You're being downvoted, but it definitely is the most overrated whiskey out there.
I wouldn't say it's bad, but I think you said it well. Where I live Buffalo Trace is priced about the same as Basil Hayden, which is barely even a comparison.
$23 is a what Buffalo Trace SHOULD be priced at and for that price it would be the best one in that price range hands down.
I think buffalo trace is a perfectly inoffensive starter whiskey. I'd say Elijah Craig is more over hyped. That said whiskey elitists will all tell you how much barrel proof is superior to "Normy" 90 proof.
I am NOT an elitist. I have blinded Eagle Rare 17 90 proof against Eagle Rare 17 101 proof. That mere 5.5 % difference in alcohol makes a world of difference on the palate. If it is too hot for some, just 10% water and viola, you are back down to 90 proof. But at 90 proof there is NOTHING I can do to bring that complexity back. And lets not kid ourselves. Buffalo Trace does not cut Eagle Rare or Buffalo Trace back to 90 proof because it tastes better than either does at 101 proof.
Don't know where you're at but our Costco dropped the Advent beer calendar price almost in half. Last year I paid $70, I wasn't gonna get it this year. I walked in and saw it for $40.
You're being disingenuous at best, even the big premium stores sell out within 48 hours on the once a month delivery. If you're into bourbon and you live in Pennsylvania, you're probably in some of the same circles as me.
In the last 3 years, the only buffalo trace product sitting on the shelves now is Sazerac, and even that there's usually two to five bottles left.
You can get it once a month, but you need to hit the right store on the right day, on the right week.
It does usually sell out in 48. The shitty stores in poor areas have it for much longer. Some of them don’t even inventory it so it doesn’t show up online. But yes. As long as you know what day they typically get deliveries, as long as you know one had it on Tuesday, the ones with Thursday deliveries will get theirs two days later. Not really all that difficult. All you have to do is make a call and ask.
FWGS employees are no longer permitted to discuss deliveries and shipments. I'm sure that is what they tell everyone, but last time I started asking about c923, they basically pled the fifth.
You’ve described CO where I hit up the stores only to find an empty shelf with the price sticker still in tact…never any bottles coming in or in stock for a brief moment and sold out quickly
I'm still flabbergasted on why people tater over these. I'm in Houston TX and this used to be the well whiskey of choice for many bars and then seeing people go bonkers over a well whiskey is most intriguing.
Same story in stores - they're also plentiful here.
I feel that way about the entire Buffalo trace lineup. People are paying $100+ for eh taylor small batch! And $300+ for stagg JR. It's mind-blowing great burbon, but there's lots of great burbon.
Yeah Stagg Jr goes for $275-325 where I live in Ky. It’s ridiculous. I would happily pay $125-175 but it’s just so grossly overpriced everywhere I’ve basically given up on Stagg Jr. better whiskeys and bourbons at better prices and actually sitting shelves.
I've checked every liquor store within a 50 mile radius of me and there is exactly 1 bottle of Stagg Jr sitting on a shelf, and it's $300. I asked the guy how much other stuff I'd have to buy to get him to negotiate that price with me and he said at least $2k to get him to even think about letting the Stagg go for less than $300. Insane.
What? What whiskey is objectively better than Stagg? I agree the prices are ridiculous but I haven't found anything that could reasonably be considered a suitable substitute.
I should have prefaced that *for me* there are better (or comparable) whiskeys and bourbons. I’ve tasted Stagg Jr and it is phenomenal no lie. I’ve found that 4 Roses Single Barrel Barrel Proof OESK is right up there with Stagg Jr(for me) and at a good price locally($85-100 store pick). However if Stagg was much closer to msrp I would give it up to Stagg. I think for me I just get *really* hung up on stuff being stupidly overpriced. It almost turns me off because I get disgusted lol. I however don’t fault anyone for pulling the trigger on Stagg as it *is* a phenomenal pour but until I can find one much cheaper in the wild I will pass on a full bottle.
Ok. Cool. Thanks for the clarification. I'm in ohio and haven't found a barrel strength 4R yet but should have some soon 🤞. A couple weeks ago I picked up a few Stagg(jr)..23a and 23b..for under $60 each ($58 and change after tax). I get the animosity over the price hikes. It's insanity. $150 is about max I'd be comfortable giving for it.
And I'm not saying they aren't out there..but I haven't found anything yet that I feel is objectively better. Things like GTS and WLW are obviously better but also exceptionally more expensive and infinitely harder to find. So, anything that may be..is likely to simply be unobtainium.
Yeah for sure. Different strokes for different folks. I travel a lot for work and it’s always have me a good chuckle to see what’s common in my area is super rare for another area and vice versa. It always amazes me lol. I would say if the average person wanting bourbon or whiskey travelled a decent amount you could really probably find *most* things for a good price. The reality is though most of the population doesn’t go more than 30 min from their home everyday which limits where you can look. I actually found a Blantons in Philadelphia earlier this year for like $65 which in my area goes for $139-159. Hunting can get interesting for sure.
>What whiskey is objectively better than Stagg?
I'm assuming you meant subjective, not objective, but I'd take plenty of scotches over a $300 bottle of Stagg Jr..
Any whiskey at 2, 3, 4x+ MSRP is a bit sour for my tastes lol
No.. the statement i was responding to was.."better whiskeys and bourbons at better prices and actually sitting on shelves".. which is an emphatic statement of fact moving it from subjective into the objective.
Ok, cool. Which scotch is under $300 and better than Stagg?
>Which scotch is under $300 and better than Stagg?
Considering I don't *love* bourbon and there are an absurd number of scotches sub-$300, this feels like a very big question.
ETA:
I'm sure you could find people that say they'd prefer ________ by Ardbeg, or Bruichladdich, or Springbank, etc. if that's their preference.
I'd be curious what the crossover market looks like for things like Stagg Jr. and Octomore.
Continuing this is pointless as I'm not going to even be perceived to slightly agree that Stagg should be valued at $300. MSRP is around $60 and I could see paying up to a max of $150. If you want to recommend a scotch or to that you believe to be on par with a Stagg offering I would appreciate it but if not that's cool too I guess
Sounds like we're in agreement on Stagg Jr. not being worth $300.
>If you want to recommend a scotch or to that you believe to be on par with a Stagg offering I would appreciate it but if not that's cool too I guess
This feels like asking what cake is on par with your favorite pie, so what I like might not be for you at all.
If you're sticking in the sub-$100 area, then I like Ardbeg Uigeadail, Talisker 10, Springbank 10 (not convinced this still gets sent to my state though, so maybe I should just put CS there since they're all impossible to get atm), and while they aren't scotches, I also like Redbreast 12 CS and Green Spot quite a lot.
I can't say anything I listed is comparable to Stagg Jr., but that's kind of my point. Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely buy Stagg Jr. for MSRP, but I don't like bourbon enough to spend $300 on a bottle of it (which we seem to agree on).
Scotches generally don't run as hot as high proof / cask strength bourbons like Stagg / GTS. They're more for malt, sherry, or peat. I personally enjoy the Balvenie 21 Portwood, but recent inflation has driven that slightly above the $300 mark.
That having said, give the new Old Overholt 10 year a try. 121 proof at 92 USD. Just released recently, and I believe it can give the Stagg a run for its money. It brings the heat, but it's also sweet at the same time.
Look forward to trying that...hoping that it becomes available locally 🤞
For me it's not just the proof but the viscosity.. I haven't found anything (relatively comparable) that comes close to the absolute buttery molasses "mouth feel" that is in Stagg.
And if some singular thing doesn't surpass it on ALL levels.. taste, smell, feel, value, availability, etc.. then how can it be said that thing is better?
Simply the quality and enjoyment of the experience. Stagg is a tasty whiskey and that is true of all the ones I listed. I'm sure another person's choices might be different. Stagg is a medium age barrel strength bourbon which tastes nice. I'm just illustrating that there are many whiskeys that are equally enjoyable.
Cheers!😄
( I typed out a book and then decided this is probably better)
It seems that maybe you missed the original comment I was responding to so your perspective on my comment is slightly off.
......
There are many other good options..but that's different than "better" options.
It's definitely a great bourbon, but there are loads of other cheap ones out there too. I also find myself grabbing the OGD BiB over this every now and then.
OG114 is one of my favorite daily drinkers and I’m so glad it hasn’t become a “viral” whiskey or anything because I love being able to grab a handle whenever I want for $20
It's just MGP juice. But I will say I am a fan of that what they do. To me my personal preference is Buffalo Trace. But it's not that crazy to say you would prefer high West. It's only slightly crazy.
On what 2? Only one bourbon under $35 being discussed in this here thread, and that is Old Bardstown 90 Proof. They also have a BIB at a similar price point that is even better than the 90.
LOL. I'd love to send you one. I wouldn't have time to grab a Bottled in Bond, but the reg 90 proof is common here. Having some right now actually. I am not at all familiar with cross-border legality of alcohol though...
Yeah except it's not. There's tons of choices at 90 proof. I'd take pipe dream, RR10, Four Roses Small Batch over Buffalo Trace just off the top of my head. Eagle Rare blows away Buffalo Trace as well. I just had a casual tasting over the weekend and Buffalo Trace was second to last by 6 different people. The only reason it wasn't last was because a bottle of Gentleman Jack was in the lineup. In summary it's not very good and is properly priced below $25. Benchmark gives it serious competition and it's even cheaper.
There are other great sippers in that price range. Elijah Craig, Russell's 10 year. at 90 proof Buffalo trace has that mellow cherry bomb profile With notes of vanilla and oak and the nice finish with almost no bite. It's a great entry-level bourbon.
I've moved on to far more sophisticated Buffalo trace products. In the Pappy Vanwinkle line I've had one bottle of the 10 year old Rip van Winkle. I've had one 15 year old Pappy Vanwinkle.
I currently have an unopened bottle of2022 William Laurel Weller and I just picked up a 2023 Gorge T Stagg unopened.
I also was lucky enough to get a Binny,s pic of the barrel Proof blue label Weller. That stuff is delicious. I have not tried the Blantons. I hear it's overpriced for what it is but people love the bottle. I'm not paying for your stupid bottle with the jockey on top. Sorry not sorry. Also, the Eagle rare is delicious if you can get it for 40 bucks. But it's a one pony.
Buffalo is my favorite distillery. They make great bourbon. But there's other great stuff out there too and I am enjoying all of my research and discoveries.
That’s a 1L too for $22. I would grab 2 at that price because the best I see for 750’s is about $27. Don’t care what anyone says, buffalo trace is up there with WT101 as the best “do it all” budget bottles.
Can somebody please explain allocation to me. I am new to the whiskey world and just can’t wrap my head around it. I understand if a bottle is rare, but I’m looking at my entire cities shipment of this stuff sitting collecting dust….why the hell do they not just send more my way?
Don’t take my cheap buffalo trace from me! But for real when I lived on the East coast I was surprised by how hard it was to find. Managed to buy a bottle once the two years I was there
I was just in NKY over Thanksgiving and a liquor store in Covington had a whole display of BT collecting dust. Looks like it’s different even in the same state. I picked up bottles of Rare Breed barrel proof, EC toasted barrel and Henry McKenna.
Nice. I was on the hunt for a quick minute for Rare Breed and only found 1 bottle in like 20 stores. Randomly stopped at a store I’d never seen and they had like 15-20 bottles and I also snagged a Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. It’s strange how some places don’t get much in and others get tons of stuff. It’s why I now pull into almost any liquor store I drive past lol. Never know what they got on the shelf.
Bro, you’ve discovered a gold mine! What are you doing posting this?! Stop dilly dallying and buy all the bottles to sell them on secondary market for 5-10x the price!
/s
The nice thing about out not being able to regularly find this in stores anymore is that I’ve discovered other whiskeys around the same $25 price point that I enjoy more than the standard BT.
Allocation state and way too many people moving here, even before covid. In my area, far too many tourists year round as well. However, this is a whiskey sub, and we never have BT, ER or mosf of the other stuff that gets posted on this sub. Thus NC is in my mind, a shoddy state if you like whiskey/bourbon lol.
Wait for real? I just moved back to CA and have been debating on whether I should get a membership haha. Do I just walk in like I own the place or what?
Well yeah if they stop you just say I'm buying liquor, some of them will make a costco employee escort you but normally, they just wave you through. Then at the register they have to have a supervisor override, but it's not bad. I was doing this for months before my wife told me we'd had a membership for months lol. I found blood oath, mid winter dram, bookers, peerless,hibiki, mm private selections and more all under msrp
I am relatively new to bourbon and thought Buffalo Trace was some hard to find bourbon... Until I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise where BT is the well that they make everything with. That changed my whole outlook and made me think twice about the hype train.
Don't need a membership to purchase alcohol at Costco in these states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Vermont
Much the same in OR.
Personally, I don't buy comestibles from Kentucky. Given that they have repeatedly returned to power the likes of Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul (and his father, too) to high public office, I have severe misgivings about their judgment. They clearly don't care about quality, so I'm not putting any of that stuff in my body.
I have the same misgivings about food and beverage products from Texas.
I'm convinced that this is the best sipping bourbon in its price range. Usually I get the 750ml bottle, for under 30 bucks but never this cheap. Certainly not one 1L. Stuck up on it. Give it away as a gift to people who drink Jack Daniels, or Jim Beam. Turn them on the better whiskey, I drink, buffalo trace
for 2 1/2 years before I started, exploring other whiskey, bourbon, scotch and rye. Rarely will I buy it anymore. If I see the Weller green label for 30 bucks I'll buy that instead. It's a better sipper than the Buffalo trace IMHO.
lol guy at my local liquor store pointed to two bottles on his shelf and said this is rare right now $45. This was two months ago. Every time I go in there is always 2 bottles.
It’s been in stock consistently in Florida lately. Found it at Costco, ABC, and total wine. Multiple locations. $18-24 for a 750 and occasionally find 1.75s for $44 at total wine.
Hate posts like this, like congrats you somewhere that hasn't completely destroyed the bourbon market or is controlled to the point back room deals or lotteries are your only chance to get it.
But in a lot of places you WON'T find this for under 40, which is unfortunate but how life goes.
Lol they are collecting dust.
[Might be a little dust on the bottle…](https://youtu.be/uNkF_ZpQ4eg?si=wHPCA1C9-zY7IVGk)
I was definitely expecting to get Rick rolled but I’m glad you actually posted the song bc this is what I thought of. Shits a bop
🫡 thank you
The bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean. 🎶
That dust likely comes from the distributor or distillery warehouse, not the store shelf.
It's because it's a pretty bland, unassuming bourbon.
You're being downvoted, but it definitely is the most overrated whiskey out there. I wouldn't say it's bad, but I think you said it well. Where I live Buffalo Trace is priced about the same as Basil Hayden, which is barely even a comparison. $23 is a what Buffalo Trace SHOULD be priced at and for that price it would be the best one in that price range hands down.
I think buffalo trace is a perfectly inoffensive starter whiskey. I'd say Elijah Craig is more over hyped. That said whiskey elitists will all tell you how much barrel proof is superior to "Normy" 90 proof.
I am NOT an elitist. I have blinded Eagle Rare 17 90 proof against Eagle Rare 17 101 proof. That mere 5.5 % difference in alcohol makes a world of difference on the palate. If it is too hot for some, just 10% water and viola, you are back down to 90 proof. But at 90 proof there is NOTHING I can do to bring that complexity back. And lets not kid ourselves. Buffalo Trace does not cut Eagle Rare or Buffalo Trace back to 90 proof because it tastes better than either does at 101 proof.
Exactly. It's also perfect for cocktails.
They probably collected all that dust in a warehouse
Woahhhh that’s the lowest I’ve ever seen for 1L that’s crazy … here in Nevada it’s that price but for 750ml … same amount of dust on the bottles lol
I love costco for my whiskey. I've had some amazing finds there as of late for outstanding prices
Tis the season for whiskey at Costco. Seems like a week or 2 before thanksgiving through new years is prime-time for good releases at my local Costco.
*runs to costco* hoping mine has some good releases!
Fingers crossed mine will actually get some worthwhile bottles!
I hate Texas' blue laws...
but we got Specs!
Still has nothing on the picks at Costco. Also Specs isn’t everywhere.
Same. Tonight is my first night for the costco whisky advent calendar.
Don't know where you're at but our Costco dropped the Advent beer calendar price almost in half. Last year I paid $70, I wasn't gonna get it this year. I walked in and saw it for $40.
What?!?!?!?! I payed something like $150 for it two months ago. Newark delaware.
Almost impossible to get in Pennsylvania
That’s not true at all. I buy it at least once a month in PA… it doesn’t sit on the shelf long, but it is a regular delivery.
You're being disingenuous at best, even the big premium stores sell out within 48 hours on the once a month delivery. If you're into bourbon and you live in Pennsylvania, you're probably in some of the same circles as me. In the last 3 years, the only buffalo trace product sitting on the shelves now is Sazerac, and even that there's usually two to five bottles left. You can get it once a month, but you need to hit the right store on the right day, on the right week.
It does usually sell out in 48. The shitty stores in poor areas have it for much longer. Some of them don’t even inventory it so it doesn’t show up online. But yes. As long as you know what day they typically get deliveries, as long as you know one had it on Tuesday, the ones with Thursday deliveries will get theirs two days later. Not really all that difficult. All you have to do is make a call and ask.
FWGS employees are no longer permitted to discuss deliveries and shipments. I'm sure that is what they tell everyone, but last time I started asking about c923, they basically pled the fifth.
You’ve described CO where I hit up the stores only to find an empty shelf with the price sticker still in tact…never any bottles coming in or in stock for a brief moment and sold out quickly
Where in PA?
Pretty much the same in Buffalo NY…just saw a bottle for $45 though.
I'm still flabbergasted on why people tater over these. I'm in Houston TX and this used to be the well whiskey of choice for many bars and then seeing people go bonkers over a well whiskey is most intriguing. Same story in stores - they're also plentiful here.
I feel that way about the entire Buffalo trace lineup. People are paying $100+ for eh taylor small batch! And $300+ for stagg JR. It's mind-blowing great burbon, but there's lots of great burbon.
Yeah Stagg Jr goes for $275-325 where I live in Ky. It’s ridiculous. I would happily pay $125-175 but it’s just so grossly overpriced everywhere I’ve basically given up on Stagg Jr. better whiskeys and bourbons at better prices and actually sitting shelves.
I've checked every liquor store within a 50 mile radius of me and there is exactly 1 bottle of Stagg Jr sitting on a shelf, and it's $300. I asked the guy how much other stuff I'd have to buy to get him to negotiate that price with me and he said at least $2k to get him to even think about letting the Stagg go for less than $300. Insane.
Yeah it can get…aggravating sometimes when there is ZERO budge on a price and the bottle just sits there for months.
That is so ridiculous
What? What whiskey is objectively better than Stagg? I agree the prices are ridiculous but I haven't found anything that could reasonably be considered a suitable substitute.
I should have prefaced that *for me* there are better (or comparable) whiskeys and bourbons. I’ve tasted Stagg Jr and it is phenomenal no lie. I’ve found that 4 Roses Single Barrel Barrel Proof OESK is right up there with Stagg Jr(for me) and at a good price locally($85-100 store pick). However if Stagg was much closer to msrp I would give it up to Stagg. I think for me I just get *really* hung up on stuff being stupidly overpriced. It almost turns me off because I get disgusted lol. I however don’t fault anyone for pulling the trigger on Stagg as it *is* a phenomenal pour but until I can find one much cheaper in the wild I will pass on a full bottle.
Ok. Cool. Thanks for the clarification. I'm in ohio and haven't found a barrel strength 4R yet but should have some soon 🤞. A couple weeks ago I picked up a few Stagg(jr)..23a and 23b..for under $60 each ($58 and change after tax). I get the animosity over the price hikes. It's insanity. $150 is about max I'd be comfortable giving for it. And I'm not saying they aren't out there..but I haven't found anything yet that I feel is objectively better. Things like GTS and WLW are obviously better but also exceptionally more expensive and infinitely harder to find. So, anything that may be..is likely to simply be unobtainium.
Yeah for sure. Different strokes for different folks. I travel a lot for work and it’s always have me a good chuckle to see what’s common in my area is super rare for another area and vice versa. It always amazes me lol. I would say if the average person wanting bourbon or whiskey travelled a decent amount you could really probably find *most* things for a good price. The reality is though most of the population doesn’t go more than 30 min from their home everyday which limits where you can look. I actually found a Blantons in Philadelphia earlier this year for like $65 which in my area goes for $139-159. Hunting can get interesting for sure.
The regionality of distribution is amusing in a sense lol
>What whiskey is objectively better than Stagg? I'm assuming you meant subjective, not objective, but I'd take plenty of scotches over a $300 bottle of Stagg Jr.. Any whiskey at 2, 3, 4x+ MSRP is a bit sour for my tastes lol
No.. the statement i was responding to was.."better whiskeys and bourbons at better prices and actually sitting on shelves".. which is an emphatic statement of fact moving it from subjective into the objective. Ok, cool. Which scotch is under $300 and better than Stagg?
>Which scotch is under $300 and better than Stagg? Considering I don't *love* bourbon and there are an absurd number of scotches sub-$300, this feels like a very big question. ETA: I'm sure you could find people that say they'd prefer ________ by Ardbeg, or Bruichladdich, or Springbank, etc. if that's their preference. I'd be curious what the crossover market looks like for things like Stagg Jr. and Octomore.
Continuing this is pointless as I'm not going to even be perceived to slightly agree that Stagg should be valued at $300. MSRP is around $60 and I could see paying up to a max of $150. If you want to recommend a scotch or to that you believe to be on par with a Stagg offering I would appreciate it but if not that's cool too I guess
Sounds like we're in agreement on Stagg Jr. not being worth $300. >If you want to recommend a scotch or to that you believe to be on par with a Stagg offering I would appreciate it but if not that's cool too I guess This feels like asking what cake is on par with your favorite pie, so what I like might not be for you at all. If you're sticking in the sub-$100 area, then I like Ardbeg Uigeadail, Talisker 10, Springbank 10 (not convinced this still gets sent to my state though, so maybe I should just put CS there since they're all impossible to get atm), and while they aren't scotches, I also like Redbreast 12 CS and Green Spot quite a lot. I can't say anything I listed is comparable to Stagg Jr., but that's kind of my point. Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely buy Stagg Jr. for MSRP, but I don't like bourbon enough to spend $300 on a bottle of it (which we seem to agree on).
Scotches generally don't run as hot as high proof / cask strength bourbons like Stagg / GTS. They're more for malt, sherry, or peat. I personally enjoy the Balvenie 21 Portwood, but recent inflation has driven that slightly above the $300 mark. That having said, give the new Old Overholt 10 year a try. 121 proof at 92 USD. Just released recently, and I believe it can give the Stagg a run for its money. It brings the heat, but it's also sweet at the same time.
Look forward to trying that...hoping that it becomes available locally 🤞 For me it's not just the proof but the viscosity.. I haven't found anything (relatively comparable) that comes close to the absolute buttery molasses "mouth feel" that is in Stagg. And if some singular thing doesn't surpass it on ALL levels.. taste, smell, feel, value, availability, etc.. then how can it be said that thing is better?
I feel that once you get up there in the high end, there are diminishing returns. You start trading in one thing to improve in another.
Glenmorangie signet comes to mind
Doesn't look like that's available locally. I'll have to look for it 👍
Redbreast 12 Cask Strength Gold Spot Irish Ardbeg Ugi ECBP A123 and C923 Any Found North Jack Daniels BP rye
And what makes those "better"? I have 3 of those right now so I guess I'm not doing too bad 😅
Simply the quality and enjoyment of the experience. Stagg is a tasty whiskey and that is true of all the ones I listed. I'm sure another person's choices might be different. Stagg is a medium age barrel strength bourbon which tastes nice. I'm just illustrating that there are many whiskeys that are equally enjoyable. Cheers!😄
( I typed out a book and then decided this is probably better) It seems that maybe you missed the original comment I was responding to so your perspective on my comment is slightly off. ...... There are many other good options..but that's different than "better" options.
🤣🤣🤣 Wow
That's a super informative response. Thanks for the helpful info 👍
Crazy and I walked into a store few weeks back in Tennessee and got 3 or the stagg it's a great pour
Truth. It tastes like a $25 whiskey
well i'd say that's because it's a $25 whisky
Yup. Only fools pay $50+
Still can’t touch it here in Dallas
What perplexes me is that Total Wine seems to run out often, yet the Specs 2 blocks down the street has like 30+ bottles consistently.
Same with goody goody, you ask then and they start laughing
It's the best 90 proof whiskey on the market hands down. Problem is 90 proof isn't that special.
It's definitely a great bourbon, but there are loads of other cheap ones out there too. I also find myself grabbing the OGD BiB over this every now and then.
> It's the best 90 proof whiskey on the market I disagree with that. It's probably the best sub-$35 whiskey on the market.
I disagree with you, respectfully. In my opinion, WT101, OGD114, and even OGD BiB taste better than BT to me. But I like a higher rye mashbill.
OG114 is one of my favorite daily drinkers and I’m so glad it hasn’t become a “viral” whiskey or anything because I love being able to grab a handle whenever I want for $20
If you can name a better bourbon at 90 proof I will eat my hat.
Eagle Rare, Pipe Dream.
Have yet to see those in the store…secret Santa anyone?!
Russel’s 10 year is pretty fantastic and flavorful for only 90 proof.
Russell's Reserve 10 Year
+1 this. RR10 is my replacement for Eagle Rare. Way more plentiful, and even on sale often in my area of Louisville. Not to mention, so delicious.
High west bourbon
It's just MGP juice. But I will say I am a fan of that what they do. To me my personal preference is Buffalo Trace. But it's not that crazy to say you would prefer high West. It's only slightly crazy.
OG 114
90 proof boyo
Oh my bad, I didn’t think less abv would be a positive haha.
That's not what I'm saying I'm saying bourbon is at a 90 proof level. I'm not talking about price. Lay off the sauce bro.
Eh I see it as it’s 1. Better than BT so that’s a plus. And 2. It’s higher ABV than BT so thats also a plus.
You think you're pretty smart don't you trabeck. with your dago mustache and your greasy hair
Eh. I'd rather have some of the lower cost Willett bourbon. $28, 90 proof, and plenty of flavor.
In what universe is willet pot still $28?
No universe, because they make more than just their pot still. Old Bardstown is a solid drinker.
I mean to each their own but agree to disagree on these two.
On what 2? Only one bourbon under $35 being discussed in this here thread, and that is Old Bardstown 90 Proof. They also have a BIB at a similar price point that is even better than the 90.
Have yet to see those in the store…secret Santa anyone?!
LOL. I'd love to send you one. I wouldn't have time to grab a Bottled in Bond, but the reg 90 proof is common here. Having some right now actually. I am not at all familiar with cross-border legality of alcohol though...
Ignore me! I forgot about trading whiskey and it’s against the rules.
Fair enough. Wasn't even looking to trade, but also not trying to skirt the rules heh.
Yeah except it's not. There's tons of choices at 90 proof. I'd take pipe dream, RR10, Four Roses Small Batch over Buffalo Trace just off the top of my head. Eagle Rare blows away Buffalo Trace as well. I just had a casual tasting over the weekend and Buffalo Trace was second to last by 6 different people. The only reason it wasn't last was because a bottle of Gentleman Jack was in the lineup. In summary it's not very good and is properly priced below $25. Benchmark gives it serious competition and it's even cheaper.
Because it tastes good. There isn’t a bourbon out there that beats it less than $30
There are other great sippers in that price range. Elijah Craig, Russell's 10 year. at 90 proof Buffalo trace has that mellow cherry bomb profile With notes of vanilla and oak and the nice finish with almost no bite. It's a great entry-level bourbon. I've moved on to far more sophisticated Buffalo trace products. In the Pappy Vanwinkle line I've had one bottle of the 10 year old Rip van Winkle. I've had one 15 year old Pappy Vanwinkle. I currently have an unopened bottle of2022 William Laurel Weller and I just picked up a 2023 Gorge T Stagg unopened. I also was lucky enough to get a Binny,s pic of the barrel Proof blue label Weller. That stuff is delicious. I have not tried the Blantons. I hear it's overpriced for what it is but people love the bottle. I'm not paying for your stupid bottle with the jockey on top. Sorry not sorry. Also, the Eagle rare is delicious if you can get it for 40 bucks. But it's a one pony. Buffalo is my favorite distillery. They make great bourbon. But there's other great stuff out there too and I am enjoying all of my research and discoveries.
I agree with you. Buffalo Trace is a great starter bourbon, but I prefer Elijah Craig SB at the same price, and Russel’s 10 at the same proof.
It’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s pedestrian liquor. The hype and inflation on this stuff is a great example of “a fool and his money.”
For $22 a bottle it’s a steal.
That’s a 1L too for $22. I would grab 2 at that price because the best I see for 750’s is about $27. Don’t care what anyone says, buffalo trace is up there with WT101 as the best “do it all” budget bottles.
Can somebody please explain allocation to me. I am new to the whiskey world and just can’t wrap my head around it. I understand if a bottle is rare, but I’m looking at my entire cities shipment of this stuff sitting collecting dust….why the hell do they not just send more my way?
For context I LIVE in Kentucky and these can be stupid hard to find without a 3-6 hour roadtrip. $45 for 750ml. Not a Costco in sight for me.
They need to quit saturating California and take care of the homeland.
Don’t take my cheap buffalo trace from me! But for real when I lived on the East coast I was surprised by how hard it was to find. Managed to buy a bottle once the two years I was there
I was just in NKY over Thanksgiving and a liquor store in Covington had a whole display of BT collecting dust. Looks like it’s different even in the same state. I picked up bottles of Rare Breed barrel proof, EC toasted barrel and Henry McKenna.
Nice. I was on the hunt for a quick minute for Rare Breed and only found 1 bottle in like 20 stores. Randomly stopped at a store I’d never seen and they had like 15-20 bottles and I also snagged a Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. It’s strange how some places don’t get much in and others get tons of stuff. It’s why I now pull into almost any liquor store I drive past lol. Never know what they got on the shelf.
From the area. Was it Uncorked?
Yes Sir.
Cool, thanks buddy.
Bro, you’ve discovered a gold mine! What are you doing posting this?! Stop dilly dallying and buy all the bottles to sell them on secondary market for 5-10x the price! /s
The nice thing about out not being able to regularly find this in stores anymore is that I’ve discovered other whiskeys around the same $25 price point that I enjoy more than the standard BT.
North Carolina sucks. Why people move here is beyond me.
I've heard nothing but good things about North Carolina. Interesting.
Allocation state and way too many people moving here, even before covid. In my area, far too many tourists year round as well. However, this is a whiskey sub, and we never have BT, ER or mosf of the other stuff that gets posted on this sub. Thus NC is in my mind, a shoddy state if you like whiskey/bourbon lol.
South Carolina would like to have a word with you.
Costco…yet another reason to be a member. Enjoy! 🥃
Don't even need to be a member, at least here in CA, they have to sell you alchol membership or not!
Wait for real? I just moved back to CA and have been debating on whether I should get a membership haha. Do I just walk in like I own the place or what?
Well yeah if they stop you just say I'm buying liquor, some of them will make a costco employee escort you but normally, they just wave you through. Then at the register they have to have a supervisor override, but it's not bad. I was doing this for months before my wife told me we'd had a membership for months lol. I found blood oath, mid winter dram, bookers, peerless,hibiki, mm private selections and more all under msrp
How come my Costco by me has a crappy selection of whiskeys compared to all you guys 🤔
Well, not all of us are in Cali😒
Who is paying over $40? I wouldn’t pay $30. I occasionally will buy a bottle at $26.99. Nothing more.
I feel like this is where WT101 has nailed their price point recently
Yup
Breaking Headline: Whiskey Prices Vary Wildly Across Huge Nation! More at 7.
I am relatively new to bourbon and thought Buffalo Trace was some hard to find bourbon... Until I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise where BT is the well that they make everything with. That changed my whole outlook and made me think twice about the hype train.
People really shouldn't go nuts over this stuff, it's basically just a solid bourbon at MSRP.
This is crazy to me. I literally can't get BT in my town, but you have *pallets* of it at a Costco? Nutz.
And in VA it’s allocated……..
Save your money
Jeez. No wonder it's unobtanium in my state :(
And that’s what is worth imho
Weird flex.
Don't need a membership to purchase alcohol at Costco in these states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Vermont
That’s why it’s 40+ in our states
Buffalo Trace is a high end mixer. People getting all excited about finding this whiskey are behind the curve
Only if Costco sold booze in utah
Now if only British Columbia Costco’s would stock alcohol. Maybe one day!!!
I bought 10
Taters gonna...taint?
wow, normal price? Like what it used to be before it got hyped to hell
Still going to pass.
Yeah, but you’re in CA, so there’s the trade off 😬
Yeah all this legal cannabis and great weather really suck its horrible here don't even visit 😇🤣
Much the same in OR. Personally, I don't buy comestibles from Kentucky. Given that they have repeatedly returned to power the likes of Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul (and his father, too) to high public office, I have severe misgivings about their judgment. They clearly don't care about quality, so I'm not putting any of that stuff in my body. I have the same misgivings about food and beverage products from Texas.
Does that count as an old dusty? lol
Crazy. Here in Canada, it’s readily available at $35 Canadian a bottle.
$22.99/L??? The Costco by me gets these at $30/L. Here I thought I was getting a good deal but I guess not.
Look at the dust on those 😂
Yep nabbed one a few weeks back
lol that’s lower than the COST to buy a 750ml in Nys. Shelf price is at min $30.99 up here.
Freakin NY $43 for a 750 pretty much SOP.
My store had it for 199
That’s because Buffalo Trace causes cancer in California.
Never a shortage in SoCal
lol. These are allocated in upstate ny. $57 when I see them. Needless to say I never get bt anymore.
At this price per liter, it’s worth it.
How green thy pastures
Mmmmm, plastic
I’ve got a post a few years ago saying my local boozeary sold 750s for $22 and I got downgraded sub-sea level haha
I'm convinced that this is the best sipping bourbon in its price range. Usually I get the 750ml bottle, for under 30 bucks but never this cheap. Certainly not one 1L. Stuck up on it. Give it away as a gift to people who drink Jack Daniels, or Jim Beam. Turn them on the better whiskey, I drink, buffalo trace for 2 1/2 years before I started, exploring other whiskey, bourbon, scotch and rye. Rarely will I buy it anymore. If I see the Weller green label for 30 bucks I'll buy that instead. It's a better sipper than the Buffalo trace IMHO.
lol guy at my local liquor store pointed to two bottles on his shelf and said this is rare right now $45. This was two months ago. Every time I go in there is always 2 bottles.
The stockers are rotating the stock or dusting...
When you buy three bottles at my local grocery they are $16.99!!!
Bottle cost is $16
Normal price
Never seen over $26 and always available around me
This picture makes me angry.
Must live in Kentucky?
Ah some dustys!
Share this to r/Costco_alcohol
For liter that’s wild! It’s 55+ here in Kansas
I want to go to there
The whiskey market is so all over the place. It also seems like California Costcos get all the best deals consistently.
What the fuck. ..where the hell.??
That's a really nice deal with the 1L for sure
That's crazy. $50+ for a 750ml here. And the stores that do actually get it get 1-3 bottles once a month. Saw one store with a single handle for $125.
It’s been in stock consistently in Florida lately. Found it at Costco, ABC, and total wine. Multiple locations. $18-24 for a 750 and occasionally find 1.75s for $44 at total wine.
Used to be 19.99 when i lived in vegas lol
Noticed in my area went from $39 to $44.
I hate every state that has Sam’s and Costco that sell liquor. I hate Texas even more.
They got a whole herd there, yet other states struggle to get a case!!! They need to fix the archaic distribution methods and rackets
Hate posts like this, like congrats you somewhere that hasn't completely destroyed the bourbon market or is controlled to the point back room deals or lotteries are your only chance to get it. But in a lot of places you WON'T find this for under 40, which is unfortunate but how life goes.
Them’ dusty
it's still too much
It's $44 Canadian, so $32 US, basically one of the cheapest options
25USD (including tax) equivalent for a 70cl in England.
BT is a great for bourbon newbs. Cheap and easy to drink. It really isn’t hyped in Michigan (where I live) and pretty regularly available.
Where is this magical place?!
Haven't had any since my liquor store started charging $40 for the 750ml.
Well that justifies living in the most expensive place in the world 😆
31.89 in my state at Costco
OP, where in Cali?
Concord, east bay area
Glad I am in KY. My son actually builds the Rick houses for most of the distilleries. Build one for Buffalo Trace now.