favorite bourbons?

[rswear]

Try Red Breast for Irish whiskey. You won't be disappointed.

My brother just introduced me to Red Breast last night… I agree… very good

 

[motobrewer]

just picked up another bottle of redemption high rye. $19.99 for a 750, couldn't really pass it up.

 

[JoeBronco]

8 Seconds is a fave..

One that surprised me -
1979 Hiram Walker's 10 high... Don't laugh... Its wasn't always steel gut.

The bottle i have was made in Peoria, IL back when IL could legally produce "Bourbon". When they sold the factory back in 82' is when it all went down hill. Aroma is so/so, and dosent really stick out. Very light with hints of Carmel and a bit of spice. Flavor is a light Carmel with almost no lingering aftertaste. Bits of fig and sweetness come through. No burning as it goes down, just a mellow warming. VERY easy drinking and smooth.

Others i have in my CURRENT collection:
Buffalo Trace
Jack - Honey
Jack
Bulleit
Gentalman Jack
Single Barrel Jack
Bookers

 

[beerloaf]

To call something bourbon it needs to come from Kentucky. I do prefer, Makers Mark and Knob Creek over most others.

 

[JoeBronco]

To call something bourbon it needs to come from Kentucky. I do prefer, Makers Mark and Knob Creek over most others.

Nope, sorry friend but your wrong.

Check your "Federal Standards to Identity Distilled Spirits" If i'm not mistaken its under Title 27 Part 5 of the CFR regulations. A resolution of the U.S. Congress in 1964 declared bourbon to be a "distinctive product of the United States." Its only requirements other than process and ingredients is it is made in the US.

It is also a misunderstanding that bourbon has to be aged for long periods to be called bourbon (as does scotch) BUT Bourbon only has to be aged a short time and no "proper" length of time is given unless you want to label as "Straight Bourbon" then a minimum of 2 years ageing is necessary as compared to the 8 years that scotch has to age. Bourbon was originated in Bardstown, Kentucky but is not the end all be all of bourbon.

Yes 97% percent of bourbon is made in Kentucky that means nothing about its legal definition. If i wanted to start up a nano distillery in CA i could call my product Bourbon.

 

[Stout-n-Braggot]

My standard Bourbon is Bulleit, but when I have the money I go for George T. Stagg.

 

[progmac]

ever since i did the buffalo trace tour in Frankfort, it has become my favorite bourbon.

i'm going to be honest...unless alcohol content is different, i can't tell much of a difference between bourbons costing over say $20.

my friend got me a bottle of bourbon with a horse on the cap. it looks very fancy. i look forward to trying it but haven't found the occasion, yet.

 

[krenshaw]

my friend got me a bottle of bourbon with a horse on the cap. it looks very fancy. i look forward to trying it but haven't found the occasion, yet.

i believe that would be blantons.. if it is, i think you're in for a treat.. goes for around $55 a bottle here

 

[BargainMugs]

+1 to Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace.

 

[Pumbaa]

Woodford Reserve Special Reserve is nice, going to be heading down past the 4 Roses distillery this month so will grab a bottle fro them to try

almost forgot . . . . My road trip lewts

 

[StainlessBrewing]

I had my first taste of Blantons last weekend and it was delicious. I know you say I may have ruined it but I did drop one small ice cube in it. It's been hot as hell here so a cool sipper to go with my Bell's Two Hearted Ale along and a Padron was a nice way to end the evening.

By zjosey at 2012-07-17

By zjosey at 2012-07-17

 

[static]

I've heard good things about the Four Roses. I keep watching for it to show up around here. We just got a BevMo so hopefully our selection will improve.

 

[Bensiff]

Bernheim is one of my favorites in the reasonably priced category...haven't tried something like Pappy Van Winkle as I'm not willing to pay that kind of money on a bourbon though. As far as American whiskey is concerned though my current favorite is Dry Fly, it doesn't have the sweetness of bourbon but it is still very smooth. However, nothing can compare to a good peaty Islay scotch IMO.

 

[Sixmilecross]

As others have said, Woodford Reserve is def a go to and recently discovered Tuthilltown Four Grain and Baby Bourbon - also delicious and go great with a cigar (or two or three)

 

[Bensiff]

I've heard good things about the Four Roses. I keep watching for it to show up around here. We just got a BevMo so hopefully our selection will improve.

And hopefully our prices too...the grocery stores suck so far, but Costco isn't too bad.

 

[static]

Ya, i hope so. The gouge from the sin tax imposed is bad enough. I live in Tacoma and go right past it on the way home. I'll report back.

 

[krenshaw]

And hopefully our prices too...the grocery stores suck so far, but Costco isn't too bad.

try living in a state that you can only buy booze from state owned stores.. the price goes up even more

 

[ao125]

And hopefully our prices too...the grocery stores suck so far, but Costco isn't too bad.

Oh man, they sell bourbon at Costco in WA state? The most we get at Costco in VA is mediocre beer and MD doesn't get squat for alcohol.

 

[RGillette10]

I love:
Blantons
Bookers
Woodford Reserve
Jim Bean Black
Gentleman Jack
Bulleit Rye and Regular
Buffalo Trace
Eagle Rare

I like:
Beam
Wild Turkey
Makers
Many others

In my opinion, Makers is overrated and benefits from a superb marketing campaign. But everyone has different tastes.

 

[heferly]

costco spirits are a great deal!

and i started on makers...way too sweet for me now. forgot about rye (been beer drinking since i've been brewing!)...ryes are great for making manhattans or old fashioneds, too!

 

[static]

Oh man, they sell bourbon at Costco in WA state? The most we get at Costco in VA is mediocre beer and MD doesn't get squat for alcohol.

try living in a state that you can only buy booze from state owned stores.. the price goes up even more

This just went into effect in June. Previously if you wanted spirits you had to go to the state run store with mediocre selection and they wouldn't order anything in for you. The voters finally said that the guys making the rules and charging the taxes shouldn't be the guys also running the business and setting the prices.

So to get back at the voters for kicking them out of the business they imposed a 20.5% sales/sin tax. So while that bottle of Makers might be cheaper on the shelf than it was previously its now a buck more once they get it to the register and tack on the governor Chrissy Taxmores share.

The bonus that i can see at the moment is that it allows places like Costco to sell here in WA like they do in CA among others. It also brought in BevMo, a spirits, beer and wine retailer so our selection should be much better.

 

[static]

Bevmo had the Four Roses. Nice and smooth. I think i like it better than Gentleman Jack and at 39 bucks its comparable in price. I also saw the Rum thread and they mentioned Kracken, Bevmo had it so a bottle came home as well. Ill give it a try tomorrow.

 

[friday]

I' a Mitchers fan myself, Pappy is pretty good to but the younger affordable stuff is a little sharp on the front end.

If I'm at a bar then it's woodsford, (that's generally the only whiskey that a bar consistently has on hand that's drinkable).

Makers is a mix of vodka and dog piss aged in a crappy barrel for a couple of weeks, I can't even smell that stuff without getting a headache. The only thing it's good for is striping a deck, in my opinion. Totally over priced over hyped garbage.

For a cheep drink early times actually isn't bad, as long as you drink it with ice.

 

[mikeysab]

Well, this thread FORCED me to check out the bourbon selection at my local liquor store. The only whiskey experience I have is Makers and Jameson's. Armed with all the names I'd read in this thead, i headed in determined to get hooked on bourbon. I settled on Blantons at 51 smackers. Halfway through my first glass, i'm happy with my purchase. Cant wait to try some others

 

[krenshaw]

Well, this thread FORCED me to check out the bourbon selection at my local liquor store. The only whiskey experience I have is Makers and Jameson's. Armed with all the names I'd read in this thead, i headed in determined to get hooked on bourbon. I settled on Blantons at 51 smackers. Halfway through my first glass, i'm happy with my purchase. Cant wait to try some others

welcome to the wonderful world of bourbon

 

[jammin]

 

[static]

That's a lovely sight... {sniff}

 

[KingBrianI]

I'm about to read through this thread after posting this, but I'm going to a Beer, Bourbon and BBQ festival tonight and need some quick advice from the connoisseurs. Here is a list of some of the bourbons available (there are obviously other spirits in there too). I'm not going to be able to try all of them so please give me suggestions on which I should concentrate on first. Reading through this thread is sure to help, but I thought you guys might be able to choose some good ones from this list before I head over there.

Evan Williams Black Label
Evan Williams Single barrel
Evan Williams Cherry Reserve
Evan Williams Honey Reserve
Elijah Craig 12yr
Elijah Craig 18yr
Bernheim
Buffalo Trace
1792 Ridgemont Reserve Small Batch
Eagle Rare Single Barrel
Blanton's Single Barrel
Benchmark
Firefly Bourbon
Firefly Vodka
Maker's Mark
Maker's 46
Red Stag Black Cherry
Red Stag Spiced
Red Stag Honey-Tea
Jim Beam 4yr
Jim Beam Black
Jim Beam Devil's Cut
Knob Creek
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Knob Creek Rye
Booker's
Baker's
Basil Hayden's
Pucker Sour Apple
Pucker Cherry Tease
Pucker Grape Gone Wild
Pucker Citrus
Pucker Lemonade
Pinnacle Atomic Hot
Pinnacle Peach
Pinnacle Key Lime
SkinnyGirl Island Coconut Vodka
SkinnyGirl Tangerine Vodka
SkinnyGirl Cucumber Vodka
SkinnyGirl Margarita
SkinnyGirl White Cranberry Cosmo
SkinnyGirl White Peach Margarita
SkinnyGirl Pina Colada
Old Grand Dad
Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
Canadian Club Dock 57
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve Double Oak
Jack Daniels Black Label
Jack Daniels Single Barrel
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey
Early Times 354 Bourbon
Carolina Coast Rum
Broadslab Legacy Reserve
Broadslab Legacy Shine
St. Germaine
Rebel Yell
Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka
Pearl Citrus Vodka
Pearl Red Berry Vodka
Pearl Coconut Vodka
Veev Acai Spirit
Absolut Grapevine
Absolut Cherry Kran
Malibu Red
Jameson
Larceny


Thanks!

 

[krenshaw]

do you have to pay for them or is it once you are in you can try? there are some good names on there that are much more expensive than others, though that may be a good place to try all sorts of styles/prices..

def would have to have the higher end ones:
Blanton's Single Barrel
Woodford Reserve Double Oak
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Maker's Mark
Maker's 46
Booker's
Baker's
Basil Hayden's
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Buffalo Trace
1792 Ridgemont Reserve Small Batch
Eagle Rare Single Barrel

can't go wrong with any of those.. i've had all but but that double oak one which sounds interesting.. most if not all of those are in the >$30 bottle pricing so you could easily compare them with a standard Jack, Jim, or Evan

 

[KingBrianI]

Krenshaw, thanks! The tastings are free and unlimited. At least until they run out or I black out. Buffalo Trace is my go-to cheap bourbon so I'm well familiar with that. I'll definitely check out your other suggestions first. I'm familiar with Maker's but it might be interesting to compare it to the 46.