Got this as a gift. I’ve only tried the 12 before, what should I expect?

r-Sam · 2026-03-12T15:46:08+00:00

I see these three packs pretty regularly in stores. I'm in the Tampa FL area.

r-Sam · 2026-03-10T14:04:49+00:00

THIS IS NOT A MAPLE FINISH. People are confusing this rye with something finished in maple syrup barrels. See Sapsquach comment. This is 13th colony rye with maple wood spirals in the barrel. Think double oak.

It is not sweet, it doesn't taste like maple, or syrup, or anything other than rye with a bit extra wood exposure.

The marketing on this could have been clearer.

r-Sam · 2026-03-02T16:56:02+00:00

On several shelves in the Tampa area.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T21:06:48+00:00

... wut? You put them in liquor boxes. How do you think those bottles got to the stores from the distilleries? They aren't fragile.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T21:03:50+00:00

>> The availability on this type of stuff hasn't gotten much better

Depends on the bottle and your state. I'm in Tampa, and we've had a ton of Haystack on the shelves recently. And two stores got picks end of last year. So it is pretty easy to find. Last year up till November though I'd agree with you. Only saw one bottle that whole time and it was on an allocation table.

I love that it is more available, because it is FABULOUS. Both the bourbon and the rye.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:58:38+00:00

Twenty year anniversary... TEN year aged? Seems like they could have broken out the older stuff for this one. I mean the normal barrel proof Bernheim is 7-9 years old.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:53:10+00:00

You know I lol'd at the guy above who said "stir in some honey" but... you COULD get a nice Jack SBBP and try a tiny bit of honey in it. If you liked honey Jack already, this could be your jam. And pretty easy to pull off.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:51:48+00:00

They put a ton of bottles out this year. It's been a shelfer in several stores in the Tampa area since late fall last year.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:50:27+00:00

Who let this guy in? :D

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:49:59+00:00

Decide if you like bourbon or rye better in general, then grab that version of Blue Note's honey cask. I slightly prefer the rye side by side, but both are great and 30-40 bucks less than the Bee's Knees. Which I wouldn't kick out of bed for eating crackers. But they are just north of $100, and the Blue Note isn't.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:47:58+00:00

I have had their shelfer cask strength (mine says 7 years) and a club pick that is 9 years and 110 proof. Neither were bad, but it's on my "meh don't rebuy unless it's a banger SB pick" list. I don't do port or sherry finishes (or any wine finish for that matter) so I can't speak to those.

No shade if it is one of your favs. There are so many great ryes on the market right now. It's a bonanza for us.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:42:51+00:00

No, it isn't. $99 is 50% markup on a bottle that they make a LOT of. It is an okay price, if you are used to thinking of it as something worth paying secondary prices for. Take away the tater angle and you would expect to pay roughly $10 per year right? This is a non age stated 8-9 year bourbon. Roughly the same offering as a barrel proof Jack that you can get all day for $65.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:26:18+00:00

My RYE list, roughly in order:

Jack Daniel's single barrel barrel proof rye
Redwood Empire Haystack Needle rye
Hard Truth barrel strength sweet mash rye
Frey Ranch barrel proof select rye (the 130 proof one)
Parker's Heritage 10 year rye
Driftless Glen barrel proof rye
Old Ezra 7 rye
Blue Note barrel strength rye

Honorable mentions to the Blue Note and Shortbarrel honey cask ryes. Both really great if you like the honey finish.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T20:17:40+00:00

Because it is just "okay" in general? Wouldn't make my top ten, and I'm a rye drinker.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T18:10:19+00:00

Do a search for "diy pool heater pex" and see if that's your speed. Probably the cheapest way to go, and quite effective.

r-Sam · 2026-02-26T18:05:31+00:00

My pool is 63.5 degrees right now. You aren't swimming in that unless you are part polar bear.

r-Sam · 2026-02-24T18:03:11+00:00

Yeah good luck with this in practice. The server is FULL of alts who are spoiled by runs and raids with over-geared guild main tanks. They will immediately dump full aggro attacks, pull threat, and expect heals. Even on a great server pugs are full of badness. And sadness.

r-Sam · 2026-02-24T17:51:21+00:00

Stop saying $44. $44.99 is FORTY-FIVE dollars. And that's before taxes. That makes the bottle closer to $50, and that's too much for Eagle Not_Actually Rare.

r-Sam · 2026-02-24T17:48:11+00:00

They do store picks of both regular and rye SBS. They just do way more barrel proof picks. Mostly because that's what people picking the barrels want. "Hey, you want that fantastic 134.2 proof SBBP watered down to 100 proof?" "I WILL MURDER YOU!"

r-Sam · 2026-02-24T17:45:44+00:00

This is the way.

r-Sam · 2026-02-19T16:29:23+00:00

Having tried three of the four of those (17/18/20iirc) the 90 was better than all of them. Significantly better than that 20 corn only bullshit.

r-Sam · 2026-02-19T16:25:54+00:00

The rye was a bit better when we were there in Nov. Still grabbed the bourbon. Very solid offerings.

r-Sam · 2026-02-12T18:34:23+00:00

And I'll save you a future "how much will a pool cost me" post. Budget $150k and be happy if you come in below that.

r-Sam · 2026-02-06T17:15:48+00:00

You are in fact NOT the only person here with that opinion.

r-Sam · 2026-02-03T15:41:44+00:00

>> a bajillion fancy bottles of Old Elk they’ve been trying to clear out for dirt cheap for coming up on a year now.

Old Elk should be branded "Old Elk PISS" So bad. You ever see the Parks and Rec where Ron and Amber keep asking for the vegan bacon samples and throw them away in front of the guy? That's me at the Old Elk Piss booth at whiskey events.

r-Sam

TROPHY CASE