Talkin’ Bourbon
Go-to beer threads pop up occasionally but wondered if the community loves bourbon as much as I do (I assume yes). So, questions, with my answers in parentheses:
Best Bourbon for the $$ (Dickel 8yr)
Most Underrated Bourbon: (Remus Barrel Proof)
Most Overhyped: (Peerless)
January 30th, 2022 at 8:22 PM ^
Dude, it's still dry January.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:35 PM ^
Then skip the Vermouth. I won't judge.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:54 PM ^
Stupid
January 30th, 2022 at 8:24 PM ^
Willet
January 30th, 2022 at 8:28 PM ^
Just got back from a bachelor weekend bourbon trail trip and while I don't really have answers to your questions, I'm a little more knowledgeable now and am curious to hear what others have to say.
We stopped by Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses, and Three Boys, and it was cool to see the broad range of approaches and how it affected the end result.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:31 PM ^
Nice!! Sounds like a good trip.
woodford is real good. Could be in the underrated column
January 30th, 2022 at 8:45 PM ^
4 Rose's is outstanding Brent Elliott is a wizard!
I was just part of a barrel selection at Wilderness Trail, they're a fairly new distillery but the owners are in the supply business and have been supplying distilling products to many of the big distillers for years, they actually create a lot of yeast strains in their lab. Wilderness Trail rye is much better than their bourbon, imo.... definitely worth a try if you see it on a shelf somewhere.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:06 PM ^
Bulleit, Woodford Reserve, and Four Roses — I rotate between them. All good choices. To me, Bulleit is really smooth and tasty! Pour and sip, pour and sip; next thing I know and standing up becomes and adventure.
January 31st, 2022 at 9:43 AM ^
Smooth and tasty? Maker's Mark.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:28 PM ^
To preface, I like bourbon but I love scotch.
Bulleit is my "every day" (not literally, but close) bourbon. I like the high rye mashbill and resulting spicy profile. Well worth it at $30 a bottle.
Eagle Rare would be my most underrated bourbon. But maybe that's developed a higher profile recently as it's definitely harder to find.
Overhyped? I'm guessing it's Pappy Van Winkle. I've never actually tasted it but the price point alone for a bourbon screams hype over substance. Give me a good 18 year old scotch for $400 any day over a $3k bottle of bourbon.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:48 PM ^
I agree with these choices. I would also say Buffalo Trace has been my Go To for years. I Love Eagle Rare. Can't hardly find anymore. As to over rated, cant really say as I have limits on what I allow myself to spend on alcohol. 50 bucks for a fifth is probably the limit. If I ever taste Pappys it will be because I won it somewhere.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:56 PM ^
Pappy is great but you are correct that it isn't worth the price point unless you have lots of disposable income.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:03 PM ^
Pappy is over rated imo. Not worth the cost even if you get it at cost.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:44 PM ^
I bought a bottle of Van Winkle rye at Sam's in Chicago to celebrate landing a job when I first got back to the US. It wasn't hyped yet (this would have been 1997) and I'm pretty sure I got it for less than $50, probably a lot less--I didn't have much money at the time. It was a shock to see the same bottle go off on an online auction a few years ago for $2800.
It's the best drink I've ever had and for what I paid it was the buy of a lifetime. But nothing's worth $3000.
I still have the bottle; I've never been able to bring myself to drink the last ounce. Maybe November 27 would have been cause...but the bottle's here and I was in Minnesota.
Next best bottle I've had, again found at Sam's but a few years later, was a bourbon they called "Black Maple Hill" that has nothing to do with whatever's been sold recently under that name. Turns out both that and the Pappy I bought were made by Stitzel-Weller, and that distillery is no more (Bulleit ages stuff on the property, but the distillery itself is defunct). Or that's the story I put together from the internet. Some of you know your bourbon a lot better than I do; I'd love to know if those guys are still in business anywhere.
January 31st, 2022 at 4:05 AM ^
You got it right. Stitzel-Weller is OOB and several of the products they distilled are now made by Buffalo Trace. The most sought after will be your Pappy and Weller bourbons, they actually share the same mash bill fwiw. Since you have that Pappy Rye I would look at the Sazerac Rye, Sazerac Rye 18 year, or the Thomas Handy Sazerac that uses the same mash bill as the Pappy Rye. They are all made by Buffalo Trace. I never heard of the Black Maple Hill so you are on your own there but maybe Ill do some digging.
January 31st, 2022 at 4:29 PM ^
Thank you, that is very very helpful indeed.
I'll save you one plant of the shovel... https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/bourbon/curious-case-black-maple-hill-whiskey/
I guess it didn't have the notoriety of the Van Winkle but it went through the same price inflation. Google this article and you'll see an ad for the 16-year at $9000, the 21-year at $15,381. Maybe I should have put a couple of bottles away instead of drinking it all?
More interesting is that apparently, at least those first couple of years when I bought mine, it was the same stuff! (same as Pappy bourbon, not my rye)
January 31st, 2022 at 11:05 AM ^
Nov 27 was my day to open my bottle of "Lot B" (12yr). I bought it for $200 8 years ago and was saving it for either a W vs OSU or my first grandchild. (22,18 ad 16 y.o. daughters. Wanted a win before the grandchild). It was VERY good. Not worth thousands by any means. I had heard that Weller 12 was the same product as the Lot B, but the taster said it didn't make the cut. Tasting the two side by side, the Weller 12 isn't even in the same conversation. Lot B was awesome!
I used to drink Buffalo Trace and use it as a mixer, but the stupid craze of bourbon has made that an impossibility now. I use Bulleit as my mixer. Have probably 70 other opened bottles, but Maker's store picks are my go to sipper.
January 31st, 2022 at 9:07 AM ^
Looking to try scotch, been wanting to try a few and add a scotch collection to my bourbon collection...
January 30th, 2022 at 8:30 PM ^
Remus is legit. Slow clap for that one.
im a big Basil Hayden guy, but i don’t think it’s either underrated or overrated. Just good
Van Winkle is meh to me for the price. It’s fine but i don’t think worth the money.
January 31st, 2022 at 9:15 AM ^
Basil Haydens has been my go to as well. Easy to find everywhere and just fine straight up and a great base for an old fashioned.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:33 PM ^
Best bourbon for money: Wild Turkey 101
underrated: Mayor Pingree anything
January 30th, 2022 at 9:52 PM ^
Wild Turkey taught me a lesson when I was a freshman in west quad.
January 31st, 2022 at 6:28 AM ^
A friend of my called drinking Wild Turkey "wrestling with the big bird" when I was in undergrad.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:35 PM ^
Jim Beam. Simple, tasty, and cheap.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:37 PM ^
More of an Irish whiskey guy, but have been trying to dabble more into bourbon. Bought a bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:52 PM ^
Four Roses Single Barrell is excellent.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:43 PM ^
Four Roses small batch here. So good especially when it’s a blend that has a little more rye notes in it.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:38 PM ^
Anything by Heaven Hill is a good value. Other than that, 6 distilleries make 95 % of the whiskey out there. Like that Blanton’s? well there is another Buffalo Trace brand that bottles the same stuff.
prices got crazy in the last few years as China got obsessed and I developed an allergy to malt, so sadly I don’t drink whiskey anymore.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:38 PM ^
I'm just getting into it a bit. New Riff and Bib and Tucker are good at my price range.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:38 PM ^
Best value: WT Rare Breed - high proof, relatively complex for $47?! Sign me up. Also, Four Roses single barrel.
Underrated: Rebel 100 - great wheater for $18 or so. Doesn’t get a ton of pub.
Overhyped: Pretty much anything Buffalo Trace. It’s a cliche answer now but there is no reason regular ol Buffalo Trace should be limit 1.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:55 PM ^
Buffalo Trace is tough to get here, but it is good when you can.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:58 PM ^
I second your Rare Breed pick for underrated, wild turkey gets a bad rap for drunk college nights and rough mornings, but they put out some good stuff. The right bottle of Kentucky spirit is a nice find but a lot of coriander there not so much RB. I love the Buffalo trace lines but it always seems like I would find one iLiled and then all of a sudden it was the next great thing and 35 dollar bottle became 80 dollar bottle or you couldn’t find it. Happened with Weller 12, then Elmer T Lee, and sounds like Eagle Rare is next. It’s still pretty easy to get up here in New England. My local spot would have it for 27.99 which was awesome I’d pay almost 40 for it. During holidays the local store would buy there own ER barrel and have single barrel expressions bottle for sale.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:18 PM ^
Absolutely agree on the Rare Breed. One of my favorite’s.
underrated - Larceny, my daily sipper and it’s easy to find for around $27 a bottle.
2nd underrated but may be tough to find is Union Trail. Wife gifted me a 3 month bourbon subscription and the Union Trail was one of them, great all around bourbon. Stellum came in as well, but have yet to pop the cork on it.
Overhyped - Elijah Craig for me. I have the Weller Special Reserve which is ok but the Weller 107 is pretty damn good.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:39 PM ^
Best Bourbon for the money $$: Old Grandad Bonded
Most Underrated: Jim Beam
Most overhyped: Elijah Craig
January 30th, 2022 at 9:00 PM ^
Before the Heaven Hill Fire the 12 year old Elijah Craig was a great pour for the money not so much when the age statement came off and they started blending different vintages.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:04 PM ^
Love that long oaky finish with old grand dad. Everyone laughs at me when I say it's my go to.
January 31st, 2022 at 7:25 AM ^
The Bonded Old Grandad is an excellent low cost bottle.
I love Woodford and others but there are very good $30 bottles out there.
January 31st, 2022 at 12:31 AM ^
I'm glad someone else said Old Grandad Bonded. I was very pleasantly surprised by that one.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:40 PM ^
Awesome topic — I'll play!
Best for the $: Bulleit Rye; Maker's Mark. I also think Booker's, when you can buy it at a good price, is a great deal, even just based on the alcohol content! One tall pour is like drinking 3 glasses of another. Like the taste, too.
Most Underrated: Local plug: the Fox River Bourbon made at A2 Distilling Company is way better than it has any right to be, given it is unaged. It's tremendous stuff. Two James in Detroit also makes great stuff, same with Traverse City distillery. Wider afield, I really love Hudson Baby or Hudson Rye. Dig the bottle, too. For Japanese whiskeys, Hibiki and Yamazakis can sometimes randomly found reasonably cheap at chain grocery stores. Killer stuff.
Overhyped: I actually think Pappy is amazing and lives up to its billing, on the couple chances I've had to drink it. So I'll go with 4 Roses. Way too sweet for me.
January 31st, 2022 at 5:12 AM ^
Seconding the Two James shout out. Their Grass Widow is outstanding, as is Johnny's Smoking Gun. I sampled their whole lineup at 10 am when I was putting together a beverage program, right before lunch with a well-known Alsatian winemaker, then three more tastings with wine reps that afternoon. That was a hell of a day.
A little known fact about bourbon/whisk(e)y: Most of the brands that are purported to be "independent craft distilleries" just outsource their stuff from a huge company called Midwest Grain Products. "Bottled in Bond" is what to look for if anyone's looking for legit independent craft stuff.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:43 PM ^
Favorite would be William LaRue Weller or Blantons SFTB. But there are a lot of great, easy to find bottles like Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:53 PM ^
That Weller Antique (w/ red label- I think I see 2 peaking out behind the green Weller on the right) is *chefs kiss*
Not long ago you could get a bottle over here for $30 CDN (which is like $5 USD lol) but they realized what they had on their hands and jacked it up to $80ish. I still grab it whenever I see it since they’re hard to come by
January 30th, 2022 at 9:04 PM ^
Old Weller Antique is outstanding. Fairly easy to get in Ohio on Wednesdays, but impossible to get in PA. Weller 12 year is straight nectar. This Pic is many years old. I'm currently building a bar in my house, so at the moment I have bottles in storage in my office, basement, kitchen, etc.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:19 PM ^
I’ve only been able to find Weller 12 once in my life (and not price gouged). Still my favorite bourbon I’ve ever had. So so good.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:08 PM ^
That's not Weller Green Label (Special Reserve), that's Weller 12 Year.... A whole different ball game. 12 Year is some of the best bourbon I've ever had... Including the RVW's and Pappy's.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:57 PM ^
Special reserve is mixer quality, imo.... I'd rather drink Beam black label. Weller Antique & Weller 12 are at another level. WLW is the best bourbon hands down, better than Pappy 23 & 20, better than Michters 20yr, best I've ever tasted.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:57 PM ^
Party at Booted’s house!
January 30th, 2022 at 10:00 PM ^
Bourbon is best shared with fellow Wolverines! If anyone is traveling thru PA on I-80, hmu...... my bar is always open.
where in PA?
January 30th, 2022 at 11:50 PM ^
Nice collection Booted ?.