Favorite "Craft" Bourbon

[zeppo55]

Hade some great craft bourbons this year.

Loved Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon-my favorite of the year so far.(Payed about $85 for the bottle but worth every penny)

Smugglers Notch Distillery Straight Bourbon-Really good also pricey at around $50

New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon- good value at about $30

Has anyone tried these???

[gooneygoogoo]

I tried the Beer Barrel. Thought it was just ok

[ramblinman]

I enjoyed Balcones True Blue enough to get a bottle. Its young and hot, but interesting. Drinks like angry port. Not something I reach for often, but I'm glad I have it on my shelf for the times I do.

[zeppo55]

I have a bottle of True Blue thats unopened. May give it a try soon.

[BourbonGuy]

A local store "The Wine Guy" had a mini version of whiskeyfest. Tried High West Bourye and liked it.

Edited June 16, 2014 by BourbonGuy

[dmarkle]

Can't say I have loved anything distilled by a small distiller yet. They're all just too young. IMO if you can smell a pronounced scent of corn on the nose of a bourbon, it's not ready yet.

[OscarV]

My favorite craft bourbon is Four Roses Single Barrel.

At Four Roses they produce it like a true craft.

[Restaurant man]

My favorite craft bourbon is Four Roses Single Barrel.

At Four Roses they produce it like a true craft.

[Phil T]

Hade some great craft bourbons this year.Loved Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon-my favorite of the year so far.And payed about $85 for the bottle but worth every penny)

Edited June 17, 2014 by Phil T

[Gillman]

Don't think I've had one. They all have very young corn or chemical tastes. Don Outterson's bourbon was the best though, due to its 6-7 years age (the one I last had was in that age range). That was a very acceptable bourbon , but still it did have some strong pot still coppery flavours (kind of like the Versailles component of WR) and you need to like that. It would vat very well with an older wheater, say, but I don't think I could drink very much of it on its own and the other productions are much less good, IMO. Can't understand why, by this time, some good 6-8 year craft bourbon isn't available. There is no reason it shouldn't be great.

Gary

[PaulO]

Gary, It's my impression that many around here share your feelings. For myself, I won't pay 3 or 4 times what I'm used to spending, unless I get a taste or recommendations from people I trust. So far that hasn't happened. I'm not saying it couldn't happen. As far as why we don't see decent aged small craft whiskey. I think part of it is, when they sell a lot of their production young, there's not much left to age. I've also heard the 5 gallon small barrels don't age the same as the 53 gallon barrels. I am optimistic about the whiskey that Smooth Ambler and Willett are making.

[dcbt]

I keep trying to find a Texas craft distiller (a legit one) to jump on board with, but so far nothing has hit me right.

[HD 335]

I did a search but couldn't find any information on a release by Sonoma County Distilling company. They released a bottle called West of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey and I believe it retails for about $65 and is NAS.

[ramblinman]

I have a bottle of True Blue thats unopened. May give it a try soon.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it when you do. Probably a little expensive for what it is, but at least the Balcones folks are distilling themselves and I'll pay a bit extra for something this different. Not sure if the blue corn is really what brings out the intense brown sugar, or if it happened to be a good (mini?) barrel that it was briefly aged it, but that combined with barrel proof made me pull the trigger for ~$55.

Edited June 17, 2014 by ramblinman

[Gillman]

Gary, It's my impression that many around here share your feelings. For myself, I won't pay 3 or 4 times what I'm used to spending, unless I get a taste or recommendations from people I trust. So far that hasn't happened. I'm not saying it couldn't happen. As far as why we don't see decent aged small craft whiskey. I think part of it is, when they sell a lot of their production young, there's not much left to age. I've also heard the 5 gallon small barrels don't age the same as the 53 gallon barrels. I am optimistic about the whiskey that Smooth Ambler and Willett are making.

Yes, all well put, I agree.

Gary

[TunnelTiger]

My favorite "craft" bourbon is going to be my mystery vatting of what should be close to final pours of 20 bottles and I put more effort in it than some of these "craft" guys claim they do.

[garbanzobean]

My favorite "craft" bourbon is going to be my mystery vatting of what should be close to final pours of 20 bottles and I put more effort in it than some of these "craft" guys claim they do.

[squire]

Can't understand why, by this time, some good 6-8 year craft bourbon isn't available. There is no reason it shouldn't be great.Gary

I can think of one Gary, it wasn't great to begin with. Craft only means small, not great, and ordinary whisky aged 6-8 years doesn't improve in quality, it's just older ordinary.

[brettckeen]

Balcones 5th Anniversary single barrel Straight bourbon

[SqueakScolari]

My favorite craft bourbon is Four Roses Single Barrel.

At Four Roses they produce it like a true craft.