Table bourbon

[LewBryson]

What bourbon do you drink "for every day?" Assuming you do, of course, because there are inevitably those who say "I drink Booker's straight up when I want a bourbon." That's nice, but a lot of us get thirsty and want a bourbon rocks, or an Old Fashioned, or a Manhattan, or even now and then a bourbon and coke. When it's that time, what bourbon do you reach for?

I'm lucky enough to have some AAA 10 YO that I got in KY for about $12.50, a steal and I wish I would have bought more. I also have a bottle of 4 Roses bourbon I got as a sample, and I'm rationing it till the day it becomes available in the U.S. again. Kentucky Tavern is good drinkin' whiskey for the money.

Any others?

Lew Bryson

Hirsch Reserve 16 YO: Real Pennsylvania Bourbon

[RyeCatcher]

Lew Bryson was asking about "every day" bourbons. Generally, my "everyday" bourbon is whatever is in the cupboard.

In a bizarre turn of events, I actually have three bourbons on hand, but two of the bottles are almost empty. Any one of them could qualify as "every day" because they aren't very expensive. I guess the truth is that I've found so many good bourbons at or below $20/fifth that I can't fix on just one.

So, there's some Wild Turkey (the big one, 101?), a bottle of Elijah Craig, and a new bottle of Ancient Age Barrel 107. I like 'em all.

Curiously, Oregon doesn't seem to have Jim Beam in the black label, which I was looking to buy yesterday. Got all that other Beam stuff -- all the high-end bourbons -- and the basic kitchen version, but the Reagans' had raved up the black label and I wanted to give it a snort. Hmmph.

--Jeff Frane

[jbutler]

I'm with Jeff on the cupboard thing, but the local Long's Drugs frequently has Evan Williams on sale for $9.99 in a 1.75 liter bottle, which is a hell of a deal. I use it when making mixed drinks or barbecue sauce (no, no, no, I put it in the SAUCE!). I prefer better stuff for everyday drinking, and always keep Maker's Mark and Wild Turkey 80 on hand. The Wild Turkey 101 is wonderful, but tends to end the party a bit too fast for my tastes.

Regards,

Jim Butler

Straightbourbon.com Staff

[LewBryson]

I do use Evan Williams in cooking a lot (that price is irresistable, and I like it a bit better than Beam white label), but every now and then I get a wild hair up and throw something really good in the pan, like a splash of Woodford Reserve. Hey, if it's really good food it deserves really good bourbon!

Otherwise, yeah, Maker's and Turkey are good everydays, though I'll just go ahead and drink the 101: I'm a big guy.

Lew Bryson

Hirsch Reserve 16 YO: Real Pennsylvania Bourbon

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

What's with the rationing of four roses? I live in Milwaukee, and I drink the stuff all the time. Can someone not get it in the US? I understand that

it was export only at one time, but as of about 6 months ago, my bar has been carrying it, and I have been drinking it ever since.

-Bill

[cowdery]

I tend to rotate that choice around, depending on what's on sale, but consistently come back to Old Fitzgerald. It's about the only bourbon I ever buy in the 1.75 L size.

- chuck

[LewBryson]

I've been rationing the Four Roses because it wasn't available around here, I guess it's time to start looking for it again. I haven't really looked for about four or five months. Thanks for the tip!

Lew Bryson

Hirsch Reserve 16 YO: Real Pennsylvania Bourbon

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

I was screwing around in here and found this thread.

You know what's a good inexpensive bourbon? Rebel Yell. I had doubts myself -- maybe because Keith Richards has been known to down a few bottles -- but it's very full-tasting stuff. And generally very cheap.

Doug

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Lew,

Good subject for discussion. My current favorite is the Evan Williams Single barrel. I have found a little 'lost in the woods of Arkansas' liquor store that had 5 bottles of the 1987 vintage for under $19. This is a smooth and full flavored bourbon, no headache. I tried the Evan Williams 1783 and did not like it at all, too harsh. I heard about the singel barrel from this site, so I am a convert. I keep coming back even though I have many $ 30+ on the shelf. I also like the Wild Turkey's, the 80 proof for everyday. I have heard that Wild Turkey is reducing the age of their whiskies in order to supply an increased demand, is this true ?

For the ultimate in cheap, I tried Ten High after seeing it mentioned by a Marine in the bourbon survey. This is not bad bourbon. No complexity of taste, but smooth and no headache. W. L. Weller and Charter 12 YO are both nice. I used to drink a lot of George Dickle #8 or #12, smooth, drinkable, and mellow (do not bother with the Special Reserve), but now I find the regulair bourbons more interesting.

By AAA do you mean Ancient Age ? I would like to try some Ancient Age, my store only has the yellow label that does not reveal age. Which Ancient Ages does this group recommend ?

Mark A. Mason, El Dorado, Arkansas

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Mark,

AAA= Ancient Ancient Age. I believe this is only available in KY. Lew's just showing off (as usual). I also enjoy the Ancient Age Barrel 107. Here's a question for the group. Will all the AA products be renamed Buffalo Trace or will there be a rationalization of these "fringe" products?

Cheers,

Bushido

[jbutler]

You know, I always thought that AAA was an acronym for " Anti Aircraft Artillery", for which Ancient Ancient Age tastes like it might be used as a cleaning solvent.

Regards,

Jim Butler

Straightbourbon.com Staff

[cowdery]

I believe this question was asked of the Buffalo Trace people and they indicated that the AA brand will continue.

- chuck

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Knob Creek for me. I frist tried it a year and a half to two years ago and have kept some on hand ever since.

Best,

HH

[LewBryson]

Bushido: "Lew's just showing off (as usual)."

Ah, still bitter about the 18 YO rye, I see!

Yes, the AAA is Ancient Ancient Age, a great bargain of a ten year old bourbon (I bought it for $12.50 in KY). And yes, the people at Buffalo Trace told me that they are not only going to continue with the AA label, but upgrade it. High time, I say, the labels could use a thorough makeover, including making the difference between the 10 Star and 10 YO plainer! (Or maybe just do away with the 10 Star altogether...)

As for the new Buffalo Trace flagship bottling, I finally got round to opening mine on Christmas and found it excellent, quite lush and full stuff. Hope it comes to PA soon.

Lew Bryson

Hirsch Reserve 16 YO: Real Pennsylvania Bourbon

[LewBryson]

Jeez, Jim, and I thought we had this nice friendship building. Now I'm gonna hafta kill ya.

Lew Bryson

Hirsch Reserve 16 YO: Real Pennsylvania Bourbon

[jbutler]

Hey now, just hold on a minute there big boy! You convinced me I should get some Hirsch 16 ... essentially destroying any pleasure I might potentially receive from consuming any of the other 2^10 bottlings on the planet.

And now you're ready to go postal?

Regards,

Jim Butler

Straightbourbon.com Staff

[LewBryson]

Cyber-postal? Why not? Ain't like it's the REAL world, that much was obvious when an otherwise discerning type like yourself dissed AAA (are you talking about the 10 YO? Really?). Cuz that CAN'T be real!

Lew Bryson

Hirsch Reserve 16 YO: Real Pennsylvania Bourbon

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

I will have to second that vote on Rebel Yell. It tastes like a wheated bourbon, a little sweet but not too sweet, and very similar to W. L. Weller, which I like. I actually like this better than Eagle Rare which is sweeter to the point of distraction.

One of my taste criteria is the ability to sip bourbon over the course of a night and still enjoy the taste. The best bourbons are just as enjoyable with the last tast as the first. In the case of Rebel Yell, it does get a tiring after about the 4th shot, but it still has a good cost/performance ratio.

Mark A. Mason, El Dorado, Arkansas

[cowdery]

Historically, Rebel Yell was a Stitzel-Weller bourbon, like Old Fitz and W.L.Weller and, as such, was wheated. What you are buying now as Rebel Yell is probably still that whiskey, but the brand is now owned by David Sherman Co. in St. Louis. They are a bottler/rectifier/marketer, not a distiller. They buy bulk whiskey. One hopes they will continue to acquire wheated bourbon for Rebel Yell and not change it. Luckily, the main source for bulk bourbon is Heaven Hill, which now owns the Bernheim plant in Louisville, which is capable of making a wheated bourbon. Let's hope for the best.

- chuck

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

I finally found a bottle of Ancient Ancient Age (aka AAA) 10 Year Old in a little 'high security' liquor store on the edge of the rough part of town (the kind where the customers and the clerk/inventory are seperated by a plexiglass barrier. I must have looked honest, since they let me come back with them and brouse the bourbon.). It's hard to tell how this bottling made it's way to Arkansas, since the propriator has been in the US for less than a year and is sitll trying to learn english. Anyway, this is the only store in the area with AAA, so it was worth the trip (they also had one bottle left of Michter's 86 proof bourbon pot distilled in Pennsylvania for $ 15, one heck of a find).

I must agree with Lou, the AAA has alot of merit and is downright enjoyable. Clean, smooth, a touch of sweetness, and several nice flavors. Dosn't quite break into the upper ranks, but definately a good everyday bourbon. My only problem now is that they only have about four 200 ml bottles left.

I do like stories with a happy ending (I also opened the Michter's, happier ending).

Mark A. Mason, El Dorado, Arkansas