My top 5 for American whiskey..so far

[talisker10]

I don't really expect any replies to this, but since I have been tasting a lot of non-Scotch lately though I'd post it..in case this gives anyone else ideas if they are branching out. A lot more to go through over the next few years..so I am sure this will change.

1) Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon
2) Old Weller 7 year/107 Bourbon
3) Wild Turkey Straight Rye 101
4) Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
4) Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Bourbon
5) Rowan's Creek Bourbon

[Ganga]

I hadn't given it much consideration but there are some excellent bourbons out there. And similar to scotch whisky, there are quite a few individual batches and single casks to add to the variety.

My personal favorites to date are the George T Stagg's that are above 70%.

[The Third Dram]

My personal favorites to date are the George T Stagg's that are above 70%.

Fabulous spirit, no doubt.

I suspect that Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year Old (superb melding of sweetness and dryness), A.H. Hirsch 16 Year Old (an increasingly rare and unique one), Blanton's Single Barrel (generally a satisfyingly rich pour), Evan Williams Single Barrel (a nice compromise between substance and smoothness... By the way, there's a quite excellent multi-vintage appraisal of the entire series of EVs in a recent Whisky Magazine) and Elijah Craig 12 Year Old (bold and beautiful) might also make my own short list.

Tremendous variety of Bourbon flavour profiles out there.

[talisker10]

The George T. Stagg is on my list to try.. for sure. I want to try Blanton's at some point as well.

[talisker10]

The Van Winkle 15 I have had as well. It makes the best whiskey and coke in the world, but neat or over ice it doesn't make my top 5. The great thing about rediscovering American whiskey is that it's a lot easier on the pocketbook than SMS.

[Wave]

I want to try Blanton's at some point as well.

Blanton's Original is good but they piss me off since to taste their premium whiskeys the Silver, Gold Label and Straight From The Cask you have to go overseas to do so.

My favorite Bourbon lately is Noah's Mill at 15 years old 57.15% ABV.
A little harder to find but well worth it!


Cheers!

[talisker10]

Hadn't heard of Noah's Mill. I found some reviews of it and sounds like I would like it very much.

[Drammed]

Woodford Reserve is a very nice every day drinker. I also enjoy the Blanton's line up. The Booker's is nice once in a while, although hard to find around here anymore

[The Third Dram]

The Booker's is nice once in a while...

One of my very, very favourite Bourbons.
And to think I forgot to mention it.

[AnttiH]

My experiences with bourbon haven't been that good. I've only had the basic Jim and Jack, Four roses, kentucky gentleman and other 'budget bourbon'. Needless to say, I haven't really enjoyed them neat.

This all changed during my trip to NYC less than two months ago. I wanted to buy some bourbon because it's not widely available here in Finland.
I had a dram of Maker's Mark (regular, with red wax?) in a pub and it was pretty good, but not exceptional for me.

in a spirit shop I asked for recommendations and left with a bottle of Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon (46,5 ABV %, 2.16.09, barrel 38). This stuff was brilliant compared to the stuff I've had before. It really changed my impression of bourbon in general. The guy also recommended Booker's, but it was a bit more expensive so I skipped it. However, I saw a bottle of Booker's (7yrs 3mo, 62.7 ABV %) at JFK and grabbed it and a bottle of Knob Creek as well. I have only opened the Knob Creek, and it was good, but not as good as Blanton's in my opinion. With a splash of water it improved a bit though.

A friend of mine bought me another bottle of Booker's from JFK a month after I got home. I asked for a bottle of different age, so I got a 6yrs 11mo one at 63.45 ABV %. I cracked the bottle open and I have to say it's the smoothest stuff of this strength I've ever had. Very, very good bourbon and goes straigth to the top on my list.

I also tried Wild Turkey 12 yo (50.5 ABV %) a few nights ago when a friend of mine brought a bottle with him. It was quite raw, but still had a lot of character compared to Jim and John. Pretty masculine, if you like. We drank the bottle, so I guess it wasn't that bad

So, for me:

1. Booker's
2. Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon
3. Knob Creek
4. Wild Turkey 12 yo 101
5. Maker's Mark

I tend to lean more on the sweet side (vanilla etc) rather than the 'coal' and 'raw' one.

The ones I had to left out at JFK were Basil Hayden's and Bakers.
I could also get Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam Black, Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage, Evan Williams Black Label, Elijah Craig 12 yo (and probably a few else) from a friend of mine who's abroad at the moment.

Any recommendations of these based on my top 5 list? Cheers.

[talisker10]

I'd say the Woodford Reserve is a must try. Also, try the WT 101 with just a splash of cold water. To me, WT 101 with a splash of water reminds me of a Highland Scotch (maybe a little like Balvenie). Jim Beam Black for me is pretty bad neat. Elijah Craig 12 is also very good. I think you would like it.

[talisker10]

Let me also add that Bourbon tends to take to ice better than SMS without loosing a lot of it's punch. The Woodford Reserve for example is very good with 3 or 4 ice cubes, as is the Crazy Chicken (Wild Turkey).

[Drammed]

It looks like we have similar tastes in bourbon so you will probably enjoy the Woodford Reserve.

[RogerB]

It's hard for me to just pick 5, so this is what I keep around the house.

Bourbon/Rye/Wheat/Corn/Colorado
Elmer T. Lee
Bernheim
Eagle Rare 10
Eagle Rare 10/101
Eagle Rare 17
Blanton's
Bulleit
Black Maple Hill Premium Small Batch
Thomas H. Handy Rye
Sazerac 18 Rye
Sazerac Rye
William Larue Weller
George T. Stagg
Pappy Van Winkle 12 Lot B
Pappy Van Winkle 15
Pappy Van Winkle 20
Evan William's Single Barrel '96
Evan William's Single Barrel '97
Evan William's Single Barrel '98
Evan William's Single Barrel '99
Evan William's 1783
Evan William's Black Label
Elijah Craig 18
Elijah Craig 12
Jefferson's Reserve
Jefferson's
Maker's Mark
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Wild Turkey 15 American Spirit
Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
Wild Turkey 101
Wild Turkey Rye
Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve
Jim Beam Black
Jim Beam Red Stag
Basil Hayden's
Knob Creek
Booker's
Baker's
Woodford Reserve
Old Whiskey River
Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star
Ezra Brooks Black 90
Sam Houston Small Batch
Weller's Antique
Weller's Special Reserve
Old Grand Dad 114
Old Grand Dad BIB
JW Dant
Very Old Barton
1792
Old Pogue
Henry McKenna
Henrey McKenna Single Barrel BIB
Four Roses Small Batch
Four Roses Single Barrel
Rowan's Creek
Noah's Mill
Buffalo Trace
McAfee's Benchmark
Prichard's Double Barrel
Old Forester Repeal (X3)
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon '03
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon '07
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon '08
Old Forester
Old Forester Signature
Rebel Reserve
Charter 101
Mellowcorn BIB
(ri)1
Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey

Tennesse
George Dickel 12
George Dickel Barrel Reserve
Jack Daniel's Black Label
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

[Pure Pot Head]

It's hard for me to just pick 5, so this is what I keep around the house.

Bourbon/Rye/Wheat/Corn/Colorado
Elmer T. Lee
Bernheim
Eagle Rare 10
Eagle Rare 10/101
Eagle Rare 17
Blanton's
Bulleit
Black Maple Hill Premium Small Batch
Thomas H. Handy Rye
Sazerac 18 Rye
Sazerac Rye
William Larue Weller
George T. Stagg
Pappy Van Winkle 12 Lot B
Pappy Van Winkle 15
Pappy Van Winkle 20
Evan William's Single Barrel '96
Evan William's Single Barrel '97
Evan William's Single Barrel '98
Evan William's Single Barrel '99
Evan William's 1783
Evan William's Black Label
Elijah Craig 18
Elijah Craig 12
Jefferson's Reserve
Jefferson's
Maker's Mark
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Wild Turkey 15 American Spirit
Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
Wild Turkey 101
Wild Turkey Rye
Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve
Jim Beam Black
Jim Beam Red Stag
Basil Hayden's
Knob Creek
Booker's
Baker's
Woodford Reserve
Old Whiskey River
Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star
Ezra Brooks Black 90
Sam Houston Small Batch
Weller's Antique
Weller's Special Reserve
Old Grand Dad 114
Old Grand Dad BIB
JW Dant
Very Old Barton
1792
Old Pogue
Henry McKenna
Henrey McKenna Single Barrel BIB
Four Roses Small Batch
Four Roses Single Barrel
Rowan's Creek
Noah's Mill
Buffalo Trace
McAfee's Benchmark
Prichard's Double Barrel
Old Forester Repeal (X3)
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon '03
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon '07
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon '08
Old Forester
Old Forester Signature
Rebel Reserve
Charter 101
Mellowcorn BIB
(ri)1
Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey

Tennesse
George Dickel 12
George Dickel Barrel Reserve
Jack Daniel's Black Label
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

So when's the party?

Pure Pot Head

[AdamMY]

I used to think Bourbons were a so-so drink as in, at the end of the night you were still only drinking bourbon. But then I had an Eagle Rare single barrel bourbon, and that changed everything.

But perhaps I'm lucky with bourbon in that I live in the states, but I can get decent bourbon for 13 dollars a bottle and a few weeks ago I picked up a Makers Mark on sale for 20 dollars.

Which is both a blessing and a curse, as I'd say Makers mark is at least as good of a bourbon as Glenlivet 12 year old is a Single malt. While the Makers mark is superior to JWR in my opinion, yet somehow just cause its as Americans call it "Scotch" it costs almost 50% more.

[smansewer]

i recently toured the Woodford Reserve distillery and was very impressed with the tour and bought a bottle, i also tour the Jack Daniel distillery and bought a bottle of Gentlemen Jack, i hate the name but i love the smoothness and vanilla of G Jack and i found the Woodford a bit harsh.