Whiskey aficionados

[Nash B.]

Any good? I'd like to try it for sure.

honestly no idea. All I can say is it burns and gets you drunk.

[Blackpony]

For Christmas I received another bottle of Red River, Balcones Brimestone (which is interesting to say the least), and a bottle of Witherspoon Texas Straight Bourbon, which I feel isn't too bad, fairly smooth for 100 proof I think. Not sure what it cost yet though so no telling if it was worth it. I already have a bottle of TX on hand, and am wanting to add something else to my cabinet, hopefully something within the state since I like the idea of supporting local distillers, but am open to others. Already had and plan to have again some Rebecca's Creek. Really been enjoying the thread, figured I post up finally.

-Eric

Witherspoon is pretty good, wanting to say it is around $30 a bottle.

I tried tx last night, pretty smooth and not real strong. Needless to say I added a bottle to my collection..

[Strychnine]

[Strychnine]

[01-GATOR]

Maker of Jim Beam, Maker's Mark bought by Japanese company


NEW YORK (AP) — The maker of classic American whiskeys Jim Beam and Maker's Mark has agreed to be acquired by a Japanese company in a $13.62 billion deal that would create the third largest global premium spirits business.

Shares of Beam Inc. rose 24 percent on Monday after it said that it agreed to be purchased by Suntory Holdings Ltd., a Japanese beverage company. The combined company would have annual sales of more than $4.3 billion.

The deal follows other recent acquisitions in the alcohol industry, including Anheuser-Busch InBev's $20.1 billion deal last year to buy the other half of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo that it didn't already own.

It also comes at a time when the taste for bourbon — a type of American whisky that is made primarily of corn and typically distilled in Kentucky — continues to grow domestically and abroad.

In the U.S., sales volume for bourbon and Tennessee whiskeys such as Jack Daniels has grown 26 percent over the past decade, according to the Distilled Spirits Council, and industry group. Exports of U.S. whiskeys has grown to roughly $1 billion last year, more than double what it was a decade ago.

Demand is so robust that Beam last year even considered reducing the alcohol content for Maker's Mark because of a supply shortage. The company scrapped the idea after a backlash by fans of the higher-end bourbon.

"We're basically in the middle of a global whiskey renaissance," said Frank Coleman, a spokesman for the Distilled Spirits Council.

Suntory and Beam already had a relationship. Suntory distributes Beam products in Japan and has a portfolio of spirits with whiskies, including Yamazaki and Hakushu as well as Midori liqueur and other beverages. And Beam, which is based in Deerfield, Ill., distributes Suntory's products in Singapore and other Asian markets.

Suntory President and Chairman Nobutada Saji said in a statement that the acquisition will help Suntory further its global growth. In recent years, Suntory has also purchased French beverage maker Orangina Schweppes Group and GlaxoSmith Kline's Lucozade and Ribena drinks.

Beam spokesman Clarkson Hine said for now, the deal will result in few changes for fans of Beam's bourbons. He also said that Beam, which was spun off as a stand-alone liquor company in 2011 from conglomerate Fortune Brands Inc., will continue with its current management.

"It's business as usual," Hine said, noting that Suntory has indicated it wants the company to "keep doing what we're doing."

Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor Associates, a New York-based branding firm, said Beam can gain a competitive advantage from being part of bigger company with deeper pockets. He said that ownership by a foreign company shouldn't hurt the All-American images of Beam's brands.

"The trick is to maintain its authenticity, and not muck with the core elements," he said.

Suntory will pay $83.50 per share, a 25 percent premium to Beam's Friday closing price of $66.97. The companies put the deal's value at about $16 billion, including debt.

Suntory plans to fund the deal with available cash and fully committed financing from The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. Both companies' boards unanimously approved the transaction, which is targeted to close in the second quarter.

[Strychnine]

Saying its just Jim Beam and Maker's Mark sounds small (Beam also owns scotches, tequilas, Etc).

Here's what's actually being bought:

Makers mark
Jim beam
Knob creek
Basil Hayden's
Bookers
Bakers
Ol granddad
Laphroaig
Courvoisier

And some others.

Luckily the Japanese seem to really respect both whiskey and tradition/history, so in the end there might not be any change to the consumer.

[01-GATOR]

Saying its just Jim Beam and Maker's Mark sounds small (Beam also owns scotches, tequilas, Etc).

Here's what's actually being bought:

Makers mark
Jim beam
Knob creek
Basil Hayden's
Bookers
Bakers
Ol granddad
Laphroaig
Courvoisier

And some others.

Luckily the Japanese seem to really respect both whiskey and tradition/history, so in the end there might not be any change to the consumer.

Hope they don't change anything.

[Slowhand]

I was in DC for work this last week and went to grab drinks with a friend. She took me to Jack Rose Dining Saloon, which, despite the campy-sounding name, was an oasis. Wall to wall whiskey of every variety, this picture is about half of what's there. It took me 15 minutes just to read through the menu the first time to wrap my head around it. And the ladder is no joke and the bottles aren't duplicates; it took the barkeep a hot minute to grab my order each time.



A touch pricey for some (their prices for a glass of Pappy were laughable as expected) drinks, but really not as bad as I would imagine in a trendy portion of DC.

[Silverback]

you're serving your whiskey all wrong:

http://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/baller-way-serve-whiskey-ever/

[talisman]

I've been looking for a decanter and just came across this. Holy shit.

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Waterford-London-Desktop-Bar/prod160460032/p.prod?ecid=NMCIGoogleProductAds&ci_sku=prod160460032skuCLEAR&ci_gpa=pla

Yours for only $17,500.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I've been looking for a decanter and just came across this. Holy shit.

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Waterford-London-Desktop-Bar/prod160460032/p.prod?ecid=NMCIGoogleProductAds&ci_sku=prod160460032skuCLEAR&ci_gpa=pla

Yours for only $17,500.

They dont call it Needless Markup for no reason.

[Silverback]

I have two of these, they run about $600 a piece (Versace). They were given to me. Can I get my honorary cowskin rug now?

[Tyrone Biggums]

^Above pic very blurry until I inserted my monacle. Notable barg.

[YALE]

I got a beer growler for my whiskey. I guess I'm just doing it wrong.

[likeitfast55]

The round ice-cubes for whisky is the best!

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Chill-Spheres-Lifetime-Guarantee/dp/B00COM0AX4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1391043710&sr=8-4&keywords=round+ice+cube+mold[/ame]