So Court, Ella and I are on the gulf coast for the next few weeks--and it's turning out even better than I had hoped. The Gulf just beats the Atlantic, hands down--and Orange Beach is a great little coastal community that seems perfect for us in the off-season. I may post more on this in the future...but here's tonight's excitement...

So we went out to eat tonight, and I was keeping a keen eye out for a liquor store--in hopes that on the way back, I could get my bourbon on. And sure enough, I found such a place. We stop there on the way back and had a bit of a surreal experience. It must have been a family owned shop, because there was a mom, dad and daughter (4 years old?) talking behind the counter. (The father later left; some lady came in with a black eye; I didn't ask any questions.) I walk in and quickly head to the bourbon section. Their selection was meager, but had enough of my staples to make it worth my while. I've been trying to expand my collection, and while Knob Creek is great--life is about variety. Anyway, I see a lone bottle of Basil Hayden's for $25 bucks. I thought this was a mis-print, because it's usually priced in the mid $40s. (I had always wanted to give BH a shot, but I couldn't justify the price...) It's as if the store didn't even know their own product. For fun, I asked the mom clerk about a comparison between a crappy bourbon and a good one; she didn't have a clue. At that time, I knew I had struck gold. Too bad this was their last bottle...

And damn, this stuff is good. I mean--Wow. If you guys are ever wanting a higher-end bourbon, maybe something with friends or for special occasions--look no further. It's not overpowering like many other (uncut) premium bourbons, and it has exceptional flavor with a clean finish. (i.e., it doesn't take your breath away--like Booker's or Baker's). Knob Creek is still my daily drinker--er, monthly drinker--as my habits better reflect. But at this point, Basil Hayden's is my current favorite--hands down.