re: Whiskey/Bourbon/Scotch Volume III

Thanks. Didn't want to assume that.

SecondPD

Longtime follower, first time poster to the Bourbon board. First I’d like to thank you folks for the wealth of free knowledge you provide. When I decided to dibble into the brown juice a few years back all I knew was cheap and garbage that was readily available from my younger days. I’ve proudly stocked a small bar/stash and made a nice little cabinet out of a 1940’s era radio. See photo


I do have a question that I hope is not a dumb one. If someone can please explain the Hand Picked Barrel gig that merchants enjoy with distilleries; Is a hand picked barrel special? Do merchants get inside scoop on better barrels? How exactly does this work? I’m highly interested in furthering my bottle collection with special bottles and do not mind paying up especially if the someone who is selecting those barrels is an expert.

Ex: I see a lot of you guys posting the Sazerac selected bottles, does it greatly differ from Sazerac on the shelf elsewhere?

that Elios is cinnamon apple pie

It’s tax season and I’m a CPA, so most weeks will be “atrocious” from that perspective. But the family is happy and healthy so there’s no complaints over here. Just an excuse to drink decent bourbon

I think some distilleries offer stores a handful of samples and they can pick which sample they like the best and have the single barrel store pick based off that. Other distilleries will just say we will offer you a single barrel to sell in your store, take it or leave it.

That’s what I’ve always assumed, yes. I’m sure TA can give us some more insight to the process

These days the distiller will send a sample of like 5 barrels samples from different parts of a rickhouse to a retail store and they will get together with a group of people , usually peeps that know their bourbon and decide which barrel to pick.

Any agave fans in here? It may not be brown, but it’s tasty.