The Bourbon Thread

[Mike Maguire]

I have a couple OF single barrel store picks that are 90 proof that are really good.

[Adam Noble]

I have a couple OF single barrel store picks that are 90 proof that are really good.

I was really hoping mine would be good, and hope it improves with some time and O2.

[RDHudak]

I have a couple OF single barrel store picks that are 90 proof that are really good.

I was really hoping mine would be good, and hope it improves with some time and O2.

I've heard they vary quite a bit in quality. I haven't been quick enough to grab one, yet.

[Adam Noble]

I have a couple OF single barrel store picks that are 90 proof that are really good.

I was really hoping mine would be good, and hope it improves with some time and O2.

.

I've heard they vary quite a bit in quality. I haven't been quick enough to grab one, yet.

For sure it could have been a substandard pick. I’ve heard at least one other pick from a store here in Seattle was pretty tasty.

[Kris Patten]

I was really hoping mine would be good, and hope it improves with some time and O2.

.

I've heard they vary quite a bit in quality. I haven't been quick enough to grab one, yet.

For sure it could have been a substandard pick. I’ve heard at least one other pick from a store here in Seattle was pretty tasty.

More of a general comment, but we obviously sell a lot of barrels. Generally the customer gets 6-12 to choose from, and for some reason a lot of the selections tend to be on the woodier side vs. the fruit side of the spectrum along with higher alcohol. When these are bottled they tend to have more of a drying effect on your palate and the alcohol being higher makes them a bit more astringent.

I can only assume people think higher alcohol and more oak = higher value almost like Scotch.

[Mike Maguire]

Might be fun to do a berserker barrel one of these days.Back in the custom crush days a group of friends did wine barrels for 5 or 6 years with some stunningly great results. Some distillery’s are allowing in person barrel tastings or virtual tastings where they ship some samples out to the pick team.I have been involved in 1 and it was a lot of fun.Four roses maybe!!

[Andrew Kotowski]

Might be fun to do a berserker barrel one of these days.Back in the custom crush days a group of friends did wine barrels for 5 or 6 years with some stunningly great results. Some distillery’s are allowing in person barrel tastings or virtual tastings where they ship some samples out to the pick team.I have been involved in 1 and it was a lot of fun.Four roses maybe!!

I'd be interested. Hell, we've got enough of a contingent here locally!!!

[Mike Maguire]

Might be fun to do a berserker barrel one of these days.Back in the custom crush days a group of friends did wine barrels for 5 or 6 years with some stunningly great results. Some distillery’s are allowing in person barrel tastings or virtual tastings where they ship some samples out to the pick team.I have been involved in 1 and it was a lot of fun.Four roses maybe!!

I'd be interested. Hell, we've got enough of a contingent here locally!!!

Indeed!!!

[Adam Noble]

Might be fun to do a berserker barrel one of these days.Back in the custom crush days a group of friends did wine barrels for 5 or 6 years with some stunningly great results. Some distillery’s are allowing in person barrel tastings or virtual tastings where they ship some samples out to the pick team.I have been involved in 1 and it was a lot of fun.Four roses maybe!!

I'd be interested. Hell, we've got enough of a contingent here locally!!!

Indeed!!!

In. And I know at least 3 other Berserkers in the area who would be as well.

[Rajesh P a r i k h]

I'd be interested. Hell, we've got enough of a contingent here locally!!!

Indeed!!!

In. And I know at least 3 other Berserkers in the area who would be as well.

I would totally be in for a Four Roses pick or most others.

[Mike Maguire]

I think the last one I was involved in was 185 bottles.

[Brandon R]

Grabbed a bottle of Belle Meade Bourbon at the Univ. Village QFC (Seattle) over the weekend. Anyone had it?

[Mike Maguire]

Contacted Four Roses today about their Private Barrel program, have not heard back yet.I will contact Elijah Craig and Knob Creek tomorrow.Any other suggestions?

[James Lyon]

Contacted Four Roses today about their Private Barrel program, have not heard back yet.I will contact Elijah Craig and Knob Creek tomorrow.Any other suggestions?

Willett.

[Andrew Kotowski]

Contacted Four Roses today about their Private Barrel program, have not heard back yet.I will contact Elijah Craig and Knob Creek tomorrow.Any other suggestions?

Willett.

Talk to Jason Bray re: Willett. 185 bottles is a lot of bottles ...

[Kris Patten]

The last two Four Roses barrels I ordered had yields of 24 and 25 6-packs.

Woodford has a really good barrel program too, as does Sazerac with their portfolio albeit extremely limited.

If you hadn't seen Met Grill is doing a Weller tasting with Reserve, 107, and Full Proof and Old Fo with 1920, 1897, 1870 and Birthday.

https://www.themetropolitangrill.com/cocktail-classes/

[Mike Maguire]

Has a lot to do with age and proof, that barrel was 90 proof and 5 years old

[Mike Maguire]

Rob is a terrific bartender, the cocktail class would be my choice.

[Adam Noble]

Contacted Four Roses today about their Private Barrel program, have not heard back yet.I will contact Elijah Craig and Knob Creek tomorrow.Any other suggestions?

Starlight would be interesting. I’ve been itching to try them and have some in order. Uncle Nearest? Haven’t tried them either.

[Kris Patten]

Has a lot to do with age and proof, that barrel was 90 proof and 5 years old

One showing up next week is recipe OESV, 11.2 years old and bottled at 103.9 proof.

[Adam Noble]

Contacted Four Roses today about their Private Barrel program, have not heard back yet.I will contact Elijah Craig and Knob Creek tomorrow.Any other suggestions?

Starlight would be interesting. I’ve been itching to try them and have some in order. Uncle Nearest? Haven’t tried them either.

Haven’t heard of Michters doing a private barrel before but I’m a huge fan of theirs.

[Mike Maguire]

Has a lot to do with age and proof, that barrel was 90 proof and 5 years old

One showing up next week is recipe OESV, 11.2 years old and bottled at 103.9 proof.

Sounds delicious, I was just pointing out why there were 185 bottles in the OF pick I was involved in.

[RDHudak]

Contacted Four Roses today about their Private Barrel program, have not heard back yet.I will contact Elijah Craig and Knob Creek tomorrow.Any other suggestions?

Starlight would be interesting. I’ve been itching to try them and have some in order. Uncle Nearest? Haven’t tried them either.

Haven’t heard of Michters doing a private barrel before but I’m a huge fan of theirs.

These are great ideas. I've done multiple barrel picks, both in person and virtually, and they were a blast! The price was the same as a "regular" bottling but the quality was far better IMO.

[Mike Maguire]

Adam, I have had the Uncle Nearest 1856, I liked it quite a bit.It is a high corn mash bill so a bit on the sweet side, it hides the 100 proof really well

[Mike Maguire]

Haven’t heard back from 4R, contacted Elijah Craig and Knob Creek today.What does everybody think about Woodinville? Some people whose palettes I trust say there producing some pretty good stuff, and there local.

[Mike Maguire]

Sipping an Elijah Craig straight rye , 94 proof.Picked this up in Astoria for $30.
On the nose very bourbon like Carmel,sweet with a hint of rye spice, the taste is much the same with a bit more spice and cinnamon.Smooth semi sweet finish.If I didn’t know better I would guess a high rye bourbon.If you can find it buy it.Same mashbill as rittenhouse, my house rye, but I think much better neat.Rittenhouse for cocktails EC Rye for sipping.I would guess the age of this rye is at least 6+years.

[Adam Noble]

Sipping an Elijah Craig straight rye , 94 proof.Picked this up in Astoria for $30.
On the nose very bourbon like Carmel,sweet with a hint of rye spice, the taste is much the same with a bit more spice and cinnamon.Smooth semi sweet finish.If I didn’t know better I would guess a high rye bourbon.If you can find it buy it.Same mashbill as rittenhouse, my house rye, but I think much better neat.Rittenhouse for cocktails EC Rye for sipping.I would guess the age of this rye is at least 6+years.

Have you tried Pikesville? Basically Rittenhouse at age 6 with 110 pf. And very good.

[Kris Patten]

I can help with a barrel we sell if available.

Let me know in PM.

[Kris Patten]

Sipping an Elijah Craig straight rye , 94 proof.Picked this up in Astoria for $30.
On the nose very bourbon like Carmel,sweet with a hint of rye spice, the taste is much the same with a bit more spice and cinnamon.Smooth semi sweet finish.If I didn’t know better I would guess a high rye bourbon.If you can find it buy it.Same mashbill as rittenhouse, my house rye, but I think much better neat.Rittenhouse for cocktails EC Rye for sipping.I would guess the age of this rye is at least 6+years.

Have you tried Pikesville? Basically Rittenhouse at age 6 with 110 pf. And very good.

Rittenhouse 25 year old is still a top 5 whiskey I have tried.

[Adam Noble]

I can help with a barrel we sell if available.

Let me know in PM.

Weller Single Barrel pick?

[J. Singleton]

If this gains traction, maybe we should start a new thread for the barrel pick. I’m very intrigued by this prospect.

[Edward H. Earles]

Re: Barrels

Distillers set records for bourbon aging in warehouses

https://www.wkyt.com/2020/10/29/distill ... arehouses/

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - It’s a milestone that bourbon drinkers can toast to. Kentucky bourbon makers stockpiled a modern-era record amount of products aging in warehouses.

The Kentucky Distillers' Association says a report shows more than 9.2 million barrels of bourbon are being stored in Kentucky.

The number of barrels with aging bourbon topped nine million for the first time since 1967, the same year KDA started keeping barrel inventory records.

The latest numbers are based on warehouse inventories reported as of Jan. 1, 2020.

The report says Kentucky had 9.8 million barrels of bourbon and other distilled spirits aging in warehouses, setting another state record.

There exists now a record number of barrels to choose from!!

p.s. Should a taste-tester be needed, pursuant to this project, I'm within convenient driving distance of the Frankfort and Lawrenceburg distilleries.

[JulianD]

I can help with a barrel we sell if available.

Let me know in PM.

Weller Single Barrel pick?

That would be fun

[Kris Patten]

If this gains traction, maybe we should start a new thread for the barrel pick. I’m very intrigued by this prospect.

Shipping spirits across State lines is tricky. Have to find a legal way to get to people in other States thru a licensed retailer.

[Mike Maguire]

I think it’s best that we keep this local this time around, obviously we can figure shipping out on our own.I just don’t feel comfortable putting a Berserker in the middle of this.

[Keith_B]

I would love to participate but can't ship to IL as far as I know. Might be a cool idea for Berserker Day XII if you could get enough people to participate.

[Kelly Walker]

Had a very nice pour of this on Wednesday. A maple syrup bomb- in a very good way. Finish goes on forever.

[Keith_B]

Had a very nice pour of this on Wednesday. A maple syrup bomb- in a very good way. Finish goes on forever.

Is that a 2020 release?

[Kelly Walker]

I looked everywhere on the bottle and could not find anything that would say.

[Kris Patten]

I looked everywhere on the bottle and could not find anything that would say.

116.9 proof is 2019 release.

[H. N o w b a r]

I'd be interested. Hell, we've got enough of a contingent here locally!!!

Indeed!!!

In. And I know at least 3 other Berserkers in the area who would be as well.

Count me IN please.
H

[Adam Noble]

I looked everywhere on the bottle and could not find anything that would say.

116.9 proof is 2019 release.

You can also tell by the laser etched code near the bottom of the bottle.

[Kris Patten]

I looked everywhere on the bottle and could not find anything that would say.

116.9 proof is 2019 release.

You can also tell by the laser etched code near the bottom of the bottle.

I've always gone by proof. Will have to look at laser etching. Learned something new today.

Thanks Adam.

[Andrew Kotowski]

I looked everywhere on the bottle and could not find anything that would say.

116.9 proof is 2019 release.

2019. I've got it sitting on the shelf next to my laptop... and I don't have 2020 yet.

I'm cutting back my WB time, but interested in a single barrel bottling if we got that route. Couple of the guys have my cell (Adam, Jason Bray, Carter Yeh, Mark Ye) - ping me if there's any interest. I'll pick up several bottles, and will go deep if we need to

[Kris Patten]

I looked everywhere on the bottle and could not find anything that would say.

116.9 proof is 2019 release.

2019. I've got it sitting on the shelf next to my laptop... and I don't have 2020 yet.

I'm cutting back my WB time, but interested in a single barrel bottling if we got that route. Couple of the guys have my cell (Adam, Jason Bray, Carter Yeh, Mark Ye) - ping me if there's any interest. I'll pick up several bottles, and will go deep if we need to

Basically need to have commitments for 144 to 156 bottles per barrel. Easiest is 26 to 28 people who commit to a max of 6 pack each for each barrel. Then they can sell them to friends, relatives, whatever. Once you get down to bottles per person it's a logistical nightmare.

Then the 26 - 28 pick a team of 6 or so to taste barrel samples and choose the barrel selections.

[Kelly Walker]

116.9 proof is 2019 release.

2019. I've got it sitting on the shelf next to my laptop... and I don't have 2020 yet.

I'm cutting back my WB time, but interested in a single barrel bottling if we got that route. Couple of the guys have my cell (Adam, Jason Bray, Carter Yeh, Mark Ye) - ping me if there's any interest. I'll pick up several bottles, and will go deep if we need to

Basically need to have commitments for 144 to 156 bottles per barrel. Easiest is 26 to 28 people who commit to a max of 6 pack each for each barrel. Then they can sell them to friends, relatives, whatever. Once you get down to bottles per person it's a logistical nightmare.

Then the 26 - 28 pick a team of 6 or so to taste barrel samples and choose the barrel selections.

Suggest 12 people to commit to a 12 bottle case and offer stragglers any additional bottles. Otherwise it gets to be too much of a hassle. I remember being part of the HAG group buying barrels at HDB for the 2005 auction. Too many people gets ugly.

[Mike Maguire]

Suggest 12 people to commit to a 12 bottle case and offer stragglers any additional bottles. Otherwise it gets to be too much of a hassle. I remember being part of the HAG group buying barrels at HDB for the 2005 auction. Too many people gets ugly.
[/quote]

Totally agree with this approach.12 max, maybe less.

[Chris.Martin]

Suggest 12 people to commit to a 12 bottle case and offer stragglers any additional bottles. Otherwise it gets to be too much of a hassle. I remember being part of the HAG group buying barrels at HDB for the 2005 auction. Too many people gets ugly.

Totally agree with this approach.12 max, maybe less.
[/quote]

I'd be interested if this gets off the ground.

[Andrew Kotowski]

116.9 proof is 2019 release.

2019. I've got it sitting on the shelf next to my laptop... and I don't have 2020 yet.

I'm cutting back my WB time, but interested in a single barrel bottling if we got that route. Couple of the guys have my cell (Adam, Jason Bray, Carter Yeh, Mark Ye) - ping me if there's any interest. I'll pick up several bottles, and will go deep if we need to

Basically need to have commitments for 144 to 156 bottles per barrel. Easiest is 26 to 28 people who commit to a max of 6 pack each for each barrel. Then they can sell them to friends, relatives, whatever. Once you get down to bottles per person it's a logistical nightmare.

Then the 26 - 28 pick a team of 6 or so to taste barrel samples and choose the barrel selections.

Am sure I can solve for a 12/13 bottle spot on my side. What's the most effective way to discuss producer options and pricing? Am assuming you might be reticent to post that info here in this forum.

[Kris Patten]

2019. I've got it sitting on the shelf next to my laptop... and I don't have 2020 yet.

I'm cutting back my WB time, but interested in a single barrel bottling if we got that route. Couple of the guys have my cell (Adam, Jason Bray, Carter Yeh, Mark Ye) - ping me if there's any interest. I'll pick up several bottles, and will go deep if we need to

Basically need to have commitments for 144 to 156 bottles per barrel. Easiest is 26 to 28 people who commit to a max of 6 pack each for each barrel. Then they can sell them to friends, relatives, whatever. Once you get down to bottles per person it's a logistical nightmare.

Then the 26 - 28 pick a team of 6 or so to taste barrel samples and choose the barrel selections.

Am sure I can solve for a 12/13 bottle spot on my side. What's the most effective way to discuss producer options and pricing? Am assuming you might be reticent to post that info here in this forum.

It's really up to availability. Barrels are super popular....but for instance a Cask Strength 4 Roses Barrel we sell for $55 a bottle to retailer/restaurant before markup/taxes. Latest one yielded 26 6-packs.

It's one of the coolest barrels because its cask strength, multiple recipes available, and it was 11 years old. That feels very reasonably priced.