Name your perfect intro Bourbon...

[Ambernecter]

I have thought long and hard about this - at least 10 seconds!

If you met a newbie to Bourbon what would be your 1st choice to impress them?

I reakon it could well be a 2 horse race between ETL and VW 10YO 90 proof. The 107 VW is lovely but I reakon it could be a tad too much for a non enlightened drinker...

Any thoughts?

[brian12069]

I have thought long and hard about this - at least 10 seconds!

If you met a newbie to Bourbon what would be your 1st choice to impress them?

I reakon it could well be a 2 horse race between ETL and VW 10YO 90 proof. The 107 VW is lovely but I reakon it could be a tad too much for a non enlightened drinker...

Any thoughts?

Ohhhh but the non enlightened drinker would learn and enjoy quickly...

[CrispyCritter]

Wheater: W.L. Weller 12yo/90 proof
Ryed: Buffalo Trace

On the other hand, someone who likes strongly-flavored Scotches (especially cask-strength ones) might be well-served with a Stagg, Larue, or OGD 114.

[T47]

I am still new to Bourbon, relative to so many here. I think it really depends on the background of the person. Myself, I was a beer drinker, never drinking spirits at all for most of my life. While visiting my father in law, I tried some of his Makers and it won me over from the beginning. It was smooth, had nice flavor, the perfect entry level Bourbon for me. I think if I had started off with Bookers...I just wouldn't have appreciated it, or enjoyed it as much. When my non-spirit drinking friends have asked for a recommendation on Bourbon for them to try, I have recommended Makers, Basil Hayden, and Evan Williams SB. All nice, quality smooth pours.
If they have more of a background, I feel better equipped now (thanks to this forum) to ask some questions and maybe steer them to something I would consider more flavorful, with a little more bite. If they had tried those nice smooth wheaters and liked it, and came to me to ask for my favorite, I would be pouring them Bookers. That is my top bottle now and I love to share it.

[Frodo]

Makers Mark!

[Ambernecter]

Funnily enough as soon as I had posted this I thought of both Maker's (my 1st intro to the better stuff) and Buffalo Trace.

Great flavour these two, at a good price!

[ratcheer]

I would say something fairly soft, a little sweet, and not too aggressive.

Ideas would be Woodford Reserve or Evan Williams Single Barrel. If you want to take them straight to the top, Rock Hill Farms.

Tim

[pepcycle]

Just enough good stuff to warrant further exploration.
None of the intensity of longer aged and higher proof.
Great Price Point.
Its not gonna convert an SMSW fan. (As if we could or would want to)

[Jazzhead]

With the background of a lifetime of beer drinking and less than a year's worth of serious exploration of bourbon, the best bourbon I have tasted is Russell's Reserve 101. RR is the best combination of robust taste and drinkability I've encountered. And it just smells so sweet.

I can understand, if smoothness is a key trait for a newbie, the support for Makers Mark. That's good hooch. So is that 1783 stuff from Bartons - not complex but very drinkable.

[bobbyc]

the best bourbon I have tasted is Russell's Reserve 101

And to think they watered it down to 90 proof. I actually have a few more bottles of RR 101 than I realised.