What would you buy with a Benjamin? a reprise of sorts

[Amhazed]

A few weeks ago I was searching and reading reviews for a buncha different Bourbons I was/am interested in. I came across an article that was about what would you buy if you had a Benjamin to spend. It was posted on various sites and I saw the other day that there is a thread here as well. But, everybody seems very frugal. I've seen comments with like a list of up to 4 bottles. I go the other way....if I had a Benjamin to spend I'd rather have 1 very good/great. Now, friends please don't give me to hard of a time. Remember I am a novice. I would hands down go with Blood Oath! Right at this moment that would be my pick. I have only 2 other bottles that are at that price range. My wife bought me the Barterhouse for Fathers day (the store clerk told her it would make a great gift.) The other is the IW Harper 15. The Barterhouse I tried yesterday but it didn't make me fall for it like the Blood Oath did. Perhaps a few more pours will change my mind. The IW Harper I will try later today. But, I doubt it will change my mind. So, I pose the question to you my friends. With your last Benjamin. What bottle would you but that's north of say $75

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[Kartofel]

I only speak for myself, and I haven't a lot of the limited edition bourbons out there, but I have yet to have a bourbon in that price range that I thought was worth the money. Most of the bourbons in that range that I've tried left me with the desire to have spent that money on two to three bottom or middle shelfers instead.

[squire]

By last Benjamin I take it you mean the discretionary cash because my very last Benjamin would be tossed in to the Grand Kids college fund. One thing I learned a long time ago about whisky is paying more doesn't mean you get more in taste, richness, subtlety or finesse. We have reached the point now where ordinary Old Charter is being marketed as a super premium just because some unsold stock got old. One has to be careful and mindful of how much of that $75-$100 is going to marketing and a pretty bottle.

As Bourbon Geeks we are all far past the point where were are buying something just because it contains alcohol. We know what's good and are on the search for those special bottles that rise so far above ordinary that they reach superlative. Not too much to ask I think and better than wasting my money on golf.

Too bad the answer is not simply money. Too many Johnny come latelys out there who will repackage MGP's four year old finest and start the pricing at $59.95. So what to do?

I start with the basics, what makes a better Bourbon in the first place. Well made by experienced people, fully aged (which can be anywhere from 6-10 years old) hand selected by a Master with a great palate, chosen to meet a specific profile that sets it apart from the other distillery offerings and bottled at least 100 proof. In short the very best that house can do within their established style. First rate stuff doesn't need a decanter bottle or wooden box to deserve a top shelf spot.

My recommendation is spend the time and money until blind tastings reveal which major producer's style you favor the most for their brands generally, then choose the one they have selected as their best effort.

[squire]

Most of the bourbons in that range that I've tried left me with the desire to have spent that money on two to three bottom or middle shelfers instead.

[compliance]

MMCS is the best product currently on shelves today where I won't need to sweet talk the whiskey monger into a date, pay aftermarket prices in the primary market, or wait out in the rain at 4am! So that's what I'd get

[Richnimrod]

If I MUST buy something at-or-above $75, I'd grab any William Larue Weller I could find, or any George T. Stagg I could find, or any Parker's Heritage I could find.

...Except on the PH's, I wouldn't buy the POH or the Straight Wheat. The POH I found to be too much like Henry McKenna 10-yr. BIB, which I can get for way less than half the cheddar; and the Str. Wheat, I just didn't enjoy that much... seemed pretty one-dimensional... and HOT! These are of course, assuming I could get any of 'em at retail prices, or find any of 'em at all.

[Richnimrod]

Oh, and Amhazed; the Barterhouse may open up and mellow out considerably with some air in the bottle for a few weex. I find many very old ones that way.

FYI Barterhouse was the one and only 'Orphan' I really thought worth drinking. Just MHO.

[Amhazed]

Oh, and Amhazed; the Barterhouse may open up and mellow out considerably with some air in the bottle for a few weex. I find many very old ones that way.

FYI Barterhouse was the one and only 'Orphan' I really thought worth drinking. Just MHO.

I found the Blade and Bow to be the same way after 1st few pours i didn't really care for it. But, after putting it down for couple of weeks i actually kinda like it now....it seems like some folks took this thread more seriously than I did...I would not spend my last $100 on Bourbon. I was just looking for opinions of what some Bourbons folks might think we're worth that price. I know there are alot of good mid and lower shelf bourbons out there.I have a list of those I'm currently working on that was given to me by another member here. I wasn't asking for the list so I could go out and buy. I am a huge Football fan I would gladly pay $100 for an autographed helmet than spend same amount on 3 or 4 football cards of the same player. If you follow what I'm saying

Edited June 21, 2015 by Amhazed

[Darwin]

I am not a big bourbon consumer so I would be happy with 2 bottles of Four Roses SB and change for lunch. Now if I could spend that Benjamin on a single malt it would be the Glendronach 15 Sherry Cask or Glenfarclas 17. :cool:

[Amhazed]

I am not a big bourbon consumer so I would be happy with 2 bottles of Four Roses SB and change for lunch. Now if I could spend that Benjamin on a single malt it would be the Glendronach 15 Sherry Cask or Glenfarclas 17. :cool:

I actually had to look single malt up....I have never tried Scotch. Maybe one day I will....but, I put your choices in my notebook

[smokinjoe]

I am not a big bourbon consumer so I would be happy with 2 bottles of Four Roses SB and change for lunch. Now if I could spend that Benjamin on a single malt it would be the Glendronach 15 Sherry Cask or Glenfarclas 17. :cool:

No doubt that the options are plentiful for an opportunity to drop a Benjamin on a bottle of single malt, or even a blend for that matter. The line is much shorter for a bottle of bourbon that can use up $100. Unless, you head over to the crazy priced NDP's or go to the gift shops. I'll give it my best shot on either whiskey! Just gladly dropped 1.7 Benjamins on a CB Quindecimus.

Personally, if I had $100 of "funny money", I'd go the route of picking something(s) outside my "$ comfort zone". Thinking....Thinking...Thinking...Thinking................Dammit! I need higher priced bourbons on the shelf so I can answer this question!!

Edited June 21, 2015 by smokinjoe

[BFerguson]

Buy tastes.

Hit a good whiskey bar and work through those that you can't normally find in the wild.

I did that once with a epic eye flight and it was a mind blowing experience.

B

[Darwin]

No doubt that the options are plentiful for an opportunity to drop a Benjamin on a bottle of single malt, or even a blend for that matter. The line is much shorter for a bottle of bourbon that can use up $100. ...

Angel's Envy and Prichard's are the most expensive and highest rated bourbon that I have tried and I can honestly say that I was not impressed. They are good but not worth the cost from my point of view. There are a few small batch expressions that have been out of stock for a long time here in Phoenix, when they make an appearance I will give them a try. (Weller, Blanton, Eagle Rare, Stagg & EH Taylor)

My local store has 280+ single malts, I wish it had more! I will always make room for the things I like, even better if it's affordable. :cool:

[squire]

For a different taste in the quality lines lets not overlook some that haven't made the hype headlines yet, Rock Hill Farms, Hancock and, yes, Basil Hayden.

[smokinjoe]

Angel's Envy and Prichard's are the most expensive and highest rated bourbon that I have tried and I can honestly say that I was not impressed. They are good but not worth the cost from my point of view. There are a few small batch expressions that have been out of stock for a long time here in Phoenix, when they make an appearance I will give them a try. (Weller, Blanton, Eagle Rare, Stagg & EH Taylor)

My local store has 280+ single malts, I wish it had more! I will always make room for the things I like, even better if it's affordable. :cool:

I'm not sure you're going to find one that gets in your wheelhouse, I'm afraid. Enjoy your journey, though!

:toast:

[mbroo5880i]

If I were looking for a "free" bottle of something that I have not tried but is readily available (i.e., I could walk into a store and probably find it on the shelf) and it costs less than $100, I would probably opt for CEHT Rye. It is probably not something I would buy for myself (due to price). However, if I were handed a $100 bill and told I had to spend it on bourbon or rye, it is unlikely I would opt for just one bottle.

[Harry in WashDC]

I've reread the posts from the first thread and then reread the ones here - guess if I had $100 and was required to spend it on bourbon (HORRORS!! What a hateful thing to have to do!!), I'd spend it on one GTS OR on as many VOB BIBs OR OGD BIBs or a combo thereof, whatever is available.

[Coop776]

Assuming we are talking retail, I would go with a Pappy 15.

[Quintilian]

I've haven't bought a bottle north of the $ mid-50s. I'm intrigued by people's comments about GTS though. Realistically I guess I'd go with one standard FRSB plus a Four Roses private selection or maybe a bottle of Blanton's (which I haven't had yet).

[flahute]

If we're talking about any bottle that's "theoretically" available at retail, depending on my mood, I'd go for either WLW, GTS, or 4RLE SmB depending on the year. GTS is my all time favorite, but there are some special WLW's out there. Really, any of those three, and I'd be pretty happy.

If we're talking about something that I can actually go out and buy today - given the price point - a 4R Private Selection is the very easy choice. I'd choose one of those in a nanosecond over any of the Orphans or Blood Oath or any of the other NDP's which are about the only bottles in that price range aside from the LE's.

[Xevious]

Would I be breaking the rules by buying a bottle of OGD 114 and pocketing the remaining 80 dollars?

[TunnelTiger]

Five bottles of OGDBIB and I wouldn't even hesitate.

[Darwin]

I'm not sure you're going to find one that gets in your wheelhouse, I'm afraid. Enjoy your journey, though!

:toast:

[PaulO]

For myself $100 would buy multiple bottles of bourbon; everything that Squire said. One idea I did think of, have some import only version shipped to you from Japan or Europe. I don't know exactly how that would work. I'm pretty sure it would cost $$$, and you'd have a bottle to impress fellow enthusiasts.

[Hershmeister]

Assuming reality and no PVW available, i would buy 2 bottles of John J Bowman