Just starting my own "journey." For that reason, I'm in the acquisition phase. :) I've had some pretty good luck so far but I'm still trying to narrow down what I REALLY like. I appreciate the channel!
I remember those days...and to an extent, even after three years, I'm still learning what I like. It was only this year that I nailed it down that I do indeed like rye, but I like bourbon even better. And it's only been in the past three or four months that I've learned that if a whisky's going to have wheat in it, I want it to have *a lot* of wheat. And I bet neither of us will ever stop learning - there's so much whisky and so little time. 🥃
I know very little about "single malt" whisky, but I do love Laphroaig 10, the sample of Paul John Nirvana that I've had (a bottle is on my wish list), and Balcones Lineage. When I want something lighter and less straightforward than bourbon, a 100% sprouted barley mash bill is one of the directions I go (though neither the Laphroaig nor the Lineage is tame or mild 🙂).
Helpful tip....Total Wine doesn't actually pick barrels...they just get barrels, so those are usually the bad ones that distilleries couldn't sell...they will sell them to TW! So don't get barrel picks from there...like ever!
Thanks for the info. This explains a ton. I’ve gotten TW “barrel picks” FOR Jack Daniels Barrel Select, Elijah Craig and I think Balcones - all were horrible. They were bad enough for me to swear off the respective expressions of each distillery.
I hadn't known that. I do know that I *loved* the only Total Wine store pick I've ever had - a Balcones True Blue corn whisky barrel proof - but then I love Balcones corn whisky.
FWIW not all of them do this. We know two spirits managers and employees that handle the pick process themselves at two different Total Wines a county apart. That said, it’s still a huge gamble with not knowing who picked it and why, so we’ll happily skip those.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye is one of my favorites. I have two backups. Hard to beat for the $ May have to try it in an Old Fashioned tomorrow. Merry Christmas
I get where you're coming from. I'm in the RR13 > RR15 camp (Hardin's Creek better than both, especially the JW211 😉) and a good JD BP Rye can be better and easier to find than the latest Coy Hill.
😂 Josh - just advised a couple guys today to try the store picks - especially at my area liquor store (Damon’s Beverage - Augusta Maine) where I have found their palate matches mine perfectly! Merry Christmas!
Ardbeg is my favorite distillery and for me it’s not even a competition. I like bourbon but I really like Islay scotch. Haven’t been able to attain the Bizzarebqq but would really like too.
I completely agree with you concerning picks. I really focus on unique bottles that I can share with friends and family. That is really what I enjoy the most and the hobby.
Going back to the dawn of the channel, and even though they are the hometown heroes, would y’all have ever believed NBC would eclipse WT/Rare Breed as your #1? RR15 is amazing…glad I got one…at least as a runner up, I have our a couple of our BFH NBC 8 years and a couple Disco 12s. My surprises are the Hard Truth LEs, which given our pick last year shouldn’t be a shock…thanx for the Chocolate Malt recommendation, though I may prefer the Caramel…and I need to crack the DO that just arrived. My version of your NBC #1 status is everything Still Austin…not hometown. But at least regional. Edit during the homestretch of the video…during allocation season, I get a smidge sad at the”taters” who think the only worthy bottles are from Sazerac etc….picks are the thing…from the standards like Russell’s and Knob Creek to the weird ones.
That JD SBBP Rye is just an insane value for the $70srp. And so is the standard SBBP. Especially if you find them for less. I’ve bought several pours of the Russell’s 15, and I think it’s excellent. I won’t get on the whisk(e)y hype train with the 1000’s of limited editions/special releases people chase. I don’t see the unicorn tear value in it like some of the great 18-25 year scotch that’s available in stores. Merry Christmas and Cheers, y’all. 🥃
I’m kinda new to you I agree with you, I would watch reviews and just buy them. Or total barrel pick that I didn’t really care for Now I buy what I like and take an occasional bottle as chance
@@stuffandwhiskey curious, if I had to buy a bottle tomorrow for $100 , my choice right now is widow Jane Dededance - finish in maple barrels Have you tried dededance?
Josh have you got ahold of one of the Jack Daniels twice barreled rye distillery series, the 375 bottle that recently dropped? It’s great! Try and find if you can!
Merry Christmas you two. I've really enjoyed your content this year even though I don't always agree with your opinions. I've had a few NBC bottles and have enjoyed them all. The RR15 was good, but not the best of the best for me. I had a '23 KOK and WLW last week that were stand out for me. I think the Peerless DO Rye was my most surprising favorite since I've never been much for Rye. I like you two more than the On the barrel couple. Kalyn is very adorable, but I find Dustin just a little too over the top and goofy for my taste. Cheers!
Agree with you on On The Barrel. I've watched a dozen episodes. Dustin's too goofy. And their taste in whiskey is way too broad. And it's kind of slow-paced.
Treat yourself to a JDBF Rye Old Fashioned this holiday season! Josh is right it will knock your socks off.
Way to go Erin! Looking forward to seeing more single malt videos in 2025 🎉.
Just starting my own "journey." For that reason, I'm in the acquisition phase. :) I've had some pretty good luck so far but I'm still trying to narrow down what I REALLY like. I appreciate the channel!
I remember those days...and to an extent, even after three years, I'm still learning what I like. It was only this year that I nailed it down that I do indeed like rye, but I like bourbon even better. And it's only been in the past three or four months that I've learned that if a whisky's going to have wheat in it, I want it to have *a lot* of wheat. And I bet neither of us will ever stop learning - there's so much whisky and so little time. 🥃
I have 3 JDBP Ryes open atm. All 3 are really good. One is in the conversation for the best pours I’ve ever had period.
I know very little about "single malt" whisky, but I do love Laphroaig 10, the sample of Paul John Nirvana that I've had (a bottle is on my wish list), and Balcones Lineage. When I want something lighter and less straightforward than bourbon, a 100% sprouted barley mash bill is one of the directions I go (though neither the Laphroaig nor the Lineage is tame or mild 🙂).
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks for another great year of entertaining and informative videos!
Agree on the Jack and RR15… tried your old fashioned recipe this week and it was great and a hit with those served!
Helpful tip....Total Wine doesn't actually pick barrels...they just get barrels, so those are usually the bad ones that distilleries couldn't sell...they will sell them to TW! So don't get barrel picks from there...like ever!
Thanks for the info. This explains a ton. I’ve gotten TW “barrel picks” FOR Jack Daniels Barrel Select, Elijah Craig and I think Balcones - all were horrible. They were bad enough for me to swear off the respective expressions of each distillery.
I hadn't known that. I do know that I *loved* the only Total Wine store pick I've ever had - a Balcones True Blue corn whisky barrel proof - but then I love Balcones corn whisky.
FWIW not all of them do this. We know two spirits managers and employees that handle the pick process themselves at two different Total Wines a county apart. That said, it’s still a huge gamble with not knowing who picked it and why, so we’ll happily skip those.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye is one of my favorites. I have two backups. Hard to beat for the $
May have to try it in an Old Fashioned tomorrow.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
I get where you're coming from. I'm in the RR13 > RR15 camp (Hardin's Creek better than both, especially the JW211 😉) and a good JD BP Rye can be better and easier to find than the latest Coy Hill.
😂 Josh - just advised a couple guys today to try the store picks - especially at my area liquor store (Damon’s Beverage - Augusta Maine) where I have found their palate matches mine perfectly! Merry Christmas!
Russell’s 15 is pinnacle whiskey for me! Cheers
Merry Christmas to both of you!
Merry Xmas!
Love your list and the categories! Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to my favorite Whiskey channel.
Love ASM. Westward’s ASM are amazing, in general!
agreed
The Westward CS is amazing. Also look at Cedar Ridge The Quintessential Ex-Bourbon Cask 7 year, and they ship to a lot of states. Cheers 🥃
@@b1gsteve251 i have that cedar ridge ASM as well. Need to try it again though. It has been awhile since i have had a drink of it!
Ardbeg is my favorite distillery and for me it’s not even a competition. I like bourbon but I really like Islay scotch. Haven’t been able to attain the Bizzarebqq but would really like too.
I completely agree with you concerning picks. I really focus on unique bottles that I can share with friends and family. That is really what I enjoy the most and the hobby.
Merry Christmas! Cheers!
Merry Christmas! 🎄
Completely agree on the Russell’s 15 & 13 year thoughts.
The JDSBBPR was the best bottle I got my hands on this year. Cheers and Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Tht Ardbeg is awesome! Just got two backup’s!
Merry Christmas to a great couple.
Merry Christmas ❤️🎄
Wow. Midday shooting! Merry Christmas!
Going back to the dawn of the channel, and even though they are the hometown heroes, would y’all have ever believed NBC would eclipse WT/Rare Breed as your #1? RR15 is amazing…glad I got one…at least as a runner up, I have our a couple of our BFH NBC 8 years and a couple Disco 12s. My surprises are the Hard Truth LEs, which given our pick last year shouldn’t be a shock…thanx for the Chocolate Malt recommendation, though I may prefer the Caramel…and I need to crack the DO that just arrived. My version of your NBC #1 status is everything Still Austin…not hometown. But at least regional. Edit during the homestretch of the video…during allocation season, I get a smidge sad at the”taters” who think the only worthy bottles are from Sazerac etc….picks are the thing…from the standards like Russell’s and Knob Creek to the weird ones.
…and Merry Christmas! Luv you two!
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄
Nice year end lineup! I found a place that sells JDSBBP Rye and bourbon for 49.99 standard normal price in Paso Robles California
Love it! Erin - try the Bunnahabvain 12yr cask strength!
Such a fantastic bottle! We have a 2022 that’s lights out great.
I have emptied two bottles of Ardbeg Bizarrebq and only have one left.
Worth it. Such a special pour!
I pick Russel’s 15 over coy hill a lot. Incredible offering by wild turkey
That JD SBBP Rye is just an insane value for the $70srp. And so is the standard SBBP. Especially if you find them for less. I’ve bought several pours of the Russell’s 15, and I think it’s excellent. I won’t get on the whisk(e)y hype train with the 1000’s of limited editions/special releases people chase. I don’t see the unicorn tear value in it like some of the great 18-25 year scotch that’s available in stores. Merry Christmas and Cheers, y’all. 🥃
Good stuff for sire. Cheers and Merry Christmas!
I’m kinda new to you
I agree with you, I would watch reviews and just buy them. Or total barrel pick that I didn’t really care for
Now I buy what I like and take an occasional bottle as chance
This is the way. Cheers and thanks for tuning in Richard!
@@stuffandwhiskey curious, if I had to buy a bottle tomorrow for $100 , my choice right now is widow Jane Dededance - finish in maple barrels
Have you tried dededance?
I do weigh heavily someones bourbon choices who likes Widow Jane, my go to sipper.
Josh have you got ahold of one of the Jack Daniels twice barreled rye distillery series, the 375 bottle that recently dropped? It’s great! Try and find if you can!
I like RR13 and I'm not a fan of the RR15.
🎄🥃🎄
Merry Christmas you two. I've really enjoyed your content this year even though I don't always agree with your opinions. I've had a few NBC bottles and have enjoyed them all. The RR15 was good, but not the best of the best for me. I had a '23 KOK and WLW last week that were stand out for me. I think the Peerless DO Rye was my most surprising favorite since I've never been much for Rye. I like you two more than the On the barrel couple. Kalyn is very adorable, but I find Dustin just a little too over the top and goofy for my taste. Cheers!
Agree with you on On The Barrel. I've watched a dozen episodes. Dustin's too goofy. And their taste in whiskey is way too broad. And it's kind of slow-paced.
Merry Christmas 🎄