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In the early 1990's Trader Joes carried Old Weller 107 for $7.97 in a Gift Pack, It was such a memorable Bourbon that from time to time over the years I would try to find it again, failing that I would try something else that never quite seemed to measure up (including a bottle of Buffalo Trace).

Recently wanting to make a whiskey based BBQ sauce, having a coupon from Total Wine and looking on line and seeing that they ostensibly carried the Weller brand I visited one of their stores. Seeing the shear variety of Bourbon whiskeys that they carried was staggering let alone the other spirits that they carry. Not finding the Weller brand I asked if they had or another of their stores had it in stock. Their answer was that they get it on a sporadic and limited basis, that they would text me when it came in (several months ago). At that time I bought several other competitors of Weller bourbons including a bottle of Popcorn Sutton's White "Likker" (the distillery I found is owned by Sazarac and with the Master Distillers being ex Dickle you just know something is in the works?). I found the Suttons flavor to be similar to some real non government approved moonshine that I tasted way back when, to be smooth and palatable where it was 88 proofed to open the flavor profile?

Several weeks later I received a text stating that they had some Blanton's Single Barrel in, finding that Buffalo Trace distills Blanton's and has quite a variety of other high quality bourbon offerings, I bought a bottle or two. I find that it is a "rich" tasting bourbon that is best either served neat or over several ice cubes that open the flavor. It is well worth having on the shelf. But I haven't stopped there, being curious and wanting to try a variety of bourbons in a learning curve I bought a bottle of a competitors Belle Meade Single Barrel Sour Mash 100.2 which I find complimentary to the Blanton's (you might call these Bourbons substantial with different flavor profiles, which is nice) , the Stagg Jr which comes in at cask proof has a sweet taste where the high alcohol content is surprisingly palatable. At this writing I think it is a real keeper. From there I bought a EH Taylor Small Batch which upon first tasting seemed harsh (peppery) and left me wondering if I had made a mistake? It does hearken back to the flavor of the Old Taylor that I remember from a time when a President resigned office. This is a bourbon that will probably be best served over ice cubes which will open the flavor a bit? A bottle of EH Taylor Rye which I have not opened as of yet,