The liquor thread.

[Thumper39 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thumper39]

Yeah I know the thread title says liquor. But feel free to talk about beer ales wine or mead if you like. Just as long as it's booze related I'll be fine talking about it.

Like I've said in other threads I love whiskey. Yesterday before I left for work some of the guys came by and dropped off some booze. They wanted to help stock the soon to be done bar. So this morning after I got home I started debating with myself on sampling one of them. I'll get back to this later.

Within the last two decades there's been a boom in companies producing all sorts of bourbons. Kinda like how micro brew beers popped up a in the late 80s and early 90. They're insanely popular right now so whereas when I was younger we had a choice between a few dozen brands now we have literally hundreds. Now I've always liked bourbon but never had a desire to make it, until after I got married, eventhough my now deceased grandfather (moms side) taught me how to make corn and rye likker when I was a teen.

Anyway. Before I go on let me say that I do it legally. And while I do not think making spirits for your own consumption should be illegal, I would never suggest anyone try it without doing it legally. Here in Iowa it is very easy to make it legally. All you need is acquire a federal fuel production licence. If you're not trying to transport it or sell it then you can make up to one thousand and one gallons a year. If anyone is interested in learning the legalities feel free to shoot me a message and I'll point you in the right direction. But remember. I am not a lawyer. So before you start this hobby consult one who is licenced to practice in your state country or whatever.

A few years after I got married I started a tradition after I learned the ins and outs of how to develop different grain bills and started learning the science of aging. I started distilling small batches that I planned on aging in a cask I cooped and engraved myself. One for each of my children. I originally planned to wait until each kid turned 21 and then would pass their cask to them. Two more years until my oldest daughter turns 21. But I found out today when I got home from work that her boyfriend and her eloped and got married Friday. They were already living together and have a son with each other. Yes I was looking forward to giving her away. But doing it this way really suits both their personalities. So tonight they're coming over for dinner and I'm going to pull the bung on her 5 gallon cask and we're all going to have a glass. Then after that the cask is hers. Coincidentally as I sit here looking at her cask, I realized it turns eleven years old today. Weird coincidence isn't it?

So I kinda got a little off topic myself. Back to the booze that my buddies brought over. One of my oldest friends had a bottle given to him by his boss. But since he's not a bourbon guy he decided to give it to me. He didn't know what he had. (Yes I educated him but he insisted on me keeping it.) It's a bottle of Pappy VanWinkles 21 year old Family reserve. It's kind of the holy grail of bourbons right now. Not because it's the best. But because it's been released in such small quantities. It goes for anywhere from 2k to 7k a bottle right now.

A part of me wants to break it open and give it a sample. Another part of me wants to put it in a safety deposit box forever.

So. What is your favorite drink?

[NOWHARD Banned Find all posts View Profile Close NOWHARD]

A pint od Drambuie shady please and no bloody ice, Thank you.

NOWHARD

[TheZZMan Moderator Member of the Month Sept 2018PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close TheZZMan]

Unfortunately, Iowa is a little far away for me to stop by and help you christen your new bar. Hopefully, you can attach a picture of the final product - being a contractor, I love to review others work. Then again, one man cave does not necessarily match someone elses idea of what a man cave should be.

Personally, I think you should have an official "opening" ceremony with all your best friends present. If this special bourbon is to be opened, it should be among friends and shared by all. You could also make it a signature beverage to your cave that is only accessed when all of your friends are present - therefore encouraging everyone to come over. If you guys like to play poker, take a quarter from every ante and put it in a jar. Once the jar accumulates enough money, you go out and buy another top shelf bottle to become the new signature beverage and carry on the tradition. Pulling a quarter from every hand of cards doesn't seem like much, but it adds up over time. My old pals, who played cards every Friday used the money jar to pay for a pig roast for our families, and an ox roast as another party. So much more enjoyable when you feel that the party wasn't paid for out of your own pocket.

For me, not much on Bourbons despite living in Kentucky for two years. I guess I'm more of a Canadian Whisky kind of guy. Smoother and something that I can sip on endlessly.

[Thumper39 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thumper39]

I like that idea. I'll probably do that. I did plan on having a party here when it's done. Get the stripper pole up. Have the ladies go out on a girls night and talk my buddy who owns the strip club send some women.

I'll think about posting some pictures. I tend to keep my online signature pretty minimal. Eventhough there isn't anything immoral about sites like this it can hurt work. Everything you do online can affect ya now a days. That's why I have never posted my picture or started up in the gallery that's provided to me

Anyway. I've gotten pretty good as a cooper and with wood burning and what not. But I don't pretend to be very good with wood. I can frame and what not just fine. But when it comes to custom things I can't say that I do it all the right way. I understand metal. I can make it do whatever I want. But I kinda muddle my way through wood projects and spend more time modifying and fixing things than anything.

Oh. Something I forgot to mention in the accomplishment thread. I also have to set a small sink in it and run plumbing so it's a wetbar. The southern wall separates the basement from the laundry room and the drain is right on the other side of it. I was thinking about splitting off from the washing machine and using it for the hot and cold. And eventually I need to put a toilet down here. Kind of a pain having people go upstairs to piss and my friends wives (and hopefully strippers) aren't gonna want to squat over an oil pan in the garage.

Screw it. Here is the start of the bar build. Keep in mind. I've changed it a lot since I took this pic.



I shortened the southern side a foot so the bar and wasn't so close to the end of the wall and changed the ledge ya see screwed into the end grain so it's more.stable. and state I'm going to add a hideacouch in the bar facing the concrete wall that we can pull down when no one is over and watch movies or play games. The area where the wife's and my living room is either going to be turned into a craft room or a redroom.

[Thumper39 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thumper39]

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Had to switch to my phone to post it. Sorry for the double post. The wood panel wall is where the laundry room is. To the left is another 8 foot of floor space with another 14'x12' space that I'm going to wall off for the wife's craft room or our redroom To The Left and behind. Depending on whaat she decides.

I'm finishing the bar with reclaimed wood from pallets and I'm going to redo the walls in the same style. Lots of sanding. But I have unlimited access to them and I only alloted 500 bucks for this project including the sink plumbing and lighting.

And as an aside. Because of this morning's news I'm obviously not going in for OT tonight.

[MisterBator Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MisterBator]

My thoughts on this expensive bottle of Bourbon you've acquired are this. Life is to be enjoyed and delectably sipped. Yes the bottle may grow in value over time but I feel you're cheating yourself on a quality life experience. Save it and savor it for special events imo. Money is just a bunch of ones and zeros doing nothing for anyone but assisting in obtaining quality life experiences. That being said. My mouth waters at the thought of enjoying a small glass with you. Nothing beats sipping a quality liquor.

On to my personal favorite. I am a lover of all things gin. I would replace the blood in my veins with it if I could. A bottle of top shelf Hendricks is simply DIVINE. The first time I opened a bottle of it which was given to me by a good friend as a christmas gift I almost died and went to heaven. Two things everyone knows about me I love my gin and I love black women hehehehe. I'd die if my girl would let me slurp some Hendricks out her ass lol.

As for wine I've found the Apothic brand to be delish. Just had a glass last night with some friends. I've had the delight of buying many bottles over $100 a pop and they were delicious but I don't really think it's worth the money. I went through a phase of wanting to feel like a king having a glass of some expensive ass wine with my dinner. Apothic goes for around 10$ and a bottle of wine can be slung through so quick you really get your bang for your buck with them.

[MisterBator Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MisterBator]

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Had to switch to my phone to post it. Sorry for the double post. The wood panel wall is where the laundry room is. To the left is another 8 foot of floor space with another 14'x12' space that I'm going to wall off for the wife's craft room or our redroom To The Left and behind. Depending on whaat she decides.

I'm finishing the bar with reclaimed wood from pallets and I'm going to redo the walls in the same style. Lots of sanding. But I have unlimited access to them and I only alloted 500 bucks for this project including the sink plumbing and lighting.

Tight budget for a bar but would love to see the finished product. I'm sure you'll pull it off. I've been finishing the basement and have acquired many things for pennies on the dollar on facebook marketplace. Check the thing out if you haven't. So many good deals and quality unused or lightly used things for sale I don't know why anyone would shop in a store anymore.

[TheZZMan Moderator Member of the Month Sept 2018PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close TheZZMan]

Not sure if code allows tying into a washing machine drain for your wet bar.

Now you have me thinking of the past. I built a bar in my Frat room as a sophomore in college. Very similar in design to your framework. Never really go used, but was a conversation piece none the less. That was 37 years ago, LOL. Some things never change.

For my Birthday back in 1991, my wife, who was a Restaurant manager at the time, bought me a 1950's refrigerator, a tap system with regulator, and a CO2 canister. I mounted the tap on the door of the fridge and put it in the corner of my kitchen. Homemade Kegerator. I was a popular stop with the friends at the end of the day. While I don't use the system much anymore (keg kept going stale), I do pull everything out from time to time for large parties with friends when I know that a 1/4 keg will be used in one sitting. That old fridge has long since been taken to the dump - the electrical cords dry rotted and it kept blowing the breaker.

[saddleman Member Find all posts View Profile Close saddleman]

Hey ZZman, I'm an electrician and could easily walk you through on how to replace that electrical cord. It really is a simple process and you could revamp your kegerator

Edit: I misread your message, I thought you said the kegerator took a dump. Not that you took it to the dump

[TheZZMan Moderator Member of the Month Sept 2018PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close TheZZMan]

Hey ZZman, I'm an electrician and could easily walk you through on how to replace that electrical cord. It really is a simple process and you could revamp your kegerator

Edit: I misread your message, I thought you said the kegerator took a dump. Not that you took it to the dump

LOL - the cord was dry rotted right up to the compressor. If you bent it, you could see the wire. Yes, it was indeed dead. But had it for some 20 years. Not a frost free variety so once a year had to open it up to thaw everything out.

[Thumper39 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thumper39]

Not sure if code allows tying into a washing machine drain for your wet bar.

Now you have me thinking of the past. I built a bar in my Frat room as a sophomore in college. Very similar in design to your framework. Never really go used, but was a conversation piece none the less. That was 37 years ago, LOL. Some things never change.

For my Birthday back in 1991, my wife, who was a Restaurant manager at the time, bought me a 1950's refrigerator, a tap system with regulator, and a CO2 canister. I mounted the tap on the door of the fridge and put it in the corner of my kitchen. Homemade Kegerator. I was a popular stop with the friends at the end of the day. While I don't use the system much anymore (keg kept going stale), I do pull everything out from time to time for large parties with friends when I know that a 1/4 keg will be used in one sitting. That old fridge has long since been taken to the dump - the electrical cords dry rotted and it kept blowing the breaker.

Got to keep the keg on good co2 all the time to keep it from going flat.

I'm not planning on going into the washing machine drain. I'm planning on going into the main drain which is in the laundry room. I was planning on running the hot and cold water to the sink from the washing machine. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

As for the cord. Ya should be able to pick up a new one from lowes or home depot for almost nothing. It's like three screws once you get into it. But these days mini fridges are less than a hundred bucks new.

I've been thinking about talking to my buddy that owns that strip club and talking him out of his four banger kegorator. He bought a six banger last year and the four that's been sitting in the dressing room ever since. But that would mean I'd also have to worry about kegs too. Guess I could dig my kegs out of storage and start making beer again.

[Thumper39 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thumper39]

Tight budget for a bar but would love to see the finished product. I'm sure you'll pull it off. I've been finishing the basement and have acquired many things for pennies on the dollar on facebook marketplace. Check the thing out if you haven't. So many good deals and quality unused or lightly used things for sale I don't know why anyone would shop in a store anymore.

When I was thinking this out when we were buying the place I found a lot of good deals on countertops from lowes an what not. Stuff that had been cut wrong or returor or what not. But I never found anything that would work the way I wanted it.

I did manage to find a full 3k worth of kitchen cabinets and countertops that would fit one of my rentals for like 600 bucks. It's sitting in storage waiting on m to med to remodel it.