Whats the best bourbon advice you've ever gotten?

[ramblinman]

Not that I want to booth his ego any more than it already it, but the best I've ever gotten came from squire in a random post a while back. I can't remember the specifics of it, but it was basically

"after a few minimum years, go with proof over age"

That kind of solidified things for me. I'd found myself moving to the Bonded stuff and didn't yet understand why I was picking 4 year old stuff over juice twice as old or more. For whatever reason it clicked and I finally figured out that the closer to barrel proof the happier I am. It took a little training to get past the alcohol intensity and get to the flavors behind it, but I'm glad I did.

So whats the best bourbon/whiskey advice that made you enjoy the whole experience more, understand what you liked/didn't like, etc?

[garbanzobean]

For bourbon: Basically the party line here, which is start at the bottom and don't worry too much about the LE stuff. Like everyone else, I promptly ignored that advice and wasted a bunch of time, energy, and money tracking down LEs when it turns out I like plenty of $15-$30 bourbons just as much. On the bright side, I do have a decent stockpile of LE stuff, so at the rate I go through it I doubt I'll need to go looking for more of it until after the boom settles down a bit.

For scotch: "Here, try some Lagavulin 16."

[RyeNot]

Best advice I got was "don't try to make this stuff in your backyard."

[Old Dusty]

Similar to Eric in the post above- start on the bottom(or at least mid) shelf. Try all of the "house styles" and various mashbills. Find what really floats your boat. Then you can zero in on particular styles or distilleries to allocate your purchase $-especially when dropping big money on LEs. Less chance of buyer's remorse.

Use the reviews and opinion on here and elsewhere as a point of reference not Gospel. At the end of the day it is your money and your taste that are on the line.

And above all enjoy it. If you are not having fun, then you are doing it wrong:grin:

[Zeke]

Howdy!

Not bourbon specific, but good none the less. From Greg Ramsay; take a sip, cup it on your tongue, swirl it around your mouth and let it mingle with your saliva, and if you notice the sensation of swallowing you've drunk it too fast."

[JDSmith619]

For bourbon: Basically the party line here, which is start at the bottom and don't worry too much about the LE stuff. Like everyone else, I promptly ignored that advice and wasted a bunch of time, energy, and money tracking down LEs when it turns out I like plenty of $15-$30 bourbons just as much. On the bright side, I do have a decent stockpile of LE stuff, so at the rate I go through it I doubt I'll need to go looking for more of it until after the boom settles down a bit.

[scottonscotch]

Drink what you love and love what you drink.

[jfarr63]

Two pieces of advice. When drinking bourbon, cask strength means it came out of the barrel the way God made it. (tastes better too). Second. Older is not better. Had to find this out the hard way with some 23 y/o bourbons that were a huge disappointment to me.

[RockBottom]

I'm new so my experience is limited on the bourbon advice. I'm currently making every mistake that most of you have already made but I'm having a blast doing it. The best advice I can give is to surround yourself with people as passionate as yourself and things will always be more fun. Lastly, share what you are able because there are a lot of drinking buddies you haven't even met yet.

[squire]

An elderly acquaintance of mine, who was quite wealthy, kept a fully stocked bar at home. Dozens of single malts, Bombay Sapphire, that sort of thing, wine by the case selected by his wife (they entertained a lot) but rarely drank any of them. Instead he drank Bourbon, specifically a Heaven Hill C&D called Old 1889 Royal, which was 12 years old, 86 proof, and back then cost less than $8.00 a bottle.

We were at a liquor store one day where I was grabbing some top shelf stuff and he reached for a bottle of 1889. I said "Bill, you can afford anything here, why do you drink that stuff"? He gently replied, "only blind tasting will disclose what you truly like". So a guy who could afford anything ignored labels and simply drank what he liked.

Blind tasting is the best advice I ever got.

[cowdery]

When I myself was but a padawan learner, beginning my bourbon journey, I had a client who was formerly in the advertising department at Stitzel-Weller. He was the first to point me in the direction of Old Fitz Prime. My first bottle broke in my car, but I didn't take that as a bad omen. I bought another. I had taken my first step into a larger world.

[GAbiker]

I believe in what Samuel Clements once was quoted to say "too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough."

That said...I don't believe the age or the cost of a bottle is the sole indicator of taste or quality. Try everything and decide for yourself what you like. Your taste is your taste and no one else's.

Edited January 27, 2015 by GAbiker

[CorvallisCracker]

"Don't drink it through a straw."

[bjhowell]

Best advice I got was to drink what you like and drink it the way you like it. Don't worry about what others think.

[Richnimrod]

Three things I've been told by several folx; and more than once, I might add.

1) Drink what you like, regardless of what those 'in the know' tell you should be in your glass.

2) Drink it the way you like it, regardless of what those 'in the know' tell you is the correct way to drink it.

3) Have FUN doing it.... if you aren't, then; you're doing it wrong.

[Harry in WashDC]

The premise of Chapter Eight - An American Whiskey Sampling Guide - in 'Bourbon, Straight' published in 2004: Learn the house styles so you can find what you like regardless of price or age or what others tell you to like. If this had been written in the early 1970s, I'd have avoided 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

That said, it was worth the wait.

[393foureyedfox]

older and/or higher price, often dont make for a better bourbon

[jvd99]

Make friends with your local liquor store owner and good things will happen.

[michaelturtle1]

Bourbon is best shared with friends, been my philosophy from day one

[dSculptor]

Open that bottle!

[Quintilian]

1) A higher price does not necessarily correlate to being a better bourbon.

2) Bottles are meant to contain bourbon. Don't buy a bottle based on the label, marketing, or bottle.

3) Try lots of bourbon and see what you like.

4) Once you become an enthusiast, you'll look more at proof than age.

Re 1) I have various staples that would stand up well in blind tastings: EWBiB, EC12, OFBiB, RR1792, OGDBiB, Larceny, et al.

Re 4) I'm getting to a point where I like bourbon above 90 proof and above and prefer BiB.

[AaronWF]

My best advice has always been demonstrated to me by friends in the interest I have had the pleasure to hang out with.

[melon16]

Bourbon is great on its own, but infinitely better with good company.

[tigerlam92]

Best advice I got was to drink what you like and drink it the way you like it. Don't worry about what others think.

[jackthedog]

I've definitely found that price doesn't equate to quality. I also think drink what you like is the best piece of advice.