I am relatively new to the Whiskey/Scotch/Bourbon scene.

Right bow I am sipping on some W.L. Weller, I have some Buffalo Trace in the cabinet, and I had a glass of Macallan 12 scotch last night when I read the SEC news.

That is about my extent so any more suggestions are welcome.

Woodford, angels envy, basil Hayden & makers

[This message has been edited by Lo2010 (edited 9/26/2011 7:12p).]

[This message has been edited by Lo2010 (edited 9/26/2011 9:51p).]

[This message has been edited by Lo2010 (edited 9/26/2011 9:51p).]

Basil Hayden and plan on picking up a bottle of Garrison Brothers once it is released in November.

I've got a little bit left of my Garrison Brothers. Wonderful stuff. I'm hoping they pick me to help them bottle the new batch. I give them two days of work, they give me a new bottle.

win-win!

A friend of mine did just that recently.

I want to try Garrison Brothers badly. Pretty good huh?

my latest Sauveur magazine put a bottle of Evan Williams single barrel as one of their top whiskeys, I was surprised and intrigued.

at only $25 a bottle I'm excited to try some.

lo2010: I have Woodford, Basil Hayden's and Makers.

But what is Angel's Envy? I've never heard of such an thing...

Louisville Distilling Company's new bourbon. I like it more than basil - it'll prob be my #2 after woodford.

Bookers is so smooth, it's the best.

Love Garrison Brothers!



The November batch is aged 30 months, but will be called two year old. It is the best yet. My dad and I got to bottle this past week. you will not be disappointed.

I am very interested in Garrison Bros. but simultaneously wary after my experience with Balcones. I would be more than happy to help out down there at the distillery in exchange for a bottle. Or I'd just buy one.

Anyone tried both Balcones (primarily baby blue) and Garrison Bros. and have an opinion on how they compare?

How else might one get a hold of a bottle?

showtime,

I've had both Baby Blue and all four releases of Garrison. (1 year old young gun pre-release, fall 2010, spring 2011, and fall 2011). I did not like the Balcones at all. It had not been aged! Even the one year old Garrison was far superior to Balcones. I gave my Balcones away I hated it so much.

Garrison keeps getting better with every release. You will not be disappointed. We bottled the first of 7500 bottles last week. They will arrive at the Austin Spec's and Twin Liquors toward the end of October after they first go to the distributor (Republic). You can also buy them at the Austin Costco in the separate liquor store area. You don't have to be a member to shop there.

Other bottles will be available in Hye, Fredericksburg, Johnson City, and Blanco. I think they will also be in San Antonio. There will not be any sent to Dallas or Houston on the first release, but that might change.

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There will not be any sent to Dallas or Houston on the first release, but that might change.

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I do not like this one bit. Guess I'll have to make a trip down to Austin.

can I sign up to help on the website? or do I need to know someone. would be happy to make the trip down to help, and I have a friend or two in their area who'd be interested as well.

I think they are only taking alternates as of right now, but I would visit the garrison brothers web page and offer up your time. You never know what may happen.

I didn't like Balcones one bit, but Garrison has had my admiration from the first sip I had. I'm really kicking myself for not buying 2 bottles.

what price point are we talking for Garrison Bros?

Unicyclist,

Blanton's is amazing. You beat me to it!

If you want to bottle, you have to be on the list. To be on the list, you have to sign up here: http://blog.garrisonbros.com/

I first heard about it about four years ago from a friend who owns property in Stonewall. He told me this guy was creating a Bourbon distillery next door. I thought that sounded great, so I kept an ear out for news. They released their first batch as a one year old to raise capital in fall of 2009. It was a 375ml bottle for $50. My dad and I went and toured it in March of 2010. We got to know Dan. So when they issued the first call for bottling volunteers, we got to do it. You had to have been on their email list.

Now, people who have bottled before get first dibs on doing it again. They notified us in advance of the rest of the newsletter crowd. Dan and Laurel said that they filled all their spots for this round, consisting of about 100 volunteers at about five to eight people per day.

It sells for $75 per bottle, so he's charging a premium. It is definitely worth it for all the effort put into it. Volunteers get breakfast, lunch, and periodic quality control samplings. You spend the day being politically incorrect, listening to outlaw country, and generally having a good time. At the end of two days, you get a signed bottle, a t-shirt or hat, and a key chain.

Tours are available like you would tour a winery. They are pitching the distillery as a location for bachelor parties, rehearsal dinners, and other functions. I've been out there four times. It's always fun.

I emailed Laurel a little while after I found the website. Here's hoping for February. Would love for it to turn out to be something I enjoy along the lines of the PVW and the William Larue barrel strength.

i hear ya agbq, it was good stuff

my friend mixed his with coke which left me completely dumbfounded and embarrassed for him...ridiculous >

Showtime, where did you find the Pappy van winkle?

That does it... My next business trip out to Austin I'm going to attempt to grab another bottle.

I'm currently on the January list for volunteers. Fingers crossed.

jobu -

I talked to Laurel at Garrison Bros. and they have had some cancellations for the next few weeks and may need volunteers. You might get in touch and see.

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Showtime, where did you find the Pappy van winkle?

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I have spent the last six months scouring stores in the Metroplex and meeting store managers/assistant managers. All that work has resulted in those 6 bottles since the end of May, plus a bottle of Van Winkle Rye that I regretfully didn't buy. Most of those stores have lists and will call when they get some, but from time to time, it will still amazingly be sitting on a random shelf in a random place. I find myself stopping at stores I've never been to more and more often, almost like a hobby. Which I guess it's become.