Must have bourbons for your collection.

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

As a new man in the world of bourbon I've begun researching bourbons and would like to know what people have or believe are must have bourbons in a collection

[camduncan]

In my opinion, to get an all round feel for the different distillery options, I'd always recommend Makers Mark, Bookers, Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, A Four Roses Single Barrel of some description, Blanton's, Buffalo Trace, Evan Williams and maybe a Wild Turkey Rare Breed. None are 'collectable', but are easily available in most markets. They won't break the bank, and will give you a good feel for what each distillery has to offer.

[mouch]

At least one open, and another in case it's a good night.:grin:

For me, start with something you know you can find later in case you love it. Hard to find will only drive you crazy when they run out or you need to wait for another allotment. (sometimes pretty long..)

I'd grab a wheater and something higher on the rye to give you a good cross section. Maybe 4r and wellers. Then there is that special bottle for when friends come over. For me it's blanton's. They like the bottle and what's inside even more.

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

I have blantons and the soldier bourbon. As for your makers and Evan williams I like more unknown bourbons that are awesome and not the norm. Medley brothers is a great one for the price. Any other suggestions

[GAbiker]

I recommend a Wheated Bourbon (Weller Special Reserve), a High Rye bourbon (OGD BIB or FR OB recipe) and and low rye bourbon (Buffalo Trace). All of the bourbons I've named are pretty much always available and will steer you towards your likes/dislikes. Then expand from there. You'll be able to find a lot of info on SB as to what to try next.

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

Thanks man, you a fellow dawg fan?! Also love the bike I have a 14 deluxe. For the sites it's very hard to navigate from a phone/tablet grrrr

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

Also has anyone tried willett pot bourbon. The bottle intrigues me lol

[B.B. Babington]

as you expand, just peruse the board and see what people talk about. that's what you want to try. the suggestions given cover a broad gamut of flavor. you can also try their cousins, Henry McKenna single barrel 100 proof, Eagle Rare, Four Roses Small Batch, Rock Hill Farms

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

I love eagle rare. We have a nice large whiskey/bourbon/scotch bar with 550 types. I try something new all the time. I just like to go outside the norm and stay away from the typical ones people who don't know much, know.

[Charlutz]

For someone new to bourbon I'd recommend the easy to get but distinguished flavors. Eagle Rare 10. Elijah Craig 12. Booker's. Maker's Mark 46 for a wheater.

[Richnimrod]

....As to your question about Willett Pot Still.....

You won't find many here that think it's worth the cheddar. In addition to that, the "pretty bottle" is a shelf space hog. It's so damned tall, it doesn't fit some shorter shelves; and, it's so damned wide, it covers enough space for two bottles of many brands. On the upside; most folx never have to buy another bottle after trying the first one. :bigeyes: HA!

[Harry in WashDC]

LOL, Rich. Why, just last week I was down in the bunker and saw my 3/4 full WPS carafe (with the probably false and misleading provenance info on the label) on the top shelf and thought to myself, "Take it upstairs and finish it off." It is the ONLY open bottle in the bunker, where it still resides. It just takes up too much room so I left it with the paint cans - sits nicely on a gallon can.

RE: must-haves for a collection -- I don't buy to have, I buy to drink and share. But that's just me. Besides, there's about a baker's dozen of major distillers that produce virtually all the bourbon and rye we drink (SEE sku's list of brands), and I've not yet failed to find multiple bottom shelfers that satisfy and surprise me with how well they are made. Cam's list is an excellent start, and there sure is enough info on SB when those suggestions have been exhausted.

I sure hope the original poster keeps us old fahts advised on his journey of discovery.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Harry in WashDC

[OldDrinker1978]

i think the Bourbons (especially considering price to performance ratio) you should have in your Bar are in my book:

Wild Turkey 101

Four Roses Single Barrel

Elijah Craig 12

Eagle Rare 10

Also what you are getting with these is a very good overview of the differences in flavour Profile of the big four distilleries.

[Richnimrod]

RE: must-haves for a collection -- I don't buy to have, I buy to drink and share.

I could not have said that better, Harry! Us old fahts have to stick together, eh? :slappin:

If it ain't being consumed and enjoyed (by as many friends and relatives as possible), why buy it in the first place. Bourbon is FOR DRINKING!!!!

[Grain Belt]

I think I have realized after many years that rarity/scarcity doesn't make something taste better. For instance EC12 is pretty widespread and it is exceptional for my palate. I can get it for $25 and enjoy it more than many rarities I have paid $80-$110 for. That being said, I drive a 15 year old Dodge truck so I may have a different ethos about my spending habits and image as compared to many others on this board. To each their own.

This site can also help educate you on bourbons and ryes that are made and properly aged at distilleries vs. labels that are contracted and may have a foggy pedigree.

[Flyfish]

Also has anyone tried willett pot bourbon. The bottle intrigues me lol

That's the purpose of the bottle. It is decent bourbon but the Willet Single Barrel 8YO at barrel proof is considerably better IMO. And you don't have to worry about how to store it. Of course, the pot still bottle is meant for display, not storage.

Some fancy-schmancy bottles, on the other hand, contain superior product. Blanton's and Rock Hill Farm come to mind.

[flahute]

One of the mistakes I see new guys making often is the tendency to refer to their bourbon "collection". As Harry said above, it's not meant to be collected. It's a consumable. Once you start to think of it as a collectible you become more concerned about having the "right" bottles on your shelf instead of having the ones you want to drink. This leads to evaluating the worth of rare bourbons according to the group think of the secondary market instead of how it tastes to you. "If all these guys are willing to pay this ridiculous inflated sum than I don't feel so weird going there myself". Don't let yourself go there.

[Fort Knox]

RE: must-haves for a collection -- I don't buy to have, I buy to drink and share.

I could not have said that better, Harry! Us old fahts have to stick together, eh? :slappin:

If it ain't being consumed and enjoyed (by as many friends and relatives as possible), why buy it in the first place. Bourbon is FOR DRINKING!!!!

While I do agree with the sentiment, and I could be wrong here, I think the OP was using "have" in the sense of "have, in order to drink". If he did mean "have, to display/collect", then I echo Harry's comments. Otherwise, I'd say others have pretty well covered it. If I were starting my stash from scratch, I'd go out and buy:

EC12

ECBP (if I could find it)

SAOS

W12 (if I could find it)

FRSB

MMCS

WT101

Booker's

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

I love blantons as for the others I am new lol and all these damn abbreviation kill me for trying to search [emoji14] thanks for you input all I truly appreciate it

[MOwhisky4me]

A few suggestions that I think fit your interest of acquiring some good bourbons that are less common...

John J Bowman Single Barrel is a very good bourbon that can be found in the $40-50 range. It's distilled by Buffalo Trace, but aged in Virginia. Not only is the bourbon a quality product, but the bottle makes a good presentation on your bar!

Larceny is a wheated bourbon produced by Heaven Hill distillery. It hasn't been around as long as Makers Mark or Weller and so isn't quite as well known or established in the market, but it's an excellent bourbon for a good price ($25 range). And just like with the Bowman suggestion, the bottle gives you a different look from standard.

Another wheat option is Bernheim Original whiskey. While not a bourbon, it's a wonderfully soft whiskey that's smooth and tasty.

Four Roses Single Barrel would be a really solid choice in the $35-40 range. A fantastic bourbon that makes a statement on your bar as well as in your glass.

I'd also highly recommend looking around for a 2004 or earlier Evan Williams Single Barrel. The older vintages of Evan Williams SB give you a different type of attractive offering on your bar... They are getting hard to find now, but are still affordable when you do find them ($28-34) and are typically fantastic.

[Harry in WashDC]

I love blantons as for the others I am new lol and all these damn abbreviation kill me for trying to search [emoji14] thanks for you input all I truly appreciate it

I used to know how you feel. After a couple of months of reading SB posts, I suddenly found myself "knowing" what the abbreviations referred to even when the poster messed up the abbreviation. I'm sure you saw this link to "Abbreviations" in "New to Straight Bourbon"; nevertheless I posted it here because I could never remember where it was back when I was where you are now.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/announcement.php?f=43&a=8

ASIDE: I love the "New to bourbon" persons. Their enthusiasm is infectious. In fact, I think I'll wander over to my bottle pile and . . .

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

Haha thanks man, I rather people send me links and input rather than the typical, oh a collection blah blah blah. Thanks for useless info, kinda people

[Swoboda]

Must have some "barrel proof" bourbons . . .

Colonel E. H. Taylor Jr. Barrel Proof

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

George T. Stagg

Stagg Jr.

[taddraughn]

For me, some must have bourbons would be:

-Booker's

-Four Roses Single Barrel

-Elijah Craig or Colonel EH Taylor Small Batch BiB

[The_Bourbon_Boar]

Stagg Jr us some harsh stuff lol. Tried it once. Way too strong for my liking