General consensus "best" bourbons?

[AaronWF]

How is Jack not bourbon?

[squire]

I think it is . . . . . . . . . . .

[Paddy]

Jack and Jim are the consensus for the average q public. That's where all the marketing AND revenue money is!

We are not the average q, so when asked, we pose a conundrum herein (as is painfully visible in this thread).

[JPBoston]

Even when I knew nothing about bourbon... my friends and I always considered MM in a class above JD, JB, and even WT

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[TunnelTiger]

The JD drinkers I know, and there are a lot of them. almost act cult like. Not all bad because I can take almost any bottle of bourbon to a get together and nobody pours from it.

They do think me strange.

[squire]

Yes, I met a guy with the JD hat, belt buckle, Tennessee Squire and all sorts of JD stuff around his house. I idly asked him when was his first visit to the distillery and he allowed as how he had never been there but, one day . . .

[s8ist]

Gentleman Jack led the way for me being a true bourbon enthusiast, so I've got no bone to pick with anyone that's enjoying JD on a daily basis.

[jcg9779]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that Bourbon Supreme hasn't been mentioned yet. After all, it says Supreme right there on the label and is the favorite and house bourbon of our very own Smokinjoe! His general consensus of agreement is that it is right up there with the best. A hint of wet cardboard and old dog you say? That's what makes it taste good!

[squire]

Bourbon Supreme, when you care enough to serve the very best.

[DBM]

It was answered brilliantly by Squire and kjbeggs.

Also, you know...Jack ain't bourbon.

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Knob Creek Single Barrel and Jack Daniel's Single Barrel are the two that are always in my collection. Blanton's SB and Bookers are the top of the mark for what I spend my money on. When in the mood for a wheater I enjoy Weller 12yr. PVW and Stagg come along in limited quanties where I am; I couldn't be bothered putting my name in a raffle, or lining up 3hrs before the store opens for the release just to have the privilege of buying a bottle.

[dcbt]

Gentleman Jack led the way for me being a true bourbon enthusiast, so I've got no bone to pick with anyone that's enjoying JD on a daily basis.

That was the first bourbon I ever really tried also, but recently went back to it so see how it stood up just for kicks. It might as well have been water. Just no flavor and didn't do anything for me anymore.

[DaveOfAtl]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that Bourbon Supreme hasn't been mentioned yet. After all, it says Supreme right there on the label and is the favorite and house bourbon of our very own Smokinjoe! His general consensus of agreement is that it is right up there with the best. A hint of wet cardboard and old dog you say? That's what makes it taste good!

Edited April 3, 2014 by DaveOfAtl

[smokinjoe]

Speaking of Bourbon Supreme, it looks like Joe's influence was enough to get Local Three to put it on their menu. (Lest you all think less of the establishment, the following section is titled "straight bourbon" and is two pages long.)

[DaveOfAtl]

Heck, I have already turned Chops onto the BS. It's been their feature bourbon for a couple of years, now...

I'm sure Kevin stocked it because he got sick of you drinking all the Four Roses!

[Restaurant man]

I'm sure Kevin stocked it because he got sick of you drinking all the Four Roses!

Bait and switch. Or switch and bait. Or what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Or whatever. As for the best bourbon, why any bottle that says Four Roses is the obvious answer. And anyone who would disagree with that is just silly and clearly not generally part of the general consensus. ?

[Tucker]

Ask Siri.

[DaveOfAtl]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

(not actually laughing quite that hard but had to get to 16 characters)

[squire]

I think I know that guy.

[Guy Debord]

When I first started coming to SB I encountered most of these tensions. I would ask "what's good guys!" only to be met with hostility for asking. The "gatekeepers of bourbon" don't want to tell you what to buy or try even though they know. They would rather you stumble around for years spending your hard earned money to develop your taste for this hobby. It's an old school "pay your dues" fraternity culture on SB. It somehow goes against their code of ethics to give you tips, which is why they don't type the names of bourbon. They make the uninitiated mysteriously decode everything from EC12 and FRSB to ETL (how long does it take type Elmer Lee?). Let's face it, we're all consumers and if we are curious about this subject we might need help. If you have committed to this site then you're probably really interested in bourbon, which means you deserve knowledge. Knowledge should be free, not come at a the price of buying every bourbon on the market once.

I love these! Each of one has been endorsed by most members of this site and are available at most stores. I hope you buy them and enjoy them as much as I have! Good luck in the bourbon journey!

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel $30

Old Weller 12yr $25

Buffalo Trace $25

Elijah Craig 12yr $30

Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10yr $30

Four Roses Single Barrel OBSV and OBSK taste great $40

Four Roses Small Batch $30

Evan Williams Single Barrel 10yr $25

Rittenhouse Rye $25

Old Grand Dad 114 proof $25

[tigerlam92]

Guy's list is a good start for some to start off with.

However if the OP is truly asking for the best bourbons, then this is also an example of why some are hesitant to share best bourbon list. What is best to someone could be just a regular pour to another or worse, a major segment may not even like it.

The best answer thus far is from Squire, which is the best bourbon available today are most likely one specially selected by the master distiller and even then you will have to try it to know if you even like it.

If he is asking for best bourbon in the context of best bourbon of all times like the best baseball player of all times that is different. In bourbon, most people will exclaim this is the best only because this is the best that they had tried, which depending on the person could be limited in what they had been exposed to and some of the greatest bourbons are so hard to fine most have not even tried it. It's like asking what is the best baseball player and people are exclaiming only names of players they had seen playing live or even on TV which is also quite limited. So for baseball players, the names goes back into history to people we have heard, studied, admired, or learned not just who is playing today professionally. Is this the context OP is asking for bourbon, a little searching and studying this is also on SB.com? I have my all time best for consideration but many would disagree as well. I have a list of top 10 best of all times which I bet many may only have 3 that matches mine and even then would not be in the same position.

So a simple list of what is best to start out with, Guy's list is a good start and there are many threads on this? What is consider the best say to give as a gift to your father in law to be and available today, then Squire's suggestion.

Answering this question was what brought me to SB.com years ago. I am still here because I'm still searching. (But for me I think I have found it but that answer only for works me. . . . And like other said, I do expect that things will change with new experience, new offering, new sampling of bottles long gone, or simply I changed, etc)

[mosugoji64]

When I first started coming to SB I encountered most of these tensions. I would ask "what's good guys!" only to be met with hostility for asking. The "gatekeepers of bourbon" don't want to tell you what to buy or try even though they know. They would rather you stumble around for years spending your hard earned money to develop your taste for this hobby. It's an old school "pay your dues" fraternity culture on SB. It somehow goes against their code of ethics to give you tips, which is why they don't type the names of bourbon. They make the uninitiated mysteriously decode everything from EC12 and FRSB to ETL (how long does it take type Elmer Lee?). Let's face it, we're all consumers and if we are curious about this subject we might need help. If you have committed to this site then you're probably really interested in bourbon, which means you deserve knowledge. Knowledge should be free, not come at a the price of buying every bourbon

I don't think that's entirely accurate, Guy. There just isn't a consensus to be had. I like things that others consider vomit -inducing swill and vice versa. We can recommend bottles to try but the only way to figure out what YOU like is to get out there and do some sampling. You won't find a more generous, helpful bunch than the members here, but no one can or should tell you what is good or bad. That's for you to decide.

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[squire]

Guy I hope you find my answers well intentioned and somewhat useful. I can easily say what I like and why but I don't know what you might like. If friends ask me for a wine recommendation I can somewhat match the choice to the menu but lacking knowledge of what they may like in spirits (Smoky Scotch, caramely Bourbon) for a whisky recommendation I have to fall back on something crowd pleasing like Makers Mark, Four Roses Yellow Label, or, if they will only be serving it in cocktails, Evan Williams.

Unfortunately there is no scale (ranking points be damned) such as the top 10, the next ranking 20, the following 50, etc., it just doesn't work that way. There's a helluva lot of taste and quality difference between a highest end Cognac and the store label brand but that sort of rule doesn't apply to Bourbon because all of Beam, Buffalo Trace or Heaven Hill Bourbons are the same quality off the still, the brand differences being age, warehouse location and barrel selection.

So I can't recommend what you will like, only what you might try to get started on developing your personal choices.

[DaveOfAtl]

There is no "best" just different. If you like a lot of wood and caramel sweetness, there are numerous good bourbons to try. If you are partial to younger less tannic flavors, there are loads of those too. Soft wheatears or spicy high rye bourbon, that makes a big difference. There are great examples in each class. Asking for a "best" list in the abstract will yield highly personalized results, which is why there aren't too many lists being offered. Besides, everyone knows Pappy is the best. Just ask Google.

[TunnelTiger]

Agree with tigerl's post 100%. While I like a lot of the bottles Guy listed others are just not worth the $$ to"me" and this is why you just have to try them to know.

I've also found that going back to something that I did not previously enjoy (WT101 in particular) is also a worthwhile pursuit. I don't think the product changed but rather I've changed since I started this journey.