General consensus "best" bourbons?

[No_Reception]

I used to scoff at and never look at the bottom shelf. That is until I tried Ancient Ancient Age 10 Year. Better than Blanton's IMO and at a fraction of the price.

Go to a good whiskey bar that has a big selection and try lots of different kinds. I've found some of my favorite bourbons that way. You could also try Jim Murray's whiskey bible. Although I don't always agree with it, or people on this board. It has steered me away from trying things with bad reps and trying things I wouldn't normally have tried that I love.

[TunnelTiger]

There are numerous bottom shelf Bourbons (meaning less than $20 a bottle) that I enjoy and would put up against the top self that would include 4RYL, WT101, AAA10Star, EWBIB, OGDBIB, OC 10 yr.

[JPBoston]

When comparing Bourbons it is important to remember higher price does not mean higher quality. It usually means limited edition, limited supply or, in the case of Pappy, a cult following. It wasn't that long ago when 10 year old Ancient Age sold for a dollar or two more per bottle than Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year (the forerunner of Lot because there was a higher demand for AAA.

I maintain the highest quality Bourbons on the market today are those limited editions or single barrel brands which are personally selected by Master Distillers to be the highest expressions of their products. Four Roses LEs, Blantons, Lee, Rock Hills, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, Evan Williams Single Barrel and others in that category including private barrel selections made by various stores around the Country. Which of these taste best is something only you can judge but when it comes to quality they are equals among peers.

Stagg, Saz 18, Handy, Van Winkles cost more because they are small production and demand exceeds supply. The various 15-25 year old Bourbons and Ryes put out by the NDPs are priced according to what the market will bear but are no higher quality than Evan Williams Single Barrel and most are not as good.

What price/quality point you ask? Well, anything over $50.00 and you're paying for a label. Some labels (Stagg, Four Roses LEs) are worth up to $75 for many consumers because they offer a unique taste experience, but their actual quality is no higher than ones costing half as much.

So drink what you like. The way I see it if folks turn up their nose at my offer of some Old Grand Dad BIB then that's too high tone a company for me to be hanging around with anyway.

Very well said, Squire. I agree completely.

For the record, I'd dance a jig if someone ever offered me a pour of OGD BIB while visiting. I still don't have any 'real life' friends who enjoy bourbon.

[kjbeggs]

This in no way represents a list of what I consider the best bourbons (a list which constantly evolves anyway), and kind of emphasizes Squire's point, but it might give you an idea of what gets pushed as "The Best".

I posted this in a different thread a few days ago:

Liquor Barn’s 2013 Top Dollar Bourbons

• Michter’s 20-year-old Single Barrel Bourbon, $470
  
• Jefferson’s Presidential Select 30 year, $310
  
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 year, $260
  
• Jefferson’s Ocean 2013, $250
  
• Jefferson’s Presidential Select 25 Year, $200
  
• Willett Family Estate Bourbon 21 year, $160
  
• Elijah Craig 21-year-old Single Barrel, $150
  
• Angel’s Envy Cask Strength, $150
  
• Jefferson’s Presidential Select 21 year, $150
  
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 year, $140
  
• Parker’s Heritage Collection Seventh Edition, $100
  
• Four Roses Secretariat 40th Anniversary Triple Crown Bourbon, $100
  
• Michter’s 10-year-old Single Barrel Bourbon, $85
  
• Four Roses 2013 Limited Edition Small Batch, $81
  
• Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Bourbons, $80
  
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 year (107 proof), $80
  

Some of these, I haven't tried, and likely never will. Others I have and wouldn't include in my current "Top Five". (which currently includes $120 hard-to-find PVW 20, and sub-$20 easy to find OGD114).

Edited March 30, 2014 by kjbeggs

[squire]

Only two on that list interest me, Parkers and Four Roses LE.

[bingstein]

This was a tough question until Four Roses 125th came out. Now it's pretty easy.

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[jwacky]

I get what you're asking. To me, the best bourbons when factoring in price, quality, and general availability are the Four Roses private selection, barrel strength single barrels. Unique recipes and a $55-$60 price point? Yes, please. Even if you can't find them all locally they're easy to come by online. Organize a group purchase and split the bottles. Very drinkable barrel proof so no water is needed.

[cowdery]

I hate this question so much. It's contrary to all the values of the whiskey enthusiasm. Also, 'general consensus' is redundant. 'Consensus' means 'general agreement' so you're saying "general general agreement." Please please don't don't do do that that.

[tylermke]

I don't not like double negatives.

[garbanzobean]

Unquestionably Old Blowhard and Barterhouse. Diageo told me so!

The annual releases I look for are GTS, ER17, WLW, the Four Roses Small Batch and Single Barrel LEs . . . and I guess that's about it. Depending on critic and peer input, I will look for PHC and OFBB releases. I think everyone should try 20+ year old bourbon at least once. That's probably something your friend could accomplish at a bar, though.

[squire]

I believe it's the nature of a whisky enthusiast to want to try them all once. I actually need to buy a bottle rather than a drink at a bar because I want to evaluate the whisky over time, but I realize that's not practical for most with today's prices.

[flahute]

I believe it's the nature of a whisky enthusiast to want to try them all once. I actually need to buy a bottle rather than a drink at a bar because I want to evaluate the whisky over time, but I realize that's not practical for most with today's prices.

This is true for me and is why I dove in fully when I first started. As a result, I have some high price bottles that I really love, and some that I regret. But, I am glad to have tried them, and in a couple cases, actually changed my mind quite a bit on a couple which means I might have written them off with only one pour at a bar. Still, as I find more bottom and mid shelfers that I like, I'm becoming less interested $200+ Jefferson ultra aged options out there.

[squire]

When I say try them all once I mean all the different styles or Limited Edition expressions. I don't mean every label because I exclude NDPs because none of those things are worth more than an Limited Edition personally selected by Jim Rutledge. For that matter I won't buy any whisky unless I know who made it.

[flahute]

When I say try them all once I mean all the different styles or Limited Edition expressions. I don't mean every label because I exclude NDPs because none of those things are worth more than an Limited Edition personally selected by Jim Rutledge. For that matter I won't buy any whisky unless I know who made it.

I knew what you meant, but didn't convey that properly. I wasn't as discriminating at first, but have gotten there quickly which is why I walk past the Jefferson products (and others like them) at this point.

I'm also a little late in getting to the Four Roses family but am finding myself more and more impressed the more I try. (And there's a lot to try!)

[squire]

Four Roses certainly has some interesting things cooking, I hope that Rutledge heritage remains after he retires.

[Vadertime]

Whatever you can afford/find is a good answer. Its a bit tough to differentiate as there are so many variables, even among the same juice (most of HH products for example). Over here in Taiwan it is a bit tricky to find anything, adding to this difficulty is that anything with a cork is likely "corked." Bourbon doesn't sell all that well over here, so it often sits in hot warehouses and gets a nasty cork taste via inside the bottle evaporation and condensation. Some very nice 01 Blanton's I have has been ruined thus (I have tried 2 different bottles and both corky), and pretty much everything with a cork I have purchased over the past few years seems to have some taint (even though it may have been very subtle). The cork taste is a flatness in the follow which can be so strong that it tastes like cork. Unless you know what it is it can blend in with rye spice for a strange follow if it is subtle. I have read that pouring hooch into a PE lined bowl will leech out this taste, but I am not sure if 50% alcohol should be in contact with PE wrap.

So for me in my current situation, the best answer is the best juice I can get with a screw cap. Luckily there is some EW BIB and 1783 coming over soon, and I have shrinking stash of 1993/4 WT in 200ml bottles. Otherwise it would be something like Makers of JBB- not ideal in any way.

[squire]

Interesting you should mention that Vader, I've long suspected a hot, unairconditioned warehouse is the worst possible place to store cork closure bottles of whisky.

[corpse_welder]

This in no way represents a list of what I consider the best bourbons (a list which constantly evolves anyway), and kind of emphasizes Squire's point, but it might give you an idea of what gets pushed as "The Best".

I posted this in a different thread a few days ago:

Liquor Barn’s 2013 Top Dollar Bourbons

• Michter’s 20-year-old Single Barrel Bourbon, $470

• Jefferson’s Presidential Select 30 year, $310

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 year, $260

• Jefferson’s Ocean 2013, $250

• Jefferson’s Presidential Select 25 Year, $200

• Willett Family Estate Bourbon 21 year, $160

• Elijah Craig 21-year-old Single Barrel, $150

• Angel’s Envy Cask Strength, $150

• Jefferson’s Presidential Select 21 year, $150

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 year, $140

• Parker’s Heritage Collection Seventh Edition, $100

• Four Roses Secretariat 40th Anniversary Triple Crown Bourbon, $100

• Michter’s 10-year-old Single Barrel Bourbon, $85

• Four Roses 2013 Limited Edition Small Batch, $81

• Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Bourbons, $80

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 year (107 proof), $80

Some of these, I haven't tried, and likely never will. Others I have and wouldn't include in my current "Top Five". (which currently includes $120 hard-to-find PVW 20, and sub-$20 easy to find OGD114).

[corpse_welder]

I hate this question so much. It's contrary to all the values of the whiskey enthusiasm. Also, 'general consensus' is redundant. 'Consensus' means 'general agreement' so you're saying "general general agreement." Please please don't don't do do that that.

[squire]

The term general consensus has been adopted into the vernacular and by consensus is generally accepted. Everyone knows what it means. The term is not entirely redundant though because standing along the word general does not convey the same meaning as consensus. The proper term is of course general agreement but just because someone speaks properly doesn't mean he's a guy I can hunt with. My favorite guide can murder a sentence but when he talks about the type cover pheasants will seek during snow you get a clear mental image and, if you pay attention, learn something about hunting them.

A facility with the use of words doesn't mean you actually have anything to say.

[kjbeggs]

While this has nothing to do with the original question, I did want to comment about an aspect of my personal Bourbon "Journey".

I started out buying mostly off the middle-shelf (price-point speaking), in an effort to avoid what I thought could possibly be "bad" bourbons. As I learned more and began paying more attention to releases, I started to move to top-shelf, and limited release bourbons, mostly to expand my experience, and to see what made those expensive whiskeys worth the price. Now with more experience under my belt, and a fairly good understanding of what I like ("I" being the key word here), I'm currently exploring the bottom-shelf, and finding some fantastic bourbons there.

So, if asked to make a list of my own personal top ten, there'd be selections from Top, Middle, and Bottom shelves.

[squire]

I couldn't have said it better kj.

[TunnelTiger]

That's where I was 3-4 months ago. Lately I've deserted the mid shelf and have concentrated on bottom and top

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[dSculptor]

I used to be top shelf all the way,...hardly look up there anymore. My best bourbons are the ones that are readily available at a readily available price!

[squire]

I'd rather have two Dants than one NDP.