The Bourbon thread

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Cool evenings of fall mean you need something to warm you up - time to restock.

Last night I purchased a small bottle of Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon ($17). It's made by the Buffalo Trace Distillery which is supposed to be good stuff too.

I'm happy with it. If you like Woodford Reserve and Knob Creek you should like Eagle Rare.

Bourbons I'm not so happy with include; Maker's Mark and Evan Williams.

RallyJon · 09-29-2006, 05:29 AM

Quote:

If you like Woodford Reserve and Knob Creek you should like Eagle Rare.

Bourbons I'm not so happy with include; Maker's Mark and Evan Williams.

I've been drinking Knob Creek and Booker Noe for the most part, but I got a bottle of Elijah Craig (another supposedly premium bourbon from the same distillery as Evan Williams) and it is crap. I'll save it for deglazing pans.

ben parrish · 09-29-2006, 05:36 AM

Bourbon is MY drink. I came across a great one years ago and I love it...Basil Hayden. Kind of expensive at $38-$50 a bottle but it is smoooothhhh. Only thing it needs is a few cubes of ice and a glass. My only problem now is that I cannot get it in the Bahamas so I have anyone coming down to visit bring me a few bottles. Give it a try... you will be pleased.

Ben

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyJon
Booker Noe

I had a shot of that in a bar, I was very disappointed in it, but maybe its just me. No Booker's for me.

I'll keep my eye out for this one, if the price is right.

There is a local liquor store having a tasting next month, should be an interesting experience.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I'm with most guys here...

Knob Creek is a good eevryday bourbon, same with Woodford.

Bookers is even better, though a little harsh at times, much better flavor. Makers and the like are just piss-water with gasoline in it.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Rebel Yell is still my favorite Bourbon.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

guess i'm not sure where i fall b/c i like maker's (it's the flavor that does it for me), i find knob creek too harsh, and i absolutely love basil hayden. haven't tried woodford reserve yet....

ben parrish · 09-29-2006, 07:04 AM

kach22i, That's the one. You really know how to torture a poor guy....Drool....

Ben

asphaltgambler · 09-29-2006, 07:25 AM

Checking in here.......Wild Turkey / Rare Breed

scottmandue · 09-29-2006, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by azasadny
Rebel Yell is still my favorite Bourbon.

Are you serious? I haven't tried it but it is available at the supermarket.

So far I like Woodford Reserve but I have to make a special trip to a liquor store to get it.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by scottmandue
but I have to make a special trip to a liquor store to get it.

Every trip to the liquor store is special when you are in love.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by scottmandue
Are you serious? I haven't tried it but it is available at the supermarket.

So far I like Woodford Reserve but I have to make a special trip to a liquor store to get it.

Don't let the fact that Rebel Yell is cheap and available at local grocery stores influence you. Try the bourbon and let me know what you think. I have never recommended it to someone who didn't find it captivating yet...

RallyJon · 09-29-2006, 07:57 AM

I have to say I have a hard time understanding what makes one bourbon better than another from a manufacturing standpoint. It's not like you can say one distillery has the best vineyards or superior extraction or something. Any distiller who wants to make better bourbon can. So when discussing bourbon quality and taste, we're really disussion the business compromises made by the distillers. Kind of lame, really.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyJon
I have to say I have a hard time understanding what makes one bourbon better than another from a manufacturing standpoint. It's not like you can say one distillery has the best vineyards or superior extraction or something. Any distiller who wants to make better bourbon can. So when discussing bourbon quality and taste, we're really disussion the business compromises made by the distillers. Kind of lame, really.

I read in one of the reviews that Jack Daniels is not Bourbon because it's charcoal filtered.

Here:
http://www.novusvinum.com/spirits/whiskey/eaglerare.html

Quote:

As with French appellation wines, distilleries have strict rules to follow in order to label their whiskey products bourbon, such as corn making up more than half the grain used. Despite popular belief, Jack Daniels is not a bourbon because it undergoes a charcoal filtration before barrel aging.

To label a whiskey as Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the rules are the most stringent of any distilled spirit: it must have been distilled and aged in the state where Bourbon was born for a period of at least one year, and then continue to be aged for at least one more year. Eagle Rare meets all these requirements and more. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon owes its smoothness and great balance to ageing ten years in charred American white oak barrels. This golden-amber colored whiskey has a creamy texture, and vanilla, caramel and toffee flavors. It has a long finish, with a little raw alcohol note that melts away when ice or water is added. It is sweet, but packs a powerful punch.

scottmandue · 09-29-2006, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by azasadny
Don't let the fact that Rebel Yell is cheap and available at local grocery stores influence you. Try the bourbon and let me know what you think. I have never recommended it to someone who didn't find it captivating yet...

Cool, consider it done! I have been trying to find some kind of sipping booze cheaper that the +/- $40 single malt scotch I like so much.

UPS says my cigars are supposed to get delivered today... looks like a good weekend!

RallyJon · 09-29-2006, 08:28 AM

Another thought: Most of the so-called "small-batch" bourbons you see are made by mega-distilleries. Other than Woodford Reserve, which is a small-ish maker (albeit under the ownership of a mega-), are there any truly small producers of bourbon?

scottmandue · 09-29-2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyJon
Another thought: Most of the so-called "small-batch" bourbons you see are made by mega-distilleries. Other than Woodford Reserve, which is a small-ish maker (albeit under the ownership of a mega-), are there any truly small producers of bourbon?

Unfortunatly the same hold true for small breweries... as soon as they become popular they get bought up by a mega brewery who then ups there production.

RallyJon · 09-29-2006, 08:34 AM

Go here: http://www.whiskyportal.com/find_whisky.asp and type in bourbon and click submit query. Has a bunch of distilleries I've never heard of.

gprsh924 · 09-29-2006, 08:54 AM

old crow

its what you drink when theres nothing else available

onlycafe · 09-29-2006, 08:57 AM

has anyone noticed that jack daniels has been downgraded from 86 to 80 proof? don't know why they did it. seems foolish.
i tried blantons and was not terribly impressed. same with hancocks reserve. both are better than no bourbon at all.
also disappointing was the willie nelson whiskey river brand. i bought a bottle of elijah craig to make juleps with. not bad when mixed. i am still looking for a straight winner.
any takers for a nice irish whiskey?