Not to sound snobbish but..

[bourboNcigars]

When I pick up a bottle of bourbon that I feel may interest me soon has I see it's under 90 proof I dismiss it, even at 90 I question if it deserves to come home with me..do you guys have similar thoughts? Also am I cheating myself by thinking this way and there are some bourbons in the 80 to 90 worth considering?

[suntour]

Gotta agree and say no. Bourbon should be 100 proof. Only low alcohol bourbon I can think of is dusty. Fryl is ok.

[Tucker]

The only regular bourbon purchases I've made in the past several years under 90 proof have been AAA 10 year, Evan Williams single barrel, and Four Roses yellow label. The AAA 10 year is no more, the EWSB is usually solid and the FR YL has its purpose. Other than that, I'm pretty much 90+.

[jonnyd]

I agree Tucker. I stick to 90 or above excepting those you already mentioned.

[Flyfish]

Also am I cheating myself by thinking this way and there are some bourbons in the 80 to 90 worth considering?

Seems easy enough to test. Have someone pour you some 86 and 90 proof bourbons. If you can't tell the difference of 2%ABV (4 proof points), there's a good chance you are cheating yourself. Unless absolutely 100% of every bourbon you drink is taken neat (i.e., without a cube or a drop of water), then BIB or barrel strength doesn't mean anything. More alcohol carries more flavor but the minute you put ice or water or (heaven forbid) some soft drink in it, all bets are off. Generally speaking, I'm with Tucker but the SB Prime Directive is to taste it yourself.

[bourboNcigars]

No way soda in it and bourbon with ice never touch my taste buds it's a crime to me lol all my bourbons and rye are neat or with a tear drop of water

[jonnyd]

I seldom, if ever, drink my bourbon at bottle strength if it's 90 or above. That is why I like them that high. I can adjust the proof to my liking.

[Flyfish]

No way soda in it and bourbon with ice never touch my taste buds it's a crime to me lol all my bourbons and rye are neat or with a tear drop of water

The question remains, do you really think you can tell the difference between 86 and 90? If you are not up for a blind tasting, take your favorite 90 proofer and adjust it down to 86. (There is an SB formula for that.) I have a friend who doesn't like red-headed women. Is he cheating himself? It's his loss. Like him, you are allowed to establish your own criteria for beauty and what tastes good to you.

[mbroo5880i]

I used to think that way because many of the early bourbons I tried were lower proof and I didn't like them. Further, I often drank them either mixed with soda (Beam and Coke or Sprite) or on the rocks. Now, I rarely drink bourbon other than neat or with a cube of ice. One reason is that it affects the flavor and experience, but another reason is it results in me drinking it too fast.

While my preferred proof range is 90 to 110, there are several bourbons I enjoy with proofs lower than 90. As with age, proof is just one element that affects the whiskey. I enjoy Evan Williams Single Barrel, AAA10, Angel's Envy, and OGD.

[squire]

My first choice is BIB but I certainly have no problem with 80 or 86 proof.

[kjbeggs]

For me, it's just phases, or moods of the day. Like going through your high-end phase, then your mid and bottom shelf phase. You can find something you really like on all of them. Same with the proofs. I may feel like some Barrel proof for a few days, then dial it back a bit the next week. I seldom dip below 90, but have found enjoyable pours at 80 proof.

[mbroo5880i]

For me, it's just phases, or moods of the day.

Ain't that the truth! Sometimes you also just have to go with what's available.

[bourboNcigars]

The question remains, do you really think you can tell the difference between 86 and 90? If you are not up for a blind tasting, take your favorite 90 proofer and adjust it down to 86. (There is an SB formula for that.) I have a friend who doesn't like red-headed women. Is he cheating himself? It's his loss. Like him, you are allowed to establish your own criteria for beauty and what tastes good to you.

i will have to put this to the test and see if i can not only just tell the difference but i will rate each glass on a point system in different categories and then add up the totals and then have the reveal done on which glass is 86 and which is 90..would not surprise me if my testing scores give the 86 higher..but will have to wait and see

[393foureyedfox]

When I pick up a bottle of bourbon that I feel may interest me soon has I see it's under 90 proof I dismiss it, even at 90 I question if it deserves to come home with me..do you guys have similar thoughts?

100% agree. below 90, I wont buy it. Someone hands it to me, I'll drink it, but I'm not buying a bottle for home. The only sub 100 proofers I routinely buy are Larceny, HH 6/90, and rarely....Dickel 12. With the Dickel, I liked D12, but once I had the 9 year /103 proof, the D12 falls far short by comparison.

Depends on the brand profile too. I think HH products lend themselves best to 90-110 proof. Beams are best over 100 proof and really, really fall short below it. Dickel takes off over 100 with full flavor and surprisingly little burn, and would love to try it barrel proof. OGD is such a full rich profile, I plan to order an 80/86 proof shot at a bar soon, just to see how a deep profile like OGD does at 80 proof....I imagine it may be able to carry it off, but, I'll see.

[amg]

The Evan Williams Single Barrel is almost always excellent, even at 86.6 proof. I can imagine it would be even better at a higher strength, though.

[risenc]

Not snobbish, but I gotta think you're missing something -- FR, HH, these guys know how to make a tasty whiskey below 90.

Where I apply your rule is to anything craft. If nothing else, I appreciate the confidence of a new distiller who puts out a high-proof whiskey. And this may sound unfair, but in my experience sub-90 craft whiskeys all taste like they've been phoned in -- generic, young, watery.

[BFerguson]

I like to think of myself as a equal opportunity proof drinker. I have never discriminated a bottle based on its proof.

Nothing wrong with a lower proof easy drinker in the glass at times.

B

[squire]

I'm an every opportunity drinker.

[dcbt]

I can't remember the last time I purchased a bottle in the 80s proof range.

[squire]

Those who say 80 proof is weak haven't sat down and tried to finish a bottle.

[boneuphtoner]

If you only drink it neat which it seems that most around here do, I would agree with you. However, if you are like me who tends to drink with ice 1/3 of the time, there are plenty of 80-90 proofers which make a great drink. For example, Dant BIB is our house table bourbon, but on the rocks EW black is a great substitute at an even cheaper price point.

[TunnelTiger]

I only buy two sub 90 proof. 4RYL and EWSB. Maybe I'm missing some excellent pours but it is what it is.

[squire]

Dant's a frequent visitor around here as well.

[squire]

You might miss some TT but as Bill Travis famously said somewhere a line has to be drawn.

[Special Reserve]

If you every run into any BHC IW Harper,don't buy it as it is only 80 proof. But let me know where it is. You can PM me. You and I wouldn't want anyone else to know where it is as they too may not want to have it.