Picked these up today at TW. Hope they keep me warm this weekend!

Landed in Corpus tonight. Had a chance to meet AlaskanAg99 on the way to hand him off a bottle of Bowman, which i guess officially makes me a bootlegger.

Below is a picture of the spoils from the trip, you can definitely see a theme. I see a bottle of Stranahan's Single Barrel i buy it. I left home with 18 bottles in the car and picked up another dozen on the way.

Some highlights of the trip -

Virginia (small towns)- I stopped in Courtland and Emporia on the way to North Carolina. Both towns are surrounded by nothing but trees and peanut fields. The thing about small towns in control states is that they get the same stuff as the big cities but sell through it a hell of a lot slower. Whereas the Bowman will sell out at the store by my house in 2 hours it sticks on the shelves there for a few days. AugustGloop has seen it first hand and I was fortunate enough to grab 3 bottles and a bottle of Stranahan's at each stop.

North Carolina - NC is the worst of both worlds in that it is a control state but run at the local/county level. Not worth it to even stop.

South Carolina - ended my first day driving in Columbia. Went to Bourbon restaurant and had a few pours and a burger. To show how good of a bottle it was the first thing i drank was an ounce of Evan Williams Single Barrel. For a 30 dollar bottle it is ****ing killer. Also had a chance to have a pour of the JD twice barreled ASM special release from 2022. The sherry finish was way too strong for me. As a huge ASM fan I was terribly disappointed. The barley note from the Triple Mash is so good i don't know how they could **** that up.

Georgia - Stopped at a couple of places in Augusta. Picked up the bottle of Ben Milam which i have seen on bourbon tube but not had a chance to try. One of the places Harvard's Wine had a bottle of ER for 45 but was charging $99 for 1792 bib. go figure.

Alabama - stopped in Auburn at the store that hosts the lottery stuff. Picked up the highest proof bottle of Stranahan's i have found to date at 121. Overall nice store that reminded me a lot of the VA stores, which makes sense. Stopped in Mobile as i was leaving the state and picked up another bottle but at lower proof.

Mississippi - Stopped at Maisano's as was suggested. Ended up picking up the Town Branch ASM pick they had for 50ish. Drinks more like an irish than i typically like but all in all its a decent pour. I will say the store had a great selection, a ton of picks and were pretty cool to talk to.

Louisiana - only stopped at 1 or 2 places along with a couple of gas station stores. Didn't really find much of anything but also didn't look.

Texas - Stopped at the Total Wine Copperfield where i meet AlaskanAg99. Grabbed another Stranahan's, the Colkegan, and the Jack. If any of you have ever sat around a camp fire, thrown a mesquite log on the fire and thought i'd like to drink this, then Colkegan is perfect for you. It is a one note wonder and that note is mesquite. I have no idea if i liked it or not but look forward to trying the bottle rebel62 picked up for me.

Was fun to meet and chat with AgDev, I was both super hungover and battling an oncoming cold. He def knows a lot more on bottles I've never really looked at so that was interesting.

He's vehicle was packed with 90% booze. If he got In a wreck he was 100% getting a sober DUI.

Picked up a JDBP Rye.

Howdy Ags! Hope everyone is staying warm as these temps drop.

As promised, we will doing the TexAgs Whiskey Picks 1-6 Charity Raffle this spring. I'm just waiting on the latest 2024 New Riff to come in.

One of our own, Goodest Poster, has just donated the following bottles to add to those six bottles!

Only catch is, I need someone to donate the first pick, because I don't have it (Buffalo Trace pick).

We're going to raise some good for Head for the Cure Foundation…..more to follow!

I got one.

Stay here long enough and we will do great things brother! Welcome to the thread.

Picked this up. It makes a very rich and caramely old fashioned.

That's a good bottle!!

AlaskanAg99 said:

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Was fun to meet and chat with AgDev, I was both super hungover and battling an oncoming cold. He def knows a lot more on bottles I've never really looked at so that was interesting.

He's vehicle was packed with 90% booze. If he got In a wreck he was 100% getting a sober DUI.

Picked up a JDBP Rye.

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Holy Balls this is amazing. Hot, spicy, smooth...I can remember the last time i bought a Jack product.

This is awesome. Im.simply blown away. I drink too much OF Rye as a mixer but this is just fantastic.

I have 1 or 2 JDSBBP "bourbons" from HBS I've never opened.

Just curious, What happens in 20 years that'll get you to drink it that isn't happening now?

An Aggie Football National Championship

Good question!

My bunker is a collection of bottles that mean something to me and my enjoyment of bourbon. Its a farrrrr cry from a stash of unicorns. Most all of my "fancy" bottles get opened and shared with friends.

Here's a list of my bunker box:

1) Eagle Rare - the bottle that got me into boubon
2) WT Rare Breed - one of my top 5 favs, an example of barrel proof bourbon under $60
3) Early Times BiB - a bottom shelf fav
4) MWND Act 10 - my fav winter pour
5) MM FAE 02 - my fav of the MM oak finished series
6) Rebecca Creek Spanish Oak - a barrel I helped pick.
7) HMK10 - the other bottle that got me into bourbon
8) Weller 12 - my favorite wheated bourbon
9) Barrell New Year 2022 - a craft distiller that may not exist forever, but I love their new year blends.
10) Rolling Fork Single Cask Barbados 9 year - bc good Rum is probably even better than bourbon
11) Stagg Jr B14 - a mashbill 1 masterpiece.
12) ???

One spot remains for a future bottle. TBD.

So yeah, not saving to save, or as an investment, or for any other reason. Saving because I think it will be fun to have a box of bottles that I enjoyed, and to look back on that in 20 years. Any share a pour with my kids.

This is fantastic, love the idea

Aggie Therapist said:

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An Aggie Football National Championship

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Rebuilding since 1939