These do strike such a nice balance - great notes!

@Ctrexman I can’t agree more! Groups like Frey ranch, New Riff and Wilderness trail have all really impressed me and honesty some of the overlooked <$30 offerings would likely outperform the likes of Weller 12 (possibly not McKenna) in blind tastings

I miss the days of walking in and grabbing one of these off the loaded, dusty shelf for $28. NC didn’t carry it until a couple years before it took off, so those days weren’t many. Best bottle of this I ever had was all eggnog, nutmeg, and a super long musty oak coating finish. It’s $50-$60 now when you can find it. I haven’t been able to make myself pick one up at that price. That day may be coming, but it ain’t here yet.

After almost two years of this unimaginable pandemic there has to be some perspective....doesn't there....... I mean basic bourbon offerings like this and Weller 12 yr and so many others have got to come down to earth don't they. If not I honestly think we should embrace our local products and turn our cheek to the mass producers and their supposed limited allocation

Thanks fomo you are truly generous

@fomo Haha that's the closest I've ever heard of somebody coming to having an actual Oprah moment! Well done!

@ContemplativeFox Yes, they totally called this one. As recently as the fall of 2018, the State of Oregon struggled to move these at $30, and cases would sit for months on the floor. Every time I bought one, they would jokingly ask, “are you sure you don’t want a whole case?” Over time, I ended up with three whole cases, which in hindsight, feels gross as I detest whisky hoarding. As I handed out bottles to all of my whisky friends last Christmas, I had a minor Oprah moment, “...And you get a McKenna, and you get a McKenna, and you get a McKenna...”.

@fomo Wow, that's a really nice story! It sounds like you and they were both ahead of most of the rest in knowing about this, but knowing it's good and making it sell are quite different things.

@Ctrexman ditto with the Bay Area. On the kindness of my local shop owners, I ended up with plenty. This is my favorite bottle to share with guests.

@ContemplativeFox When I first got into whisky in 2018, I became friends with a few local shop owners who couldn’t move the stuff. I would always buy 2 bottles of HKM to help them out, as a thank you for helping me with a special order. I ended up gifting a case back to the employees of the store when I moved, after it had become harder to come by. It’s strange to watch the ebb and flow of whisky trends.

Would absolutely snag a bottle of I could find it for $35 again. Last time I found it it was $50 and it's often more like 60 to 90.

Thanks B-R will do

@Ctrexman the Total Wines in our area get the occasional allocation of these. Usually once or twice a year.

@Ctrexman if you're ever in Denver come have a pour or three of it on me. I've got one stashed unopened with no particular plan for it.

Still have yet to find this.......at least I saw the shelftag where the bottle goes