People Pay HUNDREDS for Elmer T Lee, IS IT A RIPOFF? | Elmer T Lee vs Russell's Reserve 10 Year
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📽 📽 IN THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: Elmer T Lee (90 proof, $43-300+) vs Russell's Reserve 10 Year (90 proof, $26-40)
We put this matchup into our head-to-head pool because they're both 90 proof bourbons but Elmer T Lee is incredibly difficult to find and often gets marked up to $300+ and/or is only available in year-end raffles. We wanted to see if a standard shelf product that sells for less could give such a hard-to-find bottle a run for its money.
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I am convinced that if everyone made their purchasing choices based on blind flights instead of hype there would be little to no allocated bourbon.
A dream world honestly. We feel like encouraging folks to do blinds is maybe the most important thing we do here on the channel. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Maybe the smartest thing ever said. I have 80 bottles of bourbon. Only 2 Buffalo Trace products. Eagle Rare and Stagg, which I had to hunt for retail. I will never pay secondary to many good ones out there you don’t have to pay 💰
Bro, same. I have never bought secondary. I got a bottle of knob 12 recently at retail, and for the price I was incredibly disappointed.
@@GamerNxUSN what price? Easily the best $60 bourbon I’ve ever had.
@@camdenhochgesang6554 it was around 70. For me it doesn't have a mouthfeel that I expected from 12 year. I have had a couple of 9 year Russel's Reserve store picks that had a richer and thicker mouth feel, and more going on flavor wise, the couple of pours I have had of the knob so far have been vanilla and maybe some nuttiness but nothing much other than that. I am going to revisit it now that it's had some air in there, we'll see. Of course I bought it alongside a sagamore sherry finished rye for the same 70 bucks, so maybe my comparative tasting is what diminishes it.
I buy from a mom & pop liquor store, they called me told me they had an Elmer T Lee.
Was like $250, I declined. Some places take advantage you need to stand your ground.
RR10 is $21 in Wisconsin at a large food store chain!
Love when you demystify the unicorns in a fair, blind fight.
Love your reviews and comparisons. I too can remember 15-20 years ago when I could find Elmer T Lee and Rock Hill Farms on the shelf every day for around $25 per bottle. Ah, the good ole days.
Mr Lee used to pick the single barrels himself. He has been gone for a while and who knows if the team he worked with to pick are still picking the barrels. Also no bourbon is worth 300....a fool and his money...
Nice review! ET Lee is 500.00 around me, RR 10yr 30.00 and one of my favorite lower proof pours!
Love the clip you inserted in the video...very cool. Cheers
I have a bottle of Elmer T. Lee in my collection. Got it at retail and love it sitting on the shelf. Never felt like opening it, as I have had pours at friends' houses/bars and never thought that highly of it. The secondary being as crazy as it is, I feel it is one I may eventually trade for something really good. So in the meantime it just sits.
I have one sitting on my bar I got for retail as well. I picked it up for trade value! Hopefully I can get something good for it
The last couple of episodes have been great all. Keep it up.
After talking to a Bourbon buddy of mine we came up with why we would pay $300 for Elmer T Lee. Here goes. Because it's better than paying a little over $1050. Most stores around us will let you get an Elmer T Lee for $30 but you have to spend $1000 to then either enter a raffle or spend the $1000k to get the Elmer T Lee at retail. So you're buying $1000 worth of bottles just to just to buy the Elmer T Lee at $45. If you just have to have it for whatever reason it is more economical to buy the Elmer T Lee at $300. Most stores already know what it goes for on secondary plus there is all the inducement stuff they had to deal with so they can't sell the Elmer T Lee at retail if they wanted to due to all the cases of crap vodka they had to take on. So the store owner is not selling it at retail no matter how much you plead with them. For me I'm going to enjoy the Rusell's Reserve 10 year and if I ever get $300 to piss away I'll get that Elmer T. Lee
Russell's Reserve 10 and 1792 are my favorites so far in my starting collection. I'm up to 8 bottles in my adventure so far.
Russell's Reserve 10 is amazing! Make sure you buy a couple back ups of it. I actually just found Russell's single Barrel and a 1792 Full Proof this week.
@@justhalog3318 Thank you for the advice.
Started my journey three years ago (was a Maker's Mark guy for a long time), and 1792 was my first 'adventure'. Loved it! Wild Turkey is one of my favorite distilleries. Have not tried the RR10. Like the 1792 full proof, too.
Another thought in my area ET Lee at 500.00 RR at 30.00 that’s 16 bottles to one bottle for me, crazy!
My brother introduced me to Russels 10 some years back. I’m exploring bourbon more now so I had some of the bottle he gave me the other night and it’s a great sipper. Flavorful and the lower proof keeps it from being too much of an alcohol burn. It’s also easily available here. So it’s a go to now for a regular sipper. It fits its role really well.
Great video on this comparison. I can’t even find Elmer T Lee on my shelf and I just crossed it off my list to find. Russels is a great pour. Thanks keep up the great blinds!
Tonight on a whim picked up a bottle of Russells 10 yr. I enjoyed it for a sipper. This will be in my rotation for the week.
Elmer used to be kind of my go to. I do think it was better in the past, but not THAT much better. But pre-2012 I used to be able to walk into almost any liquor store and buy it for $29.99. I used to go back and forth between it and Elijah Craig 12. Kind of the same way Weller became more expensive because people would come into the liquor store looking for Pappy and the staff would tell them Weller was really the same thing, all the mashbill #2 started getting hard to find after the popularity of Blanton's blew up. Even back then Blanton's was hit or miss to find (but I could usually get it if I shopped around), but Rockhill Farms and Elmer were just always there.
Got glass 2 from my brother for Christmas. He asked if that was ok... I said, "hells yeaya"!
And THAT is how you fight the FOMO, friends.
I have only ever seen a single bottle of ETL in a glass case, and for a whopping $500. It isn't even in any bars to try near me, but like so many other bottles of unobtainium, I won't lose any sleep over never getting to try it or buy it... not when there are so, so, so many great bourbons that are easily found that I love so much.
Another fantastic video! This one made me extremely happy lol I'm doing this blind very soon 🥃 Cheers y'all!
Heck yes! Cheers Saucy!
Russels is $41 in PA. I wish it was $30. Blantons in FLA is $190. Buffalo Trace bourbons are not worth it!
I’ve said for a while now that people should quit chasing the allocated bottles and stick to buying great whiskies at normal prices. For instance: WT Rare Breed if you like high proof, and Russell’s Reserve 10 year if you prefer lower proof.
Just bought my first bottle of Russels 10 a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic.
Saw a bottle of Elmer in SC for $300. Glad I resisted the FOMO! Russel 10 is solid but I pay up for Rare Breed.
ETL at $40 is a steal, but at secondary pricing - no way. I consider it a more flavorful upgrade of 4 roses Yellow label - which for me works.
Love Erin’s sense of humor. My head went to manure during Josh’s mature conundrum also. 😂 Russell’s 10 is a staple in my house. Such a great value for a 10 yr bourbon and does great on its own and is a great mixer. And uber available!
Russell's 10 is such a good value. Also love the Bastion shout out. Cheers guys.
Bastion tho, right!? 🤤
I got lucky and stumbled upon Elmer T. Lee at my local liquor store for $39.99. It’s good for that price but no way more. I really like Eagle Rare much more and it is easier to find but marked up a bit.
100% agreed that Eagle Rare is far superior to ETL. Great comment!
Great head to head. Luckily I got a $6 pour of ETL at a bar a few years back - not something I want to spend my money on.
Elmer T Lee to me is exactly what a bourbon should taste like -- vanilla, caramel, nice creamy mouthfeel, and extremely easy to drink etc. It's not worth paying hundreds for sure but is an extremely easier sipper. If it was available, no doubt this would be an every day pour given how good it. I've only seen one in the wild, and I think the store wanted $300 for it. No thanks.
I'm a fan of both although I think it's important to note that the Russells is a batched bourbon and the ETL is a single barrel which can vary barrel to barrel.
Just found out about your channel through Peter at Whiskey is a Journey. I like your MO.
The Elmer T Lee starts out at around $299 retail here in SoCal... If you're unlucky enough to find and buy a bottle. Talk about a ripoff.
The Russell's Reserve is very good until you get a taste of the Single Barrel which is absolutely great.
Looking forward to following you guys. 🥃
Peter is the best! So glad you found us and happy to have you on board!
That clip of Elmer T. Lee was a nice touch. Well done! Cheers.
When the man himself views his product as a good mixer, it’s wild to think what some pay for a bottle. Cheers and thanks for watching!
@@stuffandwhiskey I couldn't agree more. $499.99 (+10% tax) down the street from me... For a mixer? Um. Hell no.
Erin is intuitively correct about many things. Wild Turkey does taste "healthy" to me as well. Years ago I read on a blog somewhere ( can't remember the source) that Wild Turkey is as close to pre prohibition bourbon as you will get. They also clearly state on their website that they use non-GMO grains.
I bought 5 bottles of Elmer at Costco for about 120 ish total. Worth it at that price. It was good, not more than $40 good.
Interesting. I’m one of those people who heard a lot about Russell 10, tried it, and will not buy it again. Not to deter anyone else, it could’ve just been the specific bottle I had
The Turkey profile isn’t for everyone, but then again nothing out there makes everyone happy. Good that it was a $30 lesson on RR10 and not a $300 lesson on ETL if you ask us. Also worth revisiting the bottle down the line to see if it changes over time.
@@stuffandwhiskey so true. But I will do 101 and coke at the movies and I very much like rare breed, so long as there’s nothing better close by 😂.
I remember trying ETL for the first time and thinking, "This is it?" It's fine, and I know some people love it. But it is not worth the hype at all. Yet another reason I love when you guys do these blinds.
I bought RR10 for new years and only took 1 pour out of it. I thought the Four Roses was better. I tried the RR10 again a few days ago and it was 10 times better than I remember it. I'm glad I gave it another chance. I will be drinking it from now on.
I had my one and only taste of Elmer T. Lee at a speakeasy in Phoenix and I thought it was good. It was a little too sweet for me, but overall I was happy with what was in the glass. Russell's is a good solid pour that I can go to anytime and not be disappointed. Cheers!
The prices are pretty similar here. ETL is $40 and RR10 is $45. ETL is allocated here, though. I did gt a sample of it just recently. Looking forward to comparing 4 Buffalo Trace Mashbill 2 samples soon.
How is that similar. RR10 is $30
No, I commented above just now that in my control state of Ohio, it's 42.99 msrp. Why so high? When I can get eh taylor SmB tomorrow morning, by waiting in line, of course, for 45.99.
Oh yeah, and now 1792 SmB and Angel's Envy-port finish, are allocatted now!
@@ScottSagamoreRye damn. I was born in Ohio. Moved to Florida after 30 years. Less expensive here but smaller assortment. Zero buffalo trace products. Also no early times bottled in bond. Stuff like that. But $44 for rare breed, $22 for wild turkey 101, knob creek 9 is $31
I'm becoming confused lately. Here in Ohio, we are a control state. So, in theory, the bourbon is much more difficult to obtain, but the positive side is its msrp when available. Like E.H.Taylor is 45.99. However, why is RR 10yr 42.99, when viewers here are getting it around 30.00. Is it marked down from msrp? That's hard to believe..
It’s a good question. Pricing is definitely weird. Maybe it’s tax-related or maybe it’s something else. Definitely never seen RR10 over 39.99 here in TN and often it’s 26.99-34.99 but every state can and likely will differ.
Back 12/13 years ago, when I started drinking whiskey, all the reviews said to pass on ETL. I just saw it selling for $250. 💩
That was awesome!!! Luckily I have never fallen for the hype that some of these bottles have. I say that knowing that my market marks things up a lot. But if see an Elmer T Lee, or some other rare bottle and simply have to have it, just be warned that what's inside the bottle may not be as fancy as you think it'll be. Josh has some great advise in just going to a bar that has a good selection and smple the one you're hot on or have the bartender set you up in a blind tasting. That's money well spent, and you can tell your significant other that you were doing research!!
Research, indeed. It's basically the fiscally responsible thing to do, right!?
I'll take the Russell's Reserve single barrels for the higher proof. Some day I'll try ETL but I've never seen it in the wild and not paying stupid money for it.
I am not a fan of ETL. It is way too light in taste for me. Makes me feel bad that my buddy paid secondary prices for it as a gift for me.
I think RR10 is average. The great news is average is just fine and it's priced (on the shelf) like it should be.
Sad that RR10 is 45 in my state
That’s a bummer!
Going to have to revisit my RR10 after this. oh and how hawt is Erin?! Josh, you lucky dawg you!
I'm gonna be honest here RR10 is just fine nothing special. But if I could choose to by either 10 bottles of it or a single ETL on secondary my shelf would be stocked with RR for a good while. I may just add some lemon lime soda for the hell of it.
Love your "stuff" 😉 and you both are fun to watch. Enjoyed when you are competing on "Matt Madness" too. (Sorry for the loss this year BTW. Always rooting for some Josh or Erin.) I gotta let you know something regarding your sound. So many "Whiskeytubers" (and TH-camrs in general) do a good job with the camera situation, but sort of pay less attention to the audio part.
The Bourbon Junkies and The Whiskey Wrench are two of the worst offenders of this. Their audio is erratic, and can be very booming, peaking and "echoey" as if broadcasting from inside a small shower stall or something. I wish they would take the time to fix that because it makes it hard to watch, and sometimes I even turn off their videos because of this. Even SLB needs to simply put up some cushioning so their voices do not bounce and echo so much.
Shelf Turds are a good example of how to do this better. Like you guys, they have an overhead mic and must do some good adjusting, and since David is a musician, he seems to know how to do this well.
In hopes you take this as a bit of constructive criticism and not a knock or me being a dick (which is a possibility), but Josh especially (at this video's recording) sounds like he is broadcasting from a fish tank and is "tinny' and unpleasantly piercing to the old eardrums.
I would bet that if you take a moment to do some adjustments for the nice room you have, your sound would be very nice. Take into consideration the ceiling as well, for spots that sounds bounce off of. It would make a world of difference. Not only to me, but everyone who enjoys watching your channel. And once this is adjusted, it should be no problem to keep it going great.
Rock on and God bless.
- A. Dikhedd
Josh here. Believe me when I say that there’s nobody more unhappy with our audio than me. I do a TON of processing and there’s still only so far we can go without sound treating the small, echoey room we’re in, which will be a $600-1000 endeavor that we have planned. It can’t come soon enough, and in the interim we’re doing our level best.
@@stuffandwhiskey Hey Josh. So, I work in a music studio and want to tell you that some basic sound cushioning can be done cheaply with a little creativity. Like you could easily screw together some wooden "frames" and then simply use some cheap, soft material to "stuff" it with, then staple some fabric, or something like bath towels, onto the frames by stretching it and wrapping it around, stapling to the back frame. I have done this and set them up, with some experimentation of where the sound bounces off off, and had great results. Just saying. You are doing fine. I was just noticing the audio and wanted to throw some (hopefully) helpful (but probably annoying) info your way. Take care and I will continue enjoying your stuff, regardless.
The bottle you got of RR 10 year have the new label?? Is it different than old label?? I know when Wild Turkey 101 year or so ago they changed labels there was slight differences from old label to new label in taste🥃🦃
Flavor is always going to drift over time due to dozens of factors (climate swings, wood used for barrels, blending, etc). It’s an inevitability of whiskey that we don’t think is talked about enough. The Russell’s haven’t changed the recipe though.
Our bottles of RR10 over the last few years have ranged from solid to very good. The one in this blind was solid. The one we just picked up is definitely a cut above.
2022 was the first year Russells 10 produced on the new still and fermenters hit the market. I’m sure it’s dialed in, but yeah, there will be variance. Still a great bourbon.
Shhhh . . . let's keep this our little secret!
I was lucky enough to buy ETL for 34 dollars and I just opened mine about two weeks ago. I was glad to have the experience but wasn't impressed. Definitely overhyped. WT products are among some of my faves, all day every day.
Thanks guys…this topic always makes me laugh! RR is great and so is Elmer T at $40… not Buffalo Traces fault the market went crazy for them and there are fools who will be separated from their money.
I got two pores of Elmer T Lee at a bar and it was okay and then they gave me the bill and it was $35 a poor and I was so disappointed. There's no way on God's green earth I would ever pay that again. Russell's is just a good solid bourbon with cherry flavor. It's crazy how our pallets shift and change a little bit because some bourbons I liked before now not so much and some I didn't like before are more tasty. Good stuff you guys. I love how Josh is always giving these delicious dessert descriptions and Erin is like I don't know what you're talking about 🤣👊.
That’s a typical Tuesday here! 😂
So glad Russell’s 10 year is readily available and glad it can beat very allocated whiskies. Have some some bottles I would like to do blind. Thanks for kicking me into gear. Dang it! Now I gotta drink some whiskey……ahh shucks hahahaha
I don't chase allocated bourbons, and this video accentuates that I made the correct decision on that! I keep a bottle of Russell's Reserve 10 year on hand at all times, and will buy a backup as soon as it starts getting low. Last bottle I found was at a wholesale club here in Indiana where I spent less than 30 bux!
Thanks for all you do, I REALLY appreciate your scoring system, it is very real world!
Thanks so much Judd! Cheers and thanks for watching!
I like sniffing Russell’s Reserve 10 more than drinking it. Maybe it’s the batch/bottle I got but I get a burnt aftertaste for some reason.
Interesting! Could be the bottle, the batch, or the oak for all that age. Hard to say without trying another bottle, but you’re likely not inclined to do so if you’re getting a burnt taste on this one.
YOu 2 a-r-e the First Couple of Whisk(e)y ! ! -------- always love your lighting and cam angular excursion ------ There are lots of peeps with too much money on hand, some buy for its nostalgic or romantic history of days gone by.... but 300 $, cr*p, NO !
We appreciate the kind words Timothy. Thanks so much for watching!
I love RR sb picks but I continue to be disappointed by their 10yr. Taste is just average to me, no funk. Would love to know how it would taste at 100 proof you
We’d definitely love it a lot more at 100/101 proof. 90 proof can only go so far.
I've seen Elmer T Lee for as high as $500
Ouch
Must feel good to drink your own bourbon!! Cheers!
Ive heard before that elmer is really disappointing, although ive never seen one in person. Honestly, very ok with that. russells 10 is a classic.
Never had ETL and haven't chased it at all. I do like Russels 10, but take WT 101 over it.
Agreed. We’ll take a little more proof and a little less age any day of the week.
I mean it's enough to show Boyd Crowder's villainy in the greatest whiskey show of all time...Justified, that in his early anti-hero days, he was a Wlid Turkey man, but as time went by he moved on to Elmer T. Lee.
...and oh, that clip!
Amazing Boyd reference!
@@stuffandwhiskey …after the Yellowstone Buffalo Trace nonsense, and seems like there has been one since, the episode watching by the nerds for bottles in the new Justified season should be intense…even set in Detroit. As an Okie, I’m just hoping that the new antagonist, The Oklahoma Wildman, has good taste, but I doubt it.
Russels 10yr was 19.99 at my local liquor store up until 2 months ago. Now its 23.99! Im piiiissed!!
Jesus... where is that? It's $39.99 in VA.
@@FakingANerve south eastern WI. Its everywhere for under 25. RR and 101 are basically the same price here.
It’s $31 to $40 in KY. You’ve got it good.
42.99 in Ohio msrp
Wow, what a surprise, WT wins again. :-)
I swear on my children... I just walked out of a store in Dallas that had Elmer T Lee for $349.99
People are stupid aren't they?
Big yikes
It's even more expensive in D.C. I can't remember if it was ETL or Stagg Jr., but when I asked, it was $599.99...plus about $60 in tax. I could keep a straight face. 😅
@@FakingANerve this same-store had the Stagg for $299.99. I get chased out of stores all the time because when they ask me why I'm taking pictures of the prices I tell them I am an internet influencer and I'm about to show the world how big of crooks they are hahaha!
@@johnmargiotti1262 I just checked another local store that actually has a fantastic inventory page (and inventory, if you ignore the prices, haha). They have ETL for $499.99. 🤦🏻♂️
Good comparison as usual. Erin needs to get outdoors.
Elmer used to be kind of my go to. I do think it was better in the past, but not THAT much better. But pre-2012 I used to be able to walk into almost any liquor store and buy it for $29.99. I used to go back and forth between it and Elijah Craig 12. Kind of the same way Weller became more expensive because people would come into the liquor store looking for Pappy and the staff would tell them Weller was really the same thing, all the mashbill #2 started getting hard to find after the popularity of Blanton's blew up. Even back then Blanton's was hit or miss to find (but I could usually get it if I shopped around), but Rockhill Farms and Elmer were just always there.