What Bourbon Should I Purchase Today? - Spring/Summer 2012

[DAD3]

So, I was on my way to the train last night (Penn Station) and I stopped in the liquor store next to track 16. I noticed they had 2 of the bourbons for sale that are on my list to try.

Elijah Craig 12yo or Buffalo Trace

They are pretty close in price at this store $26 and $30. I have never tried either of these.

Thanks in advance

Dave

[weller_tex]

So, I was on my way to the train last night (Penn Station) and I stopped in the liquor store next to track 16. I noticed they had 2 of the bourbons for sale that are on my list to try.

Elijah Craig 12yo or Buffalo Trace

They are pretty close in price at this store $26 and $30. I have never tried either of these.

Thanks in advance

Dave

I like both of these, although I like EC12 better.

EC12, in my view, is fairly sweet but not cloying. I get cherries and raisins It almost has a liqueur quality to it. Standard BT is a much younger whiskey but is pretty good. It has a bit of a smoky, charred taste and I get a coconut/banana note.

[BarrelChar]

EC 12 by a country mile. It's a well-integrated mix of sweet vanilla, dried fruit and oak; a solid value that tastes good from the first pour and gets better over time.

Buffalo Trace is one-dimensional, sour and decidedly bottom-shelf for something aged around 9 years. It gets even worse after the bottle has been opened for a while.

[Brisko]

I'll be the odd man here and say BT but only by a nose. EC12 is a little to hit or miss, for me, and I only buy it when it's on sale. That said, I don't keep BT on hand, either, but the one bottle I had, I really liked.

I think as a general rule I prefer the profile of EC12, though. So I'm going to disagree with myself and recommend EC12.

[Max Power]

I like ECs more than the BT. At close tp the same price, go with EC12.

[hectic1]

I think both of them are sorta hit and miss...EC12 can be metallic and have a hay like quality at times where BT can be grassy...neither of which I prefer. I would go ETL if I had to pick something in the $20-$30 range.

[DAD3]

Thanks for all the info. I will stop on my way home tonight and pick up the EC12. Buffalo Trace is available at my local store. I'll try that some other time.

Had a buddy of mine shoot me a text earlier. Left me a present in my garage, as a "thank you" for helping him out, maybe its Buffalo Trace.....lol

Have a Great Weekend !!!!!

Dave

[onewman]

What do I need to fill out my collection? If interested in providing me with input ,I'll send you what I have and you can send me what I need. Please keep in mind that I live in Florida and while I can find the occasional gem, it is a rarity. Any takers?

[Flyfish]

I think both of them are sorta hit and miss...EC12 can be metallic and have a hay like quality at times where BT can be grassy...neither of which I prefer. I would go ETL if I had to pick something in the $20-$30 range.

ETL is always a solid recommendation. Good choice on your part. Even if we can never really know which barrel the single barrel came from.

[c2walker]

I was discussing PHC 1st ed. with another SB member recently and it reignited my desire to locate a bottle. After many hours of calling every store within 30 miles of every close friend I have, I found a bottle of the 63.7% 1st edition PHC...for $140. This shop appears to only raise prices on older vintages. The current BTAC and PHC they have are $80. Slightly older bottlings are a bit inflated (PHC 27 and Ritt 25 are $225). Obviously this 1st edition is 75% over original retail price.

My question for y'all: is it $140 good? I hate paying over MSRP, but I'm considering getting this one.