Ok, New Year's Eve is here, and I want to try some decent bourbon, but not break the bank. Any suggestions? I've had the basics, and out of those, really like Maker's Mark. What do y'all prefer out there? Any ideas? I'm not a big drinker by any means, just enjoy one or two every now and then.

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MARK

The late knifemaker R.W. Loveless was a bourbon man, and turned me on to Maker's Mark. It is good, and many like Wild Turkey.

I was always more into Scotch, but those were the bourbons that I liked best, with W.L. Weller.

Skeeter Skelton liked George Dickel TN whiskey, if memory serves. Technically, it isn't bourbon, but you could order that in a bar and see if you like it. I've never tried it.

Knob Creek is good stuff.

Evan Williams.

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Formerly Model520Fan

not much of a bourbon drinker, except for the derby. I do like the well rounded taste of jim beam but that would probably bore you to tears? all I can offer is drink it like scotch, NEAT. I prefer ice water on the side and my whisky (notice spelling) out of a brandy snifter.

jframe, try some good ol' Jim Beam, wont break the bank, and a nice decent Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 26.

Woodford Reserve without question. Knob Creek is up there, and Maker's Mark is good too, as well as more affordable. I'd rank them 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

The perfect bourbon is the one I can afford at the time I am drinking.

Pappy Van Winkle's 20 year old

Old Rip Van Winkle

I don't know if it's the "best" but I like Woodford Reserve, ~$25 - 30 for a 750ml.

I like the kickin chicken too.

Maker's Mark in my book, but there are other good ones too.


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Dickel is good. Jack Daniels is dreadful. The only difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon is where it's made and the label.

Ezra Brooks is excellent, and it's made in Missouri.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

About 10 or so years ago one of our group wanted to bring some booze to our mid-winter camp out. The guy isn't impoverished (he's a Federal Judge) and he wanted to impress us. So he stopped at one of our better boozeries and asked the manager. The manager pointed him to a bottle of Jefferson Reserve. Yes, its getting to the point where it might break the bank....But the rationale behind it was its a great bourbon for non-bourbon drinkers.

Remember, Bourbon is sweet. This doesn't have any harshness to it at all (think Jack Daniels if you want a more harsh drink, or Makers Mark 46.) If you only want a few drinks, this is it. I have an open bottle, and an unopened for the sad day my first one hits empty. Its too expensive to swill the bottle, or to bring out when friends who like to do that show up.

In the names mentioned, I didn't see Buffalo Trace mentioned. Its a goodie, too.

Still my personal favorite (and the reason the Jefferson is holding out so well) is A H Hirsch. Its becoming unobtainable now. Not much was made back in the last century, and its almost all gone or stove up in some hoarders booze closet. Like mine.

After the first few drinks, you really can't tell all that much anyway. The best way to tell what you like is to test a number of the brands mentioned. You'll gain definite preferences.

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Dick Burg

Evan Williams isn't necessarily the best, but I believe it is the best value. I don't drink it straight, so it wouldn't make sense to buy expensive whiskey and mix it with Coke. Evan is as good as Jack or Jim, and doesn't cost as much. I believe the Evan is higher proof, also.

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Georgia On My Mind

I may in the minority here, but I'm partial to Old Granddad. Maker's Mark is pretty popular, though- I've known some serious bourbon drinkers who swear by it!

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LEO since 1981.

Knob Creek, George Dickel, Elijah Craig, and Bulleit bourbon are all pretty tasty. Ezra Brooks is dang cheap and doesn't taste too bad either.

But my personal favorite right now is Tullamore Dew 12 year old irish whiskey. That, good sir, is some sweet libation.

Totally incorrect sir! Both that JD is dreadful, and that the only difference is in where it is made. Only JD is charcoal filtered, and the ingredients are different, in different proportions, and the water is possibly the greatest differentiating factor, and is obviously totally different.

As for bourbon, I prefer Makers Mark.

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I hope I copied that right

I do believe I just missed being challenged to a duel.

Sorry, Colonel!!

IN MY OPINION, JD is dreadful and Tennessee whiskey is indistinguishable from Bourbon. As a matter of fact, JD is indistinguishable from horse liniment. IN MY OPINION.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

Hands down Woodford Reserve Ive been a bourbon man for over 30 years and it the best Ive found, well that I can afford!

The perfect Bourbon is one that someone else is buying for me.

Buck

Maker's Mark.

I really like Bulleit bourbon.

Just good old school preference.

Wild Turkey 101 is the one for me.

While I think of JD single barrel slightly higher than liniment I would prefer 100-1 a nice bourbon over whiskey.

One of my best friends always gets me a bottle of top shelf bourbon for Xmas. A few years ago he got me a bottle of Knob Creek and I've been hooked ever since. Not too expensive and on sale often enough for the 2-3 bottles I go thru a year.

This year , I received a bottle of Booker's. 6-8yr old , 126 proof , single barrel , uncut , unmingled , unfiltered. "From the barrel to the bottle , whiskey the way it used to be" as they say.

Some good stuff from the Jim Beam small batch collection!

Hmmm , might just have a sip or two tonite.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Booker's yet!

In order, I prefer Booker's, then Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek and Maker's Mark.

I wouldn't whine about being served any one of those.

Len

PS mkk41 and I posted almost the same time!!!!

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Qui me amat, amet et canem meum

A few of my favorites are


Basil Hayden's
Elijah Craig 18
Booker's
Woodford Reserve

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Here's a vote for Jim Beam. It's a little smoother than some of the other less expensive brands.

HRF

Bookers or Evan Williams Single Barrel

Don't forget Blanton's.

Blanton's Bourbon, Read About & SHOP for Blantons Bourbon at AlcoholReviews.com

I am an Ambassador for Makers Mark, so that would be my pick.

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He who angers you,controls you

Woodford Reserve for Special Occasions
Makers Mark for "The Usual"

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Compact 9mm Just my $0.02

Woodford Reserve.

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WALSTIB

Here's a vote for Jim Beam. It's a little smoother than some of the other less expensive brands.

HRF

Makers mark is really good stuff. Jim Beam isn't half bad ether. But what tastes best to you is the stuff to buy.

I will say I think J. D. (that some rave about) is the harshest nastiest swill I ever tried to gag down.

1-Wild Turkey bonded 101 proof.
2- Makers Mark.
3- Evan Williams, Very good value.

Wishing all my friends here a happy New Year.

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Always Stay Strong!

1) Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Barrel Select

2) Maker's Mark

3) Wild Turkey 101

Hmmm , notice a lot of votes for Maker's Mark. I did receive a bottle once. Wasn't impressed. Don't really care for , and it reminds me of Jack Black.

Actually , I'd probably put it somewhere between Old No.7 and Gentleman Jack (which ain;t too bad).

Without trying to start an argument about the differences between Sour Mash Whiskey and Bourbon, for this post I'll group them together. I try and mix it up, and have been enjoying the following for quite a while (in no particular order).

Jack Daniels Single Barrel
Blanton's
Woodford's Reserve
Jack Daniels Gentleman Jack and The Regular Old #7
Makers Mark

I just can't seem to take a liking to Wild Turkey which is a shame because I have a few bottles on hand.

Of course they all go better with a fine cigar!

Eagle Rare. Trust me; I'm a Kentuckian.

Actually his favorite was Henry McKenna and it is very reasonable...about $12 a Litre hear in AR.
Buffalo Trace is also very good and has a cool label and fairly inexpensive.
I have drank gallons of Evan Williams and it is alright but the two aforementioned are better.
If I wanted to splurge I would buy Booker's but doubt I would enjoy it any more than McKenna.
Cheers

Our local upscale supermarket (AJ's) occasionally offers Buffalo Trace "single barrel select", i.e., a variety of bourbon bottled from individually selected barrels. Some of these have been superb, some just "interesting", all have been expensive. Most of the higher proof brands, even the fairly expensive ones, are a little sharp or harsh on my palate. I like Makers Mark, but Jim Beam is the household "well" bourbon. I guess that sooner or later I'll spurge on one of the really pricey brands, and hope it's not addictively superior to my more pedestrian tastes...

Sipping a little Beam right now. Found the 1.75 litre bottles for $19.95 in N.O. so I bought a case of it. While I was down there visiting my brother Louisana Joe I bought a .750 litre bottle of Buffalo Trace to sip on while we slobbered over the pool table. I never knew Kentucky once had buffaloes but the whiskey was pretty good. I'm not loyal to any particular brand, just something affordable. Jr. bought me a 1.75 litre jug of Gentleman Jack for Christmas-birthday-New Year. I sipped some for the first two, the third is tomorrow night. Also good stuff. Burg gave me a bottle of the Hirsch stuff when I was up there a few years ago. I saw a bottle of it for sale for $200.00 a couple of weeks ago in NOLA. I think his garage may be full of it. A wonderful drink but now out of my price range. My cousin (who is more like a sister to me) and I drank the Hirsch the night before my mother's funeral three years ago. Very soothing.

Bottom line is this: Make the first three drinks something you really enjoy. After that switch to the cheap stuff unless you're trying to impress somebody. It all tastes the same later on anyway. I used to keep a crystal decanter full of "Old Rocking Chair" ($4.00 a fifth) on my bar and my guests would rave at the taste and smoothness. They never mentioned the hangover they had the next day.

I just had some of this at Christmas, very good bourbon!

My father in law got me into "Single Barrel Jack"

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"Shall not be infringed"

Bourbon is the only thing I'll drink (aside from a good micro brew every now and then), but that doesn't make me an expert. That said however, I don't like my bourbon mixed with anything, I just prefer the natural taste, with that:

-Makers 46
-Wild Turkey 101
-Knob Creek
-Woodford Reserve

...and the one that is actually pretty darn decent if you're on a budget........ Ezra Brooks.

The first 4 are in no particular order as I enjoy each for their individual nuances. Right now, I have a about 4oz of "46" poured..........which is why I'm surfing the lounge and not the classifieds

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

Charlie, what happened to Old Rebel Yell? I remember you being happy to drink something I sent you in a plastic bottle.

I have never been much of a bourbon drinker, I have always preferred Canadian and Crown Royal is now my first choice. This year on our hunting trip to SD, the first night out I felt as if I were coming down with a cold, sore throat, etc. My hunting buddy who had come up from Texas had some Jack and I mixed it with Coke and drank enough that I was able to kill off all the germs. I got a bottle of CR the next day and continued the medication. Tennexplorer can attest to this remedy.

John Daniels (when you've known him as long as I have you can call him "John")

And though it's not bourbon, Jim Beam Rye Whiskey has a unique spice to it and compares nicely.

Experience of my younger days . . . not so much anymore.

An occasional Grand Marnier on special occasions . . . totally off base and a different animule.

If you look at how Bourbon is made then yall will understand. The ones that have been mentioned are still very good.

Woodford Reserve
Makers Mark
Buffalo Trace

These are the best around here

But to throw a wrench in the fire, What exactly is Bourbon?

It is still whiskey for you out of staters.

I understand. A friend gave me a bottle of Woodford Reserve for Christmas. I'm afraid to try it, afraid that it might ruin me for the Evan Williams I can actually afford.