What are your top 5 bourbons?

[tanstaafl2]

3. Four Roses LE small batch 2013. I know the 2014 tends to get most of the praise but that 2013 was pretty darn good as well!

Messed this up. I meant the 2012 as compared to the 2013 125th Anniversary bottle. Both are great but I really liked the slightly younger 2012 for some reason.

[PaulO]

My top five are:

-Anything that says "bottled in bond DSP 1" on the label: JTS Brown, JW Dant, HH 6 year, EW BIB, Henry McKenna, or Old Fitz.

-Larceny

-Old Forester Signature

-Old Grandad 114

--Knob Creek Single Barrel

Not bourbons, but I would also mention Rittenhouse Rye BIB, and Mellow Corn Straight Corn Whiskey BIB.

[unclebunk]

My top five are:

-Anything that says "bottled in bond DSP 1" on the label: JTS Brown, JW Dant, HH 6 year, EW BIB, Henry McKenna, or Old Fitz.

-Larceny

-Old Forester Signature

-Old Grandad 114

--Knob Creek Single Barrel

Not bourbons, but I would also mention Rittenhouse Rye BIB, and Mellow Corn Straight Corn Whiskey BIB.

That's a mighty nice list. I'm with you on all counts, particularly the inclusion of the BIB's. JTS Brown is still relatively hard to find around Chicagoland except at a few select Binny's locations but I seem to buy at least one bottle every time I come across it. EW BIB is even more unusual to find and was a recent addition to my BIB arsenal; same for the HH (though I've only come across the 4 year old black label so far, not the 6). Glad to see someone mentioning Rittenhouse and Mellow Corn too, both of which I am never without.

[Red-Dot]

Buffalo Trace

Evan Williams Single Barrel

Elijah Craig 12

Blanton's

Russels Reserve

In no certain order.

[PaulO]

Unclebunk, I'm glad you like my list. I tried to think of the brands I like and can find without too much trouble. Also these are what I would suggest to people getting interested in bourbon. Until not too long ago, I would have included OWA. I still like it, but it's not in stores, or price gouging. It was still good for a while after they lost the paper label and age statement. At one point I got some bottles that were mediocre.

I thought about including Rare Breed in my list. I think it's good. For whatever reason I usually pass it up for something else.

[shoshani]

JTS Brown is still relatively hard to find around Chicagoland except at a few select Binny's locations but I seem to buy at least one bottle every time I come across it. EW BIB is even more unusual to find and was a recent addition to my BIB arsenal; same for the HH (though I've only come across the 4 year old black label so far, not the 6).

Binny's in Skokie started carrying JTSB BIB a year or so ago, and they seem to have it fairly steadily. Also Henry McKenna BIB which is like JTSB with the color knob turned all the way up. (I haven't noticed EW or HH BIB there, though)

[unclebunk]

Willowbrook started carrying it too after only stocking the 80 proof for a year, so I no longer have to go to the South Loop store. Haven't seen the McKenna yet but will keep an eye out. Thanks!

[Jazzhead]

Son of Bourye is in your top 5? I ran across a bottle for $48 but didn't want to pony up the cash for an NDP with mixed reviews. Is it that good?

I think it's very well blended as are most of High West's products. They are also upfront as to what's in the blend. I was so pleased with the Son of Bourye (which I purchased for less than 40 bucks) that I picked up a few weeks ago the re-released "Bourye" at over $60, which consists of older whiskies than the Son. But, for my taste, the Son beats the Father, and it's a much, much better price to value proposition.

By the way, the "George Dickel Small Batch" from my list is in error; I mean the "George Dickel Barrel Select".

[Ravensfire]

Top 5 that I've got right now ...

1 - Four Roses Single Barrel, OBSQ, Jim Rutledge pick

2 - HHSB #2

3 - Booker's 25th

4 - Buffalo Trace

5 - Larceny

[Jayman]

Does anyone else taste completely change month to month? I tried to make a list but man, I'm all over the place. I'm I big fan of the wild turkey profile. Russell's Reserve SB and Rare Bread would be on my list. But I have bourbons that I haven't thought much of, then all of a sudden I can't get enough of them. I had half a bottle of Woodford Reserve on the shelf for ages. Generally not one of my favourites. I thought ok, lets finish this thing off and move on. Finished it off and moved on to other things only to find myself craving the stuff and buying another bottle. Had the same thing happen with a Knob Creek.

Now I just try and have a bottle of most things open and when I finish it I just get another one. Never know what you'll feel like from night to night. Force me to make a top five at the minute, in no order, of stuff I'd want to have on the shelf to satisfy my moods:

Russell's Reserve SB

Rare Breed

Knob Creek SB

Woodford Reserve

Blantons

Edited July 12, 2015 by Jayman

[TunnelTiger]

I've avoided this thread because I can't narrow my favorites to five. Shoot I don't think I can narrow it to ten.

We are just so fortunate to have so many bottles that we all enjoy.

[flahute]

I've avoided this thread because I can't narrow my favorites to five. Shoot I don't think I can narrow it to ten.

We are just so fortunate to have so many bottles that we all enjoy.

[Madhatter]

Just for fun, I'll list my favorite tasting bourbons and ryes in 5 categories. I don't claim these are the best, just the best that I can afford and have tasted in the last year.

1. Barrel proof: A tie between Elijah Craig release 5, 134.8 proof and Col. E. H. Taylor 129 proof release

2. Wheated: The 60:40 Old Weller 107 Antique and Weller 12 Yr [incredible quality and value from two sub $30 releases]

3. Affordable, Every Day: Elijah Craig 12 Yr

4. Rye: Whistle Pig The Boss Hog

5. 4 Roses: [it deserves a category of its own] OESQ from Warehouse Liq in Chicago and OESK from TPS

[smokinjoe]

Just for fun, I'll list my favorite tasting bourbons and ryes in 5 categories. I don't claim these are the best, just the best that I can afford and have tasted in the last year.

1. Barrel proof: A tie between Elijah Craig release 5, 134.8 proof and Col. E. H. Taylor 129 proof release

2. Wheated: The 60:40 Old Weller 107 Antique and Weller 12 Yr [incredible quality and value from two sub $30 releases]

3. Affordable, Every Day: Elijah Craig 12 Yr

4. Rye: Whistle Pig The Boss Hog

5. 4 Roses: [it deserves a category of its own] OESQ from Warehouse Liq in Chicago and OESK from TPS

[johnnyflake45]

These are all available and very affordable!

Jim Beam Single Barrel

Canadian Club SmB Classic 12yo

OGD 114

OGD Bonded

Dickel No 12

[TunnelTiger]

Just for fun, I'll list my favorite tasting bourbons and ryes in 5 categories. I don't claim these are the best, just the best that I can afford and have tasted in the last year.

1. Barrel proof: A tie between Elijah Craig release 5, 134.8 proof and Col. E. H. Taylor 129 proof release

2. Wheated: The 60:40 Old Weller 107 Antique and Weller 12 Yr [incredible quality and value from two sub $30 releases]

3. Affordable, Every Day: Elijah Craig 12 Yr

4. Rye: Whistle Pig The Boss Hog

5. 4 Roses: [it deserves a category of its own] OESQ from Warehouse Liq in Chicago and OESK from TPS

[Harry in WashDC]

Does anyone else taste completely change month to month? . . . QUOTE]

Mine changes somewhat usually day to day, sometimes hour to hour. When I picked my 5 a couple of days ago, I kept it to the ones I liked right then. And, as Joe and TT and a couple of others indicated, there are some really good lists on here that made me say, "Oh, yeah, THAT too!!" A couple of them had me checking toward the back of the shelves I can't see very well to see if I still had a bottle or two of X back there. Good news - Yup. For now, anyway.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Harry in WashDC
fat fingers = bad letters

[MDBourbon]

It changes often but at the moment.

1. SAOS SB

2. FRSB

3. EW SB 2004

4. ETL

5. PVW 15

[bearmark]

Of the normally available stuff I would pick (in no particular order):

- SAOS Ten

- EWSB

- 4RSmB

- KCSB

- ER10

If I added any limited releases, they would be:

- Stagg, Jr.

- SAOS SB

On a related note, I'd keep Bernheim around too.

[meadeweber]

Does anyone else taste completely change month to month? I tried to make a list but man, I'm all over the place. I'm I big fan of the wild turkey profile. Russell's Reserve SB and Rare Bread would be on my list. But I have bourbons that I haven't thought much of, then all of a sudden I can't get enough of them. I had half a bottle of Woodford Reserve on the shelf for ages. Generally not one of my favourites. I thought ok, lets finish this thing off and move on. Finished it off and moved on to other things only to find myself craving the stuff and buying another bottle. Had the same thing happen with a Knob Creek.

Now I just try and have a bottle of most things open and when I finish it I just get another one. Never know what you'll feel like from night to night. Force me to make a top five at the minute, in no order, of stuff I'd want to have on the shelf to satisfy my moods:

Russell's Reserve SB

Rare Breed

Knob Creek SB

Woodford Reserve

Blantons

Jayman, your WR and KC experience happened to me recently as well. I opened a bottle of Bookers "Big Man, Small Batch" after not having had Bookers for a while. Thought it was okay at first but as I got about 1/3-1/2 way through the bottle, I began "craving" it. It was the pour I always went to. When the bottle was finished, I was still "craving" it. The next time I went to the store, they only had the next batch "Dot's Batch." I thought well, even though I loved 2015-1, I had that, let's move on to the next release and I purchased the 2015-2. Unfortunately, this tasted significantly different to me and did not satisfy my craving. I had to go and find another bottle of 2015-1. By that time however, my craving had past and I moved on to other things. I am looking forward to revisiting the 2015-1 in the future and hopefully "craving" it as much as I did the first time.

[jwes1776]

I'm gonna go with the five that I always replace when I finish the bottle. These are for the most part readily available and not super expensive. In no particular order:

4RSB

Dickel 12

Buffalo Trace

Weller 12

Bulleit Rye

Just missed the cut:

Angel's Envy

Belle Meade

SAOS 7 Rye

[jcg9779]

As others have alluded, this, and any type of "What's Your Favorite" topic is pretty much fluid and/or subjective. I've responded in these types of threads before, with truthful, but what might seem like slightly offhanded, or sarcastic replies. :skep:

"What's Your Favorite Glass?" - The one in my hand. :grin:

"What's Your Favorite Bourbon?" - The one in my glass.

See where I'm going with this? :crazy:

But seriously folks, and FWIW, I do have one all time favorite. The 2007 BTAC WLW is right up there at the top of my list. :bigeyes: If I had a list. :slappin:

Cheers! Joe

Yes sir...2007 WLW is still my favorite WLW also.

[mrfat]

EC12. Used to be EC18 when that was available.

WT101

KC routinely on sale for $20-22

Fighting Cock

The fifth is a toss up depending on availability or price. Usually OGD114 or ETL. But sometimes Weller 12 or Larceny. 4 Roses small and single are in the $45-55 range so I tend to pass on those.

[KyleCBreese]

Here is a very weird list...

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/07/15/5-best-american-bourbons/

[flahute]

Here is a very weird list...

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/07/15/5-best-american-bourbons/

Yep......it's always nice when a no longer available NDP shows up on one of these lists. Cracks me up every time.