Best commonly-found Bourbon for $100 per bottle

[Laura]

Hi everyone-

I'm so glad I found this board. My boss asked me to purchase a nice $100 bottle of bourbon for a client, and I have no idea what to buy. I know this is a little like asking what kind of perfume to buy for a woman, but I'd appreciate your best suggestions. I live in North Carolina, and will need to go buy this tomorrow.

I look forward to your thoughts, and appreciate your time!

Laura

[bobbyc]

Welcome Laura!

I would suggest 20 year Pappy Van Winkle . It is in the 75-85 dollar range. I think that being in North Carolina will present a challenge. Clogsdon , One of forum regulars lives there and frequently is known to head to WV and Ky. For a purchase now and then. You don't nessesarily have to spend 100 bucks to get a good one. If all else fails, Blanton's or Kentucky Spirit are quality bourbon gifts in the 40-50 range. Good luck, I imagine folks will be lining up all over to become clients now that we see a $100.00 Bourbon is Possible!

[Paradox]

Before even reading Bobby's response I was going to say Pappy Van Winkle 20 year as well. This would be even harder to probably find, but if you should see a bottle of AH Hirsch 16 year and not a Pappy 20, it would also do well. It is a bit cheaper, depending where you may find it, and it also is a superb bourbon.

If all else fails and you cannot find either, try getting 2 near $50 bottles. You should be able to find Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel. For a 2nd you could try Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year 107 proof or Blanton's Single Barrel.

[Dave_in_Canada]

Hey Laura, without knowing your boss's reasons for giving bourbon, I'm just guessing it's to IMPRESS the client, whether they're a bourbon drinker or not (thus the $100 cost). Part of the nice thing about gift giving (and receiving) is the packaging. So I'd like to offer the Blanton's as a good idea: It comes in a box, plus has a very distinctive bottle shape and cork (with racehorse). It also has some nice history as the first Single Barrel bottling of bourbon since prohibition. Possibly a marketing gimmick, but true nonetheless. If you have trouble finding what you want, there are mailorder facilities that will ship via fedex. www.samswine.com and www.binnys.com are just a two (sorry, I'm not familiar with your state laws regarding liquor shipping. Have fun shopping!

Dave

[pepcycle]

Laura,

The only really good $100/bottle bourbon is Ten High and its only available from me. Including shipping that would be $120.

Just kidding.

I would suggest the Hirsch 16 YO, if any is still available from Binny's or Sams Internet Wines.

For only $80 more you can get the Hirsch 20 YO or the Pappy Van Winkle 23 YO. Try Cork and Bottle in Northern KY.

[CL]

The nice thing about bourbon is that you can spend $40 - 50 and get a world-class bourbon. Fortunately, bourbon hasn't been subjected to the scotch pricing.

I live in Cary, NC. Where are you? (It's ok if you don't want to answer that.)

The NC ABC Catalog has several premium bourbons available in the $30 - $50 range, but alas, we don't have the selection that is available in many other states. Also, NC does not allow out-of-state stores to ship liquor into NC, so the suggestions for Sam's or Binny's in Chicago won't help you. Plus, you need it tomorrow.

Can you answer a couple questions for us?

(1) Is convenience a factor? That is, do you just want to stick to the best that NC has to offer? If so, I would suggest

* Blanton's for superb smoothness and a unique decanter ($46)

* Bookers for full flavored barrel strength at 127 proof and comes in a rustic wooden box ($54)

* Eagle Rare Single Barrel for something that is not common but is very good and has a unique bottle ($27). I will admit that I have not seen the Eagle Rare Single Barrel in a NC store, but it is listed in the catalog. I do hope they have added it and are now stocking it. I spent much of my summer in KY and brought back so much that I have not been in a NC store since June. BTW, I am not talking about the Eagle Rare 101, which is good, but is probably not the gift you are looking for.

* Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit (about $50) for a world class bourbon in a unique decorative decanter. Unfortunately, Kentucky Spirit is not in the lastest NC ABC catalog. It used to be carried, so I am wondering if there is any leftover stock. If you find one with the pewter stopper, it is a special find. Wild Turkey has switched to wood stoppers.

(2) Is the best of the best the primary consideration, even if you have to go out of state? If you are in Charlotte, a short trip to Greenville, SC might be very good. Julian Van Winkle has mentioned here at SB.com that a store there carries his products. Perhaps they have the Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old in stock.

Send me a private message if you want to talk. I can give you my phone number seeing that you are in a hurry to get this done.

[CL]

[Laura, you can't read this. ]

Oh, the temptation to sell one of my bottles of GTS!

[MurphyDawg]

If you find one with the pewter stopper, it is a special find. Wild Turkey has switched to wood stoppers.

Really? Cause the stopper on my KS definitely isnt Wood. . .

TomC

[CL]

That's what Bobby said here. Maybe they are only a rarity in KY. Could be that other states that sell less KS may still have the pewter stoppers.

[bobbyc]

They have used wood for almost 2 years now, The pewter are still around if you don't mind looking for it. I guess a fifty dollar bottle of bourbon moves pretty slow.

[MurphyDawg]

Well that doesnt change stuff anyway, cause i got my bottle of KY Spirit in Sheperdsville, KY back in March, so It still kinda kewl!

TomC

[Laura]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I really appreciate the info, and I'll definately take the info with me when I shop in the morning.

Also, I may call you, C., to find out about Cary locations for good bourbon.

Thanks again, everyone!

Laura

[CL]

If I get the chance, I will run by the Preston ABC store in Cary on the way home today. It's only a mile or two out of the way for me. I will see what they have in stock.

[cowdery]

The first thing you should do is go back and make sure he really meant bourbon. If he did, then he obviously doesn't know much about the subject, since it's virtually impossible to spend more than $50 for a bottle of bourbon. The exception is Jim Beam's Distiller's Masterpiece, which is closer to $200 a bottle.

Probably the best, most readily available bourbons for giving are Blanton's and Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. Happily, you can buy one of each and still get change back. If I had to pick between the two, I would pick Blanton's. The package is more distinctive and I actually like the whiskey better too.

I would not recommend something like George Stagg or Eagle Rare because those whiskeys are a bit challenging. With Blanton's and Kentucky Spirit, the quality is impeccible and the taste is accessible. Anyone who likes American Straight Whiskey probably will like them. With Stagg, Eagle Rare and the like, you really have to be into it. When buying business gifts you need to play it safe, and both Blanton's and Kentucky Spirit are very safe choices.

[CL]

Good input, Chuck.

[Paradox]

Probably the best, most readily available bourbons for giving are Blanton's and Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit.

Did you read my post first Chuck? J/K

[CL]

I stopped by the ABC store near Preston in Cary. Boy, were the pickings slim.

No WT Kentucky Spirit. No empty shelf space, so this one is definitely gone.

No Blanton's. Empty shelf shelf space where it is supposed to be, so this one was sold out in the Preston store. (Both employees were busy on the phone, so I didn't wait to ask if they had any more.)

Eagle Rare Single Barrel - in stock, several bottles.

Booker's - in stock, several bottles.

If I were you, I'd call the Walnut Street store in Cary or the Cary Parkway/Tryon Road store in Cary to see if they have Blanton's in stock. (I'm not familiar with Raleigh locations.) I think Blanton's is your best bet. While you are calling, you might as well ask if they have any leftover Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit.

If you get in a real jam and run completely out of time, the Eagle Rare Single Barrel at the Preston store will do nicely.

Booker's may have some risk as it has a very strong flavor (127 proof!). Like Chuck Cowdery said, unless you know the recipient loves barrel proof bourbon, I'd stay away from this one.

[CL]

Chuck, it's been a while since I had ER SB. I don't recall it being less approachable than Kentucky Spirit, particularly, at only 90 proof.

Is my memory bad or do we just have different taste buds?

[jeff]

Thankfully there are not that many $100 bottles of bourbon out there. You can do very nicely for around $40-$50 with Kentucky Spirit or Blanton's. Jefferson's Reserve is sure to impress the eye with its "perfume-style" bottle. If you are hell-bent on spending as much as possible and can find it, go for the Pappy Van Winkle 20yo. One of the best whiskeys ever put into a bottle and only $80 or so, at least here in KY.

[TNbourbon]

I'm checking in a little late, but for whatever it's worth, I'd go for either the 20-year Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve or the 16-year-old Hirsch, if available -- a problem, besides current availability, being that if the recipient really likes either, it'll be hard to find again. I might also try to find the current double-issued spring/fall versions of the Old Forester Birthday Bourbons, both of which you could probably get for about $100 total. But, in any case, any suggestion that's been made here is a good one.

[cowdery]

I think both the ER SB and the 17-year-old are a little more challenging than WTKS or Blanton's. Harder to find, too.

[cowdery]

Probably not, or I might have suggested Pappy too. That's a good suggestion. I favor Blanton's and WTKS in part because they're safe choices, always an important consideration with business gifts.

[ph0rk]

This is late. but I've found the ABC store closest to Cary Town Center to have a better selection than the Preston shop. Must be all that shelf space they set aside for scotch.

.