Manager recommendation: I have 2 reasons to absolutely hate it. First, it's a rye. Second, it's finished. In French Barrique barrels even.

100% Michigan grown rye and Great Lakes water. Is that something to brag about?:-) Two James is Detroit's first distillery since prohibition.

Why did I buy it? The manager said it was his second favorite whiskey of 2024. and this is the guy who pulls me aside or even calls when something allocated comes in. So yes, I will humor him. I'll report back...assuming it doesn't kill me.

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You’re a braver man than me, but sometimes you have to take one for the team.
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How bad could it be, Tom? :-)
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Keep being funny, Boys, and I'll bring the bottle to Shack. :-) :-)
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Just catching up after vacation here ... it must have killed poor Tom :-)
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Jay, I still haven't opened it! :-) :-)
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I opened a new single barrel pick from Journeyman, a distillery in Three Oaks, MI. This one has a 100% Michigan wheat mash bill. Very grain forward with only 4 years of age, not complex and drinks higher than its proof.

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Hoping for better taste with the new Booker's batch that hit Chicago yesterday, By The Pond batch.

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I'm flying home for my mother's bday. The mid-60ish woman across the aisle from me ordered two Buffalo Trace and ginger ales. I didn't know whether to be impressed by Gangsta Grannie hitting double Bourbons at 0920 or appalled that she mixed Buffalo Trace with ginger ale. :-)


...and that's how I found that Buffalo Trace with a nice splash of water makes for a tasty breakfast Bourbon! Don't judge, I'm on vacation. :-)
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I heard Tom is giving up KY bourbon and sticking to strictly Michigan made stuff :-)

A great way to start the day. I always enjoy a nice Wild Turkey 101 when I'm flying but that's one of the last perks of Southwest, BT is a solid option. Flight attendants are always confused by my order of Wild Turkey neat even when I specify "in a cup with no ice." A third of the time it comes in a cup with ice, a third it's just the plastic nip with no cup for mini bottle pulls, and occasionally I actually get it the way I asked for
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Woodford is what's offered on American Airlines, Ben and James. I need to switch airlines. :-)

I opened the French Connection (finished) last night.

I need to stop..... :-)

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"Smoke what you like, like what you smoke." To me it's about the same with alcohol. During COVID when bars were shut down, I experimented with several different mixers for my rum or bourbon drinks. No snobs to judge, was out by myself or hanging with friends who cared more about maintaining a semblance of a social life, than what any of us brought to sip on. We did break some laws about WHERE we gathered, and how many of us were there. :-)
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Finished whiskey. I know I just said I had to stop.

I paid for this before I said that.

I actually tried this one before buying. Probably my favorite finished pour since the early days of Midwinter Night's Dram.

You wouldn't think this would appeal to me. Double cask finish with the first being maple syrup barrels. Yup.

Second finish in Cuban rum barrels. This might have intrigued the old me (read: 2 days ago).

I had it at a retirement party seeing a lot of old friends, so the situation may have been part of the reason I liked it. I hope it wasn't the only reason.

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I've had this before and liked it. I am not big on finished bourbons myself, but it was delicious. :-)
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Great minds and great palates? :-)

Batshit crazy minds and palates of goats? :-)

I was shocked how much I liked the small pour I had, Tony. I am thinking this will be my dessert whiskey when I want something sweet.
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Just hit the market last week, figured I'd give it a try at $39.

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The last two times we've gone up to Delavan to have dinner with QT's parents, I've had a pour of a different 2X0 bourbon, and liked both a lot.

Found a deal for both and each was $30 under suggested retail (and what they cost at Binny's), plus a $10 coupon. Made it an easy decision.

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Went through a bottle of Jefferson's Reserve while visiting my folks. Quite smooth for 130 proof.
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Wow, was that a single barrel, James?
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Wow, was that a single barrel, James?
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Nice pickups Tom! I've heard good things about the OGD, haven't heard much about the 2XO's but am a fan of Dixon so I'm sure they're tasty. His prices have always kept me away, glad you were able to get a deal
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