Whiskey, Bourbon, and Other Fine Spirits!

Laphroaig Quarter Cask
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@Craigerrr Laphroaig is one of my favorites. I'll need to put that one on my list. I've been really loving my my Ardbeg Uigeadail lately.

@BarbarianBrewer that one looks great! Love your glass also. I have a bottle of Few rye right now that is really tasty. I think my most favorite rye is Highwest Double Rye and it's very reasonably priced around here. $30 range.
 
thunderwagn said:
@Craigerrr Laphroaig is one of my favorites. I'll need to put that one on my list. I've been really loving my my Ardbeg Uigeadail lately.

@BarbarianBrewer that one looks great! Love your glass also. I have a bottle of Few rye right now that is really tasty. I think my most favorite rye is Highwest Double Rye and it's very reasonably priced around here. $30 range.
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This was about $50. Very top end of my price range unless it's a gift. I like rye in beer and always wanted to try a rye whiskey. The owner of Oregon Spirit Distillers was there giving out samples. We chatted a bit about the challenges of brewing and distilling with rye. I definitely will look for Highwest Double Rye when this bottle gets low. A coworker who is big into whiskies has quite a collection. He never seems to pick up on my hints that I stop over for a tasting! :D But, I have been plying him with some homebrew. So maybe one day.

Edit: My wife got a set of china and crystal glasses many years ago in East Berlin. She visited her brother, who was in the army and stationed in West Germany. She didn't think she could afford anything until her sister-in-law explained the US Dollar to East German Mark exchange rate. After that she bought like a Rockefeller!
 
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Bourbon Review Alert!
I've heard the hype about Smoke Wagon Uncut/Unfiltered, so when I had the chance to get a bottle (January 2021 Batch), I jumped on it. Was surprised to find it very similar to Michter's Barrel Proof Toasted Barrel (tried this one at a bar a couple months ago) with all the flavors just a bit less pronounced and the finish a bit shorter. It was sweet, toasted oaky (not in a bad way, more from a well aged bourbon), with a somewhat thin mouthfeel. Very easy to drink, not hot or harsh in any way. There is a slight hint of Maple Syrup and a bit of leather on the finish, but it is very faint. The finish is fairly short for a BP. For anyone who is in the market for a Michter's Toasted Barrrel Cask Strenth, Smoke Wagon UU might be your alternative (in price and availability).
Having said that, and given the $70 price tag, I probably won't go for it again. I have found several other Barrel Proof bourbons that tickle my taste buds more than Smoke Wagon for the same price or slightly less money. I have found that the ECBP (only tried the C920 batch), OFSiB BP Store Picks, Jack Daniels SiB Barrel Proof (i know it's JD, but I'm telling you it's really good), Four Roses SiB Cask Strength, and Ezra Brooks 7 yr BP all beat out the Smoke Wagon when compared side by side. Even Noah Mills beats it out in spite of it not being a BP.
Take what I say with a huge grain of salt as it is only my personal opinion. Not to mention that each batch is different. It could just be that this batch is a bit of a dud compared to the other ones. Let me know if you've had SW and what your experience was with that particular batch.

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AGbrewer said:
Bourbon Review Alert!
I've heard the hype about Smoke Wagon Uncut/Unfiltered, so when I had the chance to get a bottle (January 2021 Batch), I jumped on it. Was surprised to find it very similar to Michter's Barrel Proof Toasted Barrel (tried this one at a bar a couple months ago) with all the flavors just a bit less pronounced and the finish a bit shorter. It was sweet, toasted oaky (not in a bad way, more from a well aged bourbon), with a somewhat thin mouthfeel. Very easy to drink, not hot or harsh in any way. There is a slight hint of Maple Syrup and a bit of leather on the finish, but it is very faint. The finish is fairly short for a BP. For anyone who is in the market for a Michter's Toasted Barrrel Cask Strenth, Smoke Wagon UU might be your alternative (in price and availability).
Having said that, and given the $70 price tag, I probably won't go for it again. I have found several other Barrel Proof bourbons that tickle my taste buds more than Smoke Wagon for the same price or slightly less money. I have found that the ECBP (only tried the C920 batch), OFSiB BP Store Picks, Jack Daniels SiB Barrel Proof (i know it's JD, but I'm telling you it's really good), Four Roses SiB Cask Strength, and Ezra Brooks 7 yr BP all beat out the Smoke Wagon when compared side by side. Even Noah Mills beats it out in spite of it not being a BP.
Take what I say with a huge grain of salt as it is only my personal opinion. Not to mention that each batch is different. It could just be that this batch is a bit of a dud compared to the other ones. Let me know if you've had SW and what your experience was with that particular batch.

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Well, you got a better deal on it than I could around these parts. It's about $100- $130 locally.
 
thunderwagn said:
Well, you got a better deal on it than I could around these parts. It's about $100- $130 locally.
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So I tried it again a couple days ago and now I have to eat my own words...it was awesome. All the flavors that I mentioned were turned up to 11 (shameless Spinal Tap reference). Also got some baking spices and some burnt caramel. Totally worth the $70 I paid for it and would definitely pick it up again. My palate seems to be having issues lately. perhaps I should try the whiskey over a 1 month period before deciding what I think about it.
 
AGbrewer said:
So I tried it again a couple days ago and now I have to eat my own words...it was awesome. All the flavors that I mentioned were turned up to 11 (shameless Spinal Tap reference). Also got some baking spices and some burnt caramel. Totally worth the $70 I paid for it and would definitely pick it up again. My palate seems to be having issues lately. perhaps I should try the whiskey over a 1 month period before deciding what I think about it.
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I find bottles almost always taste better after they've been open.
My moods and tastes change and I have to switch it up some. I've been in a bourbon slump lately and my tastes have favored scotch and Irish whisky. I have no idea why this happens and if it happens to others (i think we've discussed it before). Sometimes I have to hit up the rums, mezcal, and tequila too.
 
Just tried the Woodford Reserve double oaked and it had this salted caramel buttery thing going on that was absolutely fantastic. Brown sugar all day long with a bit of cherry and fresh oak flavors with just a hint of vanilla.

Would highly recommend it.
 
If you've never tasted what goes into the barrel, I recommend. This 375 will last long time! It packs a punch for sure, but if you pay attention to the nose and what's going on with the taste, it's pretty decent stuff. Hot buttered popcorn, corn, fresh grain, and FIRE! Good stuff though, really. Worth the $20.
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Smoke Wagon Small Batch 100 proof, anyone had it?
 
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