Bourbon anyone?

[SharkB8]

My dad loved a good bourbon (among good other things) and thanks to my boyfriend, I realized that I love a good bourbon, too.

My goal is to buy and try a bottle of my dad's favorite bourbons. He would drink Booker's, Bulleit, Baker's, Basil Hayden's and something with a pewter-looking man riding a horse on the cap...although that may have been a whiskey.

So far I've tried (and I realize most of these are Jim Beam bourbons):

Basil Hayden's
Knob Creek
Maker's Mark
Woodford Reserve

I gotta say that Basil Hayden's is, hands down, my favorite. I love it neat, on the rocks, and in an old fashioned. It's smooth, a little sweet, singes the nose hairs. It makes me smile. And though I don't dislike Maker's Mark or Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve is a close second - but I've only had it once (on the rocks).

So what are your favorites? And how do you like them? Why do you like them?

[Algorithm]

The pewter horse capped bourbon is Blanton's, I think. I haven't had it, but I have a couple of cigars from the same distiller.

I have a bottle of Elijah Craig 18 yr in my cabinet - highly recommended. Nice and toasty!

[SharkB8]

How are the cigars?

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Algorithm

The pewter horse capped bourbon is Blanton's, I think. I haven't had it, but I have a couple of cigars from the same distiller.

I have a bottle of Elijah Craig 18 yr in my cabinet - highly recommended. Nice and toasty!

I second the Elijah Craig. But Bookers... that will put hair on your chest.

Wild Turkey had a special bottling called Rare Bird. If you're a Turkey fan you'll like this.

[Darmund]

Yes, please! Those are all fine choices, although I personally feel Maker's Mark is overrated. It's decent, but not as good as its price tag thinks it is. This weekend I had Eagle Rare, which I liked a lot better, at several bucks cheaper than MM.

[Hunter Hawk]

On the more spendy side, some good choices would be Black Maple Hill, Willett's, and Sazerac.



Have you tried rye? If not, you might find it interesting.

[Hunter Hawk]

...finally remembered the non-spendy one I was going to recommend: Old Weller.

[Algorithm]

Originally Posted by SharkB8

How are the cigars?

Damndest thing, I bought them for a displaced friend (he's in Hawaii now) that has family from KY, and he hasn't visited since. So I can't answer that question.

Come to think of it, though, both Wathen's and Rip Van Winkle are stellar bourbons. Pappy Van Winkle is good, but the price tag is prohibitive. Good for a try, but probably not a bottle. The Rip will satisfy you and your wallet.

Oh, Four Roses is also good - but the distribution is limited. I just finished up a bottle about 3 weeks ago. It was a sad day.


All aforementioned bourbons should be consumed straight, or with a very small splash of cool water.

[Jay Tea]

I'm not a big bourbon drinker, primarily because the cost is prohibitive over here (even a bottle of evryday bourbon will set you back a bit). That said, I do splash out from time to time as I do like the taste.

I recently polished off a bottle of Buffalo Trace which was very enjoyable. Sweet, as bourbon often is, but with a sorta minty vanilla thing going on which was most agreeable.

[BlueBlazes]

Black Maple Hill is my favorite bourbon. The 21 year aged - if you can find it - is incredibly smooth, but it's ridiculously expensive (about $120 a bottle). Still. it's worth a splurge if you really love bourbon.

For just sittin' around drinkin', I'd just as soon have a George Dickel (Tennessee sippin' whisky), neat, with an ice cold Coke (no ice) chaser.

[Doyle]

I find bourbon too sweet for my taste. I prefer Canadian or Scotch.

[CrazyCatLady]

Come down sometime and hit the Bourbon Trail. Distillery tours include a tasting, so you can see firsthand what you do and don't like. Well, except for Makers--it's in a dry county and they can't serve booze, so instead you get a couple of bourbon balls. But you can buy a bottle and dip it yourself, which is pretty fun. The Heaven Hills tasting room is cool, shaped like a big barrel.

Be sure you come in the spring--the drive out to Woodford Reserve in between all the horse farms is worth the trip all by itself. The countryside or gorgeous, and the fields are full of happy little foals frisking around.

And sign up for the Maker's Ambassador program. Even if you're not all that fond of it (it's our standard bourbon for mixed drinks) you get Christmas presents and can go to Redheads and Thoroughbreds weekend.

[dactylic hexameter]

My brother drinks Maker's. I prefer Knob Creek myself (on the rocks please), as I enjoy the spicier taste. Not my go-to drink (beer or wine in winter, fruity drinks in summer), but I do enjoy the occasional tipple.

[Andrew Jackson's Hair]

I drink Maker's or Knob Creek because I can usually find one or both at a bar, unlike scotch, where I'm usually stuck with Glenlivet. But I'd rather have scotch of my choice than bourbon.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by grossbottom

I drink Maker's or Knob Creek because I can usually find one or both at a bar, unlike scotch, where I'm usually stuck with Glenlivet. But I'd rather have scotch of my choice than bourbon.

And your scotches of choice?

[SharkB8]

CrazyCatLady, I think you just pitched our next field trip!

[mlerose]

I never liked bourbon until we went to Louisville to visit a friend a couple of summers ago, and we went to the Woodford Reserve distillery (it was a great tour, and I got some amazing photos). We tasted quite a bit of bourbon out at various establishments as well (The Superhero did an "Old" flight which included Old Granddad and Old Forester and I forget what else). Suddenly, and without warning, I liked bourbon!

Now, I really like it. We usually have Old Forester around (good balance between price and taste) and we are fond of Woodford and Knob Creek (though both are too high for our budget regularly). I have wanted to try the Colorado bourbon (Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey; technically it can't be a bourbon if it's not made in Kentucky - I learned that from the Woodford distillery tour!) but it's really pricey.

[SharkB8]

Originally Posted by Doyle Hargraves

And your scotches of choice?

Scotch is my next victim.

[Andrew Jackson's Hair]

Originally Posted by Doyle Hargraves

And your scotches of choice?

I like the Balvenie or Laphroaig.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Jay Tea

... I recently polished off a bottle of Buffalo Trace which was very enjoyable. Sweet, as bourbon often is, but with a sorta minty vanilla thing going on which was most agreeable.

I was enjoying my favorite local porter at a bar during a shift change. The new bartender offered a free sampling of Buffalo Trace. I didn't care for it then. But lately some of my friends have mentioned favorably of it. Maybe the porter I was drinking soured the taste (I don't mix the two on principal), and I owe another go at it.

[Lazlo]

On the rare occasions that I crave bourbon, I usually only go for Knob Creek. As others have mentioned, I find Maker's Mark to be overrated.

I am completely ignorant of scotch, but I would love to try Vat 69 for the novelty of it.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

On the rare occasions that I crave bourbon, I usually only go for Knob Creek. As others have mentioned, I find Maker's Mark to be overrated.

I am completely ignorant of scotch, but I would love to try Vat 69 for the novelty of it.

My brother! I live among Scotch-drinking fans, and I am the exception. I've tried but I can't "acquire" the taste.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

My brother! I live among Scotch-drinking fans, and I am the exception. I've tried but I can't "acquire" the taste.

Most people are either a scotch or gin drinkers or variations there of.

[Darmund]

Gin is vile poison.

[Zeener Diode]

I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool Tanqueray believer when I turned "legal." Since then I've pretty much left gin behind as I tried other kinds of alcohol. I've ordered G & T's on occasion but lean towards bourbon and vodka.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by Darmund

Gin is vile poison.

See what I mean.

[The Superhero]

Maker's is perfectly good, nothing wrong with it. Not the greatest bourbon ever...but a Maker's Manhattan is a very fine thing, indeed. I'll take Maker's over that vile Tennessee swill that so many people love every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

If you're just drinking straight bourbon, Woodford Reserve is my favorite.

[Sgt. Max Fightmaster]

Originally Posted by Darmund

Gin is vile poison.

Your mother's a vile poison.

[Andrew Jackson's Hair]

Funny thing is I can't 'taste' gin. It just doesn't register on my tongue that there's alcohol in the drink.

[HongKongFooey]

Can't stand gin.

My scotch is Glenfiddich.

Bourbon, I just don't like it straight. Probably haven't tried the right one yet. It makes a great sauce though so I use a lot of it when cooking. I usually buy Knob Creek since it's available here. When I head to the States I'll pick up a bottle of Maker's Mark.

[Doyle]

My father drank scotch and my mother drank gin. I guess I inherited the scotch gene.

[Hunter Hawk]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

a Maker's Manhattan is a very fine thing, indeed.

You really should use rye for Manhattans. For example, try a 1:1 ratio of Pappy Van Winkle rye and Carpano Antica vermouth with a dash of orange bitters.

[The Superhero]

Originally Posted by Hunter Hawk

You really should use rye for Manhattans. For example, try a 1:1 ratio of Pappy Van Winkle rye and Carpano Antica vermouth with a dash of orange bitters.

Meh. I like mine just fine with bourbon, thanks. 1:1 is too sweet for my taste, anyway.

[FrozenBananas]

I'm a true blue Crown Royal, neat, on the rocks kinda girl. I bought a bottle of Maker's Mark once for a change of pace and didn't care for it. It's most definitely overpriced for what it is. I'll try another bourbon next time.

[SharkB8]

My parents drank Crown Royal, too. We had more of those purple bags floating around the house than you can ever imagine!

I've never had it though.

I just picked up some Woodford and some Booker's. Woodford I liked on the rocks at a bar. I'll try it neat this time...along with the Booker's.

We're going out for bourbon and cigars tomorrow night, so if they carry any of the ones many of you suggested that are less mainstream, I'll definitely give it a try!

[Jules]

I started with Crown, moved on to Irishes, and graduated to bourbons. I'm happily working my way through as many as I can.

I like Maker's; it's my standby now. I've also got open at the moment a Jefferson's Reserve which I'm rationing because I love it so much and it was the only bottle at my local BevMo, Knob Creek, 1792, Buffalo Trace, and I believe there's a Woodford Reserve kicking around somewhere.

I love that Jefferson's. It's a dream of mine to go vacation on the Bourbon trail someday and try as many as I can.

[DellieM]

Give me Cougar, give me Wild Turkey - neat. However, I maintain that Coke was invented to mix with cheap whiskies and bourbons - I mean really ... why would you bother?

[KidVermicious]

I'm normally a Glenlivet drinker, for I just found Macallan about a year ago, and it's much better for only a little more.

Never was a fan of bourbon, much, and I'll be damned if I can figure why the hell you all insist on drinking fermented pine needles when there's singlemalt scotch to be had.

[cinehead]

Knob Creek here (but B8, you already know that) but thanks to this thread I got to try Planton's which is now one of my fave's

[Wolf Larsen]

Bookers and Buffalo Trace. Both are cask proof bourbons and need to be diluted with a little cold water to open up the flavor. (Cask proof has the alcohol content the stuff is in the aging cask and is much stronger than 86 proof.)

Bourbon trivia: Why does the law specify that Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels?

[Flying Squid with Goggles]

I took a tour of the Buffalo Trace distillery in September - it was great, especially the tasting afterwards. Downtown Lexington also seems to have a surprising number of bars that offer different Bourbons to taste - almost like wine bars in Napa.

Mrs. Squid and I have been on something of a Bourbon kick since then - mostly Buffalo Trace and Pappy's.

They wouldn't let us taste the Blanton's, but we did get to stick our heads into the opening of the vat, and it was magical. Someday, for a special occasion...

I give: why does Bourbon need to be aged in new charred oak barrels?

[davew0071]

I don't drink much hard liquor. A G&T now and again. But I'm a beer man.

I do put Jack Daniel's whiskey in my homemade barbecue sauce, though. And I keep a little extra around in case I get a cold. JD in a mug of hot tea with a lot of sugar is good for what ails ya.

[FupDuck]

Originally Posted by davew0071

I do put Jack Daniel's whiskey in my homemade barbecue sauce, though. And I keep a little extra around in case I get a cold. JD in a mug of hot tea with a lot of sugar is good for what ails ya.

Strictly speaking, Jack Daniel's is not a bourbon because, to warrant the bourbon label, the booze need be made in Kentucky. There are other requisites as well, like the use of corn in the mash.

[Jeff]

I've never tried bourbon before so I decided to give it a go. I bought a bottle of Buffalo Trace, its not bad but at $50/bottle its a little on the expensive side.

[Capybara]

I love Blanton's. I also love gin. We need a gin love thread (or maybe it's already happened)

[Anacanapuna]

By favorite "bourbon" isn't even marketed as a bourbon, though technically it meets all of the specs of a good bourbon.

When I visit my son's home, we drink Maker's Mark. He won't touch Scotch or blended whiskies, although he did say Jack Daniels Single Barrel is equal in smoothness, quality, and body to a fine bourbon. (I think it's superior because of the clarity, but that's just me.)

[Anacanapuna]

Originally Posted by FupDuck

Strictly speaking, Jack Daniel's is not a bourbon because, to warrant the bourbon label, the booze need be made in Kentucky.

Not true. According to StraightBourbon.com, "Bourbon must be aged for a minimum of two years in new, white oak barrels that have been charred. Nothing can be added at bottling to enhance flavor, add sweetness or alter color. Though technically Bourbon can be made anywhere, Kentucky is the only state allowed to put its name on the bottle." That's why Jack Daniels is marketed as "Tennessee Sippin' Whiskey" -- it's JD's way of saying "In your face!" to the Kentucky bourbons. At least that's what the guy said when we toured the distillery.

[HongKongFooey]

It's like buying single-malt whiskey which isn't "Scotch". The Japanese actually make very high-quality single malts but they can't market them as Scotch.

[takowasakun]

Mmmmm, Yamazaki...

[HongKongFooey]

I wouldn't have been able to name one. We have one near here too in Cape Breton, it's not nearly as good as the Japanese single malts though although it costs almost as much as Talisker.