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Let's talk about Bourbon

Swaye
Swaye Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 41,739 Founders Club
So, I have been on a multiyear journey with whiskeys. My able guides have been @PurpleBaze and @YellowSnow . Been a super enjoyable trip to try many bottles of all different sorts of stuff. Straight whiskey, scotch, bourbon. Had plenty of all the varieties. After much introspection I think I most identify as a bourbon guy. Specifically wheated bourbon. But, I am still a novice in the whiskey game, so although my palate likes bourbon the best, and specifically wheated at the tippy top (just plain old Weller Special Reserve tastes damn near perfect to me), I am open to suggestions.

Besides the obvious shit like the really high end Wellers, Stagg and Pappy, what else does everyone swear by for bourbon? I heard Olf Fitzgerald if you want to lighten your wallet a good bit, and I've also had recommendations for Redemption Wheated (affordable but I can't find it anywhere), Four Roses, and Elmer T Lee (also super pricey). Anything else? Any bottles of great bourbon you don't have to take out a second mortgage to buy? I've had Makers, which I liked, but it wasn't excellent to me. Wellers 7 year still the best until I try some of the more expensive shit I guess.
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Comments

  • BleachedAnusDawg
    BleachedAnusDawg Member Posts: 13,313 Standard Supporter
    I had a sample of Blanton's bourbon last night. $100 retail, but since it's hard to find people often sell it for $250 on the second market.

    Personally, I do not care for whiskey/bourbon at all so I couldn't tell you if it's actually as good as the hype. I mostly stick with beer and even that has become kinda boring.
  • Fishpo31
    Fishpo31 Member Posts: 2,640
    I bounce around quite a bit. Regular rotation is Basil Hayden, Four Roses, Knob Creek, Buffalo Trace. I ran across Tatoosh (Seattle) several years ago, and that kind of got the bourbon-ball rolling for me. I really like it, and have given it as gifts several times, with good response.

    A trip to Colorado to see the daughter (and son-in-law, who is a bourbon geek) helped. We checked in to the hotel in Denver, and lo-and-behold, they had complimentary tasting of Colorado bourbon in the lobby.

    Of those I tasted there, and on a few distillery tours we went on, I brought home:

    Laws Four Grain
    Breckenridge Reserve
    Old Elk

    If I didn't live in Sin Tax Washington, I'd probably have Laws in regular roto, but $90 is a little steep for me. I have also latched on to a couple Heritage options (NOT BSB, too sweet, although the 103 proof high altitude brown sugar is pretty good, in small doses).

    Heritage Dual Barrel with vanilla finish
    Heritage Elk Rider Rye...my favorite rye

    Don't know how easy the Colorado / WA stuff is to get to your neck of the woods, at a good price point (under $100).

  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,319 Founders Club
    I remember my buying Blanton’s for $55 at SafeWay in Seattle phase. FML.

    In the $50 price point don’t sleep on Wild Turkey Rare Bird at 116 proof and old forester Bottled in Bond at 100 proof.
  • Swaye
    Swaye Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 41,739 Founders Club
    Fishpo31 said:

    I bounce around quite a bit. Regular rotation is Basil Hayden, Four Roses, Knob Creek, Buffalo Trace. I ran across Tatoosh (Seattle) several years ago, and that kind of got the bourbon-ball rolling for me. I really like it, and have given it as gifts several times, with good response.

    A trip to Colorado to see the daughter (and son-in-law, who is a bourbon geek) helped. We checked in to the hotel in Denver, and lo-and-behold, they had complimentary tasting of Colorado bourbon in the lobby.

    Of those I tasted there, and on a few distillery tours we went on, I brought home:

    Laws Four Grain
    Breckenridge Reserve
    Old Elk

    If I didn't live in Sin Tax Washington, I'd probably have Laws in regular roto, but $90 is a little steep for me. I have also latched on to a couple Heritage options (NOT BSB, too sweet, although the 103 proof high altitude brown sugar is pretty good, in small doses).

    Heritage Dual Barrel with vanilla finish
    Heritage Elk Rider Rye...my favorite rye

    Don't know how easy the Colorado / WA stuff is to get to your neck of the woods, at a good price point (under $100).

    Good stuff. Appreciate it. I have a guy in WA that can get me stuff. I call him the Shah of Kenmore.
  • Swaye
    Swaye Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 41,739 Founders Club

    I remember my buying Blanton’s for $55 at SafeWay in Seattle phase. FML.

    In the $50 price point don’t sleep on Wild Turkey Rare Bird at 116 proof and old forester Bottled in Bond at 100 proof.

    The only Old Forester I can find is 500 a bottle at resellers. FML
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,319 Founders Club
    Swaye said:

    I remember my buying Blanton’s for $55 at SafeWay in Seattle phase. FML.

    In the $50 price point don’t sleep on Wild Turkey Rare Bird at 116 proof and old forester Bottled in Bond at 100 proof.

    The only Old Forester I can find is 500 a bottle at resellers. FML
    Hmmm….

    I just went to your Virginia is for Gay Lovers site. If you can find Elmer T Lee in the store buy all the bottles you can.
  • greenblood
    greenblood Member Posts: 14,560
    Maybe I'm cheap or a just a rookie, but I usually stick to Buffalo Trace.
  • 1to392831weretaken
    1to392831weretaken Member Posts: 7,696
    Are we talking about that swill that brewers keep using to ruin perfectly good stouts and then charge three times as much for them?
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,319 Founders Club

    Are we talking about that swill that brewers keep using to ruin perfectly good stouts and then charge three times as much for them?

    *barrels
  • Mad_Son
    Mad_Son Member Posts: 10,194
    Four Roses is the big bottle I keep on hand for Bourbon. Something a bit obscure but I love is Driftless Glen's bourbon.
  • PurpleThrobber
    PurpleThrobber Member Posts: 48,126 Standard Supporter

    I had a sample of Blanton's bourbon last night. $100 retail, but since it's hard to find people often sell it for $250 on the second market.

    Personally, I do not care for whiskey/bourbon at all so I couldn't tell you if it's actually as good as the hype. I mostly stick with beer and even that has become kinda boring.

    I’m with @BleachedAnusDawg regarding bourbon which is kinda sad because I now live in Kentucky and Woodford distillery is probably 30 minutes from my house and I’m surrounded by bourbon experts.

    Eagle Rare is something I’ve had, thought it was fine and have heard Kentucky natives speak highly of.

    Maybe I’ll bring you a bottle if I lose enough weight to fit in a car again and can make the drive to your trailer park (your home has reinforced flooring, right? I still have PTSD from the last time I went inside a trailer and fell through the floor.)
    Woodford is a nice tour.

    Just realized I have an uncracked bottle of a special batch of their rye.



  • BleachedAnusDawg
    BleachedAnusDawg Member Posts: 13,313 Standard Supporter

    Are we talking about that swill that brewers keep using to ruin perfectly good stouts and then charge three times as much for them?

    It's tough to beat a B Bomb on a cold winter night.
  • Pitchfork51
    Pitchfork51 Member Posts: 27,662
    Bourbon is for girls. Rye or die bitches
  • MikeDamone
    MikeDamone Member Posts: 37,781
    I’m in my bourbon phase. And I’ve tasted and drank many from all over and many price points. After all that, I’ve settled on Evan Williams as my everyday house bourbon. Way underrated and over looked. In a different bottle this would be 3 times the price.
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,319 Founders Club
    edited June 2022

    I’m in my bourbon phase. And I’ve tasted and drank many from all over and many price points. After all that, I’ve settled on Evan Williams as my everyday house bourbon. Way underrated and over looked. In a different bottle this would be 3 times the price.

    It's probably underrated, but still Wild Turkey 101 is easily the most underrated value bourbon there is.

    Always trust in higher proof whiskey. Iron law. Even Williams at 86 proof just doesn't hold together in an old fashioned like 101.

    Watered down whiskey regardless of price point sucks. Hence, why Basil Hayden (80 proof is for fags).
  • MikeDamone
    MikeDamone Member Posts: 37,781

    I’m in my bourbon phase. And I’ve tasted and drank many from all over and many price points. After all that, I’ve settled on Evan Williams as my everyday house bourbon. Way underrated and over looked. In a different bottle this would be 3 times the price.

    It's probably underrated, but still Wild Turkey 101 is easily the most underrated value bourbon there is.

    Always trust in higher proof whiskey. Iron law.

    Watered down whiskey regardless of price point sucks. Hence, why Basil Hayden (80 proof is for fags).
    I like wild turkey but at 101 I get way too fucked up for it to be a house bourbon. EW is a great everyday drinker.
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,319 Founders Club
    edited June 2022
    I remember my Blanton's phase.


  • greenblood
    greenblood Member Posts: 14,560

    Bourbon is for girls. Rye or die bitches

    Let me guess, you drank Zima in high school?
  • Fishpo31
    Fishpo31 Member Posts: 2,640
    I like my bourbon like I like my women...neat. Never had an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan...the blood of bootleggers runs in my veins...
  • YellowSnow
    YellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 37,319 Founders Club

    I’m in my bourbon phase. And I’ve tasted and drank many from all over and many price points. After all that, I’ve settled on Evan Williams as my everyday house bourbon. Way underrated and over looked. In a different bottle this would be 3 times the price.

    It's probably underrated, but still Wild Turkey 101 is easily the most underrated value bourbon there is.

    Always trust in higher proof whiskey. Iron law.

    Watered down whiskey regardless of price point sucks. Hence, why Basil Hayden (80 proof is for fags).
    I like wild turkey but at 101 I get way too fucked up for it to be a house bourbon. EW is a great everyday drinker.
    I also forgot to add that all REAL house bourbon in one’s residence needs to be stored in a proper carafe.
  • Fishpo31
    Fishpo31 Member Posts: 2,640
    edited June 2022

    I’m in my bourbon phase. And I’ve tasted and drank many from all over and many price points. After all that, I’ve settled on Evan Williams as my everyday house bourbon. Way underrated and over looked. In a different bottle this would be 3 times the price.

    It's probably underrated, but still Wild Turkey 101 is easily the most underrated value bourbon there is.

    Always trust in higher proof whiskey. Iron law.

    Watered down whiskey regardless of price point sucks. Hence, why Basil Hayden (80 proof is for fags).
    I like wild turkey but at 101 I get way too fucked up for it to be a house bourbon. EW is a great everyday drinker.
    I also forgot to add that all REAL house bourbon in one’s residence needs to be stored in a proper carafe.
    Ahh, the decanter, just like on the soap operas, or any rich-people show from the 70's/80's. We have one, but it stores Mrs. Fish's brandy...

    EDIT: She came from money...
  • TurdBomber
    TurdBomber Member Posts: 20,041 Standard Supporter
    edited June 2022

    Bourbon is for girls. Rye or die bitches

    Got good & drunk on the Bullet Rye. Cannot remember a goddamn thing about it, but it must've been good, cause I kept drinking it around the campfire til the wee hours of the morning and didn't feel like shit the next day.

    Buffalo Trace is another surprisingly smooth and easy to drink bourbon. Goes down very easy and very, very good bang for the buck.

    I must be allergic to Scotch of all types, although I'm 1/4 Scotch by blood. Always tastes like Turpentine that wants to kill me after it torches my taste buds and throat. McCallans (sp) is supposed to be really good, but I couldn't finish a 3 finger pour. Too fucking harsh. Literally painful to drink.
  • TurdBomber
    TurdBomber Member Posts: 20,041 Standard Supporter
    Fishpo31 said:

    I’m in my bourbon phase. And I’ve tasted and drank many from all over and many price points. After all that, I’ve settled on Evan Williams as my everyday house bourbon. Way underrated and over looked. In a different bottle this would be 3 times the price.

    It's probably underrated, but still Wild Turkey 101 is easily the most underrated value bourbon there is.

    Always trust in higher proof whiskey. Iron law.

    Watered down whiskey regardless of price point sucks. Hence, why Basil Hayden (80 proof is for fags).
    I like wild turkey but at 101 I get way too fucked up for it to be a house bourbon. EW is a great everyday drinker.
    I also forgot to add that all REAL house bourbon in one’s residence needs to be stored in a proper carafe.
    Ahh, the decanter, just like on the soap operas, or any rich-people show from the 70's/80's. We have one, but it stores Mrs. Fish's brandy...

    EDIT: She came from money...
    Just inherited 3 sweet decanters from my in-laws when they sold the family home. Looking forward to acting out my JR Ewing and Blake Carrington fantasies soon.

    So fucking 80s. Perfect.
  • MikeDamone
    MikeDamone Member Posts: 37,781

    Fishpo31 said:

    I’m in my bourbon phase. And I’ve tasted and drank many from all over and many price points. After all that, I’ve settled on Evan Williams as my everyday house bourbon. Way underrated and over looked. In a different bottle this would be 3 times the price.

    It's probably underrated, but still Wild Turkey 101 is easily the most underrated value bourbon there is.

    Always trust in higher proof whiskey. Iron law.

    Watered down whiskey regardless of price point sucks. Hence, why Basil Hayden (80 proof is for fags).
    I like wild turkey but at 101 I get way too fucked up for it to be a house bourbon. EW is a great everyday drinker.
    I also forgot to add that all REAL house bourbon in one’s residence needs to be stored in a proper carafe.
    Ahh, the decanter, just like on the soap operas, or any rich-people show from the 70's/80's. We have one, but it stores Mrs. Fish's brandy...

    EDIT: She came from money...
    Just inherited 3 sweet decanters from my in-laws when they sold the family home. Looking forward to acting out my JR Ewing and Blake Carrington fantasies soon.

    So fucking 80s. Perfect.
    And always have a bucket of ice perpetually at the ready.
  • MikeDamone
    MikeDamone Member Posts: 37,781
    Fishpo31 said:

    I like my bourbon like I like my women...neat. Never had an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan...the blood of bootleggers runs in my veins...

    I do old fashioned without sugar. Big ice cube, bitters, a cherry. I don't go to CrossFit 6 days a week to out sugar in my drink.
  • Fishpo31
    Fishpo31 Member Posts: 2,640

    Bourbon is for girls. Rye or die bitches

    Got good & drunk on the Bullet Rye. Cannot remember a goddamn thing about it, but it must've been good, cause I kept drinking it around the campfire til the wee hours of the morning and didn't feel like shit the next day.

    Buffalo Trace is another surprisingly smooth and easy to drink bourbon. Goes down very easy and very, very good bang for the buck.

    I must be allergic to Scotch of all types, although I'm 1/4 Scotch by blood. Always tastes like Turpentine that wants to kill me after it torches my taste buds and throat. McCallans (sp) is supposed to be really good, but I couldn't finish a 3 finger pour. Too fucking harsh. Literally painful to drink.
    I got dragged, kicking and screaming, into the world of scotch by my father-in-law. It took me a good two years to "acquire the taste", but it is do-able. If you're interested, I've had several Speyside scotches that, for me are similar to ryes, taste-wise. If you're starting with heavy peat, it is almost impossible to get it dialed in...
  • TurdBomber
    TurdBomber Member Posts: 20,041 Standard Supporter
    Just thinking about Scotch is making me grimace. A friend left a bottle of Dewer's at my E WA place and I did drink it, eventually, mixing it with anything I had, even just water. But again, I just can't drink Scotch straight, or I'm pretty sure I'll die.
  • Swaye
    Swaye Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 41,739 Founders Club

    Just thinking about Scotch is making me grimace. A friend left a bottle of Dewer's at my E WA place and I did drink it, eventually, mixing it with anything I had, even just water. But again, I just can't drink Scotch straight, or I'm pretty sure I'll die.

    Scotch doesn't make me want to die, but it is still strong. The one I liked the best (small sample size but still) is when @PurpleBaze sent me a bottle of Arran 10. That was good stuff. Still put a big fat fucking ice cube in it but I liked it a bunch and didn't feel like I was getting throat punched. There were a few other Scotch brands that had a bunch of promise, but ultimately, like you, I just think I'm probably not a Scotch guy.

    I have been a rum guy for 30 years (rum sodomy and the lash!), and my whiskey guides and others have correctly pointed out that the sweetness of bourbon is an easy transition for my taste buds after so many gallons of rum. I just dig bourbon. Especially wheated bourbons. I think I'm hooked.