Relaxer, have you gotten your birthday bourbon order? They keep saying they're getting it the next week and the next week, etc.
Whoops, I didn't realize this thread lived on after I had left.
K8t, I received the first bottle within a week of placing my order. I then went back on and ordered three more, all of which are in 'Processing' limbo, so I suspect I'm suffering the same fate that you are. And I just emailed them and they said it won't be until January, so I'm sorry about that because I think you were hoping this to be a Christmas gift.
One thing you might do, instead, is get him a bottle of Few Rye, which today was announced as Whiskey Advocate's Craft Whiskey of the Year.
I will admit that I haven't had it yet but I just placed an order on Caskers so will be able to try it very soon. And it has the novelty of being an award-winning juice so maybe give it a shot. I'll add as well that Caskers tends to sell out on things so place your order soon if you want it.
To answer/comment on a few other posts:
My terrible Sazerac efforts are fading from memory but I just feel like my ratios were off and it just didn't taste that good. Now, I will say that about once every other week, I'll get a wild hair up my ass and will spend an evening sipping on absinthe. I'll pour 2 ounces into a chilled glencairn glass, lay my absinthe spoon over the mouth and put a sugar cube on top, chill 6 ounces of water in a shaker and then slowly pour over the sugar cube. It's a real refreshing sippin drink, but like cotton candy, Disneyworld and the reverse cowgirl, it's best enjoyed occasionally.
Brennser, how on earth did you manage to get that Pappy Van Winkle? I'm kind of angrily jealous. Here's a related anecdote: Last weekend, a buddy of mine and I took all of our kids out to Carderock to hike and climb and etc. Afterward we went to Matchbox on Cap Hill. The waitress came up and first thing, she asked "Are either of you guys bourbon fan?" Why YES, YES I AM, TELL ME WHY RIGHT NOW! They had the Pappy! They had the 10 yr and 20 yr. So I had a glass of the 20 yr, which I've not had before (in fact, the only PVW I've ever had is the 15), and it was glorious.
I'm probably projecting a little, because PVW is such a mythical whiskey, but it is legitimately great. I would do very weird and terrible things to get my hands on a bottle.
Hoya, I like that drink recipe a lot. Looks like a nice variation of a Manhattan. I have everything on there except for the Dolin Rouge Vermouth. Is using Carpano workable? That's all I have at the moment.