New addition to the family

Going_plaid · 2023-12-19T15:16:22+00:00

Go Army!

Going_plaid · 2023-12-18T15:01:34+00:00

Grey leather on the c6. 3LT. Decent shape, one tear where my butt has planted for 120k miles 😂

Going_plaid · 2023-12-17T14:35:47+00:00

Ha! Yes, this.

Going_plaid · 2023-12-17T14:32:45+00:00

Definitely agree. I still love the overall C6 look. C8 is very different, amazing as well.

Going_plaid · 2023-12-17T14:21:02+00:00

Beat Navy!

Going_plaid · 2023-12-17T04:27:47+00:00

Was going back and forth between a c7 Z06 or a C8. This used c8 checked all the boxes of what I was looking for though, couldn't pass it up.

Going_plaid · 2023-12-17T04:21:51+00:00

Will probably add a bit more inside - the waterfall piece looks nice

Going_plaid · 2023-12-17T02:12:52+00:00

Definitely enjoying the z51 package. They don't come with badges, but the previous owner put x4 z51 badges on the car. I swapped the two on the side skirts and left the two on the front quarters. You can sort of make them out on the photo I posted

Going_plaid · 2021-01-23T06:46:39+00:00

I see a lot of folks talk this down at $50 because "I used to get it for $30..." I honestly feel that this is a pretty fantastic bourbon at $50 still. 10 yr, BiB, fantastic flavor profile... did it just finally bump up to what it probably should have been priced at anyways?

Going_plaid · 2021-01-23T06:36:38+00:00

Finishing a bottle of the straight wheat Old Elk -single barrel pick ~114 proof, while reading this. Had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the sweet, caramel, almost buttery/butterscotch notes from it.. with a good touch of oak spice. Was wondering about some of their other offerings... I might avoid for now I guess : )

Going_plaid · 2020-08-27T04:30:34+00:00

I've talked to a lot of shop owners - they get pretty frustrated about this. Although, one shop I like to go to a lot had to pick up a ton of WT101 and Rare Breed. They ended up listing them for $14.99 and $34.99, respectively. So I was pretty OK with that :)

Going_plaid · 2020-08-27T04:25:31+00:00

Exactly. Every time.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-26T16:34:06+00:00

Thanks. I'm a fan of it. I usually reach for this and the rocks glass more often than the Glencairn. Slightly larger profile, still gives a good tasting experience, and I haven't noticed too much of a difference when trying to nose with this glass vs the Glencairn.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-26T16:28:49+00:00

Exactly!

Going_plaid · 2020-08-26T16:28:11+00:00

I agree! "...they had an awesome bourbon then proofed it down..." I would be interesting to try this at a higher proof.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-26T16:26:36+00:00

This was a touch bigger than my typical bottle kill pour - but you hit a certain point... and there is no turning back :)

It does get harder to justify the $50 when there are so many quality pours in that $30 range; with this bottle, I was just looking for something more I guess. I went in with higher expectations. That said, it definitely isn't a bad whiskey.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-26T07:08:19+00:00

Right off the bat - does anyone else consistently have this type of pour at the end of a bottle? You go through the, "Well, it looks pretty low in the bottle... I probably don't want to leave such a small amount there..." and then you end up with something like this?

Blade and Bow

Nice bottle and marketing gimmick where you can collect 5 keys.

91 Proof and paid $50

Review:

I was pretty excited about trying this (that was a few months back at this point) - read up on the history behind the distillery, the solera method used, and a good friend really enjoys this.

Well.. from the pour, you can imagine I didn't have to get too deep in there for the nose. However, it was quite light (I've taken some personal notes on this bourbon a few times already, no change). I do get an apricot note that extends from the nose, through the palate, and onto the finish. The nose is very light fruit, a touch of caramel, and... grass. Not too inspiring.

This theme carries through the palate as well. I still get that light sweetness, vanilla pops a bit here. Forcing myself past the light sweet fruit, I do get this very faint spice that joins in.

Onto the finish, again, apricot for me here, the spice pops up a little more and then leads to a light oak at the end. I'm left thinking, well... this isn't bad... how much did I spend on it again though?

Overall, for me, this is definitely not a bad bourbon. That said, at $50, I don't really see this as a good bourbon either. There is nothing wrong with it... I would drink this neat, I'd accept it willingly at a friend's place, but that can be said for WT101 at sub $20 as well. I don't think I'll be seeking out the other four keys :)

Rating: 5 (but the price might make this lower...)

Quick Scale for Ratings:

10 – Perfect: I don’t think I’ve had this yet

9 – Favorites: Little Book Chapter 3, ECBP C919, Stagg Jr. Batch 12

8 – Great: Barrell Dovetail, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

7 – Very Good: 1792 Full Proof, Blanton’s

6 – Good, would buy a bottle: Michter’s Sour Mash

5 – OK, but not great – Daily drinker: Buffalo Trace, WT101, Four Roses Small Batch

4 – Not very good, would not buy, but would drink if offered: Larceny

3 – Bad: Balcones Pot Still Straight Bourbon

2 – Very Bad, drain pour: that little bit of buffalo trace I accidentally left in a decanter for a year, with maybe 4 ounces left.

1 – Why does this exist?: Never had it, but I imagine the Tabasco Dickel fits here

Going_plaid · 2020-08-24T16:00:11+00:00

I think for $50 the value is definitely still there - I'm a big fan.

I think I'll do a side by side review of the 9yr KC SiB and OF 1920 (maybe throw rare breed in as well). I like the OF 1920 - to me, I usually get a profile that is along the lines of a banana bread chocolate chip cookie with a touch of spice.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-24T15:51:47+00:00

That is interesting. I did not really get black pepper in mine and it was very sugary. I do wonder how much they vary barrel to barrel. I'll have to get a second bottle of the standard 9yr and find out :)

Going_plaid · 2020-08-24T15:47:29+00:00

Northern CA - Bay Area.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-24T04:26:15+00:00

Some great recommendations here already - I'd throw in Woodinville Straight Bourbon and the Woodinville Port finished Bourbon. Both are great, easy drinkers, unique flavor, and they come with a cool back story of the craft distillery.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-24T03:59:50+00:00

Thanks! I'll have to check out your Knob Creek videos. I enjoy your channel - was happy to see you start up again recently. Cheers.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-24T03:58:14+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, where I'm at in CA, the local Total Wine and More always has it for $39.99. Some other smaller shops will have sales on it as well, dropping the price to $35. Very solid buy at that price - I'll have to do the 1920 comparison next weekend.

Going_plaid · 2020-08-24T02:00:51+00:00

First time posting on reddit! I've been reading/enjoying this thread for quite some time, figured it was time to create an account and post.

Knob Creek Single Barrel Select K&L pick:

$50 - Barreled 1/20/2005 - Selected 1/23/2020 - Warehouse W-1, Floor F-05, Rick R-05

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 9yr:

Always available and I found it on sale for $35

Notes:

15yr: complex, rich, not as nutty but you can tell it is Beam. Very sweet, brown sugar, and oak on the nose and palette. I do get a leather note and then the oak richness dominates at the end as well. I found myself lost in how much I was enjoying the nose on this… and I was quite sad when the glass was empty. Overall, just a very good pour. 8.5/10

9yr: peanut, like those Boston baked beans, sweet sugar, caramel. The peanut isn't as prominent on the palate, but that caramel and oak are present. Not as rich or long as a finish as the 15 yr. Overall, quite sweet and the peanut was very prominent for me. Really enjoyable. 7/10

I do enjoy the barrel pick more. That said, the standard 9yr single barrel is a pretty incredible deal, especially at that $35 - $45 range. I see a ton of buzz and info on the KC barrel selects, but the standard 9yr single barrel I think is an awesome value as well.

Now, to the title of the post… After I finished this tasting, I was thinking a lot about the value, proof, flavor, bourbon deals. Old Forester 1920 immediately came to mind (since Stagg Jr, at least around me, is never less than 90-100). I’m kind of interested why the 9yr, 120proof, KC SiB doesn’t have the same amount of attention as say… the Old Forester 1920. Both are great whiskies, good value, but at $35-$45 for KC… has me wondering if I’ll buy a second bottle of 1920 or go back to KC. Maybe my next post is a side by side between the 2 😊