What are your reasonably priced gems?

[p_elliott]

There is still plenty of distilling that can go on in a season (regardless of whether it is two or four seasons per year). Meaning as Restaurant Man points out, there is still room for some "weak barrels" to be blended into a batch.

Of course, this isn't really what I was going after when I pulled this thread off on this tangent. It is probably my fault for using the word "junk" but I simply meant, if you don't like how a particular Bourbon tastes, it probably isn't going to suddenly be good (in your eyes) simply because it is Bonded.

[apripom]

Ancient Ancient Ancient Age (AAA) 10 Year. Kentucky Only release. I made the mistake of returning to CHI with [only] a single 750 ml bottle. Delicious.

[Jono]

Henry McKenna...just love it, especially as a dessert pour.

http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-191894-0000-henry-mckenna-sour-mash-straight-bourbon-whiskey-kentucky-usa

It has seen a price jump.

http://www.liquormart.com/liquor/henry-mckenna-bourbon-whiskey.html

Interesting story.."Henry McKenna brought his family's whiskey recipe with him from Ireland in 1837 and settled in Fairfield, Kentucky, founding his distillery there in 1855. He soon adapted his techniques to the local Kentucky grains, particularly corn, and began producing what became known as Kentucky's Finest Table Whiskey." I wonder what his orginal recipe was ..i.e. barley....vs the corn change in grain. How much of the original recipe remains? Was it primarily production technique vs recipe?

[apripom]

My bad - I appended an extra "Ancient" in my recommendation. AAA 10 yr is a gem.

[ethangsmith]

My list of great values:

Old Ezra 101 7yo

Ezra Brooks 90pf

Johnny Drum Private Stock

Old Grand Dad 100 or 114

Fighting Cock

Elijah Craig 12 or 18

Old Forester Signature

Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

Mellow Corn BIB

George Dickel 12

Rittenhouse BIB

Pikesville Rye

Wild Turkey 101 Rye

[2highcal]

I would say VOB BIB and Old Ezra are the 2 I would say for under 20

[lrochau]

Down in Houston on business for a stretch so I'm able to find Old Charter 10 for $12.99 just about anywhere. Great cheap pour IMO. Store that had pints of OC 12 has sold out. Welles 12 down here is $19.99 as well.

[Kyjd75]

My bad - I appended an extra "Ancient" in my recommendation. AAA 10 yr is a gem.

x2

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[tigerlam92]

"reasonably priced gems"

It was PVW Lot B.

Cheers

--Hugh

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

I'd bypass the Four Roses Yellow Label and go straight to the Small Batch. Great whiskey for only a few bucks more, and readily available. Many SB'ers seem to find the Yellow Label a little thin and lacking on flavor.

Of course, you can keep climbing that "just a few bucks more" ladder with Four Roses Single Barrel and the Limited Editions, but the prices for those are a little outside "value pour" range...

Only a few bucks more for the small batch? That sounds good. I would expect to find that around X3 or X4 the Yellow Label here in Japan.

[CoMobourbon]

I find that my reasonably priced gems are whiskies of opportunity rather than permanent values. Prices for the same whiskey fluctuate enough between stores or between different weeks at the same store that my best approach to value bourbon (which right now is pretty much all of my bourbon) is simply buying what's on sale. (unless, I guess, if you especially dislike the whiskey at hand, which for me doesn't happen very often) For example, I walked into my local Hyvee liquor and wine store with every intention of walking out with some normally priced WSR or Dickel 12 but quickly changed my mind when I saw FRY listed at $12.50 and WT101 at $16.50. In an instant, FRY and WT101 became my reasonably priced gems.

[nocoins]

I find that my reasonably priced gems are whiskies of opportunity rather than permanent values. Prices for the same whiskey fluctuate enough between stores or between different weeks at the same store that my best approach to value bourbon (which right now is pretty much all of my bourbon) is simply buying what's on sale.

[hectic1]

My reasonably priced gem is two SB of OWA that are 8yr's old and both have incredible complexity to them...they're both very different bourbons. One has huge caramel and vanilla and the other is spicy with a nutty profile to it! Amazing that these barrels can have the same whiskey in them to start and turn out sooo different! $22 a bottle for a 8/107pr bottle is hard to beat...eat your heart out Baker's!

[barrelslime]

Iv turned a lot of my Beam drinking friends onto Kessler's, for those on a buidget. They taste identicle and its cheaper than Beam white label.

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Been on the fence with BT, as when it is on, it is very good... But the problem is that I need to qualify it because it seems inconsistent. One bottle, the next tastes like crewing on your lawn, or just downright musty tasting.

And I realize I am fairly alone on this (around here anyway). But I just don't get what people like about OGD.

[Max Power]

I thought Bulleit was pretty good for the money.

[p_elliott]

Iv turned a lot of my Beam drinking friends onto Kessler's, for those on a buidget. They taste identicle and its cheaper than Beam white label.

Sorry to say this but Kessler's is half whiskey half vodka.

[barrelslime]

Sorry to say this but Kessler's is half whiskey half vodka.

So?............................

[p_elliott]

So?............................

I can respond to that one of two ways do some more reading on the site and some more tastings. OR If that's what you like to drink more power to you.

[barrelslime]

I can respond to that one of two ways do some more reading on the site and some more tastings. OR If that's what you like to drink more power to you.

I dont personally touch the stuff, but when my buddys converge on my camper, they are there to drink hard, fast and without tasting. Thats not my style, but they like Jim Beam and I keep the Kesslers on hand for them to swill. Its no reflection on me at all, just saying if you are on a budget, and want a Beam similar drink, Kesslers is cheaper.

[jcg9779]

My reasonably priced gem is two SB of OWA that are 8yr's old and both have incredible complexity to them...they're both very different bourbons. One has huge caramel and vanilla and the other is spicy with a nutty profile to it! Amazing that these barrels can have the same whiskey in them to start and turn out sooo different! $22 a bottle for a 8/107pr bottle is hard to beat...eat your heart out Baker's!

Very nice choice, Bob!

[shoshani]

I dont personally touch the stuff, but when my buddys converge on my camper, they are there to drink hard, fast and without tasting. Thats not my style, but they like Jim Beam and I keep the Kesslers on hand for them to swill. Its no reflection on me at all, just saying if you are on a budget, and want a Beam similar drink, Kesslers is cheaper.

I've had this happen. Many years ago we had some friends over for dinner and one asked me if I had anything to drink. I brought out a bottle of Wild Turkey 12 year old (I *did* say this was many years ago, didn't I?) and watched in horror as he downed the shot I poured for him without even tasting it.

After that, he got the inexpensive no-name private-label 80 proof floor wax I kept around for such guests.

[mrviognier]

Like my mom used to say, "You give them the books, and they eat the covers".

[maskaggs]

Ancient Ancient Age 10YO takes the cake for me. Incredible price, incredibly drinkability, incredible flavor.

[Clavius]

I was going to choose Weller SR. But honestly, I think OGD114 is my reasonably priced "gem." I can get the stuff for like $20.99 which is a steal IMHO considering the proof. I don't buy it very often. But the stuff is pretty damn good despite coming from Beam. :yum: