What do we do with our "Everyday Pours"? (Edited)

[Winslow]

Gentlemen & Ladies:

As I spiral deeper and deeper into the vortex of Bourbonia, I have been re-evaluating my efforts at finding a so-called "Everyday Pour" that is inexpensive. I made the following quip in a prior post:

"An expensive phenomenon is manifesting itself at Camp Winslow: It appears that the Ancient Ancient Age & Old Forester seem to be edging their collective way to the "special occasion" Bourbon, and the RR and RB (along with Knob Creek) are becoming the every day pours!"

I signed off "Send Money, Winslow"

Now this was light-hearted humor but guess what, it's really the truth! Last night as I enjoyed a comparison of Knob Creek and my freshly opened bottle of Bakers, it was just so apparent how really, really good these Bourbons are. To relax with a pour of Old Forester or Beam White, for example, and reflect upon how delicious this is would be ridiculous. I'd be kidding myself. To quote Clogsdon from a 7-15 post:

"This past Saturday, I just purchased Ancient Ancient Age 10 yo and Old Forester 4 yr old based on what I read in this group. My impressions of AA last night would be that, while I have no complaints, I don't see myself buying another bottle. My impressions of OF tonight intially are that this bourbon might find a place in my liquor cabinet (if I could make room among the case of different bottles I just returned with from Louisville)."

My point here is not to slam these lower shelf Bourbons, but rather, if I'm going to drink it, it may as well be darn good. It's hard for me to sip my AAA knowing there's a bottle of Rare Breed in the cupboard.

Everything has it's place. I enjoy Whisky Sours, but not Bourbon and Coke so much. I recently tried Manhattans made with WT101. I reasoned that this is much like drinking straight Bourbon, because the Vermouth ratio is much less than a mixed drink, so I used a better bourbon. But the Vermouth sullies the wonderful taste of the Bourbon. I'll end up using the rest of the Vermouth, but won't buy it again.

Conclusion: I'd keep a bottle of an inexpensive bourbon on hand for cooking and my Sours, but since my favorite method of consumption is with a little ice or neat, my every day pour is going to be $25 and up.

What do the rest of ye have to say? What do you consider an "Everyday Pour"? Not from a brand standpoint, but rather, it's place in your method of consumption versus your top-shelvers.

Regards,
Winslow

I wish to stress that my comment "To relax with a pour of Old Forester or Beam White, for example, and reflect upon how delicious this is would be ridiculous." is in no way intended to be insulting to these products or anyone who enjoys them. After re-reading my post, I'm afraid that it may be taken as such but no offense whatsoever was intended. Same for brand references. I don't mean to suggest that they're not tasty (see other posts). I was just questioning my own logic at finding an everyday pour, based heavily on price alone.

Respectfuly,
Winslow

[Aahzz]

I keep a bottle of Beam White on hand for cooking, or occasionally mixing with coke.

Everything else is in the $18.99 (EC 12 price locally) and up range. I drink one glass per day, 2 on weekends, so I'm not willing to drink anything less. From a brand standpoint, my everyday pours are EC 12, Knob Creek, EWSB, and Old Whiskey River.

[cornsqueezins]

Hmmmm...a good everyday pour for me usually tends to be a bourbon that is big-bodied and spicy. Sometimes my tastes may deviate to sweeter, smoother bourbons for a little balance but everyday pours, on average, need to have a little kick in them for me.

And prices usually dictate my everyday pours more than I care to admit. I'd say my everyday potables run anywhere from $18 to $25 and occasionally may jump into the $25 to $30 range. Usually any bourbon I buy between $30 and $40 will be drank at the same rate as my "everdays" but I won't buy them as often. I rarely purchase $40+ bourbons; but when I do I relegate them to the top shelf and drink from them sparingly.

You said: "To relax with a pour of Old Forester or Beam White, for example, and reflect upon how delicious this is would be ridiculous."

This just goes to show our differences in taste and choice. Beam White doesn't excite me either but, to me, Old Forester (especially the 100 proof version) stands up credibly to the small batch big boys. With OF, I think taste profile and price are equally effective in my choosing it for an everyday pour.

Also you said: "if I'm going to drink it, it may as well be darn good. It's hard for me to sip my AAA knowing there's a bottle of Rare Breed in the cupboard"

Again, differences in taste which is completely respectable. IMHO, OF and WT 101 and Very Old Barton BIB are classic bourbons that are hard to beat regardless of price. But price does have an impact. I haven't found Rare Breed in these parts for under $35. Same for Knob Creek. Bookers comes in at $50 with Blanton's at around $45. $33 for Elmer T. Lee (and that was in Kentucky! yeah, I know I got ripped on that one).

Anyway, those sort of things define my everyday pours. But if prices were to drop on many of the premium brands I'd still probably consider OF, Very Old Barton, etc. as daily drinks.

Have a good one....

-Troy

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have to agree with Troy. My everyday pours need to be in the $15 to $20 per 1.75l jug range. I find Old Forester; Ancient Ancient Age 10 year old, and Very Old Barton to fill the bill nicely. I think them all delicious in their own right, and I enjoy them frequently. I do enjoy pricey pours, but simply cannot afford them 'everyday'. As a man of modest means I can find great enjoyment in affordable bourbons. Indeed I think the three bourbons mentioned above are far better than some of the more expensive brands. Oh! pardon me - to answer Winslow's question "What do we do with our 'everyday pours'?" We drink them everyday that we not drinking our 'special pours'.

[jeff]

While I will disagree with you only in that I can find pleasure in dinking bottom shelf bourbons, especially if it is a new one to me. (It's all in the the discovery you know), I do agree that it is somewhat disconcerting that I would pour from my bottle of Ten High when I can see the Baker's right behind it Maybe if I find another job with better benifits, Baker's will become my everyday pour

[rwilps]

I have a couple bottles (WT 12 YO, VW 13 rye) which will apparently never appear again on the shelves. I drink from them, but sparingly, just to make them last. Everything else (WT Rare Breed and RR, The Fox, AAA 10 YO, OGD BIB, Eagle Rare 17 YO, etc) has been chosen to give me a variety of bourbon experiences. I tend to go in a rotation - high-rye, sweet, oaky, straight rye, barrel proof and back again. I also try to select a pipe tobacco from my rotation to enhance the bourbon, but, hey, it's all a good gift from God so I don't get too compulsive about it.

Ralph Wilps

[cornsqueezins]

Hey man, no offense taken whatsoever. Just a bunch of bourbonites making personal observations and giving honest opinions.

Btw, I cracked up when I saw your "Moe" picture.
That's hilarious!

[Winslow]

Jeff, I think you summed up what I meant to say! When I started enjoying Bourbon, I stocked my cuppoard with some Knob Creek, some Russels, some Rare Breed, etc. with the intention of them being special pours. For things less expensive, I have purchased AAA 10 Star, Old Forester's, EW 7 year old, etc. to keep on hand for daily drinking. But I found myself drinking the special ones at the same rate or more. The others weren't bad at all. They're good. I just liked the Knob Creek so much better. It's hard to work on that glass of EW 7 year old when you know there's some single barrel up there!

I'm probably going to have to re-evaluate my current tastes, because I've been spending way more than I should. My taste has been a lot bigger than my wallet and I'm a glutton to boot!

Winslow

[bobbyc]

Winslow , Your post has many points to ponder . As for Manhattens I get good mileage from Old Granddad on those it seems a high rye content makes them shine. Cooking with Beam White? my thoughts here and this is only my thoughts is if it's good enough to cook with it's good enough to drink. I used WT 101 in BBQ sauce KY Gentleman on steaks Old forester in Bourbon Balls along with Booker's . I tend to go 100 proof or more to get the flavors. I have used 10 high but it is a little thin and doesn't carry over too good. I've been thinking about everyday pours and it seems my drinking is on the medium to high rent side. I did get a 1.75 of Old Forester But I consider it a fine Bourbon with a reasonable price.

[kitzg]

Winslow,

if the heart of your question if what do you do with your "well bourbon" my answer would be keep it around for people who want to mix their bourbon. Like some in this forum I gave up bourbon & coke for straight bourbon over ice. No more Beam white.

Ah, the issue of not having an unlimited budget. Imagine how Bill Gates would answer the question....

Seems most of us bourbon drinkers have this see-saw question of do we drink the best or stay in the budget.

An old friend of mine got to be the chief financial officer of a pretty nice company. Knowing he liked Manhattens I took some of my bourbon to a tailgate party. He probably makes twice what I do. Still, he said something like, "my gawd, Greg, you sure have expensive bourbon."

The fact is, when I reached the point that I did not want to spend so much I started drinking more of my lower end but tasty bourbons. Surely we all enjoy the challenge of finding one we enjoy greatly without paying the high price.

I feel very lucky that I can buy Old Commonwealth (by Van Winkle), and Four Roses straight bourbon and I keep Old Grandad BIB for some of my biggest consumption. My wife Jo still tends to want to pour the Knob Creek regularly and it recently dropped to $19.99 for 750 ml here (and $40 for 1.75 L).

I re-read Linn's post where he states, "My everyday pours need to be in the $15 to $20 per 1.75l jug range." Man, I thought our prices were good but here that gets you Jim Beam white!

Since many have posted that they are not on unlimited budgets, I can almost predict that those of you who've claimed here that you more recently discovered fine bourbon will go through a cycle. You'll keep trying new bottles and in many cases really like some of the higher priced ones. Eventually, you'll see what that could cost and settle in. That settling will either be to a list of 'every day' vs. special occaission OR perhaps to the great hunt for a value bourbon.

Now.... let those dogs go and see what we can muster up on today's hunt.