What's the 1 Bourbon you want to try before you croak?

[humchan2k]

Man, why is it that I am so fascinated with thoughts of bourbon before/at your death...sorry, don't mean to be macabre.....but with all the talk on this board about the fantastic bourbons that are out there that I can't get my hands on since I joined this whole bourbon society thing long after SW and Michter's closed, it got me thinking about that "holy grail" booze that I really want to try, but likely never will get a chance to.....

When I say 1 bourbon, I mean a brand at a certain age and a certain proof, not "some awesome SW juice Old Fitzgerald from the 40's," which is my Firing Squad Whiskey, cuz I've had it..and it was retardedly good.....

For me, I want to experience AH Hirsch red wax, cuz out here on the left coast ( I live in LA, but have family in OR, so I go hunting in both states) there's slim dusty pickings and that stuff has been long gone for a long time....I've never even seen a bottle first hand, and I ain't paying $500+ for a bottle of stuff on Fleabay on the CHANCE that I will like it......I bought a bottle of AH Hirsch gold foil as my intro to truly high end stuff, and it was superb (though for the $, it can't touch PVW 20), so I can only dream what a better bottling by Julian must have tasted like...

What say you, what's your forbidden fruit/bourbon? Go!

[Ian S.]

Kentucky Deluxe :grin:

[jcg9779]

cuz out here on the left coast ( I live in LA, but have family in OR, so I go hunting in both states) there's slim dusty pickings and that stuff has been long gone for a long time....

[kickert]

I have come a long way in my bourbon journey. One thing I have found is that there is good bourbon and great bourbon, but there really is no such thing as life altering bourbon. I think that if I had a "life-list" of bourbons to try before I died, I would probably end up disappointed because I doubt they would meet my expectations.

That being said, I would want to try something unique and interesting rather than something I expected to be phenomenal. Thus, I would love to try some pre-pro bourbon. But if I could have the opportunity to try anything, I would go for this: Antarctic Whiskey

[StraightNoChaser]

Not trying to start a thread drift, but I've heard from several people that there's still some pretty good hunting in LA (on person told me in chat that it was the best dusty hunting he's found - maybe he got it all though! ).

For me, the one bourbon that I'd love to try is the VVOF. I'd love to have a pour of this because of everything that I've read and because of the hype surrounding it. I'll probably never get a chance to see a bottle, much less try a sip of it!

[BBQ+Bourbon]

I'd have to think long and hard to truly answer the question but I have one upcoming bottle I can't wait to open.

My dad is having a birthday next month and, thanks to the generosity of a board member, I have an early 70s Jack Daniels to share with him. Jack Daniels is his drink of choice and it will be fun to down a bottle with him.

[CorvallisCracker]

VVOF for me.

As for your choice of the 20yo AHH, you might be disappointed. I bought a bottle of that along with four 16s (BW) back around 1995. Drank the 16s over a 12yr stretch. Loved every one.

Opened the 20 on my 55th birthday, in 2008. It was good, but nothing exceptional. 20yo Pappy is better.

The 16yo A H Hirsch - at least the original blue or gold wax sealed bottlings - had a certain something in the taste profile that the 20 lacked.

[G.H.Adams]

For me it would have to be VVOF.

[LikeItWasSodaPop]

Thanks to a GENEROUS SB'er, I got to taste VVOF last night.

I might just agree to get shot at to have another taste.

[Gillman]

There are two, and considering the range and depth of the older bottlings found and often discussed here, neither has been reviewed IIRC.

One is Jack Daniels - not technically a bourbon but let's put that aside - as it was circa-1955, when it was 90 proof and achieved national and international renown as some of the best whiskey made in America. I did, a few years ago, taste some 1970's JD, therefore 90 proof, courtesy Mike Veach. In fact I did this side by side with a current regular Jack. I found the older bottling considerably better and I suspect a 1950's JD, at a time when production was still on a relatively small scale, would be superlative.

Second and paralleling this in some ways, is tasting Maker's Mark again from the 1960's-1970's. I used to buy it around 1980 and recall it being super-rich and brandy-like.

So these are two amongst of course many others which could be mentioned. But for such an auspicious occasion - a last drink - I would be very happy to have a couple of fingers of each from this era.

And then, to quote a writer who is a favourite of mine as many here know (Jack Kerouac), it would be "memorial cello time".

Gary

[mrviognier]

VVOF laid down in 1962 would be my choice.

[ratcheer]

Wild Turkey 12 year old.

Tim

[BourbonJoe]

VVOF for me.

Joe :usflag:

[Parkersback]

Old Crow made by James Crow. Wikipedia reports that the last remaining stock of Old Crow made by the Mr. Crow was pretty plentiful, so maybe I've got a shot. :grin:

[AaronWF]

I don't know what it is or if it exists yet, but I want to taste a straight-from-the-barrel bourbon with all the beauty of a Pappy 20.

How about an unfiltered, barrel-proof Pappy 20? Eh? Ehh?????? :bigeyes:

[jcg9779]

I don't know what it is or if it exists yet, but I want to taste a straight-from-the-barrel bourbon with all the beauty of a Pappy 20.

How about an unfiltered, barrel-proof Pappy 20? Eh? Ehh?????? :bigeyes:

Damn...that would be delicious. Definitely something to wish for!

[Parkersback]

Damn...that would be delicious. Definitely something to wish for!

This might be as close as you'll get at this point.

http://www.whatdoesjohnknow.com/2009/12/08/review-old-rip-van-winkle-family-selection-23-yr-old/

[T Comp]

I have come a long way in my bourbon journey. One thing I have found is that there is good bourbon and great bourbon, but there really is no such thing as life altering bourbon. ...

[boss302]

Any of the A.H. Hirsch bourbons distilled in Shaefferstown, PA (Michter's).

Seriously-- if I had the money, I'd pay $5K for one, if need be.

Also, before I die, I want to buy that property and re-start distilling (I live 45 minutes away).