+++ Ike's Best of 2020 Bourbon List +++

For everything that went wrong with double 20, there was a lot to be said for bourbon & whiskey. Here is my "best of" list for the year. If you like bourbon and haven't had these, try to snag one quick ;)

My rating considers 3 primary factors: 1) flavor 2) availability 3) top fair price IMO

Best overall bourbon:
Eagle Rare 10 year (90 proof - very heavy grape, chocolate, oak, leather & carmel - smooth medium finish - difficult to find, 1 per customer, not impossible) $45

Best Flavor:
Jack Daniels Single barrel, Barrel proof whiskey - Gold label (132.8 proof, barrel #20-05578 and 130.2 proof, barrel #18-8302 - burnt marshmallow, rich fudge, toffee, cocoa, dark cherry, oak, leather & anise - superior oily long finish, extremely complex - difficult to find, not impossible) $60

Best value:
Buffalo Trace (90 proof - carmel, oak, aged leather, cherry, raisin, brown sugar, honey, vanilla & toffee - smooth, sweet medium finish - usually 1 per customer, pretty easy to find) $30

Best Rye:
Michters Single Barrel (84.8 proof - Rye, oak, toffee, vanilla, cherry, leather & clove - smooth long peppery finish - readily available) $50

Best Wheated:
Weller Special Reserve (90 proof - Cherry pie, vanilla wafer, leather, cinnamon, baking spices, warm buttered bread - medium finish - limited availability) $35

Best Barrel Proof:
1792 Full Proof (125 proof - fudge, carmel, marshmallow, anise, chocolate, cherry, clove, vanilla - oily long finish - harder to find) $55

Best Small Batch:
Col. E H Taylor (100 proof - Heavy Butterscotch, nutmeg, almond, cherry, vanilla wafer, baking spice, leather, buttered toast - dry medium finish - rare find, almost impossible) $55

Best Craft:
Chattanooga Barrel Proof (111 proof - charred oak, vanilla, burnt marshmallow, toffee - short finish - readily available) $35

MY Favorite Bourbon of 2020:
Stagg Jr. (130.2 proof - toasted marshmallow, toffee, dark chocolate, anise, rich leather, tobacco, burnt buttered toast - Long oily finish. This is "Wisdom" in a glass. The smell on the nose will remind you of a very old library with century old leather bound books & chairs - Fantastic IF you can EVER find a bottle - impossible to find) $100

Honorable Mentions ( * denotes secondary / local over priced IMO ):
Bulliet Barrel Strength
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Whistlepig 10yr Rye ***
EH Taylor Straight Rye **
Oregon Spirits Wheated *
Knob Creek Single Barrel **
Blade & Bow

Most Disappointing (I don't recommend ever purchasing):
Heaven's Door
Angels Envy - Sherry Cask Finish

Tips & Tricks:
Some of the bourbons I have listed are difficult, or nearly impossible to find. You have to ask if these are kept in the back. Many stores keep the really good stuff hidden and out of public view, you have to ask for them specifically by name. Stagg Jr., EH Taylor, Blanton's, Eagle Rare - specifically are all in this category.

Be sure to check out www.WhiskeyGifter.com for unique hand finished repurposed whiskey and bourbon bottle gift sets. Bottles are cut, polished and finished filled with candy and other goodies for bourbon, whiskey, mezcal, tequila, vodka enthusiasts.

Additional information and photo galleries of the gifts can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/whiskeygifter

https://www.instagram.com/whiskeygifter/

Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com

Garmin Instinct's amazing smartwatch data even while in flight!

I am currently on software version 12.0 of the Garmin  build. It is amazing how much data you can get with a smartwatch and paired phone these days. I remember flying shortly after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. At that time I owned a chunky old blue handheld backpacking Garmin GPS unit that drained batteries faster than it could really be useful. I loved what it could do, but because of its limited battery I never could completely throw out my map and compass. 

Security was extremely tight and I had to check the GPS unit with my luggage because (as explained by the security agent) it could be used to track the course of the plane while in the sky. That was a big no-no for years after 9-11.

Today I use my Garmin watch for everything outdoors. The data from this smartwatch is incredible compared to 20 years ago. Now I can see the speed of the plane, elevation, color scaled map, temps, barometrics, my own heart rate, steps I've taken, and the list seems to go on forever.

Traveling today made me think about those scary sad days after 9-11 and reflect on the status of our world currently combating covid-19. Maybe in the next 20 years our electronics will automatically dispense medications, feed us, create aromas, analyze our personal air quality and sync with our mind telepathically to read and record thoughts so we never forget again.

The point of this rant is: I think society may be entering a time where we finally admit the dangers of too much technology, tracking, privacy loss and declining social skills. It's not that the tech itself is dangerous, but can you name any form of it that hasn't been used for bad or to hurt others? The geek side of me thinks all this data is really cool, but did it make me smarter or just give me more than I probably can really ever use?  And why do I even need it? I still keep a USA Eastern States map marked with magnetic North declination and a compass in my go bag. I say that because the more I use my watch, the more I value those old orienteering and survival skills. Would I ever have developed those skills  if I would have owned this watch first? Probably not. Do most individuals who own a watch like this really understand what all of the functions do, or how to utilize them if they are in an emergency? Again, most likely not. I think most people buy it for basic functions and admire the color or rugged asthetics of it. It's like using a paper ledger to balance a checking account today, why do it? Do you trust that the bank record online could never fail? Would it be good to understand how to reconcile your accounts yourself?

Honestly, simple may not  be better - but there is something to be said for it. For me, simple keeps me happier, grounded and more secure personally I think. 🤔