Greetings...

[TommyBoy]

Hello to everyone on the board,

I am a new member to the board and, also, a new member to the world of bourbon. In fact, I just had my very first experience with bourbon this evening, at the age of 34. What inspired it is the fact that I am a pool enthusiast, and I just recently read the novels "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money". As everyone on this board must already know, Eddie Felson's drink of choice is J.T.S. Brown bourbon.

Having never tried bourbon before in my entire life, I set out to locate some J.T.S. Brown bourbon to see what it is like. I quickly discovered that J.T.S. Brown is damn near impossible to locate (I have called nearly every liquor store in Houston). I then began searching online, and quickly came across this site.

I never knew that there was a community completely dedicated to bourbon, but I find the information on this site, and the posts on this board fascinating. I do have several questions, though. Why does everyone on this board seem to have an issue with Maker's Mark? It seems as if many people new to bourbon started with Maker's Mark, and I am no exception. I have had a couple of glasses tonight, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Undoubtedly my sense of taste is nowhere near as developed as experienced bourbon drinkers, but why the apparent animosity? Is it just the cost? I didn't think that the cost was too much compared to the other bourbons I found. Perhaps the bottle was about $5 more, on average, but that seems minor. Is there an issue with the flavor of it? Do y'all just find it unejoyable to drink? If so, what others do you suggest?

Anyway, I am enjoying my first forays into this new experience, and I look forward to sampling many different bourbons in the future.

Tom.

[MurphyDawg]

First off: WELCOME TO BOURBONIA!!

JTS is pretty common in Ohio, but I wouldnt waste your time with it now. Its a bottom shelf bottling and while cheap and not horribly offensive its isnt really that good either.

Alot has been said over and over again about Maker's Mark and I wont say too much more now. The gist of how I feel is this. At the $14.XX price that Sam' is running at right now it is a good bourbon worthy of having around, at the $20+ price I usually have to pay for it there are several much better bourbons (even a few better wheated bourbons) out there to buy. I choose to spend my money on the others.

Tom (not a MM hater, honest) C

[jeff]

I asked the same question early on in my forum days. I personally am a fan of Maker's Mark. I particularly enjoy this one on the rocks on a warm afternoon. Yeah, a lot of people here don't think too much of it, but you must understand that our forum here is filled with bourbon purists, and we over- analize everything I say, "Drink up and enjoy what you like!"

Glad to have you here on Straightbourbon.com

[bobbyc]

Welcome to the board, Tom. As far as JTS Brown goes, It's Heaven Hill Bourbon and by any measure, No matter what you pay for it , It is a good value. It's what is called a Dog and Cat label, Distilleries own hundreds of labels and there is no advertising budget for them. They just run the stuff every now and then, it gets sold. This has happened a lot when an original distillery goes out of business or is sold , but their brand lives on.

Maker's Mark; If you like it that's fine, you may find you will like VanWinkle products better at some point,Maybe Old Fitzgerald as well. They use wheat instead of rye for the small grain.

Maker's sells every drop they make, they have brand recognition on the level of Nike,Toyota,Dell. They are doing something right. Jim Beam isn't well liked by everyone, I have to ask, Who makes Distillers Masterpiece?

What am I trying to say? No much really. We are at the present time seeing a lot of super premium Bourbons introduced. Just because something costs 50 bucks doesn't mean it's great, it should offer something over and above, what that is will depend more on your taste and expectations than any thing else. We've all made a fetish out of very old bourbon, very exclusive bourbon and very expensive bourbon. Sometimes we feel like we are most at home with a bottle of Jim Beam Black or Evan Williams 7 year. It's a journey, welcome here and enjoy.

<font color="red">Good God Give Neil Pert Some </font>

[TNbourbon]

Like many others here, I find Maker's Mark drinkable, but other cheaper bourbons better (W.L. Weller's Special Reserve 7yo, for example). I also regret MM's failure to capitalize fully on its opportunity to excel -- it's an almost completely hand-crafted, small(ish)-batch bourbon, from an historic, scenic, quite wonderful distillery locale, and yet it seems a rather ordinary drink from those circumstances. I entirely wish I enjoyed drinking the bourbon as much as I enjoy visiting the distillery and watching it made, but it just isn't so.

[MurphyDawg]

Sometimes we feel like we are most at home with a bottle of Jim Beam Black or Evan Williams 7 year. It's a journey, welcome here and enjoy.

Yep a nice pour of Old Forester 86 on the rocks is just good for the soul sometimes.

Tom (reminded of the roots) C

[MurphyDawg]

bourbon purists, and we over- analize everything

What are you trying to say there, BUB .

LOL in all honesty, Jeff here has hit it on the head. the most important thing to know is if you like it or not, and if you do like it, don't let myself, or anybody else (i.e. the Bobby n' Jeff "All Hail Stagg" society. . .) sway you from your opinion. I think its overpriced so I dont buy MM, If you dont then buy away. Your supporting the bourbon industry either way. Now, If you offered it to me, I'd enjoy the hell out of it.

TomC

[jimbo]

Well, I am also a new bourbon drinker, although fairly experienced as a scotch drinker. I don't find anything objectionable about Maker's Mark. It just doesn't have much taste. To me, it is a soooth and mellow but bland whiskey. The price is certainly not an issue for me, single malt scotch is much more pricey. If you like the smooth, mellow, bland style, enjoy Maker's Mark. If you would like to try something with more character and flavor try Elijah Craig 12 yr, Knob Creek 9 yr or Wild Turkey 101.

Regards, jimbo

<font color="blue"> Why does everyone on this board seem to have an issue with Maker's Mark? It seems as if many people new to bourbon started with Maker's Mark, and I am no exception. I have had a couple of glasses tonight, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Undoubtedly my sense of taste is nowhere near as developed as experienced bourbon drinkers, but why the apparent animosity? Is it just the cost? I didn't think that the cost was too much compared to the other bourbons I found. Perhaps the bottle was about $5 more, on average, but that seems minor. Is there an issue with the flavor of it? Do y'all just find it unejoyable to drink? If so, what others do you suggest? </font>

[jeff]

Good God Give Neil Pert Some

I didn't know you were a Rush fan Bobby?

[bobbyc]

I had never heard of them , then saw them on Don Kirshners " Rock Concert" I was swept away by the fact that here is 3 guys that sound like 6. Of course I thought ZZTop was bigger than a trio also.

<font color="brown">Good God Give Cozy Powell Some </font>

[CL]

Don't even put my beloved Old Forrester in the same class as JB White and JD Black! Dems fighting words!

[mickblueeyes]

CL, I thought I was the only person who felt that way about Old Forester!!! I love the stuff!!

[CL]

Welcome to the OFo fan club. Jeff is a bona fide OFo fan as well. We've had a few discussions about OFo 100 going downhill in the last year, but I hear that early reports are that the new black diamond labelled-bottles in KY are back in sync. (They haven't reached NC yet.)

I had the OFo 86 only in bars during my long summer in KY this past year, but I never found its flavor to have faded like the OFo 100 I bought here in NC and that Jeff had in Lexington, KY.

[mickblueeyes]

I love the 100 proof! For a cheap bottle, it doesn't get much better. The 86 proof is a steal at 12 bucks. I have told several of my Woodford customers about it and laugh when they tell me they don't like it. I know that Woodford is the "honey barrels" but the flavors have definite overlap. Great stuff IMO.

[CL]

And the OFo has more flavor to it, IMHO. More to explore and enjoy, plus many bucks left in your wallet.

I find that its the perfect house pour. I enjoy it neat myself, but, because of its low price, I don't cringe when guests want to mix it with Coke. Of course, since I just said that, I still have a bottle of the skanky OFo 100 that I WANT to get rid of. Someone, please come over and drink it! (BTW, it's not worth mailing to any one of your all's bourbon disposal services!). My wife won't let me replace it with another bottle until it's gone. Just think, I could have a bottle of EC 12 yo there. (I have run out of room in the liquor cabinet!)

[tommy]

RUSH puts on a mean show! I haven't seen them since the early 90's--are they still around?

Tom(my) Sawyer

[MurphyDawg]

whoa nelly!! the quote I used from bobby referred to Evan Williams 7 year and Jim Beam Black!!, both far superior to JB white and that JD stuff.

I love Old Forester 86!! I would never say anything to defame it, it is one of the great bourbon deals i can get regularly!

TomC

[MurphyDawg]

but I hear that early reports are that the new black diamond labelled-bottles in KY are back in sync.

I can personally attest to the fact that the Black Label Old Forester (BIB) is as good as could be. Maybe you guys just got a bad lot. . .

Tom (Yum) C

[CL]

Just teasing ya, MD. I know you weren't getting down on OFo 86. And thanks for catching my error on JD.

[ratcheer]

I love OF too, but I always buy the 100 proof instead of 86.

Tim