showtime - Where did you find the Old Rip Van Winkle?

Picked up a bottle of 1835...severely disappointed.

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I've never heard of 1835?

1835 is some swill that not even the homeless people in Kentucky would drink, so they shipped it to Texas in open rusty buckets, and bottled it in Lewisville and stuck the word "Texas" on the label.

An alternate description can be found here, but I think mine is more accurate.
http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?18366-quot-Texas-Made-quot-Bourbon-1835

From this point on I will actively avoid purchasing any alcohol with the word "Texas" anywhere on the label, until I have had a chance to examine their actual brewing/fermenting/distilling facilities.

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what he said. i bought it on a whim after the guy from the liquor store was raving about it to me...last time i listen to a store employee

I picked up a bottle of 1835 for $15 on sale at Spec's. For $15, it was fine. I wouldn't pay any more for it.

It was young, on the sweet side, would be fine for mixing or whatnot. Definitely not something I would purchase again and it sorely did not live up to the Spec's recommendation for it.

The drunkards at the tailgate had no problem finishing it off, so at least I didn't have to bring it home.

Have y'all ever steeped your bourbon with fruit and spices? I just heard of this over the weekend and it sounded interesting.

Basically put the fruit and spices like cinnamon in a mason jar and cover w bourbon. Let it sit for a couple of days and enjoy.

Any recs for a decent middle shelf? Money's tight this week.

Buffalo Trace is my go-to.

You can't go wrong with Buffalo Trace. It was my go-to bourbon, until the wife started drinking it and I couldn't depend on there being any left when I wanted a glass.

The wife doesnt like wheated bourbons so I have moved to W.L. Weller 12 as my standard. The Antique has a little extra kick at 107 proof, and the Special Reserve isn't bad if you are trying to save a couple bucks.

Eagle Rare 10 y.o. Is a great middle shelf choice. It's about $24 at Specs. To me it is way undervalued. I will also say that I am a big fan of most things that come out of the Buffalo Trace distillery.

Isn't it time for Pappy to be delivered?

Had a bottle of BT a couple weeks ago, but i might have to pick it up again. It was probably the reason i was disappointed by the 1835.

I might dabble into Weller or Eagle Rare. Ive been pleased with Buffalo Trace products thus far.

[This message has been edited by txagfisher (edited 10/30/2012 12:10a).]

I'm a huge fan of Eagle Rare; Buffalo Trace is very good too. I always have a bottle of Weller around for a cheap wheat.

Anyone tried Old Grandad BIB? I had a buddy rec it to me.

Never tried it. This guy didn't hate it and gave it a pretty decent review at Sour Mash Manifesto.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zW_hoQPwXg

Rowan's Creek or Basil Hayden are my favorite mid-shelf bourbons.

Rowan's Creek is one of my favorites, and an excellent pour for the price.

On a side note, I completed my Antique Collection and managed to find a PVW 15.



[This message has been edited by Quantum ace (edited 11/1/2012 8:24p).]

RESPECT.

No kidding. That's a lot of cash right there. Too many freeloaders in my house to go do that.

yep, and they'd likely all take shots with it, too.

is all of that from the 2012 release?

blanton's?
for $50 it's awesome.

also makers 46 is good.

Tried Eagle Rare for the first time last night. Heavenly!

Just picked this up.

WHERE.

Giant Eagle liquor department in Morgantown, WV. Don't bother calling, I bought the only two bottles they got.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm never going to get my hands on a bottle unless it's through a secondary purchase.

My girlfriend talked to the bartender at Poison Girl in Houston and he says they only get about a bottle per year. Same thing with the bartender at Anvil and they have to snipe it from Costco.

SMH.

Costco liquors got theirs last week and sold out in about 2 hours. Specs downtown got their shipment this morning, but you need to be on the list. Not going to the shelves.

Quantum ace,

I see you are in Houston, did you find all of those in the antique collection at the midtown specs? Are these as hard to come by as the PVW?

Specs at Wirt and I-10 had all of them except the Sazerac 18. I think they had a William Larue Weller and Thomas H Handy last week, but odds are they are gone by now. I can try to stop by at lunch tomorrow to check.

Depending how desperate you are, I may have have a line on a couple more bottles.

I was lucky enough to find this today at Spec's on Airport in Austin.

It is Willett single barrel rare release, aged six years. 119.6 proof.

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Curious to hear your thoughts on the Willett bourbon.

I love Willett. The Spec's in CS has several different types.

Was not a fan of rye though.