Bourbon status around the world...

[verydark]

Hello, i was wondering how is Bourbon considered wherever you live, especially outside USA. I'm from Spain and here it's usually considered low tier whisky just for mixing whereas Single Malts are much more appreciated, due to that it's not until recently that i started to taste some Bourbons and now i have to say that became a fan to the point i clearly think i enjoy Bourbons much more than i ever enjoyed any Single Malt. I think distribution doesn't help, while you can find nice Single Malts almost everywhere the only available american whisky you can widely get are Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Four Roses and rarely anything but their entry level offering. So, how about your country?

[Richnimrod]

Well, being blessed to live in the US (Home to all Bourbon Production...YAY!), I'd have to say my Country is Bourbon-Heaven.

In most States of the US a typical liquor store will have around a dozen brands of Bourbon. Many stores have several dozen brands.

I understand that very few Bourbons are exported for general sale in other Countries. Typically US Distilleries offer some few, but often very nice brands forlimited export.

Limited sales areas such as at airports, etc. may offer a larger selection than otherwise available, and often higher-end brands. The more generally available (larger quantities, for sure) are often 'lesser lights'.

That said, many are still pretty good pours. For me Bourbons, even quite reasonably priced ones, offer considerably more flavor and character than any Scotch offered at similar prices. Just MHO.

[BAO]

Bourbon and Iberico ham pair really well. Also, anything and Iberico ham.

[meadeweber]

Bourbon and Iberico ham pair really well. Also, anything and Iberico ham.

So true! :lol:

[kcgumbohead]

"i have to say that became a fan to the point i clearly think i enjoy Bourbons much more than i ever enjoyed any Single Malt"

You have discovered the secret though with each passing day it seems its one of the worst kept secrets, welcome to SB!!.

[camduncan]

Bourbon and Coke is the most popular whiskey based drink in Australia.... probably 10 fold to any other whiskey drink... with pre-mix cans/bottles being the most consumed. I don't have current data, but would assume it hasn't changed much in recent years. To top it off, we're also the biggest consumer of pre-mix bourbon drinks in the world.

[jsrudd]

Bourbon in Japan is kind of a mixed bag. There is a community of very knowledgeable collectors willing to pay very high prices for dusty, limited edition or very old age-stated bottles and certain specialty stores that cater to these collectors. Everywhere else, you normally find the basic bottlings from Jim Beam, Four Roses, Jack Daniels and IW Harper (sometimes Wild Turkey). Most people, however, don't really know what bourbon is.

To put things in perspective, I sometimes go to small local liquor stores and ask if they have any bourbon. The owners often say that they don't, even though something like Jim Beam is clearly visible on their shelves.

Most whiskey (of all types) is consumed as a "highball" (essential whiskey and soda). Since Suntory's merger with Beam, there has been a big advertising push for Jim Beam highballs.

[bdrinker]

Here in Israel, scotch is more prevalent, people know about it more, and drink it more. I can find a wide variety of single malts here.

Having said that, it seems that distribution of bourbon is better here than in Spain. Besides the ubiquitous Jim beam and JD lineup, I can find bottom, mid, and top shelf bourbons in stores, and I don't have to drive to Tel Aviv to find these. Some of these are double the price of what they sell for in the US.

For example, I can easily find:

Woodford reserve, 4rsmb, 4rsb @ $57, er10 @ $65, bt, booker's on sale for $100, kc, basil hayden, baker's, ewsb, wt101 @ $39, 1792, ec12 @49. I even saw a bottle of pappy 23 for $2400.

Some bars here also offer some of these bourbons, so I'd say we're in good shape.

My bottle of 4rsmb says "Kirin, Germany" on the label. I don't know wether that means it's bottled in Germany, or distilled there?

[Tucker]

My bottle of 4rsmb says "Kirin, Germany" on the label. I don't know wether that means it's bottled in Germany, or distilled there?

[squire]

All Four Roses Bourbon is made in Kentucky though I can understand how labeling information varies Worldwide.

[camduncan]

Here's a couple of photos of the (typical) offerings here in Australia. It's Fathers Day here in 10 days, so these are showing more offerings than we typically see.... so sorry about the scribble on the catalogs - I'd circled a few items and left the catalog on the kitchen counter as a 'hint' to my family

[fozzy71]

That blantons is a steal. That is what we pay in MI in USD while the KC is double what we pay, and my state has some of the highest prices in the country.

[Jayman]

Yea It's insane how cheap Blanton's is over here relative to just about everything else. It's 65 anytime you want it, but they'll slug you 70+ for Eagle Rare, 90+ for ETL. I don't get it. It seems out of whack with all the other Bourbon (In a good way :grin:). KCSB is normally 100+.

Edited August 26, 2015 by Jayman

[flahute]

.......and my state has some of the highest prices in the country.

You have nothing on Washington State there good sir.

[fozzy71]

You have nothing on Washington State there good sir.

I don't doubt it. I spent some time there but wasn't drinking at the time, but everything else was retarded expensive there at the time.