Fifth Avenue Forum

Had Jefferson’s ocean as well. Good, but not worth it for the price.

I stopped at the liquor store on the 23rd and they were out of my go tos, so I got a bottle of Elijah Craig small batch. We’ll see how it is. Haven’t opened it yet.

Any easy drink to make with bourbon is a Kentucky Mule. Lime juice, bourbon, and ginger beer with mint as a garnish.

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/kentucky-mule/

Angels envy is my favorite. So smooth

Had blanton's this weekend for the first time. Good stuff

Good stuff...and I thank you all! Definitely some good suggestions. Four Roses will be up next, I think. And now I'll be on the hunt for a good sweet vermouth, and a really really good bitters.

If one can find it, George Dickel No. 12 is superior to any other Tennessee Whiskey produced by Jack Daniels. Unfortunately, in PA I believe it's a special-order item and is not regularly stocked in the state stores.

Good stuff...and I thank you all! Definitely some good suggestions. Four Roses will be up next, I think. And now I'll be on the hunt for a good sweet vermouth, and a really really good bitters.

I just go martini and rossi for the vermouth. I've tried a couple others, but I keep coming back to the old standby of martini and rossi. It's cheap, it's good, it's readily available, what's not to like?

Same with bitters. I just get the angostura bitters. But if you're in the pittsburgh area, there might be better options for you out there.

I stopped at the liquor store on the 23rd and they were out of my go tos, so I got a bottle of Elijah Craig small batch. We’ll see how it is. Haven’t opened it yet.

That is my goto. Good stuff

If one can find it, George Dickel No. 12 is superior to any other Tennessee Whiskey produced by Jack Daniels. Unfortunately, in PA I believe it's a special-order item and is not regularly stocked in the state stores.

I have been using Caskers.com to get some stuff I can't find locally.

the night has begun.....

Well that looks interesting.

Well that looks interesting.

I love it. very smooooottthhhhh

PLCB Van Winkle 2020 Limited-Release Lottery

Registration is now open and will close at 5 p.m., Friday, January 8.


https://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/ ... &langId=-1

$1,150 when I win one of each. Come on tax refund.

My recommendation is to go for the 15 year old. It's the best one, IMO.

I mixed up some gin, lime juice, and some triple berry juice from wegmans that my daughter has been drinking... tasted exactly like raspberry sherbet. It was delicious.

PLCB Van Winkle 2020 Limited-Release Lottery

Registration is now open and will close at 5 p.m., Friday, January 8.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $399.99 each – 18 bottles for individual consumers, five bottles for licensees

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $249.99 each – 54 bottles for individual consumers, 17 bottles for licensees

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $149.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees

Van Winkle Family Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $159.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $89.99 each – 370 bottles for individual consumers, 123 bottles for licensees

Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $99.99 each – 741 bottles for individual consumers, 247 bottles for licensees

https://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/ ... &langId=-1

Has anyone ever won one of these

A couple months ago one of my brother in laws brought a decent bottle of tequila to a family function. It has now become a tradition for the 3 of us to rotate buying bottles of middle to top shelf tequila and drinking the fifth. Here’s what we’ve had so far ranked. All silver tequilas.

***i have no idea what a tequila should taste like so obviously take the rankings with a grain of salt.***

1. Cabo-Wabo - for only $36 this has been the best taste and most smooth when shooting. Sammy Hagar did something right.
.
2. Maestro Dobel Diamante - interchangeable with Casamigos. Both are just tasty whether you want to sip or shoot.
.
3. Casamigos - Clooney did a fine job here. A little more peppery at the end but still very smooth.
.
4. Olmeca Altos - cost effective and easy to drink.
.
5. Avión - peppery without being too much. Really get it in the after-taste.
.
6. Milagro - Again very smooth, very little burn
.
7. Herreadura - can a tequila be yummy? Really tasty.
.
8. Teremana - Dwayne the Rock Johnson made a tequila that is very okay to me. A little too much pepper for my liking.
.
9. Epolon - not my thing. But if a burn and not a great after taste. $27 bottle
.
10. Hussongs - after enjoying smooth and a little more fruity this one was a bit of a shock. I may not enjoy “flavorful” and “robust” tequilas.

I don't know if you need to stay with silver (blanco) tequilas, but if you are willing to branch out - Casamigos Reposado and Casamigos Anejo are COMPLETELY different (and IMO vastly better tasting) than Casamigos Blanco. Reposado has a nice vanilla taste (and is much smoother than Blanco). Anejo tastes after caramel - and is super-smooth (clearly my personal choice for ice-less sipping). Not that much differently priced than Blanco. If I remember well, $36, $41, and $43 in our local Sam's Club.

PLCB Van Winkle 2020 Limited-Release Lottery

Registration is now open and will close at 5 p.m., Friday, January 8.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $399.99 each – 18 bottles for individual consumers, five bottles for licensees

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $249.99 each – 54 bottles for individual consumers, 17 bottles for licensees

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $149.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees

Van Winkle Family Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $159.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $89.99 each – 370 bottles for individual consumers, 123 bottles for licensees

Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $99.99 each – 741 bottles for individual consumers, 247 bottles for licensees

https://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/ ... &langId=-1

Has anyone ever won one of these

Not a pappy, but I got a willet something or other a few years back

i entered that - how often do these pop up?

PLCB Van Winkle 2020 Limited-Release Lottery

Registration is now open and will close at 5 p.m., Friday, January 8.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $399.99 each – 18 bottles for individual consumers, five bottles for licensees

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $249.99 each – 54 bottles for individual consumers, 17 bottles for licensees

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $149.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees

Van Winkle Family Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $159.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $89.99 each – 370 bottles for individual consumers, 123 bottles for licensees

Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $99.99 each – 741 bottles for individual consumers, 247 bottles for licensees

https://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/ ... &langId=-1

Has anyone ever won one of these

I know exactly one person who has purchased a bottle of Pappy (any age) at retail, and I think only 2 restaurants/bars that had it in stock.

i entered that - how often do these pop up?

I think the pappy is annual.

Cool cool

A couple months ago one of my brother in laws brought a decent bottle of tequila to a family function. It has now become a tradition for the 3 of us to rotate buying bottles of middle to top shelf tequila and drinking the fifth. Here’s what we’ve had so far ranked. All silver tequilas.

***i have no idea what a tequila should taste like so obviously take the rankings with a grain of salt.***

1. Cabo-Wabo - for only $36 this has been the best taste and most smooth when shooting. Sammy Hagar did something right.
.
2. Maestro Dobel Diamante - interchangeable with Casamigos. Both are just tasty whether you want to sip or shoot.
.
3. Casamigos - Clooney did a fine job here. A little more peppery at the end but still very smooth.
.
4. Olmeca Altos - cost effective and easy to drink.
.
5. Avión - peppery without being too much. Really get it in the after-taste.
.
6. Milagro - Again very smooth, very little burn
.
7. Herreadura - can a tequila be yummy? Really tasty.
.
8. Teremana - Dwayne the Rock Johnson made a tequila that is very okay to me. A little too much pepper for my liking.
.
9. Epolon - not my thing. But if a burn and not a great after taste. $27 bottle
.
10. Hussongs - after enjoying smooth and a little more fruity this one was a bit of a shock. I may not enjoy “flavorful” and “robust” tequilas.

I don't know if you need to stay with silver (blanco) tequilas, but if you are willing to branch out - Casamigos Reposado and Casamigos Anejo are COMPLETELY different (and IMO vastly better tasting) than Casamigos Blanco. Reposado has a nice vanilla taste (and is much smoother than Blanco). Anejo tastes after caramel - and is super-smooth (clearly my personal choice for ice-less sipping). Not that much differently priced than Blanco. If I remember well, $36, $41, and $43 in our local Sam's Club.

I feel like I responded to a post of yours about Casamigos a couple months ago (and to PB's list), but I can't find either, so to summarize what I remember posting but apparently didn't....

Like most liquor, tequila has complicated and varying laws regarding what allows it to be considered tequila. The biggest one is of course that the bottle only has to be 51% tequila. That's how you end up with people who say they hate tequila because it makes them crazy and gives them a terrible hangover; they're drinking bottom shelf **** that is 49% something else that the producer doesn't have to disclose (looking at your Cuervo Especial). ALWAYS get something that says "100% Agave". That's the first step.

The next big thing is additives. Despite the "100% Agave" label, that bottle is allowed to contain up to 1% of additives (sugar syrup, glycerin, oak extract, and caramel color) that can be used to change the color and flavor of the tequila. This is something that was started so that producers could create a more consistent taste and appearance for a product line. The reality with any type of liquor is that every batch is going to taste and look somewhat different, which can often be off-putting to consumers. The problem is that additives are now much stronger than when this rule was first added. What this means is that a dark Reposado with strong hints of vanilla that used to sit in oak barrels for a year to gain that color and flavoring is now spending the minimum two months required for labeling with the color and flavor being manipulated with additives. It's a common practice and one that drives tequila enthusiasts insane.

This is why my Casamigos preference is their Reposado. There is something excessively dark and smooth about their Anjelo, especially versus the price point, that makes me believe it is being manipulated by additives. It looks like a three year, tastes like a three year, and is priced like a one year. While I'll obviously acknowledge that if they're **** with their Anjeo they can just as easily **** with their Reposado, the Reposado still tastes more natural and is priced more appropriately.

The final tequila bugaboo is how it is made. The traditional method is to roast and steam the mature agave pinas in an oven (clay or stainless steel), then mill and squeeze the cooked plant to extract juice that is fermented. This is a slow process that makes it difficult to keep up with the booming tequila brand. Because of this, enter the diffuser. Tequila makers that use diffusers are despised by tequila enthusiasts. It's a giant ass machine that can be used on younger agave pinas to extract the inulin from plant using blasts of high-pressured water. Sometimes the inulin is cooked, other times it goes into a hydrochloric acid bath to chemically covert the inulin to fermentable sugar. What comes out of the diffuser is cheap and tastes nothing like traditional tequila, but it doesn't have to thanks to the over-powered additives.

https://tequilamatchmaker.com/ has been my go to for identifying how different tequilas are made and if they are known to use additives.