Starting from nothing

[jonhalter]

If you had no bourbon. I know that is a ridiculous statement, so stay with me. If you had no bourbon and had to go to your local liquor store to purchase 3-5, readily available bottles what would they be? Not necessarily a top 5 list, more of a 5 most drinkable list. In no particular order for me.

1. EC12

2. EWSB

3. W12

4. Stagg Jr.

5. 4rsb

Part of me wants to have OWA so I can make the SB blend, but Im not sure Id give up one of these to do it.

And yes I know some of you hate me for W12 being constantly available.

[sutton]

1. BT

2. Henry McKenna 10yr BiB

3. FRSB

4. Old Forester Signature

5. Baker's

[Richnimrod]

1. BT

2. Henry McKenna 10yr BiB

3. FRSB

4. Old Forester Signature

5. Baker's

Yours are mine, Sutton; with only one trade-in. I'd leave the Baker's alone and pick up a bottle of Ezra B Single Barrel

[ramblinman]

EWbib

WTRB

OWA, I know im an outlier but I like it, even the current NAS more than the 12 or the blend

4Rsb

OGD114

Edited August 21, 2014 by ramblinman

[sutton]

Yours are mine, Sutton; with only one trade-in. I'd leave the Baker's alone and pick up a bottle of Ezra B Single Barrel

[Paddy]

I'd pick my five from the majors. Based on current availability....

4RSB

EWSB and/or EC12 (just can't break up with either one of these two)

BT

KCSB

WTRB

[squire]

Old Grand Dad BIB, does a case count as one?

[amg]

Let's see...

EC12

FRSB

Larceny

WTRB

Booker's

[Thig]

My list :

Baker's 7 Year

Booker's

Henry McKenna BIB

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Four Roses Single Barrel

[393foureyedfox]

in no particular order.....

Dickel 9 year

WT101

WTRB

Bookers

HH6BIB

[kwshannon]

1. 4RSmB

2. EWSB

3. WTRB

4. KC

5. EWBib

Edit to add my first choice for a Tn would be Dickel 12.

[KyleCBreese]

4RSB

ETL

HMK BiB 10-year

Bulleit 10-year

EWSB

[petrel800]

4R Small Batch LE

George T Stagg

William Larue Weller

Sazerac 18

Eagle Rare 17

Don't you wish you know where I shopped?

[Guest]

Well as usual it sucks to be an Aussie in these discussions but anyway with my limited choice its good to see some consistencies:

1) WTRB

2) EC12

3) KC

4) Bulleit 10

5) WT101

[Clavius]

No order:

-Buffalo Trace

-Evan Williams Single Barrel

-Four Roses Single Barrel

-Knob Creek

-Weller SR

[Quintilian]

FRSB or FRSmB

EWBiB

BT

EC12

ER10

[flahute]

With the caveat that there are still some I haven't tried yet such as Henry McKenna I'd say.....

4RSB......or Small Batch

ETL

OGD114

WTRB

KCSB

(Stagg Jr or ECBP would be in there if they were considered to be "regularly available")

[bmajazz]

Starting from nothing, I'd look for value..

1. Evan Williams (pref BIB)

2. OGD 114

3. Pikesville Rye (limited, so optional Rittenhouse)

4. Henry McKenna 10yr BIB

5. Any dusty that has a nice, deep brown color with a tax strip or 80's that costs less than $15. Or 80's ND Old Crow, which isn't dark colored but delicious.

I think these are good "bang for the buck" choices.

Edited August 21, 2014 by bmajazz

[garbanzobean]

1.) Four Roses Single Barrel

2.) Elijah Craig 12 (occasionally subbed with ECBP when available)

3.) Henry McKenna 10 BIB

4.) Barterhouse . . . j/k. Stagg Jr. If that's too "rare", Blantons, RHF, or ER10. Whatever. BT something.

5.) Old Grandad 114

I feel bad freezing out Wild Turkey and B-F, maybe I need to make it a point to reaquaint. Baker's and Booker's too. So basically I would be happy with one of each (bourbon).

[dcbt]

Buffalo Trace

Eagle Rare 10

Elijah Craig 12

Elmer T Lee or Blantons, pending availability

Weller 12 (I live in Texas)

Edit to add the above would be for my personal consumption. If I'm looking to start out with others involved, I'd shoot for a more diverse representation of distilleries.

Edited August 21, 2014 by dcbt

[jwilson82]

I like this thread; I'm finding it much harder than I though it would be. In no particular order, after much internal debate...

EC12

ER10

KCSB

OWA

WTRB

At least until I change my mind again

[bourbonfoot]

I have this convo with a friend a lot who is getting into bourbon, but regularly says he doesn't know what to buy and I should go with him. I just tell him grab a bottle of these and you'll be covered for just about anything. EC12 ETL 4RSB OWA/Makers 46 (Weller is usually a special order item in these parts, so just a "wheater") Rittenhouse (to throw a rye in the mix) I think that's a fairly good starter mix for what we can get around here. My tastes might be a bit different than what I'd give somebody, but I'd take this.

[DEelfinn]

Fun question.

EW Vintage

Ritt BiB

OGD BiB

WTKS

Booker's

[Tony Santana]

Elmer T Lee (still available around here, saw at least a dozen on the shelves last weekend)

Rare Breed

Four Roses Single Barrel

Knob Creek Single Barrel

Elijah Craig 12

That gives me a sampling of distilleries. I'm tempted to throw in a wheater (OWA or MM 46) and a rye (CEHT Straight Rye). If I had to go cheaper I'd gladly substitute EWSB for EC12, 4R SmB for the SB, OGD 114 for the KCSB and ER10 for the ETL. I might have to kick out the WT line - would probably sub in something else for the RB rather than the basic 101, not that I don't like it.

[jeffrey r]

Hmm, so many choices.

FRSB

ETL

OWA

EC12

EWSB

Would love a few more proof points on the EWSB, and while I really like Henry McKenna BIB, a good EWSB is just darn good, drinkable bourbon. Honorable mention to McKenna BIB, WTRB, OGD 114, Smooth Ambler 7 yr, W12 and ER10.