Bourbon of the Year?

[KCJason1]

George T. Stagg and 2013 FRLESmB are probably tied for me. The Stagg has been open now for about a month and a half and the lower proof does wonders, IMO.

I noticed when you lower the 13 Stagg to 90-100 proof. It taste very similar to the 4R125th.

[TunnelTiger]

I suppose Bourbon of the year should be limited to limited releases, new releases, specialty bottling but since my journey didn't start until this past spring mine would be:

OGD114

ETL

EWBIB

For new releases:

OFBB13

4RLESmb

[whiskeyagonzo]

I noticed when you lower the 13 Stagg to 90-100 proof. It taste very similar to the 4R125th.

I'm surprised it didn't taste more like regular Buffalo Trace ;-)

[squire]

Bourbon of the year is a great idea. The candidates should submit samples to our membership at large and we will vote.

[OscarV]

A simple poll would be easy to do. People should post nominations. At the very least, everyone could post their top 5 or 10 from the year!

I like this idea, maybe one of the Mods could put up a poll of about 15 nominations and then after a week of voting make a new poll of the top 5 vote getters to determine the

2013 SB.com Bourbon of the Year.

[Yeti]

If that's what it takes to try it I am in.

Let me know when, fellas. I'll swing by.

Sometimes I think the 60.4% FRSBLE13 was my favorite of the year. It's been a pretty good year though. My pick will almost certainly be the 125th once the chips are down.

[Richnimrod]

I will be buying my Bourbon of the Year in about a week. :cool:

I imagine that will be the correct answer... if/when we finally do all get to taste it.

That said, and having tasted nothing I love better, yet this year, I cast my vote for the first dump of Elijah Craig 12-year Barrel Proof.

[miller542]

I cast my vote for the first dump of Elijah Craig 12-year Barrel Proof.

[RWBadley]

Three contenders for me

GTS '13 I was lucky to get one, and love the rye notes

ECBP 1st Ended up with an extra for the bunker

OFBB '13 Great pour, I found a couple extras at a good price- making it the best value of the bunch

Overall I'm very happy with the quality of this years offerings

I did not indulge in the Pappy buys, tho was offered several. I still have a little left from past years.

The PHC 7 I liked well enough, but not in contention for me

Edited December 17, 2013 by RWBadley

[callmeox]

I believe that we are going to put up a poll on this as soon as we get a few things straight behind the scenes.

Stay tuned.

[tigerlam92]

I'll have to say ECBP for me for overall; this has been most memorable for 2013.

[ChainWhip]

ECBP 134.2 wins so far for me in 2013. (Although, I haven't had this year's BTAC, VW, nor that unnamed bottle yet...)

BTEC French Oak 19 was pretty great for my palate too though.

[squire]

My idea is not the one that may have been a standout, rather the one I've enjoyed most often throughout the year.

[mbroo5880i]

It appears that Bourbon of the Year is focused on new releases. If it is a new release, my experience is limited to FRSmB2013, ECBP #2 and Stagg Jr. I like all three. I suppose I would give the edge to FRSmB2013 because it is so unique and a very drinkable pour. I will say that I have a couple of Willett's WFE's (distillery unknown) that compare favorably but it is difficult to identify those as bourbon of the year since there is no frame of reference for other unless they have tried a bottle from the same barrel.

Of course, unfortunately, many members of our community have not had the opportunity to try any of the three. If I were to select a bourbon that is widely available as Bourbon of the Year, I would opt for Four Roses Single Barrel Standard Version. The quality is consistent, the price reasonable and it is widely available.

[Paddy]

I agree with Squire and mbroo5880i's thoughts above. I would have to go with one I have enjoyed, has been readily available, consistent and reasonably priced.

My nomination would go to ETL. For me, it met the above criteria without fail....while I took it for granted.

[Lazer]

I like this idea, maybe one of the Mods could put up a poll of about 15 nominations and then after a week of voting make a new poll of the top 5 vote getters to determine the

2013 SB.com Bourbon of the Year.

And then the marketing team that markets that bourbon could put a hang tag on the bottle saying, "StraightBourbon.com bourbon of the year 2013" and we can all get a free bottle! I mean for each of us, one bottle for everyone to share wouldn't go very far.

[ramblinman]

I will be buying my Bourbon of the Year in about a week. :cool:

Can somebody PM and fill me in, I've thought about what it could be for the last few minutes and come up stumped!

[Flyfish]

I took it to mean the last bourbon of the year. But that is undoubtedly not nearly clever enough.

[weller_tex]

"My idea is not the one that may have been a standout, rather the one I've enjoyed most often throughout the year"..I like Squire's interpretation. I can't really buy the more expensive stuff these days..but I really, really enjoyed Larceny this year.

[393foureyedfox]

I really, really enjoyed Larceny this year.

Mom, who is not a drinker in the least, was making fruitcakes last week and didnt have any bourbon, so she called me. I gave her my Larceny bottle, as it was the closest thing to Maker's I had, and Maker's is what she usually uses. Today, to my horror, I went over there and, since she was now out of the 1/2 bottle of Larceny I gave her, and needed a bit more to soak the cheesecloth wrap in......she pulled some old Canadian Mist out of the closet and used that.

Hell, I shoulda just gave her an NAS VOB to start with!

[adub23]

Did a SBS tasting of FRSmB13 vs. OFBday13 last night since I finally got a bottle of the FR's this week. Before I got to try the FR's I thought the Bday was bourbon of the year by far over most of the other 2013 releases I had tried (ECBP, Stagg Jr, ORVW, Lot B, FRSB13). Head to head though, I think the FR's is the clear winner. The nose to me is really close. I would say it is a tie here with maybe FR's getting it by a hair. Taste was again FR's by a slight margin due to it being a little more complex and the Bday having a little more alcohol taste with it. The reason I picked the FR's overall was the Bday had a very weird finish for a brief second right at the start of it. I cannot describe the taste but it was definitely enough to give the nod to the FR's as the clear winner.

[PrinceDarren]

1st FR 125th

2nd OFBB 2013

3rd WLW

Sorry, I tried the ECBP and I just don't understand the excitement. Glad I tried it so I knew not to buy a bottle. More for the rest of you, right?

[fishnbowljoe]

Mom, who is not a drinker in the least, was making fruitcakes last week and didnt have any bourbon, so she called me. I gave her my Larceny bottle, as it was the closest thing to Maker's I had, and Maker's is what she usually uses. Today, to my horror, I went over there and, since she was now out of the 1/2 bottle of Larceny I gave her, and needed a bit more to soak the cheesecloth wrap in......she pulled some old Canadian Mist out of the closet and used that.

Hell, I shoulda just gave her an NAS VOB to start with!

So which one is your choice for Bourbon Of The Year. Is it MM, Larceny, or Canadian Mist? Oh wait, Canadian Mist isn't a bourbon. My bad.

[393foureyedfox]

So which one is your choice for Bourbon Of The Year. Is it MM, Larceny, or Canadian Mist? Oh wait, Canadian Mist isn't a bourbon. My bad.

none of those. I am assuming BOTY requires it to be a new or seasonal release. ECBP is about the only thing Ive had this year that fits into that category, and I put that at the second worst thing Ive had this year.

[squire]

Actually, I believe these categories were created by spirits Editors and writers who need something else to talk about.