Completely agree - taste as much as you can before you buy. I do like hearing others opinions and experiences though. I can gauge for myself if I agree or not. Recommendations, tasting notes, research and news (looking at you BFLT) are one of the better elements of this thread as others share their experiences and knowledge.
Post Beatles? Sweet George for me. Lennon second and Paul & Wings last. And I’ve had to come around on this but Harrisons music has stood the test of time much better than the others. If you haven’t seen it, try to catch “Concert for George”. I believe it’s available on some streaming services. It’s awesome. You’re welcome.
Not really. Just give it a try, see how you like it and judge what you’d be willing to pay for it in the future. Lots of good options in that price range.
I liked the bottle I finished and bought another. That said, I wouldn’t pay more than retail now that I’ve had it. But I say that about most. It’s nice to try these things to see what all the fuss is about but at the end of the day, I find they aren’t life changing. YMMV.
I’ve read where Facebook is cracking down on any alcohol sales which has grown to be a big part of the grey or secondary market. Good. Screw the flippers. Find a real job.
After having multiple single barrels and store picks over the last few years, I’d have to agree with you to a point. Some great, some meh and few stinkers. For the average bourbon drinker I think this is sound advice. No need to play single barrel roulette when you can get consistent quality from what’s on the shelf. However it is fun to try SBs and come up with the occasional gem. I’m finding better results with some distillers than others and of course it’s always good to try before you buy if the retailer allows it. Getting to taste can take out a lot of the guess work (although COViD has recently put a damper on this practice). Anyway, always appreciate your take on things Bozo.
I experienced the same thing with an EC Specs store pick. I tasted against two other EC store picks and the one from Specs was a burner compared to the other two.
Nothing fancy. 225 for four+ hours. Brushed them with some vinegar/brown sugar about half way to keep them from drying out and then some bbq sauce w 30 min to go. First time for a whole chicken. Came out good. Nice Smokey flavor and meat was moist and tender.