How did you get into Bourbon?

[ThirstyinOhio]

I am curious to hear how others got into Bourbon. Here in Ohio, Bourbon was something you only did shots of to prove your manhood or add to coke, or at least thats what I thought until a friend took me to a Bourbon dinner. My eyes were opened up to the glorious wonder of Bourbon. I had not idea how complex and different Bourbon could be until I was walked through my first proper tasting and it got me hooked. I started buying mid shelf bottles and trying to see if I could pull out various flavors and smells, just like I had been doing with single malts and red wine, and the next thing I know I'm dragging my wife on a journey to mecca, the Bourbon trail.

[WAINWRIGHT]

My father was a long time Wild Turkey drinker,as this was my first pour.I began to appreciate other things,mainly single malts and things progressed quickly.I have changed my primary focus over the last ten years back towards bourbon and rye.Trips to Whisky Fest and Kentucky have just fueled the fire,distilleries,periodicals and this forum have turned it not only a hobby but a growing obsession and I love every minute of it.

[Stones]

I am curious to hear how others got into Bourbon. Here in Ohio, Bourbon was something you only did shots of prove your manhood or add to coke, or at least thats what I thought until a friend took me to a Bourbon dinner. My eyes were opened up to the glorious wonder of Bourbon. I had not idea how complex and different Bourbon could be until I was walked through my first proper tasting and it got me hooked. I started buying mid shelf bottles and trying to see if I could pull out various flavors and smells, just like I had been doing with single malts and red wine, and the next thing I know I'm dragging my wife on a journey to mecca, the Bourbon trail.

I have a similar story I guess where it was one of the choices when coming of drinking age. I'd experimented trying rum, scotch, gin and vodka and had been exceedingly ill on all of them, even bourbon. It wasn't until a few years afterwards that I returned to bourbon and ventured to try more mid level bourbons like Knob Creek and Elijah Craig instead of the pedestrian JB and WT that was very much the normal offering in 90% of pubs and nightclubs, still is in most places actually along with slate.
Then I came across a small whiskey shop that had bourbons i'd never heard of or seen in Australia before, from this grew the behemoth monster that bourbon is to me today and I love it and the journey.

[JB64]

I got started by trying some different spirits to find something to drink other than beer. I picked up a bottle of KC at Sam's Club a few years back and found it to be more interesting than the JBW and other traditional bar drinks I had been accustomed to drinking. I started to get hooked with that purchase. I then bought and read a couple of books about whiskey, one written by Michael Jackson and another written by Dave Broom. About the time I was reading the books I found this forum and the hook was set.

[qman22]

I attended a cigar herf where Blanton's was being promoted. It was the first time I had ever really enjoyed the taste of whiskey. It peaked my interest enough to eventually start exploring the world of bourbon and the next thing I knew I was hooked.

[wrath186]

I have just gotten into bourbon. Whiskey was always something you did shots of or, like Thirsty, added to coke. My friends and I just returned from a trip to Kentucky where I went to three distilleries. Since seeing and tasting all the fatastic things you can make with bourbon I have acquired a new appreciation for the spirit. I'm now on journey to develop my palette for the subtle flavors of different bourbons. So far I have tried Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Angel's Envy, Knob Creek, Maker's Mark 46, Maker's Mark White and Woodford Reserve Double Oak. Personal fave thus far is the Angel's Envy.

[berto]

Started out with shots of Early Times as a dumb teenager. Got a little older and decided to give Makers and Wild Turkey a try. Discovered manhattens. Grandma drank old fashioneds. Decided bourbon was the path to enlightenment. I'm figuring out what I like and don't like as much through trial and more trial. Good thing the wife supports my new hobby.

[Photodudems]

My first drink ever was a shot of Jameson at a friend's house. I was not a fan. A dark red wine the same night - still not a fan. Then mixed drinks - fruity, totally not 'manly' stuff, but I was interested. Found the Mojito and Lemon Drop, got curious about Bourbon and Whiskey in general, did some googling, found SB, then picked up a bottle of EWBIB. Started out with Whiskey Sour, then the Old Fashioned, found the Mint Julep, and eventually worked my way to rocks and neat. Picked up a ton of minis, then bottles of Ten High (bad idea), FRSB, WT101, EWBlack, Knob Creek, and others. Most recently Elijah Craig 12 year old - a new favorite.

I'm bitten.

[JLH3]

I was a tequila and irish whiskey drinker for years. I would buy the odd bottle of Blanton's or Buffalo Trace every now and then but I never was really into it. Then i began reading Wright Thompson from ESPN and Grantland and his stories of bourbon and America (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...ppy-van-winkle and http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...apatawpha-wake for example) . I then found one of the bourbons he'd written about (Pappy 23 yr old) at a resort and the world of really good bourbon opened up to me. Then I found SourMashManifesto and started trying different bouborns and figuring out how to taste it.

And here I am.

[z327]

My car buddies and I would pull out are umbrella chairs after a fun day of driving sports cars and talk cars well into the evening. Most drank beer. About a year and half ago we were in Branson doing the same but I brought out a bottle of Crown and a buddy had GJ. I always mixed mine. But one of the guys asked which was better so tasting back and forth began. The next day I set out to find a different whiskey to try and a sales rep happened to be in the store and after I relayed my story he recommended KC. And so our pursuit of the greatest tasting whiskey began. At every gathering we each bring a new bottle or two to compare. I had to learn to drink first on the rocks and then neat. The journey continues.