Whisky appreciation

[WAB]

Bourbon? Four Roses. Easy drinking.

Or, come for a visit, and I can take you around the distilleries for you to figure out your favorite

Hey wait a minute, what about the rest of us???

 

[WAB]

Gents, I find myself in a whisk(e)y mood and I'm thinking that as today marks my 1 year anniversary in the US, I should really give quality bourbon a shot.

What would folks recommend to someone who has extensive experience with Scotch, but is basically a complete US whisky noob? Budget is negotiable, but maybe under $150 or so for a bottle.

My go to is Buffalo Trace. Other bourbons I enjoy are:

Blanton’s
Chattanooga (not strictly bourbon as it’s from TN)
High West

I’m not really into the high dollar stuff. We killed a bottle of 23 yr Pappy at a deal closing one night. It was good, but not THAT good!

 

[Alistair]

My go to is Buffalo Trace. Other bourbons I enjoy are:

Blanton’s
Chattanooga (not strictly bourbon as it’s from TN)
High West

I’m not really into the high dollar stuff. We killed a bottle of 23 yr Pappy at a deal closing one night. It was good, but not THAT good!

Sounds good.

I guess I fell into the trap of the uninitiated by referring to American Whiskey as Bourbon.

I'm not wedded to that style, so other US options are entirely in scope!

 

[BourbonTrail]

Hey wait a minute, what about the rest of us???

You’re welcome too…if’n I get a shotgun lesson

 

[BourbonTrail]

Sounds good.

I guess I fell into the trap of the uninitiated by referring to American Whiskey as Bourbon.

I'm not wedded to that style, so other US options are entirely in scope!

Bourbon: 51% Corn in the mash bill, Charred new oak barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Made in Kentucky, same req’s as above, 3 yr minimum age

 

[Graham Hunter]

Gents, I find myself in a whisk(e)y mood and I'm thinking that as today marks my 1 year anniversary in the US, I should really give quality bourbon a shot.

What would folks recommend to someone who has extensive experience with Scotch, but is basically a complete US whisky noob? Budget is negotiable, but maybe under $150 or so for a bottle.

If you have an extensive Scotch experience why would you want to try the drippings from rotten corn. And actually pay for it?

 

[WAB]

You’re welcome too…if’n I get a shotgun lesson

Preferably before the whiskey tour! It sounds like we need to arrange something!

 

[Graham Hunter]

Bourbon? Four Roses. Easy drinking.

Or, come for a visit, and I can take you around the distilleries for you to figure out your favorite

Isn't there a danger when you find some of those di-stiil-eries of getting shot at?

 

[Graham Hunter]

Bourbon? Four Roses. Easy drinking.

Or, come for a visit, and I can take you around the distilleries for you to figure out your favorite

Isn't 4 Roses Canadian Rye Whiskey?

 

[BourbonTrail]

Isn't there a danger when you find some of those di-stiil-eries of getting shot at?

Not those, but I may or may not know of some where “you might could if’n’ y’ant to”.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Isn't 4 Roses Canadian Rye Whiskey?

No, it’s made down the street about 12 miles.

 

[Graham Hunter]

Interesting as we have a Canadian Rye called 4 Roses. Cheap and a little rough.

 

[RTG]

Thanks!

I'm looking for US Whiskey though. Seems appropriate considering.

The A'Bunadh is excellent stuff. I have a bottle of that at home already!

Damn, wish I could read.

For American Bourbon I like Blanton's or Buffalo Trace.

Let us know what you celebrate with!

 

[Alistair]

If you have an extensive Scotch experience why would you want to try the drippings from rotten corn. And actually pay for it?

The fun of trying new things, a celebration of now living somewhere new, expanding the old palate?

If I hadn't done that in the past I'd still be drinking Glen's Vodka out of a plastic bottle like I was in secondary school.

Well, actually I wouldn't as they got pulled from the shelves in my second year by food safety standards. Excessive methanol content allegedly, although I was always blind to it (pun intended)!

 

[BourbonTrail]

Interesting as we have a Canadian Rye called 4 Roses. Cheap and a little rough.

I meant this one:

 

[BourbonTrail]

The fun of trying new things, a celebration of now living somewhere new, expanding the old palate?

If I hadn't done that in the past I'd still be drinking Glen's Vodka out of a plastic bottle like I was in secondary school.

Well, actually I wouldn't as they got pulled from the shelves in my second year by food safety standards. Excessive methanol content allegedly, although I was always blind to it (pun intended)!

Other ranges to try:

Woodford Reserve
Knob Creek
Willet
Henry McKenna
IW Harper
1792 (Barton Distillery)
Elijah Craig
Old Forester

I don’t drink a lot of non-Kentucky Bourbons/Whiskeys made in the US. However, there are plenty of good ones.

 

[thi9elsp]

Wild Buck is distilled here in Florida but I don't know if it is distributed elsewhere. It is 100% Rye Whiskey. My go to when I finish Dalmore and want something different.

 

[curtism1234]

Gents, I find myself in a whisk(e)y mood and I'm thinking that as today marks my 1 year anniversary in the US, I should really give quality bourbon a shot.

What would folks recommend to someone who has extensive experience with Scotch, but is basically a complete US whisky noob? Budget is negotiable, but maybe under $150 or so for a bottle.

Imo the best bourbon in the world shouldn't cost more $150. Age statements in premium bourbon are becoming harder to find - bc they are now aged less. If you can produce a 12 year scotch, ship it all the way across the pond, go through an importer, and still retail it for $75 - then all you are doing with bourbon is feeding into the current fad.

Knob Creek 15 for $150otd
Bookers is hard to find but $100.
Elijah Craig barrel proof is about $80
Knob Creek 12 about $60 and is a bargain
Russell's reserve 10 is a steal at $35

A handful of others...if you are getting an age statement of at least 8 years, it's going to be at least $60 and likely a good sipping experience.

I would never pay more than $60 for a bourbon with no age statement, with only a few exceptions like Blantons (even then I would only pay the $70 retail)

 

[112Savage]

I live in bourbon country but have lived and traveled outside only to realize that the niche ones I love aren’t available. One that is good no matter the batch and available almost everywhere is woodford reserve. You can’t go wrong for a new bourbon drinker to try woodford.

 

[Trogon]

My two favorites, unfortunately a bit harder to find now. Old Forester Single Barrel 100 proof is another good bourbon.