Bourbon, anyone?

[Bob Marino]

I have never had a taste for Scotch, Rye or really any of the "hard stuff" and way back in the 80's when I had a hero shop, the vendors would give me bottles of Scotch - mostly Chivas and I literally never opened them or gave 'em away. Fast forward about 30 years and have very recently tasted a couple of bourbons - the ubiquitous Jack Daniels - of course, and now Makers 46.

Apparently, if you take a step beyond the corner liquor store, there's hundreds to choose from.  Not looking to break the bank or get an esoteric impossible to find bourbon - don't know how to describe my preferences other than I like them smooth.

Going to treat myself to  a good bottle for my upcoming birthday and looking for suggestions/thoughts.

 

[gsdvorak]

Hi Bob,
I used to be an occasional bourbon drinker (once every couple months or so) but always enjoyed it; however, usually steered toward a really good red wine or a craft beer.  That has changed over the last couple years and now I'll enjoy a shot-size amount a few times a month.  You are correct that there are hundreds to choose from as it seems to have become a fad, and prices have likewise gone up because of that too.  There are also single-barrel versions as well, as the name states the entire bottle is from one single barrel and not blended with other barrels of the same bourbon.  Here are some of my favorites you may want to try depending on your budget:

Woodford Reserve
Knob Creek
Maker's Mark
Basil Hayden's
Booker's
Four Roses
Blanton's Single Barrel
Jefferson's
1792
Larceny

Cheers!

Gerald

 

[rmwarren]

It's a slippery slope...

I am certainly no coniousour but I have developed a taste for both Blanton's and Woodford Reserve. Both are in the $50 price range.

Enjoy (responsibly) [poke]

RMW

 

[duburban]

I go to the Bullet brand most

 

[semenza]

There are a ton available these days. Getting into single barrel means getting in to subtle differences that won't be quite the same with every bottle.  If looking for a consistently good one that is reliably the same every bottle there are several that are stocked just about every where and a are a cut above regular Maker's Mark.  Woodford Reserve, Elijah Craig, and Knob Hill are a few.

Recently I have come across a local ( to me) distiller that makes a very good rye, and is my current favorite compared to any bourbons I have tried.

Seth

   

 

[semenza]

I go to the Bullet brand most

Do you find the Bullet smooth?  I had it once and it seemed on the harsher side to me.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

A couple of friends swear by Makers Mark & Woodford Reserve along with a cigar. FWIW...Makers Mark also produces a barbecue sauce.

 

[DynaGlide]

Bob,

We went on the bourbon tour in KY for Valentine's Day a few years back. We have a nice stash of bourbon in the house. I've tried the pricier stuff and the cheaper stuff but I always settle on Woodford Reserve. It just has all the right qualities at a good price point.

 

[duburban]

I go to the Bullet brand most

Do you find the Bullet smooth?  I had it once and it seemed on the harsher side to me.

Seth

Not really but I like the taste for some reason, I prefer the Bullet RYE.

 

[gsdvorak]

I go to the Bullet brand most

Do you find the Bullet smooth?  I had it once and it seemed on the harsher side to me.

Seth

Not really but I like the taste for some reason, I prefer the Bullet RYE.

I tried the Bulliet Rye last week in Baltimore when I was there for a convention- I really liked the taste, too.  The bar was also serving a local rye- Sagamore- which I thought was quite good as well.

Fun to try different ones- about like trying different craft beers.

Gerald

 

[Sparktrician]

Bob, you might want to look into Copper Fox.  I'm not much for distilled spirits, but I hear good comments regarding Copper Fox products.  Their distillery is in Sperryville, VA, about an hour from my area.  If you can find it, go for the blue seal versions for a more complex flavor.  [smile]

 

[semenza]

I go to the Bullet brand most

Do you find the Bullet smooth?  I had it once and it seemed on the harsher side to me.

Seth

Not really but I like the taste for some reason, I prefer the Bullet RYE.

I will have to give the Rye a try.

Seth

 

[Billedis]

Jameson's Irish whiskey for me.

 

[Jim Metzger]

Hi Bob,

Technically Jack Daniels is not a Bourbon (sort of) but a Sour Mash Whiskey. https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/jack-daniels-bourbon-definitive-answer/. it is however the biggest selling whiskey in the world.

Many years ago my father was a salesman for a liquor wholesaler and he sold enough "Jack" to win a trip to Lynchburg TN. and a tour of the distillery. They presented him with the deed to 1 square inch of land. I intend to build a very small house.

You cannot drink Jack Daniels in Moore County where Lynchburg is located. It is a "dry county", they never officially repealed Prohibition.

 

[rst]

Knob Creek is my go to although I just bought a bottle of Jim Beam Black this afternoon...not pay day yet.

 

[kevinculle]

Correct, to be labeled a bourbon in the USA the spirit must be produced in the USA, be from a mash mix that is at least 51% corn, it must be aged in virgin charred white oak barrels, has a maximum distilled strength of 160 proof, a maximum strength when barrelled of 125 proof, and a minimum strength in the bottle of 80 proof.  To be labelled as a straight bourbon it needs to be barrel aged a minimum of 4 years.

Longer aging tends to produce a richer flavor profile and also significantly raises the price of bourbon.  One reason is the obvious cost of carrying the inventory for many years, the other is the increasing bite of the "angels share"...while in the barrel there is a slow steady loss of product through the walls of the barrel.  At the Buffalo Trace distillery where Pappy Van Winkel is produced under contract we were told that when a 50 gallon barrel is opened after 23 years aging (the longest for Pappy) ther is between 4 and 12 gallons of bourbon left of the original 50!!

If you're looking for a quite good tasting bourbon at a good price Buffalo Trace is a great choice at about $26 a fifth.  It's much harder to find but the Old Weller 12 Year is a truly fine product at $150 a fifth, considered by many to be a poor man's Pappy.  In truth there are many, many very good bourbons out there between those two price points.

 

[Tinker]

I don't drink the hardsuff any more. But in the dim, dark past, i had a bit of my share. One nite, I ran into a bottle of Jamison's Irish Whiskey. It was at a party of folk singers. I had my harmonica and tried joining in with several groups. I did not know any of the tunes so was really only making noise. Several of the guys were obviously upset with my efforts. I had the bottle of whiskey that i kept nursing along. As I would take a sip, i would get up and just go to another group. I  would join in with the same results, take another slug from my bottle and move on.  The next morning I woke up at my usual time, well before day lite. My bottle was empty. I was lying in a fireplace (no embers) and there were five girls laying all over me. I gently crawled out from under the pile, went out side, hopped on my motorcycle and headed on to where I had really been heading the nite before I had found the party.

I had a good time visiting my friends in the Berkshires all day Sunday. I did know a couple of people at the  party, so on my way back home to Wilton, I stopped in to see  if everything was alright. As i rode in on my bike, about a dozen girls ran out and most threw their arms around with hugs and kisses. I asked my friends, "What did I do!!!???" To this day, nobody has told me what I had done. To this day, any time I have occasion to partake of Jameson's Irish Whiskey, I am verrrryyyy careful.
Tinker

 

[Tinker]

when I was a freshman @ Uconn, I managed to keep my car on campus during my second semester. every thursday nite, there was the Polish Hop in Willimantic. There are all kinds of dancing but mostly polkas. I  had three buddies and we would all hop in my car and head into town for entertainment. I would only have one drink. The other three might have more, but we never got drunk. we were just looking for fun. We found the bar right next to the police station. the way we found it was that the no parking area right in front of the police station was about the only parking space we could find. I would park right in the middle of the No Parking area, we would walk into the bar, order a round of drinks, drink and walk back out. We  pulled that  off maybe half a dozen times. I would  have straight Scotch. My roommate would have a beer. The other two would have each a mixed drink. About the sixth or seventh time, as we ordered, the waitress asked my room mate for ID. It just so happened that he was the only 21 year old in our party. She did not ask any of the rest of us. As she brough our drinks, the  manager came over and asked the waitress if she had asked for all of our ID's. Of course he  knew the answer. He checked and three of us were under aged. We were gently ushered out the door and requested that we  never come in there  again. So, we had to find a new parking space.
Tinker

 

[rvieceli]

Bob we really like the Knob Creek single barrel reserve. Very nice. Runs around 45-50

Ron

 

[Cheese]

So all this talk about whiskey piqued my curiosity. I decided to explore the stash.

Here’s an unopened Canadian Club from 1978 and an unopened Wellers 107 from around 1980. You know it’s old when the bottle says the contents are the equivalent of 4/5 ths of a quart.  [eek]

Personally I enjoy the Irish whiskies more, Jameson and Bushmills.  Understandable as I’m 25% Irish.  [cool]

Suntory also makes a really nice smooth whiskey which is Japanese. It also comes in a cool bottle.

Of the rums that can be sipped like single malts, my favorite is Pyrat. Tough to tell the difference between a single malt and Pyrat. A great cold weather treat.

Speaking of rums, for mixed drinks there’s nothing more fun than Pussers. After a couple of Pain Killers, you’ll gladly wear the eye patch, unsheath the scimitar and walk the plank.  [big grin]