Nice grabs Tom!

Jay doesn't pick bad barrels :-)
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Is the /R a Jay West pick, Ben?

If it is, then actually I have had several, Bob, all stellar. :-)
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It is! Jay picks everything for R/Bourbon with very few exceptions, he also picks everything for aficionados group (non bourbon spirits). He does spirits full time but doesn't make any money off the picks, those are just for fun
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I just got a lot more excited about my JD pick...thanks Ben! :-)

Had to pick up some groceries and the supermarket had Jimmy Russell's Wild Turkey 70th Anniversary Release. 8 years and 100m proof. For $42 I figured it was worth a shot.


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Maybe even worth 5 or 6 shots. Just saying.
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:-)

I opened it, it's ok. Worth $42.50 even. :-)

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Hmm…my local B&M is releasing their 4R OBSQ pick tomorrow. Tasting notes are “If Faygo Rock & Rye and 4R has a 125 proof baby”. Might have to stop by and snag a bottle.
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Hoping to get my hands on a couple but had to laugh when they were first going for $200 on secondary, they've come down but they also haven't hit stores here yet so I'm expecting to get them at under $50. Supposedly there was over 10x more of these made than any other turkey LE ever so they are supposed to be pretty attainable

Love me some OBSQ, I've tasted through the recipes blind twice with different sets of barrels and that recipe won both times :-)
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I think the grocery store had a couple more, Ben, if you want me to try and grab one. Otherwise I might just grab anything left and offer 'em for a c-note on FB. :-)

Bob, I've only bit on the 4R is they're tier 4 or higher, now that they seem to be fetching $105-115 apiece.

Cracked my MM Heart Release last night. Not my favorite wood finished release by MM. Hoping it opens up a little with time.

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Still on the fence about that 4R pick. Tom, it’s from tier 6 of the rickhouse. Now that I’m having to regulate my intake, I’m not apt to just go hunting. Plus I already have two other OBSQ picks.
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I had a couple of pours of Penelope Barrel Strength tonight. I'm really starting to enjoy this one.
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That tier 6 might be decent trade bait if you already have enough 4R picks, Bob. If it's under $120 might be worth it for that?

I've only had a single barrel pick at a herf a year or so ago, but remember liking it, James. Just haven't bit on my own bottle.
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In Long Island for testing so hit the local store.

Interesting. See if I like it better tonight. Not bad and really strong port aroma. I am not sure what I expected. The dram is more unique then great.

Interesting.

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I really like the older batches, Dave, probably one of the only finished whiskeys I really enjoyed. The newer batches are just a bit too syrupy for me, I just don't dig that port finish in a whiskey anymore.
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Quality cut in half and price doubled :-)
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I wish I would have tried an earlier release because this one is rather disappointing. I can see what they were attempting but the Rye whisky in this batch is so muted and flavorless that the blend is almost pure fresh young port.

Well, fortunately a few other stores in Long Island and I can post pone trying to learn to enjoy A Midwinter Nights Dram.

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Probably save the Bookers until I’m home so Weller is a go.
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Had an hour to kill while QTEE and her Mom did some antiquing, stopped into the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich, IL. Small but a great vibe, live music on weekends, cool staff. Their own juice is only 2 1/2 years old but shows some promise. I'll definitely be back and watch how the juice improves with age. I tried their cask strength at 121 proof. Young, but with promise.

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I'm almost finished with a Pinhook 6 Year sib pick from 2022 by El Cerrito Liquors that has been excellent. So I picked up the 2024 8 Year single barrel from El Cerrito to see if it matches up.

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Should be the same. 6 year 2022 and now an 8 year in 2024.

Hah.

Must be good, let me know how the 8 tastes.
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