Favorite Whiskey?

Are we talking $40+ for a small 375ML bottle, or a bigger 750ML size? I'm fine with paying 40+ for the 750s, just not the little bottles. Thanks

 

Try Johnnie walker black, you can find 750ml for about $30

 

Oh I misread. Let me look and see what's available at 375 easily. Next time in your store post pics of the inventory.

 

It's a blend.

 

And?

 

I think he wanted a single malt scotch. You didnt quote anybody so I wasn't sure who you were talking too.

As far as introducing someone to scotches I dont think Johnnie Walker black is all that great for the price. Glenlivet 12 is 45 - 55 for 750 and is a really good introductory scotch. I am just not sure how easily available it is in 350ml.

 

They had one 2016, I'll check the price and if it's reasonable, grab that one then. That's disappointing to hear though.

 

get it asap very hard to find any pre 2017 now a days.

 

cracked open the spring bank 15

@stun gun

weekend project ready! thanks for the tip

 

booker 2016 is great, however if you can find a knob creek sb store pick they are so similar its hard to tell the difference.

booker doesnt have barrel statements because it is just hand selected knob sb barrels. They dont want you to see that some bookers come from the same warehouse as knob creek, and in some cases barrels of bookers might be right next to knob creek barrels.

 

Hmm, good to know. I did see a Knob Creek in a box like Booker does, I'll double check what it was.

 

That OGD 114 is such a nice pour for the money - punches well above its price-point. Frankly, the only evidence of it being an inexpensive bottle is how quickly the finish falls off. Otherwise, it comes across as a bourbon worth nearly twice the price.

As for Booker's...

I'd suggest that Booker's hasn't stopped being very good to great. I've had nearly every release since they started the small batch series in 2015 (and plenty prior) and there are GREAT batches all over the place and I can't think of a truly "bad" one. There is a reason this top section is nearly 30% Booker's.



Here's remnants of some of the past batches that have gone down:



I fell in love with the stuff in 2014 and really haven't stopped since. I will say that my favorite bourbon of them all (pending further review of the 30th Anniversary) is Booker's 2015-01 (Big Man, Small Batch), but there are some great batches post 2016, too.

Some batches better than others, of course, but they stay within a pretty narrow margin for the most part.

I just had about 8 people over to try the full 2018 line-up, including the Booker's 30th Anniversary (pg 185 and 186 in this thread). The 2018-02 (Backyard BBQ) was my least favorite, but still quite good as far as bourbons go and it was held in even higher esteem by some of my buddies. 2018-01 (Kathleen's Batch) is one of the three best Booker's I've ever had. 2018-03 (Kentucky Chew) and 2018-04 (Kitchen Table) were neck and neck for me - very enjoyable. For whatever it is worth, both Kathleen's Batch and Kitchen Table are roundtable selections.

One of my bottles back there is 2017-04 (Sip Awhile). It is generally considered one of the better Booker's batches as well. If you go back to the store and see that is the batch they have, buy it for sure. If you don't want it, I'll Venmo you some bucks to ship it my way. If it is one of the other 3 releases from 2017, I'd still give it a whirl (unless you can get a 2018-01 instead ). Provided barrel proof, uncut, unfiltered bourbons are your thing, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Hard to find a wide selection of scotches in 375 ml bottles. That said, one that I do know is offered is Compass Box Great King St. - Artist's Blend. It's a scotch I recommend frequently to folks that are either starting to get their feet wet with scotches or don't want to spend a ton of money. Frankly, I'd just buy the 750 ml bottle and get the better value. It is about $40 usually. Light, floral, and well made (plus the Compass Box story is great). Another is Monkey Shoulder. About $35 for a 750 ml bottle. It is also very approachable with a creamy flavor profile. I have a bottle now, as a matter of fact, and go to it frequently. It is also excellent for scotch based cocktails (Godfather, Whiskey Sour, etc.) without breaking the bank on something that will get mixed.

 

Link wood is the bomb.

Finding those specific bookers bottles is gonna be tough.

That 2016 he says he saw is a gem. If he doesn't get it I will buy it from him.

The problem I have with bourbons is cinnamon vanilla cherry ... you really aren't getting much more from even the high ends.

Grandad is so good. The bonded as well.

 

Yeah, you'll have to clarify what you mean here. Booker's batches come with extremely detailed statements about where the selected barrels came from and what percentage of the final result they make up. The age statement on the bottle is down to the day as well (age of the youngest barrel).

Here is the insert provided with 2018-04 (Kitchen Table):



It is the same mash-bill as Knob Creek, but you can't sell them as basically the same thing by the time they get to the bottle. Booker's is uncut, unfiltered, and barrel proof and comprised of choice barrels from warehouse locations that tend towards a Booker's flavor profile. Booker's sits at the top of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection for a reason. To be very clear, I do not intend to say that everyone should find it better than the others (I know plenty of people that prefer KC or Baker's - you like what you like), but it does represent a more concerted (and costly) effort to offer a more premium bourbon.

 

Tough, but not impossible - the Booker's he saw on the shelf was already a 2017, so he's got a 25% chance it's an 04 . I've acquired a (second) Big Man, Small Batch and a Sip Awhile in the past 6 months. Extremely happy to grab those.

 

I guess if you're just starting out knob creek sb or rthe store pick is gonna offer huge flavor for 45, and at the same mash bill I've had so many pours it's hard to tell the difference.

Bookers can be so hard to find for some areas knob creek might as well be an equivalent

 

for me bookeres just isn't worth it. 65 to 85 and hard to find for some. Knob creek sb can be found just about anywhere and like you say stand toe to toe with bookers. I know the insert says one thing, but many believe bookers to be hand selected knob creek. I've been fooled a few times by buddies with them.

I'm definately not saying bookers is bad. But post 2017 quality dropped imo and I personally cant recommend it anymore when knob sb 45 is always there and seems to be super consistent. Out of like 8 bottles I've had 1 bad its incredible. But like you say there's Booker fans and knob fans...

The bourbon chase is so dumb as well..

 

I mean, I *like* Knob Creek, so it isn't like I'm not a fan of it, but Booker's is a much different experience (better or worse is subjective).

It isn't simply hand selected Knob Creek, I can assure you that.

I've mentioned many times here about Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star and how it is the same Buffalo Trace mash-bill as Blanton's. You can tell they are cut from the same cloth, but I wouldn't say Blanton's is nothing but a hand selected AAA 10 Star. I mean, it kind of is, but it is aged further, in a different location, and tastes quite a bit more refined. (By the way, that AAA 10 Star is still a pretty spectacular value if you've never had it.)

Booker's cut back from 6 batches per year in 2015/16 to 4 batches per year. If anything, the quality and attention to detail has gone up. It's still done in small batches, so there is variance from one to the next, but that is true with Knob Creek 120 as well, as it is a Single Barrel bourbon. Even more so when you add the variance of store picks. Booker's is a very robust, challenging bourbon, though, that comes in very hot and isn't for everyone. Kind of like a heavily peated scotch is on the single-malt side of things. Maybe the profiles of whichever post 2016 batches you've tried didn't line up with you for one reason or another.

Knob Creek Single Barrel is a great recommendation to see if you like the high proof stuff before spending Booker's money - on that I agree completely. Once you decide that is a style of whiskey you're in to, is it worth the money to go with Booker's? Up to the taster to make that call. Hard to argue against either, suppose.

As for me, it's 14 Booker's, 0 Knob Creek in the cabinet at the moment .

 

thats when you start trading for samples.

oh well now we cant be friends

 

Last KC I had was the cask strength rye. Pretty good stuff, but I know it's a different animal than the 120 we're discussing.

Good looking stash of booze you have. Which batch of Stagg Jr is that? I have #11 at the moment, just haven't opened yet.