Defining the "Everyday Pour"

[funknik]

Everyday Pour is a term we all understand and use constantly, but I'm sure each one of us has an idiosyncratic way of defining it personally, so I thought I'd start a little thread about it. There are some other nice threads about this dangling out there (notably, Tim's from a few years back), but here's my perspective on it -- we welcome yours!

There are basically three different criteria I use to define this: price, drinkability (can I use that without getting sued by Budweiser?) & availability. Price and drinkability are the obvious ones....when I first started drinking bourbon a couple of years ago, Knob Creek was my favorite, but when I wanted to go cheaper, that's how I found Elijah Craig 12yr. Under $20 is my threshold for everyday status. Eventually I liked EC12 better anyway, and as Knob Creek has gone up to $29.99 here and I can still get EC12 sometimes at $16.99 that's a no-brainer. Then, of course, would I want to drink it everyday? Wild Turkey 101 is a great bourbon at a great price that I enjoy very much, but it's not something I'm always in the mood for & the same with stuff like EC18 -- even if it cost $8.99, I couldn't drink it every day. The last thing is that there are a few pours I would consider as my everyday pour in an ideal world, but that I just can't find easily or at all around here and so I hoard & ration them, just as I would a premium bottle.

After that lengthy explanation, here are my everyday pours in my world:

Elijah Craig 12yr
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Dickel #12

and then in a perfect world, I would add:

WT Rye 101
Old Weller Antique 107
AAA 10yr

[DeanSheen]

Everyday is to me should be a product that is available where you live and has a nice price/preference ratio.

I still have more exploring to do here in Ohio but right now these would be the selections:

BT $22
RITT BIB $14

I think ERSB used to be $22 here. If it still was, I would put that on the list. I'm still working on finding Bourbon available here for less than $22 that I enjoy.

[chefnash51]

don't worry. . drinkability has been a measurement for reviewing beers by beer drinkers looong before Bud started to use it to describe their swill.. only when we review a beer and cover drinkability it's based on the style we are drinking/reviewing.

saying macro swill has drinkability is a bit redundant IMO.

but i digress.

I recently gave up drinks Monday through Thursday (for the most part)... So when Friday finally rolls around, I already have a nice line up of what I want to pour.
It varies, but if I can, I like to start with something new, then something on the special side (like BTAC - PVW 20 or 15, WTKS ), then a dependable (like ETL, EC12, Weller antique) , and maybe finish with a Rye. Doesn't always go down like that..

Not sure why, but I like to finish the night with a Rye.

[kickert]

My everyday pour must be under $23 (So Weller 12 and EC12 are included) and must be top notch.

There is a second catagory I have "Well Bourbon" and you will see many refer to this. For me, a Well Bourbon is under $15 and is drinkable, but you are never going to crave it. It is what you pour when you don't want to waste the good stuff.

[wwilson]

I've had everyday pour issues myself. I tried to go to $10 bottles for during the week and to also build up a kitty for those special purchases, but its just not working out. I try to start with an upper shelf (to me, and to my price range) like an ER10/90 or FRSmB or WTRB and work my way down to the $10 stuff, but I always wind up drinking all my BT's, EC12's and Antique Wellers. I'm not very good at holding a bottle for special occasions and I don't know how I would ever start a bunker!

On a brighter note, I'm heading out later this week to search for a Van Winkle of some sort as they are not available in my current location!

Billy

[chefnash51]

On a brighter note, I'm heading out later this week to search for a Van Winkle of some sort as they are not available in my current location!

Billy

good luck and Happy Hunting! worth the effort indeed

[funknik]

There is a second catagory I have "Well Bourbon" and you will see many refer to this. For me, a Well Bourbon is under $15 and is drinkable, but you are never going to crave it. It is what you pour when you don't want to waste the good stuff.

By your definition, Weller Special Reserve & Dickel #12 would fall into my "well bourbon" category, but I often do crave those, or at least, look forward to them. Maybe it's because I worked in a bar so long, but the word "well" makes me think of something used with the intention of mixing in a cocktail, which I never do. My selection is limited here, but $15-$18 seems to be the lowest anything goes with a few exceptions, besides what I've already mentioned: Rebel Yell (same price as WLW SR), Ten High, KY Tavern, Old Crow, Evan Williams Black, Ezra Brooks. My value ratio is very low on those even at low cost.

[Lost Pollito]

My everyday pours top out at $20. With that in mind, here they are:
VOB BIB --- A little wellish, but I love well watching.
4roses Yellow Label
HH Ultra Deluxe Bourbon
AAA when it's around.

In my perfect world:
Parker's 27
Stag 'any year
Handy
I'm gonna have to get a second job to make perfection a reality.

[kickert]

I would put Weller SR and VOB as my Well Bourbons.

[TBoner]

Everyday pour has changed meaning for me, but not necessarily changed which bourbons it refers to. I, too, have stopped drinking bourbon except on Friday-Sunday, and the it's usually one small drink, maybe two. So, everyday pour no longer means something I can afford to drink every day and still enjoy the way I want to enjoy a bourbon. It now means something I will enjoy under most any circumstance - a weekend party, a quiet afternoon writing, whatever.
In both cases, I gravitate toward traditional bourbon profiles. WT 101, OGD BIB, Knob Creek (which I know some here look down on, but which is a very traditional, and very good, whiskey), Weller 107, Ezra Brooks 7/101. None of these tops $25, all can be sipped neat or mixed in a cocktail, and all are enjoyable under most any circumstance.
I keep some other bottles around, but I can't remember the last time I poured one of the really expensive bourbons. When you're only having a finger or two pour on weekends, Knob Creek feels like quite an indulgence all on its own.

Regards,
Tim