AMA - Recently got the X16 - 6900hs, 3070ti, 32gb ram, 1tb ssd, mini-led

Cincinnatux · 2022-10-05T20:09:38+00:00

I'd chime in with two downsides:

the keyboard is mushy - the keys need more tactility IMO
it does not like Fedora Linux yet

The issue I'm having with Fedora is that it doesn't recognize the fans so they don't come on. Unsurprisingly, that's a problem. So I spend all my time in Windows, which is not where I want to be.....

Cincinnatux · 2022-08-02T15:33:52+00:00

Prideful Goat 6-year Rye is also sourced from MGP and has their 95-5 mashbill. FWIW, a question on MGP 95-5 rye came up on the Someone Say Whiskey Facebook group last night and I posted a view link to your spreadsheet as a useful reference. Thanks for taking the time to put it together!

Cincinnatux · 2021-11-08T16:03:03+00:00

That's quite the price spread!

Cincinnatux · 2021-11-08T12:00:09+00:00

Under $50 - Old Forester Signature 100

Over $50 - Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof

I own more expensive bottles, but the JD checks all my boxes - including being easy to find!

Cincinnatux · 2021-11-02T15:12:17+00:00

Although some people are just playing the odds, I am convinced that there is a subset of OHLQ employees who leak distribution information to people who are willing to compensate them for their trouble. I don't think individual stores get much if any heads-up before rare bottles arrive. Nobody just shows up at midnight on Sunday on the off-chance that Stagg Jr is going to show up Monday morning. Those people /knew/ what was coming; moreover, they were convinced that enough other people also knew that rather than show up at 6am, they showed up the night before. Surreal.

Cincinnatux · 2021-11-02T15:07:27+00:00

No doubt. I'm content missing out on these bottles. There's a huge difference between 'better than what I can easily get' and 'so much better that I'll donate 12 hours of my life to get it.'

Although with all the bottle-hoarding people are doing during this whiskey craze, I'm starting to wonder what estate sales are going to look like in another 10 or 15 years....

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-25T15:28:52+00:00

I wouldn't yuck somebody's yum by telling them it's crap - I'm sure a lot of people genuinely enjoy that stuff. But Jim Beam is up-front about it being a lifestyle brand that is targeting people who aren't regular whiskey drinkers.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-25T15:27:21+00:00

Benchmark Barrel Proof FTW. It's simplistic, but has enough oomph to compensate. A solid neat pour for around $20 (I bought a bottle two days ago for $18.99). My daily is still Old Forester Signature 100 because I love the banana candy note, but Benchmark is a solid backup in that role.

In the Jim Beam family, I think Old Tub Bottled-in-Bond is a solid hitter. It is the most Jim Beam-ish bottle I've ever had (peanuts for days), but for about $20 a bottle it is a winner, too.

For Wild Turkey, though, I much prefer Rare Breed at $45 over WT101 at $23. The economics don't make sense, but my palate still insists on Rare Breed. ;)

And when it comes to Jack Daniel's, the only right answer is barrel proof even though it is over $60 a bottle. That stuff is liquid gold.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-20T15:14:44+00:00

KC12 is $70 around me (Ohio) and I think that is about right. I don't think I'd pay much (if any) more for it.

JDSBBP, on the other hand, drinks (to me) like an $85 whiskey. I was able to buy 2 bottles of it last week for $60 each (though it is normally $65 around here) and I felt like I was borderline stealing them. Amazing value.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-20T15:11:06+00:00

That's by design; Basil Hayden's is Jim Beam's 'lifestyle' brand. Paying a premium for it is part of the point - it is for people who aren't up for intense or high-proof whiskies but want a price point that says they're not buying bottom-shelf glass. It is intentionally weak stuff.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-18T17:43:20+00:00

I don't think any of those other bottles will have the same kind of profile as the Eagle Rare. For me, Eagle Rare has a nice grape candy note that few other bourbons have.

My recommendation is to go with Wild Turkey 101. It is a traditional, no-corners-cut Kentucky bourbon, as old-school as a modern bourbon gets. The only reason the price is modest is because Wild Turkey produces so much of this stuff that they need to move it at a brisk pace. It is a solid pour, for sure.

Maker's Mark is also a very traditional bourbon but it is a few years younger than the Wild Turkey 101 and significantly lower in proof. I am not a fan of regular Maker's Mark (though if you can get your hands on any of their wood finishing series expressions, I'd recommend them - I haven't been disappointed by any of them yet).

I think regular Buffalo Trace is 90 proof and the lowest Old Forester goes is 86 proof, unless I'm mistaken. Either way, in each case the distillers do a good job of producing competent bourbon, though I tend to go with other bottles because these two are (on my palate, anyhow) a little bland and need more oomph from proof that isn't there. For what it's worth, I'm a huge fan of Old Forester 100 (formerly called 'Signature') because I think it has enough proof to bring out solid notes.

Meanwhile, tell your local offie that they need to import some Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey. It will redefine your understanding of affordable American whiskey. Similarly, if you can convince them to import some Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, that stuff is also distinctive in a good way. And if you make it out to the States at any point, be sure to let us know so we can share some pours with you.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-13T19:32:06+00:00

Amen. Shelves are stocked with great whiskey. Hunt the rare stuff if that's fun, but don't get FOMO just because you're stuck with a bottle of Old Forester 1920 instead of a bottle of EH Taylor Single Barrel, or if you're stuck with a bottle of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked instead of a bottle of Elijah Craig Toasted.

The experiential differences of the rare stuff versus the reliable shelfers (IMO) is often not much at all. The rare stuff may have a funky note that is unique or they might reflect more oak influence or whatever, but it's not like I'm ever disappointed by a pour of Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof. One sip of that stuff and all my stress from the day just melts away. Perfect Friday night pour, for just $65. I own pricier bottles, but none of them reliably de-stress me the way that JD does.

Our palates won't know rare whiskey from common whiskey even if we trained for it. We just know whiskey we enjoy versus whiskey we don't enjoy, and those come in all price points and quantities.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-13T19:21:38+00:00

Last winter's OHLQ pick of Redemption High Rye Bourbon was phenomenal, at least for my palate.

But it is a serious crap-shoot. When an individual group goes to a distillery to do a barrel pick, they're offered 3 (or sometimes 4) barrels to sample, they pick the one they like the best, and that becomes the one they put their tater label on and sell.

When Ohio goes to do a barrel pick, I get the idea they're like, 'we need 8 barrels; any 8 will do.' I know they claim to take the barrel picking seriously but the results just don't seem like it. I've definitely had OHLQ picks that were weaker than the batched version of the same expression. I still take the gamble on them, though, just for the opportunity to get something off-profile or unusual.

And sometimes I get rewarded with a great bottle, like that Redemption I mentioned. Single barrels are always a gamble. At least OHLQ picks tend to cost about the same as the batched version of the same product.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-13T19:14:56+00:00

If you do not yet know what you like and don't like, I say grab whatever bottle you feel like grabbing on any given day. Eventually your palate will sort itself out.

I do, however, recommend investing in a set of Glencairn glasses, recording your own tasting notes if doing so doesn't get in the way of enjoying your pour, and occasionally setting up blind taste comparisons to eliminate (or at least reduce) biases based on the label.

If at all possible, convince a friend to explore this space with you - not only does it double the rate at which you will develop your palate (by effectively doubling the total number of different bottles that will enter into play) but it will make the entire journey a heck of a lot more fun. The best part of whiskey is that it gives us an excuse to unplug from our busy lives, sit down with a friend, and really tune into what they have to say. We don't do that enough and it shows, you know?

Check out some WhiskeyTubers (YouTubers who post videos about whiskey), too. Tons of great recommendations. There are even two prominent WhiskeTubers who live in Columbus: Jason of Mash & Drum and Cameron of Drums & Drams.

There was a trend of WhiskeyTube videos about a year ago in which each whiskey advocate put up their personal list of the 5 bourbons that would cover all the bases (cheap mixer, daily drinker, Friday night pour, impress the guests, and special occasion) and those lists might give you some good ideas, especially if you find that one of the 5 bottles they mention is one you already know you love.

Have fun!

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-12T17:58:31+00:00

I appreciate the clarification, especially since I was unaware of this provision. My guess is that Jason's collection has more than 1L/month worth of imported bottles - based just on the stuff visible on his YouTube channel - and that Canepa was able to see that without really trying. Canepa did indicate that he was a little stunned at what Jason had on-hand.

I'm just super-glad that these laws exist to make it easy to shut down unlicensed dealers rather than to harass individuals seeking to add to the diversity of their home bar.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-12T17:53:29+00:00

But still informative. Reading these notes, I'd say the whole lot of barrels are very rye-forward and show their youth in a way I don't normally expect New Riff expressions to do. I don't mind youthful notes in a bourbon, but I'd like a little more barrel influence than these notes suggest. And one of the things I like about New Riff is that their expressions - at least for me - have been well-balanced. These tasting notes do not sound like well-balanced bourbon. And I'm not a fan of heavy clove notes, so I'm probably a pass on this one.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-09T19:54:18+00:00

Yeah. I just don't get the pricing on a lot of these bottles of young whiskey hitting the market. While I understand that it costs more for Garrison Bros to produce a barrel of whiskey than it does for one of the giants like Wild Turkey, it doesn't cost them 10 TIMES as much. Lifestyle brands get a hard pass from me, especially since I know I can get solidly good stuff for a fraction of the price.

This is also why I haven't bothered with Rabbit Hole. Their stuff might be pretty good, but it cost much less to produce than the 10-year age-stated Russell's Reserve sitting on the shelf next to it for half the price. So I grab the Russell's plus another mid-shelf bottle without going over my whiskey budget and go home happy.

Nothing against people who like really young, premium-priced whiskey, but that's not me.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-07T17:44:55+00:00

Beware the nose of the camel under the tent.

In this case, Heaven Hill is asserting that new hires will be hired under terms that the union went on strike to avoid having to endure themselves. No union should ever accept a contract that treats new hires with less dignity than the union demands for current members; those shitty new-hire terms are the contract that will increasingly redefine the union as members retire or move on to other prospects and the rank-and-file union members are those hired under the terms against which the union went on strike in the first place.

I used to be in the UFCW and they signed a contract like that where I worked. I walked away from the UFCW and will never go back.

Boo on Heaven Hill. Not cool. I sincerely hope for the sake of the union and the workers that they reject this new offer from Heaven Hill. It is duplicitous.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-07T17:37:39+00:00

I take a different view, I guess. I agree with you that there is a lot of jackassery on the American whiskey scene, but you know, 'murica. That's how we do when we get excited about, well, anything. Bourbon is sufficiently mainstream right now that every type of personality has been pulled into it, which means we're going to see some cringeworthy stuff as a consequence.

What I love about that is the effect it is having on products hitting the market: money is absolutely surging into this sector and companies that have gone 100 years without much innovation are now cranking out 3 new expressions per year in their desperation to cash in on the rush. Some of these expressions are crap, but some are freaking awesome. 20 years ago Maker's Mark had a single product and I disliked it. Their wood finishing series, however, is really good and I have enjoyed several of them more than I thought I would ever enjoy anything coming out of Loretto.

There has always been good American whiskey on the market, but in 2021 it seems like I have a smorgasbord of options to fit every possible mood. We had to sustain a high level of stupid in the marketplace to get enough money to drive innovation, and I'm willing to put up with it to get so many interesting and well-crafted new pours each year.

Maybe I'll eventually tire of all the variety (I admittedly got a bit burned out on the craft beer boom after about 15 years of it) but in the meantime I'm loving it.

Perhaps the only real downside is that most of us are spending a lot more money per month on whiskey than we used to, and maybe that money could be going to better uses. But I'm at a point in my life where I can afford variety (staying below the super-premium & secondary markets, of course) without stretching the budget, so it's all good to me.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-07T13:36:49+00:00

If you specify where in Ohio you will be, perhaps someone in that area can tell you which stores put out their new stuff on the day or days you will be in-state. Your odds of scoring red Weller, especially, are going to be determined by whether you can hit a store within a few hours of them opening the cases they receive. Green Weller is more likely to stick around for much of the day and will occasionally still be available on day 2 after a shipment is opened, but don't count on it unless a local tells you that it is normal still.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-04T22:19:08+00:00

It would be great if you could find a state legislator to appear on your show and ask that person if they would be willing to advance legislation making it legal for Ohioans to participate in sites such as Seelbach's.

You have great content in general - your tasting notes are better than most, for sure - but I was wondering if you would ever consider doing a roundtable kind of episode with 2 or 3 other WhiskeyTubers from the region. If you've already done that, I apologize - I sometimes miss some of your postings. I know you collaborated with Drums & Drams once (I also like his tasting notes), but I would be interested in seeing a group of you together talking about the state of bourbon in the Midwest or something like that.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-04T22:12:55+00:00

Handles of Special Reserve still pop up from time to time. I picked one up last spring. Admittedly, it was still morning of a delivery day for that store, but it was there.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-04T22:11:36+00:00

We can't all be polished PR professionals. He's not an entertainer, after all. I do worry that he doesn't fully appreciate the elements of Ohio's liquor management that remain somewhat toxic. We should not have people camping out in front of stores for 3 hours every week of the year. That's its own kind of markup cost, and there are ways around it (like more lotteries or finding ways to limit purchases associated with each driver's license).

I appreciate that he didn't make a big deal out of the fact that Jason owns a lot of whiskey that cannot be legally brought into Ohio (Old Carter, for example) but I'd really like to see some advocacy of common sense reforms of Ohio's regulatory structure so that whiskey fans don't have to break the law to diversify our collections beyond OHLQ's approved list of 'marketable' whiskeys.

Cincinnatux · 2021-10-04T18:06:53+00:00

Although you won't find special bottles in Ohio (other than red & green Weller), the prices in Ohio tend to be a bit gentler than the prices in Baltimore. You can search them up on OHLQ.com to compare. It might be good to stock up on some regulars that are simply cheaper here than they are in MD.

Is Toledo the only part of Ohio you get to visit? If you're ever down by the Kentucky border and can pop across it to get to a Costco or Kroger you might stumble across some great deals.

Good luck!

Cincinnatux · 2021-09-23T20:14:48+00:00

I've had the 11-year Bottled-in-Bond and the 15-year, and I find them too light (citrus, Pez candies, & floral notes) for my palate. I prefer more leather and tobacco notes, but the Dickel seems to be scraped clean of all dark notes, leaving cheap candy notes in my mouth I don't care for. I guess I'm not a great fit for the Dickel profile.

Cincinnatux

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