wifey as I always do. She pulls of the cover on it and says " This is cinnamon frosting " , and that was just on the nose. Really good stuff.
 
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Deepelm said:
Its an absolute banger. Wish I had a back up for later. I kept a bit in the glass for Wifey as I always do. She pulls of the cover on it and says " This is cinnamon frosting " , and that was just on the nose. Really good stuff.
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And that’s just five and a half years. Rye age so much faster.
 
Absolute banger. I have yet to try a bottle from this blender that I dont like. Not a huge fan of their Seagrass like the rest of folks seem to be but its still good stuff. And today, I found out that they also do Rum. That may be a problem lol.

1659467610865.png
 
Deepelm said:
Absolute banger. I have yet to try a bottle from this blender that I dont like. Not a huge fan of their Seagrass like the rest of folks seem to be but its still good stuff. And today, I found out that they also do Rum. That may be a problem lol.

View attachment 77946
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Their rums have been pretty epic. Heavy, lots of Jamaican funk. I like Seagrass. Some of their bourbons have been too "Dickel" heavy for me. That's their biggest source and Dickel often has a distinct "Flintone's chewable vitamins" note I don't like. Some have been very good, but I like to try them first.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Their rums have been pretty epic. Heavy, lots of Jamaican funk. I like Seagrass. Some of their bourbons have been too "Dickel" heavy for me. That's their biggest source and Dickel often has a distinct "Flintone's chewable vitamins" note I don't like. Some have been very good, but I like to try them first.
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Found one today on a site I trust for $85, private barrel release. I am close to pulling the trigger.

I have only had our store pick ( blend of 5, 7, 10 and 17 year bourbons, AMAZING ) , Dovetail and Seagrass. Love the Dovetail and actually saw where they just dropped a grey label of that one the other day. I know that will be crazy expensive but likely an amazing bottle. I wish I could try any of these but our laws and the state where I work weekends do not allow tastings unless its an official mfg rep doing so.
 
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Deepelm said:
Really good batch. I swear I got buttered caramel popcorn on the nose at one point

View attachment 78344
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Which is a flavor I like in my popcorn, but do not like in my booze. in my experience, many bourbons have that note, which is why I drink scotch
 
storrsroars said:
Which is a flavor I like in my popcorn, but do not like in my booze. in my experience, many bourbons have that note, which is why I drink scotch
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There was not a single trace in the glass. It was on one passing nosing and I did not get it a second time. Like you, not something I want in my spirit.

This stuff is next level compared to most bourbons. If you can try it at a bar, give it a go. I always suggest some water be added as its high proof and super concentrated. First water I added the nose changed to what I can only describe as what hits you when you open a fresh jar of cinnamon powder. Once I hit the " spot " with water, it was all creamy caramel, toffee, honey, cherry, just lots going on.

I say all this as someone who is also a single malt drinker first, rye and then everything else. Booker's is pretty singular usually.
 
Deepelm said:
There was not a single trace in the glass. It was on one passing nosing and I did not get it a second time. Like you, not something I want in my spirit.

This stuff is next level compared to most bourbons. If you can try it at a bar, give it a go. I always suggest some water be added as its high proof and super concentrated. First water I added the nose changed to what I can only describe as what hits you when you open a fresh jar of cinnamon powder. Once I hit the " spot " with water, it was all creamy caramel, toffee, honey, cherry, just lots going on.

I say all this as someone who is also a single malt drinker first, rye and then everything else. Booker's is pretty singular usually.
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Bookers, and many Beam products, often have that peanut brittle note I love. Just like Jack Daniels has banana and Dickel has that Flintsones vitamin thing. I believe it’s yeast derived. Four Roses does a great job of showing the variation from yeast and it’s pretty amazing. Heaven Hill seems pretty neutral, just very woody.
 
Just saw this thread! Here are some of my favorites / least favorites. I find that I really enjoy the complexities (and strength) of many of the bourbons in the $70 - $100 range. But I also like to have a cheaper mid-week go-to.
  • Every day (well... hopefully not EVERY day). I've been going with the Four Roses Small Batch ($35). But I find there are plenty of good ones from all the major distillers and blenders.
  • Dislike:
    • I don't love the Hudson bourbon / ryes. Same with Widow Jane. Not bad, but I don't think they are worth the price or hype. But they make good gifts and aren't bad to have around for an Old Fashioned.
    • Most disappointing was a Whistlepig 10 year Rye. I think I like rye, but maybe I don't like real rye? Tasted like cut grass... that was soaked by the rain... and left to sit in a barrel.
    • Whatever Booker's I got. I think it was Granny's batch. Too much heat without flavor.
  • Like:
    • I enjoy Angel's Envy Finished Rye. It's pricey (to me), but I find it worth it (and the bottle is cool). My local store didn't have it for a while. I bought a MUCH cheaper Redemption Rum Cask Finish and I think it's pretty good.
    • I'm in agreement with @Deepelm. I like everything I've gotten from Barrel. Seagrass, Dovetail, and I recently bought a second bottle of the Armida. The Armida seems a bit polarizing. I'd say it's not really a bourbon anymore. Kind of like a brandy, or even a super high octane madeira.
 
Chuck said:
Just saw this thread! Here are some of my favorites / least favorites. I find that I really enjoy the complexities (and strength) of many of the bourbons in the $70 - $100 range. But I also like to have a cheaper mid-week go-to.
  • Every day (well... hopefully not EVERY day). I've been going with the Four Roses Small Batch ($35). But I find there are plenty of good ones from all the major distillers and blenders.
  • Dislike:
    • I don't love the Hudson bourbon / ryes. Same with Widow Jane. Not bad, but I don't think they are worth the price or hype. But they make good gifts and aren't bad to have around for an Old Fashioned.
    • Most disappointing was a Whistlepig 10 year Rye. I think I like rye, but maybe I don't like real rye? Tasted like cut grass... that was soaked by the rain... and left to sit in a barrel.
    • Whatever Booker's I got. I think it was Granny's batch. Too much heat without flavor.
  • Like:
    • I enjoy Angel's Envy Finished Rye. It's pricey (to me), but I find it worth it (and the bottle is cool). My local store didn't have it for a while. I bought a MUCH cheaper Redemption Rum Cask Finish and I think it's pretty good.
    • I'm in agreement with @Deepelm. I like everything I've gotten from Barrel. Seagrass, Dovetail, and I recently bought a second bottle of the Armida. The Armida seems a bit polarizing. I'd say it's not really a bourbon anymore. Kind of like a brandy, or even a super high octane madeira.
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Have become a big fan of Four Roses Small Batch and for a few bucks more the Single Barrel. For the under $50 price range I think Single Barrel is a great drink for a great price.

Had some Whistle Pig 10 year rye single barrel cask strength??? last weekend at a friend's house. It was a special edition or something. Had another label near the top. Maybe about 110 proof. Definitely didn't have any qualms sipping that. I'll see him tomorrow and get specifics.
 
Chin Diesel said:
Have become a big fan of Four Roses Small Batch and for a few bucks more the Single Barrel. For the under $50 price range I think Single Barrel is a great drink for a great price.

Had some Whistle Pig 10 year rye single barrel cask strength??? last weekend at a friend's house. It was a special edition or something. Had another label near the top. Maybe about 110 proof. Definitely didn't have any qualms sipping that. I'll see him tomorrow and get specifics.
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I misquoted my memory.
12 year rye. 86 proof. One of their made to spec blends of the three different barrel profiles. In this case the Navy military liquor stores.
 

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Chuck said:
Just saw this thread! Here are some of my favorites / least favorites. I find that I really enjoy the complexities (and strength) of many of the bourbons in the $70 - $100 range. But I also like to have a cheaper mid-week go-to.
  • Every day (well... hopefully not EVERY day). I've been going with the Four Roses Small Batch ($35). But I find there are plenty of good ones from all the major distillers and blenders.
  • Dislike:
    • I don't love the Hudson bourbon / ryes. Same with Widow Jane. Not bad, but I don't think they are worth the price or hype. But they make good gifts and aren't bad to have around for an Old Fashioned.
    • Most disappointing was a Whistlepig 10 year Rye. I think I like rye, but maybe I don't like real rye? Tasted like cut grass... that was soaked by the rain... and left to sit in a barrel.
    • Whatever Booker's I got. I think it was Granny's batch. Too much heat without flavor.
  • Like:
    • I enjoy Angel's Envy Finished Rye. It's pricey (to me), but I find it worth it (and the bottle is cool). My local store didn't have it for a while. I bought a MUCH cheaper Redemption Rum Cask Finish and I think it's pretty good.
    • I'm in agreement with @Deepelm. I like everything I've gotten from Barrel. Seagrass, Dovetail, and I recently bought a second bottle of the Armida. The Armida seems a bit polarizing. I'd say it's not really a bourbon anymore. Kind of like a brandy, or even a super high octane madeira.
Expand ...
Chin Diesel said:
Have become a big fan of Four Roses Small Batch and for a few bucks more the Single Barrel. For the under $50 price range I think Single Barrel is a great drink for a great price.

Had some Whistle Pig 10 year rye single barrel cask strength??? last weekend at a friend's house. It was a special edition or something. Had another label near the top. Maybe about 110 proof. Definitely didn't have any qualms sipping that. I'll see him tomorrow and get specifics.
Expand ...
There can be a vast difference between the regular Whistle Pig 10, and store pick single barrels of the same. Also, while all of it used to be Alberta Rye, sometimes it is now MGP (Midwestern Grain Products out of Indiana). Lotf os people love the MPG Rye, but I don't. Too much dill. I do love MGP bourbon. Alberta has a different profile, a good one will have a lot of caramel and also spice cake notes.

The other Whistle Pig stuff, their own stuff from Vermont, that has not been very good so far. Somewhat surprisingly the Piggyback Rye aged on David Ortiz baseball bats (seriously) is pretty good.
 
Chuck said:
Just saw this thread! Here are some of my favorites / least favorites. I find that I really enjoy the complexities (and strength) of many of the bourbons in the $70 - $100 range. But I also like to have a cheaper mid-week go-to.
  • Every day (well... hopefully not EVERY day). I've been going with the Four Roses Small Batch ($35). But I find there are plenty of good ones from all the major distillers and blenders.
  • Dislike:
    • I don't love the Hudson bourbon / ryes. Same with Widow Jane. Not bad, but I don't think they are worth the price or hype. But they make good gifts and aren't bad to have around for an Old Fashioned.
    • Most disappointing was a Whistlepig 10 year Rye. I think I like rye, but maybe I don't like real rye? Tasted like cut grass... that was soaked by the rain... and left to sit in a barrel.
    • Whatever Booker's I got. I think it was Granny's batch. Too much heat without flavor.
  • Like:
    • I enjoy Angel's Envy Finished Rye. It's pricey (to me), but I find it worth it (and the bottle is cool). My local store didn't have it for a while. I bought a MUCH cheaper Redemption Rum Cask Finish and I think it's pretty good.
    • I'm in agreement with @Deepelm. I like everything I've gotten from Barrel. Seagrass, Dovetail, and I recently bought a second bottle of the Armida. The Armida seems a bit polarizing. I'd say it's not really a bourbon anymore. Kind of like a brandy, or even a super high octane madeira.
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I really, really want to like Hudson’s because they’re local…but you’re right. It’s just unremarkable in every way and it’s twice the price it should be. I used to like taking company there, but with all of the other distilleries popping up, there are better options for that, too.

And totally agree on Barrel….I love everything I have from them.

One new distillery that has my attention…Vale Fox in LaGrange, NY.

They have a single malt coming out in two months. While they’re waiting, they’ve released a terrific classic gin for cocktails (widely carried by bars (Wood n Tap) and liquor stores in Connecticut.) and some collaborations with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and his wife….they’ve released a blackberry gin and a rye under the Libations label.

Have not tried either, but will soon.

https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonva...Jeffrey-Morgan-launch--Libations-17208443.php
 
Hey Adrien! said:
Bourbon is the only hard alcohol I thoroughly enjoy. I don't drink it often, but I go through a 750 ml every few months or so and when I do drink it, I have it straight.

I've lately been on a NY bourbon kick. Currently midway through a bottle of Hudson Whiskey NY Bright Lights, Big Bourbon and enjoy it immensely. Very smooth, warming and a light caramel sweetness. At 92 proof, feels almost light. $44/750 ml is a great deal, IMO.

Before that, I also really liked Widow Jane. I got it as a birthday gift from my brother-in-law who grew up near Rosendale, NY, where they source the limestone mineral water for the bourbon. 91 proof, but hits harder than the BLBB. I recall some maple notes too. It was a lovely gift, and a very good bourbon, but at $70/750 ml, I'm sure there are better bourbons out there at that price point.

Hope you're feeling better, @HuskyHawk.
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Replying about a year late, but a friend recommended Hill Rock Solera aged Bourbon to me and I really like it. Expensive (bottle was $80 I think) but unique enough to warrant it imo. Right near the Connecticut/Mass border in NY.
 
Fishy said:
I really, really want to like Hudson’s because they’re local…but you’re right. It’s just unremarkable in every way and it’s twice the price it should be. I used to like taking company there, but with all of the other distilleries popping up, there are better options for that, too.

And totally agree on Barrel….I love everything I have from them.

One new distillery that has my attention…Vale Fox in LaGrange, NY.

They have a single malt coming out in two months. While they’re waiting, they’ve released a terrific classic gin for cocktails (widely carried by bars (Wood n Tap) and liquor stores in Connecticut.) and some collaborations with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and his wife….they’ve released a blackberry gin and a rye under the Libations label.

Have not tried either, but will soon.

https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonva...Jeffrey-Morgan-launch--Libations-17208443.php
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Hudson's reputation is pretty poor among more serious bourbon drinkers (not Beam white label types), along with FEW and Cleveland. Corsair is supposed to be terrible too. Some of the craft distillers make good stuff, improve and age things properly in full sized barrels. Others don't. I'm done with Mad River. Been in business for years and they still won't age things in full sized barrels, leading to that awful wet cardboard flavor you get from small barrels.

Barrel doesn't distill anything. They do blend and then finish what they get. The bourbon is mostly Dickel from Tennessee blended with other stuff. The rye can be blends of all sorts of stuff, Dickel, MGP, Alberta and some from Poland. They do a good job, just wish the price point was lower.
 
HuskyHawk said:
I'm done with Mad River. Been in business for years and they still won't age things in full sized barrels, leading to that awful wet cardboard flavor you get from small barrels.
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Funny, we were in Waitsfield with a group of friends a few summers ago and one morning we hit up the local farmers market, where Mad River had a booth and was pouring samples. My buddies were eager to partake; I had one taste and thought it was jet fuel. They were looking for a gift for a friend of theirs and decided to chip in on whatever their most expensive one was. I was thinking I would have been bummed if I was the recipient.
 
HobokenHusky said:
Replying about a year late, but a friend recommended Hill Rock Solera aged Bourbon to me and I really like it. Expensive (bottle was $80 I think) but unique enough to warrant it imo. Right near the Connecticut/Mass border in NY.
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It’s $100….

It’s off 82 in Ancram. Not crazy convenient for people in Connecticut. Best bet is to come out 44….or make a day of it, come out 84, head up the Taconic to Vale Fox, Hudson House, Taconic, Dutch’s, Hill Rock and then head home down through 44.

HuskyHawk said:
Hudson's reputation is pretty poor among more serious bourbon drinkers (not Beam white label types), along with FEW and Cleveland. Corsair is supposed to be terrible too. Some of the craft distillers make good stuff, improve and age things properly in full sized barrels. Others don't. I'm done with Mad River. Been in business for years and they still won't age things in full sized barrels, leading to that awful wet cardboard flavor you get from small barrels.

Barrel doesn't distill anything. They do blend and then finish what they get. The bourbon is mostly Dickel from Tennessee blended with other stuff. The rye can be blends of all sorts of stuff, Dickel, MGP, Alberta and some from Poland. They do a good job, just wish the price point was lower.
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Distilling your own stuff is overrated.

Far more appreciative of how Barrel does it than how Hillrock does. (Get a current Hillrock and tell me that you will pay $100 for it….)
 
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