Congrats!

I somehow missed the MD BTAC lottery (they never e-mailed me; a shame as it looks like they only got ~1500 entrants), and came up close but no cigar on the MD Pappy one (missed on the draw by 2; they had ~5000 entrants).

VA is still a mess as to how they handle heavily-allocated products; no one seems to be able to explain how the waiting lists work, how to get on them, or if you even can get on them any longer, or what happens to the allocated products they get in.

Thanks - was stoked to see the email. I'd have been happy with any as I had no luck in MD this year, but am thrilled with WLW. A friend is seriously offering secondary market prices or some aggressive trades, but it's still a keeper. Expecting PA to open up the PVW lottery after they finish allocating BTAC.

Also scored 2 bottles of 2015 bourbon county stout and a bottle of the barleywine today.

To quote the great philosopher Ice Cube, "I can't believe, today was a good day."

Here in the UK I managed to get a WLW & GTS, the cost was £279 for both bottles, I also got another Pappy 23, cost in the UK £649.

HOLY HANNAH!

Pricey. I'll bet it's delicious on the rocks with some Dr. Pepper though. :)

Buy or not? Local store has Elijah Craig 23 for $179.99. Thinking of picking it up today and saving it for a special occasion.

That's over my cost threshold. However, others may advise you to buy.

I haven't had it, but it's tough to say. 23y is pushing it for a bourbon; that price is on the low side of retail, so not bad.

That sounds like fun! Will do next time I go to New Orleans!

I've been happy with Maker's Mark. After this thread, I'm interested in trying more.

You should try more. Maker's is decent enough, but it is regarded as a good low end Bourbon. I was recently at the St. Regis Washington D.C. and Maker's is the lowest end bourbon there and regarded as the "house" bourbon. But they have a lot of higher end choices and really good rye whiskey too. I especially enjoyed the Whistling Pig.

Maker's is a premium bourbon. Just because a high end restaurant or bar has it in the well or calls it "house" doesn't change that fact. Ketel One and Grey Goose are also the house vodkas in many high end establishments...

Whistle Pig is a perfume bottle using sourced mass produced liquid from Lawrence Indiana. Much like many of these so called "high end" bourbons popping up. They make a glass bottle and create a brand, and don't distill or produce anything.

I said it was decent, but sorry these days it doesn't really qualify as premium when there are 30+ better bourbons out there.

Whistle Pig 10 year rye comes from Vermont, not Indiana. And it is made by the original Makers Mark master distiller, Dave Pickerell. But the most important characteristic is its smooth taste.

Whistle pig 10 year rye is bottled, NOT DISTILLED in Vermont. They buy bulk liquid from Canada. So yes, I guess the bottle itself comes from Vermont.

I'm assuming these other 30+ bourbons you are referring to are bulk liquid packaged in fancy bottles like Whistle Pig 10 year Rye (Templeton, Bulleit, etc..) does on their farm in Vermont. Marketing at it's finest.

That was originally the case, but no longer. Not Indiana, nor Canada.

Not sure why you are obsessed with marketing. I don't care about the fancy bottles. Its the taste that counts.

If I came over to help you drink it, would that qualify as a special occasion?

I managed to get a bottle of the VW 12 from the Mongomery County lottery.. it was kind of a pain because they basically gave you a 60 hour window to picl it up.. still glad to get it...

Definitely a good day. The WLW is always my favorite of the BTAC...


279 for both bottles is a good get.. I would pay that.. 649 is steep for the PVW 23 but I've seen secondary prices in the US reach over $1600

I have a bottle of the 21... Didn't like it; too over oaked.. I'm not willing to try a bottle of the 23... one liquor store tried to sell me a bottle of the 18 for $200... I passed.. I used to be a big fan of the 18 when it was $40 a bottle.. it's what really got me into bourbon....


All of the WhistlePig whiskey is still sourced. They have been distilling on site since 2011 (but only on a small scale of 50 barrels a year) and recently opened up a larger still.. However, all of their releases are still 10+ years old so that means none of their product is in there... I find WhistlePig good,but there are better Canadian ryes out there... (Alberta Premium coems to mind)...