Which Would You Choose -- JPS 30, Michter's 20, or Charbay Release III?

[Grain Belt]

I'm from Northern Minnesota. My choice is limited to a shot of Jim Beam and a Grain Belt chaser. I'm OK with that. This thread is like a foreign language to me.

[smokinjoe]

None of these bottles would be on my wish list, but I guess if given the choice I would opt for the JPS 30. 30 year bourbons don't grow on trees (though they may taste like one! ), so I'd go for that novelty rather the the novelties of the other two options.

[R-Savage]

I love hops. I love hoppy beers. CHances are if it were available. I may track one down. However this Whiskey does not exist up in alberta to my knowledge.

The only one that does exist up here is Michters 20 year @ 500.00 a bottle.

[TunnelTiger]

I'm from Northern Minnesota. My choice is limited to a shot of Jim Beam and a Grain Belt chaser. I'm OK with that. This thread is like a foreign language to me.

And I thought it was just me.

[HOF44]

I've had the JPS 30 and it's not nearly as heavily oaked as you think it would be. To me it had less oak and was a more balanced bourbon than the JPS 25.

[berto]

Tried the Charbay III last night and it was amazing. Piney, hoppy, and dank. I dislike heavily hopped and bitter beers but the Charbay was neither. Definitely got the pilsner in it. It's like no other whiskey. The taster was a little fatigued after going through 8 or 9 Four Roses recipes and a couple other bottles but the Charbay took the night.

[Jiggity]

I wrote this post in the "All things Pappy.." thread about a hookie day I had with a friend of mine yesterday which started with Pappy and finished with Charbay R3 and picked up a M20 along the way.

I had a chance to taste ORVW10, Saz18, PVW 15 & 20, WLW, Ritt21 and Charbay R3. A fellow SBer introduced me to Ritt21 and Charbay R3 and it opened up a new corner in in the whiskey world for me. I'm a whiskey neophyte (1 yr) so I don't have any frame of reference to a golden era of bourbon nor do I have a refined palette by any means. To answer the OP's question, I'd be happier with a M20 as a gift. I've had enough Michter's to know I will like the flavor profile for sure.

The known certainty of enjoyment can get lost in the Charbay as a gift because the flavor profile is that different. I really enjoy both whiskies, I will for sure bunker a Charbay, where as a bunkered M20 may or may not happen. I am certain that this whiskey is not for everyone, but to that point, neither is whiskey in general...