Making a Bourbon Advent Calendar

[ssandy_561]

I’m in the early planning stages of making a bourbon advent calendar. I’ve got a firm commitment from 2 of my friends and now just need a firm commitment from 4 others.

My plan is to get 28 bottles of Bourbon/Rye.

Everyone gets a 100 ml pour of each Bourbon/Rye.

I’m looking to have an average price of the bottles I buy be $50. So if I get a $28 bottle of Buffalo Trace for the calendar I can get a $72 dollar bottle of something else.

I’ve found nicely reviewed 3 oz. glass bottles on Amazon for just over $1 a piece.

With everything in I’m looking at ~$250 for me and 6 other people to enjoy 28 100 ml pours of 28 different bourbons and ryes.

I won’t be enjoying my creation on a day to day basis but I’m setting it up that way.

I figure for each day of the week I’ll have a different style / category.

I’ve already locked in 5.

Sunday - Finished
Monday - Bottled in Bond
Tuesday - Budget
Wednesday - Wheated
Thursday - Ohio
Friday - Rye
Saturday - Full Proof

Any suggestions for Monday and Tuesday would be appreciated.

I’ll update this post if it happens and what decisions get made on the bourbon and rye selections.

[barelfly]

This is a pretty cool idea! Any local distillers around you that would make the selection special? Or any bottles you’ve had in the past with your buddies that would have sentimental value? You could do something like that.

you could also do a High Corn bottle, or red/blue corn bottles. Still Austin is one distillery that has red and blue corn bourbons. Or, something really different - find another spirit that has been finished in a bourbon barrel?

Those are a few ideas. Let me think on it a bit more and will come back with a few ideas.

[surfdog]

Cool idea.

I don’t know if it’s an option for you, but they’re readily available here, but maybe “airline” sized bottles. That would save you from having to fill little bottles yourself. Even a lot of the better/well known brands are available here in that size. They’re generally 50ml but still worth a look perhaps.

Even before they were as ubiquitous as they are now, I knew a couple of places that sold them in boxes of 12 or so…that was a long time ago.

I used a flock of them one year to fill a piñata for the adult guests at a party I was having.

[SheilaAnn]

surfdog the displays at Total Wine come to mind. First place I head to when I need something for a recipe that I know I will not drink in the future. Not that I’m a prude, it’s just we don’t do cocktails at home (unless I have the occasional G&T).

[barelfly]

Another option - a finished rye to pair with the finished bourbon? Like Barrel Bourbon Sea Grass? Or something like that.

[bbqLuv]

Four Roses
Maker's Mark #46 for the WIN

[Purc]

+1 on MM 46.

[ssandy_561]

What category does Maker’s Mark #46 fall under?

[Skinsfan1311]

I thinking that the MM46 is wheated. Those little bottles that you get from Amazon are great. Me and my bourbon buddies use them all the time to share whiskey. They come with a tiny funnel. The one's that I use hold 2oz pours.

[Skinsfan1311]

How about a Bottled-in Bond whiskey for Monday or Tuesday? I suggest, in order of my preference for bonded whiskey...Bulleit, Heaven Hill 7 year, Jack Daniel's or Barton 1792

[ssandy_561]

I like the bottled in bond suggestion. I’ll add that above.

[texastweeter]

Yup

[barelfly]

Another - and i know this is finished, but you could also do a toasted or double oaked - like Yellowstone Toasted, EC Toasted, or Woodford Double Oaked.

[jerrybell]

You could do a high rye bourbon. Since you are not sticking strictly to bourbon, how about an American single malt?

[Skinsfan1311]

Maybe Tuesday can be "MGP" day? There are a lot of great whiskeys that are MGP sourced. Ryes, bourbons, blends.
Penelope Cask Strength, Redemption 10 year, Nashville Barrel Company, Old Scout Smooth Ambler, Belle Meade, Ezra Brooks Distillers Select, James E. Pepper, Pinhook, etc. Those are the one's that I've either bought, tasted or both. There's a ton of them.

[Huskee]

I say "Cheap", a good sub-$20 offering to fit in there.

[barelfly]

That could be fun too. There’s a lot of good bourbons out there, bottom shelters that are good!

Old Grand Dad or Ancient Ancient Age!

[Huskee]

barelfly Precisely those two, yepper! And If one could find a Benchmark Small Batch or Bonded (possibly even the standard Benchmark too)

[ssandy_561]

I like the Cheap day. It will allow me to spend more money on other bottles.

[Sweaty Paul]

Think this is a brilliant idea and looking forward to seeing what you select!

[texastweeter]

Can we be friends? In all seriousness, there is a few out there i believe. Might be able to get a pre made one, unless the fun is in making it. Might throw in Tennessee Whiskey as one of the days. You know, the Lincoln County Process.