Buffalo Trace, Turkey 101? Nope, Evan Williams. And use those savings on getting more Eagle Rare and Rare Breed. 🧠
In seriousness though, EW is fantastic and still under rated for its price point. I'll take this over an Elijah Craig Small Batch any day.
What's your budget bottle?
Saw these bottles of Johnnie Walker Red in Egypt yesterday and honestly got a bit suspicious 😭
The bottles looked different from the ones I usually see in Europe, had Arabic writing on them, and some even said “12 years old” on the label — which confused me because JW Red isn’t age stated as far as I know.
I know brands often use different packaging for different markets, languages, importers, duty-free releases etc.,
but it still caught me off guard because the bottle shape/label looked unusual compared to the European versions.
Are these actually legitimate regional versions or is fake whisky a real issue there?
Curious if anyone else has seen these.
You glorious bastards agree, I’m sure, that this is an appropriate usage of a spare bedroom. I especially enjoyed gutting a closet and turning it into the bourbon vault!
I'm always competing Rare Breed and Alberta Premium. Knob has that forest smell I love but it's definitely a little sharp relative to others. I will hopefully always have these 3
This is a fantastic bottle I have had the privilege of enjoying many times. It is a pick from a bar / cocktail lounge that my wife and I frequent. They make a fantastic Old Fashioned with this bottle. I was fortunate enough to get a bottle of this stuff before it’s gone. This is 10 years old and comes in at 131.3 proof.
Nose: Sweet and fruity. I get some chocolate and dark cherries in there. And it sinuses off with some baking spices.
Palate: Some nice dark cherries and maple come in. The viscosity is fantastic…. Really coats the mouth nicely. As it finishes I get brown sugar / crème brûlée It’s so good…….
Finish: I get some smoke and then the oak really starts to shine. The barrel char is noticeable and delicious. The finish is strong and it really doesn’t drink its proof.
This is one I really enjoy. I am an all around fan of Elijah Craig and have 6+ different bottles of theirs open in my collection as well speak. This is in my top 2. It is fantastic in an Old Fashioned but really shines sipping neat. I will have to try to pull some strings to get my hands on another bottle of this before it’s gone.
I'd love a more premium and cut Glencairn, however I'm seeing mixed reviews about it. Some liking the lip more, some like it less. Some say its more durable some say its less durable. How is it really?
One thing I notice that bothers me about it is the cut design is a little too high like you have to overpour to get the effect properly.
Been a good month for hunting in the Raleigh, NC area lately.
EH Taylor Single Barrel
Old Forester 1924 (2026 Release)
Evan Williams Single Barrel 250th Edition
Knob Creek Blender’s Edition
I almost died taking this shot. But it was worth it because it's one of my favorite post-yard work. This is one from the series of self-portraits and it features this tasty bottle from Standard Proof. It's a Texas Pecan infused Rye. I enjoyed it. And while you're still reading, please vote and help me get to 1st place.
Vote once a day for the next 9 days and I'm in the running for 25k. Your vote is greatly appreciated.
The Quintessential ASM Special Release Pete & Sherri Married 2nd Anniversary
Distilled by Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa
Mashbill: a blend of 2 different 6-10y 100% 2 row malted barleys. One none peated finished in Ex Bourbon as well as Oloroso & PX Sherry. The other peated finished in ex bourbon & Amontillado sherry.
Msrp: 99.99
Proof: cask strength 114.4
Nose: Immediately it’s sweet rich dark chocolate brownie batter, drizzled with caramel & some tart cherries pretty straight forward with a punch of flavor.
Palate: It’s medium viscous on the tongue, oily texture, semi-sweet chocolate with cherries on top. Almost identical to what came from the nose. A lot of that cherry/fruit flavor shining through from all that sherry finishing.
Finish: long… it’s interesting for sure. It finishes dry with a good amount of vanilla, a lot of oak influence coming through, subtle smoke, not a whole lot coming from the peated portion of the mashbill. Spice & a really nice warmth.
Final thoughts: If you like ASM, you’ll love this! It’s a perfectly balanced peat verse none peated pour. Those who are not a fan of peat should definitely give it a try. It’s not overpowering in any way. All of that sherry really helps enhance that barley perfectly. Loads of dark cherry/raspberry fruits, with a great finish. Something I can sip on often, but not necessarily daily. Out of the many ASM’s I’ve tasted it’s definitely top 10
Rating: 8.3/10
I've been out of my house for a while, and I'm finally back and unpacking (witness things still in protective wrap!). I have been more interested as of late in finding older bottles, one-off releases, or others that are more interesting. I've also been pretty sick off and on to start the year, so hopefully I'll be able to start really getting into these.
I'm really looking forward to a Talisker flight, and to comparing the much older bottle of the 10 to a more recent bottle. Also the Seelbach's 17 should be a treat.
So, I'm in the running for this Artist contest and my work is whiskey related. Can I get your vote? If not, it's cool. I'll just keep creating and move on. I recently went to Portugal and was hunting a whiskey from there. I was not disappointed to learn the process and history of this distillery called Vennaki. It definitely has wine barrel on the nose.
To vote for my whiskey related work, the link is next....down here... Just one more pine down. Cheers!
This was a sample I received a while ago from a fellow whiskey connoisseur. Must have been a scotch but for the life of me, I can't remember or see anything else other than a single malt 10 year old.
And I really feel like this has a bit more power, less "alcoholism" taste, ha, no pun intended. This is earlier work and probably what started shaping the idea of me being in front of the camera while managing the back end as well.
Contrary to popular belief, I do not drink every day. I do not have to explain myself anyway, I'm just a photographer who found a niche and enjoyment. Someone who has shot weddings, church groups, concerts, sports events and now focused on my beloved family. I hope my work will someday earn me some extra cash and on this occasion, with a little bit of your help.
https://peoplesartist.org/2026/oscar-valdes
Cheers, thanks for allowing me to post here.