Need advice for friend's 21st...

[Wonderboy]

My friend turns 21 in a few weeks and I'd like to get him a decent bottle as a present. He's semi into bourbon but he's only really had Beam and a few pours off my shelf and he's a big JD fan. I'm trying to educate him ahead of our stop off in Bardstown next Summer, any suggestions?

Also if it helps, I'll probably be using this website (http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/) and have a budget of around £30.

Cheers.

[p_elliott]

You have two choices you can buy him a really expensive bourbon or make a real bourbon drinker out of him and buy him wild turkey :cool: .

[kickert]

From that site and with your price range I would recommend Knob Creek. It is made by Beam and is the kind of bourbon (packaging, proof, etc.) that people get excited about. I am not a huge fan of the taste, but I don't really like Beam products that much. It is a pretty "manly" bourbon.

If you are wanting to introduce him to something that is easy to sip on I would recommend the Elmer T. Lee, Maker's Mark (this is another one that has a lot of fan appeal making it a bouron people can get in to), Buffalo Trace or Weller 7 yo

[Vange]

My recommendations

Eagle Rare 10 year 28.99
Elmer T Lee 29.99
Old Weller Antique 7 24.99
WL Weller 7 19.99
WL Weller 12 32.99 (my #1 choice)
Wild Turkey 12 30.99

[ILLfarmboy]

I second both the

Wild Turkey 12yr

and

Old Weller Antique

[fishnbowljoe]

Eagle Rare or Old Weller Antique. Joe

[Dr. François]

I suggest these two:

Elijah Craig 12
http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-1056.aspx

-or-

Ancient Ancient Age 10 Year Old (not 10 star)
http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-1005.aspx

The EC12 wins on the presentation front. Flavor wise, you'd find devotees in both camps on this site.

EC12 is one of my favorite bourbons.

[Skunk]

Ancient Ancient Age 10 Year Old (not 10 star)
http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-1005.aspx


That would be one to pick up in Kentucky, because I'm thinking they're the same whiskey with a different label in other markets (outside KY):
http://blog.maltadvocate.com/2007/12/16/a-little-secret-ancient-ancient-age-ten-star-vs-ten-yr-old/

[Skunk]

Had to come back to correct myself, having misread that blog post. Re-reading, it never says same whiskey with a different label, so apologies for that and consider yourself lucky if you can get a bottle of the ten year old in the UK.