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 8:44 PM ^
Combine them…
Bourbon barrel ale
January 30th, 2022 at 9:01 PM ^
Funny thing is that as much as I love ales and enjoy bourbon, I really don't care for most bourbon barrel ales. I'll down one at most, and by the time I get halfway through a bottle I'm longing for an IPA or brown ale or stout or even a craft lager.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:13 PM ^
Agreed, I love a well marbled steak and I love smoked brisket.. doesn't mean they mix well. Give me an IPA at the bar and a bourbon to finish the night, no need to mix them!
January 30th, 2022 at 8:44 PM ^
Jefferson's Ocean
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Weller's...anything.
I don't even like bourbon that much - I'm more of a scotch guy. But these all are exceptional.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:21 PM ^
First voyage of Jefferson Ocean was good.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:46 PM ^
Angel's Envy, that is all!
January 30th, 2022 at 8:58 PM ^
Angel's Envy is my favorite everyday bourbon.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:01 PM ^
A fantastic, special bourbon for sure.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:49 PM ^
Admittedly not a connoisseur and overall pretty limited experience, but I’ve made a few attempts at getting into bourbons so far this winter.
Tried a Coppercraft that came off as pretty gas-sy. Had a Bulleit that wasn’t too bad. Eastern Kille seemed to have an oaky taste, in a not great way; as in, it literally tasted like a fresh cut red oak log.
So far my favorite for the price has been Knob Creek 9. Not garbage, not crazy expensive.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:54 PM ^
Best budget for mixing: Evan Williams Bottled in Bond 100 (cheap and easy to mix with anything) or Wild Turkey 101 (absolutely great deal and a good bite)
Best budget for sipping: Knob Creek Small Batch 100 (my go to and a flavor bomb) or Buffalo Trace (very easy going)
Best splurge: Knob Creek Single Barrel 120
Overrated: Jefferson’s Ocean (just not good) and Elijah Craig (bleach, boring) and Blantons (wayyyy to much for what it is)
Tasted by a Yooper who drinks this shit like water (and to keep warm). Going with something anyone can find in any liquor or grocery store.
Words of advice, stay away from 80 proof crap. Get the higher proof stuff (that has flavor) and add water if you want watered down booze.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:01 PM ^
If you can get Blanton's for state minimum it's as good as it gets. Paying over $100 is insane.
Agree with you on everything else. Evan Williams BIB is fantastic. I'd also add Old Grand Dad 114 to the list.
January 31st, 2022 at 4:19 AM ^
"80 proof crap"...I'll only get the gist of the quote but one of the old master distillers said: "It would be a shame to spend all this money to ship mostly water" in response to someone suggesting he lower the proof of one of his bourbons.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:55 PM ^
Best Bourbon for the $$ Knob Creek
Most Underrated Bourbon: St Elmo
Most Overhyped: Not sure yet, just getting into this game. A lot of good bourbon out there there I haven’t had yet.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:57 PM ^
Best Bourbon for the $$ - any of the Mammoth Borrowed Time Bottles
Most Underrated Bourbon: Wilderness Trail
Most Overhyped: Henry McKenna
January 30th, 2022 at 9:19 PM ^
Could not agree more on McKenna. Five years ago it was $25 BiB junk, it won "Whiskey of the Year" by some outlet, and suddenly it's $50 junk. I have two bottles, they get offered up for mixed drinks before anything else I have.
I'll have to pick up Mammoth if I run into it, I don't recall ever seeing it.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
It's a Michigan distillery. Avoid their product, their borrowed time bottles are great.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:04 PM ^
Underrated: 4 Roses as a distiller, they make some great bourbon. Rock Hill Farms is a great bourbon, same mash bill as Blantons.
Overhyped: Eagle Rare, whenever I do a tasting I find it extremely smooth but also lacking a distinct flavor. I guess I would recommend for people who don't really like whisky.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:04 PM ^
Most Underrated is definitely Eagle Rare, another good one is Weller Reserve. Both are hard to find.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^
Another good one is New Riff Single Barrel. Offers both heat and an nice finish.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:06 PM ^
My go-to bottle is Old Forrester Signature. 100 proof and under $30. Same master distiller as Woodford. You can get it everywhere.
most underrated in my opinion is Makers Cask strength. often overlooked but so good.
most overhyped is blanton's. don't get me wrong, i love that stuff. but the lengths some people go to get a bottle and the up charge some stores put on it is ridiculous.
the real gems can be found in store picks. if the store owner has a good palate, their picks can be truly special. shout out to novi party store and maria's in canton
January 30th, 2022 at 9:10 PM ^
Everyday bourbon. Go with Evan Williams. Hard to beat the price and won’t kill you as bad as Wild turkey the next day. For a “splurge”, the Jim beam double oak, devils cut and black are pretty damn good. But that’s just my low brow hanging out in my summer RV opinion
January 30th, 2022 at 9:13 PM ^
Woodson Bourbon dammit!
January 30th, 2022 at 9:14 PM ^
Best Value: Jim Beam (tough to beat for the price)
Most underrated: Elijah Craig Small Batch (my favorite)
Most overhyped: Four Roses (At least for me)
January 30th, 2022 at 9:15 PM ^
I’ve settled on my go to being Larceny. I’ve settled into that I really like wheated bourbons, and Larceny just really punches above it’s price point. Really good for a always available bourbon. So Larceny would probably be my best for the $ and most underrated.
Most overhyped? I don’t know. I’ve never had Pappy so even it is as good as the Weller 12 I’ve had, I just don’t think anything could justify the cost you’d probably have to pay. But I guess that’s just my opinion. Plus there so many sources bourbons these days that have a lot of marketing and bottle work that are good, yes, but not up to the price points.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:28 PM ^
Try Bernheim
January 31st, 2022 at 12:42 AM ^
Larceny is my go to bourbon. Larceny Barrel Proof is pure gold. It can be hard to find, but well worth it!
January 31st, 2022 at 4:22 AM ^
When I host blind tastings Larceny always does well.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:17 PM ^
Woodford Double Oaked is my favorite. However, Redemption bourbon and Rye certainly deserve some props, then followed by Knob Creek.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:18 PM ^
I ran a bourbon bar inside a hotel in Louisville for 3 years…I have a few thoughts.
Most overhyped: you’re spot on with Peerless. I’d add Rabbit Hole and Angels Envy. All young juice with different marketing. Angels Envy does have great people working there.
Underrated: Michters is great and generally reasonably priced, Old Forester 100, 86, and Rye are all great. I don’t think any of the Old Forester special releases are worth the hype.
Overall I grew exhausted with Bourbon as everyone just chased the next trendy bottle. The beverage industry in general is based on selling a story, and Bourbon is a great story to tell in America.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:21 PM ^
I haven't had bourbon since 4th grade.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:39 PM ^
Old Grandad Bonded is the best value in my book.
Bulleit is shit, at least compared to how good their rye is.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:45 PM ^
Most underrated Bourbon: Louis XVI. Not really that bad of a king, just inherited a mess and didn't know how to react once the revolution began. Did us a solid in our revolution.
Most overrated: Louis XIV. Spent far too money on wars and Versailles, and his religious intolerance cost the kingdom much of its merchant class (the Huguenots).
January 30th, 2022 at 9:45 PM ^
I'm strictly a rye drinker:
Angel's Envy Finished - high end awesome
High West Double Rye - is a steal for the price, really excellent.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:57 PM ^
Agree. Started off in the bourbon world but have shifted to rye. Distinct difference for the better in my opinion between rye based (or even wheat based for that matter) and corn based whiskey.
January 31st, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
There's no better rye than Hochstadter's 16 that I've tried. If you can find it, buy it.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:52 PM ^
Huge Bourbon Nerd here.
Best Bourbon for the $: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Hits way above its weight class and drinks like a $120 bottle.
Most Underated Bourbon: Smoke Wagon Uncut and Unfiltered or Belle Mead Reserve
Most Overhyped: Pappy by far. I have two bottle of Old Rip 10 and there are plenty of other available bottles out there as good or better.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:54 AM ^
Old Rip =/= Pappy though. The Weller line in general suffers from the halo effect of the Van Winkle bottles, with some far more deserving than others.
Pappy 15 is legitimately fairly amazing and the best of the line, in my estimation.
I think if anything, SW:UCUF is getting hype blasted to the moon right now and is in no way underrated.
Most Underrated:
Old Forrester 1920
Best value:
1. Elijah Craig Small Batch or Buffalo Trace store picks. Tough to go wrong with either for approximately $30.
2. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
3. Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat - basically an age-stated Kosher Weller at about $40-60. A BT employee described it as most similar to Weller Single Barrel, which goes for $700+ on the secondary market.
January 31st, 2022 at 10:18 AM ^
I think people are onto the Smoke Wagon train. I have 4 bottles of uncut in the cellar because it's damn near perfect. BMR is much better than base BM, and usually easier to find.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:54 PM ^
Best Bourbon for the $: Old Grand Dad 114
Most Underrated: Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Most Overhyped: Has to be Pappy even though yes it is good.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:55 PM ^
Most underrated//Best bourbon for the $$ - 1792
I rest my case
January 30th, 2022 at 9:56 PM ^
Best Bourbon for the $: Old Grand Dad 114
Most Underrated: Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Most Overhyped: Has to be Pappy even though yes it is good.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:09 PM ^
It's funny how many brands are made by MGP, then private labeled.... pinhook, angels envy, redemption, smooth ambler, bulliett, high west,and many many more..... distilled in Indiana & sold with a made up story & fancy label.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:24 PM ^
Best Bourbon for the $$ Early Times Bottled in bond- wasn’t a huge fan when I first tried it but man has it grown on me. And under $25 for a liter is crazy.
Most Underrated Bourbon: Stellum Rye- fantastic and readily available. One of my favorite pours and I can walk into total wine and they have 20 bottles on the shelf. Honorable mention to the redwood empire offerings.
Most Overhyped: Henry McKenna bottled in bond. It’s good. But while it was a value around $30 just a couple years ago, it’s not worth the $70-80 you find it for now.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:47 PM ^
Oh man. Also overhyped as hell is Elmer T Lee. Had it at the last word in Ann Arbor and it was probably the most underwhelming bourbon I have had to date for the hype. I would probably buy it at MSRP, but that bottle goes for hundreds in the secondary market which is insane to me.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:25 PM ^
Best bourbon for the $$
-Old Grand Dad 114 for $20
Most underrated
-Pinhook or New Riff single barrel selects
Most overhyped
-You know which one. Especially the Letter S horsey.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:36 PM ^
So TRUE! Blanton’s is beyond overhyped.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:44 PM ^
Buffalo Trace and their scarcity play is particularly annoying. I've stopped drinking their products, even when I can get them and I used to always keep Buffalo Trace in the house. Haven't in years.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:38 PM ^
Booker's is my personal favorite. It's very rich, a little water to soften and open it up and (chef's kiss).
Best for the money: Bulleit and Woodford. Both are consistent and perform alone and in a cocktail.
Most overhyped: most of the Pappy's. I did like the 15 year, but otherwise none of them wowed me.
And given the discussion, a link to bourbon things.
Like Vlad, a couple more days before I sip again.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:41 PM ^
Not qualified to answer your questions yet. However, my favorite bourbon so far is Old Forester 1910.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:48 PM ^
Four Roses Small Batch Select is one of my favorites and a good value. I'm also a big fan of Basil Hayden. Underrated? Personally, I think that's probably Wild Turkey. For as much as it's a volume brand, it's actually decent.
I haven't had it, but I have to believe that the overhype champion has to be Pappy Van Winkle. No bottle of liquor is worth what one of them will set you back. YMMV.