Anything generally agreed upon?

[ElasticalGomez]

So...I'm a n00b, right? And I'm surfing and lurking at this board trying to figure out what to get next, what's worth the time, what I might enjoy and how to develop my palate via comparing bourbons.

And I have yet to really get through a thread without somebody saying the word "Disappointment". Now...either some of you are crotchety old bastards or there seems to be too much inherent truth in the phrase "no accounting for tastes." I just want to call B.S. on that B.S. though. There's got to be SOME bourbons that the majority agree are unquestionably NOT a disappointment either for it's price or overall quality.

Any of you bourbon vets wanna enlighten me?

[funknik]

Any of you bourbon vets wanna enlighten me?

I'm not a vet, but there's a lot of praise for WL Weller Special Reserve & Van Winkle Lot 'B' on the board, I haven't really heard the word disappointment surrounding those two very much. Still, getting everyone to agree on any one thing is next to impossible, somebody's not going to like it. I've been disappointed by things that others love and there are things I love that I'm sure others dislike....Universal Truth is a fickle mistress. The thing that's worked for me is to find out what I like, and then use that information and what I can glean from others when making a purchase of something I haven't had before.

Also, if you have something against crotchety old bastards, you may be in the wrong place. :slappin:

[ElasticalGomez]

The thing that's worked for me is to find out what I like, and then use that information and what I can glean from others when making a purchase of something I haven't had before.

Exactly what I've been doing. I just assumed however there have to be a few "untouchables" out there.

Also, if you have something against crotchety old bastards, you may be in the wrong place. :slappin:

don't worry, i'm working on becoming one myself!

[LarryG]

I'm also a relative noob, but FWIW ...

Andy is right; tastes differ, so I doubt you'll ever find a bourbon that everyone agrees on. That said, I have have observed very few detractors here for Wild Turkey 101 and WT Rare Breed on the rye side of the aisle, and the various Wellers, especially the 12YO and the Antique 107, from the wheaters.

All these are reasonably priced, and I think that's key: the more one pays, the more one expects, and the more likely one is to feel let down if the pour doesn't quite live up to its premium price.

Larry

[reggie]

what I might enjoy and how to develop my palate via comparing bourbons.

I could use a little help in this area too. I know what I like, what I think is good, but I'm not at the level of being able to single out certain flavors or aromas. If someone could point out a few bourbons that exhibit specific characteristics to their most extreme it might help me to identify it when it shows up more subtly.

I'm quite sure I can do it if I know what I'm looking for. In college I worked on a panel that was identifying certain chemicals in water by smell. With practice I got quite good at identifying the couple of chemicals that our professor was specifically targeting. The nose is quite a powerful analytical device, we were working well below the threshold of standard analytical tools like gas chromatography.

[OscarV]

Hmmm,....I have never thought about it before, but I guess that Van Winkle Lot B is the one that would get a majority vote here on the mighty, mighty SB.com.

I disagree with the majority of most democracies, but I would go along with Lot B.

[kickert]

I think Weller SR is the safest recommendation for anyone. The lower proof won't overwhelm anyone and it has good wheat qualities that both amatuers and newbies can enjoy. At the end of the day, at $14, it is hard to be disappointed.

[OscarV]

Yep kickert, I gotta agree.

[smokinjoe]

Pappy 15. Not cheap, but universally revered for it's taste.

[ElasticalGomez]

dammit. i'd LOVE to check out Pappy but unfortunately NC's *amazing* ABC laws prevent me from doing so.

[OscarV]

dammit. i'd LOVE to check out Pappy but unfortunately NC's *amazing* ABC laws prevent me from doing so.

There are plenty of people here on the SB.com train that will help you out.

Just ask.

[ElasticalGomez]

orly? :bigeyes:

I've been really wanting to try any of the Pappy bourbons since I started exploring. Well, hell. Consider this me asking then!

[ILLfarmboy]

Not all crotchety bastards are old. Some of us are just on the lower side of middle age.

Safe bets for near universal appeal are Weller Antique, Van-Winkle bottlings; Lot 'B', Old Rip Van-Winkle 10 and 15 year bottlings. I've yet to have the pleasure of the 15 year but the 10 year 107 proof is a favorite of mine.

On the ryed side of things, WTRB is a prety good bet. Four Roses Single barrel has, I think, the most followers of those who are Four Roses fans. I just tried that one myself not long ago. Damn good, I thought.

For rye whiskey, Sazerac Rye (baby Saz) seems to have a large following. I like it, a lot. But be forewarned, many of the BT bottlings have garnered criticism from some folks for being 'musty". I don't see it myself. But some BT bottling are lightning rods for that particular criticism, especially Buffalo Trace.

[T47]

I think Elmer T Lee gets pretty good support. I find it to be an excellent pour at a reasonable price.

:toast:

[fishnbowljoe]

Seems like we're getting most of the bases covered here. My two cents is pretty much what's already been addressed. I can shorten it just a bit by saying that, as far as current bottlings go, pretty much anything with Weller or Van Winkle on the bottle will be pretty darned good stuff. Also for what it's worth, I prefer the Lot B over the Van Winkle 15. :skep: Joe

[sotnsipper]

There's got to be SOME bourbons that the majority agree are unquestionably NOT a disappointment either for it's price or overall quality.

I think Weller SR is the safest recommendation for anyone. The lower proof won't overwhelm anyone and it has good wheat qualities that both amatuers and newbies can enjoy. At the end of the day, at $14, it is hard to be disappointed.

I agree on this one also. I think too, for a higher proof one that is not overwhelming and highly revered by bourbon lovers is WT101. I have had many, many,...well you get the point...bottles and have never been disappointed.

As far as being a "nOOb" you should not be disappointed in anything, rather excited to figure out what You like or don't like, not what anyone else likes or dislikes. As far as being disappointed, later on as your palate matures, you will be more disappointed per se in certain bottles that you may have really liked when your palate was young and you did not really know what you were tasting. I always find it interesting to try something that is highly recommended on here and making my own conclusion. I would not say so much that I have been disappointed in anything, just figuring out what I like and what I do not like.

[ILLfarmboy]

. Also for what it's worth, I prefer the Lot B over the Van Winkle 15. :skep: Joe

I feel better already, Joe........

So long as that isn't fleetwood Mac singing Little Lies in the backround.................

[Klepackage]

To echo everyone before me, Van Winkle Lot B and the 15 year Pappy.

On top of that, I would add Elmer T Lee. It's another Buffalo Trace bourbon that has become my default pour.

I don't recall anyone being disappointed in George T Stagg, but the proof is a bit high (~140 proof).

[Blitz]

Agree on the Weller. Buffalo Trace is another that just doesn't seem to ever get negative remarks. It might not be a lot of peoples favorite, but I have yet to hear anyone say they were 'dissapointed' with BT.

[OscarV]

Agree on the Weller. Buffalo Trace is another that just doesn't seem to ever get negative remarks. It might not be a lot of peoples favorite, but I have yet to hear anyone say they were 'dissapointed' with BT.

A lot of people here have stated that Buffalo Trace is "grassy".

I don't care for it.

[ElasticalGomez]

Not all crotchety bastards are old. Some of us are just on the lower side of middle age.

Oh I know! I meant it as an endearing term! Heheh. I'm 31 and as crotchety as they come! Thank you too, for the recommendations.

I think Elmer T Lee gets pretty good support. I find it to be an excellent pour at a reasonable price. :toast:

This is, right now, my favorite every day pour along with ERSB. Cheers to you!

pretty much anything with Weller or Van Winkle on the bottle will be pretty darned good stuff.

Interesting. The only Weller I've been seeing here in NC is the Antique. Worth a shot? (pun intended? :skep:)

I agree on this one also. I think too, for a higher proof one that is not overwhelming and highly revered by bourbon lovers is WT101. I have had many, many,...well you get the point...bottles and have never been disappointed.

So strange. I guess I'll give it a shot...though WT always seemed like a...errr....not good brand. This must be my naivete. I tried the Rye and didn't care for it but I shall certainly give it another go (or at least try the regular 101).

As far as being a "nOOb" you should not be disappointed in anything, rather excited to figure out what You like or don't like, not what anyone else likes or dislikes. As far as being disappointed, later on as your palate matures, you will be more disappointed per se in certain bottles that you may have really liked when your palate was young and you did not really know what you were tasting. I always find it interesting to try something that is highly recommended on here and making my own conclusion. I would not say so much that I have been disappointed in anything, just figuring out what I like and what I do not like.

Sage advice and it will be well-heeded. It's something I've been trying as well...but, as a yearning pupil I'm eagerly seeking those bourbons which the learned may agree on more often than not as a good starting point.

I appreciate all of you and certainly am excited with this new...hobby? Hehe. My only REAL problem lies in the state of NC and it's ABC bullshite. Anybody know any ways of getting anything else in my hands without having to travel...I'd be more than willing to listen.

[Waiahi]

This must be my naivete

That was mine too when I first started drinking bourbon. My first taste of WT was the 80 proof. I thought it was utter garbage.

But thanks to the overwhelmingly positive reviews I read on the BOTM thread for WT101, I went and bought a bottle and found out just how naive I was! :grin:

IMNO (In my naive opinion) for the price, WT101 is one of the best deals for KSB out there amongst the major mass market brands.

[p_elliott]

I'm also a relative noob, but FWIW ...

Andy is right; tastes differ, so I doubt you'll ever find a bourbon that everyone agrees on. That said, I have have observed very few detractors here for Wild Turkey 101 and WT Rare Breed on the rye side of the aisle, and the various Wellers, especially the 12YO and the Antique 107, from the wheaters.

All these are reasonably priced, and I think that's key: the more one pays, the more one expects, and the more likely one is to feel let down if the pour doesn't quite live up to its premium price.

Larry

I think this is true and well put both about WT and Wellers and about the premmium price.

[Josh]

Just to be crotchety, let me say that I didn't like the last bottle of WT 101 I had. I don't care for ORVW 10 either.

But the rest, yeah pretty well-loved all around. Another one would be Old Whiskey River. Nobody's posted anything negative about it for at least two weeks.

[sotnsipper]

1.)

Interesting. The only Weller I've been seeing here in NC is the Antique. Worth a shot? (pun intended? :skep:)

2.)

So strange. I guess I'll give it a shot...though WT always seemed like a...errr....not good brand. This must be my naivete. I tried the Rye and didn't care for it but I shall certainly give it another go (or at least try the regular 101).

3.)

Sage advice and it will be well-heeded. It's something I've been trying as well...but, as a yearning pupil I'm eagerly seeking those bourbons which the learned may agree on more often than not as a good starting point.

4.)

My only REAL problem lies in the state of NC and it's ABC bullshite. Anybody know any ways of getting anything else in my hands without having to travel...I'd be more than willing to listen.

1.) Yes, very much worth it!! This is my favorite in the Weller line. Very full flavor bourbon, good proof, and a great price. You will not be disappointed.

2.) It is a very good brand. WT101 is a regular pour for many here. It may have lost it's age statement but you really cannot go wrong with the 101. I prefer the OF Sig over it but still pick up a bottle from time to time. WT Rye comes in a close second to Ritt for me. Being that Ritt price keeps creeping up, WT may creep up to #1.

3.) You have the right idea about learning what others like over what they do not. However, do not spend too much time on trying to like something that others like but you do not. Saying that, if you do find something you do not like, move on. Give it a couple months and as your taste changes, go back and revisit, you could be surprised.

4.) There are good folks here that are willing to help you get your hands on certain bottles, just ask. Another is to find a listing of stores in your area (an area within reasonable driving distance) and call around to see if they have the bottling you are looking for. I have been shocked to find out stores an hour away carry stuff not carried in my immediate area. You can always plan a road trip for a distillery tour or two.