What's your favorite bourbon?

[Complete Turf Care]

I appreciate all of the suggestions. Keep them coming.

I found this web site which reviews hundreds of whiskeys. Whiskey Reviews | The Whiskey Reviewer

I have been looking at some of the suggestions made here. Some are rated very high (A or A+) but are probably not available.

 

[jerrybob]

BSB Bourbon is very good....smooth and nice.

BSB - Heritage Distilling

 

[jeff9366]

Four Roses is a blended whiskey. Some whiskey blended with neutral spirits to lighten whiskey taste.

Bourbon is "straight" 100% whiskey. No neutral spirits.

Crown Royal is blended whisky. Some rye based whiskey blended with neutral spirits to lighten heavy rye whiskey taste.



Scotch Whisky is similar. At the top of the pecking order are "single malts" 100% whiskey.

(Malt is germinated Barley. Rye and Barley will produce a crop in colder climates than corn.)

Most scotch is blended. Malt and non-malt whisky blended with neutral spirits to lighten whisky taste. Cutty Sark used to be the mildest flavored blended scotch in national distribution.

 

[jeff9366]

I appreciate all of the suggestions. Keep them coming.

I found this web site which reviews hundreds of whiskeys. Whiskey Reviews | The Whiskey Reviewer

I have been looking at some of the suggestions made here. Some are rated very high (A or A+) but are probably not available.

The cost of producing these ultra premium whiskies is only 15% to 20% higher than producing a standard Bourbon like Jim Beam. Corn is the major ingredient, by regulation describing what is legally Bourbon. Other grains plus soft water the remaining ingredients. Some stills are a little more costly to process whiskey through than others, and additional aging adds some cost, but my-oh-my are premium spirits ever profitable to the brand owners. In many, marketing is the highest cost line item.

They could make an ocean. However, only a few will pay the premium price so it is sold out of serial numbered barrels and bottled as limited editions in beautiful bottles.

I will finish by saying I buy premium whiskey.

 

[jeff9366]

I have never drank anything stronger than pop and y'all shouldn't either if you value your health.

Thank you.

It is the diversity of opinions expressed on T-B-N that gives it strength.

 

[RickB]

Cost of production of a premium bourbon produced in a major distillery isn’t likely to be comparable to that turned out by a small craft distillery. Certainly that cost difference does not fall within the range you suggest. Economies of production equipment scale, marketing and business unit efficiencies dictate otherwise.

 

[bullbreaker]

T

Can you get Black Dirt in FL?

AINT looked lately but not just anywhere mostly little private owned joints around here, but I'am in sw Fla . So I buy from two little outfits in Immokolee Fla .Which BTW a couple LEO freinds and I call Tomestone .I think ABC which is a semi big chain should have it in Fla.

 

[jeff9366]

Cost of production of a premium bourbon produced in a major distillery isn’t likely to be comparable to that turned out by a small craft distillery. Certainly that cost difference does not fall within the range you suggest. Economies of production equipment scale, marketing and business unit efficiencies dictate otherwise.

I have sampled a number of high priced craft whiskies at the distilleries in Washington state in the last few years.

Not impressed.


What taste appeals to you is personal.

The adventure lies in seeking that perfect taste, to you.

Taste Bourbons systematically.

Taste Tennessee Whiskey systematically.

Taste Rye whiskies systematically.

Taste straight malt Scotches systematically.

 

[RickB]

AINT looked lately but not just anywhere mostly little private owned joints around here, but I'am in sw Fla . So I buy from two little outfits in Immokolee Fla .Which BTW a couple LEO freinds and I call Tomestone .I think ABC which is a semi big chain should have it in Fla.

I was more curious than anything.
Sadly Black Dirt isn’t distributed here in NC. I have to restock when I visit NY.

 

[Citydude]

I seen where Wyoming whiskey got an honorable mention last year in the bourbon section of the tasters. It is pretty raunchy stuff in my opinion and most other bourbon drinkers I know agree with me. Being from Wyoming and in attendance when the distillary held a grand opening party, it pains me to say this....

With that, ratings are not a reliable source of finding a bourbon. Trying different brands is the best way to find a bourbon that fits a palette.

 

[jaxs]

I have never drank anything stronger than pop and y'all shouldn't either if you value your health.

Yea,old pop would drink purt near anything if it was free and packed a kick.

 

[Bird]

We all have different tastes. I have NEVER liked the taste of bourbon. Before I ever drank any hard liquor, an older friend told me that "nobody likes scotch at first. It's an acquired taste." But when a neighbor offered me a scotch and water (Johnnie Walker Red) I knew immediately that if I was going to drink whiskey, scotch would be the one. So I started with Johnnie Walker Red, later started buying Clan Macgregor because it was cheaper. And in later years I preferred Chivas Regal or Glenfiddich. But I later found that liked Crown Royal whiskey even more than any of the scotches. The only way I drank scotch was scotch and water, and the only way I drink Crown Royal is in Coke Zero. And now I don't have any whiskey in the house, and haven't had for several years, except Crown Royal, and I just happened to be having a Crown Royal Apple in Coke Zero at the moment.:laughing:

 

[TXCYCLE]

1) Garrison Brothers
2) WL Weller
3) Makers Mark
4) Buffalo Trace
You can tell I like my bourbon If anyone can get their hands on a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle ( the supposedly Holy Grail of bourbons) I’ll supply the glasses!

 

[RickB]

Like Bird and others say, it’s a matter of taste. I just counted 10 bourbons and 1 rye in my cabinet. I’d buy all but 2 again, and probably will so long as I can find them.

 

[bunyip]

I like single malts but some are unpalatable without a drop of water, and I mean a drop, some of the malts are smoked with seaweed which leaves an iodine taste which is awful but a drop of water and it becomes nectar.
Laphroaig is one that comes to mind but my everyday single malt is glenmorangie nectar at about $100 a bottle.
Bourbon I could never drink or have been given all the bad ones, there are some scotch's I don't like either, johhny walker red and black come tto mind.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I asked my friend to try to find a bottle of 'Willet Pot Still Reserve'. It looks to be highly rated and reasonably priced. .
Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon Review | The Whiskey Reviewer

My second choice is something from Garrison Brothers. It is also highly rated and several of you here have recommended it.
Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Bourbon Review | The Whiskey Reviewer

 

[BlackOps]

woodford reserve


scotch: glenfiddich and bunnahabain

 

[Rich B1]

I have tried a lot of different bourbons. Including Pappy Van Winkle.

For the money, it is hard to beat Buffalo Trace. This one just really suits my tastes.

Evan Williams is also decent for the price.

Col. E.H. Taylor is excellent.

I know this will likely offend some...but to my tastes, Makers Mark is bourbon for those who aren稚 into bourbons.

 

[TheMan419]

Weller
Blanton
Basil Hayden

First two are hard to find.

 

[DrRod]

One winters eve a group of my friends gathered in my cabin to conduct a blind taste test of bourbons. Despite having six tasters, the results were nearly unanimous:

1. Markers Mark [by a mile]
2. George Dickel
3. Jack Daniels
4. Jim Beam
5. Evan Williams [best value award]


The New Yorker printed a taste test of vodkas -- sort of in response to how much is being invested in promoting special brands like Absolute and Kettle. They had about dozen brands in the test. The tasters were people who were published critics, industry experts, and other credentialed pros. The premium brands all fell way down the list. Number one was Old Mr. Boston, what I would call a bargain brand.