Bourbon Reccomendations
batmon
27,574 Posts
I never copped a bottle. What's the word?And how does one drink it. Srt8? One or two cubes. Club soda.And im not spending more than $75 Eagles. Id prefer to stay in $50/40 Eagles range on my first time out.
Comments
Ive done the Scotch thing and wanted to try a different spirit.
The 'drunks drink' if you will.
I could be off base with that though.. maybe I should try a bottle one day.
I think the drunks drink is vodka.
Woodford reserve. Great stuff.
BTW....drunks are drunks there is no choice beverage. It's all about how much money they have and what they like. A gallon of cheap wine is right up there with JD.
love this stuff with a few rocks!
I'm sure it's an age issue as well. I used to pound burbon all night when I was young, but now I've switched to Vodka for the low hangover ratio. I don't think a true drunk even thinks about hangovers.
Bourbon is wonderful stuff! Batmon, I would suggest going to a bar with a good selection of bourbons and trying a few different ones to see what suits your tastes. Booker's is great stuff but at 121 to 127 proof it is too strong for some. Remember that Jack Daniels is NOT bourbon, it is Tennessee whiskey. Bourbon only comes from Kentucky. Woodford reserve, Knob Creek, Booker's, Baker's and Basil Hayden's are all good bourbons to try and see what you like. Jim Beam black label is a sleeper and is at a very nice price. If you REALLY want to be ballin' out of control, it's all about the Pappy Van Winkle family reserve. It is aged 20 years and is NICE. You can also check smaller labels like Eagle rare and MANY other bourbon labels.
http://www.straightbourbon.com
http://www.kybourbon.com
http://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/newbs/vw/website3.nsf/docsbykey/HNEY-5FFM32?opendocument
http://www.smallbatch.com
http://www.woodfordreserve.com
http://www.jimbeam.com
http://www.whiskymag.com
Bulleit is a good one to start with. It's rich enough without being over the top. 3 cubes and pour just enough to float all of them. (you obv. want to finish the glass before they've melted halfway or so.)
Personally, I prefer a dry simple bourbon (yes, if I'm drinking a lot, I drink and enjoy Jim Beam, which is simple, dry and definitely shot-worthy...) over more complex flavors in certain bourbons and whiskey if I'm going to drink it neat. I like the more complex stuff in mixed drinks- a Maker's Mark manhattan is a delicious drink, but I don't really like Maker's straight.
Knob Creek is a decent starter, although a bit on the heavy side in terms of alcohol content- that strength is more of an acquired taste since the alcohol really alters the flavor, and the heavier bourbons tend to be a bit more "robust".
So yeah- I would say go for Bulliet. You can find it in most supermarkets now, or they've always got it at BevMo. WELCOME TO THE BOOZE HOUND SOCIETY.
Im a little apprehensive about Knobs Creek. They advertise everyfuckinwhere.
I think Id like to start w/ the classic/tradition taste before going for an slight alternative.
Save your money then. Go for this.
YOUVE JUST ENTERED THE REAL TALK ZONE........
Two cubes and a splash of water. Never cover the flavor of bourbon.
What about the Two Finger Rule?
Refreshing drinks. Not just at the derby. anywhere. Try one before making a batch. If you like mint, and bourbon you will like it.
I'm not a big fan of Bourbon either, but there's no denying Scotch and bourbon are closely related. Most Scotch is matured in American bourbon casks. The industries feed off each other.
Bulleit has kind of a charcoal-y taste that reminds me too much of Jack Daniels. I would suggest Makers for people who haven't really tried bourbon because it is sweeter and more buttery. Knob Creek and Bookers are great but you really taste your alcohol with those two. Definetely second some of the suggestions in this thread like Basil Hayden (makes amazing mint juleps), Blanton's, Woodford Reserve. Bakers is another good one to try.
I'd also like to say that while I love these neat or with a cube of ice, I also absolutely love a Jim Beam or Wild Turkey and ginger ale highball. If I'm drinking the hard stuff, most times that's what I'm drinking.
I agree, ginger ale makes a difference especially with the canadian blends.
Knob Creek and Baker's, too.
Neat. Ice/soda/water kill the flavour imo. Bourbon is my favourite drink.