Just got a free sample of IWHarper. Wasn't impressed.
Never had Pappy.
Vendor took me out to a whiskey bar last night and I drank a shit load of stuff...
George Stagg
Sazerac 18yr
Whistlepig 12
There were two others I can't remember. I think I'm in love.
Had some deer hunters from Kentucky last fall and they talked about when they used to buy Pappy Van Winkle for $40 a bottle before the hipsters went crazy for it. They gave me a bottle of 1792 and said it's almost as good.
Can't say I agree with the notion of 1792 being just as good as Pappy, but it is still a good bourbon none-the-less.
Got lucky on Friday when picking up beer that they just got a case of Weller Antique in. Don't need any more bourbon but fuck it, difficult finding any Weller outside of the cheap Special Reserve. $40 bottle of Antique will likely fetch me $200'ish in a month or so if I decide to go that route (it is great bourbon, but a bourbon worth selling instead)...
The only "pappy" that I've been able to truly appreciate is a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 10, because I've been able to drink the whole thing and enjoy it ($300 on secondary market btw). I've had glasses of the other Pappy's at various bars but so rarely that I honestly can't remember the taste. I don't think ORVW10 is worth $300 so I probably won't buy another bottle. It's not better than High West Rendevous Rye or Whistle Pig or even Smooth Ambler Old Scout to justify the price. I think the 23 year pappy is going for $2200 on the secondary market? Insane.
Is OWA fetching $200 on the secondary market? Yikes! I have about 10 bottles of OWA and about 4 of Weller 12 stashed away.
The secondary market is fueled by idiots, makers mark cask strength is a better wheater than owa or Weller 12 but people are lining up to drop $100+ on decent $20+ bottle. I saw people clamoring to buy a bottle of black maple hill no age statement for $500 which was a disappointing bottle when it cost $40. I'm convinced half these people aren't opening these things.
The secondary market is fueled by idiots, makers mark cask strength is a better wheater than owa or Weller 12 but people are lining up to drop $100+ on decent $20+ bottle. I saw people clamoring to buy a bottle of black maple hill no age statement for $500 which was a disappointing bottle when it cost $40. I'm convinced half these people aren't opening these things.