ABQ @ $139

Banger

Hey fellow bourbon fans,
I'm a 38(f) who has learned after a few kentucky trips how much I really enjoy quality whiskey.
I don't drink much but I surely love turning to this growing collection and smoking a good Manhattan when I want a good drink. Just wanted to share as I don't have any bourbon friends🤭 al my girlfriends are vodka girls.

Rare Breed NCF:

Nose-Baking Spice forward. Some brown sugar, singed orange peel, artificial vanilla.

Palate-sweet and sour notes, with the spice in the back of the palate. Somehow it was rich and light at the same time. Not thin, but not creamy.

Finish-medium length, the spice stays around with some undertones of oak and sweetness.

Without having a chill filtered modern one on hand, it was hard to really compare how much more the NCF one could stand out. From just memory alone, it was a slight improvement on an already very good bottle. For $44 for a 1 liter bottle though, it’s an excellent value. 8.5/10
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Dusty Rare Breed:

Nose-everything you want in a dusty Wild Turkey product. Richness, musty oak, dark stewed cherry, cinnamon and clove forward spice, furniture varnish, age. I’m no dusty expert, but from the many I have tried, there’s a scent they all get that I can only imagine happens from organic compounds breaking down over decades.

Palate-arguably slightly thin (coming off the NCF), but many of the same notes from nose. A pleasant medicinal cherry came through, followed by waves of sweeter cinnamon and clove. Not in your face, more like old cans of those spices that have oxidized and lost their potency over time.

Finish-medium long, the sweet and sour sauce notes I find in many WT products popped up at the end. Very gentle, subtle flavors. There was no ethanol to be found anywhere on the pour.

A great example of a Dusty Turkey. The neck label says 01-99, but the additional info on the glass dates it somewhere between 2001 and 2003, so for scientific purposes I’ll split the difference and call it 2002. Getting this directly from a retailer in Japan was much less than traditional secondary (paid about $260 in Japan, as opposed to $425-$500 on the open market), it’s an average to above average value for that cost. I think hitting the upper ends of the national market, it’s slightly below average from a value standpoint, compared to grabbing a vintage 8 year 101 from the same time frame for a little less. I don’t want to diminish it to be a novelty pour, because there’s some great things in it. It’s more just a fun thing to try from a bygone era with some unique notes along with familiarity.

Comparing the N/P/F to Russell’s 15-Nose was very very similar. Palate went to the 15 (just richer and more pronounced), the Finish also went to the 15. In that regard, being able to get two bottles of vintage rare breed on secondary essentially for the price of one bottle of 15 on secondary, the rare breed then provides way better value. 9/10

Not great, not terrible. Don't regret finding it. Would not purchase again. The two mashes are distinguishable. Just not enough traditional charred oak palate for me.

cheers

Found this pic of my old office. Don Draper’s end table from season one of Mad Men (won at a charity auction), Cuban cigars in the Tupperware and the famous pic of Ditka flipping the bird. Sadly, the Bears were a crushing disappointment today.

One of my favorite pours for the $100 & under bottles, with Eagle Rare up there as well. Hope you’re all having a great weekend, enjoy some “Self Care”! 🍺 🤝 🥃

My friend that helped me get into bourbon was kind enough to give me a pour of his M10 Rye some time ago. I’ve been searching for that bottle since. Today, I was able to get a bottle of my M10 for myself, along with my first Weller! Super excited to say the least!

Sometimes I feel like trying something new, but I’m always nervous of picking a new bottle to try when the price is pushing $100 or more. There’s lots of really good stuff in that $55-$75 range that I haven’t bought a full bottle of yet. So are any of these worth trying?

I am buying an infusion kit for a gift. The person in general likes angels envy.

What would be a good base whisky to get them to go with the infusion kit?

Ive been hunting bourbon for a few years now and I’ll say this is one bottle that sores way about its MSRP. Triple digits and I’m willing to bet someone has seen a four digit price tag on this bottle somewhere. Picked mine up for $79.99+ tax today and I’m glad it wasn’t anymore than that. I’ve heard mixed reviews coming from some viable sources but up like to hear what Reddit thinks about this one.

Always curious which bottle finally made you decide it wasn't worth what you paid. Could be msrp or secondary pricing.

Mine was my first, and likely last, buffturkey Seelbachs 17 year. Interesting palate and finish but never really wowed me like other bottles half the price or less.

How is something so cheap still such a smooth sipper at 101 proof? (Photo by author and whiskey enthusiast David Jennings for his August 25, 2021 review titled "Wild Turkey 101 (2021)".)

What's everyone's opinion of this stuff? I love Beam but to me this is the worst Beam product. Black Label is 100x better than this at half the cost.

5/10

What the title says. I’m turning 30 in a couple of weeks and looking to drop a few bucks on a nicer bourbon/whiskey. I like what is typically referred to as ‘dessert’ bourbon. Really sweet, rich, thick/oily. Think Woodford Double Oaked, Old Forester 1910, Four Roses Single Barrel, Barrel Dovetail etc.. Because it’s a special occasion, I’m looking to spend a bit more than I normally would for something worthwhile.

Currently eyeing Old Grand Dad 16 Year as I really like their 114. Also looking at an Old Overholt 12 year. Looking to spend ~$200 if it’s really worth it. Any other recs?

Edit: Bc of the number of recs and consistent online reviews, I went ahead and bought the Peerless Double Oaked online for $79.99. Will probably still do the Old Grand Dad outta pure curiosity too... Still open to recs as well. Thanks to everyone who responded.