If you had one choice to make...

[Waiahi]

As I've written here before...here in Hawaii, a lot of Bourbon brands are hard to come by. We basically have all the mainstream, mass market brands in our liquor stores, and a few bars will occasionally carry some other brands...but all in all, there seems to be literally hundreds of brands of Bourbon that ya'all discuss on this board that I have almost no hope of ever seeing here.

So here's the basis for my question: I'm going to the mainland for my sister-in-law's wedding this weekend. I'm planning on stopping off at Lee's Discount Liquor Warehouse, as the last time I was there, I noticed they literally had an extensive section of Bourbon. This was back when I was much more of a Scotch guy, and I was there looking for a bottle of Talisker 18 year...so I paid a little attention to the Bourbon, but not too much.

Now, however, I have to say that Bourbon has literally changed my palate. This is both good AND bad. Scotch's I used to love...don't taste the same to me anymore. I still like 'em...just not as much as I used to...and I'm positive that a steady diet of Bourbon is responsible!

But I digress...

My real question for ya'all is this: given the current economic hard times (I'm hurting bad...one of the reasons why I started drinking Bourbon in the first place - far cheaper than the Single Malt Scotch I had grown so fond of,) if you were in my shoes, and you were going to be in a store that had a huge selection available that you knew you couldn't get back at home...and you had a very limited budget ($60 Tops!), which Bourbon would you choose to buy?

I'm planning on one...maybe two bottles.

I want to get a bourbon that is at a high proof (100 minimum), but is not too pricey, and not something that I can find easily here in the Islands.

Here are the Bourbon's I can get in Hawaii...

Maker's Mark, Just about all of the Jim Beam products, Woodford's Reserve, Evan Williams, Bulleit, WT101.

I also have found that I tend to favor the Rye-heavy whiskey's over the wheaters (well, the only wheater I've had the chance to try is MM, so I could be wrong).

What suggestions would you guys make?

[jburlowski]

WTRB and /or OGD 114

[OscarV]

yep, go with the Old Grand-Dad 114

for a wheater, Old Rip Van Winkle 10/107.

[cowdery]

If you can find Rittenhouse Rye, get that. It's cheap too. See if they have any of the Heaven Hill BIBs, such as J.T.S. Brown or J.W. Dant, also good, also cheap. If Old Forester isn't available in the islands, that's also good and cheap. Weller is a good suggestion, as is Eagle Rare or Elmer T. Lee.

[Waiahi]

Thanks guys!

I'll be looking out for those...if they really are that cheap, I may get to grab several bottles! :grin:

[Waiahi]

BTW - is any of the "Four Roses" cheap? Or is that all top shelf, pricey stuff?

Oh, and Chuck, thanks for the Rittenhouse recommendation. I really like Bulleit and the Jim Beam Rye...just wish it were a higher proof. Is WT Rye relatively cheap too?

How does WT Rye compare to Rittenhouse?

[fishnbowljoe]

OWA would be a good choice. It's a wheater, but 107 proof. Good flavor at a nice price. You can probably get it for around $18.00. Joe

[ggilbertva]

I would also suggest AAA 10 year if you can find it. While it's only 86 proof, it's certainly a great pour. Chuck mentioned JTS Brown BIB, but I would also suggest Very Old Barton BIB (~$15 bottle) and Old Forester Signature.

[DeanSheen]

I'm voting for RITT BIB and ERare.

Actually for a little more than 60 you could probably get 2 RITT BIB and 1 ERare or 2RITT BIB and 1 BTrace would put it right on the barellhead.

[hectic1]

I'm definitely more of a wheater so I would suggest VW Lot B or Pappy 15 year! Hard to go wrong with either of these two IMO!

[dean_martin]

BTW - is any of the "Four Roses" cheap? Or is that all top shelf, pricey stuff?

[sailor22]

Van Winkle Lot B

Sazerac Rye

WT Rye

Rock Hill Farms

Rowans Creek

Van Winkle 10/107

OGD BiB

ET Lee

Pick any two - or three if the price is right.

[The Boozer]

Lot B & Pappy 15 are good but not exactly cheap +$55

RR Rye & RR both over $25/bottle in my neighborhood

I'll go with OscarV & Chuck's picks - I believe all under $20/bottle (except for ER & ETL - both around $30/bottle)

TJ

[tommyboy38]

Old Fitz BIB

Buffalo Trace

EC 12

VOB

Rittenhouse BIB

WT RR

Weller 12

Lot b

[CygnusX-1]

ETL and OGD BIB or 114. And if you any cash left get an inexpensive BIB or AAA

[Dr. François]

I'll second OGD117.

Personally, I've never met a 100 proof bourbon I didn't like. Beam's offering impresses me less than others, but generally, BIB is a safe and interesting investment. If we had JTS Brown here in MI, I'd have a bottle on hand at all times. Several of the bonded whiskeys come in large bottles, too.

I'd also suggest EC12.

[Waiahi]

Well thanks to ya'alls suggestions, I just went to Lee's discount here in Las Vegas and had a hell of a time making up my mind! :slappin:

I ended up getting the Rittenhouse Rye for 15.99, the Buffalo Trace for 22.00, the WT101Rye for 18.99 and the OGD117 for 22.00. They also had WTRB in single shots for 3.00 a piece, so I grabbed a few of those to sneak into my cup on the plane ride back home...since Hawaiian airlines only serves Jack Daniels as it's "bourbon."

I'd like to thank everyone that contributed to this thread...it helped out a lot when I was finally confronted with an expansive selection of KSBW!!!

Can't wait to get back home tomorrow and start getting on with the sampling! :cool:

[fishnbowljoe]

Uuuuh, I hate to point this out, but it looks like you went just a little bit over your $60 budget. On the serious side, glad you picked up some stuff you haven't been able to get before. Hope you like them all. Be sure and post your impressions when you taste them. Joe

[Waiahi]

Yeah...I went over budget. I couldn't help it! :slappin: I'll have to sacrifice some other things this month...but I think it was worth it! :cool:

[independant]

The only problem you will have now is that you didn't buy doubles of all those.

Nice pick up I hope you enjoy them

[barturtle]

Do yourself a favor and get a bottle of Wild Turkey Rye and a bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel....should be aright around $60 depending on local pricing.

[JMac72]

Yeah...I went over budget. I couldn't help it! :slappin: I'll have to sacrifice some other things this month...but I think it was worth it! :cool:

I don't suppose you would remember seeing any Old Rip Van Winkle products there? My wife is going down next week and I need to make a shopping list....

[Waiahi]

Yep, they had ORVW, and Lot B too. They were more expensive than the OGD, which is why I went with the OGD. Lee's Discount has a pretty good selection!

[Kendall]

Do yourself a favor and get a bottle of Wild Turkey Rye and a bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel....should be aright around $60 depending on local pricing.

I will second that!

[Waiahi]

Ah well, I got the WT Rye, but unfortunately they didn't have any 4 roses.

I opened each bottle last night and had a dram of each...

I must say, I REALLY like the OGD114...and the Rittenhouse Rye was damn good...especially for the price! Hell, all four selections were excellent, and I thank everyone once again for helping me to stock up on the Ryes and Bourbons! Now I gotta see how long I can make it all last before I gotta go back to Vegas on another Whiskey run!

My wife works for the airlines, so I fly for free...this is how a broke as a joke Hawaiian managed to spend a little bit of $$$ to broaden my Whiskey-palate horizons! :cool:

Mahalo folks!