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Bourbon: What are you sipping on?

Sheesh. Age is overrated, never said anything about not mattering. If you are judging your whiskey solely on age you are making a mistake. There are other more important factors. Barrel treatments and handling are two.

This post was edited on 1/24 10:56 AM by TKE_
 
Originally posted by TKE_:


Originally posted by John Barleycorn:
Fair enough.

Posted from Rivals Mobile
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Just hate hearing people say '20 years?!?!? Shit must be delicious!!!'

... Might be awful too.
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I've had two 20-y.o. bourbons-- Pappy 20 and Elijah Craig 20. Both are outstanding. You don't keep the stuff in a barrel that long if you aren't putting in the sweet spots of the warehouse and handling it carefully.


It's way more important in a bourbon than it is in a scotch.
 
Prime example, my fav Jefferson Presidentials in order:

Jefferson 25
Jefferson 17
Jefferson 18
Jefferson 30
Jefferson 21

All great but in this case age vs quality was jumbled up.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
 
One brands 9 may be better than another's 12, please tell me you know that's to point I'm making.
 
Just got another bottle of Old Forester Signature 100 proof..That is one fine bourbon..Very smooth and flavorful..Try it if you have never had it..About $18-20..
 
Originally posted by TKE_:
One brands 9 may be better than another's 12, please tell me you know that's to point I'm making.
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That's not the point you were making. You were saying that 20 is an arbitrary number. That length of time is never an arbitrary number. It's about flavor profile for that age range. There's a reason that PVW has a 10, a 12, a 15, 20, and 23. Each age has a unique flavor profile, and it just so happens that the older ones are typically the best reviewed, best tasting, and most sought after bourbons. Sure, one 12 can be better than another's 9, but if we're talking the same recipe, same mashbill, typically the older gains more character and complexity from its time in and out of the wood char.

I get what you're saying to an extent, but to dismiss the age of bourbons 15 years an older as arbitrary is just not the case.
 
Dammit, 20 was a number I pulled out of the air for the example. Has nothing to do with what companies choose. I could have 15 versus 9, same point.

AND it is NOT true that older of the same recipe is better. There comes a time that the liquor has pulled all the desirable characteristics of the wood out and all that is left are undesirables. This is why many distilleries have different ages across all their lines. Opinions will vary and I can accept that, but I will stand by my statements to the end.
 
Last night I met an old friend I hadn't seen in 20 years. Drank quite a bit. I started off the night with Knob Creek at the first bar. Then hit up another place and had Booker's, Woodford, and Angel's Envy. We go to the last place and I'm staring at the bottles trying to decide what to try next. The bartender hands me a list, I'm really eyeing that 23 yr Pappy but I just can't pull the trigger on 60 bucks. I went with Knob Creek Single Barrel 120. I liked it a lot. We were getting up to go outside to smoke and my friend whispers something in my wife's ear. I didn't think anything about it, I'm about 4 sheets to the wind at this point. When we go back in that bottle of Pappy is sitting at my spot with a full glass poured. It smelled like 60 bucks but it didn't taste like 60 bucks. Sitting beside that Knob Creek Single, it wasn't worth it other than the experience of trying it.
 
I've drank bottles of Pappy 23 and 20 and did not care for either.(Very upset that I spent $400 on a bottle of 23 in 2007) But, I love Pappy 15. I know a few people have mentioned the Age thing and I feel that if a distillery puts a label that reads anything over 15yrs, that bottle will go for a "arm and a leg" and may not even be worth drinking. JMO


Had a few drinks of Michters Unblended over the weekend and that was great. Had the Rye and the Small batch a while back and both were nice as well. Highly recommend all three. Need to try the 10yo next if I can find. Heard that is a great drink.
 
Last night I decided to finally crack this bottle that was a gift from a family member for Xmas. Not bourbon, but aged in bourbon barrels. Man this stuff was gooo-oood.

WhistlePig-Boss-Hog-Rye-Whiskey.jpg


After that I went back to one of my favorite, cheaper bottles of true KY bourbon:

johnny_drum_private_reserve_bourbon.jpg


This post was edited on 2/13 3:06 PM by TheDude73
 
Originally posted by TKE_:
Larceny right now. Town branch in the wings.
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Larceny's pretty good. You know the story behind that, right? Something about the theft of the original Pappy recipe? Nicely priced, too, given that they could have capitalized on the whole Pappy thing.

There's a website called Caskers that sells a ton of hard-to-find bourbons and other whiskies. I've ordered some good stuff there, mostly small-batch and hard-to-find bottles. Granted, most of you that live in KY have first dibs on some pretty good and hard to find stuff. But here in CO it's not as easy, even with family in KY.
 
I also highly recommend Angel's Envy RYE whiskey. I'm not much of a rye fan, but holy crap this stuff is good. They age it in rum barrels and it's quite possibly the best tasting whiskey I've ever had.

Note that this is the RYE, not the Bourbon that's well known. I didn't even know they made a rye until I had it at a local bar. It's extremely hard to find, though, but I'm thinking those of you in or near Kentucky can probably find it locally.
 
Originally posted by Beavis606:
I'm one of Willy's people, so I'm trying to find a go-to, everyday bourbon that is smooth enough to drink neat. Any non-premium suggestions?
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Try Johnny Drum. Or even Larceny that was mentioned above. Both are usually priced in the low $20s and are surprisingly good (given their reasonable price) neat.
 
Originally posted by 80 Proof:
Originally posted by LadyCat92:
Currently enjoying some Blanton's. Cabinet has Blanton's, 4 Roses Single, Makers 46, Eagle Rare, Willett, Wellers Small, Baker's Single, Basil Hayden, Evan Williams Single.
Nice bar.

Im currently sitting on...

Old Grandad bonded
OGD 114
Makers
Woodford dbl oak
Old Forrester
Basil Haydon
Bakers
Four Roses single barrell
Blantons
Old Forrester Bday bourbon (2009 IIRC)
Bulliett
van Winkle 12
Pappy 20
George T Stagg
Elijah Craig 18
woodford rye
van winkle rye
gentleman jack
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Nice list! I suppose I'll join in:

Old Medley 12
Widow Jane 7-yr
EH Col Taylor Barrel and Small Batch
Wathen's Single Barrel
Larceny
Black Maple Hill
Booker's (still in box)
Van Winkle 10 (2 bottles)
Van Winkle 12 (2 bottles)
Pappy 15
Pappy 20
Hirsch Small Batch
Hirsch Selection Small Batch Reserve
Pogue Master's Select
James E. Pepper 1776 (15-year)
Blanton's
Russell's Reserve 10 year
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel
Willett (genie bottle)
Baker's 7 Year
Basil Hayden's
Woodford Reserve (Derby)
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof
Four Ross Single Barrel (so tasty)
Rowan's Creek
Noah's Mill
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Jefferson's Reserve Presidential 18-year
Angel's Envy Bourbon (2 bottles)
Angel's Envy Rye (3 bottles)
Eagle Creek 10-year (2 bottles, awesome bourbon)
Stagg Jr. Barrel Proof
Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey (NY)
Elijah Craig 21-year (bad batch - tastes awful)
Elijah Craig 12-year
FEW Bourbon Whiskey (IL)
Pure Kentucky
McKenna 10-year
1792
Bulleit 1-year
Old Weller 107 and Special Reserve
Breckenridge Bourbon (Colorado)
Whistlepig The Boss Hog
Whistlepig Straight Rye
Ezra B. 12 Year Single Barrel
Kings County Bourbon (NY)
Johnny Drum (2 bottles)
Jim Beam Black Double-Aged (8-year)
Evan Williams 1.75L
Jim Beam 1.75L
Jim Beam Signature Craft
Dancing Pines Bourbon Whiskey (Colorado)
Dancing Pines Rye Whiskey (Colorado)

And there are about 10 other bottles that I can't recall that I just received in a shipment last week.

At any rate, I love bourbon and love these threads! If you're ever in Colorado, let me know and we can sit and sip some whiskey!
 
Widow Jane is interesting. Pretty good for Brooklyn. The heirloom series is good, Wapsie valley, butcher rye, but is too expensive. $160....a pint.
 
TheDude73Reply2/13 8:19 PM
Re: Bourbon: What are you sipping on?
^I've just started venturing out of KY bourbons thanks to the Breckenridge bourbon here in CO that got me curious.

Barleycorn, have you bought from Caskers or Drinkupny? Thoughts?
Posted from Rivals Mobile
2/13 9:19 PM | IP: Logged

I haven't tried them but know people that do and find some gems that way. I tend to look at stores when in other states.

Hudson four grain isn't bad but is also pricey at around $50 a pint.

I do like the Breckinridge bourbon. Much better than Stranahans Colorado whiskey.

Balcones from TX worth a try. The blu is made with blue corn instead of yellow/white corn. These guys are one to keep an eye in.

Corsair from BG and Nashville makes some very interesting whiskies. Triple smoke is decent.

High west makes great whiskey but their best bottles are sourced from KY.

New Holland Beer Barrel bourbon from the Michigan brewery is decent to interesting but not an everyday item for me. They do a somewhat boring "malt" whiskey and a wheated I haven't tried.

Oyo from Ohio is decent.

Pritchards from Tennessee is too expensive for the quality.

Koval from Chicago is decent as well but pricey. Liquor Barn has some barrel selections from them that are OK.

But...in the end, give me a Kentucky straight bourbon 6+ years old.

Exploring the other options IS part of the fun or journey as an American whiskey drinker. The hunt is part of the fun.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
 
Just snagged a Sazerac Rye on Caskers and a new one called Barrell Straight Bourbon whiskey (apparently distilled and aged in KY, but bottled in TN). Both should arrive early next week. Also got a Wild Turkey Forgiven, and a couple of the High West variety. Caskers went cold for a while, but seem to have had a burst of rare ones lately.

Oh, and Drinkupny just emailed me to say they had another PVW 12. Never pass those up.


Posted from Rivals Mobile

This post was edited on 2/19 1:34 PM by TheDude73
 
Originally posted by John Barleycorn:
TheDude73Reply2/13 8:19 PM
Re: Bourbon: What are you sipping on?
^I've just started venturing out of KY bourbons thanks to the Breckenridge bourbon here in CO that got me curious.

Barleycorn, have you bought from Caskers or Drinkupny? Thoughts?
Posted from Rivals Mobile
2/13 9:19 PM | IP: Logged

I haven't tried them but know people that do and find some gems that way. I tend to look at stores when in other states.

Hudson four grain isn't bad but is also pricey at around $50 a pint.

I do like the Breckinridge bourbon. Much better than Stranahans Colorado whiskey.

Balcones from TX worth a try. The blu is made with blue corn instead of yellow/white corn. These guys are one to keep an eye in.

Corsair from BG and Nashville makes some very interesting whiskies. Triple smoke is decent.

High west makes great whiskey but their best bottles are sourced from KY.

New Holland Beer Barrel bourbon from the Michigan brewery is decent to interesting but not an everyday item for me. They do a somewhat boring "malt" whiskey and a wheated I haven't tried.

Oyo from Ohio is decent.

Pritchards from Tennessee is too expensive for the quality.

Koval from Chicago is decent as well but pricey. Liquor Barn has some barrel selections from them that are OK.

But...in the end, give me a Kentucky straight bourbon 6+ years old.

Exploring the other options IS part of the fun or journey as an American whiskey drinker. The hunt is part of the fun.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
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Corsair is making me curious - it's on the shelves here at the two LQs near home and work that carry unique booze.

However, besides the Breckenridge Bourbon, I have preferred the taste of a true Kentucky-made bourbon whiskey, so I agree - give me a 6-20-year-old KY Bourbon any day.
 
I'm just starting to get into bourbon. How does a rye taste differently? Can anyone describe it? If you need a frame of reference that I've had and enjoyed......Woodford, Woodford DO, Eagle Rare, Basil Hayden.
 
I've just started getting into bourbon. How does a rye differ in taste.....can anyone describe it? If you need a frame of reference, here is a few brands that I've tried and liked......Woodford, Woodford DO, Basil Hayden, Eagle Rare.
 
I've been drinking on a bottle of Lbarn selected Henry McKenna 10yr single barrel 100 proof bottle in bond. Hidden gem in my eyes. Around $30 in KY.

Elmer T Lee is the best bottle at. $30 but supply is crazy this year. Won't be much around.

Johnny Drum Private Stock 100proof. About $28 in KY

Russell's Reserve 10yr SB is a great bottle but it's about $10 a bottle now than a year ago.

Hancocks SB is a good value. Same liquid as blantons/Elmer/rock hill only is 7ish yrs old(blantons 6, Elmer 10, Rock hill 8/9ish) and brick warehouse(blantons all metal, rock hill higher floors of brick). It's about $28.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
 
Originally posted by John Barleycorn:
I've been drinking on a bottle of Lbarn selected Henry McKenna 10yr single barrel 100 proof bottle in bond. Hidden gem in my eyes. Around $30 in KY.

Elmer T Lee is the best bottle at. $30 but supply is crazy this year. Won't be much around.

Johnny Drum Private Stock 100proof. About $28 in KY

Russell's Reserve 10yr SB is a great bottle but it's about $10 a bottle now than a year ago.

Hancocks SB is a good value. Same liquid as blantons/Elmer/rock hill only is 7ish yrs old(blantons 6, Elmer 10, Rock hill 8/9ish) and brick warehouse(blantons all metal, rock hill higher floors of brick). It's about $28.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
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Funny, my neighbor that owns the little local LQ (=liquor store) sells McKenna 10-year, but the smaller bottle, for $13. I have a few of those just for guests, yet I find myself tapping it quite often (mostly with a Coke Zero mix).

Glad to know Elmer Lee is becoming scarce - it will help me reduce consumption.

Love J Drum - bought 2 bottles on Drinkupny.com and will probably order more. Same price there as you quote for KY - $28 (shipping is free if you buy so much).

The oldest guy at Wild Turkey recently answered the question "so of all your bourbons and whiskies, which one is your favorite?" with: "Russel's Reserve 10-Year and Single Barrel". I agree, as since I found it earlier last year, I'm already on my second bottle of both.

For the price, Evan Williams' 1.75L is pretty good, but again, mostly as a mixer.

To answer the poster above about the best "always available" bourbon - Blanton's is one, but I'd add in Eagle Rare 10-Year, and any of the smaller batch Jim Beams. I've always found it easy to find Wild Turkey Rare Breed, and even Basil Hayden's. Granted, what's "best available" here in CO can be completely different there in KY!
 
FYI, just got an email from my go-to website this week and ordered the bourbon in the link, and a Sazerac Rye. It's Batch 001, made in TN but aged and bottled in KY. Will be interesting to try this - on it's way now and should be here by early next week.

Wanted to share the link in case you bourbon lovers wanted to take a shot at a bottle. The Sazerac sold out almost instantly. Can't believe I got a bottle.

Oh, speaking of rye - anyone here had Angel's Envy Rye (aged in rum barrels)? Holy crap, very very good, and hard to find (I picked up 3 bottles on Drinkupny)!


Barrell Bourbon Company
 
Anyone had the following (see link)? Four Roses 125th Anniversary Single Barrel. Found a bottle today and it's on it's way to the house, but wanted to know if anyone had any opinions after trying it. I hear it's hard to get, but I'm sure there are plenty of people in KY that have managed to find it.



Four Roses 125th
 
it's small batch - not single barrel, but yes, it's one of the best bourbon's i have ever had. never saw a bottle hit shelves here, though.

i usually have much better luck with rare releases when i'm traveling. found a couple bottles in denver last week that i never see here in kentucky. most stuff here in the state is spoken for before it ever hits shelves.
 
Originally posted by jacksonisawesome:
it's small batch - not single barrel, but yes, it's one of the best bourbon's i have ever had. never saw a bottle hit shelves here, though.

i usually have much better luck with rare releases when i'm traveling. found a couple bottles in denver last week that i never see here in kentucky. most stuff here in the state is spoken for before it ever hits shelves.
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Ahh yes, meant small batch.

The website I got it from (drinkupny) emailed to say a bottle I tried to order (and was charged for) 2 months ago wasn't in stock (Col EH Taylor Barrel Strength), so they offered to replace that one with another. They originally said they had a PVW 12-year, but I waited too long to call this week and it was gone, so they offered the Four Roses 125th.

Here's the funny part - I got the Col EH Taylor from that order, so I don't know what they were talking about. I even told the guy I'm pretty sure I received that bottle, but he said I probably didn't. He went on to credit me the $75 for the EH Taylor he said I didn't get towards the $114 bottle of Four Roses 125th. So it looks like I just picked up a nice bottle of +$100, hard-to-find bourbon for $39 and free shipping.

At any rate, I agree with you - I'm finding some pretty good stuff here in CO that apparently people can't find in KY. Apparently, Wild Turkey "Forgiven" is nearly-impossible to find in KY (according to family), but my local LQ has had 6 bottles on the shelf for at least 4 months now. I also saw a couple of unique bottles of Jack Daniels in the Hong Kong duty free airport last month - Jack Daniel's Gold and JD Sinatra. Almost got a couple, but figured I'd find them cheaper at home. Come to find out, they don't sell it in the USA - JD uses the Asian airport duty-free shops to test-market new stuff (found this tidbit on the web, straight from JD). I'm supposed to return to Asia in a couple of months and plan on bringing home as many bottles of each that I can sack away in my checked luggage!
 
I found a bottle of four roses 125 in anchorage Alaska this week.

The JD Sinatra can be purchased at the distillery in Tenn but is around $200. They do some ridge cuts on the inside of the barrel. It's OK. It's Jack D. For my money the Dickel 9 and 14 are much better than anything JD does.
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