Rather than let it get me down, I decided to use my savings and try something different this year. A friend and neighbor of mine (also a bourbon spoof) noticed thet a liquor store not far from here had several bottles of Jefferson Presidential 18 year old. I had heard that some of the 18's were better than the others so I passed. Well my friend didn't and it turns out these were some of the really, REALLY good ones. A little spendy but I said why not and asked him to pick me up a couple bottles the next time he was over there. This was arguably the best bourbon I have ever had, possibly surpassing my beloved Pappy 15YO.
Next was the 2012 Four Roses Small Batch Ltd. Edition. I had heard nothing but great things about this one so I asked my local liquor store manager to see if any were still out there. Nope. But wait, my buddy asks me if I want to go to the cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul for those non-MN's out there) with him as he had found a couple. What the heck, road trip. Well we get there and the store had a case. A little deliberation and we decided to split it since they would knock 10% of a whole case. Again, this was a little outside my comfort zone price wise, and I had not tried it before buying it (3 bottles of it even). Well, it turns out it was a good, scratch that, great idea. Exceptional bourbon, no doubt. Best I ever had? No, but easily in the top five.
OK I'm thinkin, so I didn't get any Pappy this year, so what. In fact I'm not even bummed out any more. Then came the knock out punch. My neighbor comes home from a tasting seminar at one of the larger liquor stores up in the cities and what does he have with him. A 2012 BTAC Stagg. He asked me if I wanted it but since he had won it in a raffle I thought he should have it. He then says open it up. OH MY GOD! I have only spent one evening with this one, but I do believe that this one surpasses both my beloved Pappy AND the Jefferson. Realizing I will not be lucky enough to aquire one of these gems myself, well, it bums me out
RG
