A hysterically over-hyped, over-priced talking point marketing exercise. My distributors come in and tell me that they have my "one bottle allocation of 10 y/o Pappy"....and I tell them they can move on to the next person stupid enough to buy it.

Sure, it's good, but the hype surrounding it is totally overblown hipster nonsense. Just another made-up feel-good "I have it and you don't" type thing.

Yes--there are most certainly commodity brands versus craft products such as this, but there's a HUGE gap between well-made bourbon and the unjustifiable hype that is PVW.

You don't have to believe me or anything, but I've been directly involved in this business for over 30 years, and have seen the crazed masses going ape for the latest hard-to-find this-and-that over and over again--whether it's spirits, beer or wine.

Do a bit of research and learn for yourself.

Most of these consumers would never admit in public that they don't care for the taste of the latest offering....having a distinguishing pallete is more important to them than taste.....form over function.

+1

In the early 90's Trader Joe's used to carry Old Weller 107 for about $8. I liked the taste of that stuff. After T Joes didnt have it anymore i would look for it from time to time with no luck. Now I want to find another bottle of it but can't as no one in my market place has it. Total Wine gets it sporadically. I want to see if it is as good as I remembered.

This summer I have been trying different Burbons. Mostly to become aquainted with the different tastes to see what they are like. One of them has been the Blantons which is another sporadically gotten burbon. Its ok. I.like the Stag Jr, Popcorn Sutton shine and even the Old Taylor Rye. Old Granddad 114 is a good tasting bourbon for the buck, but it has the Beam taste. I will try a single barrel Four Roses next. But I am beginning to lose interest again. It can be a rather expensive past time at 50 to 70 a bottle I could be buying another spoon instead. I would just like to find a go to bourbon.

Buts I just gots to see if that dam Weller is as good as I remember. So I wouldn't mind having a taste of the Pappy just to see what it is like but I ain't gona pay the freight for it.

Bourbon is the new flavor of the day. Tons of craft makers out there. How many will survive when the crowd moves on to the next flavor?

Remember cigars?

I puffed on just about every cigar there was since the 80's. So I had bin around the block on that one. But I have done since quit in 09 when Obamie took office. Last ceegar I had was 2 at Christmas in 13. Just basically one day quit. I do gots a hankering for a Partagas black label...but just never get around to gettin me one.

When FEDCO in LA went bust in 98 I bought a fair amount of liquor at discount including 18 and a 25 year Mc Callans, 18 Glenmorainge and a Blue Label. I opened the 25 year McCallans when I turned 50 and this year the Blue Label at 65.

I still have some of both 18's and 5 bottles of Remy XO. He11 I still have 6 bottles of Bacardi 151 from when Fedmart went bust in 82.

The blue is good and smoooth..but the McCallans was better.

Single malts were all the rage just recently and they seem to be doing okay now that everyone's moved to Bourbon. Every craze leaves behind some diehards, which is why every family cookout one of my cousins shows up with wine coolers, just like she drank back in the 80s. :p

I did, I picked up samples and went to my whiskey drinking buddies house and we sampled the four I spoke of.

Everything younger then the 23 family reserve, I would not bother trying to get.

At the price they ask for the 23 y/o I will never buy it.

I had a bottle of 23 y/o Bushmills with me that day we tried that too, I REALLY wanted it to be every bit as good as the Pappy's, it was not. I really wanted to Pappy's to be nothing special, sadly, it is pretty special.

Again anything younger than the 23, not all that big of deal, I can be happy with Blantons. That 23 was really on another level.

I was able to snag a bottle of Blantons a few months ago, I am waiting for cooler weather so I can sit out back and enjoy it.

Have you tried Elijah Craig? It is a nice cheap ($30 a bottle) go to for a decent sipping whiskey.

https://photos.smugmug.com/General-P...HpDZs3K-XL.jpg

And you may be seeing Blanton's become more and more "scarce" now as their owners try to create the same aura of mystery that has surrounded PVW. Here in the ATL and throughout South FL the talk has already begun. I get it....it's marketing at its finest--but what a shame when it is a product of solid marketing rather than pure merit of product. It's kind of like Champagne really. I mean---I'm not going to poo-poo someone who brings Dom Perignon to a function and offers it to me; because it is stunningly well-made, and from THE Champagne house, according to some, but for me, there are many others that quietly do a much better job. I suppose that this is truly the case in all consumable goods.

You are talking about Buffalo Trace distillery which is part of the Sazerac empire. Weller is supposed to have the same mash bill as PVW..and that is why it is hard to get...some places have the Reserve on the shelf...but not in my hood:mad:

I want the Antique 107 or 12...

Popcorn Sutton distllery in TN is now part of that empire to. They have two of Dickles former Master Distillers on board to run the place...what are they up to is the question? You know they are there for the creative freedom to make a craft product and not a commodity whiskey.

Stag Sr is another one that is impossible to get. I think the JR is good enough..it comes in at 126 proof.

It seems that is what Buffalo Trace marketing is doing is creating an aura around so many of their products to create a large demand while limiting supply. PVW, Stag SR , Taylor 4 grain, Elmer Lee, Blantons and... Weller?

A while back I apologize as I forgot who it was sent me a couple of bottles of Craig 18 year old...I still have one unopened...

Blantons is a good Bourbon...it is rich tasting...has character...Belle Meade Sour Mash SB is in the same category just a different flavor profile.

I've said before that Eagle Rare 10 is awesome at the price.

Best whiskey I've had recently is Copper Ridge Rye - thanks to Jim above, who sent it as a gift.

How bad do you want the Weller? I am seeing it regularly up here and can snag you one for cost plus shipping. Keep in mind we have outlandish booze taxes so the prices are a bit higher than elsewhere.

I was in Vegas a couple month back and Emerils pick of Weller 107 and it was really really good.

I can usually get as much blanton's, regular weller, eagle rare, and buffalo trace as I want (not much since a bottle lasts me a quarter)

However I have literally never seen a bottle of elmer, WL antique, any pappy, or even the age stamped eagle rare for sale in a local liquor store

They were bottling Elmer T Lee when I visited Buffalo trace so I kinda wanted to try it, however I mostly don't care. The regular $22 weller is fine for my unrefined pallet. I like wheated Burbons and it works quite nicely.

My mom did send me a bottle of 24 YO rhetoric for my birthday. I don't think it was super expensive, but I am waiting for a special occasion to open it and share.

I wouldent buy 4 figure bottles of liquor even if I had bill gates money, on principal

I get it---I see the same level of competition in wineries, both commodity and boutique. The larger companies just take more time to get something to market because the ideas get bogged down in layers of bureaucracy--so by the time the original idea hits the streets, there are already many more "like" items being sold the same way. I heard a couple of consumers the other day speaking of some contest to see who had collected the most numbered Blanton's horses...I guess that's a thing, too.

Before I say yes can you give me an idea of cost? The 107 or 12 is what I am after. Thx.

Eagle is Sazerac to.

Our local fancy grocery store has it for $35 a bottle right now (antique 107) +23% Wa State booze tax. I have seen it elsewhere for $25 but it’s hit or miss. I inquired about the 12yr and got a good laugh from the clerk. I guess we don’t get that version up here or it’s saved for the good customers.

Ouch. For that price I'd just try to find Blanton's, a Maker's Mark store pick or Rebel Yell 10 year locally.