I have no idea. I poured it because it was the bottle my friend was trying to steer me away from. I listened to him for the next glass and tried the Thomas Handy Sazerac rye, which I gather is also super fancy, but I liked the Orphan better.

Killer lineup. Can't go wrong with any of those. I would definitely need a cab home.

The Orphan Barrel Rhetorics go from 20-25 years. While they change a bit year-to-year, there's no commonly accepted sweet spot for them. Thomas H. Handy, being a ~6 year, barrel proof rye, is going to stand out as young, bold, and spicy compared to a mature, 90-proof oak bomb like the Rhetorics.

Just tasted this year's Old Forester Birthday Bourbon... one of the best pours I've tried in a long time.

I realize this thread is mostly about high(er) end Bourbon but I'll pitch Benchmark as a really tasty cheap bourbon. It's perfect for the last drink of night or for mixing.

There's room in this thread for that too. Last week at the end of a long week I had a shot of Makers Mark and a nice IPA chaser and it hit the spot.

Fair enough. Maker's is my mainstay but Benchmark is one third of the cost.

High West Double Rye

It’s fine — need to re-supply my Sazerac stash though, still haven’t found something better in that price range.

Unfortunately NC ABC sucks so I’m not sure I’ll ever get a chance to try the Sazerac 18 at least in the current climate — or any other BTAC.

An interesting way to endorse it.

Reminds me of that beer that used the confusing slogan: "The one beer to drink if you're drinking more than one."

Not just a slogan, it was a jingle too. I can still hear the tune in my head.

Shaeffer. Good enough to serve to my father's poker buddies as well.

Saw Sazerac 18 at a LHR duty free this past weekend. They wanted 300 pounds. Nope.

I love the Thomas Handy Rye, and I bet I'd love the Sazerac 18. But not at $400+.

Actually might have gone for that though admittedly is pricey -- I literally can't get my hands on it in NC (sure I sign up for the lottery every year but it's almost certainly rigged for those connected to the ABC store since it happens privately behind closed doors). In my years of living here, I've never gotten anything from an NC lottery (Pappy, BTAC, one-offs, etc.) -- and these days it's hard to even get my hand on the Baby Saz (I typically have to get it shipped from out of state or pick it up when I travel to CA/NY, it never really makes it to NC).

And the old secondary market seems to have Saz 18 routinely in the $800-900.

Unfortunately have nothing planned through LHR in the next few weeks so don't have to worry about deciding on that one :D

300 GBP= $387

Sazerac 18 is one of the more limited BTAC...

I'ld pay that.. I wouldn't pay that for William Larue Weller, George T STagg or Thomas Handy

but yes in a heartbeat for Saz 18 or Eagle Rare 17

For reference

I see the Saz 18 going for $70-800 easily on the secondary, even in spite that the last two releases are "new"

Find an older tanked Saz 18 though.. much better than the stuff actually distilled by BT

FDW

Mrs BamaVol gave me a bottle of Jefferson’s Reserve Friday to celebrate my retirement. I am enjoying both.

ABC Store was out of my usual Rittenhouse Rye (and of course my go-to baby Sazerac nowhere to be seen in the state of NC).

Grabbed a bottle of the 100 proof Old Forrester Rye which sells for about the same as the Rittenhouse at the NC ABC.

Pretty tasty -- not as heavy "rye" with that spicy "rye" taste as the Rittenhouse (which is why I love it) but a pretty good drink for the price point