Starting from nothing

[Mardbrown]

Four roses single barrel

Larceny

Rittenhouse rye

Weller reserve

Elijah Craig 12

[Crowes]

OWA

Bookers

WTRB

Buffalo Trace

Four Roses Single Barrel

[jmj_203]

A great concept for new guys wanting to get a sampling of highly respected and available bourbons. Since I'm in Pa and have limited availability I'll stick with what I've bought in quantities in just the last year (in no particular order of favorites):

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

4 Roses Single Barrel

Evan Williams Single Barrel 2004 (I so wish they would up the proof on this to 90+ next year)

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 yr

Knob Creek standard or Single Barrel Reserve

[gblick]

In no order:

OWA

FRSB

WTRB

OGD114

KCSB

[Quantum]

Old Forester Signature

Four Roses Single Barrel

OGD 114

Bookers

Elmer T Lee, or a second bottle of FRSB.

[JDSmith619]

-EC12

-BT

-FRSB

-HMBiB

-ETL

-OGDBiB

[Flyfish]

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?

The problem for me is the way the question is presented. Tricky little details such as "your local liquor store" and "readily available." The closest store to me carries no FR products of any kind. And they have never even heard of the LEs. So FRSB doesn't make the list. If I drive a few miles farther, I can sometimes find ETL. Sometimes. I would put OWA and/or W12 on my list but they are not available--"readily" or otherwise. That's why most of my bourbon dollar are spent outside of Ohio. With those complaints out of the way, I would force myself to settle for:

Booker's

BT

EC12

EWSB

WT101

[justataste]

OK. This Oklahoma boy will play......

JB Black

OGD114

OWA

Rare Breed

EW BIB

[Renegator]

Tougher question than I thought - in no particular order...

BT

ER10

FRSB (preferably a BP which is readily available here in ATL)

EC12

Wheater (W12 when available - if not Makers 46 or Larceny)

[warrenjl1]

At my local shop, using things that are usually always on the shelf:

OWA

WTRB

EC12

FR SmB

Booker's

Wish I could include ETL on here, but it's only comes around once or twice a year for a few days at the time. Rittenhouse is my go to rye and it's nearly always available here, but trying to play by the rules using bourbons only. Finally, think I'd prefer OGD114 to Booker's, but I've got to sneak over to another state for that.

[The Black Tot]

OWA

ETL

Stagg Jr

Hancock's

OGD114

I was also tempted to add a Rittenhouse or even a Baby Saz.

[PaulO]

I can't include OWA or W12 since I haven't seen one locally for a long time. Larceny isn't distributed in Indiana. So they can't be on the list. These are some of my favorites that I could run out and definitely have in my hand within half an hour, nothing crazy expensive, and no particular order:

Old Forester Signature

Old Grandad 114

Henry McKenna BIB

any of the other Heaven Hill bonds (HH 6 year, Dant, JTS Brown, EW, Old Fitz...) also include Mellow Corn straight corn whiskey

Four Roses Small Batch

For rye I would choose:

Rittenhouse BIB

Dickel Rye

I'm sure I forgot something.

[ATXWhiskey]

4RSB

OFSig

OWA

WTRB

EC12

I might sub 1792RR and Bookers on this list.

[jonhalter]

Not the original intent of this thread, but with so many liking it, Im going to go purchase WTRB. I cant believe Ive never had it.

[Harry in WashDC]

Well, Squire read my mind. A couple others read my wallet (always open for bourbon or a reasonable equivalent). "Readily available" since I live in WashDC means no more than two stores or I'd still be driving around to see what's on the shelves "today". In no particular order --

EWB my go-to "low" proof mixer (or, if you all already bought it all, JBB)

BT for its candy apple (yeah, I can usually find it if only in handles)

OGDBIB because it's OGDBIB

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye (readily available here)

Bernheim Wheat Whiskey (for a change of pace)

[goodgrains]

HHBIB

EC12

FRSB

WTRB

Bookers

[Creggor]

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.

Ok If it was me I would drop the Stagg Jr. Many members including myself found it very harsh.. I might add a Rye like Knob Creek and if Rye is not your favorite.. Consider Old Grand Dad 114 and Knob Creek Single Barrel.. That will give you a nice start.. Now remember this.. Your life is about to change. Welcome. Creggor

[fishnbowljoe]

I know that the premise of this was to pick 5 bourbon's. I have to go with 7, because a couple of mine can be readily substituted for one another.

My picks, also in no particular order:

1-2. Heaven Hill 6 yr old White Label BIB, or Evan Williams BIB

3-4. Buffalo Trace, or Elmer T Lee

5. Weller 12

6. Four Roses Single Barrel

7. Larceny

FWIW, my very meager beginnings in this whole bourbon conundrum, were:

1. Maker's Mark

2. Woodford Reserve

3. Knob Creek

Cheers! Joe

[bllygthrd]

1) OWA 107

2) WLW Special Reserve

3) Old Fitz BIB

4) VOB BIB

6) EW BIB

7) OGD BIB

8) OHH BIB 6YO

9) J.T.S. Brown BIB

10) OHH BIB 4YO

11) Kentucky Tavern BIB

Pick 5 above, no special order ...

All value priced.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

[bigmzungu]

In no particular order:

OGD BIB

4RSB

WR

BT

KC

[theglobalguy]

- OWA

- 4RSB

- EC12

- 4RsB

- OGD 114

No particular order.

[bjbronwyn]

ETL

EWSB

Blantons

4RSmlB

WT101

in order,close would go JDBL, BT.

[kjbeggs]

EC12

OGD114

4RSB

Larceny

Ritt 100 Rye

ETL would be on there, it it was still easy for me to find.

If I were going to list 5 that are harder to find, yet not in the Pappy/BTAC level of difficulty:

Rock Hill Farms

Michter's 10

ECBP (although I have to go outside TX)

Booker's 25th (which is probably just about gone)

4RLE

[Grain Belt]

1. EWBIB

2. EC12

3. JB Black

4. BT

5. WT101

[Young Blacksmith]

1. Baby Saz

2. 4RYL

3. EC12

4. ER10

5. 4R1B

Easy list! These are the only things I buy in the liquor store any more.