Met up with my friends and their boss to sell him (the boss) my bottle of Old Fitz. The restaurant has a very nice selection of bourbons. Had a 1oz pour of the Makers Mark Cellar Reserve. Wow! You get a huge oak hit right off the bat, but it mellows out into a creamy vanilla. I would buy a bottle at retail if I happened across it.

What’s everyone’s thoughts on High West cask strength? A local store had their barrel pick in. No samples, so I’m not about to drop $95 on a bottle.
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I'm guessing we'll see this released next year

Nice grab! I've heard that's the most different of the three from the other two, I have samples I've been saving of the first two that I'll open up whenever I get around to trying Boston
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I've been dying to try the Makers, I'm kicking myself for passing up a 2oz sample for $40, cheapest I've seen a bottle was $430 but most are closer to $500 :-)

Hope you made a couple bucks on that Old Fitz :-)
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I paid $25 for the 1oz. Iirc 2oz was $45-50.

Made out well on the OF. Made money and he got a good deal. :-)
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So the guy I sold the OF to told us a story about the time he and his brother drank a bottle of Pappy 23. Does a yearly fly fishing trip to Wyoming every year with his Dad and brother. First couple years at the lodge, he sees an older gent smoking a cigar on a huge porch. Told that’s the owner and likes to keep to himself. A year or two later as they’re having dinner in the main lodge, the owner comes in and asks if he can join them. Eventually they find out he used to own Ameritrade, thus how he afforded the lodge. More small talk about what he does now. Tells them, “I dabble in baseball”. Turns out it’s Joe Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs. At one point he grabs a bottle and tells them he’s not much of a bourbon drinker himself, maybe they might like it. Yup, Pappy 23. Both brothers spent the rest of the night drinking the bottle.
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Great story!
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Snagged one of these yesterday, had to see if it was worth the ~$300 price tag. Some friends helped with the cost by splitting it up into a few samples, really liked the first pour but feel like it needs a couple more sittings and a little oxygen before it will really show itself, felt restrained on the palate and finish

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Bob, that's crazy. The story, AND 2 guys killing a whole bottle of 23 in 1 night.

Ben, how to you think the Single Rickhouse compares to the RR 13 Year?
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I haven't tried RR13 since the first batch came out and I promptly killed the bottle, but based on memory they're in the same ballpark. I thought RR13 was a little heavy on the oak, RRSR CNF had some but it was more of a caramel fruit type profile with an oak backbone. The first pour of the SR was lacking a little on the finish but I think it will open up and show some more tannins on the finish to balance it all out
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Nice that is compares favorably with the RR13, Ben. I've only had Batch 2 of the 13, but promptly finished it AND found another. :-)

Opened up the Knob Creek Bung Bangers last night. It's the oldest KC sib I've seen since they stopped doing 14-15 year sibs. This one is just short of 11 years, and on first pour I'd put it up against the older ones I have.

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Stopped by my local B&M. They had gotten their Russel’s Private Barrel pick in. Sampled it. Guess who came home with a bottle? ~8.5 years. Delicious. :-)

Owner also said he’s doing another EC pick. Either 8 or 9 year old. And then he’s got a Woodford Double Oak pick coming.
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Some of those Russell's picks are amazing.... I'm glad you got a good one, Bob! :-)
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I grabbed another bottle of Larceny Barrel Proof. I was surprised to see it on the shelf on my local AFB.
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Which one, James?
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c923
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:-):-):-)
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Yeah, I really enjoyed the one I had earlier this year.
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Yea, they’ve been really good this year.
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Some buddies and I had a blind tasting of some big bottles last night. Results below

EHT BP batch 11> 2017 GTS> Parker’s 8yr rye> 9year willett hazmat

(I tried to upload a picture for 10 minutes and still can get it :-))
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Crazy that the EHTBP beat out the GTS, Andrew. And that the Hazmat Willet was last.

I got a call from Binny's yesterday; they were holding a bottle for me. Third call in a month, looks like I finally "got a guy".

Weller Full Proof single barrel pick. QT said let's open it now, so we cracked it and promptly made it "our bottle". It is outstanding, fruit and molasses and goodness.

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