Bourbon

[carpriver]

I have drank both Bookers and Bakers from Jim Beam, both bottled at over 100 proof. I didn't think they were much better then Knob Creek. both are aged 7-9 years. My go to bourbons are Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Blanton's. Eagle Rare and Blanton's are aged 10 years. I like the 10-12 year old bourbons. Smoother, mature, deeper flavor, vanilla, oak tannins, brazil nut back note. and some with black berry notes.

It's like coffee, I like the Mexican, Brazil, Costa Rican, They have a deeper flavor profile ; but there are few bad beans.

 

[JohnRippert]

I like bourbon but it gives me heartburn something fierce these days.

 

[joe44va]

I'm sad to say that all bourbon gives me a headache. I'll stick with a Vesper or two.

 

[Kevin J.]

Full disclosure, I am a Tennessee country squire. Which means I own a small plot of the Jack Daniels land. It's pretty cool, they send a calendar and other freebies, and if you return to the distillery there are special tours and VIP treatment. So my daily drink is Jack Daniels. With that said for a change of pace its Makers Mark and Knob Creek. For special occasions it Basil Hayden.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Have just tried Crown Royal Black, A smooth Canadian with some bourbon added.
A great change of tast..

 

[leswad]

I stumbled into and out of this distillery a few weeks ago... it is good stuff but pricey. Great family run business:

 

[blues7]

While I occasionally will drink and enjoy some finer bourbons, the one we keep on hand in our home is Elijah Craig.

Good bourbon at a reasonable price, imho.

 

[Amp]

I keep coming back to this thread.
It makes me thirsty. And it makes me smile that there are so many differing opinions. I do not share all of them, but then my own opinions have change over time.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Like beer, my favorite brand is whatever is in front of me at the time. Given a choice, I prefer Black Jack, not necessarily because of the flavor, but likely because of all the fine youthful memories that somehow involved Black Jack. For a few moments, I can be 21 again howling at the moon, "nine feet tall and bullet proof" and ready to take on the world.

 

[chaparrito]

I happened to be in a very nice store near historic Whiskey Row in Prescott, AZ yesterday. They must have at least 40-50 different Bourbons and Ryes in stock.
Stumbled onto a bottle of Old Grand-Dad "High Rye Mash Bill" Bottled in Bond. Hadn't seen OGD in years. At 16.99 what a steal. There were three bottles on the shelf and I'm thinking about going back and getting the other two. I see some talk online that OGD has been given a label refresh by Beam-Suntory and is starting to catch on again. Price hike will surely follow.
By the way, Bourbon trivia for you Basil Hayden drinkers. Guess who "Old Grand-Dad" was??

 

[Absalom]

.....
Stumbled onto a bottle of Old Grand-Dad "High Rye Mash Bill" Bottled in Bond. Hadn't seen OGD in years. At 16.99 what a steal. There were three bottles on the shelf and I'm thinking about going back and getting the other two. I see some talk online that OGD has been given a label refresh by Beam-Suntory and is starting to catch on again. Price hike will surely follow.
By the way, Bourbon trivia for you Basil Hayden drinkers. Guess who "Old Grand-Dad" was??

Raymond Hayden's grampa, Basil, of course .

At that price, I'd stock up. Around here, ODG Bonded is on sale at $19.95 at the lowest. It's the same distillate as Basil Hayden, by the way; the difference is barrel selection and aging. It's the only recipe/label that survived Beam's acquisition of National Distillers in 1987 and continued to be made rather than being replaced by standard Beam juice, which happened to other venerable brands like Old Overholt at that time.

 

[chaparrito]

Raymond Hayden's grampa, Basil, of course .

At that price, I'd stock up. Around here, ODG Bonded is on sale at $19.95 at the lowest. It's the same distillate as Basil Hayden, by the way; the difference is barrel selection and aging. It's the only recipe/label that survived Beam's acquisition of National Distillers in 1987 and continued to be made rather than being replaced by standard Beam juice, which happened to other venerable brands like Old Overholt at that time.

Yup. Old Overcoat isn't the same at all, but it's indistinguishable from Beam Rye.

 

[hoc9sw]

Blanton's is also becoming an "allocated" bottle, which will explain why it is harder to find here recently.

I was in Little Rock early this week, and several shops there still have some 2016 versions of Booker's, but I think I snagged the only pre-2012 bottle. Guy apologized that it was so dusty and had no box. Prices there are all over, $53 - $65 (+ tax).

 

[Jim PHL]

I like bourbon (among many others!) and I appreciate all the suggestions I've read here for some labels I never heard of. I'll be trying some of them!

FWIW, if I serve you a glass at my place and you ask for a pickle wedge, a splash of grape soda, some coconut shavings or however-else you like it, well, I hope I have it on hand for you.

 

[Leonard]

Basil Hayden is my favorite

 

[Wee Hooker]

I used to enjoy a few fingers of Makers Mark on ice now and again. However, somewhere along the way I found that more than a couple doses of bourbon made me (uncharacteristically and increasingly) mean. Oddly enough the lighter bodied Canadian and Irish Whisky's don't have the same effect. Irregardless, I don't indulge anymore.

 

[Bill Bates]

I drink a lot more Scotch whisky than American bourbon whiskey. I even drink more Canadian whiskey than bourbon.

Lately I have been enjoying: Weather's Single Barrel, Four Roses Small Batch and Willett's Pot Still Reserve. All are very drinkable.

As some one mentioned earlier Forty Creek Barrel select is an excellent addition to anyones Liquor cabinet. A couple other great Canadian whiskies are Lot 40 and Caribou Crossing. One that I use to drink when traveling to Canada is Alberta Premium which isn't imported to the US...bummer. It is a 100% rye and I love the rye spice. If you make it north give it a try and bring a couple of bottles back.

 

[Absalom]

Booker's is limited production ("allocated"), and you have to ask your local store to put one back when they (rarely) come in. For 2017 they are cutting production and raising the price according to my distributor friends. $50 this year, ~$100 next year (yeah, a week from now). Grab it while you can.

UPDATE for those of you who care and drink Booker's:

The 100% price increase has just been rescinded in a rather sudden and embarrassing reversal for Beam, apparently as a result of major pushback from wholesale and retail customers. They are now talking of less than 50%.

 

[hoc9sw]

UPDATE for those of you who care and drink Booker's:

The 100% price increase has just been rescinded in a rather sudden and embarrassing reversal for Beam, apparently as a result of major pushback from wholesale and retail customers. They are now talking of less than 50%.

As of today, in the Dallas market, the price I am seeing is ~ $89, but there is none on the shelf.