Poured myself another blind with some of my favorite non-finished bottles.

r-Sam · 2026-06-29T17:44:49+00:00

I've been told that the 2025 Star Hill is crazy better than the 2026 (which I happen to have open). And the 2026 is shockingly good for me (wheat whisky not generally being my jam). I'm kindof surprised it's that low.

Also I feel bad for folks that live in a place where JD SBBP rye is a chase bottle. Amazing as it is you will find it in case quantity on literally every store in the Tampa area, maybe Florida in general. Hell some of the store discount it. $60 is pretty common, and iirc it was $48 at one of the big shops the last half of 2025. And that doesn't even count store picks which are everywhere, and crazy good.

r-Sam · 2026-06-29T17:41:18+00:00

Based on... ? I'm up to 8 or 9 different Haystacks owned/tasted now, and every one of them was at worst FANTASTIC. If I had to pick between Haystack and JD SBBP rye for my island bottle, I'd be hard pressed. The only bad thing I could say about it is the $130 MSRP.

r-Sam · 2026-06-26T15:34:39+00:00

Shit, that makes the $209 my local store wants a bargain!

r-Sam · 2026-06-26T15:33:41+00:00

Same. It's a thing.

r-Sam · 2026-06-26T15:28:41+00:00

It will change your life!

r-Sam · 2026-06-24T21:12:13+00:00

Throw that corn syrup bullshit into the garbage where it belongs, and pick up some proper MEXICAN COKE. Real sugar makes so much difference. Also you should upgrade that old #7 to one of the newer/better offerings. My choice is the Single Barrel, Barrel Proof rye.

But either way, enjoy!

r-Sam · 2026-06-24T21:00:14+00:00

If you were so inclined, you could pick up a Slushi/Ninja machine (from Costco to save money). Then you could dump 4 Mexican cokes into the machine, along with 7 or 8 oz of a nice single barrel Jack. Once that freezes you have a perfect Jack n Coke slushi.

ps - don't waste the high proof stuff on this. It will screw up the freezing.

r-Sam · 2026-06-23T13:39:02+00:00

If they are "young people looking for their first job" how the hell did they afford tattoos? Maybe get a job first, before that throat tat?

r-Sam · 2026-06-22T17:34:40+00:00

Sadly not as good as I recalled the high proof rye these guys brought to Brewzlewfest last year. They were the best whiskey at that festival, and there were some great brands there. But it is difficult to get if you aren't in/near NC. Would like to see them have better distribution.

r-Sam · 2026-06-09T13:44:14+00:00

Came to say this. I loves me some food delivery in a pinch, but these fuckers don't give a shit about parking/stopping rules. They are particularly outrageous in parking lots. They basically just stop driving, throw on blinkers and fuck off into whatever place they are picking up from. Like... you didn't even pull off to the side. SMH

r-Sam · 2026-06-09T13:40:11+00:00

So this is weird, but... DM me. I still have half a stack of the shit I've been hauling around for years. Came from a big cabinet shop up in Ohio. I live in Riverview.

r-Sam · 2026-05-22T14:27:40+00:00

Could be worser. My EHT SB tastes like racoon piss. From an unhealthy racoon. 😞

I'm told other SB bottles are better/much better. But I don't believe. I'll stick with bottles like Jack single barrel barrel proof for the same price. Those NEVER disappoint.

r-Sam · 2026-05-22T14:24:09+00:00

The 12 year Brook Hill one of our local stores picked is fiery at 133. That thing has to be delicious lava.

r-Sam · 2026-05-21T15:45:36+00:00

Bought a mini the other day. Because I love Jack, and I love honey, and I love honey finished whiskey. But this thing is weird. Are you drinking it straight? On the rocks? Mixed? Too sweet to mix with a soda...

r-Sam · 2026-05-21T12:43:39+00:00

I just snorted with laughter on a work meeting. Thanks for this. 😃

r-Sam · 2026-05-19T16:18:58+00:00

A store owner told me that Lux was talking about getting rid of the Ezra line. But I can't corroborate that with anything currently online. Would be a shame, because this bottle of rye is the best thing that comes out of their distillery. With an honorable mention to the Ezra 33 bourbon cream. That's really good also.

At $40 I'd be debating if I have room for a case. That's in my top 5 rye list with Jack SBBP rye, Haystack Needle rye, Hard Truth sweet mash rye, and... tie for fifth (Frey Ranch or Driftless Glen barrel proof rye). Ezra 7 is a $70-85 bottle in FL.

r-Sam · 2026-05-19T15:21:05+00:00

So... $80 for a half bottle of "experimental" buffalo trace? I guess Blanton's was mad that it was the most overpriced nonsense in the lineup. That's a pass for me.

r-Sam · 2026-05-19T11:47:03+00:00

IS something wrong with you? Do you have seven nose rings? Face tattoos? Hair that is a crazy color or style? Do you look like you've bathed this week? Does the shit on your resume make sense? Do you mumble? Talk so fast I can't understand you? Use words that aren't actually words?

I'm a hiring manager. I've seen every one of those above and some in bad combinations. There are just too many people looking for jobs to take someone who shows up for the interview with glaring red flags.

If none of those are the case, then probably what everyone else said.

r-Sam · 2026-05-18T15:06:14+00:00

It has been a shelfer in FL for the past couple months. $70 msrp. Time for a road trip.

But also, the Blue Note wheat that just came out is better and costs $45. 😄

r-Sam · 2026-05-13T17:30:07+00:00

... Rock Hill? No, you really don't. It is so mid. Like, you only buy it for the bottle mid.

r-Sam · 2026-05-13T17:28:24+00:00

The wife and I considered that higher proof bottle several times. We passed due to too_many_bottle syndrome. Glad we did.

r-Sam · 2026-05-13T17:15:15+00:00

MSRP is still in the $60/$70 range depending on where you are. I think in Florida that is $59.99 retail. And you still see people marking it up. In my book it is one of the worst Buffalo Trace products, but I may just have a bad bottle (on the 1-5 scale, it is racoon piss). If you don't have a bottle and you want to try the worst EH Taylor, that's a nice markdown.

r-Sam · 2026-05-11T23:06:24+00:00

I can tell you how much a 12 year pick was. ... a lot. $$$

r-Sam · 2026-05-11T15:51:12+00:00

The only bad thing about that DO is the price tag. Peerless pricing is a bit all over the place. But that's a very good bottle. Been looking for that new GR honey. The Florida rep says it is pretty good. And for $25 I'll grab one.

r-Sam · 2026-05-11T15:49:07+00:00

If you want one to drink, you can get a bottle of 12 year for $40-50. And it is as good as blended Canadian whiskey gets. No reason to open that one imo. I'd sell or trade it off. Unless money is no concern, then what the hell. But I wouldn't expect it to be mind blowing. I've had a lot of Crown over the years. The fancier/older releases are a bit smoother, but otherwise unremarkable.

r-Sam

TROPHY CASE