I just posted over in the scotch thread of two I got to try yesterday ( go take a glimpse). I also got to try this one below. It wasn't too shabby at $10 a pour ;)

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2148ad5c01.jpg

Drove up to Rockville, MD, today to pick up my Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lottery winner: a bottle of Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye. Haven't opened it yet... but I did also pick up a Jefferson's Rum Cask Finish bourbon. It's quite nice, although I have to say I like their Pritchard Hill wine cask finish bourbon better (and it's $20 cheaper a bottle).

I normally don't specify a bourbon for my Manhattan's, but I saw Angels Envy on the rack behind the bar so I asked for that and I have to admit it made a very positive impact on the cocktail. I think this particular bourbon is the best for Manhattans. Anyone have other suggestions?

Woodford Reserve has been my mainstay for a few years and I've touted it here. Recently I bought a bottle of Bulleit after a friend poured it at a party. It's several dollars a bottle cheaper than Woodford locally, and giving the two a blind taste test I'm hard pressed to tell them apart.

In general I much prefer bourbon to be used for my Manhattan, though I'm certainly aware that's not the correct recipe. My personal favorite for that use is Maker's 46. Good balance of smoothness, flavor and reasonable price.

Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth.

Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.

For those in NYC, or visiting NYC, Smith & Wollensky is offering Old Fashioned’s, prepared with Pappy Van Winkle for $35, until their stock runs out. Enjoy!

Those of you who the airlines have turned into Woodford lovers, watch for the latest Master's Collection release (Batch Proof 125.8) landing in your local liquor store this week.

https://i.imgur.com/4TtvKUC.jpg

Mmmmm Elmer. My favorite.

Thankfully it is only Old Rip Van Winkle and not Pappy, but it is nonetheless an abomination to mix Van Winkle with anything.

Picked these up this weekend.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a1e7deb282.jpg

Nice Blantons Gold, PVW 15, WLW, GTS, and Michters 10... and nice parafilm.. good for stopping leaks during shipping!

FDW

Basil Hayden's and GS Thin Mints are two of my favorite things on this planet. I'd never have thought to pair them but cannot wait to try it.

Picked up a bottle of Eagle Rare for $26.99. Hard to find here in Houston.

Any of you bourbon guys who have some time in two weeks might consider joining us in LEX for our twice-annual FT KY party weekend. Link in my signature. 16 people so far, plus some of my local friends.

Also a trip to Keeneland, a gorgeous thoroughbred track, visits to bourbon distilleries, etc.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b599a7d273.jpg

Packing for spring break... while I'm not actually flying; I have flown with these sample bottles before in my carry on....

FDW

Weller 107 for Sunday at the Masters. Still working down a set of 3 bottles I stumbled upon at a random NC ABC store last year (never seen it at any ABC store in NC since).

One of my favorite and the QPR is unreal when you can get it at ABC retail prices instead of secondary (think I paid $27-30 per)

Sitting in a bar in Des Moines this past weekend (actually the bar was in a grocery store) I decided to take a break from beer and looked over the bourbon list. I'd never had Bookers before so ordered it for $11. The bar is relatively new and the server told us he was 17. As a consequence, he couldn't find it in the register database and it got rung up as Grey Goose for $6. Well worth it, maybe even at $11. Not as sweet as Woodford, not as spicy as Basil Hayden's but just as smooth as either.

My brother is in town visiting and brought a nice little gift. :eek:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0b5f28d8c4.jpg

It would be overkill, IMHO. Although spirits do undergo some oxidation and evaporative changes, they do not experience anything like wine does. Simply putting the cork back in is typically good enough.

And I'll say that I nurse the really good bottles... I feel like I should have a funeral for the bottle when I first crack open a multi-hundred-dollar whisky. But I've never had any issues with spoilage or significant change in flavor or appearance.

I had a couple glasses of Knob Creek Rye with the Bama game yesterday. Reasonably good at a reasonable price.

Sorry, dupe.

I find most Knob Creek whiskeys to be decent values; I like their 120 proof bourbon in particular. Had some of the limited edition rye earlier this year, and don't find it particularly better than their regular rye, FWIW.

I'm not really a Bourbon fan but some of the stuff in this thread is pretty cool.

Opened up a bottle of High West Double Rye tonight.

Not bad but doesn't pack the punch I enjoy from the similarly priced baby Sazerac that's my go-to rye.

That said I didn't love the last High West I bought but after letting it sit for a few months I came back to it and loved it so hoping the same here.

Just got a bottle of Woodford Reserve as a gift - never had it am excited to try it.

I'm only lukewarm on the Double Rye, and I tend to really like other High West whiskies. The Midwinter's Night Dram, the Bourye (and Son of Bourye), etc., are all good rye/high-rye whiskies they put out. Yippie-kay-yay is a bit too mellow for my tastes in rye from their lineup, too, FWIW.

Still, IMO, the best bourbon for a manhattan. And I've tried a couple dozen manhattans with different bourbons.

Not that I don't drink the stuff neat too. There's a half a bottle on top of the bar at home and I hear it calling my name.

Once you try it you'll switch to DL just for the free Woodford in C+ / F / D1 (and in all of Y on international flights) and never look back :D

Uhhhhhhhh not going to happen. I like bourbon but am not going to start collecting Sky Pesos any time soon.