I was so dang happy to see Russell's 10 beat ETL!! Holy smokes! Love it. Yes, I still really, really want my first bottle of ETL. I love the history of Elmer T. Lee, aesthetically love the shape and design of the bottle, love the "idea" of this whiskey, but I just don't want to pay too much above MSRP for it. Ugh! I have one liquor store in town that, if they ever get it, would probably let me know and sell it to me for about $10 over MSRP. Unfortunately, it's a small store that doesn't always get a lot of the allocated stuff. Another larger store offered me a bottle for $250 and I "scolded" them on a couple of occasions for fleecing people (but I need to give them credit for selling me lots of other stuff for super reasonable prices such as ECPB for $69). On the other hand, I do have multiple bottles of Blanton's and a bottle of Hancock's SB, so I'm probably plenty familiar with BT mash bill # 2. I'm guessing Blanton's is probably the best of the bunch and I imagine the actual taste of ETL would be a little underwhelming. Still, I'd like a dang bottle! lol
Haha we understand the predicament on a fundamental level. As collectors, we want every bottle, and as appreciators of whiskey we want to try everything. We can say that if there was one allocated bottle that we won’t buy again, ETL is it.
Love that Russel's moved on over ETL. I do love the ETL, but I haven't laid eyes on a bottle in so long I wonder sometimes if they still bottle the stuff. Russel's is a favorite for me as well.
I’ve never had the ETL, but I remembered a video of yours a couple of years ago where you blinded Russell’s 10 against Eagle Rare and you both picked the Russell’s. Based on that, let’s just say my bracket has rebounded from yesterday. 😉
New merch now in the store! Buy 2 or more shirts, use code holiday22 and get FREE SHIPPING from now until the end of the tournament! thebourbonvan.com/
Match up number one, I honestly never heard of them. Match up number two, I’ve only had the Russell’s and it’s good. Would love to try the Elmer T Lee, but nearly impossible to find here. You two handle random extremely well. Keep this stuff up!
This is such a fun tournament! I'm loving your tasting notes, and the first four match ups have been super interesting to see play out, though they haven't been good for my bracket ;) Cheers!
@@TheBourbonVan I love blind tastings! They are VERY humbling (for me :D) and very educational! Every blind video I've posted so far as basically been a total train wreck and I love it lol. But you've been hitting them out of the park!
happy friday!!! they need to do a barrel strength etl. was lucky enough to get a 2nd bottle of etl at msrp and traded for a remus v...i think i won on that trade.
I can’t find either of your round one bourbons. Regarding round two: most definitely Russell’s Reserve 10. An absolute gem of a dram. By the way, you are getting some huge volume in the hair Phil. You are getting dangerously close to rocking the “Jimmy Neutron” look (no insult intended. I am a bald guy, so I wish I could get the Jimmy Neutron look going).
Phil did you know it was a Saz product? Sounded like you were about to say a Saz profile and changed it to “pleasant profile”! Haha! Think you were going to say satisfying, but still!
LOL I was saying satisfying, but caught myself because that was the wrong descriptor. I have enjoyed disconnecting entirely from the brand profiles and just judging by taste and experience. This has easily been my favorite Tournament so far.
These blinds are great! I hold off drinking till Xmas Eve. I’m glad to let the Whiskey Tubers do the drinking for me in December. BTW, was the Jeppsons an Indiana or Tennessee barrel? I am still hitting myself for not picking these up at Binnys when I was in Chicago.
Russell's anything always good always a good price but than again you can probably say that about anything WT though I could live without those low proof juices.
0 for 4 today!! I think I’m going for the last place prize at this point!! 🫣 Reversed you guys with the Bull Run/Jeppson’s, and had you guys both going with Elmer T! 🤯
I love me some Russell's 10! Definitely my go to daily!!
It's just delicious.
Really fun video and great matchups. Tasting notes on the whiskey I have tried are spot on. Thanks
Russell’s 10 is awesome. Great choice.
I was so dang happy to see Russell's 10 beat ETL!! Holy smokes! Love it. Yes, I still really, really want my first bottle of ETL. I love the history of Elmer T. Lee, aesthetically love the shape and design of the bottle, love the "idea" of this whiskey, but I just don't want to pay too much above MSRP for it. Ugh! I have one liquor store in town that, if they ever get it, would probably let me know and sell it to me for about $10 over MSRP. Unfortunately, it's a small store that doesn't always get a lot of the allocated stuff. Another larger store offered me a bottle for $250 and I "scolded" them on a couple of occasions for fleecing people (but I need to give them credit for selling me lots of other stuff for super reasonable prices such as ECPB for $69). On the other hand, I do have multiple bottles of Blanton's and a bottle of Hancock's SB, so I'm probably plenty familiar with BT mash bill # 2. I'm guessing Blanton's is probably the best of the bunch and I imagine the actual taste of ETL would be a little underwhelming. Still, I'd like a dang bottle! lol
Haha we understand the predicament on a fundamental level. As collectors, we want every bottle, and as appreciators of whiskey we want to try everything. We can say that if there was one allocated bottle that we won’t buy again, ETL is it.
Russells is a very very underrated pour!!
It's such a complete whiskey.
No! It is low grade, bottom of the barrel swill. Keep searching for the Buffalo Trace stuff.
😂
Love that Russel's moved on over ETL. I do love the ETL, but I haven't laid eyes on a bottle in so long I wonder sometimes if they still bottle the stuff. Russel's is a favorite for me as well.
Moving up! Russell's over ETL was an easy pick, but I had no idea on either Bull Run or Jeppson's. Looking forward to the rest of the first round.
That Jeppson's is solid for only $35!
RR10 is definitely a got-to.
Love the advent tournament…look forward to watching every day! Also, love the Russell’s 10! Cheers to you both!🥃😊
Cheers Melissa!
3-1 in both brackets - 6-2 overall.😊
Crushing it!
I’ve never had the ETL, but I remembered a video of yours a couple of years ago where you blinded Russell’s 10 against Eagle Rare and you both picked the Russell’s. Based on that, let’s just say my bracket has rebounded from yesterday. 😉
We can always count on you to do your homework!
New merch now in the store! Buy 2 or more shirts, use code holiday22 and get FREE SHIPPING from now until the end of the tournament! thebourbonvan.com/
Match up number one, I honestly never heard of them. Match up number two, I’ve only had the Russell’s and it’s good. Would love to try the Elmer T Lee, but nearly impossible to find here. You two handle random extremely well. Keep this stuff up!
Thanks a lot, James! We’re happy you’re enjoying the tournament!
Haha... I moved up in Julie's bracket (3 for 4), but I'm still an 0-for in Phil's bracket.
I'm an enigma!
My tournament performance last year and this reaffirm why I buy gift certificates. 😅
We've never been big gamblers, but even we'd be failing at this year's tournament predictions.
I think that already you're shreading both my Phil & Julie brackets.😟
You're not alone. The standings are stretching out already!
This is such a fun tournament! I'm loving your tasting notes, and the first four match ups have been super interesting to see play out, though they haven't been good for my bracket ;) Cheers!
Thanks so much! We're having more fun with it than we expected. Fully blind tastings are wild!
@@TheBourbonVan I love blind tastings! They are VERY humbling (for me :D) and very educational! Every blind video I've posted so far as basically been a total train wreck and I love it lol. But you've been hitting them out of the park!
happy friday!!! they need to do a barrel strength etl. was lucky enough to get a 2nd bottle of etl at msrp and traded for a remus v...i think i won on that trade.
We completely agree.
I can’t find either of your round one bourbons. Regarding round two: most definitely Russell’s Reserve 10. An absolute gem of a dram. By the way, you are getting some huge volume in the hair Phil. You are getting dangerously close to rocking the “Jimmy Neutron” look (no insult intended. I am a bald guy, so I wish I could get the Jimmy Neutron look going).
LOL this video was filmed almost a month ago. I still haven't gotten a haircut. It'll get worse before it gets better.
Almost seems like the Stray Cats Christmas music should be playing in the background lol kidding of course 😉
LOL!
Phil did you know it was a Saz product? Sounded like you were about to say a Saz profile and changed it to “pleasant profile”! Haha! Think you were going to say satisfying, but still!
LOL I was saying satisfying, but caught myself because that was the wrong descriptor. I have enjoyed disconnecting entirely from the brand profiles and just judging by taste and experience. This has easily been my favorite Tournament so far.
What happened on this one? Title says Russell's 10 vs Elmer T Lee, but in the video you are doing Bull run vs Jeppson's...
The first round of our Advent Tournament features 2 head to head matchups.
@@TheBourbonVan that's embarrassing. I was multitasking while watching this. Didn't notice that 😅
LOL don't sweat it!
@@TheBourbonVan I love both of these bottles! But as an avid Wild Turkey fan, glad the Russell's came out on top!
These blinds are great! I hold off drinking till Xmas Eve. I’m glad to let the Whiskey Tubers do the drinking for me in December. BTW, was the Jeppsons an Indiana or Tennessee barrel? I am still hitting myself for not picking these up at Binnys when I was in Chicago.
Hey Robert! We’re happy to take the hit, haha. That Jeppson’s bottle is from TN and only cost us $35. Cheers!
Russell's anything always good always a good price but than again you can probably say that about anything WT though I could live without those low proof juices.
We're on the same page.
Review some eggnog
On day 24, we each add a whiskey from the tournament to some eggnog each year to see who can make a better nog. We’ll see.
0 for 4 today!! I think I’m going for the last place prize at this point!! 🫣 Reversed you guys with the Bull Run/Jeppson’s, and had you guys both going with Elmer T! 🤯
Paul, you're having an exciting tournament. I'm not sure that's a good thing, but it's exciting lol.
@@TheBourbonVan ahhh…I love it. Always so much fun! 😘