overall scotches to try

[racer]

I'm going to suggests some scotch for scotch newbies, hopefully someone will suggest some bourbons for a bourbon newbie. The Highland Park is considered to give an overall general impression of single malt scotch. But to get an idea of what a malt is, try Glen Deveron(very malty). You will have to search, but they will be a learning experience. Now, some bourbon suggestions, pretty please!

[bobbyc]

Welcome Racer, May I suggest that you go to the thread Show us Your Stash in general bourbon topics and try anything you see a picture of an open bottle of. Murphydawg's stash for instance would serve as a great point to start the bourbonic adventure as well as a great ending to the bourbonic adventure. What I am trying to say more specifically is he has a good cross section with the styles represented in a balanced way. All are keepers , you may like some better than others for different reasons. If you didn't like 90 % of them then The bourbonic adventure would be more or less over. Jeff has a great stash as well as J. Butler. You can take clues there. Paradox has a phenominal stash but since he has sealed ones you can't tell which he likes to drink. However any that you see there are no doubt good ones as well. Otherr than that you can search this forum by brand, top five , favorite distillery etc. We've all wieghed in every way we can, and no one is bashfull about saying they found a good one.

[MurphyDawg]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Murphydawg's stash for instance would serve as a great point to start the bourbonic adventure as well as a great ending to the bourbonic adventure.

[/QUOTE]


Gaw-LEE Bobby, you are much too kind. And to think, I am just starting my bourbonic adventure.



As for suggestions, if you havent tried many boubons yet dont sink a lot of money in it until you have tried enough to know you like it.

Ryed Bourbons I'd Suggest include, Wild Turkey 101, Old Forrester 100, Old Ezra 7 year 101, &amp; Evan Williams Single Barrel or Elijah Craig 12 Year.

Wheated Bourbons include Van Winkle 10/107, Antique Weller 7/107, Maker's Mark, or Old Fizgerald 1849.

Nonw should run more than $25 and they are all quite good examples of their type of bourbon.


Happy Hunting!


TomC

[bluesbassdad]

Racer,

I have a theory that fans of scotch may have different preferences in bourbon than someone who is graduating, if that's the right word, from beer to bourbon.

Recently I commented that Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 year-old reminded me of cognac or even Macallan 12, with its sherry influence. If you are a Mac fan, then perhaps, so my theory goes, you may find ERSB to your liking.

Another bourbon that seems (to my taste) to be outside the mainstream and likely to appeal to a scotch drinker (I hope Linn doesn't read this; he'll put out a hit on me ), is Virginia Gentleman 90 proof six year-old.

If you are a fan of the peaty scotches, of which I am familiar only with the Lagavulin 16 year old, then I would have a harder time coming up with a guess as to which bourbons you might favor.

For a broad spectrum of bourbon flavors at reasonable prices, see my post "Starter Kit for Scotch Drinkers", where I illustrate my question about scotch by providing a list of bourbons that I might consider a starter kit. One note: I mistakenly wrote "Old Taylor" when I meant "Old Charter".

Of course, if you are accustomed to paying $30-40 or so a bottle for scotch without flinching (as your recommendation of Highland Park suggests), then you might as well start at that level with bourbon, where you can get some really top-notch bottlings.

In that case, might I suggest the following:

1. Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit (It may all be downhill after you try this one.)

2. Rock Hill Farms or Blanton's (I prefer the former because of its ooomph; many who are more experienced than I prefer the latter because of its complexity and balance.)

3. Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year-old, 107 proof.

4. Wathen's

5. Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 year-old (I know; it's not bourbon, but I've yet to hear of a bourbon drinker who doesn't like it. Buy it while you can; when it's gone, there won't be any more.)

6. George T. Stagg (This is a recent, limited, barrel-proof bottling from Buffalo Trace, and it has caused such a stir that it may all be gone. If you're lucky enough to find it; buy it. However, you may want to set it aside until you've become familiar with bourbons of lesser proof.)

Oh, and welcome aboard. I'm eager to learn whether your experience bears out any of my theories. (That would be a first. )

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[MurphyDawg]

Hey Dave,


When do we get a mug shot of your bourbon collection??


Tom (Hey Man, Everyone's Doing It. . .) C

[bluesbassdad]

M.D.,

Would you settle for three shots? One of my closet floor, one of the kitchen cabinet, and one of the side table in my so-called "study"?

Even that will have to wait until my wife gets the digital camera working. It seems that she loaned out the charger and spare battery pack.

Speaking of my wife, if she ever sees all of my liquor in one place, my life is likely to become much more interesting for a while. (Hey, that gives me an idea for a survey!)

Oh, and do I have to separate out the non-bourbon liquors for this photo shoot? (Right now there's an unopened bottle of Laphroaig and a well-used bottle of Famous Grouse sitting next to Elmer T. Lee, EWSB, Buffalo Trace, and Baker's in my study.)

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[MurphyDawg]

Straight AMERICAN whiskey only in your "stash" shot please. , we'll leave that "other"stuff to a thread in this forum !



TomC

[jeff]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Ryed Bourbons I'd Suggest include, Wild Turkey 101, <font color="red"> Old Forrester 100 </font color> , Old Ezra 7 year 101, &amp; Evan Williams Single Barrel or Elijah Craig 12 Year.


[/QUOTE]

Why Tom, have you finally come around to the best OF in the line? No more of that "watered-down" 86 proof stuff huh?

[bobbyc]

I think the only thing I'd add now is to stay to the young side starting out. If age becomes something you like and I think we all make a fetish of it now and then you will have a good jumping off point of reference as it were. I would go from 4 to 12 or so years. Maybe throw in the 15 Ezra B. Somewhere in here you get to a point of diminishing returns, That 80 dollar 20 yo Pappy may not seem like a great deal. compared to something 5 years younger and 1/3 the price. If you fill in the younger age blocks than you've got the frame of reference you need to make those calls.

[bluesbassdad]

Bobby,

I'll certainly second that.

My gift bottle of 20 y/o Hirsch is an experience that I'm glad I am having, but...

It is a long way from the most enjoyable bourbon I've tried. Now what if I try the 16 y/o (at about half the three-digit price of the 20 y/o) sometime in the future, and I find it, too, to be more woody than my ideal flavor profile? Then I'll know that had I tried the 16 y/o first, I probably would been content to pass up the 20 y/o.

In fact, the wish list that I created before Christmas included the 16 y/o, not the 20 y/o. However, the salesman convinced my son that the 20 y/o would be "the best bourbon your Dad ever tastes". What did he know? The kid's a s----h drinker, not a bourbonian, and he loves his old man; so he went for it.

Now I am left with the quandary of whether to spring for the 16 y/o some day.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield