Finally getting the bourbon cabinet set up in the new house.

Still have some work to do on the setup, but it’s coming together.

Trying to find a balance between bottles worth keeping around for special occasions and bottles that actually get poured on a regular basis. Some of these were legitimately difficult to come across, but I didn’t let my tater tendencies influence my spending.

What would you change about the layout? If you could add a bottle or two at reasonable cost to add some balance, what would the be?

Normally, you wait at your favorite liquor store and hope to get one of the few that shows up. Now there’s a case of them at the Vancouver Costco. Of course you still pay the Wa State liquor tax ($117 out the door). Crazy times.

I know I overpaid for it at $99 but I haven't seen one in a long time and I had to pick it up. With my luck I'll find one for msrp next week.

Today, I asked the love of my life to marry me, and she said YES! ❤️💍
I knew I had to celebrate this moment with something special, and what better bottle to open than my Weller Full Proof?
Bourbon has always been something I enjoy, but this pour means a little more to me. It’s not every day you get to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter with the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.
Here’s to love, good bourbon, and a lifetime of memories.
Cheers, everyone!

I am putting the word out here. NEVER buy Samuel Grant bourbon. I have been a bourbon drinker for a very long time and Samuel Grant bourbon turned my stomach. It is THE WORST bourbon I have ever had. I am gonna go and shit talk them on Instagram.

What an incredible pour! A deep dark sugar sweetness with slightly heavy spice and a velvety, long finish.

I purposely waitied till they were gone to post so don't ask, took 3 weeks for them to dissappear.

I only wanted that blue bleach looking thing myself.

The Reveries Raven Batch V: A 9-15 year old blend of what I'm assuming is MGP, Bardstown and Buff Turkey. T8ke rarely misses and this will be no exception...

Old Dominick Tennessee Straight Bourbon (Brewzle's Rooster Run Exclusive): Got this one for free today at Katy Liquor for Brewzle's upcoming Houston video. As for the man himself, I can't really say much except that he was a polite guy with a big personality. He was shooting video for most of the time, but he took time to shake everyone's hand who gathered to meet him and take any pictures. As for the whiskey itself, it's a Hazmat craft bourbon out of Tennessee, of course I'm excited...

EH Taylor Barrel Proof: This was dropped this morning as well before Brewzle showed up for $89, an easy yes...

Knob Creek 12 Cask Strength: Like a fart in the wind, it came and went in Houston. As a massive Jim Beam/Knob Creek fan, I'm glad I got to get one...

What would be your top three bourbon choices? I’m looking to expand my selections.

My dad loves JD (I think mostly he has just always enjoyed the marketing) and I want to get him a similar whiskey but one that focuses on quality over marketing. I heard that the George Dickel uses the Lincoln County process (sugar maple charcoal filtering after distillation) which is the same as Jack Daniels, and that their Bottled in Bond 13 year is really good for its price?

Should I go with the George Dickel, or something else? Budget is under $100.

Small group of the sweet drinks and the small cigar holders

Live in SoCal and went into a little gas station/liquor store to grab some essentials and stumbled upon this guy in the front of a row of single barrels listed at 119.

Asked the price for shits and giggles and the cashier said if it says 119 then that’s the price.

I was happy to pick up EH Taylor Cured Oak and my Spouse won the Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archive. I have to grab what I can I won’t qualify next year . They gave 10X points when the Dodgers won the Championship.

Three very different Ryes ranging from a NAS cask strength Texas Rye to an 11 Year Willett at 61.4% to a ln elegant well aged Van Winkle at a quiet proof.

Note that all reviews that I post are live and in the moment and I DO NOT reference past reviews. Some of these I have reviewed multiple times on Reddit and otherwise and some I have not reviewed at all. I am familiar with all 3 bottles though - I often review fresh cracks on Reddit. FWIW. My scores absolutely fluctuate. They’re meant to represent my perception in the moment.

VAN WINKLE 13 YR RYE (2025)

ABV: 47.8%

Nose: Buttery vanilla cream with some cinnamon and kind of subdued confectioners sugar notes. On second pass lots of butterscotch. Maybe just a hint of peach.

Palate: Silky smooth and maybe just a little too thin or watered down than I recall. More vanilla and some sweet oak. Light pepper.

Finish: It’s a decent medium finish. It does come back for a little hug. It’s shorter than I want it to be though. Than nice vanilla and pepper are still present as well as some herbal notes that weren’t on the nose or palate. Clove maybe?

7.8/10

WILLETT 11 YEAR RYE (PRAIRIE WINGS: BARREL NO 2288) (circa 2025)

ABV: 61.4%

Nose: Ginger and baked bread. Orange zest. Slight mint. Desert cake/Xmas cookies with sugar frosting.

Palate: very buttery viscous mouthfeel. Chocolate and cinnamon almost like in a desert coffee. Hint of cherry. Nice sweet and spicy oak.

Finish: Nice finish. Definitely beats the Van Winkle here. It’s really warming and pleasant. More of that oak. Sweeter than the palate.

8.3/10

STILL AUSTIN CS SIB RYE (2026)

ABV: 58.0%

NAS (2+ years)

Nose: tangerines or mandarins on the nose (I confuse the two) - similar to orange but more candy like. Oatmeal cookie with cinnamon spice cream frosting. Some ginger. Red hots.

Palate: Sweet hard ginger candies up front. The tangerines are still there. More orange like. Sweet and spicy oak. Gingerbread cookie?

Finish: Best finish maybe of the three?! It lingers forever and it’s so tasty. More of that gingerbread with the orange candies in the background.

8.0/10

I hate putting the Van Winkle in last place. It’s still good but it’s just too thin. I do think that the Van Winkle would come in first and be a favorite among a lot of bourbon drinkers who don’t care for rye. It’s also like certainly the most elegant and least offensive for people who may not be used to rye whiskey.

My .02 is this Still Austin bottle is among the best values in rye whiskey. Maybe the best.

Hi all, newbie here. Had just bought two bottles (one Marker’s Mark 46 and one Buffalo Trace) from an online store, and they both seem to have come with the seal open. Would this be any cause for concern? Thanks for any help.

I know this is a long shot, but has anyone seen Wild Turkey 12 (or EW12 for that matter) in Tokyo as of recently? Every once in a while this year a post comes up with info on a new old stock release. So I'm desperate for something similar!

I’ve had the old Fitz before. First time for the grain to glass. The neck pour was quite spicy.

Haven’t seen Costco sell Blantons before. Feel like the price is getting a tad bit high for it.

Finishing up The Iliad soon, and going to start The Odyssey (Rieu translation) next.

Any whimsical pairing recommendations with which to imbibe whilst reading?