Bourbon: What are you sipping on?

[Barleycorn]

Get Bucket$Reply1/6 9:45 PM
Re: Bourbon: What are you sipping on?
What is a nicer version of Jim Beam 7 year old? Or another way of asking, if I like the taste of Jim Beam, what is something up in the next tier as far as price that I might enjoy the taste?
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Knob Creek, basil Hayden, bakers 107.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[Beavis606]

Thank you sirs. My list to try is now at 6 and counting.

And at this point I'd like to (again) ask the mods to pin this to the top of the page as an Official Bourbon Thread so all of this good info isn't lost.

 

[makersmarkambassador]

Just picked up a bottle of 10yo Russell's Reserve (Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey). Very good and priced well at $27.99 Highly recommend

 

[drxman1]

Got to try some Angel's Envy Cask strength the other night. Very strong, but sweet and smooth. Delicious.

 

[makersmarkambassador]

Originally posted by drxman1:
Got to try some Angel's Envy Cask strength the other night. Very strong, but sweet and smooth. Delicious.

This is very good, but hard to find and starts at around $150 retail

 

[BlueRaider22]

Originally posted by makersmarkambassador:
Just picked up a bottle of 10yo Russell's Reserve (Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey). Very good and priced well at $27.99 Highly recommend

I'd be careful about your $27.99 sliding right off the edge of that uneven surface you have it on. That'd be a waste of good spirits....

 

[makersmarkambassador]

Originally posted by BlueRaider22:

Originally posted by makersmarkambassador:
Just picked up a bottle of 10yo Russell's Reserve (Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey). Very good and priced well at $27.99 Highly recommend

I'd be careful about your $27.99 sliding right off the edge of that uneven surface you have it on. That'd be a waste of good spirits....

Haha. That's not my pic(got it from google).

 

[YouKay]

Originally posted by makersmarkambassador:
Just picked up a bottle of 10yo Russell's Reserve (Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey). Very good and priced well at $27.99 Highly recommend

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bourbon. Can't get it in PA anymore or in the big box stores in NJ. Have had a hard time finding it even in Lexington on recent trips.

Friend gave me a bottle of PVW 20 a few years ago and I am stull nursing it. Awesome and worth the $$$. For everday we are currently drinking Elijah Craig. But it chaps me that that brand is suddenly hot. A few years ago we could get a 1.5 liter bottle of it for $32. Best bargain in history. Now we are paying $27 for a fifth.

I will say that this year I made my bourbon balls with Elijah Craig and everyone said they were the best ever. I usually buy Early Times for that because it is cheaper, but I couldn't get to the liquor store and all I had on hand was the Elijah.

 

[LineSkiCat]

Got a bottle of Basil Hayden for Christmas and a bottle of Bulleit for my birthday. Sipping on those for a while. Wish I could get my hands on some of the smaller batched people are posting on here. Can't find most of it up in the North East, and good luck grabbing anymore more than the 5 common ones in a bar.

Sidenote: Bourbon Beer was pretty rough. Granted it was 14%, twice what most beers are anyways. but damn. Not good.

 

[TransyCat09]

Are you talking about beer aged in bourbon barrels or some kind of weird mixture of beer and bourbon?

 

[makersmarkambassador]

Originally posted by YouKay:

For everday we are currently drinking Elijah Craig. But it chaps me that that brand is suddenly hot. A few years ago we could get a 1.5 liter bottle of it for $32. Best bargain in history. Now we are paying $27 for a fifth.

This has happened a lot with other brands here lately. Bourbon has become the "Hot" drink and everyone wants to get in on the action. Demand has gone up big time.

Back in 2006, you used to be able to get a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 20yo at Liquor Barn anytime for $99. They used to have 5-10 bottles in stock at any given time. Now, you'll be lucky to get it for under $300(retail) and hope your ticket is drawn when they have a lottery for the bottles the stores get. The last 3-4 years have been hard on a Bourbon drinker's wallet.

 

[TKE_]

Pappy is pure hype. Is it good? Sure, but there are a lot of fine bourbons out there for FAR less.

Oh, and I think age is way overblown. Many single digit bourbons better than teenage bourbons.

 

[LineSkiCat]

Originally posted by TransyCat09:
Are you talking about beer aged in bourbon barrels or some kind of weird mixture of beer and bourbon?

Pretty sure beer infused with Borubon as it was very strong and actually tasted like Bourbon was in it. Goose Island makes it, a very dark bottle.

 

[TransyCat09]

Probably their Bourbon County stout. It is a stout that has been aged in used bourbon barrels. I really like it.

 

[GrandePdre]

Originally posted by makersmarkambassador:
Just picked up a bottle of 10yo Russell's Reserve (Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey). Very good and priced well at $27.99 Highly recommend

Without question, the best stuff the Wild Turkey people make. Very solid.

 

[LineSkiCat]

Originally posted by TransyCat09:
Probably their Bourbon County stout. It is a stout that has been aged in used bourbon barrels. I really like it.

All that from the barrel, huh? I'm a big beer fan, but that stuff was rough. However, 3-4 miller lites equals one of those... so I guess it's efficient.

 

[kyrockhunter]

Elijah Craig 12 The Party Source private barrel selection. Damn tasty.

 

[arasco]

How was this Buffalo Trace Experimental?

For my taste, I believe Jeffersons Reserve is the best bourbon that is generally available right now.

 

[UKRob 73]

Bulleit is my favorite right now. Very good

 

[TKE_]

Got a 3L bottle of JD (not bourbon, never buy, gift) and I have been drinking it lately. How does this **** sell so much? 80 proof, but damn, can't drink it straight and got to get the mix exactly right to make it ok (harsh.) If you over mix bourbon, you drink it just fine just your mix is off. Over mix this and you make an ugly face every sip.

The method to whiskey is magic. How can Rare Breed be so easy to drink at 107 and some (JD, Town Branch) be so rough at 80?

 

[wildcatdon]

Just picked up a bottle of Hancock's Reserve at Liquor Barn..That is good stuff..

 

[Wildcat Droppings]

Arasco -

I assume you were referring to my post. The bottle says they explored how the amount of time the barrel staves are air dried will impact boubon's flavor. This bottle, the one pictured, taste of sweet nuts balanced with mild spicy notes creating a robust flavor

 

[GrandePdre]

Probably a good idea to store up while you can. Big shortages coming soon.

 

[LadyCat92]

Now that we're unlocked, can this be pinned.

 

[KNTCKYFTTBLL07]

I'm sort of a rookie but I love trying new bourbons. Of the ones I've tried I've enjoyed Four Roses Small Batch and Buffalo Trace the best. Any suggestions for a decent (cheap) bourbon for mixing? (usually a splash of ginger ale or Ale 8 for me)

 

[LadyCat92]

^4 Roses yellow label for mixing.

 

[TexasTimCat]

Originally posted by LadyCat92:
^4 Roses yellow label for mixing.

I know that peoples opinions will obviously differ but I don't think there is a better bourbon for mixing than Makers.

 

[Big_Blue79]

I have been enjoying Bulleit lately, with a smattering of Four Roses and 9 year Knob Creek. This spring I intend to spread my wings a little bit and branch out.

 

[BBdK]

Blanton's rocks last night at Del Frisco's alongside a prime steak.

Never been privy to Pappy 23, but ^ has always been my favorite "special" bourbon.

 

[Ollie.ksr]

I know that a lot of distilleries swap bourbons,inside their own distillery and with others. I was told that the master distiller at Buffalo Trace will try Pappy's and if he doesn't care for it, it is bottled as W.L. Weller's (nice cheap bourbon to keep on hand.)

NYE we had a taste test at work.

For me

23 year old Pappy -- #2, very good, smooth, nice finish
15 year old Pappy -- #3 wasn't as smooth and smell wasn't as nice
Woodford Double Oak Single Barrel --#1 this was excellent, the smell was wonderful, the taste and finish were smooth and flavorful

I would like to do a blind taste test. It was my first time tasting all 3.

My favorite still may be Angel's Envy.

 

[Beavis606]

Are you gettin er?

 

[BBdK]

 

[80 Proof]

Originally posted by TKE_:

Oh, and I think age is way overblown.

Nope

 

[TKE_]

Originally posted by 80 Proof:

Originally posted by TKE_:

Oh, and I think age is way overblown.

Nope

Yep.

 

[GrandePdre]

 

[wildcatdon]

Oliie,to show how people's taste differ with bourbon,I think Angel's Envy taste like piss..Cant stand it..But there are plenty of other good ones so I don't worry..

And to the other poster above,age truly does matter with bourbons..It is a huge factor in the flavors.

 

[BBdK]

Originally posted by bigbluedon:
Oliie,to show how people's taste differ with bourbon,I think Angel's Envy taste like piss..Cant stand it..

Agree, I was not impressed at all...one my least favorite I've ever tried.

My buddy has a bottle of the the Cask though, and says it's completely different, and one of the best he's ever tried.

 

[GrandePdre]

If TKE is talking about the difference between 10 vs 12 or 15 vs 17 or 20 vs 23, I can see his point.

Now, if he's talking Jim Beam white label (4 y.o.) vs their black label (8 y.o.) he's full of ****. Those extra 4 years on the same recipe are quite the improvement. I'm not sure any bourbon aged less than 6-8 is worth choosing over one that is 9-12 years old.

 

[Ollie.ksr]

Originally posted by Beavis606:
Are you gettin er?

HAHAHA, no are you a gettin' 'er ahha?

 

[TKE_]

Originally posted by GrandePdre:
If TKE is talking about the difference between 10 vs 12 or 15 vs 17 or 20 vs 23, I can see his point.

Eagle rare at 10 is just as good as 12. I like Knob Creek at 9 more than Weller at 12. Age ain't nothing but a number and process is more important.