:-)
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What a story Greg, amazing!

Have you ever seen the movie "Lawless"? It's pretty good.

And a little Willie too (phrasing) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKMOIPPsAkA
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I can't keep my hands off this 11 year, 109 proof ECBP pick. Freaking oak bomb.

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I agree with Brian, James and Tom. Great story GG.

Stopped by a store on my way home from the cemetery. Huge bourbon selection. They had a bottle of Booker 2022-04 (I believe that’s the date I saw) and a bottle of Little Book Chapter 6. $200/ea. what I expected. But $200 for Blantons. :-)
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None of those should be that way, Bob, Little Book is closest to retail. Booker's is $89 now, Blanton's maybe $65? WTF?
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I don't even like Blanton's at $65, let alone $200. I've just never been much of a fan.

I can get Booker's for around $80-ish on my local Air Force Base, luckily.
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Unfortunately prices around me are crazy for the HTF stuff. This guy had a really nice selection of bottles, but I think he’s over estimating what people will pay. Then the stuff just sits on the shelf.
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I'm in a semi-bourbon online group where last week a guy says "I'm having my friend join the group, he has a ton of crazy bourbon you guys will love him" and his friend immediately posts a brag video... slowly showing the 7 bottles of Blanton's he has and something about being only one letter away... :-):-):-)

Now $80 Bookers? That's the deal right there
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Yup, not a Blanton's guy either James, though I'd buy a SFTB at MSRP. :-)

Booker's 23-01, Charlie's Batch. Get it. I'll buy the open bottle if you don't like it. :-)
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I did like the one bottle I have been able to find. A great wheated at full proof.
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:-)
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Thanks for acceptance of the story. A little further, not sure 100% how true this one is. The summer I graduated high school (1983) my dad had about 6 OR 8 quarts of moonshine that he made way back in the day. he claimed he had buried it for 20+ years, not real sure it that was the truth or not. But what I can tell you is the shine was about 90 proof, which dad always said anything over 90 proof was not drinking shine. This shine was smooth as water. You could pour some on ice and drink it with just a little burn in the gut. After about 2 or 3 sips though, your legs would kinda get rubbery on ya. LOL
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Grabbed a bottle of Booker's 2023-01 Charlie's Batch. Haven't opened it yet. Looking for a second before I do that.

I've backed off of the hunt, although there are a few bottles I am looking for. I've got too much right now and most of it is on the floor. Going to look in some industrial shelves to get it off he floor this summer. I also backed off drinking due to some recent accidents I've experienced. I just didn't feel like drinking as I recovered.
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Awesome story addition Greg. I’d like to try some real shine someday. Not the mass produced stuff you can buy at the store.

As for Bookers, I’m hoping to snag a bottle soon. Local grocery store is supposed to have some soon.
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At my first duty station (Tinker AFB, OK) my NCOIC, Jerry, was from waaaaay up in the mountains of Tennessee. 'Shine was part of his family's culture. He drove home about twice a year to visit family. Each time he returned he brought back two or three two-liter Pepsi bottles filled with 'shine.

We were a fun-loving group so someone was hosting a party every weekend. Jerry would bring some 'shine occasionally and pass the bottle around. Eventually he realized I was the only one that would continue to drink it with him. Nobody else liked it but I did, so at some point in every party he'd give me a look and we'd go sip some 'shine. It tasted like a blend of vodka, mezcal, and light rum. That may sound nasty, but it was actually pretty tasty. Jerry's family's best estimate was it was around 115 proof. It had a mule kick right up front but was surprisingly pleasant and smooth going down.

Good times...
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I am def not a shine expert by any stretch. But there is folks who know how to make it, and there are those that don't but do anyway. It's a different taste for sure, but when it's good and smooth it's pretty good stuff.
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My father in law used to get some stuff from West Virginia, always had a mason jar in the freezer and would pull it out towards the end of parties. Sure was tasty, I never asked where he got it but I've had my share of bad stuff, the good sure can be good :-)

Storage is the real concern, I don't drink nearly enough and am out of space as well, I need to kill off at least 5-6 before I can bring more bottles into the house :-)
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