I’m with you. One or two ice cubes, let it sit a minute, enjoy. One of my favorite bourbons for sure (though some are grumbling that recent batches have not matched up to previous - I’ve only had batches 1 and 3).
I’m finding that the big cube or ball and a few min works really well for the barrel strength bottles.
Sipping on my first dram ever of Bookers. I usually take my barrel strengths neat, but this might need a couple drops of water. Wow it’s hot, but the finish goes on and on.
Robert,
I’ve been hunting for this and just noticed you’re from Cleveland. Did you score this bottle locally?
Thanks,
Lou
Lou,
I came across it in Akron. They had three bottles and I left one for good karma. I happen to be heading down tomorrow though, so I could swing by again if you want me to see if it’s still there. It’s only been a week so might be possible…
just got “the call” BTAC in 5,4,3,2…
Anyone seeing the LE Small Batch yet? I just saw a bottle of the 2014 (with photo) pop-up on bottlespot for $250…
Is this going to be yet another bourbon impossible to find at retail? I missed the LE Single Barrel in the spring and it looks like those are sell for $250 as well. Lame.
For me, they’ve all become impossible to find retail. Nothing appears at all online anymore, and I check out of habit almost every morning. BTAC, 4RLE, PVW, even EC barrel and OF birthday bourbon are unicorns now.
It’s pretty ricockulous.
$250 for 4RLESmB is Bullsh*t. Screw that retailer. Although I understand why a retailer would price allocated items like that, to me, all it does is alienate a lot of people.
'14 4RLESmB will hit my market within the next month. Most of these bourbons discussed on this thread will never see a shelf or be placed online. Maybe a social media blast for one bottle via lottery with some weird stipulation to write why you deserve the holy grail of Pappy. You have to have a relationship with a retailer or be on a list. I buy a ton of beer and bourbon from my local bottle shop throughout the year, so my guy will save me a bottle or two of something but even he doesn’t know what he’s getting and how much until it arrives.
You can also call your local big box wine and spirits retailer every day to try to figure out when a shipment will come in and wait in line if they do first come first serve for Van Winkle and BTACs. That’s how I got this year’s BTACs. Well, I didn’t call everyday, but my buddy did and then he texted me when it would be delivered. BTACs sold out in 2 hrs with 2 bottle limits.
Or live in KY.
Here in oregon restaurants by from liquor stores, so they get priority. Impossible to get anything. Last year you could walk in a buy OF birthday, but who knows about this year.
Va restaurants/bars also have to buy from the state. That would explain why none of this shows up on the shelf.
A shame that I’ll likely never see these LEs or the single mash bills - FR is easily favorite bourbon.
A road trip to KY might not be a bad idea.
When stores have bottles left there is usually a line of 40+ people to bud able to buy one bottle. They sell the btac and winkle the same time.
It will slow down, I’m already seeing some softening in the secondary market. People are hot on the big names – PVW, BTAC, 4R LE’s, etc, but even those will calm in the relatively near future.
Now if someone was selling the 2012 4RLESmB for $250… I’d think long & hard about it. Great great bourbon and made in a relatively minuscule amount.
Lol, me too. Hell, I would think hard about 4R125 at that price too although $200 would be a for sure buy for both. But '14 with over 11,000 bottles at $250 with allocations still not released in some markets is stupid.
Has anybody had the Wild Turkey 60th. Ran across a bottle today but the price had me perplexed.
Don’t miss the Parkers 13yo or 14yo wheater coming out right about now. I got my bottle and 2 more for the bunker.
Dying to try this. Haven’t found it yet…any tips on where I can score a bottle or two? 
Agreed x 2. Superb and unique stuff.
On the non-bourbon whiskey front, just reviewed Tin Cup “American” whiskey “from Colorado” and Clyde May’s “Alabama Style” whiskey - two NDPs (non distilling producers) being slightly shady, as is so common these days. The Tin Cup is actually quite good high rye whiskey, but quite deceitful at the same time. Clyde May? Not so much. Whiskey, Stories, and the Truth: Review of Tin Cup and Clyde May’s – Thirsty South
I need a little clarification of the four roses 2014 LE. I have a bottle listed as 2014, 11 year only, and I think 59.5%. Yet, when I see the listing for the latest release that the blend isn’t this bottling. Is this the spring release?
Sounds like a 2014 4RLE Single Barrel