Best bourbon?

Evan WIlliams single cask. Best value for money out there.

I may be repeating--but if it's not made in Kentucky, it cannot be bourbon.

Good listening, er drinking.

Larry

Larry, actually that is not true. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the U.S.

Pops,
Having grown up in Kentucky, I had always heard that--up to and including a quote from a movie which I've forgotten, however, you're right--I'm wrong.
Checking just now, figures show that all is NOT made in Kentucky--I thought that, as it emanated from Bourbon County, (hence the name I'm guessing) that that was the reason. But no. Sorry to mislead.
However, according to what I just read, (assuming that's correct) 95% of all Bourbon is made in Kentucky.
Whisky is made in may locales, but generally, not emperically, Bourbon is made in Kentucky.
As my dad used to say, NEVER, NEVER make definite, emperical statements of absolute fact, NEVER. lol

Good listening, and good catch Pops.

Larry

Larry - I shouldn't have called you on that as most every bourbon is make in KY - You are right! But is one of the stringent laws to define a bourbon whiskey.

Enjoy your bourbon and music! I just hope your not a KY Wildcat!

Jerry

Pops,
I am a Kentucky Wildcat fan--for half a century.
My dad, not really a sports fan per se, listening to Kentucky games on Armed Forces Network--as Kentucky had, even then a wide following of fans. (Rupp used to take the 'Cats into MSG for games and they quickly became fan faves).
One of my earliest, warmest memories was dad sitting in the kitchen in front of an old Emmerson Vacuum Tube radio, listening to UK play. 'Whatcha doin' Dad?'
'Come over here and listen to this game with me.'
Well, sitting with one's dad, listening to the 'Cats, or Cincinnati Reds, Yankees--just bein' with one's dad--does it get any better.
That was the 'first time' as my friend and author John Powers says...the 'last time' was December of 1976--at our family Christmas party. Never saw him again--alive.

Great memories--some of my best ever Jerry.

Good listening,

Larry

Larry - awesome story! I am a Vol - so we are rivals but SEC brothers!

Cheers

Pops,
I really, really liked Bruce Pearl...and think that what happened was a real shame...the SEC will miss his incredible talent as a coach.
Hope your new guy does great things...I really do.
Rivalry is fun...I'm a designer, but just posted a thread about Manufacturer's I Have Known, and featured Bobby Palkovic, one could call him a competitor... but more importantly he's a friend and incredible talent.

We can all coexist, support one another...

Thanks for the nice comment.

Good listening.
Larry

I just finished my first bottle of Maker’s 46 and find it much more complex, and flavorful than Maker’s Mark. If you are unimpressed with Maker’s Mark, and have little interest in Maker’s 46 because you’ve heard that it’s regular Maker’s Mark, given a little extra aging with some additional Oak staves (true), don’t let that deter you. It’s quite an improvement, IMO.

FYI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePKd69z9qOw

Jim Beam is introducing a bourbon called Devil's Cut - it is a play on the "Angels Share" which is the roughly 30% that evaporates while aging in the barrel. There is bourbon left in the wood after dumping, Beam has found a way to extract that and marry it with 6 year old Jim Beam and bottled at 90 proof. I just tried some - it is spectacular! The wood and tannins from the barrel give it full-bodied flavor with a nice long finish - yummy!

The Liver killer!!

Pappy's 23 years is best, and can convince even a Scotch snob that Bourbon is a serious drink. Right behind it is Willett 18. Pappy's 20 years is terrific, and almost an entirely different thing from the 23, more rye-like in being spicier.

Woodford Reserve, Basil Hayden, Booker's, Blanton's, Maker's 46 all offer distinctly different spins on Bourbon at daily prices, to equally good quality levels.

Not a Bourbon, but I have to mention Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey for being an exceptional medium for ingesting alcohol, and it happens to be quite affordable.

Phil

Gonna try to re-start this thread.
Right now its Basil Hayden
Woodfords Reserve is waiting patiently on the shelf.
Has any one found something new and changed there opinion ??

Just finished Woodfords Reserve (wasn't that impressed) and getting ready to open Knob Creek for the 'Big Game'.

I think I still prefer Blanton's and Basil Hayden for sentimental reasons.

Enjoy Responsibly.

Liver killer reserve!

In my old age i just stepped up to Bourbon.
I started with Haydens simply because it was only 80 proof and had good reviews.I will work up to Blantons
Enjoy the game

I recently had a scarce Willett's 20 year. It challenges the Pappy Van Winkle 23 year for pinnacle bourbon ranking, honey smooth with a trifle more spice. The Van Winkle 20 remains a not-cheap but still more affordable weekly sipper.

Phil

Okay, first of all, don’t beat me up because my recommendation isn't a bourbon; it’s a rye and a really, really exceptional whiskey. Now, I’m a bourbon man through and through and... oh, the hell with it; I’m just going to put my reputation on the line and ask you guys to trust me. Buy a bottle of Whistlepig. Just do it.

I tried Basil Haydens and Woodfords Reserve,they just didn't do it for me.Maybe I'm not a bourbon guy.
Tempted to try Phaelon's recommended Whistlepig but for now its back to tequila.Riazul Anejo and Casa Noble are on my top shelf

Four roses

Pops is right. The Devils Cut is great. Has more of what I like to call "Bourbonness" than anything at the reasonable price range it sits in. I find some of the pricey ones to be too smooth and lacking in "Bourbonness" Makers is a good example of ths when compared with lets say Wild Turkey 101.

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 year Old (107 Proof) Kentucky Straight Bourbon!

went and tried to preorder some pappy's the other day. Lady laughed out loud. Essentially zero chance. I'm about 50th on the waiting list and she says that something like 47 folks before me have to decline. Got some makers 46 as I noticed it and recalled the mention here. disappointing. for the price it should be better than the EW single cask but it's not. Keep the suggestions flowing yawl!

Pappy Van Winkle is made in very small batches and they can be hard to find in stock.

So I usually buy 4 bottles at a time, if I can.

Love the stuff, but I just don't drink that often so my bottles are even older than what the label says (not that it means anything).

Knob Creek just introduced a Rye - a must if you like manhattans especially while spinning wax or vinyl!

Pops,

I assume you are referring to the Single Barrel Knob Creek Rye. And yes, it is fabulous.

Though I haven't had a chance to compare them, when I was applauding the Knob Creek rye, a knowledgeable bartender friend told me she found Bulleit Rye eve better, due to the even higher rye grain content.

Hi Roscoe,

Yes and it is fabulous - it isn't a single barrel though, it is a small batch meaning made in small batches from a select few barrels. Knob Creek does make a single barrel bourbon which is also excellent!

Bulliet is 95 percent blend of rye - very nice but a little on the spicey side for me and it is not aged as long as KC. I like them both!

Yes, I must be confusing the bourbon with the rye.

Evan Williams single barrell, Makers Mark, & Woodford Reserve are my favorites....

I'm getting 2 bottles of sealed/unopened Crown Royal that's stamped 1970 or 1975 (I forget)...how good do you think this will be?

Whiskey doesn't age in the bottle, what exactly is it? Plus the regular CR brand has no age designation on the bottle ...it is commonly believed to be 3 yr old whiskey just an FYI. Good and smooth but not very complex.

Knob Creek - Great with smoky tones
Buffalo Trace - Very clean and crisp
Baker's - Wow, don't partake close to an open flame

Bourbon is a real bargain. You get a lot of quality and great flavor for your money. I also like scotch, but some of the pricing is a bit too high IMO.

i read with some interest about the furor that erupted after makers mark announced they were planning to dilute their bourbon in order to meet demand. brilliant strategy which suggests their management has been oversampling their product. i now notice a flurry of prime-time maker's mark ads--undoubtedly an effort to repair their image--which has to be costing 'em millions. usually, it's best to leave a good thing alone--remember new coke?

Just found this thread. After years of being a canadian drinker (CC, VO and CR), my oldest son (29) has finally turned me into a bourbon drinker. His standby is Knob Creek. He also has enjoyed with great admiration Booker's on the higher end and Eagle Rare on the less expensive end. Last Sept we spent two days doing the Bourbon Trail and spent a night in Bardstown KY. Highly recommended. I came away with a very strong appreciation for Very Old Barton. VOB is 6 year old bourbon from Barton's distillery in Bardstown and is bottled in 80,86,90 and 100 proof. Oddly, the 90 proof seems to be my favorite. The best thing is it is very reasonable, $22 for 1.75l, around $16 per liter. The bad news is, it is only available in about half a dozen states or so. I just found it in WI and I am thrilled. You can order it shipped to you from Binney's Beverage Depot in the Chicago area.

Finally, basic Jim Beam get's no respect. As a friend said, it is the anti cable of bourbon. Their JB Black (aged 8 years rather than 4) is a good value IMHO.

My son and I agree, Jack Daniels is nothing special and way over priced.

Regards,
Paul

Tried some Knob Creek last month and that was the best bourbon I tasted until tonight.
My choice now is Blanton's.Goes great with a Porterhouse steak and/or with Miles Davis.

Black Maple Hill - black label.

"I came away with a very strong appreciation for Very Old Barton.”

Pcs - Great recommendation. I just found this at Binny’s and it has to be the beverage bargain of the world. I’ve only tried the 100 proof so far.

My new favorite bourbon is Angel's Envy which is finished in port wine casks. Read a review here. Goes for about $45.

My new favorite is buffalo trace’s Elmmer T Lee. What a great tasting bourbon.

Buffalo Trace makes some of the great bourbons--Pappy Van Winkle, George T. Stagg, and William Weller being the ones I particularly like. Unfortunately, the price on certain selections has become totally crazy. A store in Washington DC sells the Van Winkle reserve for $1400 which is well more than ten times what the list price is for that bottle.

I've "auditioned" all the Bourbon mentioned & definitely concur with most of the preceeding comments.
Recently tried Spring Mill an Indiana Bourbon Whiskey at a friend's house. Upon the 1st sip, I grabbed the bottle to check it's proof because it was so smooth. It was 90 proof. After I viewed their website, I had to agree with their marketing blurb: "dangerously drinkable at 90 proof".
Always nice to find/try something different/new....

I had Eagles Rare last week and really liked it, would love to try Blantons Reserve

I tried Blanton's but it didn't do much for me.
For smooooooooooth I like Bullit.
I guess Bourbon is like stereo components,so many choices.
At least differing opinions dont become blown up arguments

Just picked up a bottle of the Four Roses. I hope to try it out this weekend with a 14oz. Porterhouse and all the trimmings.

There seems to be a site for everything and I recently came across this article:
http://bourbonr.com/blog/poor-mans-pappy/
Since the theft of that truck from Buffalo Trace with all the Pappy on it, prices have skyrocketed due to supply and demand and good old hype and spin.

According to this gent, Weller's stuff is made the same way by the same folk who make Pappy Van Winkle (and Wellers may be reopening as well) so he did some mixing and came up with his "poor man's Pappy".

Going to the home page will introduce you to all there is to know about bourbons and whiskeys: blogs, forums, constant news updates on releases, etc.

Just thought this might be of use to some you guys.

All the best,
Nonoise

Weller is fantastic. A friend of mine who has all of the Buffalo Trace bourbons likes the Weller more than Pappy or Stagg. But, all three are extremely hard to find. My bottle of Stagg, bought in November was just one of three bottles the store got in.

I just recently bought a bottle of Weller Jr. (cheaper vesion of Weller), although I have not yet opened it.

Four Roses is excellent. Larceny is also quite good.

Rock Hill Farms

I have found an an absolutely amazing bourbon, not cheap but not too much compared to the incredible quality. It is somewhat rare but can be found with diligence and some luck. The nose is heavenly and the taste just sublime! I am lucky to have two bottles in reserve and one that I am enjoying.

Please share!

I vote that Audiogon expand their Virtual System page to include a "Virtual Liquor Cabinet" page....seems like that's where we are heading with these Best Bourbon & Best Single Malt threads.

I got the cute little $5.99 bottle of Blantons - not too bad, but think I still like Eagles Rare & Woodford Reserve better....will need to A/B them before coming to a final decision though...