I've been absent for about a month but not idle. There's a lot going on and much it centers around my favorite topics.....bourbon and whiskey.
In the course of my many trips to Kentucky for bourbon picking, the opportunity exists to take possession of the barrel itself. The distillery will include the barrel on the pallet when shipping the bourbon bottles. On two occasions, our Four Roses picks came through a Maryland distributor so I went up both times and picked up the barrel. For some time they sat against the wall in my basement but I decided to put them to good use and use them as the base for a small top addition to the bunker bar.
Nothing special as I used the same oak plywood and trim as the rest of the cabinet to keep everything uniform. I'm happy with the final outcome so I don't think there's going to be a version 1.2.
That is one damn fine room.
ReplyDeleteLookin' Good Greg! Did you fasten the table top to the barrels or is it just resting on top of the barrels? If it is permanently fastened, how did you do it? I am on a waiting list at a local brewery to snag one of their used/empty barrels that is currently in use for a special release barrel aged beer. I see some Willet single barrel on the table, anything new or noteworthy?
ReplyDeleteAnd I should thank you, anytime my wife thinks I have too much whiskey "stashed" at the house, I just show her the pics of your man cave and she cuts me some slack...
Josh
Josh - I've done my part then...if your wife is cutting you slack...you're welcome.
ReplyDeleteThe Willett's are a recent arrival from three barrel picks done last April. Two 9 year and one 8 year...all fantastic.
As for the top, it's fastened on the back side to a support rail that goes along the wall and on the side of the cabinet secured with finishing nails (nail gun). I plan on securing to the barrel but haven't decided how I want to do that w/o drilling into the barrel itself. So at present, it's half secured and half resting on top of the barrels. It's not going anywhere but would feel better if it was tied down.
Nice! On a side note, I just finished the 200 ml Old Fitz '81 that you sent me. The nose on it was 100% familiar wheater all the way and so easy to drink neat. Great treat! I am saving your samples for the Spring when the weather gets a little warmer and I can enjoy one evening on the patio. I am really afraid that I am going to like them so much that I will not have anything quite as good in the cubby hole once they are all gone! For New Years, a few buddies and I came together and brought a total of 10 seasonal limited bombers (beer) along with a few 12oz's. It was great comparing 2011 vs. 2012's. Anyways, I was going to let you know that the brew that stole the show was the St. Arnold DR10 (Barleywine) at 2+ years of cellaring. I was just curious if you cracked the top yet on the one that I sent you? If not, when you do, sit back and enjoy. It's in it's prime right now (IMO).
ReplyDeleteJosh V
Man, I can't believe you powered through that Old Fitz. With that bourbon I get lots of toffee, nut and cherry on the nose and the taste profile is just stunning. Glad you enjoyed it. I have not opened the St. Arnold, it's still bunkered down. The DR12 I'll leave for a few more years but the D10 I may open as Spring approaches so I can enjoy that on my front porch. I have a lot of beers to get through so we'll see. I just took possession of a couple great limited release stuff that includes Three Floyds Dark Lord ('10-'12) and The Bruery Black Tuesday. Those are treats best enjoyed with friends.
DeleteGreg, I am a bourbon dork myself! I would love to have this type of set up for my own personal research. I noticed on one of the photo's that there is a couple of bottles on the shelf next to the Wild Turkey 8yr that state Steitzel Weller Bourbon on the label. Can you enlighten me on what they are? And where i might be able to procure a bottle or two? I run the Beverage/Whiskey program at a restaurant called Dixie in San Francisco and I am trying to find as many rare bourbons as I can get my hands on. Please let me know if I can pick your brain some time. My email address is chris_wright@sfdixie.com. Thanks for your time!
ReplyDelete- Chris
Chris - thanks for stopping by. I'll contact you at your e-mail address and answer any questions you have. That bottle next to the Wild Turkey is not actually Stitzel Weller bourbon. The name was acquired by Canada Dry a number of years ago and who knows what went into the bottle. I've actually given a couple of those bottles out as gag gifts knowing the whiskey is suspect. I have one other bottle that says Stitzel Weller on the lable and that's a '65/'71 bottle of Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond. I found two in D.C. years ago. I consumed one and it was fantastic. When we speak I'd be interested on your views of picking/selecting whiskey for Dixie.
DeleteJust when I thought the ultimate bourbon man cave couldnt get any better... Nice addition!!
ReplyDeleteHave you fastened the hoops on the barrel in any way? From experience, even in a temperature controlled setting such as a basement, the staves still dry out and the hoops loosen.
ReplyDeleteKyle - that's already happened. I have some small black nails that I'll use to tack the rings in place.
DeleteI noticed that you have some rows of identical bourbons, in other cases they appear to be loners, and clearly you're a Four Roses fan with so many on the top. Maybe you've written about it somewhere in your blog, but what is your rhyme and reason to buying one bottle versus, oooh say, a barrel at a time??
ReplyDeleteTriMarkC
No rhyme or reason. I have singles of many bottles because that's all I could find; primarily dusty bottles. Others, that's all I want. The large multiple are obviously from the barrel picks and those 50 or so Four Roses represent multiple barrel picks over the last 3 years or so.
ReplyDeleteNice looking bar. What are the measurements for the top you placed on the two barrels?
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about doing something similar.
The top measures approx. 60" x 32".
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