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What’s the BEST bourbon?

JM4590

JM4590

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Minuteman
Jun 28, 2013
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Midland,Va
So, I know there’s a thread about “what are you drinking right now”. But I wanna know, what do you all think is the best bourbon out there?
Blantons is good. But ever since John Wick started drinking the shit, it’s fn rediculous to get. Here in the Peoples Republic of Virginia, the ABC nazis ration the shit out. F dat!
I have since gone to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Smooth with a great finish. Another great one for you SC men is Blue Run. That stuff is righteous!

But hey, what do you all think?
 
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Most would say Larue, George T. Stagg and Pappy. Those are all four figure bottles in the real world. The two times I've had the weller it knocked my socks off, but I like wheated bourbon a lot. The staggs I've tried have varied wildly from year to year and all packed a hell of a punch. Never had Pappy.

For an everyday, reasonably priced bottle that you can get anywhere, Four Roses Single Barrel is up there and reminds me a lot of OG Blantons.
Then you have the elijah craig barrel proof stuff, knob creek 12y and all the limited release bottles. Some of the are absolutely amazing if you're lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
 
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The one in my glass!


I alternate through. Never have picked just 1 to stick to. Whistle pig and 4 roses single barrel in my cabinet right now. Booker's has been a good one, but some complain that the taste varies as a single barrel.

My sister's FIL brought some pappy's up from Tennessee. It was good, but I don't get what all the fuss is about other than it's expensive as hell. He found a case at MSRP.
 
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I have drank Pappy’s 25 and 15. Without a doubt,the 15 was THE best I have ever tasted. The finish was literally like vanilla on the tongue. The 25 was good, but not as good as the 15 IMO. Never been fortunate enough to score some Weller. I agree with the assessment of the Four Roses. If you get a chance, give Bowman Brothers a try. I’m told it is a unicorn in the Midwest. Made here in Va and a good drink for the $$
 
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Widow Jane will be your new favorite.

EDIT:
And another vote (below) for Basil Hayden. And surprisingly for the price, you really can't go wrong with Maker's Mark. Who knew?

And while I know we're talking bourbon, if you'll indulge me for a moment, also consider Bourbons that are finished in alternative flavor barrels (which are technically now whiskeys instead of bourbon) What I've found is that even the very best bourbon is still only the flavor profile of the grain bill (mainly corn), the particular white oak barrel, and the aging process. I recently paid $100 for a one ounce pour of 25 year Pappy's and was underwhelmed. It tasted . . . stale. That's right. Stale. There's gotta be more to this.

Finishing a bourbon in an alternative flavor barrel might impart for you the ever so slight extra flavor you're looking for . . . namely a bit more sweetness. A few of my favorites;

Angel's Envy finished in rum barrels
Widow Jane finished in maple syrup barrels
Kavalan finished in port wine barrels
And even Iron Fish finished in four different barrels (rum, sherry, cognac, and maple syrup)
 
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The best is what's best to you; what your palette and your wallet like.

I've grown into really enjoying Wild Turkey products over the last two years. I was fortunate enough to go on a barrel pick there earlier this year, selecting a barrel for a new product line, Pride of Anderson County. It's single barrel, barrel strength Wild Turkey bourbon and rye. Unique and unprecedented stuff!
 
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JM4590 said:
I have drank Pappy’s 25 and 15. Without a doubt,the 15 was THE best I have ever tasted. The finish was literally like vanilla on the tongue. The 25 was good, but not as good as the 15 IMO. Never been fortunate enough to score some Weller. I agree with the assessment of the Four Roses. If you get a chance, give Bowman Brothers a try. I’m told it is a unicorn in the Midwest. Made here in Va and a good drink for the $$
Click to expand...
Agree on the Pappy 15 delicious!! Day to day Rebecca Creek , smooth and drinkable- San Antonio’s local , punches way above its weight (cost)
 
So many good ones already mentioned. I have become addicted to Jefferson’s Ocean. They’ve got a Cabernet cask aged that is out of this world and the ocean aged is awesome as well. They take the barrels on a trip to sea and say that the different humidities in different locales enhance flavors. Hell if I know but it’s good.

OP, I like that woodford double oak too!

If you’re not smoking your bourbon, you’re missing out.

IMG_8699.jpeg
 
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chevy_man said:
The one in my glass!


I alternate through. Never have picked just 1 to stick to. Whistle pig and 4 roses single barrel in my cabinet right now. Booker's has been a good one, but some complain that the taste varies as a single barrel.

My sister's FIL brought some pappy's up from Tennessee. It was good, but I don't get what all the fuss is about other than it's expensive as hell. He found a case at MSRP.
Click to expand...
The new Bookers, "Charlies Batch," is by far the best bookers I've had.
 
I don’t drink much at all but when I do it’s at home so I am not a seasoned connoisseur by any stretch. I had an old bottle of Jack D in the cabinet for probably 10 years. I decided to try something new after reading thru the “what are you drinking right now” thread you mentioned. I tried four roses, bulleit, smoke wagon, Pendleton, Knob Creek & a few others. Those were all OK with Pendleton being the best of the lot to me.

@Maggot had recommend Horse Soldier Bourbon and that stuff is great. Tried all three and my favorite is the Reserve (barrel strength) it has great oak/vanilla flavor with a hint of cinnamon which is fantastic. The Premium (87 proof) is very smooth but not as much flavor. The Signature (95 proof) has much more flavor/body compared to the Premium (87 proof) but not as smooth nor does it match the Reserve (barrel strength) in flavor which again is my favorite. Prices range from $60-$150 a bottle.

It’s hard to find locally so go to their website and do a search under “where to buy.” Depending on what state you are in it‘s possible to buy direct and have it shipped to your home.

horsesoldierbourbon.com

Live Legendary – Horse Soldier Bourbon Whiskey

Live legendary with Horse Soldier Bourbon Whiskey by your side, an authentic, all-American, and award-winning bourbon. Visit us today.
horsesoldierbourbon.com horsesoldierbourbon.com

183038FB-2896-469A-AD44-41AF0709B3A9.png


483D911E-232A-424B-BE00-A98AC373DAA4.png
 
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There's only two kinds of bourbon my bourbon and free bourbon.
 
The best bourbon is the one that makes your taste buds happiest. I don't think I have a favorite, or bests, so I keep a variety.
 
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best served when someone else is picking up the check .. free drinks yea
 
Weller antique 107, russel’s 13 year, widow Jane decadence, and some of the harder to get high west stuff is all up there for me. For cheaper stuff: Eagle Rare, Russell’s 10 year, and Wild Turkey Longbranch are my go to’s. I also tend to like most Old Forester stuff, 1920 is great, and I would love to get some of their really limited release stuff. I’ve got a bottle of the King Ranch I’m saving for a special occasion.
 
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I will second the who Virginia running all the liquor stores and rationing stuff out is crap.

On the upside, if you win the lottery (it really is, you submit your name) the one time a yesr they release Pappy’s you can grab a bottle for $2-300 depending on what it is.

On the downside they only release a few hundred bottles and 179,000 people put in for it.

Anyways…I like to be able to (most of the time) walk in and grab what I need, not drive around the 3-4 stores for a week…

- Bowman brothers is solid, Larceny surprisingly OK for the price (~$25-30)

-Basil Haden, Angels Envy nice

- Old Forester 1920 115 proof has a surprisingly smooth, round taste and certainly warms the tongue.

ZY
 
There’s a shit ton. Here’s what I have open. 90% is delicious. The others are ok but wouldn’t buy again.
IMG_3894.png
IMG_3895.png
IMG_3896.png
 
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If you really want something to compete against anything that is made today..yes anything..look for some late 1980s Austin Nichols Wild Turkey stuff. I have 2 bottles of 8 year 101 that rivals my William Larue Weller easily.
 
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Bookers Feb,2020
Had a lot of good Bookers. But this one was premium.

Elijah Craig
Eagle Rare
WT Rare Breed
Old Forrester pretty much all of them are a great value. Statesman is the sweetest.
Most premium bottles are over priced "meh" bourbon.

Who said Basil Hayden?
80 proof. Its not even bourbon. Its training wheels bourbon. Of course its "smooth". So is Kahlua.
 
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Bookers for me. The batches are all different though as someone has mentioned above. There’s only been one that I didn’t like, “Tommy’s Batch”, and that was several years ago. Once they’re gone they’re gone.

For a good wheated whiskey I really like Lone Elm 90 proof. I’m a big Weller fan and I like the Lone Elm better.

Any of the higher grades of Knob Creek.


Knob Creek, Bookers, and Basil Haydens are all 3 from Jim Beam. Let that sink in.
 
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fieldethos.com

Bourbon is Ours | Field Ethos

By John Vogel As a melting pot, America is notorious for taking the world’s ideas and making them better. Whether it be fully automatic weapons or fried chicken, we tend to improve just about anything. Same goes for whiskey. For the most part, whiskey is a grain spirit that is aged in barrels...
fieldethos.com fieldethos.com

Interesting article.
 
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Handloader said:
Hard to beat Buffalo Trace. Cheap, smooth, great neat, in an old fashion, or as a mixer. We'd buy it by the case when working around the Navy folks at Norfolk, Oceana, Little Creek, and Damneck, VA.
Click to expand...
Agree. That, Eagle Rare, Sazerac all great neat or mixed and inexpensive. Eagle Rare has gone up though and all but disappeared in VA ABC like Blanton’s. I’ve got some really good private barrel picks in those.
 
padom said:
Any of these for me.... I open them all...have another 200-300 on shelving in my basement. Give a case to my brother in law of opened bottles I don't care for about once a month.. hahaha






Click to expand...



I think I would do some B&E over that Knob Creek Anniversary. By far my favorite. I assumed it had all disappeared. I went through 5 bottles then it was gone with the wind.
 
You bastards misspelled scotch

1792 and Balcones Vlue Corn (I think that was it) were two notables, but since I'm not a Savage, I prefer unsweetened pure smoke from the motherland.
 
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db2000 said:
Agree. That, Eagle Rare, Sazerac all great neat or mixed and inexpensive. Eagle Rare has gone up though and all but disappeared in VA ABC like Blanton’s. I’ve got some really good private barrel picks in those.
Click to expand...

Picks are where it's at for me. I have some really really tasty BT, ER, Blantons, Weller and KC picks.

The KC picks have gotten younger...used to get 15-18yr picks regularly that were so darn good it was impossible to make that bottle last more than 2-3 days.. can't stop going back to it...
 
JR_77 said:
I don’t drink much at all but when I do it’s at home so I am not a seasoned connoisseur by any stretch. I had an old bottle of Jack D in the cabinet for probably 10 years. I decided to try something new after reading thru the “what are you drinking right now” thread you mentioned. I tried four roses, bulleit, smoke wagon, Pendleton, Knob Creek & a few others. Those were all OK with Pendleton being the best of the lot to me.

@Maggot had recommend Horse Soldier Bourbon and that stuff is great. Tried all three and my favorite is the Reserve (barrel strength) it has great oak/vanilla flavor with a hint of cinnamon which is fantastic. The Premium (87 proof) is very smooth but not as much flavor. The Signature (95 proof) has much more flavor/body compared to the Premium (87 proof) but not as smooth nor does it match the Reserve (barrel strength) in flavor which again is my favorite. Prices range from $60-$150 a bottle.

It’s hard to find locally so go to their website and do a search under “where to buy.” Depending on what state you are in it‘s possible to buy direct and have it shipped to your home.

horsesoldierbourbon.com

Live Legendary – Horse Soldier Bourbon Whiskey

Live legendary with Horse Soldier Bourbon Whiskey by your side, an authentic, all-American, and award-winning bourbon. Visit us today.
horsesoldierbourbon.com horsesoldierbourbon.com

View attachment 8148488

View attachment 8148495Thats why I like the Premium, simpe and clean, not too much flavor. Different strokes.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, you cannot buy it in Oklahoma. I like it here but theyve got some strange laws. Ill buy some while Im in NM, but its good toknow you can order it.
 
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JR_77 said:
A friend said the same thing I need to look into this.

Is there a kit that can be bought or do you have your own recipe for smoking bourbon?
Click to expand...

This what you mean by smoking your bourbon?? Lolo






I can't get down with those smoke boxes.. tast like chewing on a burnt campfire log. But a good Toasted bourbon, hell yeah!
 
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Story I've related before, but went to a fancy tasting and asked the head dood why cant I taste all this crazy flavors and notes like reviews, and his response was "everyone is different, and everyone has their own preferences. Just drink what makes you happy" and this guy was hawking $300 single malt hooch!

So I try and grab a random bottle from local distilleries or something new at the store Sometimes it pays off. Sometimes it's gonna be a 'bourbon and coke" week.....
 
I'm a Scotch whisky drinker, but Bookers and E.H. Taylor offerings are mighty tasty. Wouldn't turn down any Michters or Weller either.
 
I don't really drink any longer but when I did, my favorite was O.P. --great stuff at a better price.
 
padom said:
This what you mean by smoking your bourbon?? Lolo






I can't get down with those smoke boxes.. tast like chewing on a burnt campfire log. But a good Toasted bourbon, hell yeah!
Click to expand...

I‘m willing to try the smoke box it looks interesting. Never heard of Toasted bourbon I had to look that up is that the same as Toasted barrel bourbon?

www.gearpatrol.com

What the Hell Is a 'Toasted Barrel' and Why Are Whiskey Makers in Love with Them?

With the release of yet another toasted barrel whiskey, it might help to know what a toasted barrel whiskey is.
www.gearpatrol.com www.gearpatrol.com
 
darkfader said:
So many good ones already mentioned. I have become addicted to Jefferson’s Ocean. They’ve got a Cabernet cask aged that is out of this world and the ocean aged is awesome as well. They take the barrels on a trip to sea and say that the different humidities in different locales enhance flavors. Hell if I know but it’s good.

OP, I like that woodford double oak too!

If you’re not smoking your bourbon, you’re missing out.

View attachment 8148468
Click to expand...

Why?

I assume you use oak?
I'm not sure there's an oak tree within 1000 miles of me, so if that's the case I'm out already. It would cost more than the bourbon for me to buy a chunk to turn into ash.

I also don't get the floaty bits, spoils the taste....
 
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JM4590 said:
Blantons is good. But ever since John Wick started drinking the shit, it’s fn rediculous to get. Here in the Peoples Republic of Virginia, the ABC nazis ration the shit out. F dat!
Click to expand...
Yea, so, fook John Wick and the Bourbon hipsters for that.

I went to school in Kentucky. One winter day my Junior year power at the house went out. A frat brother of one of my roommates showed up; we played Beer Pong with a bottle of Blanton's to keep warm (well, to get drunk, actually).

Seemed like anyone you knew, anyone's house you went to, had the full collection of (empty) bottles with the stoppers spelling out "Blantons". We were college students, mind.

Imagine my surprise when, a few years ago, I went looking to get a couple bottles of Blanton's....

Elmer T. Lee was always a nice bottle, too, if you have the means for the current extortionate entry fee.
 
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