Bourbon

[Dano golf]

[size=4][color=#000000]In 1952, Armon M. Sweat, Jr., a member of the Texas House of Representatives, was asked about his position on whiskey.

What follows is his exact answer (taken from the Political Archives of Texas):

"If you mean whiskey, the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean that evil drink that topples Christian men and women from the pinnacles of righteous and gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, shame, despair, helplessness, and hopelessness, then, my friend, I am opposed to it with every fiber of my being.

However, if by whiskey you mean the lubricant of conversation, the philosophic juice, the elixir of life, the liquid that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer, the stimulating sip that puts a little spring in the step of an elderly gentleman on a frosty morning; if you mean that drink that enables man to magnify his joy, and to forget life's great tragedies and heartbreaks and sorrow; if you mean that drink the sale of which pours into Texas treasuries untold millions of dollars each year, which provides tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitifully aged and infirm, to build the finest highways, hospitals, universities, and community colleges in this nation, then my friend, I am absolutely, unequivocally in favor of it.

This is my position, and as always, I refuse to compromise on matters of principle."[/color][/size]

[scotee]

Japan's Suntory paying 13.6 billion to buy Jim Beam/Maker's Mark

[itchyfinger]

[quote name='scotee' timestamp='1389680805' post='8456941']
Japan's Suntory paying 13.6 billion to buy Jim Beam/Maker's Mark
[/quote]

I read that yesterday.....I'm not sure how I feel about that.....I associate the taste of Jim Beam with America.

[scotee]

Budweiser and now Jim Beam. Who is next?

[12tamale]

One of my favorites

[Myherobobhope]

[quote name='itchyfinger' timestamp='1389709618' post='8457897']
[quote name='scotee' timestamp='1389680805' post='8456941']
Japan's Suntory paying 13.6 billion to buy Jim Beam/Maker's Mark
[/quote]

I read that yesterday.....I'm not sure how I feel about that.....I associate the taste of Jim Beam with America.
[/quote]

Honestly, hopefully it means they are going to go back to making real bourbon... none of this honey / maple / cherry stuff.

[chickenpotpie]

Need some advice.....my wife is going to Louisville for work on Monday. I want her to pick me up some Bourbon, but not sure what to ask her to get. She's not going to drive 40 miles to get some obscure bottle, but she will probably make a stop at a local party store. Question is whether the offerings at party stores there will be markedly different than what we have in Michigan? Is it worth her time?

[bppry]

Old Weller 12 year. Not available here in Michigan. Same mash as pappy just aged 12 years instead of 23. Low cost too, low $20s I believe.

[12tamale]

[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1390670482' post='8529901']
Need some advice.....my wife is going to Louisville for work on Monday. I want her to pick me up some Bourbon, but not sure what to ask her to get. She's not going to drive 40 miles to get some obscure bottle, but she will probably make a stop at a local party store. Question is whether the offerings at party stores there will be markedly different than what we have in Michigan? Is it worth her time?
[/quote]
Wild Turkey Kentucky spirit. I think around 45-55 it's gift.
The kicking chicken

[12tamale]

You know I'm drinking some y2k stuff right now.

[Myherobobhope]

[quote name='chickenpotpie' timestamp='1390670482' post='8529901']
Need some advice.....my wife is going to Louisville for work on Monday. I want her to pick me up some Bourbon, but not sure what to ask her to get. She's not going to drive 40 miles to get some obscure bottle, but she will probably make a stop at a local party store. Question is whether the offerings at party stores there will be markedly different than what we have in Michigan? Is it worth her time?
[/quote]

Honestly, there isn't much in town that you aren't going to find elsewhere... Weller 12 isn't available in town anymore. At least, I can't find it. Weller 107 is findable.

Hope she enjoys Louisville... let me know if she needs any advice for places to go while in town...

[smoky25]

Turns out the new bar manager at my club is a bourbon man, and he's stocked the bar with a number of top shelf bourbons over the last few weeks. It's been interesting trying out the different bourbons and seeing how they stack up against my old stand-bys Old Pogue and Blanton's. No Pappy yet but I've tried Bulleit 10, Belle Meade, Four Roses single barrel and small batch, Jefferson's, Russel's Reserve, Weller 12 and others I can't remember right now, and just this weekend Eagle Rare 10, one of my new favorites. Before the year's over we should have one of the best bourbon collections in the state. Should be fun.

[Myherobobhope]

[quote name='smoky25' timestamp='1390750875' post='8535977']
Turns out the new bar manager at my club is a bourbon man, and he's stocked the bar with a number of top shelf bourbons over the last few weeks. It's been interesting trying out the different bourbons and seeing how they stack up against my old stand-bys Old Pogue and Blanton's. No Pappy yet but I've tried Bulleit 10, Belle Meade, Four Roses single barrel and small batch, Jefferson's, Russel's Reserve, Weller 12 and others I can't remember right now, and just this weekend Eagle Rare 10, one of my new favorites. Before the year's over we should have one of the best bourbon collections in the state. Should be fun.
[/quote]

That's awesome... my clubs bourbon collection is embarrassing for being in the state of KY. We at least have Elijah Craig 12 and Old Fo... and I live a mile from the bar...

My wife wasn't impressed by my multitasking and getting a drink while walking the dog.

[MtlJeff]

said it before and i'll say it again....impossible to beat Jack's Single Barrel for the money

picked up a bottle today with the brother in law coming over. Had been a couple of months.

[GooseHook]

Got a good workout of Booker's on my LV trip. Turns out the fire in it makes for an amazing neat drink.

[puttnforthe8]

Temperance from Oregon is my new favorite..sampled it at a farmers market and it has not left my side!

[80footputt]

Good read on the bourbon boom:
[url="http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/06/news/companies/bourbon-boom.pr.fortune/"]http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/06/news/companies/bourbon-boom.pr.fortune/[/url]

[knock it close]

[quote name='smoky25' timestamp='1390750875' post='8535977']
Turns out the new bar manager at my club is a bourbon man, and he's stocked the bar with a number of top shelf bourbons over the last few weeks. It's been interesting trying out the different bourbons and seeing how they stack up against my old stand-bys Old Pogue and Blanton's. No Pappy yet but I've tried Bulleit 10, Belle Meade, Four Roses single barrel and small batch, Jefferson's, Russel's Reserve, Weller 12 and others I can't remember right now, and just this weekend Eagle Rare 10, one of my new favorites. Before the year's over we should have one of the best bourbon collections in the state. Should be fun.
[/quote] Four Roses single is what I got next to me right now, I'm a fan.

[bppry]

My boss gave me a bottle of Booker's small batch this morning. Never had it before and at 124 proof I can't wait to get home tonight.

[mflores]

Speaking of Booker's they are coming out with a 25th anniversary edition - I'll be on the look out for a bottle

[url="http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/03/3066820/jim-beam-to-release-anniversary.html"]http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/03/3066820/jim-beam-to-release-anniversary.html[/url]

[pappaf2]

Picked up a bottle of WL Weller Special Reserve and had a couple pours last night. I thought it was pretty good but not overly complex. For under $20 it's a pretty good pickup though.

I tried some J.D. Single Barrel at the bar recently. Personally I thought it was just ok. Not bad but for my own tastes I wouldn't put it near the top of my list. I probably need to try it again some time.

[TheLarch]

Early Times
No ice
No Coke
No water
No 7Up
No ginger ale
No tonic

[Swoosh-Thud]

Bought a bottle of Four Roses single barrel. A little sweet for me but still a nice bottle.

[Golf-Junkie]

Got a bottle of Pappy 20 YO... offered it to a friend, he turned it down.

[C. Freeman]

[quote name='Golf-Junkie' timestamp='1394511923' post='8845307']
Got a bottle of Pappy 20 YO... offered it to a friend, he turned it down.
[/quote]

All I can say is "Why?" I had a friend tell me he saw Van Winkle Special Reserve, so I had him go back and buy the last two bottles, bubble wrap them, and send them to me. He now has a standing order to buy on sight.

[Maksimus]

I have a question for you guys, I'm getting married soon and as part of the ceremony we're doing a unity box. We write letters to each other and each get a bottle of something and lock it away for 10 years. My question is which bourbon would you guys suggest? I really like ryes and double oaked bourbons. Woodford reserve double oaked is one of my all time favorites and so is sazerac rye. But, I can spend a bit more than normal on this bottle. Any suggestions for something similar that's around $100?

Also, since this will be in the bottle, in a box, in the dark, it should age a little bit, right?

[FlounderinDC]

[quote name='Maksimus' timestamp='1395682610' post='8939763']
I have a question for you guys, I'm getting married soon and as part of the ceremony we're doing a unity box. We write letters to each other and each get a bottle of something and lock it away for 10 years. My question is which bourbon would you guys suggest? I really like ryes and double oaked bourbons. Woodford reserve double oaked is one of my all time favorites and so is sazerac rye. But, I can spend a bit more than normal on this bottle. Any suggestions for something similar that's around $100?

Also, since this will be in the bottle, in a box, in the dark, it should age a little bit, right?
[/quote]

Whiskey is different from wine, it shouldn't change once bottled. If it does change it probably isn't for the better.

Get something you like. I don't know very many high end ryes. Most of the rye I drink is on the cheaper side. Thomas H Handy is supposed to be awesome but it is hard to find. As far as bourbons go, check out Blantons, Bookers and Eagle Rare. Cool idea.

[knock it close]

[quote name='FlounderinDC' timestamp='1395723137' post='8944959']
[quote name='Maksimus' timestamp='1395682610' post='8939763']
I have a question for you guys, I'm getting married soon and as part of the ceremony we're doing a unity box. We write letters to each other and each get a bottle of something and lock it away for 10 years. My question is which bourbon would you guys suggest? I really like ryes and double oaked bourbons. Woodford reserve double oaked is one of my all time favorites and so is sazerac rye. But, I can spend a bit more than normal on this bottle. Any suggestions for something similar that's around $100?

Also, since this will be in the bottle, in a box, in the dark, it should age a little bit, right?
[/quote]

Whiskey is different from wine, it shouldn't change once bottled. If it does change it probably isn't for the better.

Get something you like. I don't know very many high end ryes. Most of the rye I drink is on the cheaper side. Thomas H Handy is supposed to be awesome but it is hard to find. As far as bourbons go, check out Blantons, Bookers and Eagle Rare. Cool idea.
[/quote] Also if your a fan of rye grab four roses single barrel bourbon as it is about 35% rye, it isn't quite as expensive as your looking (around 50 in canada so I assume mid $30 to low $40 south of the border) but you could try to find one of the limited edition ones.

[12tamale]

Yuk ^

[GooseHook]

Maksimus, the true heir to the throne, speaks true.

I got to enjoy Breckenridge this weekend courtesy of fellow WRXer/ friend AbbVT24. It was fantastic.