Daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law headed out to scout a ground squirrel shooting spot, and the wife and I are tasting Kentucky straight bourbons in the parlor.
From left: Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select 90.5 proof; Elijah Craig 18-year-old 90 proof (my favorite); Rowan’s Creek 100.1 proof (wife’s favorite so far); Booker’s 7-year-old 128 proof.
The Rowan’s Creek is awesome and at Costco right now for about $35/bottle; it’s a great deal if you like a really smooth bourbon with a spicy, fiery finish.
Top-shelf whisky seems expensive until you realize how much longer it lasts than the equivalent bottle of wine….
My favorite bourbons right now are the Elijah Craig, Knob Creek, Wild Turkey’s Kentucky Spirit, and a 3-year-old Willett Rye that’s also at Costco. Good stuff.
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This is one area in which Texas must bow. Sadly, spirits can only be sold in liquor stores. Not in grocery stores, not in drugstores, not in Sam’s, Costco or Wally World.
Liquor. Stores.
None of which are open on Sunday, might I hasten to add?
A remnant, and not the only one, of Ye Olde Bloo Laws, in the Republic of Texas. Now if we can just get the Ye Olde Blue Hairs in the legislature to debaptistise for a vote or three. Oh, yeah…..and while they’re at it, can we haz Open Carry handgun laws, too?
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
God, that’s horrible. I bought the Knob Creek and Woodford’s Reserve on sale at Lucky (local supermarket) because the price beat BevMo, the local beverage superstore. Competition works to lower prices!
Allow my heresies for a moment?
Well-drinks. Mixer grade bourbons.
There is a need for any well stocked bar to have a bottle of the stuff, as it’s positively sinful to sacrafice an ounce of Bulliet to such as a Manhattan, Old Fashioned, etc. Not far after passing the “splash of water or ice cube” stage, even the vaunted “bourbon & coke” so overwhelms the spirits, that a lesser bourbon most often, suffices.
To that end, I’ve found that Ancient Age is a workable well-bourbon, but have yet to find a backup to the backup, as it were. Ordinary Jim Beam (white label) is a very acceptable “everyday, every purpose” bourbon, too.
No need to raid the top shelf for those more pedestrian uses, eh?
Similarly, I keep a bundle or so of cheaper ($1 per stick) “mixed filler” cigars in one of the humidors. These serve well for when…..mowing the lawn, or grilling on windier days which burn-through what’s normally a 45 minute cigar in 1/3 the time. I used to smoke ’em when out sailing, for the same reason. Bonus; they’re the perfect cigar to give to some neophyte, when you’re enjoying cigars with friends, and a “newbie” wants to “try one”…… and what, I’m going to give him a $10+ stick to burn an inch of only to discard the remainder?
By the same reasoning, I don’t introduce people to shooting, using Hornady Critical Defense, Federal Match or other pricey boomencrackers. Not when bulk Remington .22 or Winchester White Box is there for those occassions!
All that said, I’m drooling looking at your bourbon arsenal there. Assault Bourbons! High Capacity Bourbons! Shoulder Thing that go UP, bourbons!
At present, I’m constructing a rather fanciful, complex and expensive, front-serve bar, around a 40 bottle wine chiller, to reside in the “gun room” here. I’ll send pictures of it when I’m done. And, while I don’t have the “depth” of bourbons you’ve shown, I’ll not be embarassed……. my ammo stockpile of Scotches, Vodkas, Tequilas and Gins would be enough to drive Sarah Brady to join the NRA.
Y’know, this comment grew longer than I intended, but it does lead me to ask, (could be a meme?) What bottles do you keep in these categories?
Well Drinks. (Ancient Age bourbon, Valu-Rite vodka, etc?)
Call Drinks. (Jim Beam bourbon, Skyy vodka, Johnny Walker Red (Scotch), Gordon’s gin, etc?)
Top Shelf. (fine Single Malt scotches, YOUR bourbons, Absolut vodka (though I prefer Russian Standard or Tito’s, they’re not as well known….[grey goose…gag, spit, overrated french surrender water!]….), Bombay Sapphire gin, 1800 Silver tequila, etc.)
And for another meme altogether…..the finer “dessert” wines…. ports and sherries…. lord, and the cigars to go with ’em….. *drooling now*
Speaking of the cigars, don’t forget to tell me where to send yours. I’m not shittin’ you here, amigo. Got some stogies I think you’re going to really enjoy, once I can get ’em to you, that is.
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
Ahh… Knob Creek… pretty damned fine bourbon, and definitely the best Machine Gun Shoot.
If you haven’t tried Maker’s 46 you should really give it a shot. Much more lively on the tongue, hints of cinnamon and spice.
For my “every purpose” bourbon it is hard to go wrong with Jim Beam white label. Perfect for marinades, mixed drinks, and glazes.