What distilled beverage are you drinking?

Foursquare Redoubtable rum.  I'm really getting into aged rums.  This one is delicious.

Oban Distillers Edition

Friends, over the weekend, shared some Fortress Rum they returned with from Nova Scotia last summer. Straight up it's great!

At home, enjoyed a glass of Henry McKenna 10 year old Bottled in Bond last night.

A joven mexcal I brought back from a small mexcaleria outside of Oaxaca. Sorry now that I did not buy more as I have not found anything stateside that is as good.

Interesting corn liqueur, called Nixta Licor de Elote. Sweet, but tastes like roasted corn. Could easily substitute for simple syrup in many drinks.

Having some of the new bourbon distillery in town. Green River Distilling. It's only 5 years old but has very distinct flavors. Very nice and less than $40/bottle.

Weller Antique 107

finished hafl btl of hibiki 17.

Light, subtlely sweet, very smooth

JW black

L to R:

Buffalo Trace store pick (Safeway stores)

Hill & Hill dusty (1980 bottle date)

Jim Beam Distillers Cut

Was gifted a still at Christmas, made my first test batch of brandy a month ago from some inexpensive California Cabernet which is aging in oak currently.

VM

@Vino Me posted:

Was gifted a still at Christmas, made my first test batch of brandy...

Uh-oh!  If the revenuers ask me whether I knew about this, what am I supposed to say? 🤭

Hmm. I could have sworn that I posted this on here before, but I'm not seeing it now.

About a year back I bought an old bourbon, a Jim Beam clear bowling pin bottle from a private party nearby. This was/is my first "dusty". It was clearly unopened (old tax stamp intact), and in good condition; the gold lettering had worn in a few places. Even had the little marketing tag hanging on it. Guy said his father bought it, and it had been sitting in his basement for about 30 years.  From the markings on the bottle, and the tax stamp, as near as I could figure it had been made sometime between 1961 and 1973. A little more research showed it going at auction for about 15 times what I paid for it.  No, I didn't flip it. Opened it with some good friends, and found it to be a very good sipping whiskey. Still have about an inch left in the bottle.

I live in Kentucky. Although many bourbons are more available here than elsewhere, due to the popularity we do pay more.

Also, lest we forget, Kentucky has horrific sin taxes on all alcohol. Those taxes alone Jack up the retail prices considerably. The difference in prices between Covington, KY and Cincinnati, or Louisville and the IN suburbs, can be considerably different just because of KY sin taxes.

There are still large portions of the State that are dry ( no alcoholic beverages legally sold), and they push taxes, at no cost to them, on we sinners that like to imbibe .

@Insight posted:

So I’ve recently picked up a new client that’s based in KY.  They were recently in town for a conference, and took them to a couple of honey holes for the following:

Weller Full Proof

Weller C.Y.P.B.

Heaven Hill 7 year BIB

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

They were quite amazed that prices here were cheaper than what the same went for in KY.

My friend still buys liquor online from stores in CA. Has it shipped to his son in Idaho, as it's at least 1/3 cheaper than buying it in WA, even with the shipping. Sometimes I'll piggyback on his order.

I was aware WA had the most penal taxes on spirits in the nation, with OR a distant 2nd.  KY is apparently not even in the Top 10 states for alcohol taxes.  Perhaps the county/local authorities are adding their own taxes on top?

Otherwise, it’s just basic microeconomics of not enough supply, with way too high demand, causing prices to go up more so in KY (center of the bourbon universe) than elsewhere.

Offerman edition Lagavulin 11 yo(Guinness casks)

Bunnahabhean Stieireadair Islay single malt

Last night after really high-end sushi:

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye, 58%

Powers John's Lane 12 Year Irish Whiskey, 46%

The HT is from a craft distillery out of IN that has gotten a lot of buzz (Fred Minnick said it was the best 1st batch of any whiskey in his career) that I picked up on a recent trip to Nashville, and just tried, and they aren't wrong.  All the best things about rye without the not so good things.  Seems much lower in proof than it is, with just the right amount of spice and sweetness.  So easy to drink.

The Powers is the best deal in Irish whiskey.  Blows away Redbreast 12 as is much bigger and bolder (12 proof higher) at about the same price.  That and Redbreast 12 Cask Strength and Blue Spot 7 are my go to Irish whiskies.