Favorite Boubon or U.S. Whiskey?

[user 2027]

So for the last couple of years I have become a pretty big bourbon fan. Choices are limited in NC but loved the 18 Elijah Craig until it was discontinued. Bounced through a few others such as Woodford's, Eagle Rare, Evan Williams Single Barrel. My current favorite has been the Bulleit Straight Rye. I make a modern Ol'fashioned with it and really enjoy the flavor.

What is everyone else enjoying?

 

[PozzSka]

I'm a big bourbon fan...

Four Roses (all of them) Yellow label for mixers, Single Barrel and Small Batch for cocktails and neat or straight.
Elijah Craig 12 Year
Wild Turkey family (not the 81, but the 101, Kentucky Spirit, Russel's Reserve, Rare Breed, etc are all very good)
Evan Williams Single Barrel (the black labels another good mixer)
Buffalo Trace is good
Booker's
Baker's
Old Grand Dad Bottled in Bond
Blanton's

There are so many good ones though..

 

[Mr. Doody]

oh dear - don't get me started!!!! :bounce: 

i don't drink much rye or whiskey or whisky - i'm 99% a bourbon guy.

as i understand it, the EC18 wasn't "discontinued" so much as "they ran out" . hopefully they'll bring it back at some point when they've got some appropriate barrels!

many of the bourbon distillers are right now bottling up some cool stuff now that the summer heat is winding down. we'll start to see some cool stuff in october - like the annual special editions Buffalo Trace puts out (George T. Stagg, Eagle 17, William LaRue Weller, etc.). also, i believe the annual production of Pappy Van Winkles will be out shortly as well.

DRINK UP!

doody.

 

[PozzSka]

A little jealous of your stash, actually...

I've never been able to find the higher end stuff by me (NE Ohio)...Stagg, Pappy, etc are all unknown to me...luckily the ones available are good to very good.

 

[user 2027]

Same here in NC. ABC doesn't carry Pappy and Stagg. Blanton's in the ABC, or as we say in the south, Aunt Betty's Cafe where you Always Bring Cash. May put that on the next BAD attack.

 

[jefe1037]

Pappy tends to be highly allocated. Make friends with the guy in charge of ordering. Everyone gets their turn with shipments, and most pappy is sold before it even hits the shelves. Geoff, it appears you like the spicier Bourbons, I would recommend Knob Creek to you as one you can find readily. The bad thing about the ABC states (I know VA and SC on either side of you operate the same way) is the stores tend to be limited in size, so real estate for more obscure brands is at a premium. Like I said before, a personal relationship with the proprietor will go a long way. He or she can order single bottles from the distributor, add the standard markup and pass along the product to you (if you are REALLY in good , they skip that pesky middle step) The other option is to find a large retailer that has an extensive selection while you are traveling. I like Liquor Barn off Harrodsburg Road in Lexington, KY. It is on the way to my parents house, so I get to stop in any time I am in for a visit.

Happy Hunting!

 

[Mr. Doody]

random tip - worth every penny you're paying for it:

starting about this time of year, stop at every single liquor store you go past. go in and ask 'em if they have any pappy, stagg, eagle 17, w.l.weller, etc.

every freakin' one. until about 11/15 or so. ime.

i've found a few high-volume stores in my travels that get allocations of the high-end stuff and don't have the clientele for the pricey stuff. those two bottles of Stagg i have i paid $70 each for - at a shop that had no clue what they were. they were just sitting on the bourbon shelves in the back marked at like $79 - i asked the guy if i could have the pair for $140.

my sister lives on OBX. i was NOT impressed with ABC when visiting!

doody.

 

[Tate]

I'll second the Bookers and Bakers. Love them.

 

[keen smoke]

Booker's is really good stuff.

For something less expensive, I personally think Buffalo Trace can't be beat for the price. ($17-20 in my area)

 

[gravel]

For something less expensive, I personally think Buffalo Trace can't be beat for the price.  ($17-20 in my area)

I agree.

There are some great suggestions in this thread. Looks like I have some shopping to do!

 

[Aristokles]

Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select. Smoooooooooth.....

 

[Slow Puffs]

Those George Stagg and Rare Eagle 17 are gems. I'm kicking myself for passing up on a hard to find RE17. When I went back for it a day later, it was gone  . I looked at two bottles last December of George T Stagg but at $200 each up here, I passed on them.

I was able to get about 12 bottles of the Van Winkle, one of which is the Pappy 20 yo :cheers: 

But I agree the Buffalo Trace is good stuff but up here it is about $45

The one that has caught my attention is Jefferson Reserve. I've rated that on my A list.

My wife was in Florida and tried to get pappy but to no avail :roll: She came back with Angels Envy... a creation of former Woodford brewmaster.... Henderson as I recall. Haven't tried it.

But for everyday... Buffalo Trace/Jefferson Reserve are quite satisfying.

 

[Bluefisher]

I drink Buffalo Trace pretty much exclusively. For the price you can't beat it. I believe Eagle Rare is made by those same fellows, FWIW.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

The best I have ever tasted is Jefferson Select 18. Marvelous stuff.

As far as regular everyday bourbons go I enjoy Buffalo Trace, Maker's (for mixing, mostly Manhattans), Woodford's, & Bulliet. I'll splurge a little for some B. Hayden, Bookers or Colonel E. B. Taylor here and there.

For Rye's, which I really enjoy, I am willing to at times bust the budget a bit for an occasional bottle of Masterson's or Whistle Pig but don't tell the wife.

Unfortunately never had the Van Winkle.  

 

[IndySmoker]

W. H. Harrison is awesome and it's made in Indiana so even more of a plus for me:cheers: 

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I'm a rye and Scotch guy. Long before the rye trend exploded, and all I could have was Jim Beam, Old Overholt and Wild Turkey rye, I still enjoyed 'em. Fortunately, trends do one thing for niche markets: make choices available. For this, I cannot complain. Rye I fell in love with after I found bourbon and Tennessee whiskey a bit too sweet for me, and I wasn't in the mood for (i.e., couldn't afford) a Scotch.

Favorite bottom shelf rye: Beam's version of Old Overholt--a little bitter and tame, but drinkable.

Favorite rye semi-cheapies: Redemption Rye--spicy and rough, not too hot for being barely aged...love the vanilla-nose. Also, High West Double Rye--quite a kick in the mouth, but I can't stop sippin'. Runners up are Rittenhouse 100 (6 year?) and Bulleit.

Favorite "higher-end" ryes: Sazerac 18 (not sure of the year, there's been many...paid about $60 for it <img class="emojione" alt="?" title=":shrug:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/png/1f937.png?v=2.2.7"/> ) --almost too drinkable, but in one word, "Damn." Very punchy, with a sweet nose, pine-like and slightly dry. (I only say "higher-end" in quotes because my wallet won't allow me to go beyond $50 - $70 for a bottle of something...that's high-end in my book...seen $300 bottles of rye, no idea about 'em.)

High West and Riverboat (Redemption) tend to be my go-to stuff. Affordable and sipping bliss. Wasn't too into the "white whiskey" High West makes, didn't get much from those.

8)

 

[Zeno Marx]

There are a lot of solid bourbons, but few are memorable or unique. That shouldn't imply I want the unique every time, but if I'm going to point to one very clearly over another, I reckon I have no other option but to consider that trait. I haven't had a bottle in a couple years, but the one that I think about more often than any other is Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve. I like the way it tastes like a dusty, rough wood floored, saddle leather. When I watch Deadwood or the like, this is the bourbon I want to be drinking (though I know they'd drinking little better than lamp fuel). I hope it hasn't changed. I'd be really bummed to find it was different now.

 

[PozzSka]

There are a lot of solid bourbons, but few are memorable or unique.  That shouldn't imply I want the unique every time, but if I'm going to point to one very clearly over another, I reckon I have no other option but to consider that trait.  I haven't had a bottle in a couple years, but the one that I think about more often than any other is Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve.  I like the way it tastes like a dusty, rough wood floored, saddle leather.  When I watch Deadwood or the like, this is the bourbon I want to be drinking (though I know they'd drinking little better than lamp fuel).  I hope it hasn't changed.  I'd be really bummed to find it was different now.

The Russel's Reserve is a solid option, and one I favor greatly. There is also the Russel's Reserve Rye that's available now, too...but I have yet to try it.

 

[user 2027]

Well I killed my bottle of Bulleit Rye this weekend so I will see what I can find at the ABC this week. Store near my house knows me so I will ask for the catalog and see what they can get in. I know a lot of great ones posted here are not available in NC but I'm making my list and will check it twice!

 

[Zeno Marx]

There is also the Russel's Reserve Rye that's available now, too...but I have yet to try it.

I'm not a rye person. I've tried several. I hate when people say this to me about anything (stereo equipment, beverages, MP3s/lossless), but here goes: all ryes taste the same to me, and they've all been simple in their flavor. That unidimensional flavor isn't a flavor I find interesting or satisfying. Just not for me.