That's what I'm looking to do. a handful (or 2) of decent bourbons I can easily find locally or online. Just like any hobby, chasing the unicorn(s) takes a ton of time and money and life is too short to obsess about any one hobby.
I got a handful of allocated bottles this year, but not the BIG ones. The one that I did NOT get but really hoped to find is the Maker's Mark Cellar Aged. Fortunately a great friend gave me a generous sample and it really was delicious. Edit: UNBELIEVABLE. Ten minutes after I posted this I got called for the county lottery and I actually got the last Cellar Aged! 🎉🥃
Only been a subscriber since 2023 but you both are bye far my favorite and most realistic reviews for most listeners.Thanks for not making me feel stupid for my bourbon journey.
Knob Creek 12 and Rare Breed are out of this world. Absolutely fantastic for the price. Knob Creek 12 can be hard to find but it is much easier to find than other allocated products. I have not had that Makers 46 Cask Strength but I have had a Makers Private Selection “Kentucky Hug” that was unbelievable. It ranked ahead of Weller Full Proof, Antique Weller, and Pappy 10 in a tasting I did recently with some friends.
That's a hell of a tasting! I'm curious how the 46 CS would have fared. It's a seriously great pour! Hell, the regular Makers CS is hard to beat for its price point too. 🥃
I just got my first bottle of OF 1910. It's right in my wheelhouse! I've had 1920, and it's a bit too hot for me, even with a cube. This 1910 is sweet and rich thanks to the double oaked. Substantial body @93proof. Really tasty!
Weird to say, but I'm not a bourbon guy at all. I'm all scotch and other malts. But the reason I watch this channel is Kurt. The most humble and polite human being I've ever seen and it's just so interesting to watch.
Gosh those prices are amazing...I live in BC Canada and that Knob Creek 12 goes for $138 CAD....You said it was 70=80 US range, still puts it at $94-$107 CAD If I could buy it there, of course border taxes after that. That Michters Bourbon - $95 CAD here for it and you guys call it the cheap stuff for $40. We get hosed here. Absolutely love your videos for these kinds of comparisons. Thanks guys!
I was thinking the same thing from Ontario! $90 for the Michter’s US1 Bourbon and $149.25 for the KC12. For 60 bucks, I honestly think the KC9 is just fine for me when I want that flavour profile.
After chasing limited bottles for years, available benchmarks like these are my favorites and what make me love bourbon. I get the Michter's by the case, it's so great. Even Turkey 101 is fantastic stuff.
In Canada we don't have allocated whisky. I am so glad you got some of what you wanted! I bet there are amazing - hell how about spectacular?!! - Bourbons out there that aren't allocated! Love Rare Breed!! Cheers guys! Have an awesome day everyone!!
@@Josh-th7tm to you surely, I can't tell you what you like. However to many folks it's great. Hell you might like Dickle... We can't argue with your preference bud.
If you guys go after a Tumblin' Dice pick, consider looking into a rye as well. I currently have an 8-year single barrel pick from a local store here in Indy that is spectacular. Cheers!
Just broke down last week and bought the rare breed based on all the blinds it's been winning... after trying it in a bar and not finding it much/any better than 101 and therefore putting off the purchase several months... and now that I've got my own and I can sip it at my leisure... starting to get it. It's a nice bottle. And the 46 cask was the bottle I bought right before it. The first two mentioned in this video... I'm making some good choices it seems.
Before I found this channel, I knew I enjoyed bourbons and whiskey, but I really only bought bottles based on which looked the best out of the weekly sale selections at the nearest store. I certainly don't have a refined enough palate to justify spending the time or money on especially rare or expensive bottles. So, this list hits the sweet spot for my budget and taste - thanks, fellas.
I have several of these bottles, plus a few other non allocated bottles like widows jane, four roses, WR double oaked, and I feel perfectly content with my collection. I recently was gifted about 1/3 of a bottle of blantons in the original bottle, which was nice. But I find myself consistently opening the old forester 1910 and rare breed. I can go back to those 2 over and over again. I appreciate the SLB channel, and your blinds and reviews have helped me find very reasonable choices that I enjoy over and over again. I agree with Kurt, Rare Breed is an absolutely awesome bottle. $45.99 at my local costco.
"Bourbon Square Distilling" on the TJ's bottle is the name for Barton products sold under TJ's labels. The 125-proof bottle is basically a budget 1792 Full Proof. I still regret passing on it the last time I saw it! It had run out the next day.
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is the one that I've bought the most of. I tend to buy one every time I find it. ASW Georgia Heartwood and Rare Breed are also favorites.
Anything from Redwood Empire is fabulous. It’s easily available in Texas too. Rare Breed is still mid $40’s here too. Then go to Whiskey Cake for a pour of all the allocated stuff. Hunting is just not worth the time and effort.
I never hunt allocated bourbons. Too many good choices on the shelf to enjoy. I like finding bourbons I enjoy that I can actually purchase when I want.
Same here! As much as I love BT products and have hunted them in the past, I got sick of playing their game and over-paying for good bourbon when there's PLENTY of excellent stuff that's always available.
Another great video. I loved the comment about the allocated chapstick as it was a good laugh. Our Walmarts up here in Alaska sell bourbon and they have the WT Rare Breed for $48.98 last time I looked. I know I scored at least 7 allocated bourbons last year and 5 of them came from the same store. I got lucky that day as I just stopped by when they were unloading their truck. Anyway keep up the good work and thanks for posting some of the best videos out there.
I get a Maple note with my Michters US-1 Bourbon more on the nose than on the pallet. It’s one of my favorite bottles. Thank you for another great video.
Very solid lineup. I'm not a huge fan of the Fiddler. It was ok, but it had a sharpness I wasn't a fan of. However, it worked well for my infinity bottle and mixing. I was a little surprised not to see some discussion of Wilderness Trail, NULU, or New Riff.
Trent pulled every bottle out of my modest little collection. Kurt only took my Michtner's. The other 4 are not available in NH, so I'm feeling pretty good about my collection. 🙂
I love all of these bottles. Knob 12 is fantastic with lots of dark flavors. Makers46 cask strength is so good. It’s the only makers mark that I consistently like and it’s definitely better than weller. Russell single barrels can sometimes beat anything in a blind. I’ve been holding off on getting the OF 1910 and 1920 because they are always available and I typically lean towards buying bottles that are a little more difficult to find.
If you've ever had the Woodford Double Oaked - it and 1910 are almost identical. Woodford is a bit more caramel, Old Forester a bit more fruity to me, both great.
I'm not surprised to see Michter's in your bourbon lineup! I am surprised that Trenton didn't mention Michter's rye, which is also excellent. Good luck! :-)
Fellow hoosier here, I recently tried an Old Hamer single barrel I got for $32 in Mishawaka. It’s distilled in West Field near Indy. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
love the show guys ... keep them coming. Working on finding gems and this helps a lot. Hard to source around here (Northern VA). I've been trying to find John J Bowman on the shelves but so far no luck. Might just go down to Fredericksburg and check at the source.
I thought when the video started that I would not have any of the bourbons showcased. Both the WT RB and SB are fantastic bottles along with MM 46 CS and are currently on my shelf. I have had the OF bottles as well as the KC 9 year. I will have to look for the KC 12. After that, I have not seen any of the other bottles in our area of the country. Thanks guys for another entertaining video. Cheers.
Big fan of Old 55's whiskey, and the guys who run it are great to talk to if you're ever near Newtown, IN for some reason. I believe that is the double-oaked BIB release, age-stated either 7 or 8 years (~$125 since there's only one 55 gallon barrel of the stuff on the planet...). They use smaller barrels for aging most of their stuff, so it drinks older than that since it spent a couple years in new 30 gallon barrels before going into the big boy. 80/20 corn/red winter wheat mashbill, so their stuff (especially the barrel proof ~$80/bottle) is like what Maker's Mark wishes it was - really rich and earthy, with nice hits of darker sweetness and red fruits over the top. Pick up a bottle if you ever see one!
Tumblin' Dice wax is no joke, but I do love their whiskey. Even the low proof regular offering is pretty tasty. I have a Barrel Proof Rye store pick and its amazing.
Great recommendations. I'd also recommend Blue Note, Unfiltered/Uncut, Ben Holladay Soft Red Wheat, and any Frey Ranch barrel proof or farm strength/uncut.
Totally agree with the list but the best Blantons alternative in my opinion is John J Bowman its pretty available and is really good. Its a BT product aged in VA.
Another Indiana distillery you should check out is cardinal spirits! They're a bit of a newer distillery and have only recently started to get aged whiskeys in. They've put out a really good four grain recently and had a really good single malt about a year or so ago. As a fellow Hoosier would love to see what you guys think of them!
I really don’t hunt if I walk into my local store and they have something good and it’s not over priced I’ll get it. Just picked a Penelope 9 year not super allocated but it doesn’t come around my area much. Great list most of these I have had. Enjoy!!
I've only had two of the ten Bourbons in this video. Michter's and Maker's Mark 46. I prefer the Michter's. Thank you for another nice video. Happy New Year.
That RR single barrel is one of my favorite daily drinkers. I wish the KC12 was more readily available in my area especially at that price. It's usually allocated in Oklahoma and typically $75-$100
Appreciate the video. Personally don't have the time or inclination to chase down allocated hard to find Bourbons, more hype than actual enjoyment IMHO. Keep up the good work!
Great video! I have all of the first 5 in my bar now, but none of the second 5 currently. I'm driving down to Florida in a few weeks and plan to stop in Atlanta to visit ASW and pick up a bottle or 3.
Guys, that Trader Joe's bourbon is awesome! This may be the best bottle I have bought yet, when you factor in the price. I lucked out and they had some in Leweyville last month. Rumor is that it is 1792 Barton bourbon. It is comparable to 1792 Full Proof, and Kirkland Single Barrel, which is labels as being from 1792 Barton.
Love the review, and I can find several of those bottles consistently in stock, in my local stores. I also have a Tumblin Dice store pick and the flavor in it is very good too! Cheers and another great video.
Great review! I'm all about Trenton's list, and I'm a big Jim Beam and Wild Turkey fan. I've only had one from Curt's list (Michters), and it's OK for me. I'd love to try some of the others, but never see them in NC.
Great list. I would add blade and bow as an alternative to blantons. Has the key thing to replace the horsey toppers and it has a similar flavor profile.
I like a good allocated bottle if I'm luck enough to get one. But my staples that i always go back to are OF 100 and 1910. Maker's 46. JD SBBP and New Riff BiB.
I stopped looking for allocated a few years ago. Some of it's just not that great and not worth the trouble once you do find it. Where i live the stores always have the prices jacked way up now and I said no more. There are many bottles on the shelf that are just as good or better than 90% of the allocated stuff.
I think most of those labels are available here in the "heart of the rust belt". I've waited for some of the allocated bourbons and when they finally got here there was kind of a let down as for taste. I think I'll go the way of the SLB here next purchase. Thanks SLB for the suggestions.
Trenton with those kind of toppers on bottles which are a pain in the ass. Run the top of the bottle under really hot water for a minute or two. This makes it much easier to cut around the top.
Btw. there is new Rare Breed bottling I heard, so would be nice to do comparison. Old vs. new bottle, whether the juice is hopefully still the same.... Or not...
2024 is the year that I quit allocated bottles. If the base product liquor sucks I’m not going to piss my money away on mediocre liquor at ridiculous prices.
KC12 is pretty readily available up here in MN and usually around 59.99 except 1 local grocery store chain always has it for 53.99. And every once in awhile Costco will have rare breed in stock for 47.99.
Suggestions for future videos. Fifteen bottles to start your bar. From vermouths to Japanese whiskey. What would you start with. And a why for your channel. I see donations to hospitals from your proceeds. I’m not sure the background. Would love to hear.
I love my Tumblin Dice store pick! I think Proof and Wood are behind it. The wax IS insanely tough! I too am more of a Wild Turkey/Old Forester guy so RR SiB and 1920 are always on my shelf.
During the holiday's, I needed to replenish my Rare Breed. I found a store that still had an old label (like in this video) and of course I bought it. Is there any merit at all in looking for the older labels OR are they still the same as usual? Great video gang! I love talking about get-a-ble bourbons!!
