What bourbon are you drinking right now?

[robbyvirus]

I agree, Dave. Bookers never seemed very special to me...overpriced Jim Beam White, as you put it. It's like you're paying a premium only for the higher proof.

[ratcheer]

I tend to agree. While I like it a lot better than Beam white (it is probably in my top 25, but this is based on only two drinks), it is certainly not $50-good. To me, it is more like Knob Creek on steroids, probably worth about $36 on my value scale.

I have always wanted to buy a bottle, but not at the price it commands.

Tim

[SteveZZZ]

I enjoy Booker's quite a bit when I'm in that kind of mood. It doesn't happen very often, most of the time its just too strong for me, but its nice to have a high proof bourbon that I know I can replace easily when its empty. $50 a little much? Maybe, but a bottle goes a long way for me. Besides, I'm used to paying scotch prices...

Steve

[jeff]

I like Booker's a lot, but I tend to enjoy higher-proof bourbons. Boy was I in heaven on Thursday of the festival at Buffalo Trace We can get it here in Lexington for about $36-$40 so it's not to much of a streach. And you're right, a bottle tends to go a long way

[TheRoff]

Tonight I am sipping my first bottle of Woodford Reserve, 90.4 proof. Now why they measure that .4 is beyond me. I have read the several threads here describing the bourbon here, and find my tasting agrees. Essentially it is a nice little bourbon. I get some caramel and orange in the nose, but that kind of disappears in the taste. It is smooth and pleasant with a tiny after taste. Ah, my wife liked it………

[robbyvirus]

Tonight I'm having a sip of Michter's Bourbon. While it's a pretty good bourbon, I paid about $50 for this bottle down at a store in Costa Mesa, California (the only place I've run across it), and frankly, I think that's overpriced for the taste. It has a hint of a "grassy" flavor, which I don't particularly care for. It's also just rather undistinguished in my book. Too bad, because the bottle is really cool looking.

[furbis]

I am currently trying some of the knob creek that I bought with the wild turkey 101, the knob creek seems to go down a little smoother and does not have as harsh of a finish or after taste. but I liked them both and will try some more WT later today.

what a fun way to spend a sunday afternoon, sippin bourbon and surfin the net

[bluesbassdad]

I think I'll join you, but somewhat in reverse. Prompted by the periodic sale on WT101 at my local Rite-Aid ($12.99 -- can you believe it?), I've been drinking WT the last couple of days. Last night I needed a change, so I switched to Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel. Welp, that was too much change. Although the nutmeg/cinnamon taste was more pleasant than I recalled from my previous encounter, it was still a bit of a shock.

A taste of Knob Creek this afternoon sounds like just the ticket to edge back into the mainstream of bourbon flavor profiles. In the past I've liked KC only while in a bar, listening to a blues band. In the daylight I've found it a bit rough (except for that embarrasing time when I rated it ahead of my claimed favorite in a blind tasting ). In short, I still have a way to go before I make up my mind about Knob Creek.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[bluesbassdad]

Did I really say I might not like Knob Creek in the daylight? Or was that some other Dave?

This afternoon it tastes just like your basic bourbon ought to taste (you know, caramel, vanilla, sweet corn on the cob, yada-yada...) with the addition of cinnamon, wild cherry (as in Luden cough drops) and a light touch of newly tanned leather. I noticed last night that Trader Joe's has some more in at only $19.95. I guess I'd better pick up a back-up bottle.

And now I'm noticing that the finish is considerably more graceful (a gentle, lingering sweetness) than the WT101 I've been drinking lately, which really overdoes the tanned leather bit.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[ratcheer]

I will wait a little while longer before going back to Knob Creek. To me, it is best enjoyed on very cool late fall evenings or icy winter evenings (or afternoons). As I said a year or two ago, the KC taste makes me daydream about being in a hunting lodge way back in the woods, with nothing else to keep you warm except a big fireplace.

It hasn't quite cooled down in these parts, yet.

Tim

[ratcheer]

Dave, I almost said "leather" in my last post about KC (just a minute ago, in this thread). That is part of what about KC evokes "hunting lodge" for me.

Tim

[bluesbassdad]

Sometimes I envy those of you who live in climates with distinct seasons. If I were to wait for cold weather before trying Knob Creek, it would never happen -- unless I ventured into the nearby mountains.

Today I'd guess the temperature touched 90 deg. F. here, all the while with ash from the numerous wildfires (the nearest, 25 miles away) drifting down from the sky, coating cars, sidewalks and slow-moving creatures.

A heavy snowfall, a medium drizzle, or even merely the cessation of the dry, hot winds (so-called "Santa Anas") would be a blessing for the firefighters and the many additional people who will lose their homes over the next few days.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[robbyvirus]

It's about 90 degrees today in San Francisco as well, which is quite unusual up here...and because of that no one has air-conditioning, unfortunately. Still, we can be thankful there are none of the terrible fires up here that they're having down in the L.A. area. My heart goes out to those people...I was here ten years ago for the Oakland Hills firestorm, and that's a sight I will never forget.

Anyway, I'm kicking back today with a glass of AAA. This bourbon is very light to me, and to me it's most enjoyable on a hot day...very smooth and relaxing.

[TheRoff]

I am indeed sorry to hear about and read about those fires and winds in SOCAL, and the high temperature in SF (my favorite city). It is definitely warmer than usual here in Maryland for this time of year and its raining, again. However, that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying sips from my first bottle of Buffalo Trace 90 proof. Very nice. Lots of fruit in the nose and taste. Velvety aftertaste. At $12.99 a bottle, this is good stuff. I think a side by side tasting of this and Woodford Reserve is coming soon. I am enjoying this new hobby.

[Buckky]

I like it but Chuck Cowdery correctly stated, as always, that Jim Beam Black is Booker's at 90proof......so why not save money? Booker's is the only Small Batch in my top ten...only Baker's gets any further attention from me.

[SteelerFan]

OGD 114 I need something strong to help me get

my sleep cycle back on track. Maybe i'll follow this with a little Booker's

[MurphyDawg]

I am having Wathens tonight, one of the bourbons I think of as a winter warmer, as there will be no warmth out this way tonight! (low 33 high 47 tomorrow), though I will say I would much rather have the cold than a forest fire. . .

TomC

[Vinnie]

It's damn near perfect bourbon weather up here in Alaska. New snow on the ground,which will probaly linger til about April. I was glad to see Knob Creek on sale at the local store and picked up a bottle to keep me company. I highly recommend sipping bourbon while watching the northern lights dance across the sky. Without a doubt,one of lifes simple pleasures.

[jeff]

Started the evening with a small pour of Jefferson's and then moved on to a more generous glass of Wild Turkey 12yo. Wow, is this night and day or what? The Jefferson's was slightly hot and lifeless, while the WT12 is smooth, mellow and refined. My stash is getting low, guess I'll have to suck it up and buy those bottles soon.

[CL]

Baker's. It has become my go-to drink on the road when the best selection is Beam's small batch collection. I actually like this bourbon - it goes well neat in a snifter - it is somewhat light, sweet, and easy to drink. Plus, it's paid for with the expense account. (Heck, it better be for $10 a shot!) I don't think I would ever buy a bottle, though. In NC, it runs $35. I can think of many more bourbons I would buy for that or less before I would buy Baker's.

Right now, I am in the Westin in Santa Clara, CA, in the lobby bar using the free wireless with my business laptop. I just ordered a dim sum plate for dinner. I am out here for two days of worthless meetings. I need to catch up on my real work at night - no big deal - I am on the road and don't mind working at night. What better place to do it than in a bar with a bourbon at my side? Because I am in Silicon Valley, so it's not unusual for someone to have a laptop opened up in the hotel bar. And it's California, so I am not sitting in a haze of cigarette smoke. Better than being stuck up in the hotel room!