All Things Booze... and food too

[Bluewater34]

Just picked up a store pick of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and it’s fantastic.

[Wildcats82]

Yeah it is. Too bad the folks in woodford county can’t pronounce Versailles

[Bluewater34]

Originally Posted by Wildcats82 Yeah it is. Too bad the folks in woodford county can’t pronounce Versailles

Oh yeah, Ohio is just as bad or worse. There’s a town not far from here named Russia. They pronounce it Roo-She. Seriously.

[Jayes]

As strange as having to pronounce Prescott “Press-kit.” Not to mention Louisville...

[Bluewater34]

Our new house has a legit bar in it (room for three stools, three shelf hutch and prep table with running water). I’ve decided to take the opportunity to start a whiskey collection. I’m not looking for 50 bottles or anything, but a selection is more what I’m thinking. Some everyday drinkers, and a few nicer bottles. Since I’m relatively new to whiskey, I’m looking for some insight from some of you who have more experience.

I’m starting with Bourbon, and I’ve got a jump on that one. Right now my categories are:

Mixer (currently Evan Williams Bottled in Bond)
Mid-range (currently Buffalo Trace and Four Roses Small Batch)
Barrel Proof (currently Wild Turkey Rare Breed)
Single Barrel (currently the same as my higher-price pick: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked store pick)
Higher price (for me this will be $50 and up and is currently the Woodford)
Everyday Rye (currently Bulleit)
Higher quality Rye (currently an unfilled space)
Everyday Irish (currently Jameson Stout Edition)
Higher quality Irish (? I’m thinking Redbreast 12)
Speyside Scotch (currently Glenlivet Founders Reserve, which I’m not crazy about)
Highland/Lowland/Island Scotch (?)
Islay Scotch (currently Lagavulin 11 yr. Nick Offerman Edition, likely to stay Lagavulin)
Blended Scotch (? I’ve read good things about Compass Box and Monkey Shoulder)

Any feedback/ideas?

[greykitkat36]

Originally Posted by Bluewater34 Our new house has a legit bar in it (room for three stools, three shelf hutch and prep table with running water). I’ve decided to take the opportunity to start a whiskey collection. I’m not looking for 50 bottles or anything, but a selection is more what I’m thinking. Some everyday drinkers, and a few nicer bottles. Since I’m relatively new to whiskey, I’m looking for some insight from some of you who have more experience. I’m starting with Bourbon, and I’ve got a jump on that one. Right now my categories are: Mixer (currently Evan Williams Bottled in Bond) Mid-range (currently Buffalo Trace and Four Roses Small Batch) Barrel Proof (currently Wild Turkey Rare Breed) Single Barrel (currently the same as my higher-price pick: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked store pick) Higher price (for me this will be $50 and up and is currently the Woodford) Everyday Rye (currently Bulleit) Higher quality Rye (currently an unfilled space) Everyday Irish (currently Jameson Stout Edition) Higher quality Irish (? I’m thinking Redbreast 12) Speyside Scotch (currently Glenlivet Founders Reserve, which I’m not crazy about) Highland/Lowland/Island Scotch (?) Islay Scotch (currently Lagavulin 11 yr. Nick Offerman Edition, likely to stay Lagavulin) Any feedback/ideas?

Tullamore Dew is my favorite Irish Whiskey, same price as Jameson but I think it's a lot smoother. Love it.

Laphroaig is great scotch, check that one out. If you're into the super smokey, barrell tasting scotch (my favorite), you'll like this one a lot. Very woody.

For high price Bourbon, I mentioned it earlier in the thread, I love Blanton's. Can't go wrong with that one. Think it goes for around $80-90 a bottle depending where in the country you are, but they have bottles that go well into the $300 range as well.

[Bluewater34]

I’ve had Blanton’s, and it is definitely a great bourbon. It’s also impossible to find around here. If it’s ever in a shop when I walk in, I’m buying it immediately. The Ohio state liquor control board controls the prices for all liquor in Ohio, and right now the set price for Blanton’s is $56 here. But it also sells out instantaneously.

Laphroaig is on my list to try. It might be my next Islay, but I’m really loving the Lagavulin 11, and the 16 is very interesting to me right now.

[Steveo Style]

You have nice bourbon choices all around.

[Jack]

Dalwhinnie is one of my favorite scotches if you’ve never had it. Also the Laphroaig cask strength. That may be more association bias, but I love it.

For Rye bourbon, I was never a big fan, but someone gave me a bottle of whistlepig and I really liked it. I like being married, so it’s not something I will be buying very often, but I did buy the piggyback 6yr which is meant more for mixing, I think. But I drink it on ice and I think it is great. It’s still pricey at around $50, but less than 1/2 of the ten year.

[Bluewater34]

Yeah, Whistlepig is probably more than I’m going to spend for a rye, especially since I actually really like Bulleit, which is like $20. Has anyone tried Old Forester Rye? I’ve read good things.

Thanks for the tip on Dalwhinnie. That’s not one that I’ve come across.

[Bluewater34]

My wife got me a bottle of Redbreast for Christmas, which filled my last category. So after some revision as I tasted different things, my whiskey shelf is now:

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond
Buffalo Trace
Old Grandad 114
George Dickel Bottled in Bond 11yr
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Knob Creek Single Barrel
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked store pick
Old Forester Rye
High West Double Rye
Jameson Stout Edition
Redbreast Single Pot Still 12 yr
Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt
Lagavulin 11 yr. Offerman Edition

[Bluewater34]

I picked up a bottle of Cocchi Americano over the weekend and I’ve been making Vesper Martinis all week. Those are some really nice cocktails.