Bears and Deacs
Bourbon Drinker
I haven't had anything tonight so I think I'll pour some Irish as well. Redbreast 12 Cask Strength.
a sneak peak?
Whose place is that?
Here's his recap of the last group of single barrel picks that we did. This was a VERY expensive bill that hit right before Christmas. I couldn't wait for my commission check to hit so I could put some money back in the bank account!
http://bourbondork.blogspot.com/2013/01/bourbon-influx-winter-2012.html
you guys spot any must-haves on this list? will be checking it out this weekend
http://www.beveragewarehouse.com/search/?category_id=31
What does it cost (say average) to commission a barrel? I am looking for a cool get together with friends this sounds like an awesome trip that ends with a delicious final product.
It depends on what distillery you choose and what bourbon you want. If you purchase a barrel it has to be fulfilled through a retailer, so typically you get somewhere close to retail prices.
For example, when we do Old Weller Antique purchases we figure on an average of 216 bottles per barrel at a price of around $25/bottle. The actual count can change when the barrel is dumped though - we've had as low as 192 and as high as 240 bottles/barrel. 216 * $25 = $5400
When we choose Four Roses cask strength, we figure on about 162 bottles and $55/bottle. Because it's cask strength there are obviously fewer bottles and the FR are typically a little older, which also has an impact on price. 162 * $55 = $8900ish.
Label, age, and proof all go in to getting the final price and again it has to go through a retailer. If you have a relationship with any retailers in your area and don't have enough guys to cover an entire barrel, you might think about getting the retailer involved...especially if they have never done a barrel pick before (and hopefully they'll give you a great price!). See if they want to do the tasting with you and agree to take half of the bottles as a private pick that they can sell in the store, while you and your group divide the other half however you want....just a thought.
you guys spot any must-haves on this list? will be checking it out this weekend
http://www.beveragewarehouse.com/search/?category_id=31
Some prices seemed a little high, but here's what I'd look for:
Bourbon:
Buffalo Trace (if you haven't had it...a good, standard rye based bourbon)
Weller 12
Irish Whiskey:
Black Bush (price is decent)
Redbreast 12 (both regular and cask strength are very good)
Rye Whiskey:
High West Rocky Mountain Rye 16yr or 21yr (no longer made...the 16yr is only in 375ml it looks like)
Whistle Pig 10yr Rye
Wild Turkey Rye 101 pf (if they have it. this is no longer made...now 81 proof)
Rittenhouse Rye 100 pf (the price looks high, but this is a pretty good rye...very low rye content so it drinks more like a bourbon)
Agree on the Redbreast 12, and I see they have the 15, which is priced about the same as around here. It's really good as well, but I think the 12 is a vastly better value.
Buckets, I don't know if you've ever had the Whistlepig, but I might suggest a taste at a bar or some place before buying. Being 100% rye, it is very different and not to everyone's liking. I like it for a change, but not on a regular basis.
And if you've never tried the Hudson products, I highly recommend. The Baby Bourbon, Four Grain and Manhattan Rye are all great, and the prices are few dollars better than I pay here, with the Baby Bourbon being $5 cheaper. Keep in mind, though, that those are for 375mls, so it's not the cheapest whiskey in the world. The Manhattan Rye is my favorite.
Bears and Deacs,
Did some research on the Willett that I found - it's the bronze wax, 21 years old, from barrel 4131. Let me know what you find out - my google search didn't pull back much info.
Here's what I got back...unfortunately it's not very specific but I don't think anyone in my group ever came across barrel 4131. I separated the three comments that I received. (Just an FYI - Binny's is a big Chicago retailer that does a lot of single barrel picks.)
I know nothing about this bottling but for price reference Binny's is selling their 21 year picks at $169.99. They are barrel #3633 and #3655.
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there seems to be a lot of willett 21's out there right now.
From my taster, there are 2 versions.
the higher proofers (125-135) seem to be a wheater. The couple I have had have been really good.
The lower proofers (102-115) seem to be a Heaven Hill (EC18 profile) I have had one that was phenomenal, and one that is not very good.
Pricing I have seen is in the $140(low proofer) to $225 (high proofer)
so bottom line, never know what your gonna get.
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The beauty of off the shelf Willett.... you have no idea of what it is..... tough way to spend $170+ unless you get to taste it first...
Live auction at the fundraiser I attended last night had a full barrel of Buffalo Trace bourbon for sale - final price was $5700 which seems like a pretty damn good deal.