Bourbon for Irish Whiskey lover

[Enoch]

I have a friend who has never tried Bourbon but would like to. He loves Irish Whiskey (retired Boston policeman). What would you suggest. I know very little about Irish...

Thanks,

[jeffrey r]

I kind of started my whiskey journey a few years ago with Irish whiskey. I think it is good stuff, but in all honesty, I now reach for bourbon 99% of the time over Irish. Most Irish whiskey is 80 proof, so unless your friend drinks the beefier stuff like Tullamore Dew Phoenix and Redbreast Cask Strength (which is primarily what I reach for now when I reach for Irish), he is probably used to the lower proof stuff like regular Jamesons, Bushmills, etc. So I wouldn't really hit him with some higher proof bourbons at the get-go.

I would think that Four Roses Yellow Label at 80 proof would be a solid intro. Cheap, pretty good, and low proof so easy drinking. Beyond that, maybe Basil Hayden's, which is also low proof but is still tasty. And I would add Evan Williams Single Barrel which is 86 proof, not expensive, and excellent. Elmer T Lee would be another good choice as it is easy drinking but terrific stuff.

[squire]

Four Roses Yellow label and Evan Williams Black label came to mind as well when I read the thread title. If he is neutral over those try Makers.

[MOwhisky4me]

The standard Old Forester at 86 proof is a bourbon I've served to Scotch/Irish whiskey drinking friends with very favorable feedback.

[stickly]

I started my bourbon journey after trying Eagle Rare, so I think that's a good one for beginners. Enough vanilla/caramel to win just about anybody over.

[bourbonfish]

My dad is a scotch guy and always proclaimed that bourbon was 'sweet' and 'too sweet for him'...to which I always exclaimed 'well...your scotch tastes like dirt so we're even!'

He stopped by our house for the 4th of July earlier this month and asked which bourbon I recommend he try from my stash...I recommended since he was a scotch guy that maybe the Willett Rye in either 2 or 6 year flavor would suffice for his pallette.

Needless to say, he grabbed the Willet 2 year Rye and is now a fan of bourbon....and no longer thinks it's 'sweet'!

[kcgumbohead]

I enjoy Irish from time to time and agree that 4RYL would be a solid choice. The Irish style to my taste is very polite so an 80 proof bourbon with a soft but flavorful profile may be just the ticket, entry ticket that is, then the games really begin!!

[flahute]

Needless to say, he grabbed the Willet 2 year Rye and is now a fan of bourbon....and no longer thinks it's 'sweet'!

Wait....he tried a rye and that made him a fan of bourbon? How did you manage that?

[Richnimrod]

Try Corner Creek. Not too much like most Bourbons, to my taste buddies... and maybe a bit like a tastier Irish?

[Thig]

Wait....he tried a rye and that made him a fan of bourbon? How did you manage that?

That one had me scratching my head also.

[squire]

There are a lot of closet Bourbon/Rye fans out there just needing a gentle push.

[The Black Tot]

Diageo's stuff is fairly light and thin, like Irish whiskey in some respects. Bulleit, and the recently released IWH 15, Rhetoric might work for him.

But I think Squire hit it best, most economically, and most ethically with the 4RYL.

[Paddy]

It's definitely more expensive that some already noted, but Basil Hayden's is a great gateway bourbon at 80 proof. I'd suggest a bar pour (or 5:rolleyes:) to get him started...

[ramblinman]

I always got a lot of Irish whiskey similarity from the old 1792, so maybe something on the lower proof Barton would be a good bet.

[Merrymash Monk]

There are a lot of closet Bourbon/Rye fans out there just needing a gentle push.

Yes. Or even a not so gentle push into the deep end. He's a retired Boston cop after all. I say start him off with some Stagg. He can always water to taste. And he'll probably either love or hate bourbon on its own terms.

[bourbonfish]

That one had me scratching my head also.

Wait....he tried a rye and that made him a fan of bourbon? How did you manage that?

Haha...not sure. IMO rye's are not really sweet, maybe my dad has the same palette. I can taste more fruit in my various mashbills over the willet or four roses rye's. The ryes are more spicy. Maybe it's also my specific collection...